I greeted and fed my dog, Robbie—named for Rob Roy, because Robbie is an adorable, smart West Highland terrier—and my cat, Tiger. My father had given me Tiger as a kitten a few years ago, picking her out of a litter because the color of her fur was so similar to my hair color. I named her Tiger because of her dark orange stripes and because she was oh so fierce.
I managed to shower and dry my impossibly thick, curly hair in record time. Getting dressed took a few extra minutes because I was undecided about what to wear. Nice pants and a jacket? A dress and high heels? Jeans and a sweater? The weather was mild for October on the Northern California coast, but the wind was always unpredictable, especially by the water. A chilly breeze could kick up in a matter of seconds.
I thought of the wide, worn wooden slats of the pier and shoved my high heels back into the closet. I could just see myself getting a heel stuck and wobbling like a goose in front of the whole town.
“Boots, no heels,” I muttered. I slipped on my best black pants and a pretty teal blouse that brought out the green in my eyes. My short black leather jacket completed the outfit, along with earrings and a pair of black ankle boots. If Jerry was shorter than five foot ten, he would thank me for eschewing the high heels.
The easiest way to get to the pier three blocks away from my house was to walk. As I passed my next-door neighbor Jesse’s house, he came scooting out the door and down his front walkway to greet me. Jesse Hennessey was a good old guy, a former Navy man now in his seventies. I’d known him practically since I was born because he was not only my neighbor, but also Jane’s great-uncle. I always made time to chat with him.
“I’ve got five dollars on you, kiddo,” he said, his voice raspy from years of drinking, smoking, and brawling.
I frowned for a second, but then it clicked and made perfect sense. “Are you telling me there’s a betting pool going on? Over me?”
“Sure is,” he said, and cackled. “It’s not every night that young Shannon Hammer goes out on a blind date. Everyone in town wants in on this action.”
I shouldn’t have been surprised, but I was. And a little creeped out, too. There wasn’t much I could do about it now, though. We walked together toward Main Street. “I’m going to regret asking, but what’s the bet?”
He snickered. “Either you go home with the guy or you wind up kicking him in the, uh, you know, the family jewels. It’s even odds, I might add.”
“That’s . . . horrible.” I had to press my lips together to keep from laughing. Jesse was known for his salty language. I was pretty sure it was just for shock value, especially when it came to me and Jane.
I tried for a serious look. “I’m going to have a perfectly nice time tonight, Jesse, so I wouldn’t bet money on either of those outcomes. They’re beyond long shots.”
“But that’s why there’s so much cash riding on this.” He rubbed his hands gleefully.
“You’re all crazy—you know that?”
“Yeah, I know. But what the hell? If nobody wins, the money’ll just roll over into the next big pot.”
I was almost afraid to ask the next question. “So, which way did you bet?”
“I figure you’ll kick him in the nards.” He grinned. “Don’t disappoint me.”
I laughed. Couldn’t help it. I knew he meant it as a compliment, but, honestly, here I was, heading for the first blind date I’d ever been on and I was the subject of a betting pool down at the pub. This was life in my small town, and the pub was the epicenter of it all. That’s where the betting always started.
And now that we were speaking of bets, I was willing to bet that my father and uncle were right in the middle of the action. Which was just wrong of them in so many ways. And right in a few others, I had to admit.
We reached Main Street and I gave Jesse a tight smile. “Wish me luck.”
“You don’t need luck, kiddo. You look beautiful.” He gave me two thumbs-up and strolled back to his house while I walked briskly down Main Street and past the town square until the street dead-ended at Lighthouse Pier.
? ? ?
“That was fun,” I said, as Jerry and I walked down the stairs from the pier to the boardwalk for a stroll. “But you didn’t have to pay for dinner.”
“It was my pleasure,” he said. “I had fun, too.”
We walked along without talking for a full minute, taking in the charming shops and cafés and the colorful hodgepodge of humanity. I was surprised that I felt so comfortable. Jerry had been a gentleman all through dinner: easy to talk to, a good listener, friendly, and interesting. He asked me questions about my life, laughed at my stories, and entertained me with funny ones of his own, too.
He was a successful real estate agent who brokered deals up and down the north coast. His home was in Pentland, two towns north of Lighthouse Cove, which explained why we had never met until that night. He was obviously successful in business and I could see why. He was charming and smooth and very good-looking, tall and muscular with a sly smile and twinkling blue eyes. His attention was on me throughout the meal, and I appreciated that I didn’t once catch him looking over my shoulder to see if someone more appealing had entered the room.
We shared a good, crisp sauvignon blanc along with the deep-fried popcorn shrimp appetizer. I ordered fish and he had lobster.
We’d been seated next to the wall of windows and the view of the sunset was spectacular. Because the sky was still light and the weather remained mild, we decided to take a walk after dinner.
After strolling a few blocks along the boardwalk, Jerry stopped and pointed across the sandy expanse to the waves crashing down by the shore. “How do you feel about walking in the sand?”
