She’s over her crush...isn’t she?

Luci Monroe is on top of the world. She’s just graduated from journalism school and she’s already landed her dream job in PR. Then Cody Jarvis saunters into her office. Nothing like finding out that your teenage crush, now a gorgeous, globe-trotting, freelance photographer, is going to be your staffer for the summer. Never mind. They’re both professionals. And she’s over him. Kind of. Anyway, he’s not interested. Cody is always waiting to disappear on his next assignment, and Luci needs someone stable. Someone who wants to build a life right here in Willow Beach...

“I’d better get back to my guests.”

“Thanks for coming, Cody, and good luck with your next assignment.”

He laid a hand on her arm. “Don’t say goodbye yet. I’ll be around for a while. In a town as small as Willow Beach, we’re bound to run into each other.”

Just then, Don came around the corner. “There you are, Cody. Been looking for you. Glen Thomas wants a word.”

Cody raised his eyebrows. “The Chamber of Commerce president wants to talk to me? Why?”

Don shrugged. “Don’t know. He didn’t say.”

“Okay,” Cody said. “See you later, Luci.”

“Sure. See you...later.”

Luci hugged herself as she watched Cody and Don head back to the party. She’d thought she was telling the truth when she said she was over Cody. But the moment she’d laid eyes on him tonight, all her old feelings came rushing back.

Dear Reader,

One reason I love writing a series is that even though a particular book ends, I don’t have to say goodbye to the characters. I can meet them again in the stories that follow.

I met Luci Monroe and Cody Jarvis in Eva’s Deadline, the first book in the Return to Willow Beach series. Luci was a high school senior interning at the Willow Beach Herald. I remember how enthusiastic she was about her chosen profession and also the crush she had on Cody, the Herald’s photographer.

Fast-forward four years to Her Summer Crush. Now a college graduate, Luci returns to Willow Beach to begin her dream job with the Chamber of Commerce. Then she learns Cody will be working with her. That’s okay, though, because she’s over him.

Or is she? Has her crush turned into something more serious?

But what does it matter, because at the end of the summer Cody will leave to follow his dream of traveling the world as a photojournalist.

Getting these two seemingly mismatched people together presented a challenge. I hope you enjoy reading their story as much as I enjoyed writing it.

You can visit my website at lindahopelee.com or email me at linda@lindahopelee.com. I’m also on Facebook and Twitter (@lindahopelee).

Linda

Her Summer Crush

Linda Hope Lee

www.millsandboon.co.uk

LINDA HOPE LEE lives in the Pacific Northwest. She likes traveling to new places, especially to small towns that might serve as settings for her novels. In addition to contemporary romance, she writes in the romantic suspense and mystery genres. When she is not writing, she’s busy creating watercolor paintings or drawing in colored pencil or pen and ink. Another pastime is photography, which she uses as inspiration for her art and for her stories. She also collects children’s books and anything to do with wirehaired fox terriers.

To Pearl, the new kid on the block

Acknowledgments

Many thanks to Harlequin Heartwarming senior editor Victoria Curran and assistant editor Dana Grimaldi for helping to shape Her Summer Crush. Their expertise is invaluable and much appreciated.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Dear Reader

Title Page

About the Author

Dedication

Acknowledgments

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Extract

Copyright

CHAPTER ONE

“CODY JARVIS! What’s he doing here?” Luci Monroe stared at the man who’d just stepped out the back door of her parents’ home. “I didn’t see his name on the guest list,” she added.

Her sister, Francine, set a plate of crab cakes on the buffet table. “Maybe Don invited him,” she said. “Didn’t he say he had a surprise for you tonight?”

“He did, but I thought he meant the combo.” Luci nodded toward the musicians her older brother had hired. Their music provided a pleasant backdrop to the party celebrating Luci’s graduation from Seattle’s University of Washington and her return to Willow Beach.

“Cody’s spotted you,” Francine said. “Better put a smile on your face.”

“I’ll be okay. I’ve been over him for at least a year.” And yet, as she watched him approach, her heart was beating wildly.

“C’mere, Luci.” Cody opened his arms and swept her up in a warm embrace.

With a resigned sigh, she looped her arms around his neck and hugged him back.

He drew away and let his gaze rove over her. “Lookin’ good, Luci.”

“Thanks. You, too.”

And he did. She always thought the cliché “tall, dark and handsome” suited him perfectly, and that still held true. He’d let his hair grow a little longer, but she liked it that way. And his brown-eyed gaze was as sharp as ever.

Cody hugged Francine. “Hey, Fran, good to see you.”

“Hello, Cody.” Francine returned his hug.

Don joined them, carrying two bottles of beer. He handed one to Cody. “Here you go, buddy. Glad you could make it.” He turned to Luci. “How do you like your surprise?”

Luci propped her hands on her hips. “He’s a surprise, all right. I thought he was in Timbuktu or some other exotic place.”

Cody tossed his head back and laughed. “I’ll have to put that on my list. No, I just got back from Italy.”

“Still the freelance photographer?” Luci said, although she didn’t know why she asked when she knew the answer.

“Always.” Cody patted the camera attached to a leather strap slung around his neck. “And here you are, all graduated and degreed and starting a new job, I hear.”

The mention of her job brought a smile to Luci’s lips. “Right. I’m working for Glen Thomas at the chamber of commerce. Writing, of course. Articles, brochures, some PR, a little of everything. How about you?”

“I’ll be in town till I get another assignment. Then I’ll be off again. You know me.” He shrugged and sipped his beer.

“Nice you could come back for a visit,” she said, hoping she didn’t sound insincere. “Bet your mom’s happy to see you.”

“She’s here, too.” He nodded toward the back door. “I left her in the kitchen trading recipes with your mom. Something about sponge cake.”

“For Mom’s strawberries,” Francine said.

Anna Monroe and Olive Jarvis stepped from the house. Anna placed a large bowl on the buffet table and said, “Olive made her famous potato salad.”

“Thank you, Olive,” Luci said. Cody’s mother was an attractive woman who shared her son’s dark hair and brown eyes.

“You’re most welcome.” Olive enveloped Luci in a hug and then squeezed Anna’s hand. “This is a happy day, isn’t it? Both our children home again.”

Cody rolled his eyes. “I’m going on thirty here.”

“But children are always that, aren’t they?”

“They are,” Anna agreed.

“Well, look who’s here!” Luci’s father, having left his post at the barbecue pit, burst into the group, thrusting out his hand to Cody.

“Hey, Erv.” Cody shook the other man’s hand.

“Good to see you,” Erv said. “Want to hear about all the places you’ve been.”

Some of the other guests wandered over, and soon a large group had gathered around Cody. Luci edged away and circulated among the other guests, but Cody’s presence distracted her. She heard him laugh politely at pharmacist Hal Barnett’s corny joke and watched him help Don’s wife, Arliss, pop open sodas for their children, ten-year-old Spencer and eight-year-old Hannah. She tracked his movements despite herself.

When her father’s barbecued chicken was done, the guests lined up at the buffet table. Cody sat with Don and his family. Then Francine and her husband, Will, and their daughters, Betsy and Megan, joined the group. Luci thought about joining them but instead sat with two friends from high school and their families.

When Cody finished eating, he did what she expected him to do—put his camera into action. He gathered several couples and their children for a group shot. He caught her father and one of his golf buddies laughing over a joke, and her mother showing off her prize roses to the ladies in her garden club. Even the musicians posed for him.

Luci sighed. Cody had turned her homecoming party into one of his photo shoots.

Needing a break, she wandered to the edge of the lawn where a path led through the dunes to the beach. The ocean sparkled under a sun about to slip below the horizon, and the waves made a soft shushing sound as they rolled onto the shore. If only she could escape there now. When something upsetting happened, a walk on the beach always helped to calm her. Cody’s unexpected appearance was certainly one of those times. As soon as the party was over...

“Luci.”

She turned and, sure enough, there he stood, camera raised to his eye. He took a few shots and then backed away and took some more. Still more while down on one knee and yet another couple while standing with feet planted apart. Finally, he lowered the camera.

“Are you finished now?” Her words came out sharper than she’d intended. She must be in worse shape than she’d realized.

He frowned. “Not okay to take your picture? You’re the guest of honor. Besides, you’re a good subject.”

“You didn’t give me any warning. I probably need to comb my hair or something.”

“Your hair is fine. The sunlight caught it just right.” He tilted his head. “It’s been—what?—a year since we’ve seen each other?”

“Yes, about that.”

“Your last year at the U go okay?”

“It did.”

She looked toward the water again—where the lowering sun spread rays of red, yellow and orange along the horizon—and wanted more than ever to take that walk on the beach. But the talk and laughter drifting across the lawn reminded her that the party offered an escape, too.

“I’d better get back to my guests,” she said. “But thanks for coming, Cody, and good luck with your next assignment.”

He laid a hand on her arm. “Don’t say goodbye yet. I’ll be around for a while. In a town as small as Willow Beach, we’re bound to run into each other.”

Just then, Don came toward them, waving his hand. “There you are, Cody. Been looking for you. Glen Thomas wants a word.”

Cody raised his eyebrows. “The chamber of commerce president wants to talk to me? Why?”

Don shrugged. “Don’t know. He didn’t say.”

“Okay,” Cody said. “See you later, Luci.”

“Sure. See you...later.”

Luci hugged herself as she watched Cody and Don head back to the party. She’d thought she was telling the truth when she said she was over Cody. But the moment she laid eyes on him tonight, all her old feelings came rushing back.

Why did he have to return to Willow Beach, even for a short while, just when she was settling in again with her family and her new job?

