Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 104820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 104820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 524(@200wpm)___ 419(@250wpm)___ 349(@300wpm)
Erin smiled in agreement. “What brought you here?”
She explained that she was Margaret’s caregiver, but as Erin was about to ask another question, Arch stepped in. “While Mila here will try to sell you a house the minute you meet her, watch out for Erin. She’ll interview you—just like she’s already doing. Erin is a writer for the Sea Shell, our local paper.”
Tessa was delighted. “I love the Sea Shell. I look forward to reading it every week.” And then it hit her why Erin’s name seemed familiar. “I really enjoyed your article about whale migration in the last issue. I learned so much.”
Erin glanced at Arch, her eyes twinkling. “This one you can invite back.”
Before they got any ideas, Tessa said, “Oh no, he’s just being nice.”
Then she was embarrassed she’d said anything so stupid and found herself blushing.
Archer said, “Don’t mind them. Come on. Let’s get something to eat.”
As they walked away, she said, “I am so sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up an awkward topic with Mila.”
“It’s okay. And you have a good eye. Mila’s the best surfer of all of us—fearless and focused. She quit high school to go pro. She was one of the top surfers in the world when she suffered a career-ending injury. She still surfs, but she lost out on her dream.”
“It’s hard to let go of a dream,” Tessa said softly.
Something else she knew about.
Chapter Three
Arch led Tessa to the buffet that had been set up in the big dining room. A long table that could easily seat twenty was piled with food. It smelled delicious and, despite her nerves, Tessa felt the beginnings of an appetite stirring.
At the end stood a handsome giant of a man carving a beef roast. Buster sat at his feet, no doubt hoping a chunk of meat would accidentally drop. His tail wagged hopefully while his eyes never left the man with the carving knife, who had to be a Davenport, but was bigger than any of them. He must be six foot four, with brown hair cut short, a beard trimmed close, and eyes the color of moss.
“Tessa, this is my big brother Nick. And I do mean big.”
Arch was over six feet tall, but Nick towered over him.
Nick Davenport put down his carving knife and fork and shook her hand. “He means older brother, and it’s nice to meet you.”
Tessa had the impression of quiet strength in Nick Davenport. She got the feeling he was a caring, reliable man, but the gleam in his eye suggested he also had a sense of humor.
Looking at all the food, she felt a pang of guilt. She’d been so swept away by Archer Davenport talking to her that she’d forgotten all about Margaret. “I should get Margaret a plate of food,” she said, “and make sure she’s not doing anything crazy.”
“Don’t worry about Margaret,” Arch said. “Half those golfers are in love with her. They’ll be fighting over who gets to fetch her a plate. Don’t spoil her fun.”
Tessa had definitely noticed a couple of silver foxes charming the vivacious Margaret Percy, so after thinking it over for a few seconds, she decided it would be okay to take Arch’s advice.
While they mingled, enjoying the food from the buffet, Archer introduced her to some of his family’s friends and neighbors. People asked him how his movie was going, the way you’d ask anybody who was working on a business project. She didn’t get the sense that they thought starring in movies was a bigger deal than building a house, or selling one, or writing an article for the Sea Shell. She really liked that about this group.
But then, a lot of movie stars had come and gone in Carmel over the years. She was pretty sure she’d seen the back of Brad Pitt once in the grocery store. He was just buying apples like anybody else.
While she savored every moment beside Archer, even more than she savored the delicious food on her plate, she managed to keep an eye on Margaret from across the room. Archer had been right—a gentleman had indeed fetched her a plate of food. When she seemed to be tired of standing, before Tessa could even move toward her, another gentleman, with a thick head of white hair, invited her to sit with him on one of the couches. It was so easily done, she doubted Margaret even noticed she was being cared for. She’d have loved to slip a cushion under the injured arm, but suspected Margaret wouldn’t thank her for her trouble—or the reminder of her injury while she was at a party.
“He’s having the time of his life,” Archer said as his father came closer. “Dad,” he went on, “I want you to meet Tessa.”
Up close, Howard Davenport was the kind of dad she’d have loved to have. Big and big-hearted. Where everyone else in the family had shaken her hand, he enveloped her in a bear hug. She felt so comforted she’d have happily stayed cocooned in his big arms for longer. “Always happy to meet a friend of Arch’s,” he said.