Romance: The Second Chance - Contemporary Romance (Romance, Contemporary Romance, Suspense Romance Book 1) (2 page)

              “Do
I
know of a good place to eat. Abby, I'm insulted. Follow me, I'll take you to the best place in town.”

              With that, Molly started off, and Abby followed a step behind her.

             
T
o say Abby’s leg was throbbing would be the understatement of the year, each step igniting the agony that lay under her left hip. She fought to keep her strides even; she fought not to limp, but she didn't know how much longer she could keep going. The sun only made it all worse, beads of sweat burrowing from her forehead.

              “How much further?” Abby asked, casually. Masking the strain in her voice.

              “Not much!” Molly said cheerfully. It would have been good news, except it was the same thing Molly had said ten minutes ago.

              She’d learned a great deal about what Molly had done over the last few years, though, as they walked. Molly had owned three pets, a dog (which ran away), a cat (which got hit by a car), and a goldfish (which she’d overfed within a week). After that she’d left Treasure Bay to try out College, which lasted a total of six months, three of which had been spent partying. And then she’d gotten married. And then she’d gotten divorced.

              “What! I didn't know you were
married
,” Abby exclaimed. Trying to keep her mind off the pain in her leg.

              “Ya... well... it's not like it's something I brag about,” Molly muttered. “The guy was a total jerk, and it was a real spur of the moment type thing. Only lasted a few months. Then he left me. The only thing I regret is that I didn't leave him first.”

              “I'm sorry.” Abby said. And then she didn’t know what else to say.

But Molly turned, then, grinning, and made a little flourish. “Anyway, we’re here! Welcome to the best restaurant in town.”

              The words
Splash Cafe
hung
above the front counter, painted blue-green and shadowed on a wooden sign. The restaurant itself sat directly in the center of an open platform, surrounded by wooden tables stained and weathered over years of exposure. Everything was positioned over the water, almost as if hovering by magic. A gorgeous view of the entire bay was available for every customer. Seagulls cried and hovered, waiting for dropped morsels of food.

              The cool Atlantic breeze sent goose bumps across Abby's skin.

              “Well if the food's even half as good as the view, then you definitely picked the right place.” Abby said.

              “You haven’t seen anything yet. Wait until you meet Eli, the owner.” Molly gave Abby a cheeky grin.

“What do you mean?”

              “Oh nothing. Just that he's gorgeous, single, and a bonafide hero.”

              “Hero?” Abby raised an eyebrow. “What did he do?”

              “Only saved a family from plummeting to their death. Right up there on those cliffs.” Molly pointed towards the Sherlock Mountains on their left. “About two years ago we got hit by this awful storm, tore up the whole town. This poor family lost control up there and almost fell to their deaths. By some luck, or miracle if you believe in that stuff, Eli just happened to be passing by and saw them. Hauled them all out of the wreckage with his bare hands, and hurt his ankle pretty bad in the process. He’s got a little bit of a limp now, but nothing too serious.”

              “...Wow.”

              “The craziest part about the whole thing is he didn't even want anyone to know. Told the police not to tell anyone, but someone blabbed, and then the town went crazy. Even big media outlets wanted to interview him, but he refused. Said he wasn't a hero and didn't want people treating him like one. If it were me, I definitely would've gotten my attention, become a celebrity. I mean, it's the least they could do, after risking my life and getting hurt and all. But I guess that’s just me.”

              “That's incredible.”

              “Ya, and he's
single
.”
Molly gave her that look again.

              “Well if he's single then we haven't
you
gone after him?”

              “Been there, tried that.” She laughed. “Didn't work. He actually used to have a wife, but she died. Cancer, I think. He's never really been the same since. Hasn't been interested in women, at least. But I think someone like that deserves a wife. Deserves a second chance, ya know?”

              “Yeah....” Abby looked down at the water.
A second chance
….

              Molly leaned forward. “You alright?”

              Abby shook her head, smiled. “Yeah, fine. Just really hungry.”

              “If you say so.”

              They walked back toward the counter. There was no line, but then again it was mid afternoon. Most people had either just eaten lunch, or weren’t hungry enough for dinner.

             
Ding ding ding ding.

              “One second!” a voice called from the back.

              “Oh good, he's working today,” Molly exclaimed.

A tall figure soon pushed toward the front counter, and Abby could see what Molly meant by ‘gorgeous’. He was tall, athletic and clean-shaven, with brilliant green eyes. He had a well-defined jaw, and wore his shirt with the sleeves rolled neatly past his elbows, but buttoned all the way up to his neck, even on such a hot day. His jeans were worn, but not ratty, and a pen sat securely behind his right ear. On his chest, a name-tag read simply:
Eli
.

             
He hastily made his way towards the girls, turning to give Molly a polite half grin he quickly dropped. But when he turned toward Abby, his expression changed. Abby couldn't tell if it was good or bad. She quickly turned her head and checked to make sure nothing was on her face. When she reassured herself her face was clear, she looked back and to see the man still looking at her. Not in a creepy
I'm checking you out
kind of way, but as though he was searching for something. Searching with such intensity that Abby felt as if he could see into her soul. She quickly put out her hand to break the tension.

