The Fortune Cafe (33 page)

Stella was walking slightly ahead of him, so he could see her profile in the moonlight. He wondered what she’d do if he kissed her. Of course he’d have to explain himself a bit. And then he’d have to question why he was even considering it. So much for his one hundred percent devotion to being a dad.

Stella’s feet moved slowly in the sand, and Evan realized the sand wasn’t cold at all… just refreshing. Would he really be neglectful if he dated with Katie living with him? It was pretty normal for divorced people to start dating again. And of course Michelle hadn’t waited at all, which made him want to not be a thing like her.

They walked closer to the waves, stepping onto the wet sand. There were plenty of lights shining behind them from the coastal shops, and people were walking on the boardwalk. But now they were far away enough that it felt like it was only them on the beach.

“Thanks for this,” Stella said, glancing at him, then looking back over the ocean. She folded her arms. “I mean, it was nice enough of you to close up the shop for me, even though things were kind of tense the last time we talked.”

“About that,” Evan said, surprised at how fast his heart was beating. Maybe it was because his heart knew what he wanted to say before his brain did. “I know you’re probably sick of me trying to apologize, but…”

Stella met his gaze, a half smile on her face. She was so unassuming… so calm.

“I’m tired of having a depressing story,” he said.

She lifted an eyebrow. “You mean your divorce story?”

“Yeah, and when you asked me to close the shop for you, I realized I was happy to help you. And that I’d be happy to help you again, anytime, every day.” He exhaled, not sure if he was even making sense. “I guess what I mean is that I want to be more than I am right now— more than the label of a divorced man with a kid who’s always wrapped into his own box of problems.”

Her eyes were still on him, and he wanted to take her hand, but wasn’t sure if he should. “What kind of label are you thinking of?” she asked.

“Maybe something without a label… that’s unique. That’s just Evan… and Stella.”

She looked away, staring at the ocean.

He wished he could read her mind. Even though he was telling her he wanted to date her, he still was unsure how it would work out with Katie in the mix, and the predictable stress that would always be there from his ex.

She turned back to him, and his stomach knotted. “I guess I can help you change that label,” she said in a quiet voice.

Stella moved closer, and Evan was afraid to move, to breathe. Her hands slipped into his, sending warmth rushing through his body. And then, without comprehending exactly how it happened, he was kissing her, and she was kissing him back.

She fit into his embrace perfectly, and his worries about balancing everything began to fade. He was only present here, now, with Stella’s arms around him, her lips on his.

“Stella,” he whispered against her mouth.

“Yes?” she whispered back.

“I need to apologize in advance that I still might be an idiot in the future.”

She laughed, moving her fingers along the back of his neck, sending goose bumps down his back. “I’ll just have to remind you that your luck has changed.”

“I don’t think I’ll need to be reminded of that,” he said, brushing his lips against hers. Her hands moved down his chest, making his heart beat harder.

“Do you know why I called you?” she asked, her hands settling at his waist.

“Why?”

“Because I was afraid to.”

He gazed at her, trying to figure out what she meant. She nestled against him, wrapping her arms around him. So maybe it wasn’t bad news.

“I was following the advice of a fortune cookie. It told me to do that thing that I fear, and love would be certain.”

He closed his eyes, inhaling her scent, everything that was Stella. “Do you believe that love can ever be certain?”

“Of course. Look at you and your daughter. Me and my mom.” She lifted her head to look at him. “I’m always doing things that I fear.”

“I meant… between us.”

She held his gaze, and his pulse raced faster with each passing second. “I guess we’ll have to find out.”

He laughed, pulling her against him for another kiss. “I’m in.”

Stella kept watching the front entrance for any sign of Evan and Katie. He was bringing her by this afternoon, and she was more nervous than she expected.

The last few days with Evan had been great. He’d helped her get her mom settled, charmed Amelia until Stella thought Amelia might outright propose to him, and he’d brought over a bunch of freezer meals that her mom could not compliment enough.

I think you have three women in love with you, Evan,
Stella thought, her face heating at what she might have admitted to herself.

Falling in love with a man this quickly is impossible. Truly impossible. No matter what that fortune cookie said.

Two people walked up to the shop, and Stella froze. But it was a mother with a young girl. Not Evan and Katie. The woman peered in the windows at the displays, then moved on. It was just as well.

Stella crossed to straighten a collection of bracelets for the third time that day when the door jingled. Her eyes flew to the door to see who’d entered. Evan stepped in, holding his daughter’s hand.

“Oh, it smells so good, Daddy! Like last time!”

He grinned, his gaze not on Katie, but on Stella.

“Can I help you?” she said above the pounding of her heart.

“I think you can,” Evan said. Katie tugged away from him and scampered off to examine a row of flower rings.

He walked slowly to Stella, his sea-colored eyes on her. She wanted to melt on the spot, but instead remained upright. “Are you looking for anything in particular?” She struggled to keep her expression straight.

Evan stopped right in front of her, their bodies a few inches apart. “You.”

Her eyes locked with his, and even though they weren’t touching or kissing, she could feel him against her skin. “I can help you with that.”

“Daddy?” Katie’s voice cut in.

Stella looked down to see Katie standing there, watching them. Stella hadn’t even noticed the little girl walking toward them.

“Katie, this is my friend, Stella,” Evan said, grasping Stella’s left hand.

“Hello, Katie, we met once before.” Stella crouched down so she was eye-level and extended her right hand.

“I remember,” Katie said, shaking her hand. “You’re the pretty one I told my mom about.”

