Chapter 12

CHAPTER TWELVE

“I’m sorry… are you Xavier?”

The soft question drew Xavier out of his fretful reverie. He’d arrived at the restaurant a little earlier than scheduled, which had seemed like a good idea to avoid anxiety, right up until he’d been seated and found he had nothing to do to kill the remaining time. Scrolling through his phone seemed rude. He didn’t want Emily, his date and Darla’s neighbor, to arrive to see him looking like he was bored and wished to be somewhere else. And if he read the menu now, then she might feel rushed when she got here, like she had to order quickly. Or he would have to pretend that he hadn’t read it, which wasn’t technically lying, but it felt like lying, and that wasn’t a good way to start a date…

It was possible he was overthinking things.

So he’d just fiddled with his utensils and tried to shove down his worries over all the things that could go wrong.

Those worries vanished in an instant when he looked up and saw that Darla’s neighbor, the woman he’d been set up with, was the woman from the bank, the one he’d seen walking through town.

The beautiful woman he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about.

She was looking at him in a hesitant way, and he realized that he hadn’t responded to her question. Quickly he got to his feet, extending his hand to shake.

“Hi, yes, sorry. I am. I’m Xavier Lofton. And you’re Emily?”

She glanced down at his hand for a moment and he mentally winced. Was it wrong to shake hands? Should he have gone in for a hug or a kiss on a cheek? Surely that was too personal…

But then she smiled and grasped his hand in a smooth shake.

“Yes, I’m Emily Harper. It’s so nice to meet you.”

She couldn’t know how nice it was, he thought.

“You too,” he said. Remembering his manners, he pulled out his chair for her, enjoying the little flicker of surprised delight that passed over her features. That was something he’d done right, at least. His mother would be so pleased. She had always been big on manners.

When they both were seated, there was a brief, awkward pause, but it passed quickly.

“Okay, so blind dates… they’re a little weird, right?” Emily asked with a shy, joking smile.

He laughed, feeling tension leave his shoulders. “They are! But I promise I’m happy to be here.”

“Me too,” she agreed. “Should we… start with the basics? Darla said you know her because you’re her doctor?”

Even more tension left him. It was always good when the patient made this reference, so he didn’t have to worry about confidentiality. “Yes! I’m the main doctor in Whale Harbor, so I know a lot of the people in town that way, Darla included. And you’re her neighbor?”

“Yes, new neighbor,” she confirmed. “What’s it like, being a small-town doctor? Did you ever work anywhere else, or did you always know Whale Harbor was the place for you?”

He shook his head. “Oh, no. I’m from Boston originally and really thought that was where I’d spend my life. I went away briefly for college to a more rural school, then came back to the city for med school. It wasn’t until I was doing rotations in a big city hospital that I started to long for the quieter pace I’d known in college. And you get to practice medicine in a different way in a small town than you do in a bigger place.”

She tilted her head, attentive and curious. “Oh, yeah? How so?”

“Well,” he said after a pause while the waiter filled their wine glasses, “in a big city, there are lots of doctors, so people specialize, often into really minute categories. In Whale Harbor, I see a bit of everything. And I do refer patients out to specialists all the time, of course. But in a small-town setting, you get to know the whole person, not just, say, their nasal passages.”

At this comment, Emily wrinkled her own nose adorably and laughed. “Oh, yeah, when you put it that way, big city medicine doesn’t sound too appealing.”

He laughed too. “It is for some. Two of my sisters are doctors in Boston and they love it. But I wanted more face time with people, wanted to see them as more than just patients.”

“That sounds really nice,” she said.

With a jolt, Xavier realized he’d been talking about himself for a long time.

“How about you? What brings you to Whale Harbor? You’re new in town, right?”

Emily’s friendly smile grew slightly strained at the edges. “Oh, yes. I moved from New York. Tired of the city thing, like you said.”

Xavier sensed there was more she wasn’t saying, but he didn’t want to pry. A first date wasn’t the place for that… and he was already hoping they’d have many more dates to get to know one another better.

“And you’re working at the bank, right?” When she looked slightly startled, he laughed. “Sorry, I think I’ve seen you around town a few times.”

He hoped this didn’t sound creepy. He was so out of practice with dating, it was laughable.

Fortunately, she smiled. “Okay, I’m glad you said that, because I think I’ve seen you too. Do you sit on a bench near the vet’s office a lot?”

“Yes, that’s me!” Xavier felt intensely flattered that she had noticed him as he had noticed her. He hoped he wasn’t blushing.

“You’re brave,” she said, shaking her head. “In this weather, I have to keep myself moving or else risk turning into an icicle where I stand.”

“You have a good coat though,” he pointed out.

She pressed a hand to her forehead. “Oh my gosh, it’s so ugly.”

“But I bet it’s warm.”

She grinned. “It is. And I’m privileging function over fashion these days.”