* * *

CODY HEATED A mug of leftover coffee in the microwave and carried it to the table where his computer sat. His apartment—the detached garage on his mother’s property—was the perfect quiet spot for reviewing photos. The living, dining and kitchen areas were one big room. His bedroom had an en suite bathroom, and he’d turned the second bedroom into a darkroom.

Cody sat at the table, put down his mug and clicked the mouse. A new picture flashed onto the screen. Another shot of Luci. He chuckled. He’d taken more pictures of her tonight than of anyone else.

She made a good subject. Her red hair always caught the light in unusual ways, sometimes reflecting blond highlights, other times a rich mahogany. Her hazel eyes were wide set and expressive, her nose straight and regal, and her mouth, with its full lower lip, was perfect.

He played with the photo, trying different filters to see their effects. At the same time, his thoughts lingered on the party. Luci’s behavior puzzled him. Judging by her enthusiastic hug, she was glad to see him; but later, when he photographed her standing at the edge of the yard, she’d acted annoyed. Was her mood change related to the crush she’d had on him years ago? He thought she was over that.

He hadn’t paid much attention to Luci when he and Don were in high school; she was just Don’s kid sister. After graduation, Cody attended the University of Washington but dropped out after two years to work as a photographer for the Willow Beach Herald. A few years later, when Luci was a high school senior, she’d interned at the newspaper. Apparently, or so he’d been told by various people, that was when she’d developed her crush on him. He’d never encouraged her, not because he didn’t like her, but because of the age difference. She was eighteen to his twenty-four.

After she graduated and he decided to finish his college education, they both ended up at the U. They got together a few times, nothing serious, just friends. On his part, anyway. Although the age difference wasn’t as important anymore, by that time he’d wanted to travel the world as a freelance photographer.

He’d also decided on no romantic attachments. Asking a wife or a significant other to wait for him at home wouldn’t be fair. Maybe someday he’d change his mind and want more. For now, he traveled solamente.

He’d expected Luci to move on, but he hadn’t heard about a new guy in her life; nor had he seen anyone in particular hanging out with her tonight.

A knock sounded on his door. When he went to open it, his mother stood there, her arms full of towels and sheets.

“Sorry to interrupt your work,” she said, “but I thought you could use some clean linens.”

“You’re not interrupting. I’m almost finished for the night. Come on in.” He opened the door wider, and Olive swept in. “You don’t have to do my laundry, you know.” He closed the door behind her. “I’m a big boy now.”

“I know, but I don’t have that much laundry myself, so I might as well throw in yours.” She looked around. “Where shall I put this?”

Cody pushed aside a bin full of photographs sitting on one of the tables. “Right here. I’ll put them away later.”

Olive set down the linens and then propped her hands on her hips and surveyed the room. “If you put any more equipment in here, you won’t have space to turn around.”

He looked around, trying to see the place as she saw it. Okay, the room was crowded. Several tables held computers, printers and scanners; tripods were propped in corners, and cameras, cases and other miscellaneous items filled the shelves. Enlargements of his photos decorated the walls.

“I like my place,” he said. “It’s cozy and has everything I need.”

“Maybe so, but do you think you’ll ever find a woman who’ll put up with all this?” Olive went to the sofa and plumped up the loose cushions.

“Not a question that needs to be answered, because I’m not looking. Not right now, anyway.”

“What about that woman who was on your last assignment? The one you talked about in your emails?”

“Shar, from Omaha?” He smiled as the image of Sharlene Williams, with her blond hair and ready smile, popped into his mind. “Yeah, she’s nice, but we’re just friends.”

Olive straightened and frowned at Cody. “Omaha is too far away, anyway. I always hoped you’d find someone closer to home.”

Cody grinned at her wistful expression. “No woman would put up with my being gone most of the time. I’m—what do you old folks call it—a rolling stone.”

Olive sighed. “Your dad really started something when he gave you that camera, didn’t he?”

Cody chuckled and walked over to one of the shelves. “This one?” He picked up a child’s red-and-yellow plastic camera. “Yeah, he did. And I was only, what, six?”

“Uh-huh. Right before he died.” Olive’s eyes misted. “And you’d go all over taking pictures, you with your little camera and he with his big one.”

“Yep. And young as I was, I remember him telling me that when I got old enough, we’d travel the world and take lots and lots of pictures. ‘Capturing the moment,’ he called it, although I didn’t understand what that meant.” Cody’s throat tightened. “We never got to do that.”

“No, you didn’t, and I’m so sorry. If only he could’ve beaten the cancer.” She bit her lip and looked away.

Cody walked over to his mother and put his arm around her. “That’s why I’m traveling now. I like to think he’s with me on my trips, helping to capture the moments.”

“That’s a wonderful tribute, Cody. But what about passing on your love of photography to your son or daughter—wouldn’t that also be a way to honor him?”

Cody smiled. “Ah, we’re back to that again, are we?”

“You can’t blame me for hoping.” She cast him a sheepish look. “Some grandchildren would be nice.”

“You have Emma’s grandchildren.” He replaced the camera on the shelf. “Think how lucky they are, having two grandmas to dote on them.”

Olive and Emma Chester were lifelong friends. When Cody’s father passed away, Cody and his mom had moved from Portland to Willow Beach, next door to Emma. One of the reasons Cody didn’t worry about being gone so much was that his mom had Emma and her family for support.

“Emma’s grands are sweet, but they’re not the same as my own would be,” she insisted, and then her expression brightened. “Anyway, it’s nice to have you home, even if it’s only for a week or so.”

If Cody accepted Glen Thomas’s offer, he’d be staying longer than a week. But could he handle it? Before long, the open road would be calling him again, like it always did.

CHAPTER TWO

“I DON’T SEE why you have to rent this apartment when you can live at home.” Anna lifted a box from the family SUV and handed it to Luci.

“Mom, we’ve been over and over this issue.” Luci took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I want my own place. Simple as that. I’m only a couple miles away from you and Dad.”

As much as Luci loved her parents, she needed her own apartment. Besides, she’d been living away from home for the past four years.

Before her mother could say more, Luci followed the stone walkway to unit six, where she set her box on the doorstep and unlocked the door. The aroma of fresh paint rushed to greet her. She picked up her box and stepped over the threshold. Her mother followed.

“Isn’t this a cute place?” Luci set her load on an end table and made a sweeping gesture. “This is the living-dining room. That alcove is the kitchen, and there’s the door to the bedroom and en suite bathroom.”

Her mother set a box next to Luci’s. “More like a motel than an apartment.”

“It was a motel, Mom. Now, it’s been remodeled and expanded into apartments. This will be my work space,” she continued, indicating a large, rectangular table between the living area and the kitchen. “I’ll put a file cabinet next to the table, and those cupboards underneath the counter will hold all my writing stuff.”

“We have a real office you could use at home,” Anna said.

Ignoring her mother’s pointed comment, Luci crossed the room and opened the sliding glass door. “Come look at the patio.”

Anna joined her, and they stepped onto a slab of cement furnished with two lawn chairs, a small, wrought-iron table and chairs, and several rectangular planter boxes. Cement walls on either side provided privacy from the neighbors.

“See how close I am to the ocean?” Luci nodded to a path leading through the dunes to the shore. “I can take my daily walks, same as at home.”

“Our house is closer to the beach and much more private. And what’s in those planters? Looks like weeds.” She walked over to inspect one box.

“You have my permission to plant something else.”

“I’ll see if I can spare something from my garden.”

They finished unloading the SUV and Luci’s car. Anna consulted her wristwatch. “I have a meeting with the garden club in fifteen minutes.”

“Thanks for all your help today.” Luci gave her mother a hug.

A smile softened Anna’s tight lips. “You’re so welcome, honey.” She stepped back and snapped her fingers. “Oh, I almost forgot.”

“What?”

“You’ll see.”

Anna dug into one of the boxes and pulled out a bowl Luci recognized. “For me? But that’s your favorite bowl for your roses.”

“I know, but you’ve always admired it and now it’s yours.”

“Oh, Mom.” Luci’s eyes misted as she ran her fingers over the bowl’s yellow enameled surface. “Are you sure?”

“I am. It’s a housewarming present. Or should I say ‘apartment-warming’?”

“I’m honored. I’ll put it here so I can admire it every day.” She centered the bowl on the coffee table and gave her mother another hug. “Love you, Mom.”

“Love you, too, darlin’. You’ll have to excuse me today. It’s hard to let go.” Anna pulled a tissue from a pocket and dabbed at her eyes.

“I know. Me, too.”

“Got to run now. Be sure to call if you need anything. And don’t forget family Sunday.”

“Of course not. I wouldn’t miss dinner for anything.”

Family Sunday had been a tradition for as long as Luci could remember. Once the kids started growing up and spending time away from home, her parents were adamant about maintaining the event. “We don’t want you to forget you’re part of this family,” Ervin told them.

When Luci was away at university, they hadn’t expected her to attend, but now that she was back in Willow Beach, there would be no excuse.

Not that she’d ever offer one. Family was the main reason she’d come back to Willow Beach. As the youngest child, she’d had the love of her parents and her older brother and sister. Of course, they’d experienced the usual sibling rivalry, but underneath was a strong bond that kept them all together. And now that Don and Francine were married with children, there was an extended family. Luci looked forward to having her own family someday, knowing they would be welcomed and loved as much as she was.

After her mom left, Luci looked at the boxes and then at the open patio door. The door won. She could unpack later. Rummaging in her boxes of clothing, she located her favorite wide-brimmed hat. She put it on and tied the strings under her chin. Then she headed along the path through the dunes to the beach.

Once there, Luci tucked her hands in her sweater pockets and kept going. The beach was busy today. Some people were walking, like she was, while others jogged. Kids and dogs played in the surf, and on the hard-packed sand near the shore an occasional car or truck rumbled by.

