Beach House Reunion (Beach House #5)(73)

“Come in.”

“You only have time to put these in water, I’m afraid. Our reservations are for seven and I heard there’s traffic on the bridge.”

“All right. Come in for just a minute, then.”

She walked across the living room, dimly lit by two lamps, toward the kitchen. Moutarde was silent in his cage. She reached up to grab the vase from a high shelf, but David was quick, his long arm grasping it and handing it to her.

Their eyes met and for a second she thought he was going to kiss her.

Footsteps caught her attention and she turned to see Linnea hurrying in, arm outstretched.

“I’ll take those,” Linnea told her, and took the bouquet. “Ooh, pretty.”

Cara held back a smile. “Hope’s asleep already?”

Linnea put the flowers in the vase. “Out like a light.” She stopped in front of David. “Hi and good-bye, David. I just came in for a glass of water.” She poured herself a glass of water and with a final wave scooted from the room.

David’s brows rose with humor at Linnea’s pajamas. “Déjà vu.”

“Quite. Well,” Cara said, “I guess we can go.”



CHARLESTON BOASTED MANY exquisite restaurants, and this small enclave was one of her best-kept secrets. They were seated in an exquisite walled garden filled with flowers in bloom. Small garden tables draped with thick white damask dotted the patio, each with candles that flickered in the dusk. Edith Piaf sang in the background.

David consulted the wine list with the sommelier. She let her gaze float about the garden. Other couples, young and old, filled the tables, enjoying a haute cuisine meal on a soft summer night. Inside the house, candles glimmered and more couples dined. She smiled to herself, realizing that David had selected a romantic, quiet restaurant rather than a showy one. Her attention shifted to the man across the table.

David had become so much more than the friendly, good-looking man who’d delivered Heather to the beach house a few years back. He’d become an important part of her and Hope’s lives. Cara was a woman who enjoyed handsome men and had dated many in her life, discarding them without a second thought. Only Brett had risen above the pack to claim her heart. She sensed that David could—if she would let him—claim it as well.

He handed the wine list to the waiter and, eyes gleaming in the candlelight, focused his attention on her. “I think you’re going to like what I selected. I had a little fun with wine pairing. I hope you’ll enjoy it.”

“In that case, I’d best pace myself.”

“Why? I’m driving.”

“I’m a terrible drunk. I get all weepy.”

“You? I can’t imagine you weepy. In that case, I hope you do get a bit tipsy so I can witness the other side of the usually implacable Cara Rutledge.”

“Implacable? Me? My dear boy, you have a lot to learn about me.”

David grinned. “I look forward to it.”

The waiter arrived at the perfect moment.

“Champagne,” Cara exclaimed, pleased. “I love good bubbly. What’s the occasion?”

“Isn’t being together enough of an occasion?”

She gazed at him over the glass as she took a sip. “Tell me about London,” Cara said, moving the conversation in a new direction. “It’s been ages since I’ve been. How is the queen?” she asked jokingly.

“In residence. The Union Jack was flying.”

“What was the urgent business?”

“Oh, you don’t want to talk about my business.”

“Actually, I do. You may not believe this, but there are women who have a good mind for business. I happen to be one of them.”

He appeared chagrined. “I didn’t want to start expounding. Once I do, it’s hard to stop me. I’m much more interested in you.”

“I appreciate that. However, I’m interested in you, too. I want you to tell me everything. Every last detail.”

Gradually, haltingly, David opened up about his business venture. As he began to expand on what his work in London entailed, she became aware for the first time of how involved he was with his company. She’d fallen into the mistaken impression that David was retired, dabbling in stocks and enjoying time with his grandson. Tonight she listened, spellbound, as he spoke with confidence and authority.

“The phenomenon of unmanned aerial vehicles is pretty exciting. We’ve taken the stuff of sci-fi movies and books and turned it into reality.”

“You’re in drones?” she asked, stunned.

“Yes. Or rather, my company makes the small cameras that are attached to drones. Drones are not only for hobbyists and tech-savvy enthusiasts anymore. Businesses and decision makers worldwide are seriously interested. The technological developments and advancements in the field of smart electronics are breathtaking.”

“But, you’re a lawyer. How did you get involved?”

“I’ve always loved electronics as a hobby. And I flew . . . still do on occasion. This seemed a natural fit. I invested in this small startup years ago. We went public in 2016, and since then”—he spread out his palms—“the growth has been exponential. And it’s still expected to skyrocket. The more involved I got, the more interested I became. So much so that I retired from my law practice to focus on the company.”