Eversea A Love Story

was thick as pluff mud.
    They managed to shut up for a few hours while we all ate and sat around for a game of spades after lunch, but they were back at it when I finally got ready to leave for work at the grill.
    I had a feeling their arguing was based on more than disagreeing on whether Jazz should have told me all that shit about Jack. I was refusing to listen any time she brought it up, and I was still so mad at her. Some birthday.
    “C’mon, I’ll walk you over to the grill,” Colt said, looking me up and down with appreciation as I stomped down the stairs, freshly showered and made up. I’d dried my hair into natural looking waves, and I was wearing a snug pair of jeans. I was already in my boots instead of the sneakers I usually wore and would later change out of my black tee into the sexy red ‘cold-shoulder’ top I’d appropriated from Faith after she said it was too small for her. I was as close to ready for my party as I would be able to get and still be comfortable at work.
    Colt cleared his throat. “Damn, you smell good. And you look—”
    Jazz came out of the kitchen. “Okay, Keri Ann. You win. I’m not going to say another word tonight. I wish you’d hear me out.” She huffed and glared at Joey who wandered out behind her looking stoic. “I’m letting it go. For now.”
    “Good,” I said. Then I walked up to her and pulled her into a hug. “You’re an idiot, but I love you,” I said into her hair.
    “You’re an idiot too, and you’re stubborn.” Her muffled voice came back. “Just like your bull-headed brother. But, I love you, too.”
    I gave her another squeeze and winked at Joey over her shoulder, before pulling back. “We’ll talk about it, I promise. Just not today. Not tonight.”
    “Liar,” she huffed. “But anyway, hurry up and get home so we can celebrate. Plus, I can’t wait for you to see your present.” She looked me up and down and turned me round. “Damn, those jeans make your ass look like a Brazilian infomercial. Spectacular.”
    My cheeks throbbed with heat instantly, but I needed the confidence boost. I gave her a small smile of thanks.
    “Come on,” said Colt slinging an arm around my shoulders. “Let’s get you out of here so we can get this place decorated.”
    * * *
    Colt left me at work promising to come get me at nine. I could walk myself home without a problem, but I didn’t have the energy to resist Colt’s attention after the strange day I’d had.
    There was an Ohio State game on at the grill so it was relatively busy. After years of vacationing, far too many from that wholesome state had retired down here for it to be a quiet evening.
    Time flew by. Brenda came in at about eight thirty, ostensibly to transition me out. But it was busy enough that we were both working hard at nine when I felt the breeze from the main door opening and heard the change in atmosphere. Thinking it was Colt, residents loved to see their high school football star return home, I turned with words to apologize for not being ready on my tongue, but froze.
    Devon Brown stood comfortably in the entryway looking slowly around the restaurant. Dressed casually in a blue checked shirt hanging out of faded jeans and brown work boots, he looked comfortable. And actually not that different than some of the locals from the surrounding countryside who pulled in here from time to time.
    But his shaggy blonde hair and tanned and rugged features were too familiar for him to be mistaken for anyone else but the movie actor-turned producer who was rumored to have bought a house on the island.
    Conversation had died down and then whipped up again.
    His eyes scanned over Brenda then came to settle on me.
    I still hadn’t moved from my position near the bar where I’d been collecting more napkins for table seven. The adrenaline spike I’d experienced upon seeing him, my closest link to Jack, had now washed away leaving me feeling slightly faint and nauseous. My pulse throbbed heavily in my throat.
    His brown eyes furrowed slightly then cleared, and he gave a tiny nod. What did he see when he looked at me? And how did he know who I was? Because I could tell he did. I had no doubt. No doubt at all.
    “Would you like a table for one?” Brenda’s voice jarred me from my trance.
    Devon looked at her, and then at me and cleared his throat. “I’d like Keri Ann to serve me, please. So if she has a section, I’d like to be in it.”
    I swallowed. Brenda looked confused for a