Summer With The Marine (Blue Bay Beach Reads Book 1) Read online

  Billie held up her hands to stop them with the kind of command reserved for military generals. “Do you speak English?” she asked.

  They both nodded then said, “Yes,” in unison.

  “Are you literate?”

  Again, they both nodded.

  “What’s the greatest movie of all time?” Billie asked.

  “Mamma Mia,” Eisley said.

  “The Summer House,” Gorgeous answered.

  Billie shrugged. “That’ll do. You’re hired. Can you start now? Betty is here today and she can show you the ropes.” She didn’t wait for an answer but went to the kitchen window and slid a slip on the counter, slapped it, and called, “Order in.”

  “Don’t you want to know about my last job?” Eisley asked, hurrying after Billie.

  “I have my references and resume here for you,” Gorgeous said, holding out a folder.

  “Have you ever waited tables?” Billie asked them.

  Eisley and Gorgeous turned to each other. “No.”

  “But I’ve worked in retail, sold Scooters, did landscaping, held numerous office jobs, and I served ice cream for three summers while I was in high school.” Eisley listed just some of her previous jobs.

  “Ding, ding, ding. You’re in.” Billie pointed at Eisley then strode across the dining room to a table full of customers.

  A hand gripped Eisley’s arm. She glanced back. An older woman who just barely reached Eisley’s shoulder looked up at her and then at Gorgeous. Her white hair was pulled back in a clip and bangs skimmed her eyebrows. Her skin was deeply tan and the lines in her face indicated she’d spent many summers at Blue Bay Beach.

  “I’m Betty. Don’t mind Billie. She’s busy. I’ll help you get started.”

  At that, Betty showed them around the restaurant. “Don’t be late. Do be polite. The customer is always right except when they’re wrong. We pool tips and you get one free meal per shift,” Betty said matter of fact.

  Two hours later, they prepared for the dinner rush.

  Gorgeous turned out to be a woman named Claudia who’d just moved to town from San Francisco. They were each assigned a section of the dining room and dove right in.

  Betty was more helpful than Billie, but both clearly believed in trial by fire.

  Eisley managed to only get two orders mixed up.

  Claudia forgot to put one order in, but the cooks were kind, forgiving, and quick to prepare the missing meal.

  During a lull, Betty said, “Okay, time for initiation.

  “Wait? Wasn’t—” Eisley didn’t say more when Billie approached. She’d thought getting thrown into waiting tables right away was the trial, but maybe they were going to throw them into the water below the dock. Even with the sea breeze, it was hot after rushing around the dining room all evening and she wouldn’t mind taking a swim.

  “I don’t think Mr. Fisher would approve of your so-called initiation, Betty,” Billie said sternly.

  “If you’re talking about the former owner? He’s dead,” Betty said and arched an eyebrow in Billie’s direction.

  Claudia flinched.

  “May he rest in peace.” Betty folded her hands and bowed slightly.

  “I think Billie meant her fiancé or husband,” Claudia said, pointing at the ring on Billie’s finger.

  Betty squawked a laugh. “Fiancé? Husband? He doesn’t exist.” Betty glared at the ring on Billie’s finger.

  She rolled her eyes. “I wear it so no one asks me out. Believe me, half the guys who come in here aren’t worth it.”

  “What about the other half?” Claudia asked.

  “Are you both single?” Betty asked. “We know Billie is.”

  Claudia nodded.

  Eisley glanced at her, not so sure that was the right answer. She suddenly wished she wore a fake wedding ring like Billie.

  “Okay, are you ready for the initiation?” Betty asked.

  “No,” Claudia and Eisley both said.

  “The rule is, you have to go on a date with the next fellow you wait on.”

  “Is this, like, a dare?” Eisley asked.

  The older woman smiled and nodded. “It looks like the both of you could use a little fun in your lives. Plus, it’s summer. There’s nothing like summer love.”

  Eisley wasn’t looking for fun or love. She was looking for a steady job, good tips, and for the summer to pass quickly.

  Billie smirked.