A gull swooped down and landed in a large tide pool. Several more followed. The birds splashed and high stepped, poking their heads in and out of the water. It wasn’t long—a few minutes at the most—before the leader spread its wings and flew into the sky. The others followed. Soon they were mere dots against the blue backdrop.

The birds reminded her of Cody. He never stayed in one place, either. Before long he swept off on a new adventure.

They were so different. He needed to keep moving, and she needed to stay still. Good thing they’d never gotten together. A relationship wouldn’t work. Not then and not now.

* * *

MONDAY MORNING, JUST short of nine o’clock, Luci went through the glass double doors of the two-story Stafford Building, on the corner of Main and Seaview. Her heart fluttering, she followed the brightly lit, high-ceilinged hallway to the office of the chamber of commerce.

With her major in journalism, Luci could have applied for any number of positions. However, Willow Beach was a small town, and the opportunities were limited. Even the Willow Beach Herald had no openings. So she felt lucky to have found this job with the chamber of commerce.

Luci took a deep breath, then greeted the receptionist, Marge Delano.

Marge looked up from a desk piled with folders. “Luci, glad you’re here. This mess belongs to you.” She scooped up the folders and thrust them at Luci.

“Okay, but—” Luci juggled the folders to keep them anchored in her arms.

Marge made a dismissive wave. “Glen can explain. I’ll let him know you’re here.”

She made a call, and a couple minutes later Glen Thomas appeared in the hallway.

Besides Luci’s father, who was president of the Willow Beach National Bank, Glen was probably the only man in town who wore a tie to work. She’d bet there was a suit jacket in his office, too.

“Good morning, Luci,” Glen boomed. “You’re right on time. That’s good. I like my staff to be punctual. So, let’s get you started on your projects. Come this way, please.” He motioned for her to follow him down the hall.

Luci’s office turned out to be a large room with picture windows along one wall. She immediately looked out to see a courtyard with a fountain in the center. Colorful flower gardens and wooden benches surrounded the fountain. Two women sat drinking coffee in the sunshine.

Luci turned to Glen. “What a pleasant setting.”

“Mmm, yes, I suppose it is.” He pointed to a table stacked with file folders, magazines and brochures. “You can put those files Marge gave you with the rest of that stuff. It all goes together.”

Luci deposited her armload on the table, then sat and took her tablet from her purse.

“Nice party the other night.” Glen pulled up a chair across from her.

“I’m glad you and your wife could join us.” Luci turned on her tablet, ready to take notes.

“Your dad and I go way back, you know. We both came to town about the same time. He worked at the bank, and I worked at the hardware store. Now he’s the bank’s president, and I’m owner of the store and president of the chamber of commerce.” He chuckled. “How about that?”

“I’d say you’ve both done very well for yourselves.”

He nodded and stroked his chin. “I wasn’t sure I’d like living in such a small town, but it hasn’t been so bad, after all. The place kinda grows on you.”

“Yes, it does.”

“Well. We’d better get moving.” He tapped his wristwatch. “Have to meet with the mayor soon. There’s a list for you somewhere around here. At least, Marge said there would be.” He poked around the piles and came up with a piece of paper. “Ah, here it is.” He took a pair of eyeglasses from his shirt pocket and put them on.

“You’ll be writing an article each month for Coastal Living magazine. It’s published in Hampton, but the surrounding towns all contribute stories.” He gave her a questioning look over the top of his glasses.

“I’m familiar with Coastal Living.” Luci made a note on her tablet.

“Good. The next issue is out the first of July, so you’ll need to turn in your article soon. The person who last had this job planned to write about Cranberry Acres. I suggest you follow through on that.”

“I’ll make it a priority.”

He pointed to another item on the list. “The Fourth of July celebration. That’s taken care of by the outfit we hire to do the fireworks display. You’ll need to do some publicity, though, flyers around town, that sort of thing.”

Luci nodded, busily taking notes.

Mr. Thomas took off his glasses and dangled them between thumb and forefinger. “Now, here’s a real challenge. The sand-castle contest in August. We want to add something new this year, something that will get us a lot of attention. You decide what that will be. Make us look good.”

“Okay...”

He replaced his glasses and consulted the list again. “The newsletter to our members. Published twice a month.”

“All right.”

He put down the list and gestured to the stacks of papers and folders on the table. “Then, there’s all this stuff. Needs to be sorted and put in those file cabinets over there.” He nodded at several cabinets standing side by side on the far wall. “A lot of the brochures need to be updated. You can do that, too.”

He waited while Luci keyed in a few more notes. “How’re we doing here? Any questions?”

“Yes. For the articles and the brochure updates, will you want me to take photos, too? I’m not a professional, of course, but—”

“Photos won’t be your responsibility. Our regular guy, Sam Reynolds, is on an extended vacation, but I’ve hired someone to fill in.”

A knock sounded on the open door. Glen looked up. “Here he is now.”

When Luci turned to see who had arrived, shock rippled through her. “Cody?”

He waved. “Hi, Luci. Glen.”

“Have a seat.” Glen motioned to a chair across from Luci. “And you call me Glen, too, Luci. No need to be formal.”

Cody, looking neat and trim in a short-sleeved plaid shirt and jeans, ambled across the room. He pulled out a chair next to Glen, sat and stretched his long legs underneath the table. Of course, his camera was with him, slung over his shoulder.

Glen continued talking, but his words barely registered. All Luci could think about was that she and Cody would be working together. Was she his boss now?

“Cody, you can set your own office hours,” Glen was saying, “just so long as you meet all the deadlines. Luci, I’ll expect you to be here most of the time, except when you’re out doing research, of course.” He looked at his watch. “Ah, time for the mayor. I’ll let you two get started.”

After Glen left, neither Cody nor Luci said anything. She fussed with her tablet while he folded his arms and leaned back in his chair. The seconds ticked by.

Finally Cody cleared his throat. “I get the feeling you’re not happy with this situation.”

Luci put down her tablet and idly picked up one of the brochures. “I’m surprised. No, shocked. Why would you want this job? I thought you were eager to be off to see the world again.”

“I am. But when Glen offered me the job, I decided to take it. I won’t be stuck here long. At the end of the summer, Sam Reynolds will be back, and by then I’ll have a new assignment. In the meantime, I could use the money.”

Money. Why hadn’t she thought of that? Of course, his accepting Glen’s offer didn’t have anything to do with her. Not that she wanted it to.

“We worked together at the Herald,” Cody said.

She slid the brochure away and snatched at another one. “A few times, and I was an intern then—still in high school, for goodness’ sake. This is different.”

“Don’t worry, Luci, we’ll be fine.” He leaned forward. “So, what’s first on the agenda?”

“An article about Cranberry Acres for Coastal Living. We’ll need to make a trip there for an interview and photos.”

“Sounds good. I’ll let you work out the details. Meanwhile, how about going for a coffee?”

“Ah, no thanks. I really need to stay here and get acquainted with my new office. I’ll have some later.” I really need to be alone for a while.

His brow furrowed, and she braced herself for an argument.

Instead, he said, “All right, call or text me when you’ve got something for me to do.”

“You’re really going to take orders from me?”

“Well...that depends. I pretty much do my own thing when it comes to taking pictures. But, like I said, we can make this work.”

She narrowed her eyes. “You think?”

“We have to. This job is important for both of us.”

After Cody left, Luci leaned back and closed her eyes. She didn’t share his confidence that they could work together. If only she could get rid of her feelings for him. Feelings she didn’t understand. Did she still have a crush on him? No, she didn’t think so. Then what? Was she in love with him? What would be the use of that? He obviously wasn’t in love with her, and their goals and lifestyles were so far apart.

She squared her shoulders and lifted her chin. This was her dream—coming home after graduation, being a part of her wonderful family and having a job she loved. She wasn’t going to let Cody Jarvis spoil her joy. He’d be here for the summer, and then he’d be gone again and out of her life forever.

* * *

JUST BEFORE NOON, Cody headed to Charlie’s Fish House, a favorite of his. Charlie’s hadn’t changed since he’d last been there. The same plain wooden tables and chairs, the same counter with red vinyl stools, the same chalkboard menu hanging on the wall.

As he stood in line to place his order, he heard a familiar voice behind him say, “Well, look who’s here.”

He turned to see Luci’s older brother, Don. “Hey, what’s the banker doing at Charlie’s? I’d expect you to choose someplace like the Beach Café.”

“Not unless I’m entertaining clients. How come you’re by yourself?”

“First day on the job, and Luci didn’t want to leave the office.”

Don stuck his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels. “Ah, so you accepted Glen’s job offer.”

“I did. The money will come in handy.”

“Having you in town for a while will be like old times. Wanna share a table?”

“Sure.”

When they got to the front of the line, Cody chose the fish-fries-chowder combo, a house specialty. They took their tickets and sat at a window table. Other diners filled the deck, and on the beach below, several kids played volleyball while two golden Labrador retrievers chased each other around the dunes. Cody let his gaze wander over the scene, automatically framing pictures. After lunch, he’d take a walk on the beach and capture some of the action.

“So, how’s your first day going?” Don asked.

Cody shrugged. “Glen’s a little full of himself, but I can deal with him. I’m more worried about your sister. She’s not happy with the situation. Maybe she’s decided she doesn’t like me.”

Don’s grin turned sly. “The problem is she likes you too much.”

Cody jerked to attention. “Say what?”

“You heard me. You might see clearly through that lens—” he pointed to Cody’s camera “—but without it, you’re kinda nearsighted.”

Cody shook his head. “Are you sure? I know she had a crush on me years ago, but she’s over that, right?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Did she actually tell you that?”