“I feel good about it.”
“Let’s go.”
Laughing, we stepped onto the sand and headed down to the shoreline. When we reached the edge of the wet sand, we stopped to gaze out at the water.
“I love this time of evening,” I said, staring west toward the Sandpiper Islands, seven miles off the coast. “The islands are still silhouetted by the last rays of the sunset. It’s nice, isn’t it?”
“Yeah.” Jerry shoved his hands into his pockets. “I’ve been told that a clipper ship sank out there somewhere a few hundred years ago.”
“That’s right,” I said. “Plenty of divers have gone down to investigate.”
He nodded. “I’ve sold houses to some of those would-be treasure hunters so I’m all for keeping the legend alive.”
“It’s more than a legend,” I said. “It’s all true. Every few years, a gold doubloon will wash up on shore and everyone goes crazy. There’s a shop on Main Street with one of them in the window. They’ll happily sell it to you for a few hundred thousand dollars.”
“I’ll pass,” he said, chuckling.
We watched the last streams of coral-and-pink clouds fade in the evening sky before heading back toward the boardwalk and the pier.
“I still can’t believe you’ve spent your entire life here,” Jerry said. “Didn’t you ever get the urge to move?”
“I went away to college,” I said, “and a few years later, I moved to San Francisco. I was only there for about a year, and then my dad had a heart attack so I returned to take over the family business. I’m glad I had the chance to live in the city, but I’m happier back here.”
“I can’t believe you’re happier here. I love San Francisco.”
“This is home,” I said. “I missed the beach and the trees and my friends. My work. The town square has everything. I love it all.”
Halfway back to the boardwalk, Jerry stopped and turned to check the darkening horizon. “I confess I’m still not used to living in such a small town.”
“I’ve frankly never thought of Lighthouse Cove as small,” I said, following his gaze. “Pentland’s a little bigger, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, but believe me, it’s small.”
“I guess if I’d lived in a big city most of my life and then moved here, it would take some getting used to. But I know this place and I enjoy it. Even when the gossip is all about me.”
He leaned closer and I could feel his breath on my cheek. “Why, Shannon, have you been stirring up gossip?”
“Nothing too outrageous.” I laughed lightly and took a small step backward.
“Outrageous, huh? Tell me all about it.” He moved in again and I inched back. “I want to hear all about Shannon’s outrageousness.”
“It’s time to head back to the boardwalk,” I said, ignoring his request. “It’s getting pretty dark out here.”
“I like the dark.” He raised his eyebrows. “You’re not scared, are you?”
“No,” I said, trying for a laugh, though I had to admit that Jerry was getting a little too close too fast. “I just think it’s time to call it a night.”
“But we’re just getting started.” He drew me close and kissed me. It should’ve been a romantic move, but it didn’t do anything for me. I wasn’t getting any kind of an affectionate Hey, I like you feeling from him, so the whole move felt kind of cheesy. Besides, the walk in the sand had reminded every one of my muscles that I’d worked a long day.
“Sorry, but it’s getting late,” I said lightly, pulling away. “I’ve had a great time, but this walk made me realize how tired I am, so I’m going to say good night. Thanks again for a nice evening.” I started toward the boardwalk, but the sand made it slow going.
“Wait. No way.” He grabbed my arm and turned me around to face him. My purse went flying. “What are you trying to pull?”
I leaned away from him. “I’m not pulling anything.” I got a look at his face and saw the furrowed brow, the bared teeth. Someone had flipped a switch and Jerry had gone from good guy to big jerk. “We had a fun evening. It was nice to meet you, and now I’m going home.”
“That’s not how it works.” His expression darkened and he grabbed my arms.
I felt the first inkling of fear and tugged my arms away. “Good night, Jerry.”
“I don’t think so,” he said.
I tried to run, but the sand was like a trap and I was no match for his longer, stronger legs. He caught me and hauled me against him, my back to his front.
Disgusted, I pointed up at the pier where people were still dining and strolling and staring out at the ocean. “Look, there are a bunch of people who can see what you’re doing, so just leave me alone. I’ll walk away and we can forget this ever happened.”
“I say we give ’em something to talk about.” He whirled me around and jerked me into his arms. There was nothing tender about the move and it was alarming to see how quickly he pinned me against him. I was strong from years of construction work, but I was no match for his innate male strength.
“This is ridiculous,” I said. “Let me go.” I pushed on his chest, struggling for some space. But his arms wouldn’t give an inch and I couldn’t maneuver myself away from him.
“Yeah, that’s more like it,” Jerry murmured as he pressed himself against me.
“No, it’s not,” I insisted, wishing I had something heavy to smack him with. This would teach me to go on a blind date without a set of tools. All I had in my purse was the pair of needle-nose pliers I’d used to fix my sunglasses earlier. Not exactly the best bludgeoning tool to discourage an aggressive jackass.