  “Oh, you’re in too, dear,” Betty said, snagging Billie’s arm.

  “No, no. I’m not in the dating game.” The restaurant owner held her hands up again. Apparently, it didn’t have the same effect on the more senior waitress as it had on the two new servers.

  “You’ll draw straws to see who goes first.” Betty presented them.

  Eisley drew the shortest one.

  “You’re up first, but you girls will take turns so I can keep up.” Betty’s eyes twinkled. “Next new customer is your first date, Eisley.”

  “Actually, she hasn’t waited on that guy yet,” Claudia said, pointing diagonally across the room.

  “I was getting over there, but Betty here got me distracted by her talk of initiation. I didn’t know I was getting involved in a secret society or a sorority.”

  “Well, you can consider us sisters. We’re all family at Coconut Cove Café. Now, off you go.” Betty clapped her hands.

  Eisley started walking in the direction of the table and then glanced back. She needed the job, but she didn’t want to date anyone. She could just go along with it for the evening and then brush the whole thing off. She pushed her shoulders back, lifted her chin, and took a deep breath.

  The customer’s broad back was toward her as he leaned on the table and studied the menu. His white T-shirt stretched across the taut muscles of his back. A tattoo on his bulging biceps peeked out from the sleeve—definitely a military symbol. His close-cropped hair couldn’t decide if it was dark blond or light brown, just like Eisley’s. She smoothed her fingers through her own hair, reminded of her best friend, the boy who’d forever won her heart, and then, much like her father, disappeared into the military. Only, as far as she knew he wasn’t missing in action.

  No, he was sitting at the table at the Coconut Cove Café.

  Chapter 2

  Ford

  Ford sensed someone approaching from behind. He’d have sat with his back to the wall, but the walls were mostly windows at the restaurant so he angled himself the best he could to get a view of the open air and ocean along with the dining room. His muscles tensed as the floorboards creaked at his back. “Dude, you’re a civilian now. It’s okay,” he murmured.

  Ford’s discharge officer had suggested—and since he was senior to him, suggest was all he could do—that the marine see a counselor for a few weeks as he integrated back into society.

  The counselor had suggested Ford put himself in situations that were mildly uncomfortable to prove to himself that he was safe and didn’t have to always be on high alert. It was a way to retrain his mind so he could relax after serving in the military for over a decade. He owed it to Coco and to anyone who had the unfortunate experience of crossing his path if he was zone-ready, as the infantry unit called it. He also practiced a few of the cleansing breaths the counselor had taught him.

  Previously, his life had been organized, regimented, and strategic. Recently, it had turned random, chaotic, and a battle to stay awake after a few long nights of teething.

  Ford sighed, scrubbed his hand over his face, and sat up straight as the waitress reached the table.

  “I’m supposed to ask you on a date,” she blurted.

  At those words and the familiar sounding voice, a jolt of shock rushed through him, but his face remained an impassive plane. Ford hadn’t yet retrained himself to express emotion.

  Eisley Higgins stood in front of him with a black apron tied around her waist and her dirty blond hair hanging to her shoulders. Dark eye makeup circled her honey brown eyes and her lips were stained a fain
t pink. Her T-shirt said No Bad Days. She wore sneakers on her feet and shifted from side to side as a full-body ripple moved from her head to her toes. She was never good at hiding her feelings and was somehow as cute as he remembered, having hardly aged at all. In fact, she was prettier than ever. A ripple moved through him that had nothing to do with nerves.

  Ford couldn’t help but stare.

  Her eyes grew wider.

  “Actually, I think you’re supposed to ask how I’m doing, if you can get me anything to drink, or if I’m ready to place my order. Any of those would’ve been appropriate.” His tone was light, joking.

  Her mouth opened and closed. Color rose to her cheeks. “You don’t recognize—?”

  Ford nodded and then gave into the smirk forming on his lips. “Of course I recognize you. Or you could’ve asked me where I’ve been.”

  “Or what you’re doing here.” Her sweet voice was practically a whisper.