Xavier looked her over. Her outfit was simple, a high-necked maroon dress with long sleeves, her hair casual in a pulled-back style. It looked both comfortable and beautiful, so he decided to tell her so.

“Well, I hope you don’t think I’m too forward… but I think you look great.”

She beamed. “You look really nice too.”

He pulled a silly face. “Oh, man, you have no idea how much I agonized over this outfit. I haven’t dated in… a minute.” He fiddled with the stem of his wine glass and decided to tell the truth. “If I’m being honest, I wasn’t so sure I wanted to start dating now. Darla was so excited, but I almost cancelled a few times.”

To his relief, Emily didn’t look offended. “I honestly almost bailed when I was right outside the restaurant,” she admitted. Then her cheeks flushed prettily. “Then I saw it was you, and I decided to come in.”

A bright, soft warmth lit in Xavier’s chest. He was used to being appreciated for his medical knowledge, but knowing that this beautiful, interesting woman was excited to go on a date with him , just for his own sake… Well. It felt very nice, indeed.

A touch of shyness overtook him. “I’m really glad you didn’t bail,” he said softly, a smile playing at his lips.

Her expression mirrored his. “I’m really glad too.”

The date went on far longer than Emily would have expected… and far longer than she even realized, until she looked up and saw that the dining room was practically empty, the wait staff slowly and unobtrusively starting to prepare to close down the restaurant.

She looked down at their long-since-emptied dessert plates. She’d had a decadent chocolate lava cake with house made mint ice cream, while Xavier had ordered a baklava-inspired honey and nut tartlet. In the end, they’d split both desserts between them and pleasantly debated which was more delicious, before declaring it a tie.

“It’s late,” she said, tone faintly surprised.

Xavier looked around as if he too was noticing their surroundings for the first time in hours. The conversation had flowed so easily between them that it had been easy to lose track of time, even if Emily felt a little guilty about her reticence to share personal details. It wasn’t that she didn’t like Xavier, or thought he would somehow turn around and scorn her for her past. She just didn’t want the messy details of her business and the betrayal that followed to mess up their perfect evening.

“Wow,” he said, chuckling. He really was handsome, his calm exterior revealing flashes of humor and deep emotion as he spoke about his love of his job and community. “We’re keeping the poor wait staff. I guess we should head out.”

“I guess so,” Emily agreed, although she was reluctant for the evening to end.

They gathered their things, Xavier brushing off her offer to pay part of the bill while he helped her into her coat.

“Don’t deny me my chance to be a gentleman,” he joked.

“I would never,” she said, smiling back at him.

They paused when they were outside. “I’m parked here,” she said, gesturing behind her.

“I’m over there,” he said, pointing in the other direction.

For a long moment, however, neither of them moved. The wind had only grown colder with the deepening of night, yet Emily felt reluctant to depart and Xavier seemed similarly inclined. It was only when a shiver wracked her body that he gave her a rueful smile.

“I think I lose my gentlemanly credit if I let you freeze,” he said, “not to mention my oath as a doctor says that I’m not supposed to do any harm.”

“We wouldn’t want to damage your reputation,” she teased.

Yet, still, neither of them moved, except for when Xavier reached out and grasped her hand lightly in his. For all that they’d talked the hours away, they hadn’t yet touched, and the warm, slightly calloused feeling of his palm against hers lit a spark in Emily she hadn’t felt in a long, long time.

“I’d really like to see you again,” he said softly.

“Yeah,” she agreed instantly, not even needing to think about it. “I’d like that too.”

His smile was bright and lovely, and Emily felt a flicker of something like hope, like the possibility that maybe, just maybe, this was all turning around for her.

Whale Harbor. Who would have thought that a little place like this could offer such a change in her life?

They held one another’s gazes for a long moment, until another cold gust of wind blew through them.

“Go,” Emily said on a laugh. “I’m icicle-ing as we speak.”

“I’ll call you,” he promised, backing toward his car.

Unlike all the times she’d heard dates in New York say such a thing without meaning it, Emily believed Xavier when he said it. He moved around the corner of the restaurant, and she hurried back to her car, warming her fingers in front of the heat that she turned on full blast.

The smile didn’t leave her face for a moment during her drive home.

In fact, her smile only broadened when she saw Darla’s face from inside the front window of her house. Emily shook her head. After her time in New York, she might have thought that a neighbor watching out for her after her blind date would feel stifling or intrusive… but it actually just felt nice. Like she had a friend, had someone who cared how things went for her.

It was a good feeling.

Emily got out of her car and beckoned to Darla, indicating that the woman should come over if she wanted to. Darla gave her a thumbs up through the window, so Emily headed to her front door so she could get inside while she waited for her neighbor. She hadn’t been kidding when she’d told Xavier she was becoming an icicle. New England winters were no joke.

Darla, however, darted across their lawns without even putting on a proper coat, although the cozy sweatshirt she wore was fuzzy and looked incredibly comfortable.