“Ah, no.”

“Did she tell anyone you know? Francine? Arliss? Your parents?”

“Not that I know of.” Don spread his hands. “But, trust me, I know my sister and what goes on in her mind. Well, most of the time.”

Cody waved that aside. “Anyone who says they know what goes on in a woman’s mind is kidding themselves.”

Don laughed. “You can think what you want, and I’ll know what I know.”

A waiter arrived with their orders, and for the next few minutes, food claimed Cody’s attention. He started with the chowder, which was as good as he remembered: the sauce rich and thick and loaded with clams, bite-size potatoes and bits of bacon.

When he came up for air, he looked at the hamburger on Don’s plate. “You’re having a burger when there’s all this great seafood?”

Don took a sip of his Coke and set down the glass. “Arliss is on a fish kick. After three nights of salmon—broiled, loafed and quiched—I’m ready for a change.”

“She’s gonna keep you healthy.”

“She’s trying, anyway.”

Cody sliced off a piece of fish and popped it into his mouth. “Married life agrees with you,” he said when he’d chewed and swallowed. “Never would have thought it. And your job, too. Look at you, all dressed for the part.” He nodded at Don’s blue dress shirt and tan slacks.

Don laughed and then sobered. “Maybe so, but I told Dad no tie. Never.”

“He still wear one?”

Don rolled his eyes. “Oh, yeah. But at his age, he can be excused. Tell you the truth, though, I’d rather be fishing.”

“Are you sorry you followed your dad into the world of finance?”

Don looked away. When he turned back to Cody, his eyes were troubled. “Yes, I am sorry.”

Cody grimaced. “That’s a shame. You worked hard to be where you are.”

“I know.” Don put a finger to his lips. “So don’t tell the old man. The money’s good, and it comes in handy when you have a wife and two kids, which I wouldn’t trade for anything, mind you.”

“Well, I’m glad you and Arliss are happy together.”

“For sure. But marriage is not for guys like you.”

Cody dipped a French fry into the ketchup on his plate. “What do you mean, ‘guys like me’?”

“You’re not a nester.”

Cody wrinkled his nose. “A what?”

“A nester. You need to settle down someplace, especially if you plan to have kids. That’s what Arliss said before we were married. ‘Where’s our nest, honey?’”

“Huh, the only nests I get close to are filled with birds.”

Don laughed. “Figures.”

“So, back to Luci. You don’t mind that we’re working together when she’s got a thing for me? I’d think you’d want to protect her.”

Don put his burger on his plate and leaned forward. “Have you met my sister? She’s got a mind of her own. You don’t mess with her. But in your situation, she writes and you take pictures. You’re a winning combo.”

“Sure. We’ll be working together. That’s all.”

Don shrugged and picked up his burger again. “That’s up to you.”

Cody finished his meal and wiped his lips with his napkin. “Why do I feel like she and I are some sort of experiment you’re all watching? Lab rats or something.”

“Your mind is weird, my friend. I’ll have to think on that. Just don’t hurt my sister, okay?”

Cody raised both hands. “Of course I won’t. You’ve got my word on that.”

“Just kidding. I know you wouldn’t.”

When they were on their way out of the restaurant, Don said, “You still going fishing with me and Max on Saturday?”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

Max Billings was another friend from high school. The three of them fished a lot back then, and when Cody was in town, they kept up that tradition.

“Great. Max is bringing a new guy in town, Ben somebody.”

Cody gave a thumbs-up. “As they say, the more, the merrier.”

Don headed back to work, and Cody went to the beach, his thoughts centered on Luci. If she still had feelings for him, maybe their working together this summer wasn’t such a good idea. Maybe he should’ve turned down Glen’s offer.

But he did need the money. He had a few checks coming in from some freelance jobs, but not a steady salary. Not that he wanted steady. He didn’t want to be tied down, day after day doing the same thing, with the same people, in the same place. That routine might work for some, but not him.

A shout from teenagers playing Frisbee caught his attention. The orange disc sailed high into the air, and their cocker spaniel leaped after it. Cody grabbed his camera and went to work. Fifteen minutes later, after the kids ambled off down the beach, he sat on a log reviewing what he’d captured. One photo caught a boy with his hand outstretched, having just let go of the disc. Another showed the dog snagging the Frisbee in its mouth. The other pictures brought a smile to his lips, too. This was what he was born to do. And wasn’t that what life was all about? Discovering what you were meant to do and then doing it?

CHAPTER THREE

“HOW MUCH FARTHER?” Cody asked, drumming on his SUV’s steering wheel.

Luci consulted the map on her cell phone. “Looks like a couple more miles before we reach the turnoff.”

“Okay. I’ll keep an eye out.”

Three days had passed since Luci and Cody began working together. Actually, they hadn’t really talked since that first day. She’d spent the time familiarizing herself with her office and the routine, and Cody had been in and out, doing some special photography work for Glen.

Today, they were on their way to interview Ray Dunbar, owner of Cranberry Acres, for the article in Coastal Living. They’d left Willow Beach behind and driven through a countryside dotted with farmhouses and fields where cows and horses grazed.

Luci would have enjoyed the trip more if she’d been alone—or if she’d been with anyone other than Cody. She had no idea how they would work together in this new arrangement. Would he be a good partner? Or would he be off doing his own thing?

Just being near him was disconcerting. Like now—barely a foot separated them. She was so aware of him. Today he wore a blue T-shirt that showed off his broad chest and muscular arms. He still hadn’t had a haircut, and the ends were beginning to curl.

The SUV lurched as Cody made a quick turn to the right. “Almost missed the turnoff. I thought you were watching.”

“I was, ah, thinking about my interview questions.”

“You’ve got them all written out, I bet.” He checked his mirrors and continued driving down the new road.

“Of course I do. Don’t you plan what pictures you’re going to take when you’re on an assignment?”

“Not so much. I like to be spontaneous. Life is out there. Let it happen and look for the moment.”

“The moment, huh?”

He took his gaze off the road long enough to shoot her a quick grin. “Yeah. That special moment in time that I’ll capture forever with my camera.”

“Must be nice. For an interview, I need to have a plan.” She held up her notebook.

“Nothing wrong with a plan. But open yourself up to being spontaneous, too.” Catching her frown, he added, “Hey, I’m only trying to be helpful. I’ve been in this business longer than you.”

Luci pressed her lips together. “I know, but I do have my degree now, with a lot of field experience behind it. That ought to be worth something.”

“Sure, Luci. Just some friendly advice.”

Luci fell silent. How was she supposed to do her job with him micromanaging her?

At Cranberry Acres, a woman in the office gave them directions, and they found Ray Dunbar rinsing out buckets under a faucet. Besides the wide-brimmed leather hat the woman had told them to look for, he wore a plaid shirt and khaki work pants. His knee-high rubber boots were caked with mud.

He turned off the water and studied Luci. “Ervin Monroe’s daughter, right?”

“I am.” His flat tone gave no indication whether that was an asset or a liability.

“So you’re working for Glen this summer.”

“Not just for the summer. I’m back in Willow Beach for good.”

“I see.” He hooked the bucket handle on the faucet and shifted his attention to Cody. “And you’re—”

“Cody Jarvis. I’m the summer help.”

Ray pulled off his work gloves, and he and Cody shook hands. “Either of you ever visit the farm before?” he asked.

Cody nodded. “When I was in grade school, my class came here on a field trip.”

“Mine, too,” Luci added. “But I’m sure I’ll have a different perspective now.”

Ray nodded. “Growing and harvesting cranberries is an involved operation. But let me give you a tour, and I’ll explain the process as simply as I can.”

Ray led them to the troughs where the cranberries grew. Having taken out her tablet, Luci asked him the questions she’d listed. Keeping his promise to make his explanation simple, Ray’s answers were short and to the point. The berries were planted in April or May and harvested in mid-October. Most of the harvest was made into juice.

“I’d like a few pictures of you,” Luci said after she’d got what she needed for the article. She looked around for Cody. He was nowhere in sight. Her temper simmered. Why couldn’t he stay nearby while she was interviewing their subject?

Ray consulted his wristwatch. “We’ll have to make it quick—I need to leave for a meeting in a few minutes.”

“Sure. Just as soon as I can find my, ah, associate.” Finally, she spotted Cody on the other side of the field, aiming his camera at the top of a pine tree. What did a pine tree have to do with cranberries?

She caught his eye and waved him over. He took his time, pausing twice to aim his camera at something, she wasn’t sure what. Her cheeks were burning, and she struggled to paste a smile on her face. Ray paced, checking his watch again.

“Ray has to leave for another meeting,” she said when Cody finally joined them. “And we need his photo.”

“Oh, sorry, I didn’t know—” Cody wrinkled his forehead.

Ray made a dismissive wave. “It’s okay. But let’s get a move on.”

Later, on their way back to Willow Beach, Luci stared out the window at the passing landscape. The interview had left her nerves ragged.

Cody broke the silence. “Did I drive you crazy?”

“Just about,” she said, only half kidding. “This job means a lot to me, you know.”

“I do know. And I take my work seriously, too. We just have different approaches. You like to have a plan, and I like to be spur-of-the-moment.”

“Maybe so, but it would’ve helped if you’d hung around while I was interviewing him. There wasn’t time for as many photos of him as I’d hoped.”

“Oh, I don’t know. I’ll bet that of the ones I took, you’ll find some that will work. And I can’t wait to read what you write about him. If I had to describe him, I’d probably say something like ‘tall dude with big leather hat.’”

Despite her annoyance, Luci giggled. “Yeah, I can just see that in the article. Glen would have a fit.”

