All By Myself_A Table for One Romance Read online

  “No, although that oldest brother was cute.” Her broad smile narrowed. “Did you ever watch The Wiltons?”

  “Occasionally, if someone else had it on, but not in a long time.”

  “They had an idyllic family. Not perfect, but they worked together to solve their problems and had a genuine love for each other. They’re how I always imagined my family would be once I had one.”

  “And you thought getting married here would jumpstart that?”

  “I know it sounds stupid, but yes.” She trailed a toe along the floor and wouldn’t make eye contact.

  “It’s not, but you realize the show is simply that. A television show. Fiction.”

  She shook her head with passionate vehemence. “It’s based off the creator’s family and true-life characters. I realize many of the plots were exaggerated, but at its core was a show that trumpets family.”

  “If it makes you happy, that’s all that matters.” He offered a smile and pointed to the window with a view of a mountain peak. “I won’t complain about taking a week off work and enjoying the scenery.”

  “Thanks for understanding.”

  His phone rang, and he knew without looking that it was Jon calling. “I better go meet your fiancé before he sends the rescue squad.”

  “Don’t forget we’re all having dinner together tonight.”

  “I won’t.” He left the room and ran down the steps, pulling his phone from his pocket as he went.

  Once outside, he called Jon. “I’m on my way. I’ll be there in five minutes.”

  Jon gave a sigh that oddly sounded like relief. “Would you mind swinging by the bakery first?”

  “The bakery?”

  “I wanted to surprise Lisa with a romantic picnic breakfast tomorrow including chocolate covered strawberries, but I left my wallet in the room.”

  “Where is it?” When he’d driven in last night, darkness had already covered the town.

  “Make a left out of the inn and turn right at the second stop sign. That will put you on Main Street, and the bakery is two blocks down. If you come to Myrtle’s Eatery, you’ve gone too far.”

  “Doesn’t sound too complicated. I’ll be there in a few.”

  “Thanks. I’ll pay you back when I get my wallet.”

  “Don’t worry about it.” He hung up and slid the phone into his pocket then opened his car door.

  His first official wedding week duty had arrived. His load would only increase as more of the guests arrived in the coming days, but he’d gladly do whatever he could to make this week perfect for his two best friends. Despite his new inklings of desire for a wife of his own, he didn’t harbor one bit of jealousy toward Jon and Lisa. If anyone deserved happiness, they did.

  Chapter Three

  Kira drove into the town of Pell’s Peak with two hours to spare before she could check into her room at Coralee’s Inn. She passed down Main Street, smiling at the stores she saw. Many had names of businesses that had been featured on the tv show. Had they existed since the early twentieth century, or had they popped up as a result of the show’s fame?

  Her stomach grumbled, sending her a sharp reminder she needed to eat. She kept an eye out for a diner to stop at, but a bakery stole her attention first. A cupcake sounded delightful. She pulled into the parking lot, deciding to pick up a treat for later that night.

  Once inside, she stared through the glass display of sweets and treats. Cupcakes of every flavor filled the shelves. Strawberry, chocolate, pecan, even banana. Pastries she’d never heard of gave her new possibilities to consider. Her mouth salivated while she attempted to narrow her choice down to only one.

  Was that possible?

  I’m on vacation. I can indulge.

  That still left her to eliminate a dozen options to choose the pair that most captivated her, and that was just from the cupcake selection. It shouldn’t be a big deal, but she limited her sugar intake. A treat like this was a rare occurrence, and she didn’t want to blow it on the wrong choice.

  Behind the counter, a woman with a cake embroidered on her apron approached her. “Have you decided yet or do you need more time?”

  “There are too many choices. How can I choose just one?”

  “Easy.” The lady winked then swept a hand over the display case. “You pick out several and save them for later.”

  Kira laughed and glanced over the case again. “I like the way you think. What do you suggest?”

  “The banana cupcake with buttercream icing is my favorite.”

