Finding Promise (The Promise Series, A Small Town Romance) (7 page)

“That’s perfectly alright. There’s nothing wrong with
bumping into a pretty lady.” Luke loved the shy, embarrassed expression on her
face. It was rare to see that on any woman over the age of twenty nowadays and
it reminded him of when he chased girls in high school. “Are you okay?” He used
the question as an excuse to continue holding her against his chest, tilting
her face up towards him.

The buzz had escalated to fluttering in her tummy at the
feel of his warm, muscular arms steadying her. “I’m fine, thanks.” Looking up
at him, she felt the overwhelming desire to lean up and kiss him.

“Are we all set for Sunday?” he asked, trying to draw her
out, she was a shy one. Reality hid her hard and cold at his question.

“Yes, we are. I’ve already got the key from Suzy.” She
patted her bag. She thought she saw a mischievous glance in his eyes,
indicating that he had purposefully bumped into her. But she told herself that
there was no way that a warm-blooded guy like that would find her attractive.
James, a cold fish in comparison to Luke, had made no effort to conceal the
lack of appeal that she held for him, so, disbelieving any likelihood of
interest from Luke, she pushed the thought aside.

“Great. I’m really looking forward to it.” He used the
opportunity of his arms around her to give her a hug before she scurried off.
The buzzing grew. Although she was really visiting his sister and then seeing
him for a business meeting when they went to look at her house, she felt as
though she was being asked on a date. Frowning, she reminded herself that she
was done with men. James had been one relationship too many for her lifetime.

Luke had noticed the blush that tinged her skin when he
caught her after a bit of clever manipulation sent her falling right where he
wanted her. Just as quickly, he’d seen the guarded look come over her as she
scurried past. He tried to be a patient man, as hard as it was in his current
state of horniness, he could wait.

Cindy bought him the menu, which was pointless really. He’d
been coming here for as long as he could remember and could rattle it off by
heart.

“Are you after our new widow, Luke?” Cindy never hesitated
getting to the point. She knew that eventually some customer would be obliged
to fill her in. Cutting to the chase saved a lot of time and speculation.

“I might be, Cindy. I might just be.”

--------

Before she knew it, Sunday had arrived. Caroline was looking
forward to meeting the rest of the Edwards family, spending time with her new
friends and going to look at the house with Luke. With the thought of Luke, a
different type of excitement started to build up finding its way from her
stomach, making her heart beat a little faster and her hands clammy.
Reprimanding herself, she mentally brought up the list of all she still had to
do. She had enough on her plate without complicating life with another man.

Not wanting to spoil the day, she stretched out in bed and
looking at the clock on the bedside table, realised that she’d slept later than
she usually did. This was unsurprising, though, as she had stayed up late last
night baking in the inn’s kitchen. She really wanted to take something with to
the Edwards’ place, as a gesture of thanks for the invitation, and frankly,
missing baking, which she always enjoyed. So she’d sweet-talked the chef into
letting her use the kitchen once the dinner service was closed on the provision
that she left it spotlessly clean once done. As a result of that enterprise,
she now had a tray full of one of her specialties, chocolate éclairs made with
feather light choux pastry, filled with a mixture of confectioner’s custard and
cream and topped with real Swiss chocolate ganache.

Once again excited, for the company and the chance to show
off her baking, she dialed room service asking that they deliver breakfast,
with every intention of enjoying it on the balcony of her room. The day was yet
again, bright and sunny and she took the local’s advice to enjoy it while she
could before the pending storm came to relieve the heat and feed the land.