“Maybe you should try something offbeat sometime. Well, not that offbeat, but you get the idea.”

When they returned to the office, Cody pulled into the parking lot. Leaving the engine running, he turned to her. “Want to go over the photos I took?”

“Yes, but I’d like to have a rough draft of the text before we sit down together. How about tomorrow afternoon?”

“Sure. I have another project I’m working on, too. Something I think you’ll be interested in.”

* * *

LUCI SAT BACK in her desk chair and read the paragraph she’d just written. The article on Cranberry Acres was taking shape, but she still wasn’t ready for Cody’s input. And here it was, Friday already. When she’d returned to the office yesterday, Glen had summoned her for an impromptu meeting with some of the people involved in the Fourth of July celebration, and it had lasted until quitting time. At home, she’d spent most of the evening reviewing Cody’s pictures—there were quite a few—and did little writing.

She checked her wristwatch. Only an hour before quitting time. She could stay late, but if she were going to work overtime, she’d rather do it at home. But what about Cody?

She called him, breathing a sigh of relief when he answered the phone. She explained her predicament, ending with, “The deadline’s Monday, so that doesn’t give us much time.”

“You’re almost done, you say?”

“I think so. I’ll know better when we finalize the photos.”

He let a beat go by and then said, “Why don’t I come over to your place tonight? Unless you have a date?”

“Ah, no. My only date is with the article.”

“How about seven o’clock?”

“Well...okay. I’m at the Driftwood, number six.”

“See you then.”

* * *

AT A QUARTER to seven that evening, Luci stood in front of the bathroom mirror brushing her hair. She put down the brush and peered at her image. Should she wear lipstick or go natural? Did her sweater look ratty? Or casual and comfortable? Finally, she came to her senses. What was wrong with her? This wasn’t a date—this was work. She didn’t have to fix herself up for Cody.

He arrived promptly at seven and breezed in, carrying a white paper bag in one hand and a small black box in the other. He handed her the paper bag.

“What’s this?” she asked and then spotted the Bon Ton Bakery logo. She peeked into the bag. “Ah, doughnuts. Chocolate frosted.” Her mouth was watering already.

“There’s strawberry, too. I trust you have coffee to go with.”

“I do. Good thing I made a big pot.” She pointed to the box. “What else did you bring?”

He patted the top. “This is for later, when we’re through working.” He set the box on the coffee table.

“I have the article up on the computer. Why don’t you take a look while I put these doughnuts on a plate and pour us some coffee?”

“Got to check your view first.” He walked to the patio door and looked out.

“Don’t you want to take a picture or two?” she asked. Of course, his camera was slung around his neck.

“Maybe later,” he said with a good-natured grin.

By the time she had set the doughnuts and coffee on the table and pulled up a chair beside him, he was deep into reading the article. While he finished, she munched a doughnut and sipped her coffee. Finally, he sat back and frowned. Uh-oh. Her stomach knotted.

“So what do you think?”

He nodded and reached for a doughnut, brushing against her shoulder in the process. “I think it’s pretty darn good.”

“No, I hear something else in your voice. What?”

He studied the screen again, scrolling up and down. “It might be a little stiff.”

“Stiff? What does that mean?”

“A few more quotes from Dunbar might liven it up.”

She put down her mug and folded her arms. “He wasn’t the most talkative person.”

“I know. Forget I said anything. Why’d you ask me, anyway?”

“I wanted, ah...” What did she want? His approval? He wasn’t her boss.

But he was her partner. They were in this job together, for better or worse. “I’ll give quotes some thought.”

“And the photos of Dunbar. They turned out all right, didn’t they? How about that shot where he’s cupping one of the plants in his hands? I thought that showed how much he cares about his plants.”

“I do like that one.”

“But what about the one where he’s standing and gazing at the bogs. It’s a good one, too, even if he has a poker face.”

She had to smile. “He did, didn’t he? Hmm.” She skimmed the article. “I don’t see a spot for it, though.”

“How about here?” He pointed to a line on the screen.

“No, no, doesn’t fit.”

They went back and forth for a while without reaching an agreement. Finally, Cody threw up his hands. “I think we’re done here. But give my suggestions some more thought, okay?”

“Sure.” Maybe.

Luci turned off the computer. She picked up their coffee mugs and carried them to the sink. He followed with the plate of leftover doughnuts.

“Thanks for coming—and for your help.” She took the plate and placed it beside the mugs.

“You’re welcome, but we’re not done yet.”

“I thought you just said we were?”

“Nope. One more thing.” He held out his hand. “Come on.”

Luci stared for a moment and then, with an inward sigh, held out her hand and let their fingers mesh. He led her to the sofa, and while she sat he picked up the box he’d brought and held it out.

“What this?”

“Something I made for you. Go on, open it.”

She pulled off the lid. Inside lay a book. “Luci’s Homecoming” was printed on the cover, and below that a photo of her smiling face.

“From my party. Oh, Cody...”

He sat next to her, and they paged through the album, looking at all the photos he’d taken that night. “There’s Don mugging for the camera,” she said. “And there’s Dad with his arm around Mom.”

“They sure look happy. Married how long?”

“Thirty-three years next March.”

He’d managed to capture the children in cute poses, and all the other guests, too. There were even photos of the ocean view and the sunset.

When they finished looking at the pictures, Luci closed the cover and turned to Cody. “Thank you. What a wonderful gift.”

“You’re welcome. I made books for your parents, and for Don and Francine, too.”

“I’m sure they’ll appreciate them as much as I do. And I’m sorry I was such a brat about your taking my picture that night.”

He made a dismissive wave. “No problem. I know you weren’t expecting me to show up for your homecoming.”

She laughed. “You were a surprise, all right.”

They turned toward each other, and their eyes met. Warmth flooded her face and her heart thudded. Swallowing hard, she tore her gaze away.

Cody cleared his throat. “Say, what time is it?” He checked his wristwatch. “Nine, already? Gotta be on my way. Early get up tomorrow. Fishing trip with your brother and Max.”

In no time at all, he was at the door. His hand on the knob, he turned and said, “Glad the article’s done. You did good, kid.” He gave her a pat on the shoulder, and then he was gone.

After he left, Luci dropped onto the sofa and put her head in her hands. The evening had worn her out. Okay, they’d managed to put together the article, but it hadn’t been easy. He thought that he knew best just because he had more experience. But she was the boss here, wasn’t she?

* * *

CODY GRIPPED HIS fishing rod while the Half Time bucked another wave and water sloshed onto the deck. Good thing he’d brought his waterproof camera. Don was sitting next to him, also keeping a tight hold on his fishing rod.

On the other side of the boat were Max Billings and the new guy, Ben Shapiro. The Half Time’s owner and captain, Ole Swenson, rounded out their party.

Don suddenly leaned back as his rod arced and the line went taut. “I got one!”

Max looked over his shoulder. “Keep your line tight,” he said.

“Must be a big one,” Ben put in.

Standing at the helm, Ole grinned and gave a thumbs-up. He idled the engine, which sent the boat plunging into the waves and water splashing onto the deck. Cody anchored his reel and grabbed his camera. This was a photo op not to be missed.

Don’s face turned red and his breath huffed. Max yelled orders. Ben looked on as though awed by the whole thing.

“There he is!” Max pointed.

Sure enough, a king salmon burst into view, its silver scales catching the sun’s rays. Then the fish plunged back into the water. Don reeled more line. The boat rocked and rolled.

“Here he comes!” Don yelled.

The fish broke the waves again and for a moment, tail swinging, hung suspended in the air. Cody caught that moment and several more. Then it was all over, and Don’s prize catch lay on the deck.

Not for long, though. Ole packed the fish in ice while the others talked about what a great catch it was, and Cody reviewed his shots. Don may have caught the king salmon, but for Cody, his pictures were much more valuable than any fish. The shot of the salmon in midair was exactly what he’d hoped for. He could already see the photo blown up and hanging on a wall or featured on a magazine cover.

Before the trip was over, they’d each landed a salmon, although none were as big as Don’s. Back in the marina, they posed for photos with their prizes and got a ritual picture to take home and show to friends, along with a story that would be embellished each time it was told.

After making arrangements to pick up their fish later, they celebrated at the marina’s tavern. The group sat on the deck, watching the other charters drift in like hunters coming home.

The marina was close to Smuggler’s Cove, where bootleggers had hidden their stashes during Prohibition. Willow Beach was full of interesting history, but, with the entire world calling, Cody had never taken the time to pursue it. Maybe someday.

During a lull in the conversation, Cody turned his attention to the newcomer. “So, Ben, you’re from Seattle?”

Ben sipped his beer and set down the glass. “Right. Thought I might like living on the coast.”

“And you’re an accountant.”

“Yep, a numbers cruncher. I opened an office in the Stafford Building. Already have a fair number of clients.”

“Including us,” Max said. “That’s how me ’n’ Ben got acquainted.” Max was a partner in Fuller’s Foods, Willow Beach’s main grocery and variety store.

Cody couldn’t imagine staring at numbers all day, but someone had to do it. Ben looked the part, with his blond hair neatly cut and jaw clean shaven. While Cody, Max and Don were dressed in sloppy shirts and faded jeans, Ben wore a sports shirt that was molded to his chest and tucked into jeans that somehow had a crease.

He seemed a nice enough guy, though, and he might appeal to Luci. Since Cody had heard that Luci still had a thing for him, he’d been trying to figure out what he could do—without hurting her. He’d decided that she needed another guy to catch her interest. Then she would forget about him. Maybe Ben could be that guy.

“You attached?” he asked Ben, in what he hoped was a casual tone.

“Am I married, you mean? No.”

“Girlfriend? Significant other?”

“Not at the moment.”