  “Is it like a banana muffin?” She’d never heard of banana in cake form, but she hadn’t heard of it in a milkshake either until last summer, and she had loved that.

  “They’re similar, but the cake is heavier and sweeter. Don’t let that scare you away—it won’t earn you any diet favors, but you won’t regret the calorie splurge.” The women leaned forward with a confident air. “It’s that good.”

  “Give me one of those, and what would you suggest for my second choice?”

  “A slice of our Italian cream cake or a chocolate mousse parfait.” The women pointed to each in the case as she said them.

  Kira brushed away any thoughts of the pounds they would add, reasoning she was on vacation and would also work them off on the hikes she planned to take. “I haven’t had Italian cream cake in years. Add a slice of that, please.”

  She stepped to the register and waited for her items. Her gaze traveled to a man sitting on a stool by the window. He watched outside while waiting for his friend—she’d overheard his phone call a few minutes ago.

  “Here you go.” The woman behind the counter handed her a white paper bag filled with two plastic containers.

  Peeking in, Kira saw the banana cupcake on top. The mildly fruity and immensely sugary scent teased her. She handed over cash, and when the employee handed her the change, Kira dropped it in the tip jar.

  She walked outside, inhaled the mountain air. Pine-covered peaks jutted from the ground as far as her eye could see. Fluffy, cotton clouds dotted the sky in sporadic placement. And to think I almost missed out on this.

  Grateful she’d decided to claim her vacation prize, she strolled to her rental sports coupe the radio station had paid for. She sunk into the tan, premium leather seats and sighed as they cradled her body.

  Pure luxury. She’d certainly never traveled this lavishly on her mission trips.

  Once situated in the seat, she put the car into reverse.

  Saccharine aromas seeping through the bag tempted her beyond self-control. “One little taste of frosting won’t hurt.”

  She reached over, felt in the bag until she found the front side of the container, and blindly pried the plastic tabs open. The smell of bananas filled the small car. I really shouldn’t, but… She swiped a finger through the frosting as she backed out. Raised her finger to her mouth.

  Crunch. The clang of metal against metal ripped Kira’s attention from the cupcake. She jerked her head, dropping the bite of frosting onto her lap, and looked in the side mirror to catch a glimpse of sparks at the collision mark where she’d backed into someone.

  Her heart pounded. She never drove distracted, didn’t even keep her phone turned on when driving. The one time she didn’t give the road her entire attention. The car—how much damage was there? Would she be responsible for it, or did the rental company carry the liability? Who had she hit? Were they okay?

  Thoughts flooded her mind quicker than she could process them. She brought herself under control. Where had she put the rental papers? She had to show the person something. Her fingers shook, and she fumbled to open the console. Exhaling a relieved sigh when she saw them, she grabbed the envelope.

  Quickly scanning for information on accidents, she saw she’d enrolled for the extra insurance. One question answered. Next she looked for a phone number to call.

  Before she could find it, someone knocked on her window.

  She turned and saw a tall man with thick brown hair and a sturdy, mu
scular build. Gulping, she opened the door.

  “Are you okay, ma’am?” He tilted his head and peered at her.

  “Yes.” She stood to her feet, surprised how steady they were. All those security scares overseas had trained her well. “Are you the person I hit?”

  He nodded. “A little fender bender. Doesn’t look like much damage.”

  “I saw sparks.”

  “It was how it hit.” His eyes didn’t leave her. “You didn’t answer if you’re okay. That is what’s important.”

  “I am. More aggravated at myself than anything.” To top it off, the frosting chose that moment to loosen its grip on her pants and fall to the ground. She slid her foot in front of it to hide the culprit. “I’m sorry for backing into you.”

  “As long as you’re not harmed.”

  “This is a rental car. I need to call their emergency number for the information to give you.” She offered an apologetic smile in hopes of smoothing over the situation although the man came off laid back.