Stella straightened, her face flushing. “You told your mom about me?” She glanced at Evan, but he didn’t seem to know what Katie was talking about.

“When did you tell your mom about Stella?” Evan asked.

“When I gave her the necklace, silly Dad,” Katie said.

“And what did you say?” Evan asked.

“That you were acting funny around a pretty lady— the lady that worked in the store. But I didn’t know her name yet.”

Stella bit back a laugh. Evan’s face was bright red.

“I wasn’t acting funny around her.”

Katie nodded. “Yes, you were. Like you are now.”

“How?” Evan asked, spreading his hands. “How am I acting funny?”

“You keep staring at her,” Katie said in a matter-of-fact voice. “It’s okay, Daddy, I think she’s pretty too.”

Stella laughed, and then Katie started laughing.

Evan looked from Katie to Stella, then back to his daughter. “I’m not staring at anyone,” he protested.

Stella moved to Evan’s side and laced her fingers through his.

Katie lifted her small shoulders. “Mommy says that men don’t get some things.”

“I think Katie’s right.” Stella grinned and nudged Evan.

“Oh, so now it’s the two of you against me. You don’t even know each other.”

“But we’re both girls,” Katie said with a triumphant smile. She looked at Stella. “Does this mean you’ll come with us on our picnic?”

Stella glanced at Evan. “Am I invited?”

His arm snaked around her waist. “You’re always invited. And… there she is, on cue.”

Amelia entered the shop, coming in through the back door of the office. “Hi, Evan.” But her gaze was on Katie. “This must be Katie!” She held out a jeweled hand and shook the little girl’s hand. “Nice to meet you, Miss Katie. I’m Amelia.”

Stella looked from Amelia to Evan. “You planned this?”

He smiled and leaned down to kiss Amelia on the cheek. “Go on, you three,” Amelia said. “Have fun.”

Katie latched onto Stella’s hand and practically dragged her out of the shop. Evan’s daughter sure was friendly— a kid with no reservations. Stella liked that.

“So where are we going?” Stella asked once they left the shop.

“To the beach!” Katie said. “My dad got us Chinese food… and a whole bag of fortune cookies. He said I could have three of them.”

Stella looked over at Evan, who was holding Katie’s other hand. “Three, huh? How many do I get?”

Evan winked. “As many as you want.” He stopped at the truck and pulled out a blanket from the car and handed it over to Katie. To Stella he said, “Can you carry the umbrella?”

“Sure.” Stella took the umbrella, then Evan grabbed the bags of food. He hefted a beach bag with towels and beach toys over his shoulder.

“I can carry more,” Stella offered.

“I’ve got it,” he said, and managed to have a free hand to hold onto Katie’s. They crossed Tangerine Street together, then walked through the beach access alley. The place was crowded, but they found a spot a few yards from the wet sandbar.

Stella and Katie spread out the blanket, and Evan set up the lunch with a flourish. Stella laughed as he arranged the folded napkins and the plastic forks and knives just so.

“This is the fanciest picnic I’ve ever had,” she teased.

He looked up and grinned. “You’ll have to get used to it.”

His eyes were more blue today than green as their gazes locked, and Stella’s heart skittered. She watched him serve up the food for Katie, who ate about five bites, then complained she was full. Evan talked her into eating two more bites; the reward was one of the fortune cookies. Suddenly, Katie could eat more, and when she broke open her fortune, her eyebrows crinkled together. “What does this mean?” she asked, handing the paper slip to Stella.

Stella glanced at Evan, then read the fortune aloud: “Love surrounds you.” She smiled at Katie. “It means you’re a very lucky girl and have a lot of people who love you.”

Katie nodded, her expression serious. “I do. I really do. Like Daddy. And my two grandmas and grandpas. And my mommy. I think my babysitter only likes me, though. But my Aunt Lisa says she loves me. “

Evan smiled and leaned over to kiss the top of Katie’s head. “You are surrounded.”

Tears burned in Stella’s eyes, and she could only nod and smile as she blinked them back.

“
Now
can I play with the buckets?” Katie asked, turning her blue eyes to her dad.

“Sure,” Evan said, sliding over the beach bag. “But stay where we can see you.”

Katie flashed a smiled at Evan and Stella. She dug around for some plastic buckets and animal-shaped toys, then pulled out a small shovel as well.

Together, they watched Katie dig in the sand a few yards off. A couple of little kids joined her, and pretty soon Katie was orchestrating what looked to be an entire collection of castles.

“Do you want to read your fortune?” Evan asked, capturing her attention. He was leaning back on his elbows, his upper body in the shade of the umbrella, his legs stretched out in the sun.

“I think I like my last one. I don’t want to tempt fate again.” She settled onto her side, facing Evan.

He smiled. “All right. I’ll open one, and you can eat the cookie.”

“Don’t you like them?”

“I’ve had better desserts.”

“Of course you have,” Stella said, watching as Evan pulled off the plastic from the small brown cookie.

He cracked it open and read the paper slip.

“Well?” Stella prompted.

He turned on his side, facing her, with an amused smile.

Stella reached for it, but he held it away, and instead leaned forward and kissed her, making the shade they were under suddenly hot. She let the kiss go on for a few seconds, then snatched the fortune from Evan.

“Hey.”

She laughed and sat up, disentangling from him. She read the tiny script:
A kiss is like a thousand words.

“Oh,” she said.

Evan sat up, moving next to her. His arm slid around her shoulders, and she turned her head and smiled at him.

“I have more to say.” He kissed her again, his lips lingering this time.

Stella let him linger. It might be a single kiss, but there were a thousand promises behind it.