He nuzzled my neck and made a moaning sound, oblivious to my struggles.
“Stop it!” I shouted to get his attention as I arched away from him.
But he wasn’t about to stop. Instead he reached up and tried to grope me, but I managed to twist and wriggle out of his way. He tried again and I elbowed his hand away.
“Don’t be such a prude,” he snapped.
“I’m not. I’m just not interested.” The irony was that I would’ve gladly kissed him a few minutes ago, but now I was disgusted by him. And just a little bit scared, although the watchful crowd on the pier was a good sign that nothing too awful could happen. I hoped.
Shifting quickly, he yanked my jacket off my shoulders and moved in to try to kiss me again. Now my arms were pinned so I couldn’t shove him away. I had to contort my head and neck in every direction to avoid his mouth. My head butted against his and it must have shocked him, because he let down his guard for a second.
“What the hell’s your problem?” he sputtered, rubbing his forehead where I’d struck him.
“I told you to stop.” I used the moment of distraction to shrug my jacket off completely.
He grabbed my arms again and shook me hard. “I paid for dinner, babe. I expect you to show some gratitude.” He tugged me close again.
“I’ll give you the money back!” Up on the pier I could see people pointing and staring at us so I yelled out, “Help!”
He laughed. “Like they can hear us over the waves.” With a grin, he slid his fingers around the neck of my blouse, and I slapped his hands away. We struggled. I tried shoving him again, but he didn’t budge.
“Come on, babe, stop playing games.”
“I’m not playing games.” In that split second while he was moving in close again, I did what my construction guys had always instructed me to do in a situation like this. I slammed my knee up into his crotch.
Unfortunately, he was too close and too damn tall, so I only managed to clunk my knee into his.
“Oww! What the hell?” He reached down to rub his knee and it gave me another chance to strike. This time I kicked his shin as hard as I could and was happy I’d decided to wear boots.
“Damn it!” He pushed me away.
“I’ll aim higher next time!” I said. I didn’t add that I would need a stepladder to do any proper damage to the big lug. His height had been a good quality at the beginning of the evening. Not so much now.
I kept my focus on him as I cautiously bent to pick up my purse. He wasn’t ready to call it quits, though, and I watched him plant both feet in the sand to balance himself, waiting for his moment to attack.
I knew I couldn’t run around him, so I would just have to fight it out here and hope that someone on the pier would help. Jerry took two creeping steps toward me and I swung my purse at his head. He caught it and laughed, tossing it onto the sand.
He thought he had me now and leered in triumph.
That’s when I stomped down on his instep. He yowled like a wounded animal and hopped around until he lost his balance and fell backward.
I grabbed my jacket and started to dash off—until I felt cold air hit my skin. I looked down to see my teal blouse rippling in the breeze. He had torn it off my shoulder!
I turned back and yelled, “You big jerk!” I was so angry. He’d ripped my clothing! What a Neanderthal! I knew it was wrong, knew I should just keep moving, but I wanted to give him a swift smack across his big stupid head. Just walk away, I thought.
I started to move, but stopped when I heard another sound.
Applause?
Looking up at the pier, I saw two men rushing down the stairs toward me. The rest of the people standing at the railing were clapping and laughing and whistling. I even recognized a few of them when they waved at me. What did they think was going on here?
Jerry raised his head and glared at me. “You’ll be sorry for that.”
“Oh yeah?” I felt safer now that we were about to have company, so instead of slapping at him like I wanted to, I reached inside my purse and pulled out the only weapon I had on me. My pink needle-nose pliers. I leaned over and snipped them in front of his face a few times.
He recoiled. “Get that thing away from me!”
“Just a warning,” I said with deadly calm, furious with myself for ever believing that he might’ve been a nice guy.
His lip curled in disgust. “You’re a freak.”
“You’re a bully,” I said, just as the two men from the pier reached us and tried to lift Jerry up.
Jerry growled at them and waved them away so they dropped him instantly. He was either embarrassed or in pain. I didn’t care which one it was.
“You’re a loser!” he shouted.
“Loser?” I cried in disbelief. “I’m a loser? You’re a vicious twit!”
“Prude.” He spewed the word.
“Idiot.” I leaned in close enough for him to hear me above the crashing waves. “I’ll kill you if you ever come near me again.”
I murmured my thanks to the two men as I walked away.
“You okay?” one of them asked me.
“Just great.” I limped across the sand to the fading sound of hoots and whistles and cheers. Only in Lighthouse Cove, I thought, and realized that some of those people up there might’ve been in the betting pool at the pub.
Was that the reason an audience had gathered to watch? Had they been waiting to see if we would kiss and go home together? Had the applause come from the winners of the bet?
I wondered if my neighbor Jesse was part of the crowd.
I hoped he was happy since I had just helped him win the pool. Okay, maybe I hadn’t struck Jerry in the family jewels, exactly, but I’d come as close as I ever wanted to get to Jerry Saxton again.