              Eli stretched his large hand out to meet hers, a smile coming over his face. “Who's your friend?” he asked. He was talking to Molly but his eyes were locked on Abby’s. She didn't know how much longer she could take it.

              “Oh this is Abby!” Molly said, one hand coming up for a friendly smack against Abby’s shoulder. “She and I used to be best friends growing up, back when she
used
to visit me.”

              “Did she now,” Eli said. He was still looking at her, as though Abby was some sort of mystery, a new puzzle he was dying to figure out. “And to what do we owe the honor of her presence today?”

              “She's here visiting her grandma. You know Melody, right?”

              “Sure, Ronnie delivers our clam chowder out to her twice a week. Didn't know she had any kids though—much less a beautiful granddaughter.”

              He looked at Abby again. This time with no expression, but reading her response. The word
beautiful
flushed through Abby, and she strained not to let it show on her face. She offered a forced half smile; he studied it, then turned away, but she didn't think he bought it.

              “Yup, she does. You gonna take our order though? Abby here is starving.”

              “Don’t be rude,” Abby murmured, but she couldn't argue with the facts. She
was
hungry.

              “Sure thing, what can I get for you ladies?”

              Eli’s eye flicked back his eyes to Abby. His gaze was like a fishing lure, bright and pulling—she wasn't used to being
looked at
this much.

              “I'll had the fish and chips,” Molly said. “Extra salt!”

              “Alright.” Eli said as he took the pen from behind his ear and scribbled something onto a notepad on the counter. “and how about you, stranger?”

              Suddenly both of them were looking at her. Waiting for her to speak. Abby opened her mouth, but she felt frozen. Caught. What with Eli and his staring, she hadn't even had time to think about what she wanted to eat.

              “Uhmm... I'm not sure. It all looks good.” She squinted at the menu, stalling, but what she wanted more than anything was to get out of there. To get away from Eli.

              “Tell you what Abby. How about I whip you up something special, and if you don't like it, it's on me.”

              As though they were old friends. Abby stared at him, balking. She never made friends easily, but his casual charm and intensity already had her back up; the last time she’d given up control with someone it had nearly gotten her killed. No, never again.

              Blindly, she pointed to a random item on the menu. “No, it's okay. I'll have that.”

              Eli turned to see where she was pointing. Even she couldn't really tell.

              “The Crab Medley?” He looked at her as if she were crazy. Maybe she was. “You sure?”

              Abby nodded. “Positive.”

              “You're a brave girl,” he said, and shook his head.

~*~

              Twenty minutes later, Abby's stomach growled and groaned mercilessly. At this point she’d east anything. Crab medley, fish and chips, the uncleared leftovers at the next table.

              Molly was doing a great job of distracting her from her pain. Telling her story after story. Just when Abby thought she was done, Molly pulled another one from her sleeve. So far she had learned about Molly's wisdom teeth surgery, and how “awfully impacted” they all were. The long history of boys she’d dated before, and after, her short marriage. The inspiring journey of her first 10K race. And finally, her latest obsession, surfing.

              Personally, Abby couldn't imagine Molly out there in the thunderous waves, and figured it probably had more to do with the surfers than the surf boards, but Molly told a good story.

              When their food came, Eli brought it out himself. He carried two dishes in his left hand, and a massive platter in his right. He was limping a little, but if she hadn't known she might not even have noticed; the confidence in his stride nearly overpowered it. But it was there. Though there was something about Eli. Something about the way he carried himself. He moved as though he was sure of himself, and as though that self-assurance was all that mattered to him.

              Abby couldn't remember the last time she was
sure
of anything... much less herself.

              Eli reached the table placed Molly's fish and chips, with an absurd amount of salt, right in front of her.

              “Mmm, smells delicious,” she said, digging in immediately and with gusto.

              Eli looked at Abby, then slid the Crab Medley in front of her.

              Now that she finally saw what the dish looked like, she could understand why Eli was skeptical of her choice. She wished he would have warned her it was going to be so
large
and...
raw.
Though she’d probably have ignored whatever advice he gave her anyway. This was all her fault.

              Before she could decide how she would proceed, Eli placed a second dish slightly off to her right.

              “Just in case you're still hungry after the medley.” He smiled, and gave her a slight wink, before heading back toward the kitchen.

              It was a warm bowl a Clam Chowder.
Exactly
what she wanted to eat. Abby couldn't believe it.

              “Did you see that?” Molly said, voice muffled by a mouth full of fish.

              “See what?”

              “See that
flirting
going on. I think Eli likes you!”

              “What? No. He was just being polite.”

              “No way. I've seen Eli talk to girls for years now, and I’ve
never
seen him act like that. Dude's got a serious crush on you girl. Lucky,” Molly took another bite of her fish, and chomped down loudly. Abby's thoughts blocked out the noise.