Rose (Beach Brides Book 9) Page 5

  Considering how pleased Tanner was having his eyes focused on Rose, he had to agree. “What were you doing this morning when I so rudely interrupted and made you spill Zetta’s cakes?”

  A grin brought out a playful smile as she looked at him from beneath long, dark lashes. “I was about to teach a class on framing vintage doilies when you arrived. Zetta and Lucille come to every class I teach, although goodness knows they don’t need more stuff cluttering their houses. Anyway, Zetta is particularly fond of teacakes, as you may have observed.”

  “I did,” Tanner said, barely holding back a snort of laughter, recalling how the woman had shoved one after another in her mouth, heedless to the fact they’d been tossed across the floor only moments before.

  Rose smiled at him. “When I teach classes, I provide refreshments. Today, it was lemonade and cakes.”

  “How often do you teach classes?”

  “Once, sometimes twice, a week. It just depends on what else is going on and how busy I am with other projects.” She glanced out the window then back at him.

  He wondered if she was half as nervous as he felt.

  “What sort of classes do you offer?” he was much more interested in listening to the sultry tone of Rose’s voice than hearing about the classes she taught.

  “Oh, mostly craft projects. Shabby chic sort of things that tie modern elements into vintage décor.”

  Tanner lifted an eyebrow. “Shabby chic? Give me some examples.”

  She cast him a strange look and took a long drink from her glass of raspberry lemonade. As though she just thought of an example, she grinned and lifted her hand from her lap. “We made these in one of my classes,” she said, holding out her wrist. She wore a wide cuff bracelet fashioned of lace, ribbon flowers, rhinestones, and bits of vintage-looking frippery.

  “This is cool,” he said, taking her hand in his and studying her wrist. In truth, he just wanted to touch her again and admiring the bracelet provided a perfect excuse. When she pulled back, he reluctantly released her hand. “What else?”

  Rose toyed with a bit of lace on her cuff bracelet. “Last week, I showed the women how to take empty pepper spice cans and repurpose them.”

  “Pepper spice cans?”

  “You know, like you buy pepper in at the grocery store? After I cleaned them all, which caused me to have a sneezing fit for what seemed like days, we painted them with milky paint, applied flower appliqués, then sprayed on a sealant. The women in the class can use them for any number of things, like spices or keeping craft glitter contained. Zetta decided to put sugar sprinkles in hers and Lucille filled hers with baby powder to keep on the vanity in her guest room.” Rose gave him a shy look. “I’m sorry, Tanner. I’ve been rattling on about things that I’m sure are of absolutely no interest to you.”

  “No, Rose. I’m enjoying learning more about you and your business. Really.” He reached out to her and she tentatively placed her small, elegant hand on his. He wondered if the same jolt rocked through her as it did him. If she felt it, she hid it well under that graceful exterior. “Are you sure you aren’t freaked out I’m here?”

  The smile she gave him made heat churn in his gut, but he did his best to ignore it.

  “Admittedly, I was freaked out at first, but Zetta and Lucille assured me if you passed the Tumnus test, you had to be a good guy.”

  “The Tumnus test?”

  “My cat practically hates men. He’s never, not even once, cozied up to a stranger.”

  Tanner grinned. “I told you kids and dogs like me. That includes most animals, too.”

  She gave him a long, studying glance that made his temperature take another spike. “What animal doesn’t like you?”

  “A raccoon bit me once, but in my defense, he was hungry and wanted my sandwich. And I was only eleven.”

  She laughed. “Okay, that one definitely doesn’t count.”

  The server brought their meals and Tanner looked over his plate full of food.

  “They offer the freshest seafood in town,” Rose said, lifting a spoon, ready to dip it into a bowl of savory clam chowder. “It’s always good.”

  “I spent a lot of time in Florida as a kid, so I’m picky about the seafood I eat.” Tanner took a bite of the seafood melt he’d ordered, made with fresh crab. “Mmm, that is good.”

  “Told you it was fresh,” she said, eating another bite of her chowder. “I thought you grew up in Denver.”

