Page 16 of Always You (A Lilac Bay Novel)

“Oh, I’m well aware.”

“I think you’d make a great girlfriend,” Jenny said, before immediately blushing. “Not for me. I mean, for a guy. Of course.Idon’t want to date you.”

“Calm down,” I muttered, reaching for my beer. “No one thinks you want to date me.”

“Oh, good,” she said, visibly relaxing. “Because I don’t.”

This was just great. My closest girl friend was falling all over herself to make it clear that she didn’t want to date me, while my best guy friend told everyone that I would make a shitty girlfriend. The rush I had been riding all evening over my performance in the game was quickly fading away.

“Hey,” Libby said, shaking my shoulder. “I mean it. You’re a catch, Riley James. We just need to find you a guy who’s worthy.”

“You think so?” I asked, daring to look up from my beer for long enough to check her expression. She looked completely genuine.

“Of course I do. And I’m going to help you find someone.”

I heard Andrew snort from his end of the table and a flash of anger shot through me. So he thought I wasn’t decent girlfriend material, huh? That was so typical of him, always thinking he knew everything about everything. Maybe I would just have to show him that he didn’t know everything about me.

I turned to Libby, about to tell her that she was welcome to set me up, when Cora appeared at our table. “Hey,” she said. “Sorry, I’m totally swamped. Who here still needs to order?”

“You need some help back there?” Zane asked.

“Yeah, Cora, bring him back,” Edward said. “He’s pretty great at whipping a kitchen staff into shape.”

“We’re just short staffed,” she said. “Jonny is out sick tonight.”

“If byout sickyou mean nursing a day-long hangover,” Posey muttered.

“Need a hand?” David asked. “I could sling a couple burgers.” David could do a lot more than sling burgers. He was, hands down, the best chef on the entire island. He currently worked for Edward and Zane over at Rose’s where his food was a must try for anyone stepping foot on the island.

“Don’t be silly,” Cora said, wiping her forehead. “You don’t work here anymore, David. Besides, you’re a guest.”

“Oh, don’t give me that guest crap.” He stood. “Let me help you get some orders out.”

Cora looked to Iris. “You don’t mind?”

“Are you kidding?” she asked, pushing on her boyfriend’s arm a little. “Take him off my hands. We were about to start some juicy girl talk over here, which I can’t possibly do with him sitting next to me.”

“Girl talk, huh?” Cora asked, looking more than a little jealous. David laughed and pushed her down into his empty seat. “Take your break, Cora. I’ll go help out in the kitchen.”

“Thank you!” she called, reaching for an empty glass and filling it with beer from one of the pitchers. She took a long sip. “That’s much better. So.” She looked around the table eagerly. “What was that about girl talk?”

“We’re going to set Riley up with someone,” Libby said.

Cora looked like Christmas had come early. “Really? Who?”

“That’s what we’re trying to figure out.”

“Then it sounds like I came over right on time.” She pulled her order pad from her pocket and started to write. “Okay—possibilities…”

“Are you guys seriously doing this?” Andrew asked.

“Let’s see,” Cora said, ignoring him. “There’s Donovan.”

“Ooh, yeah,” Libby agreed, rubbing her hands together. “He’s cute. Total silver fox.”

Posey leaned over the table a little, lowering her voice. “Did you see him at the kayak race last week? He took off his shirt at the end. Boy is easy on the eyes.”

“This is pretty gross, you know,” Andrew said. “Talking about him like he’s a piece of meat. You know there are guys still at this table.”