Tiny Bites Page 12

  Dawn's parents ran out and wrapped her in hugs before she'd even fully gotten out of the car. They unloaded all of Dawn's stuff before she knew what was going on.

  "This all you had in your dorm room?" her dad asked.

  "There isn't a lot of space."

  "Want to come in for lunch, Susan?" asked Dawn's mom.

  "Thanks, but I have to get home, too. My parents are probably dying to see me. Bye, guys!" She climbed in her convertible and started the engine. Stevie Wonder blared as she drove off.

  Dawn's parents swarmed her, asking all kinds of questions about college.

  "You'd think we hadn't seen each other in years," Dawn said. "Remember, you were at my graduation?"

  "We hardly got to see you. You ran off to the party, and we had to catch our plane back."

  "Now I'm back home. I'll probably be in Kittle Falls the rest of my life."

  Her dad gave her a bear hug. "I hope so."

  Pamela came into the kitchen and hugged Dawn. "My big sis is finally back."

  "And in just a couple months, you'll be headed out to college."

  "But unlike you, I'm not coming back. I'm going to live in the big city forever. I don't know why you want to stay here… unless it has to do with Robert Hunter."

  Dawn's face burned. "Pam."

  Pam just smiled. "He's come by the house a few time asking about you."

  "He has?" Dawn's heart skipped a beat.

  "Yeah, and he's even better looking than before."

  "Pam!" But Dawn couldn't deny it. She kept his picture in her purse at all times, sneaking peeks whenever she could. He was especially handsome in the uniform, but she was glad his service was over.

  Their mom put an arm around Dawn's shoulder. "Don't be embarrassed, honey. You're twenty-two. It's time for marriage, and any of the Hunter boys would be a fine catch."

  Pam grabbed her arm. "You should go to the disco tonight. Maybe he'll be there."

  "Maybe I'll ask him to go with me." Dawn stood taller.

  "Yeah, do that!" Pam's eyes lit up. "Be a strong, independent woman. Show him who's boss."

  Dawn laughed. "But first, I need a shower. My hair's tangled from the ride."

  Knock, knock.

  "I'll bet it's him," Pam squealed.

  Dawn's stomach twisted in knots. She reached for a strand of windblown hair and twisted it around her finger, trying to breathe naturally. She both wanted to run to the door and hide in her bedroom.

  Pam hurried to the door. Dawn tried to look around the corner, but couldn't see the entryway.

  "Hi, Robert." Pam practically sang.

  Dawn's heart nearly pounded out of her chest. She hadn't seen Robert in person since the summer after high school. He'd joined the Navy shortly before she and Susan left for school. They'd exchanged letters almost monthly since then, but for all Dawn knew, he wrote letters to all the girls in their graduating class.

  Her mom shoved her toward the front door. Dawn wished there was a mirror she could check on the way. Her pulse pounded in her ears as she made her way to the entry. It felt like miles.

  Pam moved aside. Robert stood there, looking as gorgeous as his picture, except that he wore a yellow polo shirt and brown striped pants. At least she'd picked her new denim pants suit. That hopefully made up for her hair.

  His gaze met hers and she froze. Robert's eyes were so deep and seemed lighter than she remembered. The skin around them crinkled as his mouth formed a smile.

  He stepped past Pam. "It's so good to see you again, Dawn. You look beautiful."

  Her hands went up to her hair. "I just got out of Susan's convertible."

  "I like it."

  Someone nudged her from behind. "Thanks. You look great, too."

  "Would you like to go for a walk? Or if you're too tired, we can meet later."

  "No, a walk would be nice." Dawn stepped forward, heart still thundering. How would she ever ask him to the dance if she couldn't even think in his presence?

  Her family called goodbyes, waving and smiling.

  "Sorry about them," she said.

  "Don't be. You're family's great." He held his hand out and she took it. His grasp was strong, but his eyes gentle. "I've been excited for your return. Your letters were the highlight of every month."

  "They were?" she asked.

  He nodded, and they stepped onto the sidewalk. "I was on the ship most of the time. Not too exciting usually."

