The Magnolia Cafe(42)
Natalie came into the kitchen with a handful of glasses stacked up. “This is the last of the dishes from the counter.”
“Natalie, why don’t you go home. Go rescue the sitter. Melanie and Katherine, you go, too. I’ll finish up the dishes.” Becky Lee headed over to the dishwashing station. “Natalie, take my car and drive Katherine home. I’ll just walk home when I’m finished.”
“You sure?” Natalie set down the glasses.
“I’m sure. Go get some rest, and we’ll hit it again tomorrow. Doubt if it will be as crazy as tonight.”
“Thanks.” Katherine looked exhausted.
Becky Lee was fairly certain Mrs. Granger would be sure to comment on Katherine’s tired look as soon as she got home. The woman never missed a chance to nag her daughters. Ah, another uncharitable thought. She blamed it on the fact she herself was exhausted.
“Keely called me tonight, but I didn’t say anything. Just said things were fine,” Kat admitted.
“I’m thinking that was the best thing. If you’d said the water had been out, or that we were hammered with people coming in, she would have headed back immediately. Now, y’all head out. I’m going to finish up here.” Becky Lee shot them all a don’t-argue-with-me look.
The three women left and Becky Lee turned to the stack of dishes before her and sighed. Best start doing them if she wanted to get home before midnight.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Hunt wrapped his arm loosely around Keely’s thin waist as they walked along a short, exposed part of the shoreline. The beach here in the small inlet area near Apalachicola, Florida was a mix of sand and silt, not the fine white sand directly on the gulf. A small shrimp boat tugged its way to a row of small piers on the far side of the inlet. A blue heron walked along the shoreline up ahead while sea gulls scattered as they strolled along the water’s edge. He paused every so often to snap a quick photo as they walked. He caught an image of Keely sitting on the edge of an old pier, where the golden light of the sunset poured around her. He took some photos of her looking out at the water, dangling her feet back and forth. It seemed like she’d gotten used to looking up and seeing Hunt with the camera turned on her.
It had been a remarkable few days. Keely had come alive as the hours slipped by, jotting notes, writing her article. Each night they’d sort through his photos and read through the draft of her piece. Each night he’d briefly kissed her good night before she disappeared into her own motel room. Each night he’d walked the steps back to his own room, feeling a loneliness he hadn’t felt since coming back to Comfort Crossing.
He’d gotten used to being on his own with his career and his travels, but now he had so many people back in his life—family, friends, and Keely, of course. He wasn’t sure what he’d call Keely. Not really his girlfriend, but more than a friend.
Keely reached down and picked up a shell and tossed it into the water. The gulls squawked in complaint. She held out her hand for his and he took the small, sandy hand in his own.
“Want to go back to the B&B and have that bottle of wine we picked up?” Hunt didn’t really want the evening to end.
“That sounds nice. It looks like it will get dark soon.”
As they stood there on the beach, he couldn’t help himself. He leaned down and kissed Keely gently. Her lips were warm and welcoming and she made a little sound in the back of her throat. She wrapped her arms around his neck. He deepened the kiss, sighed, then slowly pulled back.
“Um, what was that for?” Keely absentmindedly ran her finger over her lips.
“Just wanted a kiss. That’s all.” He wanted a kiss and so much more with this woman. But he’d nothing to offer. He had no home, and his only job was roaming the world taking his photos. But for now—now he wanted her kisses. Her hand in his. Her smiles she flashed his direction.
They turned around and headed back towards the B&B. They’d found a cute B&B in a little white house across the street from the water. They wandered back to the house and rinsed their feet in a spigot near the front steps. Keely sat on the swing at the end of the porch while Hunt grabbed the bottle of wine from his room and snagged some wine glasses from the proprietor.
He paused when he got back to the screened front door. Keely sat in the porch swing, deep in thought. He stood watching her, wanting to stamp the image on his mind, like a cherished photograph. She looked up and smiled at him.
Yes, that smile. That’s the smile he waited for, the one that kept him coming back for more.
He pushed on through the screen door and sat down beside her on the swing. He carefully poured them each a glass of wine, and leaned against the back of the swing, one arm draped around Keely’s shoulder.