At least she could escape for the Fourth of July weekend. She was sure Mark and the others no more wanted her at the picnic than she wanted to be there. Which reminded her that she’d better let Susan know she was coming.
She picked up her cell phone and punched her friend’s number on the speed dial.
“How’d your first day go?” Susan asked when she came on the line and they’d exchanged greetings.
“Stressful, but I managed to make it through to the end. What’s new at the magazine?”
“Rolling along at high speed, as usual. Today a bunch of us went to lunch at the Four Seasons.”
“Oh, one of my favorite places.”
“I know, and you were missed.”
“Has anyone been hired to replace me yet?”
“Nope. Still interviewing.”
“I’d like to think it’s because my shoes are hard to fill,” Eva joked.
Susan laughed. “No doubt.”
They chatted for a few minutes, then Eva said, “Okay if I come up for the Fourth? Trying out my own guest room will be fun.”
The silence that followed raised an alarm. Then Susan said, “Oh, Eva, I’m sorry, but my cousins Julie and Lanette are coming for the holiday. You could sleep on the sofa, though.”
Eva pictured the curved sofa in her living room, comfortable to sit on but hardly suitable as a bed. “No, I don’t think that would work.”
“How about the weekend after that?”
“I really wanted to come for the Fourth.”
“I don’t know what to say, except I’m sorry.”
They talked a few minutes longer and then said goodbye. Eva punched off the call, heavy with disappointment.
Now, unless she wanted to hide out in her apartment or go someplace other than Seattle, she had no excuse for not attending the Willow Beach Fourth of July celebration.
CHAPTER FIVE
IF THERE WAS ONE THING Eva wasn’t going to give up with her move to the coast, it was exercise. At home, she belonged to a health club located in downtown Seattle, not far from the office, so she could stop in before or after work. Sometimes, she even squeezed in a short session during her lunch hour. The club had an indoor track, various exercise machines, a swimming pool and a hot tub. Everything she needed to stay fit.
Such a place was not to be found in Willow Beach. Knowing that, she’d brought a few weights to use in her apartment. For running, there was the outside track at the high school, but it was far enough away to require driving. That left the beach. The hard-packed sand near the water’s edge provided a good running track and, best of all, it was only a couple blocks from her apartment.
After her third day at the newspaper, Eva put on her jogging shorts, an oversize T-shirt and running shoes. She buckled on her waist pouch and tied a scarf around her head, then left her apartment and headed along the access road to the beach. Weaving through grass-topped dunes that rose and dipped like tiny mountains, she made her way to the shoreline. Overhead, seagulls searching for their supper swooped and cawed while shorebirds on stick legs dodged the breaking waves.
She stopped and took in the scene, memories rolling over her. When they were little, the beach had been a playground for her and Brett. Their mother would sit on a blanket and read while they waded in the water and dug in the sand and chased the seagulls. Years after that, Brett would race along the shore in the car their father bought for him. And now they were gone, all three of them. And she was back here in Willow Beach with only her memories.
Pushing away those troubling thoughts, she took a deep breath and started off, relishing the fresh air and cool sea breeze. The sun had dipped low in the sky, and the surrounding clouds promised a spectacular sunset. Other walkers and joggers were out today, and a few cars passed by, but given the beach’s considerable breadth, there was room for them all.
A man jogging toward her caught her eye. Mark? She squinted across the expanse separating them. Yep, it was Mark. Oh, great. After spending the workday together, she didn’t relish seeing him off-hours. She’d acknowledge him and keep running.
When they were almost abreast, Eva lifted her arm, but Mark skidded to a halt.
“Hey, Eva!”
Reluctantly, she broke her stride. “Mark. Didn’t...expect to see you...here.”
His sleeveless T-shirt showed off more of his arms than usual and his running shorts revealed legs just as strong as she’d imagined. She tried not to stare.
Mark puffed his cheeks and whooshed out a breath. “That...goes for me, too. Didn’t know you were into running.” His gaze swept her from head to toe. “Not that you aren’t, uh, fit—”
She hid a smile. So he was checking her out, too. “I belong to a health club at home. No such thing here, though.”
“There’s always the track at the high school. If I’m not there, I’m out here. Clears my head. And what better setting?” He made a sweeping gesture at their surroundings.
“I’ve always loved this beach,” she admitted.
He propped his hands on his hips. “So, not everything about Willow Beach is a bummer.”
“No, not everything.”
Conversation died, yet neither made a move to resume running. Eva retied her scarf, wondering what kept her rooted to the spot.
Finally, she said, “Well, see you tomorrow.” She took a step forward.
“Eva—”
She stopped and turned. “Yes?” Oh, man, she sounded so...eager. Where had that come from?
“How about I join you for the rest of your run and then we grab a cup of coffee or something? The Beach Café on Seaview Avenue has outdoor tables. It’s a nice evening....”
Spend more time with Mark, when she’d told herself moments ago she didn’t even want to stop her jog to speak to him? Still, the prospect of returning to her drab apartment once her run was over held little appeal. Why not accept his invitation?
She tilted her head and adopted a teasing tone. “I don’t know.... Think you can keep up with me?”
He lifted his chin. “I’m not worried. Are you?”
“Not in the least. You’re on.”
“Okay. The café’s in the direction you’re headed.” He pointed down the beach. “My car’s at that end, too, and when we’re finished, I’ll give you a lift home.”
She wasn’t sure about the lift-home part, but she’d worry about that when the time came. She nodded, and they started off. Despite her bragging, Mark’s stride challenged her, but she kept up well enough to earn an admiring glance or two.
After a while, he slowed and pointed toward a pile of driftwood above the tide line. “How about taking a break?”
“Tired already?” she teased.
“Nope. Just thought watching the sun set would be nice.”
She glanced toward the horizon, where the sun blazed a brilliant trail of orange and yellow as it slid toward the sea. “Okay. Looks like it’s going to be a good show.”
She jogged with him to the driftwood. After taking a few minutes to stretch and cool down, they sat side by side on one of the logs. The lowering sun spread its glow through drifting clouds and along the horizon while the outline of a freighter appeared and disappeared with the undulation of the waves.
Mark leaned back and propped his elbows on the log behind them.