Page 6 of Calling His Bluff
He tossed down the menu, then rubbed his hands together, his gaze holding hers, before he cut the deck, laying down what he’d taken face up to expose the top card. A Queen of Hearts on top. He shot her a grin. “The queen of my heart.”
She mumbled a curse under her breath as she cut the remaining stack of cards and hesitated just a moment before checking the top card. Her eyes narrowed as she dropped them. The card lying face-up was the ten of clubs.
“The luck of the cards,” he said with a shrug as she pushed away the cards and finished off the crab cake. “Thanks. You know I hate eating alone,” Jack said as he swept the cards back into the box and into his pocket.
“I actually enjoy eating alone,” she said as Shane brought the raw oysters. “I’ll have the Wild Salmon grilled and another Margarita.” She drained her second one and handedhim the empty glass, her gaze going to Jack as if to say, “You have a problem with that?”
He did not.
“Good choice,” the waiter said and looked at Jack.
“The Pacific Snapper fish and chips,” he said, and handed Shane the menu. “And another beer.
“They have your favorite, Marionberry Pie,” Jack said, smiling at Josephine as the waiter took the empty crab cake dish and scurried off. He dug into the raw oysters, offering her some but she shook her head. The oysters were small, his favorite, and they went down quickly.
“What is it you want, Jack?” she asked, putting her elbows on the table to lean toward him.
“I don’t think I’ve ever made a secret of what I want. You.”
“Uh uh, right.” She leaned back. “That ship has already sailed. You had your chance. Also, that’s not why you’re in Wild Rose Point.”
He could see that the drink and the food had mellowed her enough that he could be a little honest. “Maybe I’m worriedabout you,” he said truthfully. “What are you going to do with a bridal boutique?”
“Sell it.” She picked up her napkin, touched it to her lips. He felt heat rush to his groin as she put it down and licked her lips. He couldn’t help but react to the memory of that mouth on him. “I hired a Realtor today but…”
It took him a moment. “But what?”
“She said it was the worst possible time to sell. She wants me to wait until spring.”
He hated that idea. “Is that what you’re going to do?” he asked after Shane delivered their drinks.
Josephine frowned. He felt her studying him. He wondered what she saw and was glad he didn’t know. “What choice do I have?”
His gut warned him that her staying here would be a mistake. He thought about the man he’d seen watching her from across the street. Worse, he couldn’t shake the feeling that she was in danger. Maybe this man wasonly the tip of the iceberg. Who knew what other enemies she might have made that he knew nothing about?
He couldn’t shake the fear that this inheritance had made her a target—all because of that stupid article.
Maybe he should try to stop this. The words were out before he could hold them back. “How much do you want for Seaside Vows?”
She drew back. “Are you serious? You want to buy the shop?” Those big brown eyes of hers narrowed suspiciously. “What would you want with a bridal shop, Jack?”
“I don’t want one.” He picked up his fresh beer and took a drink. “Can I be honest with you?” he asked as he set the bottle carefully back down.
“Can you?”
He ignored that. He was in dangerous territory. Where was their food? As he started to speak, there was a loud clap of thunder, followed a moment later by a bolt of lightning. A hush fell over the pub as the lights flickered. The back door opened on a gust of wind followed by the sound of pounding rain as the sky seemed to open up. He saw Josephine shiver and got up to remove his jean jacket and put it around her shoulders.
She started to shrug it off, but then pulled it around her with a nod of thanks. “Well, Jack?” she asked when he sat back down.
“I’m sure you were surprised when you found out your great aunt had left you a bridal shop out in Oregon on the coast,” hesaid as the door opened again. A couple stepped in and shook rain off before heading to a table. He heard them laughing and joking and wished that was his relationship to Josephine.
“You’re stalling,” she said with a sigh.
He opened his mouth as Shane appeared with their food. Jack took that time to decide what he dared say to her. They were getting along well enough, but he could also see her dumping her plate of food in his lap and walking out. The drink she would probably finish before she threw the ice cubes in his face.
“Can I get you anything else?” Shane asked.
“No thanks,” Josephine said, and Jack waved him off.