  "The war wasn't exciting?"

  "We didn't battle. Mostly, we carried supplies from one unit to another. I got to see a lot of the world, and that was fun. We docked in Japan, China, the Philippines, and a lot of exotic places like that. I'd love to show you pictures sometime, if you're interested."

  "Definitely." She stared at him, not used to being so short on words. "I enjoyed reading about what you shared in the letters."

  "We weren't allowed to talk about too much, and the letters were all checked before they were sent."

  "Really?" she asked, surprised. "Even the ones received?"

  He nodded. "There was no privacy in the military."

  Dawn was glad she'd kept her letters light and cheery, never sharing anything too personal.

  Robert talked about how different the beaches were from the ones at Kittle Falls.

  Dawn could barely pay attention. He'd gone from being a teenager to a man. His arms were so muscular now and his chest broader. Even his face was more mature. There were lines around his eyes. Stress lines? Had he seen more in his travels than he'd let on? Dawn had heard all kinds of horror stories about the war.

  They reached a little park. He gestured toward a bench. "Want to sit?"

  "Do you mind if we keep walking? I've been in the car all day."

  He laughed. "That's right. No problem. I'm just happy to be here with you."

  She smiled, and then remembered her promise to be bold. "I hear there's a disco tonight. Do you want to go with me?"

  Robert paused.

  Embarrassment ran through Dawn. What if he didn't want a bold, modern woman? Maybe he was put off by her asking. "Or if you're busy—"

  He grinned, lighting up his entire face. "I already bought you a corsage."

  Dawn's mouth gaped.

  "Pam told me you were coming home today, so I took a chance." He rubbed his knuckles along her jawline. "I know we agreed to see other people, but I couldn't stop thinking about you, Dawn. All four years, I counted the days until I could come home. I prayed you wouldn't find anyone else. But I kept my promise. I gave you space. You didn't meet anyone else, did you?"

  She shook her head. "I went on some dates, but no one came close to you. Your letters were also the highlight of my months."

  "I carried your picture around in my wallet."

  "Yours is in my purse."

  They stared into each other's eyes. Dawn's skin felt afire. After four years and a world apart, he felt the same for her.

  "Can I kiss you?" he asked.

  "It would be more romantic if you didn't ask." Her mouth curved upward.

  Robert put his palms on her face and pressed his soft, warm mouth on hers. Dawn's heart raced.

  In her freshman year, Susan had told her she was crazy holding out for a sailor. Dawn stopped talking about him, but never could let go. She couldn't believe that Robert hadn't, either.

  He pulled back and stared at her. "I've been waiting a long time to do that."

  "Me, too," Dawn admitted. "I actually hoped you would before you left for the Navy."

  Robert took her hand again. "You don't know how badly I wanted to. But I didn't want to make our parting harder, and I really did want you to live your life while in college. Not pining away for me. What if I'd never come back?"

  Dawn's heart plummeted. "Then I would have cherished that kiss all the more."

  He shook his head. "I knew I should have kissed you that night."

  "There's always tonight." Dawn squeezed his hand.

  "I can't believe no one snatched you
up." He ran his fingers through her hair, but got caught on a snarl.

  She laughed. "I should take care of that before the disco."

  "You don't have to. You're foxy the way you are."

  "And you're one heck of a hunk."

  Something beeped. Robert raised his arm and pushed a knob on his wristwatch. "I need to get back home. I promised my dad I'd help him trim some trees."

  Dawn's heart swelled. Not only was he helping his dad out, but he was a hard worker, too. It was hard not to admire a gorgeous man with traits like that.

  "That just gives me more time to get ready for tonight." She smiled.

  His face lit up. "Perfect. Can I pick you up at seven?"

  Seaside Beginnings

  Chapter Two

  Dawn wiped the steam from the mirror and combed her hair, making sure she had a perfectly straight part down the middle. She plugged in the pumpkin-orange hair dryer and balanced it as she held her hair with a brush. She needed to dry it before it got the annoying wave she hated.

