Beach Rental(91)

The tempting scent of chocolate was everywhere.

They stopped at a chocolate fountain and Luke handed her a chocolate-dipped strawberry on a red plate with a heart-shaped napkin.

Suddenly, she was warm again. She tugged at her scarf, pulling it away from her neck. She’d worn the cashmere sweater. Layered with a shirt, the sweater, and her coat, it was no wonder she was roasting.

“Are you ill?”

His tone was solicitous, even eager. The moment reminded her of Ben. Luke welcomed the chance to be gallant, too. Unlike Ben’s gentler gaze, Luke’s stare was straightforward and intense.

A lesser woman might have gotten weak-kneed under the intensity of his gaze. Juli wouldn’t, but the air in the building was hot and stuffy. “I need to sit down for a minute. It’s warm in here.” She tried to shrug off her coat and he was there instantly, helping her out of it. His gesture, as ordinary as it was, touched her heart. She looked down, hoping he wouldn’t see the truth in her eyes.

The woman behind the booth, wearing a pink frilly hat dotted with candy-shaped objects, was kind. “Come right over here, honey. I’ve got what you need.”

A small table and folding chairs were set up outside the booth, but partly behind the booth drapery, probably intended as a break area for the vendors. Juli found herself seated there with Luke while the chocolatier brought fresh lemonade and more chocolate.

“Chocolate heals all.”

Luke waited until they were alone, or as alone as they were going to be on the edge of the crowd at the Civic Center. “Better?”

Juli nodded. “I’m fine now.”

He seemed to be staring at her, somewhere in the vicinity of where her red shirt pushed aside the edges of the white sweater. She became self-conscious. “Is there something on my sweater?” She pretended to brush at it, hoping he’d take the hint and stop staring.

“No. You look beautiful.”

No words for that.

“The sweater is perfect for you.”

The sweater. Was he the giver? Was she supposed to ask? Maybe he’d intended to include a card and wondered why she was so negligent about thanking him? But if she thanked him, and he wasn’t the giver…the flush was rising again, warming her cheeks.

“Would you like to get some fresh air? It’s cold outside.”

“Thank you. I’m better now. I’ll finish the lemonade and we can keep walking.” Change the subject. “I never imagined seeing and smelling so much chocolate in one place.”

“You live in the area. You’ve never been here before?”

“No.”

He escorted her back onto the main floor. They waved their thanks to the kind woman with the silly hat and marvelous chocolate and continued down the row of booths. Juli stopped to view the delicacies laid out on a table and said, “I’ve heard just smelling and thinking about chocolate can increase the—” She broke off as Luke tightened his arm around her and pulled her close to his side.

“Careful!” he called out.

Two boys chased past paying no attention.

“That was close,” Luke said.

“Kids will be kids. I’m fine.”

The baby kicked and Luke jumped. Her belly was pressed up against him and he must’ve felt the soft thump. He loosened his hold upon her and stepped back. “Was that—?”

“Who else?”

He held her arm again, but didn’t draw her close. A bit of shininess seemed to have rubbed off of his mood. He was still attentive and considerate, but not quite so cozy.

They went to the Port of Call for an early supper served with a wide view of Bogue Sound. They were well ahead of the supper crowd and the restaurant was peaceful.

“The big party—the Chocolate Festival grand finale—is tonight. I was concerned it might be too much for you right now. I don’t have experience with, you know, pregnancy.”

“You thought correctly. I can feel my feet swelling.”

“Do they hurt? Should we leave?”

He was so anxious. She hid her amusement. “I’m fine. I’ve enjoyed myself and it was fun to get out. Thank you for asking me.”

“I’m glad, I wasn’t sure.”

Juli reached across the table and took his hand. His skin was warm and her hand on his felt right, but more than that, the feel of him had the power to move her almost beyond good sense. She indulged herself a bit and lingered for a moment before taking her hand away. He didn’t seem to mind.

“It’s okay, Luke, I understand. This whole pregnancy thing….”

“No, I don’t think you do. It’s not the pregnancy. Not about Ben either. It’s like some kind of battle is going on in my head. Think about it, Juli. You have no husband. No father. Not even a brother or a cousin.”