“You know what, I think I’ll take a rain check on breakfast, if that’s all right?”
Lucas’s eyes shot up to meet hers. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah.” She checked her wrist for a watch she wasn’t wearing. “It’s nearly lunchtime anyway. Plus, I really wanted to get out for…” What? She panicked, and the next words to come out of her mouth were possibly the most untrue she’d ever spoken. “…a run.”
“You’re going out for a run?” he repeated. “I didn’t realize you liked to jog.”
“Oh yeah, absolutely.” Not. “I love a good hard run. Haven’t been out on the pavement…” EVER. “…in a week. You know, with the storm and all.” She eased her way toward the back door. “And it will give me a chance to see a bit of the island.”
With that, she was out the door. What the hell had she been thinking? A run? For starters, she was wearing Keds. With no socks. But what was worse, she didn’t have on the industrial-strength bra she wore to the gym. And there she only read a book on a recumbent bike or watched Netflix on the elliptical. She didn’t actually run.
Paige looked down at her bosom. Hang on, girls.
Deciding that a beach run was not for beginners, she opted for the sidewalk. She made a valiant effort, keeping her strides long and her head up, until she was out of view of the inn. Then she slowed to a shuffle while supporting her boobs with her hands. Even that didn’t last long. Just as well. The folks she passed as she jogged were giving her and her “hand”-made support bra more than a few odd looks. She could just imagine the island gossip. Did you see that woman from Chicago fondling herself while she ran through town?
Paige stopped, bending at the waist as she tried to catch her breath. When she straightened, she realized she was right in front of the fire station. Convenient, she thought. At least the paramedics wouldn’t have far to go. But then she wiped the sweat from her eyes and, on closer inspection, realized the stone and brick building wasn’t a fire station at all, but rather a bookstore. In a fire station.
Blazing Books.
Sophie.
Paige rounded the corner in search of the front of the shop. The sign in the window read OPEN, so she pushed on the bright-red door. Inside was no ordinary bookstore. The character of the old firehouse remained, everything from the exposed brick walls to the high arched windows. There was even an old fire truck, or at least the front end, in the far corner.
A bell chimed as the door closed behind her, and a moment later, a woman slid down a brass pole in the middle of the store. She hit the floor with practiced ease and turned to greet her customer. When she realized who it was, Sophie’s face lit up.
“Hey, Paige!” she said. “Glad you decided to come by.” There was really no decision involved. She was more or less on the lam. But either way, she was glad her aimless run had brought her to Sophie’s door.
A small head poked out from behind the fire engine. “Is that my daddy’s Paige?” Maddie asked.
Paige had spent the last three years establishing her independence. She was her own woman, not an accessory for a man. Which was why she was so surprised when the use of the possessive adjective sent an unfamiliar warmth spiraling through her body. But she wasn’t Lucas’s Paige; she wasn’t Lucas’s anything. The warm sensation finally settled in her chest, where it turned into a far-more-familiar burn.
Maddie didn’t wait for an answer. Instead she skipped straight toward Paige. When she reached her, she threw her arms around her in a bear-cub hug.
“Did you come to visit Floppy, Stanley, and Stinky?” she asked with complete sincerity.
“Actually, I was just out for a jog, and then I saw the bookstore, so I thought I would come in and say hello.”
Sophie’s eyes drifted to Paige’s shoes. She didn’t say anything, but Paige knew she’d been busted.
“We’re having a tea party in the fire truck. Want some?” Maddie asked.
Paige looked to Sophie for guidance. Her questioning look was met with a smile and a nod.
“If you’re sure you have enough,” Paige said.
Maddie giggled. “It’s pretend tea, silly. There’s always enough.” She took Paige’s hand and led her to the rear of the truck. Only a partial frame remained, and that had been converted into an adorable playhouse. Inside were piles of pillows and a pint-size table and chair set. Maddie’s favorite toys occupied all but one chair, which left Paige to find a spot on the pillows. Just as well. Something told her the small wooden chairs wouldn’t hold a full-size human.
To Paige’s relief, Sophie joined them. Not that she minded being alone with Maddie, but she had no idea what the proper etiquette was for drinking invisible tea and eating imaginary cake. In the end, it turned out she didn’t need a guide. Maddie took care of that all on her own, giving instructions as she directed the tea party from beginning to end. Reminded Paige of herself at that age. Always in charge.
When they were done, Sophie turned her attention to her niece. “Maddie, why don’t you go find a book to take home with you while I give Paige a tour of the store.”
She waited until the little girl had gathered her toys and scampered off between the rows of books before addressing the elephant in the room. “Out for a jog in those shoes?” At least she hadn’t mentioned the bra situation. “Is everything okay?”
“I just…needed some air.”
Sophie’s eyes narrowed. “What did my butthead brother do now?”
“Nothing.”
His sister wasn’t buying it. “You’re not a very good liar.”
“It’s…complicated.” Jeez, she sounded like a Facebook status.
“Always is with him.” Sophie laughed. “I love my brother, but he’s a bit much sometimes. Always getting in his own head.” She folded her legs in front of her like a pretzel. Clearly she wasn’t as adverse to yoga as Paige was. “I keep telling him he needs to relax more and think less.”
“He’s been through a lot,” Paige said.
“He told you?”
Paige nodded. Sophie seemed a little surprised, but in a good way. Her entire body relaxed as though she’d been holding in a breath.
“Maybe he’s not as ready to move on as he thought he was,” Paige offered. “Last night was perfect but—”
“Today he’s acting moody and withdrawn?”
“A bit, yeah.” She didn’t want to criticize him to his sister, but fact was the change in him had been anything but little. Somewhere between falling asleep and making coffee, Lucas Croft had done a complete one-eighty.