Free Ready to Fall by Daisy Prescott Page B

“Oh, John. I’m sorry. What happened? The ex?”
    “Pretty much. The not-so-ex is less ex than I thought. I told her I’m out until she knows what she’s doing. I might be catnip for the ladies, but I’ve never gotten mixed up in a marriage.”
    “Catnip?” Her lip quirked and she fought a smile.
    “You’d be surprised. I’m the whole fantasy. Beard. Brawn. Wholesome.”
    Her eyebrow raised at the last word.
    “Yes, wholesome. Dinner every Sunday night with the family kind of guy.”
    “Really?” Her voice filled with surprise.
    “Honest. In fact, you’ve been invited to join us some time. Being friendly islanders, they want to show you some hospitality. My aunt is worried you don’t know anyone.”
    “Wait, your family knows about me?”
    I realized too late I had admitted to telling my family about her.
    “Sure. Small island. They asked about Maggie and I told them you’d moved in.” The truth, not the whole truth, but still honest.
    “That’s nice of them. Everyone here’s been pretty welcoming on the surface. I get the feeling people don’t get attached to the new arrivals.”
    “A lot of people have the romantic idea about living on an island. Most don’t last. Isolation and rural quiet aren’t for everyone.”
    “I can definitely see that. I could use a change of scenery and I’ve only lived here a few weeks.”
    “The rest of the world is only a ferry ride away. You could take the boat over to Everett and go to the mall.”
    “Thanks!” She swatted my arm.
    “What? Girls like shopping and malls. We don’t have that much here unless you drive up to Oak Harbor.”
    “I’m good, thanks. Not like I have a life and need clothes. I have my sweater, I’m good.”
    I chuckled watching her pet her arms. “Okay, you’re atypical. No malls for you. Still, might be good to go blow the stink off once and a while.”
    “You think I smell?” She huffed and turned to take a sip of her beer.
    “It’s an expression my uncle uses. Means get out of your routine. Maybe we should head over to Port Townsend sometime. You’d like it.”
    “I could use a change of view. Stink or no stink.”
    “Then we’ll go. We take the ferry over from Ft. Casey.”
    “I have no idea where that is. I’m realizing I haven’t explored the island. I come to Langley, I buy groceries, I get coffee from the Fellowship of the Bean … sometimes I even go out to eat by myself. Pretty boring.”
    “Totally boring. You need a life, Diane.”
    “Geez, it’s a wonder why the women swarm. You’re so flattering on a girl’s ego.”
    “They don’t like me for the ego stroking.” I winked and we both cracked up. “Seriously, I’m an honest guy. I never lie. I compliment what I like and don’t think telling a woman she’s pretty should ever be held back.”
    Her eyes met mine and we stared at each other for a beat or two. I noticed her eyes had flecks of green and gold in the middle. What had at first appeared to be average brown, was in fact beautiful.
    “You have beautiful eyes,” I said, emphasizing my words about not holding back compliments.
    She broke our eye contact and mumbled a thank you.
    “See? Never miss the opportunity to compliment.”
    She scanned my face. Resolving herself, she straightened on her stool, and she set down her pint glass. “I think we should make a pact.”
    “What kind of pact?”
    “Neither of us wants to swim in the relationship pool again anytime soon, right?”
    I nodded.
    “And we’ve already agreed we’re friends,” she said.
    “Sure.” Where was she going with this?
    “Friends hang out and do things, fun things, all the time. Look at tonight, for example. This was fun. A movie and a drink. Some might think of it as a date. But it isn’t a date because we’re friends.”
    The idea tonight could be conceived as a date never crossed my mind. Sure I liked Diane, but I’d never even considered this being that kind of night out. Dates ended in good night kisses or