“Hi, hi,” she said, her breath making plumes in the air as Emily ushered her inside. “Ooh, it’s cold, but I was too lazy to get all bundled up for such a short trip.”

“Come in, come in,” Emily urged. “You’re making me cold just looking at you. Let me throw on the kettle.”

She loved having a friend who could just pop over, Emily decided in that moment. She loved knowing that Darla, like her, was a tea drinker. It was familiar. Safe.

“Okay,” Darla said, following her into the kitchen. “Not to really earn my ‘nosy neighbor’ status, but I’m dying to know, how was the date?”

Emily kept her face carefully blank for a moment, not revealing anything, just to tease Darla with the anticipation. It was a skill she’d honed over years in the boardroom, when negotiations demanded a perfect poker face. She had to admit, using it to make her friend squirm with impatience was a much more fun use of the skill.

“Mean!” Darla accused, pointing a finger at Emily as she laughed. “Come on, spill!”

Emily couldn’t last any longer. Her face split into a grin. “It was amazing,” she admitted.

Darla pumped her fist into the air. “Yes! I knew the two of you would hit it off. Darla Maroney, matchmaker extraordinaire.” She did an adorably dorky little celebration dance, then dropped into one of Emily’s kitchen chairs, folding her hands in front of her in a gesture of patient attention. “Okay, please tell me more.”

So Emily did. She confided her nerves and explained that she had actually seen Xavier around town a few times, and how that had made her excited when she’d realized the identity of her date.

“I admit that I was worried about the whole ‘dating in a small-town thing,’” she confided. “I did some casual dates in New York, but we both always knew it wasn’t really going anywhere. It was just someone to chat with over dinner or at a party. But here?” She shook her head. “What if it went terribly wrong and I had to see him again at Harvest Grocery Store or whatever? So awkward.”

“Look at you, name dropping the store like a true local,” Darla joked. “But seriously, I get that. I had some bad dates in New York, and it was like, ‘No big deal! See you never!’”

“Right!” Emily agreed vehemently. “That’s one of the cases where the anonymity of a big city works in your favor.” She paused. “I like knowing my neighbors though,” she added, a touch shyly.

Darla clasped her hands against her chest. “You are such a sweetheart,” she gushed. “And totally brave too, might I add. You weren’t sure about the date, but you went anyway, and it paid off!”

“He asked to see me again,” Emily confided.

“I bet he did,” Darla said at once. “You’re awesome.”

Emily laughed. “You hardly know me,” she protested.

Darla waved off this point. “I know awesome when I see it,” she asserted. “And besides, that just means I get to know you more. Everyone wins.”

Emily couldn’t help but laugh at her neighbor’s cheerful confidence. She felt very lucky to have moved in next door to such an open, friendly person.

They chatted a little more about the date, Darla cooing over the details of the delicious meal, and were considering a second cup of peppermint tea when Darla’s phone chimed on the table.

She looked at it, then rolled her eyes fondly. “Rick,” she explained. “He wants to know when I’m going to come to bed.” She looked up at Emily as she typed out a response. “He’s a touch overprotective these days, since we’re doing IVF.”

“Oh?” Emily asked. She was sensitive to others probing into her life, so she left the question hanging, giving Darla the chance to either say more or not, depending on what she preferred.

Darla wrinkled her nose. “Yeah. We’ve been trying to conceive for a while, and it just wasn’t working out for us, so we’re doing IVF. Doctor Lofton—Xavier, for you, I suppose—actually referred us out to a specialist in Providence, which is how I know him.”

“Oh, yeah, he mentioned he often refers people out,” Emily said. “Not that he mentioned anything private or specific about a certain patient, of course.”

“No, I know he wouldn’t,” Darla confirmed. “Anyway, we did the whole extraction bit, which meant I had to go on these wild hormones that made me feel like I was a balloon who cried a lot.”

“I’ve heard pregnancy is similar,” Emily said dryly.

Darla laughed. “Yeah, maybe it’s good practice. I’m hopeful, in any case. Trying to find that balance between getting my hopes up and not getting them up enough.”

“Which Rick is channeling into protectiveness?” Emily asked, nodding at Darla’s phone where it lit up again.

“Oh, for goodness’ sake,” Darla muttered. “I’m coming!” she said as she typed another reply. “Yes,” she added, looking up at Emily again. “Apparently I need the same amount of rest now as I would if I were already pregnant, according to my totally-not-a-doctor husband.”

Emily laughed. “Go! It’s late. I could probably do to put myself to bed too, if I want to be even remotely functional in the morning.”

They said their goodbyes quickly, Emily waving at Rick, who was waiting at the door for his wife as Darla darted across the yards for a second time. She watched as the two embraced and went inside, feeling fond as she closed her own door and began to shut up her house for the night.

Emily might have come to Whale Harbor with the hopes of keeping her head down and minding her own business, but she was grateful now that Darla hadn’t let her get away with that kind of nonsense. Having a friend like her neighbor was proving to be a wonderful thing, indeed.