  Once her hair was finally perfect, she applied her makeup and spun around, looking at herself from all sides. Dawn smiled. She looked great. In fact, she was sure she'd never looked better. Not that she needed to worry about impressing Robert—he'd thought she looked good with windblown, tangled hair—but she still wanted to knock his socks off.

  Someone pounded on the door. "Are you done?" Pam called. "I still have to get ready for my date."

  "Hold on!" Dawn moved closer to the mirror, seeing if she needed to touch up any of the makeup. She didn't.

  "Dawn! He already likes you. Let me in!"

  Laughing, Dawn opened the door.

  Pam whistled. "Look at you. You're going to have every guy there following you around."

  Dawn twirled in a circle. "You think so?"

  "You're going to have to beat the others off with a stick. Totally digging the dress. Where'd you get it?"

  "Susan and I always go to LA on the weekends."

  "Jealous. Oh, and speaking of her, she called while you were in the shower."

  "Thanks. I better call her back." Dawn ran to the kitchen, where the phone was. She dialed Susan's number, waiting as each number spun in the circle. Her parents sat at the table discussing something. Dawn went into the hallway, as far as the cord would allow without yanking it off the wall.

  "Hello?" said one of Susan's brothers.

  "Is Susan there?"

  "Susan!" he shouted, not bothering to move the mouthpiece away. "Phone!"

  Dawn held out the receiver until she heard her friend's voice.

  "It's me," Dawn said. "You still going to the disco?"

  "Of course. I ran into John Fowler, and we're going together."

  "He's still in town?"

  "Yeah. Opening a candy shop. And he says I'm sweeter than any of his inventory." Susan giggled.

  "Great. We can hang out. Meet you there? Robert's picking me up here."

  Susan gasped on the other end. "Robert Hunter? He's the guy? Well, that explains a lot—like your mystery letters. He's a sailor, right?"

  Dawn grinned. "See you there."

  "I want to hear everything later. Catch you on the flip side."

  The dial tone sounded in her ear, and Dawn went back into the kitchen to replace the phone.

  "You look nice," her mom said.

  "The dress is a little short, don't you think?" asked her dad.

  "Oh, Dad. This is how all the girls are wearing them."

  "It's still too short." He adjusted his dark-framed glasses.

  Dawn tried pulling it down, but it didn't budge. "You want me to get married, right?"

  "To the right kind of fellow."

  "Robert's a good guy." Dawn sighed. "Besides, it's what's in style. Everyone's wearing them."

  "Not in Kittle Falls."

  Time for a new subject. "Do you need help putting away dinner, Mom?" The dishes were piled up in the sink.

  "Thanks, hon. I wash and you dry?"

  "You know it."

  They discussed college life while cleaning the dishes, though Dawn's mind kept wandering back over to Robert. Her heart swelled to twice its normal size every time his face came to mind. The way he kept looking at her when they were on the walk. And that kiss. It was sweet, but wow!

  "Are you listening to me?" her mom asked.

  "What?"

  "You're in your own world today. Is it from moving back or because of Robert?"

  Heat crept into Dawn's face.

  "Looks like we'd better start thinking about wedding plans."

  "Don't get so psyched. Modern women don't marry the first guy who shows interest."

  "You two were sweethearts in high school, and you both waited for each other."

  "I approve of any of the Hunters," her dad said. "They're all respectable young men."

  "Not to mention hunky." Pam came into the kitchen. "You can set us up on a Hunter brother double date anytime, sis."

  "I'll remember that." Dawn put the last plate onto the drying rack.

  "I'm serious," Pam said.

  "Me, too." Dawn checked the time. Another fifteen minutes before Robert was due to pick her up.

  "Now that dress is the proper length," her dad said, gesturing at Pam.

  "I'm going shopping where Dawn went," Pam said.

  He sighed. "Why did we encourage our girls to go to college?"

  Pam stood taller. "So we can be independent women who don't have rely on men. I'm going to become a doctor."

  "You mean a nurse."

  "No. I'm going to be a doctor. And I'll have guy nurses."

  He snorted. "That'll be day. Men are doctors, women are nurses."

