Letters and Lace (The Ronan's Harbor Series) by M. Kate Quinn Page A

you.”
    “That’s ridiculous.” Doubt coated her words and she couldn’t help but let her eyes flutter back his way. Was that true? The bright lighting didn’t detract from her memory of him. He was still appealing, cute in a broody kind of way.
    Gigi nudged Sarah again. “At least maybe tonight won’t be a total waste. Go talk to him.”
    “For crying out loud, Gigi, my world is crumbling. Let’s just get out of here.”
    “Only if you look at me and tell me you are really not interested.”
    “I’m not.”
    “Look at me.”
    Sarah met Gigi’s gaze and couldn’t keep the smile from forming on her lips. “Okay, we’ll just say ‘hello.’”
    They did a ridiculous-feeling sideways stride along the pew-like benches toward where he stood. She felt his gaze on her skin.
    “Hello.” Her heart throbbed like a time bomb.
    “Hi, Sarah,” he said. His voice was low. Well, maybe not low, but far from exuberant.
    This is a mistake, her mind warned.
    He gave Gigi a nod accompanied by a slight smile. “Gigi.”
    “Hey there.”
    “What, uh, brings you out tonight?” Sarah could almost feel Gigi’s mental thumbs-up approval.
    Benny shrugged a big, toned shoulder. “Keeping up on town doings.”
    Silence hung in the air, thick and choking like smoke. Sarah’s mind reeled with absurd comments she’d never say. Remember being wrapped around me on a dance floor the other night? See these lips you kissed? Want to do it again?
    She had to get the heck out of there. Her body had taken over her mind and she had the stark thought that the man was not even interested. Embarrassment coated her like varnish.
    “Well, it was nice seeing you again. Good night, ladies.” He proceeded to move into the line of departing attendees.
    Sarah pulled her eyes over to Gigi. “I’m an idiot.”
    “No, he is.”
    Sarah’s heart hiccupped. Her mouth pinched into a tight pucker, one that felt perfect for shooting peas.
    ****
    Sarah and Gigi drove back to The Cornelia together, sitting in the front seat of Sarah’s car as animated as crash test dummies.
    Finally, Gigi spoke. “You better not be beating yourself up over there.”
    Sarah asked sarcastically, “What specifically about this night are you referring? My bombing with the town over the complaint, or my pathetic approach to a guy clearly anxious not to speak to me?”
    “Don’t. You’ll fix the town’s issue and so what about the guy. He’s probably gay.”
    Sarah didn’t share Gigi’s confidence. The town problem was far from solved, and she guessed that it would be quite a while before she’d allow her guard to waver again when it came to men. Of one thing she did feel confident: No way, no how was Benny Benedetto gay.
    A car was parked in her wide driveway and she groaned with recognition. What the hell is Gary doing here?
    “Look. It’s Captain Viagra,” Gigi announced as if it was a good thing.
    Sarah smiled despite his presence. She loved Gigi’s nickname for her ex-husband. “Perfect end to a perfect night. Just perfect.”
    “Want me to go in with you?”
    “No, Gary I can handle.”
    “Looks like Pippi Longstocking’s with him.”
    Gigi knew Gary’s shiny new wife’s name was Piper and not Pippi. It was her way of easing Sarah’s tension.
    Sarah was grateful. “Don’t leave; wait till I get rid of him.”
    “Wasn’t planning on it,” Gigi said. “We for sure need a drink after this fun-filled evening.”
    As soon as Sarah opened her car door, Gary emerged from his ridiculously oversized SUV. He hopped to the ground from its lofty carriage as though he were young and spry. His pained grunt gave him away. She smirked.
    “What’s going on, Sarah?” he asked, leaning back against his vehicle. He shook his head at her, his face a shadowy scowl in the glow of her outdoor lighting.
    “What do you mean going on ?”
    “John Reynolds called me.”
    Well that explains John’s mood at the meeting. “It’s nothing, Gary. I’m handling