While she waited for the food to arrive, she showered and
reviewed her wardrobe. She chose a simple but flattering, floral dress in cream
that had a floral pattern on it in varying shades of pink, from a pale pastel
to mauve. She knew that the dress suited her complexion well and highlighted
the darkness of her hair. Her sandals were strappy, showing off pink toe nails
from the pedicure she had given herself the day before and matched the pink on
her newly, self-manicured hands. Promise boasted a beauty salon as well as a
luxurious day spa in one of the lodges just out of town. In fact, Caroline
recollected that she’d past by a sign advertising it on her way into town the
very first day she’d arrived here. They did not appeal to her anymore and she
discovered that she revelled in the simplicity of doing these things herself,
being jaundiced by salons and spas as they were such a big part of her prior
life. The tiny gold hoops adorning her ears were the only jewelry she wore and
they peeped, like mischievous children, through the curtain of her black hair.
Telling herself that she was not dressing to impress Luke by taking such care
with her appearance, she was merely trying to make a good impression on her
friend’s parents, she set out.

The Edwards’ home was a comfortable, single story bungalow
that sat against the side of the cliff, close to the ocean. It was well kept
and unpretentious, as though it served its inhabitants and not the other way
around.

When she arrived at the door, she was scolded and thanked
for the éclairs, in equal measure, by Faith’s mother. Handing the tray to Faith
to take to the kitchen, Laurel Edwards enveloped Caroline in a big hug. “Hi
Caroline, I’m Laurel, the unfortunate mother of those two ruffians that you’ve
met.” Laughing, Caroline could see that the statement was belied the pride that
shone in her eyes.

“Hi, Mrs Edwards,” Caroline handed the well groomed,
matronly brunette the tray, staring into a replica of Luke’s eyes. “Thank you
for having me for lunch.”

“Oh, no, the pleasure is all ours. Please call me Laurel.
Mrs Edwards makes me feel like a school marm. We’re only glad we could welcome
you to Promise. I’m sorry it is such a small affair but I thought it best you
settle in first into your new home. In time, we’ll have a nice, big barbeque
and invite some folk over for you to meet as a proper welcome.” Caroline found
herself once again being hugged by Laurel.

“Mamma, don’t monopolize Caro.” Luke shouted from behind and
pulled her by the hand into the lounge. “Hi Caro”

“Caro?” She lifted a brow questioningly.

“I’ve decided to call you that. I think it suits you better.
You look great. Nice dress.” Caroline noticed he wasn’t staring at her dress as
much as he was staring at her legs and blushed profusely, stammering a reply.

Nice was an understatement in his mind. She looked good
enough to eat and he would gladly forgo his mom’s lunch for a bite out of her.
That dress was perfectly indecent. No, he decided, it was the body hidden
underneath that made the air leave his lungs. It hugged her perfect
proportions, well – perfectly and when she moved, it swayed against those
curves, making his hands itch to run them along her body. Mentally swearing, he
reminded himself that he was in his parents’ home and determinedly heaved his
mind out of the gutter.   

“No, don’t go in there.”  He pointed to the kitchen.
“You’ll see Faith soon enough. Heck, you see her every day at the inn anyway.”
Tugging her behind him once again, he took her into the lounge. “Let me
introduce you to my dad.”

“Dad, this is Caro. Caro meet Edward Edwards, I kid you not.
And his name is not the only weird thing about him. Don’t tell me later that I
didn’t warn you...” He mockingly challenged his dad.

Amused at his son’s behaviour, he decided to rescue
shy-looking girl. It was obvious that the boy was making a fool out of himself,
acting like a high school kid and trying to get the girl’s attention. He hadn’t
seen Luke act like that since Junior High and it made him feel younger. He
heard that she was a widow and wasn’t sure if she was ready for his son, who he
knew had had his adventures with local girls and tourists alike.

“Welcome to our home, Caroline, and welcome to Promise. My
name is John Edwards. Not Edward Edwards. And yes, I know the boy’s a bit
strange. It must be from when his mother dropped him on his head as a baby.
He’s never been the same since, the poor thing.” John retaliated with dramatic
gestures, making Caroline laugh.

“Boy, make yourself useful and get Caroline something to
drink? Would you like some iced tea?” He turned sharp blue eyes towards her,
patting the seat next to him.

