Lost and Found in Cedar Cove Read Free Page B

asked.
    “I’ve seen lots of dogs,” Travis said.
    “What kind of dog?” Amanda asked.
    The man described Rover.
    “Doesn’t sound familiar, but I’ll keep an eye out,” Connor said.
    “Take my name and phone number, and call me if you do,” the man said. He walked over to Connor and handed him a card. “This is an important dog. He belongs to a friend of mine.”
    Connor looked down at the card. “I’ll call if one shows up.”
    “I’d appreciate it.”
    And then he was gone. With that distraction over, Amanda turned back to Travis. “You ready to crack the code to the quadratic formula?” she asked, pulling out a chair and taking a seat.
    Travis sighed. “I guess, but it’s a waste of time as far as I’m concerned.”
    “Really?”
    “Think about it, Amanda. How am I going to use the quadratic formula in my life?”
    “That’s an easy question. You’re going to use it to pass algebra, graduate from high school, and get a scholarship to college. Is that answer enough?” she asked.
    He smiled at her. He actually smiled. For a moment, it was all Amanda could do to look away. Thankfully, she caught herself in time and was instantly all business. “In that case, let’sget started.”
    Connor delivered their lattes, and before long Amanda and Travis were sitting side by side with the algebra text open in front of them. She reviewed the formula and showed him a couple of tricks she’d used to remember how best to work it out. Soon their heads were close together.
    “I don’t get it,” Travis murmured, clearly frustrated.
    “You forgot a step,” she said, doing her best to remain patient. She reviewed the formula again.
    It took four tries before Travis figured it out. He looked to her when he finished. “Right?”
    “Right. You got it.” She offered him a congratulatory smile.
    “How did you get so good at this stuff?”
    “It comes naturally; it’s just the way I think.”
    “In other words, you’re the brains, I’m just the dumb jock.”
    “I didn’t say that. Why are you so defensive? And what’s with all this negative self-talk?”
    He chose to ignore her questions and returned his attention to the textbook, refiguring the quadratic formula. Once again he came up with the correct answer.
    The door to Java Joint opened, and in walked Hailey, another high school senior. She apparently didn’t notice them, which was a good thing, and headed directly to the counter, where Connor waited to take her order. Amanda watched as Travis closed the text and slipped it back inside his backpack.
    Hailey had her Almond Joy latte in hand before she saw the two of them. Right away her eyes widened. “Hey, Amanda, Travis. I didn’t see you.” She tried to hide her surprise but wasn’t nearly good enough an actor to carry it off. She carried her drink over to their table.
    “How’s it going?” Amanda returned weakly.
    “What are you doing?” Hailey asked, and seemed unable to hide her curiosity.
    “We’re just hangin’,” Travis explained, his gaze shifting nervously between Amanda and Hailey.
    It didn’t escape Amanda’s notice that being seen with her wasn’t good for his image. Someone just might guess that he needed tutoring, and that definitely wouldn’t be cool. What was that saying she’d heard—no good deed goes unpunished?
    “Really. I didn’t figure the two of you … you know.” Hailey left the rest unsaid, as if she was afraid she might have wandered into uncomfortable territory.
    An unsettling silence followed that Amanda felt no obligation to fill. She’d let Hailey make all the assumptions she wanted.
    Their classmate continued to study them, as if she wasn’t sure what to think.
    Coming out from behind the counter, Connor approached just as the silence was gettingmore than a little awkward. His gaze went from Amanda to Hailey. “Did you hear Hailey recently got hired at Rose Harbor Inn?” he asked in a blatant effort to change the subject.
    “That’s