  “I did, but my grandparents had a vacation home in the Florida Keys. I hung out there a lot on vacations from school. My grandmother and I spent two entire summers there when I was in middle school. It was pretty awesome.”

  “I bet it was.” Rose broke off a piece of focaccia bread and held it out to Tanner. He accepted it and bit into it. “That’s really good.”

  “I’m glad you’re enjoying it.” Rose finished her chowder then cut the crab cake she’d ordered in half, holding the plate out to Tanner. “You have to try this.”

  “I don’t want to eat all your food, Rose.”

  “You’ll like it,” she said in a sing-song voice that made him smirk and fork a piece of it.

  “You’re right. I do,” he said after he swallowed a bite. “This is some of the best seafood I’ve ever had and that is saying a lot.”

  “It sounds as though you are well traveled. Have you visited many places?” Rose asked.

  Tanner wasn’t quite ready to reveal everything about himself, but he nodded. “My grandparents took me on many trips. Sometimes my parents took me, too. I’ve been around. How about you? Do you travel for your shop or pleasure? Were you somewhere exotic when you wrote that letter and stuffed it in the bottle?”

  She grinned. “I was in the Caribbean on a beautiful island with eleven friends. We’re all in an online book club together. It was the first time I’ve really traveled anywhere. Other than trips to Seattle and Portland for business, that’s the extent of my adventurous journeys.”

  Tanner was surprised at this admission. Rose seemed like someone who would enjoy seeing a variety of places. “Do you not like to travel?”

  One shoulder bobbed upward, as though she tried to hold back another shrug. “The few times I have, I’ve enjoyed it immensely.” She gave him a conspiratorial wink. “Well, I enjoyed arriving at the destination and seeing the sights. Being run through the airport like cattle in a chute was not the most noteworthy part of the trip, but everything else was fine.”

  Enraptured by her wink and the playful smile on those kissable lips, he had to concentrate to form a half-intelligent reply. “Yeah, airport security isn’t the most fun you can have in a day, but necessary to keep us all safe.” He took another bite of his meal, watching her sip her drink. “If you had unlimited time and funds to travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?”

  Rose gave him a saucy smile. “Everywhere.”

  At Tanner’s curious look, she elaborated. “I’d love to visit London, see Paris, and spend time traipsing through Scotland and Ireland. I’d visit the Holy Land, relax at a Tuscan villa, and go on an African safari, just don’t expect me to shoot anything.”

  He laughed. “No shooting required. That’s a great list of places to visit.” Tanner lifted his glass in a toast. “To the places you’ve never been.”

  She clinked her lemonade glass against his. “To places you hope to be.”

  They finished their meals then sat chatting like old friends. As the shadows outside lengthened, Rose glanced at the clock and gasped at the time. “Oh, my goodness. I need to go home before Zetta and Lucille report you as a mad killer on the loose.”

  Rose opened her little handbag and started to draw out her wallet. Tanner hurried to plop more than enough cash on the table to cover both their meals with a generous tip. “It’s my treat, Rose. I insist.”

  “Thank you, Tanner. Are you sure I can’t pay my share?” she offered.

  He stood and held out a hand to her. “I may look like a modern-day man, but let me assure you,
there are some areas where I’m every bit as old-fashioned as you. And the guy paying for the meal is one of them.”

  She took his hand and stood. Tanner wanted so badly to settle his arm around her shoulders and pull her against his side, but he resisted the urge. Only by shoving both hands in his pockets did he keep from placing a hand to the small of her back as they left the restaurant. Outside, she stopped and looked back at him. “Thank you for dinner, the flowers, and a lovely evening, Tanner. I’m glad you came, even if it was a complete shock.”

  “I’d apologize for shocking you this morning, but the look on your face and the ensuing chaos was priceless.”

  Rose laughed and lightly tapped his arm with her handbag. He liked that she wasn’t stuffy, as he feared she might be from her formal way of corresponding. Instead, she was warm, sweet, and entirely adorable.