It was clear that Luke had inherited his dark hair and eyes
from his mother and Faith sported her father’s blonde hair and blue eyes. Wow,
this was too good to be true; could you get anything closer to the Brady Bunch? 
Maybe she was being unfairly cynical. It wasn’t just the Edwards. Comfortable
friendliness seemed to be a general family and she had seen evidence of it
amongst many of the town’s residents. Maybe they worked at it, or, she thought
in their defensive, maybe it was just what it was?

“Now,” John interrupted her train of thought, “come and sit
by me and tell me what you think of the inn. Faith tells me that you’ve been
staying with us for the past week.”

Caroline had had no idea that the inn belonged to the
Edwards family. During all of their conversations during lunch or at the inn,
Faith hadn’t said a word about it to her. Then again, Faith was sweet
bubbliness and didn’t seem to be the type that boasted. Fortunately, share her
favorable impressions of it with him. John was easy to chat to and she could
see that both children had inherited that from him. Through the conversation,
she learned that the inn had been in the Edwards family for three generations
and the state that it was in was testament to the pride she heard in his voice
when he spoke of it. She also learned that Faith was training to take over from
him, Luke having shown no interest in the business.

“He went from tinkering with Lego blocks to building the
real thing. When he showed no inclination to take over the inn with Faith, I
caved in and off he went to learn his craft. I’m mighty proud of what he’s done
though. He came back to Promise, took out a loan at the bank and slowly built
up his business. Today, he is the best man to do any work on any building
around here. Of course, keeping the town and the holiday accommodation nearby
in shape keeps him busy.” Caroline could swear that she saw John’s chest
visibly puff out. What a great feeling it must be for your parents to be so
proud of you.

“Now, Faith tells me that you bought the old Whittlesea
place. What are your plans for it?”

Becoming used to the frank curiosity of the Promise
residents, she began to tell him of her week. Just then Bess, her husband,
Ronald and Rachel came traipsing in unannounced by even a knock on the door,
attracting Faith and Laurel to the hall. Loud greetings and back slapping
ensued. It was clear that they were all a regular part of the Edwards
household.

The chattering commenced in a chaotic choir all through the
delicious, traditional Sunday roast they’d had for lunch. The apple pie they
had for dessert was heaven and Caroline was happy to see them polish off her
chocolate éclairs.

“Mm…” mumbled Faith, barely audible, as she bit into yet
another éclair. “I thought that I couldn’t believe that you got Steve to lend
you his kitchen but this is even more unbelievable. I didn’t know you could
bake like this. Where did you learn?”

“Eat with your mouth closed, dear”, said both Bess and
Laurel simultaneously, making everyone at the table burst into laughter.

“I’ve always loved the kitchen.” Caroline’s voice was full
of passion. “I love the idea that when I cook, I pour love into what I’m making
and that I can give a piece of that to those who eat it. Also, cooking and
baking calms me. So, when I bang pots and pan, beware!” This evoked further
laughter. Caroline was quickly drawn into a discussion with Laurel and Bess
about recipes, agreeing to give them the éclair recipe in exchange for Bess’s
apple pie and Laurel’s sweet potato bake recipes.

“That’s how I think Faith feels about her art.” A proud
Laurel declared. Silence descended on the table. This must be a sore point,
Caroline noticed, as Faith turned crimson with embarrassment.

“It’s nothing, just a hobby that keeps me out of trouble.”
Faith made light of it.

Caroline wanted to know more but didn’t think the time was
right to broach the topic as there was still a measure of unease around the
table.

Luke gained some points with her when he distracted them all
by grabbing the last half of a chocolate éclair, midway to Faith’s mouth.

“Give me that. I deserve it more.’ His antic got him a slap
on the arm from his sister.

It was the nicest family lunch she had ever had and she was
a bit sad to leave, even if she was taking her friends to look at her house.
Laurel was a lot like Bess, a wonderful mix of maternal love and bossiness.
John was playful like his son, though in a quieter way but she had detected the
shrewdness that made him the businessman he was as he observed and mentally
processed what was happening around the table. The comments he made were
extremely thought-provoking, yet saying it the way he did, took the heaviness
away from it. John’s relaxed manner was his ying to the yang of Laurel’s
excitability.