  “That’s fine.” He pointed to his vehicle. “I’ll pull up and park in this spot and run into the bakery while you call. A friend is waiting on me for money.”

  Great. She’d hit the man who was coming to the man inside’s rescue. Nothing like making a grand entrance into town. “Should we call the police?”

  He shook his head. “Your car took the brunt of the damage, and if we call them, you’ll end up with a ticket you could otherwise avoid.”

  She wrinkled her forehead. Was this man for real? Who approached an accident with a lackadaisical demeanor? Not that she was complaining. “Do you want to take my license or anything inside with you as collateral in case I drive off?”

  A hearty chuckle burst from him, and his eyes twinkled. “If you want to run off, you wouldn’t have asked that.”

  “It could all be a game.” Be quiet, Kira. Just shush before you dig yourself deeper.

  “I’ll take my chances.” He winked before returning to his car and moving it. Once the vehicle had been removed from the lane, the man exited and looked at her. “Take your time with the call and get all the information you need. I’ll be inside.”

  “Thanks for being so understanding.”

  “That’s my specialty.” An odd expression breezed over his face but disappeared in an instant. He extended an arm. “Matt Chandler, by the way.”

  She shook his hand. “Kira Whatley.”

  His gaze lowered to the ground with a smirk. “Any suggestions for a treat to pick up while I’m in there?”

  Can I sink into the ground now? “I, uh, heard the banana cupcake is outstanding.” She dropped her line of vision to the now conspicuous frosting. “I wouldn’t know yet, though.”

  She watched him walk away and didn’t shift her gaze until he’d entered the bakery. Shaking her head in disbelief, she climbed back into the car and found the number. What a day, and it was barely past noon.

  The call to the rental company only took ten minutes, all of which produced positive answers, which helped ease the last of her heightened nerves. There was little she disliked more than spending her time on the phone for customer service, only to end the call with no answers or solutions.

  Fortunately, she’d elected for the additional insurance coverage, and the representative also suggested she call her own insurance company. She didn’t realize some policies also covered accidents in rental cars under a customer’s personal policy. She gave them a call, so she’d know if she needed to give that insurance information as well. If she did, she’d need the policy information since she kept her card tucked in the glove box of her personal vehicle. Back in Louisiana.

  What a vacation. With a heavy sigh, she wondered if this were a sign of things to come. Maybe she should have stayed home.

  The bag sitting on the passenger seat caught her attention and reminded her that this accident only happened because she’d been careless. In no way could she twist the situation other than for what it was. Besides, it could have been worse. If she had to back into a vehicle, at least it belonged to an understanding person.

  She stepped out of her car and examined the damage, a task she probably should have performed right away, but her jumbled nerves mixed messages with her mind. The back corner of her rental sustained substantial damage, but not to a level that rendered it undriveable. Matt’s car had a few scratches and a broken headlight. Despite the low level of damage, her stomach rolled with guilt.

  Drawing in a long breath, she squared her shoulders to march inside and get the unpleasantries out of the way, so she could restart her vacation on a brighter note.

  Chapter Four

  Matt sat in a patio chair on the back deck of Coralee’s Inn and watched the sun set behind the Shenandoah Mountains. He breathed in, filling his lungs with air, then slowly exhaled. Today had been one for the books.

  He’d expected a relaxing day, but he’d been going nonstop since he stopped to visit Lisa earlier this morning. After he’d taken money to Jon at the bakery, he’d gone to lunch with his friend then to a local auto shop to have his headlight repaired. The scratches could wait, but he didn’t want to drive in the dark on unknown roads, especially mountain ones, with a shortage of illumination.

  The extra cost made him cringe. His career as a teacher fulfilled him but would never make him rich. He should have waited for the insurance claim, but again, he didn’t want to drive with the headlight out.

  It had nothing to do with the cute redhead?