“Me, neither.” Cody chuckled. “Lucky us, huh?”

Don jumped into the conversation. “Do I hear you bad-mouthing the holy state of matrimony? It’s not so bad, is it, Max?”

Max folded his arms over his brawny chest. “You’ll have to ask Trixie about that.”

Don smirked. “Yeah, Arliss and I saw you two the other night at the movies, holding hands like you were on your first date.”

“A night out without the kids is a date,” Max said. “And Trixie insists on one date night a month.” He shrugged. “I can’t complain.”

Ben made no comment. He didn’t appear to be much of a talker. But then, Cody often became an observer, too, always keeping an eye out for the next picture. Like now. He spotted a gull about to land on the piling at the mouth of the harbor. Look at that wingspan. Look at the angle. Look at the legs come down. Must be like landing a plane. He picked up his camera.

Later, on the way to their vehicles, Cody caught up with Ben. “Good to have you along today.”

Ben nodded. “Catching that fish made my day.”

They turned into the parking lot, dodging a couple cars and stepping onto the path. “You probably don’t know many people in town yet, being new and all.”

“Haven’t had much time. Busy lining up clients. And bird-watching. That’s one of the reasons I moved here. I’m an amateur ornithologist.”

“That so? I’ve been known to stalk a few birds myself.” At Ben’s startled look, he added, “When I’m taking pictures. You know.” He let a moment go by while some others passed them on the path and then continued, “A friend of mine works in the same building you do. I could introduce you, if you’re interested.”

Ben’s forehead wrinkled, but then he said, “Well...okay.”

“Super. Give me a day or so to work out the particulars, and I’ll get back to you.”

Ben nodded and pulled his car keys from his pocket. “Sounds like a plan.”

Cody climbed into his SUV and headed out of the marina lot. Ben had been a whole lot easier to reel in than the fish he’d caught today. Now, he had to find the right time to get him and Luci together.

Cody pasted a big grin on his face and wore it all the way home.

CHAPTER FOUR

“DID YOU SUBMIT your article on Cranberry Acres to Coastal Living?” Glen asked.

Luci put down the brochure advertising a charter boat service and sat back in her chair. She’d managed to organize some of the material, but countless stacks remained. The mess was driving her crazy.

“I did turn in the article. I haven’t had a response yet from the editor.”

“It looked good to me.” Glen hitched up his trousers over his ample stomach. The day was a warm one, and he’d shed his jacket and rolled up his shirtsleeves, but the ever-present tie adorned his neck. “But then, what do I know about it? That’s why I hired you and Cody. By the way, have you seen him lately?”

“Not since we went over the article together. I’m working on the brochures now, picking out the ones that need updating. When I get them organized, I’ll contact him to take some photos.” Not that she’d be picking up the phone anytime soon. Working together or not, seeing Cody as little as possible suited her just fine.

“Good, good.” Glen idly picked up a brochure from one of the stacks she’d assembled, riffled through it and then tossed it onto the table. “But don’t forget about the sand-castle contest.”

Luci retrieved the brochure and carefully put it where it belonged. “Of course. I’ve been giving it a lot of thought.”

He frowned. “You need to do more than that, Luci. You need to come up with an idea. A brilliant one. We need a new twist this year. Make us look good.”

Not long after Glen left, Marge rushed in, her arms loaded with yellow file folders. She dumped them onto the worktable, where they slid into the neat piles of brochures.

“Oops, sorry.” Marge leaned over the table, scrambling to corral the files.

“What’s all this?” Luci rescued the brochures and set them aside.

“Cleaning out more files.” Marge straightened and waved her arms. “Not my idea. Glen’s orders. This is stuff from decades ago. If it was up to me—” she thumbed her chest “—I’d toss it. But now that you’re here, he wants everything organized and up-to-date.” She rolled her eyes. “Pressure, pressure.”

The phone in the outer office rang.

“That’s probably the mayor,” Marge said. “Gotta go.” She scurried out the door.

After Marge left, Luci abandoned the brochures and the rest of the mess on the worktable and migrated to her computer to research sand-castle contests.

She was deep into her work when Cody arrived.

Another man accompanied him. The newcomer looked vaguely familiar, like someone she might have passed in the hallway. He wasn’t as tall as Cody, but then most men weren’t. He was dressed in neatly pressed slacks and a plaid shirt that looked, well, sprayed on. His blond hair was cut short and combed back from a high forehead.

“Luci, meet Ben Shapiro.” Cody gestured to his companion. “He’s new in town. An accountant. Has an office upstairs.”

“Pleased to meet you, Luci.”

Ben offered her a shy smile along with his outstretched hand. But his fingers barely touched hers before he drew back.

“I thought I’d seen you here in the building. Welcome to Willow Beach,” Luci said.

“Thanks.” Ben broke eye contact and looked around.

“Ben’s also a bird fancier,” Cody put in. “That’s one of the reasons he moved here from Seattle. Right, Ben?”

“Right.”

Ben seemed to have found something interesting on the ceiling, although Luci couldn’t imagine what that was. “We do have a lot of birds here on the coast,” she said.

No one spoke for a couple of seconds, and then Cody snapped his fingers. “Say, if we do an article on birds for Coastal Living, maybe you could be our go-to guy. Have you seen that mag, Ben? You got a copy handy, Luci?”

“I do, somewhere around here.” Luci rummaged through a stack of papers on her desk and pulled out a copy of the magazine. She held it out to Ben.

He riffled through the pages. “Yes, I’ve seen this around town.”

“And didn’t you say you’d written some articles yourself?” Cody asked. “For professional journals? Birds something-or-other?”

Ben looked up from the magazine. “Birds of the West Coast and Birdology.”

Luci hadn’t heard of either of those publications, but, when nothing more was forthcoming from Ben, she said, “Oh? If you have extra copies, I’d love to read them.”

Cody nodded. “Might give us some ideas.”

“Sure. I have some extra copies.” He handed the magazine back to Luci and looked at his wristwatch. “I gotta get back to the office. Client coming in a few minutes. Pleased to meet you, Luci.”

He finally made eye contact, along with a small nod.

“You, too, Ben.”

Cody walked to the door with Ben. “Don’t be a stranger now, you hear?”

Ben mumbled a reply, but Luci couldn’t make out the words.

She sat at her desk, ready to resume her work. Cody returned and stood over her, arms folded across his chest.

“So what do you think?”

She looked up. “About what? The article idea?”

“Ah, yeah. About that.”

“It has possibilities.”

Cody paced a few steps and then turned. “How about Ben? What do you think about him?”

“You mean as a resource person?”

“Resource. Sure.”

“I don’t know. I’ll have to talk to him some more. Except he doesn’t say much, does he?”

“He might be a little shy.”

Luci narrowed her eyes. “Cody, what is going on here?”

“Ben went fishing with us on Saturday. He’s Max’s accountant. And when he mentioned he was interested in birds, I thought maybe he’d be a good contact.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Okay, since he’s new in town and, as you saw, shy, I thought he could use some help getting to know people... Say, I gotta run, too. Glen’s got an assignment for me. Do you have anything? I can come back later.”

“I will have something on the sand-castle contest...soon. I’ll let you know.”

Luci watched Cody hurry out the door. He was acting strangely today. But she didn’t have time to worry about him now. She had a job to do. She turned back to her computer and her research.

* * *

ANXIOUS TO GET away from Luci’s questions, Cody headed down the hall to Glen’s office. Had he been too obvious? This matchmaking stuff was harder than he’d thought it would be. Still, he’d gotten the ball rolling, and he wasn’t about to give up.

The following day, Luci mentioned that Ben had dropped off copies of his articles and she had given him some brochures on the Wildlife Refuge. She made no mention of getting together with Ben after hours, though, and Cody didn’t want to raise her suspicions any further by inquiring. He waited a couple more days, and when no progress appeared to have been made, he figured he’d have to give Ben another nudge.

He was at the post office when he spotted Ben pulling mail from a postal box. They exchanged greetings and a bit of small talk, and then Cody got down to business.

“What’d you think of Luci?” he asked.

Ben tucked his mail into his jacket pocket. “She’s very knowledgeable about writing. We talked a bit when I gave her my articles.”

Cody nodded. “Talking’s good. But what did you think of her? She’s attractive, isn’t she?”

“Very. You on your way out?” Ben gestured toward the door. “I need to get back to the office.”

“Yeah, I’m done here.” They fell into step walking across the marble floor to the open door, dodging people along the way. “Luci was an intern at the Herald when I worked there. Then we went to the U at the same time, although I graduated a year ahead of her.”

“So you two go way back.”

“Just as friends.” Cody emphasized the word friends.

They went down the steps to the parking lot. Cody was searching his brain for something else to say about Luci when Ben asked, “Is she seeing anyone?”

Finally. He was beginning to think he’d have to spell it out. “No, she’s not. She was dating a guy at the U for a while, but that didn’t work out.” Cody was glad it hadn’t. Seth had seemed like a loser. Not good enough for Luci. He eyed Ben. Was he good enough?

“So, you think you’d like to ask Luci out?”

Ben nodded. “I was thinking of asking her to dinner.”

Yes! Cody restrained himself from making a fist and pumping the air and instead nodded solemnly. “I’m sure she’d like that.”

“Where would you suggest we go? I could ask her for suggestions, but I’d like to have some ideas myself.” Ben whipped out a pair of sunglasses from his jacket pocket and pushed them up on his nose with his forefinger.

“Beach Café’s probably your best bet. Casual but with a touch of elegance. Can’t beat the view.” He was already imagining them at a window table, enjoying one of Willow Beach’s spectacular sunsets—when they weren’t gazing into each other’s eyes.