  He studied her again, trying to estimate her height. She wasn’t short or tall. But to him she seemed just right. He’d be willing to bet she’d fit perfectly in his arms. If he played his cards right, he hoped to discover if his speculation proved true before he returned home.

  “So, are you going to dance in the waves again tonight?” he asked as they lingered near the parking lot.

  Embarrassment soaked her cheeks with bright pink color and she shook her head. “No, I am not. Had I known anyone was watching me, I wouldn’t have been playing in the waves last night.”

  He leaned forward and tucked an errant curl behind her ear. “Don’t let others or what they might think keep you from something that brings you joy, Rose. Life is far too short.”

  “Sage wisdom from an old man,” she said, giving him a teasing smile. “If you don’t mind my asking, how old are you?”

  “I turned twenty-eight last month.” Tanner couldn’t help but take her hand in his. “I know a gentleman should never ask a lady, but how old are you?”

  The coquettish look she gave him made his insides heat again. “You are correct, a gentleman shouldn’t ask, but I’ll tell you because you are special. I’m twenty-seven. My birthday is in October.”

  “Good to know.” He didn’t want the evening to end. He didn’t want to tell her goodnight. But it was time and she looked tired. “May I walk you home?”

  She backed up a few steps. “Not tonight, but I do thank you for the offer. If it isn’t too much trouble, would you please email me the contact info for your boss? I really would like a reference for you. Since you threatened such dire circumstances if I contact your mother…” Her voice trailed off, although it held a measure of humor.

  Tanner chuckled. “I’ll send it to you as soon as I get back.”

  Suddenly, she stepped forward, placing her hand on his arm. “Tanner, I never even asked how long you’ll be here. Is it just for the weekend?”

  “No, Rose. I’ll be here for a few weeks. I figured as long as I traveled all this way that I might as well enjoy the sights of the Oregon coast. Do you have any recommendations?”

  “I have several, especially since you seem to enjoy forts and history. Why don’t you come by the shop in the morning and I’ll have some information ready for you.”

  “That sounds perfect.” He placed his hand over hers where it still rested on his forearm, searing his skin with her innocent touch. “What time should I be there?”

  “Come around eight-thirty. If you like, you could join me for breakfast.”

  He wanted to raise his fist in a victory pump. As an alternative, he lifted her delicate fingers to his lips and kissed the backs of them again. “I’ll be there. Rest well, Rose, and have a pleasant evening.”

  “You as well, kind sir.” With one more tender glance at him, she turned and hurried along the sidewalk, disappearing around the corner.

  Tanner watched her go, wondering how he could possibly be falling in love with her already. However, the thumping ache in his heart assured him what he felt for her was something new, terrifying, and undeniably wonderful.

  Chapter Five

  Although she set her alarm to go off an hour early, Rose awoke with a start and gaped at the clock on her nightstand.

  With a yelp, she leaped out of bed and rushed into the bathroom. The cat yowled and fought his way out from beneath the sheet that covered him. Tumnus expelled an indignant huff, then beat a hasty retreat to the safety of the kitchen downstairs.

  Rose only had thirty minutes before Tanner arrived. At least she had a head start on making breakfast since she did prep work last night before she went to bed.

  With no time to fashion her usual elaborate hairdo, Rose towel dried her hair, yanked on a light robe, and ran down the back stairs, scrunching her curls as she went.

  Tumnus glowered at her as she grabbed the overnight French toast from the refrigerator and shoved it into a cold oven. After setting the oven at the proper temperature, she fed the cat then raced back upstairs.

  “What to wear, what to wear,” she chanted, standing in front of her closet and frantically riffling through her clothes. Mindful of the minutes flying by, she tugged on a cotton dress with cape sleeves, a high fitted waist, and a slim skirt that swung just below her knees. She slipped on a pair of chunky-heeled sandals in the same shade of pink as the dress then hastened to style her hair. She rolled back the sides then secured the ends in a messy bun at the back of her head. After a few quick swipes of mascara and a spritz of her favorite perfume, she clattered back downstairs.

