With a wave, he ambled back to his hydrangeas.
For a minute, Christopher watched as the older man putzed around among the bushes. It was clear Henry thought he was running scared. And truth be told, he was. Marci was way too appealing.
But if Henry and Edith thought they were going to match him up with the attractive blonde, they’d be disappointed.
No way was he ready to get serious about anyone.
Especially a woman whose eyes held secrets.
Chapter Four
M arci cast a wary eye at the clouds massing on the horizon as she drove down Milestone Road toward Henry’s house on Wednesday. They’d begun to gather while she’d lounged on the beach this morning, and they’d grown more ominous during her brief stop at her cottage to grab some lunch and change into work clothes. If they continued to build, she suspected her gardening efforts would be curtailed this afternoon.
For now, though, the sun continued to shine brightly on the windswept moors and cranberry bog to her left. Already this long stretch of undulating road was becoming one of her favorite spots. Far less populated than other parts of the island, the pristine beauty and serenity of the simple, timeless landscape helped calm her. And she needed some calming—thanks to a certain good-looking doctor with eyes the color of a Nantucket sky.
Marci had no idea why—or how—he’d managed to get under her skin and disrupt her equilibrium in such a short time. And the first glance they’d exchanged in the restaurant had been anything but tender or romantic.
Yet from the day he’d apologized when he’d made thehouse call at The Devon Rose, she’d had difficulty controlling the attraction she felt whenever she was in his presence.
Or thought about being in his presence.
Like now.
Forcibly redirecting her attention to the bike path that followed the road toward ’Sconset, she saw that the cyclists were out in force today. Family groups for the most part, with a few couples here and there.
She did spot one solitary biker up ahead, though, on the outskirts of the village. A man in jeans, the wire baskets on the back of his bike loaded down. With what? she wondered. Paraphernalia for a beach outing? Picnic food? And why was he alone?
As Marci passed him, she caught a glimpse of his profile. And her mouth dropped open.
It was Christopher Morgan.
Yanking her gaze away from him, she pressed on the accelerator. Not until she’d put some distance between them did she risk another peek at him in her rearview mirror.
What in the world was he doing on a bicycle? Didn’t doctors usually drive luxury cars? And why wasn’t he working on a weekday?
With those questions echoing in her mind, Marci navigated the narrow streets of the tiny village and pulled to a stop in front of Henry’s cottage. For several seconds she sat there, engine running. She’d planned to be long gone by the time Christopher arrived home. Now, the only way to avoid another unsettling encounter with him would be to put the car back in gear, drive away and call Henry with her regrets. She hated to disappoint the older man, but that seemed the safest course.
Before she could follow through with that plan, however, Henry’s front door opened. Pushing through, he strolled over to the car and leaned down to peer in the open passenger-side window.
“Thought I heard a car stop. Everything okay?”
Too late for retreat.
“Yes.” Resigned, Marci shut off the engine, picked up her purse and opened her door just as Christopher rounded the corner on his bike.
“Hey, Christopher!” Henry straightened up and waved as he called out the greeting.
Christopher raised one hand in response.
Circling the car, Marci stood behind Henry. “What’s he doing on a bike?”
“Always rides it to work in good weather. Sometimes in not-so-good weather. Says it helps keep him in shape.”
Noting Christopher’s toned, fit form as he pedaled toward them, Marci couldn’t argue with that. Nor could she
For a minute, Christopher watched as the older man putzed around among the bushes. It was clear Henry thought he was running scared. And truth be told, he was. Marci was way too appealing.
But if Henry and Edith thought they were going to match him up with the attractive blonde, they’d be disappointed.
No way was he ready to get serious about anyone.
Especially a woman whose eyes held secrets.
Chapter Four
M arci cast a wary eye at the clouds massing on the horizon as she drove down Milestone Road toward Henry’s house on Wednesday. They’d begun to gather while she’d lounged on the beach this morning, and they’d grown more ominous during her brief stop at her cottage to grab some lunch and change into work clothes. If they continued to build, she suspected her gardening efforts would be curtailed this afternoon.
For now, though, the sun continued to shine brightly on the windswept moors and cranberry bog to her left. Already this long stretch of undulating road was becoming one of her favorite spots. Far less populated than other parts of the island, the pristine beauty and serenity of the simple, timeless landscape helped calm her. And she needed some calming—thanks to a certain good-looking doctor with eyes the color of a Nantucket sky.
Marci had no idea why—or how—he’d managed to get under her skin and disrupt her equilibrium in such a short time. And the first glance they’d exchanged in the restaurant had been anything but tender or romantic.
Yet from the day he’d apologized when he’d made thehouse call at The Devon Rose, she’d had difficulty controlling the attraction she felt whenever she was in his presence.
Or thought about being in his presence.
Like now.
Forcibly redirecting her attention to the bike path that followed the road toward ’Sconset, she saw that the cyclists were out in force today. Family groups for the most part, with a few couples here and there.
She did spot one solitary biker up ahead, though, on the outskirts of the village. A man in jeans, the wire baskets on the back of his bike loaded down. With what? she wondered. Paraphernalia for a beach outing? Picnic food? And why was he alone?
As Marci passed him, she caught a glimpse of his profile. And her mouth dropped open.
It was Christopher Morgan.
Yanking her gaze away from him, she pressed on the accelerator. Not until she’d put some distance between them did she risk another peek at him in her rearview mirror.
What in the world was he doing on a bicycle? Didn’t doctors usually drive luxury cars? And why wasn’t he working on a weekday?
With those questions echoing in her mind, Marci navigated the narrow streets of the tiny village and pulled to a stop in front of Henry’s cottage. For several seconds she sat there, engine running. She’d planned to be long gone by the time Christopher arrived home. Now, the only way to avoid another unsettling encounter with him would be to put the car back in gear, drive away and call Henry with her regrets. She hated to disappoint the older man, but that seemed the safest course.
Before she could follow through with that plan, however, Henry’s front door opened. Pushing through, he strolled over to the car and leaned down to peer in the open passenger-side window.
“Thought I heard a car stop. Everything okay?”
Too late for retreat.
“Yes.” Resigned, Marci shut off the engine, picked up her purse and opened her door just as Christopher rounded the corner on his bike.
“Hey, Christopher!” Henry straightened up and waved as he called out the greeting.
Christopher raised one hand in response.
Circling the car, Marci stood behind Henry. “What’s he doing on a bike?”
“Always rides it to work in good weather. Sometimes in not-so-good weather. Says it helps keep him in shape.”
Noting Christopher’s toned, fit form as he pedaled toward them, Marci couldn’t argue with that. Nor could she
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