  “I’m here for the summer,” he answered.

  “Me too.” Her eyes danced over him, likely taking in the fact that his once athletic build had morphed into what the guys in his platoon referred to as being a tank. They had other names for him too like The Beast, Scarface, and Captain America among others.

  When Ford had enlisted, he went to Parris Island, South Carolina and after four years, moved up in rank to become Sargent of Marines. He was in the Lima Company, Third Battalion, Seventh Marine Regiment. They were known as the “Cutting Edge” unit that had consistently seen action since World War Two. The unit was so finely honed, it was said their fighting knives could “cut a toothpick in half lengthwise.” When the Lieutenant was mortally wounded, he was assigned to take over the platoon and got a field grade commission as Second Lieutenant. When he got out, he was Captain but went into the reserves acting as Major of Marines. The men were like his brothers, his family, but never had he felt so at home as he did right then, seeing Eisley.

  Ford got to his feet and the chair clattered. He wrapped her in a hug. Amidst all the uncertainty, the upheaval, and the straight-up insanity of the last weeks of his life, Eisley, the most solid, loyal, and level headed person he’d ever known had appeared. He was quite certain God existed—even amidst the horror of war, he felt especially like someone was shining down a ray of sunlight on him and it had nothing to do with the Florida weather.

  Gratitude washed over him and he hoped he passed it to her because he wasn’t sure he’d be able to find the words to express the way he felt—that wasn’t his strong suit.

  She felt smaller in his arms than he remembered or maybe he was bigger. His biceps were nearly the size of her head as he gripped her tight, holding fast like she was an anchor in the stormiest sea—weather worse than any war he’d fought in. Well, almost.

  “Ford, you’re crushing me,” she choked out.

  He stepped back. “Sorry. This is such a surprise.”

  She stood there, order pad in hand as her expression spanned the spectrum from wide-eyed and shocked to smiling and full of glee like the Eisley he’d always known. Then she closed down with a scowl—an expression he’d never seen before.

  “What were you saying about a date?” Not that he was in the market. No, his life had just become supremely complicated and women would be out of the picture for a long time. But Eisley wasn’t just any woman; they’d been best friends since third grade when he’d moved to town. They’d fallen out of touch in recent years. Well, to be precise, he’d distanced himself when feelings he knew better than to disclose overwhelmed him.

  She started laughing. That was something he hadn’t done for months, maybe years. But her laughter was welcome. It was the sound of freedom, ringing in his ears, reminding him of home.

  She turned to the restaurant counter then back to him. She cupped her hand over the side of her mouth and called, “Is this some kind of set up? Like one of those reunion shows. Mom, you can come out now,” she shouted.

  The restaurant had slowed for the evening, and Ford tugged her down to the empty chair beside him.

  “What are you talking about?” His mind was already wreathed in so much uncertainty—an entirely foreign feeling when he’d been fully trained to be in command at all times. At the moment, he was fully confused. “I don’t understand.”

  “Isn’t this some kind of joke?” Eisley asked.

  “No, I just came to grab dinner. I wanted the surf and turf. A glass of soda and a nice view. I had no idea you’d be here.”

  Her eyes flicked from him to the slivers of orange and yellow reflected off the glassy water as the last drops of sun faded.

  “Maybe it’s fate.” He shrugged.

  She got to her feet and scribbled down his order. “What kind of soda do you want, sir?”

  A crease formed between his eyebrows. “Are you mad?”

  “I thought we were friends. Best friends.” Sadness pinched her eyes as though his past wrongdoing caught up to her.

  “We should talk. So much has changed. I don’t even know where to begin.”

  Before arriving in Blue Bay Beach, Ford had received one piece of life-changing news and then a second. He had hardly processed either, which was partly what brought him to the small town. He needed to land, to regroup, and to figure things out. But whether it was fate or providence, he’d just been thrown another curveball. He wasn’t looking to date or even be in a relationship, but he had a friendship to repair. He just wasn’t sure how.

