“I’m just trying to be as honest as possible here. We’re two single adults. We’re attracted to each other. We could…”
Coral had to reign this in fast. She couldn’t have a casual relationship with a man who made her heart thud against her ribcage with his merest glance, and there was no chance of anything more than a summer fling. He was pretty much stating that up front. She’d end up with a broken heart, and he’d fly blithely home to Seattle and be dating some supermodel before Coral had time to down her first gallon of break-up ice cream.
“No,” Coral said firmly. “We couldn’t.”
Disappointment flashed across his features. “And why’s that?”
“I just got out of a long relationship, and I’m not ready to start dating yet,” she said, lying through her teeth.
“We could keep it casual if that’s what you wanted. I really would like to see you again.” His brown eyes looked so earnest.
“Let’s change the subject,” she said, blushing. “Tell me about why you came back to Blue Moon Junction. Why now, of all times?”
“Well, my parents aren’t getting any younger. My sister Rose and her husband are going to take over the business for them some day. My business in Seattle is set up so it’s running itself pretty smoothly, so now seemed like a good time to home and start on the expansion.”
Somehow, Coral felt like there was more to the story, but it was clear that was all he was going to tell her.
“And you can quote me on that,” he said.
“I will, although it’s an awfully dull quote.”
“Okay. People all over Central Florida have enjoyed Sweet Stuff’s delicious jams and honey for years now, and we decided it was high time to expand our operations so that people throughout the nation can share in the fun.”
“Well, now you just sound like an advertising brochure.”
“There’s just no pleasing you,” he said. Then he smiled devilishly. “Then again, I do love a challenge.”
He stared straight at her, and she nearly melted under his caramel gaze. She was suddenly, excruciatingly aware of each breath she took, of the rise and fall of her chest and her nipples straining against the fabric of her bra. She stared back at him, drinking in his good looks. The curve of that upper lip, his strong jaw, his straight, even nose…
What would he look like naked? There was a dusting of hair on his arms. She suspected he’d have curly brown chest hair. She liked that. Smooth, waxed men were a turnoff to her. And the light coating of brown hair would lead down to…
Her cheeks reddened and she looked down at the table in front of her.
At that point, thank heavens, the waiter set two plates of pasta in front of them, and they dug in. Coral’s pasta was buttery and sprinkled with curls of parmesan, and the bread served with their meal was soft and moist and chewy.
After a few minutes, Flint set down his fork and said “So tell me what you’re working on.”
“Well, mostly routine stuff, although there is an odd situation with several missing people from Blue Moon Junction. The police are giving me the brush off, but I know there’s something there.”
She described it to him. He frowned, looking oddly perturbed.
“I don’t see the connection between those people,” he said. “An older man, a much younger woman, two of whom were in different countries when they allegedly disappeared. And a man in his twenties. From what you’re saying, the man was in an unhappy marriage, and the reporter left behind a note explaining why he took off.”
“A typed note. Anyone could have typed that. And I swear, when I talked to the Deputy Chief, he knew something, and he wasn’t telling me.”
“Well, there’s two possibilities there,” Flint said. “One possibility is that you’re wrong, and they don’t know anything. Another possibility is that there is something connecting these disappearances, and the police are investigating, which they’re obviously not going to share with a reporter, and you could be potentially endangering the investigation if you poke around too much.”
“Why wouldn’t they at least tell the families that they’re investigating? Adrian’s mother and Molly’s parents are freaking out. And David Bollinger’s teenage kids are too.”
“Maybe they don’t want whoever took the people to be spooked,” Flint shrugged, frowning, and tore off a piece of bread.
Coral suddenly had the feeling that Flint knew more than he was saying.
Why is he really here? She wondered again. The fact that she didn’t completely believe he was telling her the truth about his reasons for being in Blue Moon Junction was all the more reason not to get involved with him.