A Walk Along the Beach
Debbie Macomber
CHAPTER 1
Willa
“He’s cute.” My sister Harper stage-whispered when I joined her at the table in Bean There, my small coffee shop in Oceanside along the Washington coast. I knew exactly who she was talking about and refused to look. I really shouldn’t pay him any mind. I shouldn’t look. Shouldn’t look.
I looked.
“Who?” I asked, doing my best to hide my interest. I’d noticed the tall, lean man with sandy-colored hair who stood at the counter with regularity. My sister was right. He was cute. Not the drop-dead gorgeous of a cover model, though. His appeal was subtle, understated. His hair fell haphazardly across his forehead and his blue eyes were warm. Some days they were a deeper shade than others, depending on what he wore. He had a small cleft in his chin with a single dimple on the right side of his cheek. I knew his first name was Sean for the simple reason I’d written his name across the cup. He’d corrected me the first time he ordered when I spelled it S-h-a-w-n and explained it was spelled with an e.
“Don’t be coy, Willa. You know exactly who I mean. That man is gorgeous. Admit it.”
Shrugging, I acted disinterested. “If you say so.”
“Does he stop by often?” Harper leaned forward, as if to get a better look.
My sister was an outrageous flirt. She always had been, although her relationships never seemed to last more than a few weeks. She was the outgoing one in the family, while I was the introvert, the shy, retiring one. Harper taught yoga and fitness classes at the Oceanside Fitness Center two blocks over from my coffee shop. She was their most popular instructor, and with good reason. Everything was fun with Harper, even exercise, and that was saying something.
“What’s his name?” she pressed, unwilling to drop the subject.
Normally I would suggest she introduce herself, and she would make sure she did. For my own selfish reasons, I didn’t. I knew that within minutes they would likely be involved in a friendly conversation. That was Harper. She was blond, beautiful, physically fit, and the kind of friend everyone hopes to find. It rarely took more than the fluttering of her stunning blue eyes for a man to be captivated and fall under her spell.
“Sean,” I answered, and immediately felt guilty. It wasn’t like I had a claim on him or that he’d be interested in me. We’d shared only a few brief exchanges. His smile was warm and engaging. I hesitated for more reason than my own interest. I knew if Harper went for him the relationship wouldn’t last. None ever did with her, and I didn’t want to see him hurt. He seemed the sensitive type. Oh heavens, what did I know? I was being ridiculous.
“Sean.” Harper slowly repeated his name. “Like Sean Connery?”
“You should introduce yourself,” I suggested, swallowing back my reluctance. I was being self-seeking and judgmental.
Harper’s lovely face broke into a huge smile and she shook her head. “Not happening.”
“Why not?”
“This one is for you, Willa,” she said with a playful wink.
I opened my mouth to protest and the words stumbled over the end of my tongue, twisting around in my head before I could admit or deny my interest.
“Excuse me,” Sean said, speaking to Alice, the high school girl I had recently hired. “I believe this is a macchiato instead of an Americano.”
Alice glanced nervously toward me. As a new hire, she worried about making mistakes. “I thought…I heard you say you wanted a macchiato.”
“Go,” Harper urged, nudging me with her elbow. “You don’t want a dissatisfied customer.”
Scooting back my chair, I walked to the front of the shop. “It’s all right, Alice,” I told the teenager. I probably shouldn’t have left her alone at the counter, as this was only her third day on the job.
Looking to Sean, I avoided eye contact for fear he’d overhead my conversation with my sister. “I apologize for the mistake. Do you want your usual Americano with room for cream?”
“Please.”
“I made fresh cinnamon rolls this morning. Would you like one? It’s on the house.” I worked hard to keep my customers happy.
He glanced at the display case, considered the offer for a few seconds, and then reluctantly shook his head. “Not today. Perhaps another time.”
“Sure thing,” I said as I went about preparing his drink. As soon as I finished, I handed him the cup.
Sean added the cream, adjusted the lid, and then started for the door when Harper stopped him. “Hi,” she said, beaming him a smile that was guaranteed to charm Scrooge. “Do you have time to join my sister and me?”
Walking three paces behind Sean, I frantically waved my hands at Harper, silently demanding that she stop. I knew what she was doing, and I wanted no part of her playing matchmaker between Sean and me.
“I’m sure Sean has better things to do,” I said quickly. “Besides, I should get back to work.”
Sean hesitated and looked over his shoulder at me. “I’d be happy to join you, if you don’t mind.”
“Willa doesn’t mind. And, there’s no one in line,” Harper said, and gestured for Sean to take a seat.
I hesitated and scowled at my sister, a look that she ignored.