Ben took out his car keys. “Sounds good. Why don’t you come, too?”

Cody gave him a look. “Me?” He pointed at himself. “Why would I—”

Ben shrugged. “I’m not much of a talker... In fact, maybe this isn’t such a good idea, after all.”

“No, wait.” Cody put out a hand. “Okay, I’ll come and...bring someone.” Right now, he had no idea who. But if that was what it took to get Ben and Luci together, he’d do it.

Ben looked at his watch. “Gotta go. I’m late.”

Before Cody could say any more, Ben climbed into his truck. He started the engine and roared from the parking lot.

Cody stared after him. What had just happened here? But maybe his presence on their date would be a good thing. Then he could make sure Ben and Luci were getting along okay.

But now he had to come up with someone for himself. Who would that be? Most of the women he knew were either married or had moved away. He wandered down Main Street, deep in thought.

He was about to give up when he found himself in front of Sylvie’s Souvenir Shop. Sylvie Ventura. He snapped his fingers. Yes.

He opened the door and went inside. “Is Sylvie around?” he asked the teenage clerk.

She nodded toward the back of the store. “In the office.”

Cody hurried past the crowded shelves. Seashells were everywhere: wind chimes, boxes, lamps, coasters, bowls and flowerpots. Then came the clothing section: flip-flops and tennis shoes, sweatshirts and jeans, hats and scarves, and then, finally, he reached the open door to the office.

Sylvie stood behind a counter unpacking a box of T-shirts. “Cody!” She put down a handful of shirts and ran to give him a hug.

He put his arms around her and hugged her back. Her topknot tickled his chin and her perfume filled his nostrils. She broke away and looked him up and down. “Heard you were back in town and workin’ for the chamber. Glen Thomas.” She tsked-tsked. “He’s a driver.”

“He’s okay. Leaves me and Luci pretty much on our own.”

Sylvie shook her forefinger. “Yeah. Just don’t cross him.”

“And that would be how?”

“Forget I said that.” She waved a hand, jangling her bracelet made of tiny seashells. Her dangling earrings were also made of shells, and her pink shirt read Willow Beach Rocks. He glanced down at her jeans and flip-flops. Sylvie was a walking advertisement for her souvenir shop.

“Looks like you’re doing a great job, taking over for your folks.”

“I’m trying. Growing up in the business helps. I’ve been working here since I was old enough to walk, practically.” She grinned. “So what brings you here today? Want me to pose for you?” She placed her hand behind her head and fluttered her eyelashes.

Cody laughed. “Sure. But later. I’ve a favor to ask first.”

“Okay. I’m listening, but let me buy you a drink. C’mon.”

She led him to the employee’s lounge, which was decorated with orange and red vinyl furniture and a soft drink machine with blinking lights. A few minutes later, bottle of soda in hand and seated on one of the vinyl couches, Cody asked Sylvie to go out to dinner with him and Ben and Luci.

While he talked, she drank her soda and tapped her red fingernails—which matched her toenails—against the bottle.

When he finished, Sylvie set her drink on a glass-topped table. “Let me get this straight. You want me to be your dinner date because you’re trying to get this Ben and Luci together, and he needs moral support.”

“Something like that.”

“And I’m supposed to be your date,” she asked.

“Think of it more as friends getting together.”

“But you want Ben and Luci to be more than friends? Cody, Cody. Everybody knows Luci’s had a crush on you since she was in high school and you were working for the Herald.”

Cody stiffened. “Maybe so, but now we’re just friends.”

“Does Luci know that? What are you trying to prove here?”

Cody set down his soda and raised both hands. “I’m not trying to prove anything. Ben says he’s interested in Luci, but he’s, well, shy, and needs a nudge. I got them talking about birds—Ben’s hobby is bird-watching—but I can tell he’s a slow mover.”

“And what does Luci think about Ben?”

Cody shrugged. “Who knows? Maybe you can find that out. You’re not hooked up with anyone right now, are you? I heard you and Eddie Lightner were quits.”

Sylvie gave an unladylike snort. “That jerk better not show his face around here again.”

“What happened?”

She folded her arms and tilted her head toward the ceiling. “You don’t want to know. Anyway, I’m off men right now. Big-time.”

“You don’t have to worry about me, Sylvie. I’m not looking, either.”

“Uh-huh. I don’t know, Cody. Don’t you think messing around with people’s love lives is risky?”

“I think Ben’s a good guy and I think Luci’s, ah...” Oh, man, he was talking himself into a corner here.

Sylvie gave him a sly look. “You think she’s hot.”

“Luci is a good friend of mine,” he finished in a firm tone. “A friend I want to see happy.”

“With another guy. You don’t make a bit of sense.”

Cody set his jaw. “Hey, it’s a free meal.”

Sylvie put a finger to her cheek. “Hmm. The Beach Café, you said? I do like their seafood salad.”

“Well, there you go.”

“I guess I could meet you there.”

“Nope. I’ll pick you up. We’ll make this an official date.”

By the time he left, Cody’s head hurt. He stood outside a moment and rubbed his temples. If his plan worked, it’d be worth it. Now, all Ben had to do was ask Luci and they’d be set. He’d better not expect Cody to do that, too. The guy had to take some responsibility.

CHAPTER FIVE

“THIS IS A nice evening, isn’t it?” Luci said. “The air is extra fresh after the rain we had this morning.”

“It is,” Ben replied in a monotone. Driving up Main Street seemed to require all his attention.

He looked as neat as a pin, with his hair combed back from his forehead and his jaw clean shaven. He used a strong aftershave, not unpleasant but certainly noticeable. Underneath a lightweight blue windbreaker, he wore his customary formfitting shirt and navy slacks.

She’d debated what to wear herself, finally settling on a dark brown cotton skirt and a T-shirt with a scoop neckline. The butterscotch color set off her red hair, which she’d brushed until it shone.

She wasn’t sure what this evening was about. When he’d invited her to dinner, Ben had said it would be a good chance to talk more about the article on birds. But couldn’t they do that at the chamber office? Then she’d figured the bird talk was a cover.

Ben had probably seen her around the building and wanted to meet her. When he and Cody were on the fishing trip, Ben must have told Cody of his interest, and Cody said he’d introduce them. That was why Cody had brought Ben to her office that day.

He was nice, if a little stiff and formal. But that was okay. She looked forward to the evening. Maybe if she went out with other men, she could forget about Cody. She still wasn’t sure how she felt about him. Was she harboring her teenage crush? Or something more? Spending an evening with Ben might help her to find the answer.

Good thing it wasn’t much farther to the Beach Café, because her conversational well was already running dry. At the restaurant, they could talk about the food. And the view. And birds.

* * *

AT THE CAFÉ, Marlys, the hostess, greeted them. “Hello, Luci.”

“Hi, Marlys, I heard you were working here now.”

Marlys nodded. “Now that the twins are in preschool and Joe’s on day shift at the plant, I’m back at work. I love it.”

Luci introduced Ben.

“Welcome to Willow Beach,” Marlys said. “I hope you enjoy the Beach Café. The rest of your group is already seated.”

Their group? Before Luci could ask, Marlys picked up a couple menus and motioned them to follow her.

Luci pushed aside her concern and took time to enjoy the restaurant’s casual elegance. The place was light and airy with windows on the ocean side and elevated booths on the opposite wall that gave every customer a view. Paintings of nautical scenes decorated the walls.

They hadn’t gone far when Luci spotted Cody. It had always been that way. There could be dozens of people around, but if he was in the group, she knew it. And there he was tonight, sitting at one of the window tables. With a woman. Luci stared. His companion was Sylvie Ventura, from the souvenir store.

Was Cody on a date? With Sylvie? A queasy feeling that had nothing to do with hunger invaded Luci’s stomach.

She hadn’t thought Sylvie would appeal to Cody, but then, what did she know about his taste in women?

More importantly, why was Marlys leading her and Ben to their table?

Not until Cody rose and said, “Hey, you’re here,” did Luci get it. Cody and Sylvie were the group Marlys had been talking about.

Marlys placed their menus at the two empty seats. “Enjoy your dinner,” she said before heading to the front of the restaurant.

Ben pulled out Luci’s chair. She remained standing, looking first at Cody and then at Sylvie. “What’s going on here?”

“Didn’t Ben tell you we were meeting you?” Cody asked.

“Ah, it may have slipped my mind,” Ben said, looking sheepish. “But have a seat, Luci.”

She dropped into the chair and allowed Ben to scoot her closer to the table.

“So you’re Ben,” Sylvie said as he sat across from her. “I’ve been hearing such a lot about you.”

Luci frowned at Cody. Whatever was going on here, she’d bet he was behind it.

He met her frown with a grin, and his gaze roved over her. “Looking good tonight, Luci.”

“Thanks. You’re looking good yourself.” She didn’t want to think about how good. He’d dressed up for the occasion. A little, anyway. Although he wore his usual jeans, he’d chosen a cream-colored dress shirt instead of a T-shirt. The light color set off his smooth tan and dark hair. Of course, his camera lay on the table beside his place setting.

They studied their menus, but Luci had trouble concentrating. Her mind still churned—along with her stomach—over the shock of Cody and Sylvie.

The waiter appeared, pad and pencil poised to take their orders.

“I’ll have the scampi,” Sylvie told him.

Cody raised an eyebrow. “What happened to your favorite seafood salad?”

“Didn’t want to be the same old boring me tonight.” Sylvie batted her eyes in Ben’s direction.

“I’m having the salad, boring or not,” Luci said. “And knowing you, I bet you’re having the seafood fry.”

Cody nodded. “Am I predictable, or what?”