  Dawn and Pam exchanged knowing glances. Their dad was old school, and there was no changing his mind. He'd barely agreed to let them go to college. Their brothers, sure.

  Knock, knock.

  "You want to get it?" Pam asked.

  Dawn took a deep breath and smoothed over her dress. Then her hair. She swallowed and headed for the door and opened it slowly.

  Robert stood there wearing a bright white leisure suit with a matching vest over a dark black shirt with a long, narrow collar. In other words, he was smoking hot.

  It took Dawn a moment to realize he seemed equally taken in by her. His gaze met hers. "You're dynamite."

  He held out a white and baby blue corsage and slid it over her hand.

  "I want pictures," said her mom, pulling Dawn out of her thoughts. She moved quickly to Robert's side, and he wrapped an arm around her, his hand resting on her bare arm. Goose bumps formed as she smiled for the camera.

  Her mom took several before finally letting them go. Dawn didn't mind. She wanted to remember this night forever.

  "Have her home by ten," called her dad.

  Dawn groaned.

  "The dance ends at eleven," Robert called.

  "Bring her back by eleven-fifteen."

  "For sure. We can't have her turning into a pumpkin."

  Dawn laughed. "You're so great with my dad."

  "He's just watching out for you. Can't blame the guy for that. Mind if we take my car?"

  "Definitely." She leaned her head against him as they walked. He smelled of sandalwood… heavenly.

  "My brother Gary is back in town for the summer. Mind if he rides with us? I'm sure he'll score a date once we're there, and he'll leave us alone."

  "Sure. It'll be fun to see him again. Where's he living?"

  "Oregon. He's a realtor with his eyes set on running the place."

  "Sounds like him. He was valedictorian of his class, wasn't he?"

  "Of course." Robert laughed.

  "What are your plans?" Dawn asked, suddenly worried that he might leave town, too.

  "After traveling so much, I realized how nice it is here in Kittle Falls. I like how quiet and predictable everything is. I've been looking into retail space."

  "You want to open a shop?" Dawn asked.

  "Yeah, something the tourists wil
l really dig. Something that has a bit of everything."

  "That sounds like fun."

  He glanced at her. "Really?"

  Dawn's heart raced. "It does. I'd be happy to help you."

  "You're not going to use your degree for a fancy job?"

  She shrugged. "I could always be your bookkeeper."

  "Way cool," he whispered.

  They walked the short distance to his house and climbed into his car. It was the same used red Corvair he'd had in high school. Gary was already sitting in the back seat wearing a neon green suit.

  Robert had closed her door. He walked around to his side and started the car.

  "What's shaking?" Gary asked.

  "Not much. How's Oregon?"

  "It's choice. Got myself a real estate gig. Some old guy is retiring at the end of the summer, and I get his spot. Clients and everything."

  "Awesome sauce."

  "You got a job lined up? Or are you planning on an MRS degree?" Gary laughed.

  Dawn shook her head. "I was just discussing bookkeeping with your brother."

  "I dig it."

  "Or you could be a partner," Robert said, gazing at Dawn.

  "What?" Her eyes widened.

  "It's going to take a lot of work, and I could use the help of someone as smart as you."

  "I… I don't know what to say."

  "You're freakin' her out, bro." Gary slapped Robert's arm.

  Robert pulled into the parking lot and turned to Dawn. "Am I?"

  Dawn pulled some hair behind her ear. "Not at all. I like the idea of spending more time with you."

  "MRS degree," Gary mumbled and laughed.

  "Would you sit on it?" Robert snapped, but he smiled at Dawn. "Are you ready to boogie?"

  "I'm ready to jiggy." Gary got out and slammed the door.

  "Feel free to ignore him." Robert got out of the car and went around, opening the door for her. Music from the dance blared from the hall.

  "They really have the volume blasted."

  "Is that okay?" he asked. His eyebrows came together in concern.

  "Of course." She grabbed his hand and ran toward the hall. "This is going to be better than the school dances we used to go to."

  Dawn couldn't agree more, and she was eager to show off the moves she'd learned from all the parties Susan had dragged her to over the last four years.