EXCERPT: CHAPTER ONE, Part 3
“Luci.”
She turned and, sure enough, there he stood, camera raised to his
eye. He took a few shots and then backed away and took some more. Still
more while down on one knee and yet another couple while standing with
feet planted apart. Finally, he lowered the camera.
“Are you finished now?” Her words came out sharper than she’d intended. She must be in worse shape than she’d realized.
He frowned. “Not okay to take your picture? You’re the guest of honor. Besides, you’re a good subject.”
“You didn’t give me any warning. I probably need to comb my hair or something.”
“Your hair is fine. The sunlight caught it just right.” He tilted his
head. “It’s been—what?—a year since we’ve seen each other?”
“Yes, about that.”
“Your last year at the U go okay?”
“It did.”
She looked toward the water again—where the lowering sun spread rays
of red, yellow and orange along the horizon—and wanted more than ever to
take that walk on the beach. But the talk and laughter drifting across
the lawn reminded her that the party offered an escape, too.
“I’d better get back to my guests,” she said. “But thanks for coming, Cody, and good luck with your next assignment.”
He laid a hand on her arm. “Don’t say goodbye yet. I’ll be around for
a while. In a town as small as Willow Beach, we’re bound to run into
each other.”
Just then, Don came toward them, waving his hand. “There you are, Cody. Been looking for you. Glen Thomas wants a word.”
Cody raised his eyebrows. “The chamber of commerce president wants to talk to me? Why?”
“Don shrugged. “Don’t know. He didn’t say.”
“Okay,” Cody said. “See you later, Luci.”
“Sure. See you…later.”
Luci hugged herself as she watched Cody and Don head back to the
party. She’d thought she was telling the truth when she said she was
over Cody. But the moment she laid eyes on him tonight, all her old
feelings came rushing back.
Why did he have to return to Willow Beach, even for a short while,
just when she was settling in again with her family and her new job?
* * *
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