Ben opted for the baked halibut. He also ordered a bottle of wine. When it arrived, he tasted the sample and frowned, tilting his head this way and that. Then he nodded and said, “Yes, very nice.”

The waiter smiled a relieved smile and filled their glasses.

That ritual dispensed with, Sylvie leaned across the table and said, “I’m so glad to meet you. I need your help.”

Ben frowned as he regarded her over the rim of his wineglass. “You do?”

“Yes. I have the souvenir shop on Main Street, you know, and I ordered these birds—”

“Birds? Live birds?”

“No, no, made of wood. Hand-carved and painted the loveliest colors. But, except for the seagulls, of course, I don’t know what kinds of birds they are. And when the customers ask, I don’t know what to say. When Cody said you were a bird person, a, ah, what do you call it?”

Ben smiled. “Ornithologist is the term, but ‘bird person’ will do. Anyway, sure, I’d be glad to help.”

Luci was about to say there were any number of books in the library or at the Book Nook that Sylvie could use, not to mention the internet, but sensing Sylvie was on another kind of mission, she kept quiet.

Cody leaned forward. “Luci, remember that little bird you found on the beach that day the Herald had their company picnic?”

Luci nodded. “With the broken wing. Poor little thing.”

“And we took him to Doc Harper’s. And you cried when Doc told you he might not be able to save it.”

And you put your arms around me and told me not to worry. But she didn’t say that aloud. He probably wouldn’t want to be reminded. He probably didn’t even remember.

“But he did save it,” she said. “So that story has a happy ending.”

Ben launched into a tale about a bird they’d saved at the sanctuary where he volunteered. Sylvie listened, her wide-eyed gaze glued to him. Soon he was talking more to her than to the table at large, and when he and she discovered they both liked the old Alfred Hitchcock movie The Birds, that led to a discussion of other old movies.

Their meals arrived. Luci concentrated on her salad, which was as good as she remembered, loaded with fresh shrimp and crabmeat and chunks of salmon. Cody dug into his seafood fry, although he still attempted to get a word in when either Sylvie or Ben stopped talking long enough to take a bite of their food.

Later, over crème brûlée, Sylvie and Ben were still talking only to each other. The conversation had moved from old movies to, of all things, sword fighting. Luci sipped her coffee and gazed at the dunes, where the grass waved rhythmically in the wind. Beyond the beach was the ocean, where an orange sun dipped low over calm waters.

Cody was looking out the window, too, and fingering his camera. He caught her eye. She looked pointedly at the camera and then back at him. They both smiled.

Luci sighed. She knew Cody well. Too well.

When there was finally a lull in Sylvie and Ben’s conversation, Cody said, “How about a walk on the new boardwalk?”

Sylvie blinked at Cody and then at Luci, as though suddenly reminded of their presence. “That’s a good idea. I love the new boardwalk.”

“Ever been to Atlantic City’s boardwalk?” Ben folded his napkin and laid it beside his plate.

“Why, no,” Sylvie said. “You’ll have to tell me all about it.”

Ben’s account of the famed landmark led them all the way outside and down the path to the beach. Luci marveled at Ben. After barely speaking to her on the way to the restaurant, his words spewed forth, as though a dam had broken. He was eloquent, too. And gesturing, as if he were onstage. She guessed he was, playing to an audience of one.

They reached the boardwalk and climbed the ramp. As they began their stroll, Luci buttoned her jacket against the stiff breeze. She was glad she’d worn flats and marveled that Sylvie could walk in her high-heeled sandals.

Pointing to a mounted telescope, Sylvie sped up into a trot. “Oh, let’s look,” she called over her shoulder.

Ben took off after her.

“Don’t you want to look, too?” Luci asked Cody.

“I’ve got my scope right here.” He patted his camera.

Sylvie and Ben reached the scope. He dug into his pocket, pulled out some coins and stuck them into the slot. Sylvie bent to look in the eyepiece. He stood behind her, putting his arms around her to grasp the scope and turn it from side to side.

Cody raised his camera and aimed it at Ben and Sylvie.

Sylvie spotted him. “Oh, there goes Mr. Cameraman.”

“Look through the scope again, Sylvie,” Cody said. “There, that’s it. Now, Ben, lean over again, like you’re showing her how to use it.”

“He is,” Sylvie said.

Luci rolled her eyes.

Finished with the scope, Sylvie and Ben stood at the railing with the setting sun as a backdrop, and Cody took their picture.

“Okay,” Cody said, “now, Ben, I want one of you and Luci.”

“Me and Ben?” Luci asked.

“Yes, ah, at the railing, too, but, let’s see, looking at each other. Silhouettes of your profiles against the sunset. Yes, that’d be good.”

Luci stood at the railing and turned to Ben. He faced her, too, but instead of looking into her eyes, his gaze drifted over her shoulder. Standing nearby, Sylvie folded her arms and tapped her foot.

Cody continued his picture taking. By the time they’d reached the end of the boardwalk and were turning around to head back, the sun had set and the water had turned a deep turquoise. Ben was beside Luci again, and Cody walked with Sylvie. Nobody said more than a few words, and when they reached Cody’s SUV and Ben’s truck, their goodbyes were brief and polite.

On the drive home, Luci thought about trying to make conversation, but, in truth, she didn’t have the energy. Ben lapsed into his characteristic silence. No, not characteristic. Sylvie had pushed a button and, like a mechanical doll, Ben had come to life.

“Thanks for dinner and the nice evening,” she said when they reached her apartment.

“You’re welcome. I’ll walk you to your door,” he added but made no move to silence the truck’s engine.

“No need. It’s right there.”

“Okay. Good night, then. When you want to talk more about birds, give me a call.”

“I most certainly will.”

* * *

“SO WHAT WAS that all about, Sylvie?”

“What was what all about?”

He took his gaze from the road long enough to meet her innocent eyes with a glare. “You know what I’m talking about. You were flirting with Ben.”

She pressed her lips together and fingered her purse, which was balanced on her lap. “I couldn’t help it. I took one look at him and our eyes met and, well, I just knew that he was special.”

“I thought you’d sworn off men. After Eddie gave you such a bad time.”

“I thought I had, too, but, well, our eyes met and—”

“You already said that.”

She shrugged. “There’s not much more to say.”

Cody set his jaw. He’d wanted to help Ben and Luci, directing the conversation, seeing that they got to know each other better. And Sylvie? Well, she was along for...for the seafood salad, like she’d agreed. Only she hadn’t fulfilled her end of the bargain.

“You should know better than to try manipulating people,” Sylvie said.

“I wasn’t manipulating, I was, ah, assisting, guiding, mentoring.”

“Manipulating,” she said, more emphatic than before.

He slowed the SUV to turn off Main Street, heading for Sylvie’s house. “So what now?”

She shrugged. “What do you mean?”

“Did he ask to see you again?”

“As if that’s any of your business.”

“I think it is. I’m the one who got you into this.”

Sylvie heaved a deep sigh. “Okay, no, he did not. But he will.” She nodded, setting her topknot in motion.

Cody snorted. “How do you know that?”

“A woman just knows, that’s all.”

“Are men really that transparent?”

Sylvie grasped her purse, lifted it and plunked it down on her lap again. “I’d better shut up, before I give away too many secrets of the sisterhood.”

Cody shut up, too, and they rode on in silence.

They reached her house, which was enclosed by a rickety fence strung with fishnets, colorful buoys and pieces of driftwood. The yard was a mixture of sand and crushed seashells, with tufts of grass sprouting here and there.

She opened the gate and led them up the path to the front door. A wind chime made of seashells hanging next to the door clacked in the light breeze.

“Thanks, Cody.” Sylvie stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek.

“You’re welcome—I think.”

She turned to slip her key in the lock but then stopped and faced him again. “Oh, I almost forgot. Can I have one of those pictures you took of Ben and me tonight? I want to put it on my Facebook page, to let Eddie know I’ve moved on.”

“Sure, but you just said Ben didn’t ask to see you again.”

“He will,” she said and smiled. “He will.”

* * *

“WHAT CAN I help you with, Mom?” Luci asked. After a stressful week at work and the so-called date with Ben Shapiro last night, she looked forward to a relaxing Sunday with her family.

Anna stood at the island in the spacious kitchen, slicing a head of lettuce on the chopping board. She pushed a lock of hair from her forehead with the back of one hand. “Hello, honey. You can work on this salad while I baste the roast.”

Luci sniffed the air. “It smells wonderful.” Picking up the knife where her mother had laid it, she sliced the lettuce while Anna crossed the room to the stove.

The children’s voices drifted in from the screened-in porch adjacent to the dining room. “Sounds like the kids are having a good time,” Luci began, but just then a scream rent the air. “Uh-oh, somebody’s not happy.”

Anna closed the oven door and straightened. “That sounds like Megan. She has trouble getting along with the older kids, sometimes.”

Arliss entered the kitchen, holding a tearful Megan by the hand. “Maybe Grandma can find something you can help with,” Arliss was saying. “Oh, hi, Luci. How was your date last night?”

Luci’s mouth dropped open. “How’d you know about that?”

“You forget Don and Cody are buddies?”

Anna handed Megan a stack of paper napkins. “Here, darlin’, put one of these at each place at the table. Okay?”

Megan pouted, but she nodded, took the napkins and trotted off to the dining room.

“Buddies, humph,” Luci said. “More like gossips.”

“So how was it?” Arliss lifted a pot of potatoes from the stove and moved to the sink to pour off the water.

“It was...okay.”

“You like Ben?”

“He was nice.” She looked around. “Where’s Fran?” Usually the four of them worked together in the kitchen.

Arliss set down the pot and gave a dismissive wave. “Oh, she’s on her phone. Big open house today in Oceanside.”

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