  He and Eisley had met during lunchtime at the little brick elementary school in New Jersey. It was a zoo and the cafeteria monitors were chatting in the corner. A kid named Willy Lingberry teased her about the Greek food in her lunch box. She was on the brink of tears and locked eyes with Ford.

  As though strengthened by that brief connection, instead of succumbing to sadness and embarrassment, she turned to Willy. “I dare you to try it.”

  Willy made all kinds of grossed out noises.

  Ford stepped up. “I’ll do it.” Eisley gave him a bite of what looked like a very small burrito wrapped in a green leaf and stuffed with rice and cheese. She called it a dolmade. It was delicious. He shared his Cheetos with her and they became inseparable for the next ten years. Then things had changed after prom. She got busy with college stuff and he prepared to enlist in the Marines. They hadn’t seen each other or spoken since graduation day.

  “We should talk?” she echoed his comment. “How about when you never went home for holidays or leave or whatever you call it. What about never returning my letters or calling or—?” She cut herself off.

  A guy with a sunburn and with his shirt unbuttoned one too many sauntered over. “I heard her ask you on a date. If not, I’d certainly be interested.” He leered at Eisley.

  Ford’s muscles tensed and he forced down the growl in his throat.

  Chapter 3

  Eisley

  Before Eisley could protest or explain the whole thing had been a new-employee initiation aka dare instigated by Betty, Ford got to his feet. He towered over both her and the sunbaked guy who’d asked her on a date. A scar that must have happened after high school ran from Ford’s outer left eyebrow and through what had once been his perfect cheekbone. However, it didn’t quite reach the strong edge of his jawline. “She’s taken,” Ford said.

  The other guy skulked back to his table.

  “I’m taken? No, Ford, I’m confused,” she hissed. She gazed around the dining room. “And I’m at work. It’s my first day. This is just—” She waved his order slip between them. “It’s unbelievable.” She wandered toward the order window in a daze.

  After slapping the slip down and shouting, “Order in,” she started to get him the soda he’d requested. Asking him what kind of soda was silly because he’d always just drank carbonated water with a squeeze of lemon—said it always reminded him of what life gave him—a little spin on the common saying about when life gives you lemons. She was his lemonade. Her. Their friendship. When Ford said soda, he literally meant soda water unless that
had changed. It seemed so much had.

  He’d always been strong and athletic—he’d played football in high school, but the man at table eight was another beast altogether. She wondered if being in the military had hardened him up on the inside as much as the outside. It must have considering he didn’t reach out to her for over ten years.

  “Wow. You move fast,” Claudia said with a laugh as Eisley tallied up a slip for another customer.

  “The girl skips pleasantries, awkwardness, and flirting,” Betty said.

  “She moved right into the embrace.” Billie’s eyebrow arched.

  “He’s quite the specimen,” Betty said. “And you already have competition.” Betty indicated the other guy who’d approached her.

  “I’d hardly say there was competition there.” Billie smirked.

  “No, no,” Eisley said, waving her hands in front of them. “Ford and I are friends.” She swallowed hard and corrected herself. “We were friends.”

  “This is a story I want to hear right after I bring table three yet another fork. It’s the third that the lady’s dropped since she sat down. I think she just wants me to earn my tip. Dang tourists.” Betty scowled and scooted away.

  “Claudia, will you bring him his drink?” Eisley asked the other new girl.

  “Order up, Claudia,” the cook shouted.

  Claudia bit her teeth together, revealing the perfect gap between the first two. “I’m sorry, Eisley. I forgot to put in another order and my table has been getting cranky while waiting.”

  Eisley reluctantly brought Ford his soda water with lemon.

  His elbows rested on the table and his hands were stacked with his chin resting against his massive fist. “Thanks.”

  “Eyes,” he said, calling her by the nickname that sounded the same as the beginning of her name that he’d started using after she’d tried to explain how to pronounce her name. “When do you get off your shift?” he asked.

  She shrugged. “I literally started today so I have no idea.”

  “I’ll be waiting.” His voice was even deeper than she remembered.