  He chuckled to himself. Kira Whatley amused him. Some men might have been annoyed and called her an airhead for backing into them or muttered that she was a typical female driver, but Matt didn’t see the point. She appeared genuinely remorseful, and no one was hurt. What would be accomplished by letting in anger?

  Maybe that’s why he found himself perpetually stuck in the friend zone—because he was too nice, but he couldn’t change his personality. Life had taught him to roll with the punches. It was that or let the misery weigh him down, which to him, wasn’t an option at all.

  Kira emanated that same vibe. She’d been shaken but stayed positive throughout the entire ordeal and level-headed. When she’d come inside to give him the information, she’d even made several jokes and laughed.

  Along with admitting she couldn’t wait to try the cupcake she’d purchased minutes before the accident. That explained the icing falling off her pants.

  Few, if any, women he knew would have admitted that.

  If he hadn’t made plans for lunch already with Jon, he would have invited her to sit down and have a coffee with him. Alas, he wasn’t in Pell’s Peak to meet a woman. Not that he wanted to. First, he didn’t want a long-distance relationship, and the chances of meeting someone from near his home in Maryland were slim, though he wouldn’t claim impossible. Pell’s Peak was only a few hours from home.

  Second, he didn’t believe in summer romances. Even though April hadn’t ended yet, the concept was the same. Why get involved with a woman only to have it end when the vacation ended? He was too old for those types of games. If he invested in a relationship, he wanted it to count.

  Finally, this week was about Jon and Lisa. Their marriage had been a long time coming, and they deserved the best wedding possible. He wouldn’t do anything to distract from their special day. He took his position as best man seriously, but more than that, he valued his role as their friend.

  When the sky faded from orange to purple to black, Matt decided to return to his room. The best man speech still waited to be written, and every time he put the words to paper, they seemed wholly inadequate. How could he give justice to how much these two meant to him? He wouldn’t be the man he was today without their friendships.

  Lisa kept him grounded over the years, always encouraging him not to give up when he became disillusioned with his job. She reminded him it wasn’t about the paperwork that often overshadowed teaching, but about instilling a lifetime love of learning and hope into his students. That he was the only
mentor some of his students might ever have. With her gentle prodding and encouraging words, he would fall in love once again with his job.

  And Jon. The friend who had led him to Christ. His life, both here on earth and for eternity, would be completely different if not for Jon’s influence. They might not be related by blood or home placement, but they were brothers in Christ, and that stood for a lot.

  Too bad the deck didn’t have more lighting—he’d bring his notebook downstairs and sit outside longer. The open air drew his creative juices out of their hiding places. If he didn’t make progress on the speech tonight, he’d set his alarm for early and come down to experience the morning bloom into day. He wouldn’t see the sunrise from this angle, but he imagined the view would be spectacular, nonetheless.

  He stood to his feet and grabbed his empty soda can, tossed it in the recycling bin by the door. Patting his pockets, he checked for his phone before remembering he’d left it in his room. Ahh, that’s why the night felt extraordinarily peaceful. A recovering phone junkie, he’d been making conscious efforts since Christmas to not have it with him at all times. The difference in how free he felt without it constantly attached to his person amazed him.

  Several people hung out in the common area of the inn, but overall, a quiet, peaceful atmosphere filled the space. On a whim, he stopped by the front desk and grabbed several brochures for reading material. He had all of Wednesday free while Jon, Lisa, and her bridesmaids checked on last-minute details at the wedding venue.

  Climbing the stairs two at a time, he planned the rest of his night. He’d work on the speech, browse the brochures, and catch a late-night movie if he could find one on the television stations offered. A smirk formed. He could always watch unlimited episodes of The Wiltons, which played on a loop broadcast by a local cable access network.

  He’d pass—nothing against the show, but it wasn’t his flavor. Whenever he watched a historical show or movie, he preferred war themes. Crime dramas on the networks were his go-to overall, though. Man, he could get sucked into one and not realize how much time had gone by.