  She pulled on an apron and then placed a thick piece of ham steak in the oven. The doorbell rang and her gaze snapped to the clock on the wall. Tanner was five minutes early.

  “Of course he’d have to be punctual,” she muttered, making her way down the hall to the front entry of the house. When she unlocked and opened the door, Tanner greeted her with a smile that cast aside worries about the harried, hectic start to her day. The sight of his muscles, defined in a form-fitting dark blue T-shirt, made her forget everything except how much she’d like to reach out and touch one.

  She wondered how often he worked out. He had the look, build, and lithe movements of an athlete. Rose’s gym membership expired shortly after she returned home from college. She did try to do some form of activity every day, even if it was playfully running through the waves when she thought no one was watching.

  “Good morning,” she said, stepping back so Tanner could enter.

  “Good morning, beautiful.” He kissed her cheek and stood in the entry, waiting. For a moment, she wondered if he felt as nervous as she did when he shoved his hands in the pockets of his cargo shorts and appeared slightly antsy.

  She swept a hand toward the hall. “Come on in. I’m running a little behind this morning.”

  “I can come back later,” he said, edging toward the door.

  “No, you’re fine. Although it never happens, today I somehow slept through my alarm,” she said, closing the front door and leading the way down the hall to the kitchen.

  Light spilled into the kitchen through a bank of east-facing windows, filling the room with golden morning light. The cat looked up from his food bowl by the back door and purred before wandering over to Tanner and rubbing against his legs.

  “Hey, Tumnus. How are you today, buddy?” Tanner asked, hunkering down and rubbing his hand over the cat’s back and scratching behind his ears.

  The cat answered with a loud purr.

  “That good, huh? It is a pretty nice day,” Tanner said, giving the cat another good rub along his back before standing. Tumnus returned to his food bowl and resumed crunching his breakfast. Tanner looked around the kitchen, his gaze finally settling on her. “Anything I can help with?”

  Surprised by his offer, Rose took a moment to gather her thoughts. Finally, she tipped her head toward the refrigerator. “Can you make orange juice?” she asked.

  Tanner raised an eyebrow. “From scratch, like with fresh oranges?”

  “No. A mix.” She set a pitcher, long spoon, and can of frozen juice concentrate on the counter.

  “This, I
can handle,” Tanner said, opening the can and dumping it into the pitcher while Rose gathered a tablecloth and napkins she’d set out last night.

  She hurried out the back door and draped the linen cloth over the table on her porch then artfully arranged the napkins. Thank goodness she liked to over prepare. It was going to save her bacon today. She returned inside and lifted a tray full of dishes, cutlery, salt and pepper shakers, and even a small fluted bowl full of baby roses, carrying it all outside to the table. With quick, efficient movements, she set the table and stepped back into the kitchen as Tanner dried the spoon he’d washed after stirring the juice.

  “Your kitchen is amazing,” he said, setting the spoon down and leaning against the counter, pointing to her refrigerator. “If you didn’t know that was the fridge, you’d just think it was an antique cupboard with the wood on the doors.”

  “Since people do wander back here on occasion, I wanted it to look authentic.” She said whipping a bowl of thick cream.

  “Even the dishwasher blends in.” He walked over to it and ran his hand along the beadboard panel. “I would never have thought to conceal the appliances like you have. And that stove looks like something from the turn of the century.”

  “It’s an electric reproduction. If I had to cook on one of those old stoves, I’d probably eat takeout every day,” Rose said, casting him a glance as he bent over to study one of the oven doors. He looked so at home, so very right in her kitchen. And he had a really nice caboose, to boot. Her gaze lingered on it as she mindlessly continued whipping the cream.

  Tanner turned and grinned at her. “Are you whipping cream or making butter?”

  Embarrassed, she glanced down and shut off the mixer. Mentally lambasting herself, she scooped the overly-whipped cream into a cherry blossom patterned Depression glass bowl. It was ridiculous to be thinking such thoughts about Tanner, so she chased them away, focused on serving the meal.