Forever Summer - Melody Grace Page 0,12

“Yes, he’s suing one of those construction companies right now, a big class-action lawsuit. Terrible business. Fraud, overbilling—he had all their permits revoked, and now it looks like they’ll have to pay millions!”

The color drained from Louie’s face, and Evie tried not to laugh. “Is that so?” he said, backing away. “Well, see, I’ve got a lot of work on right now, so I’m not sure when I’d be able to do the job.”

“Really?” Evie cooed. “What a shame.”

“In fact, that’s my phone now.” Louie waved his silent cellphone at her. “Important call. Gotta run!” He turned and practically bolted from the inn, so fast he nearly put his ankle through a hole in the porch.

“Watch out!” Evie called after him. “Great to meet you!”

“Don’t come again,” she added, watching him climb into his van and race away, tires skidding on the gravel, leaving her all alone …

… with a run-down wreck of an inn. And definitely no husband in sight.

Evie’s sense of victory faded fast. She sank down on the porch steps and looked around in despair at the rotting posts and broken windows.

What was she going to do now?

She was married.

Noah turned it over in his mind for the rest of the day, annoyed that he even cared. It was none of his business what—or who—Evie was wrapped up in, but still, he couldn’t help feeling strangely off-balance, and even his usual five-mile after-work run couldn’t set things to rights.

Of course she was married. He should have known a woman like Evie would have men lined up around the block to sweep her off her feet. He wondered briefly who the lucky guy was; at first he’d thought she was putting it on for Louie with that story about the lawyer in the city, but then he’d caught a glimpse of the necklace she wore dangling around her neck. A gold wedding band on a delicate chain, nestled close to her heart.

Yup, she was married, all right. At least he knew now, she couldn’t have been more off-limits. Whatever chemistry he’d thought was sizzling between them was all in his mind.

Noah vowed to keep his distance from the Beachcomber Inn—emergency 911 calls or otherwise—but as he drove through town on his way to dinner, he noticed a familiar truck parked outside the pub. Before he knew what he was doing, he was pulling over and heading inside.

He found the truck’s owner shooting the breeze with Riley at the bar. Cooper Nicholson was an old buddy—and the most reputable contractor on the Cape. Since clearly Evie didn’t know her drywall from her plaster, she needed someone who wouldn’t take her for a ride.

Cooper greeted him with a smile. “How are you finding life back in town?”

“It’s like I never left,” Noah said wryly. “This place doesn’t change.”

“What are you talking about?” Cooper replied, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “The other week, we got brand-new street lights in the square—after they spent six months finding exact replicas of the old ones.”

Noah chuckled. “That sounds like Sweetbriar Cove.”

“So, what brought you back?” Riley asked, leaning against the polished oak bar. “I heard things were going pretty good there down in Nashville.”

Noah was careful to keep an easy smile on his face as he replied. “I guess it was time for a change. Besides, my folks were complaining about the distance, and you know what my mom can be like.”

They all laughed. “Gayle likes to make her opinions known,” Riley agreed. “So can I get you a beer?”

“I’m actually here for him,” Noah said, turning to Cooper. “I might have a job for you.”

Cooper winced. “I’m pretty much booked solid through the summer,” he said, sounding apologetic.

Noah shrugged. “Oh, too bad. I thought you would be interested in a project like the Beachcomber Inn.” He left the name dangling, and sure enough, Cooper paused, looking more interested.

“The inn, really? It’s a beautiful property. All that original shingle … the turrets …” His smile turned nostalgic. “My mom used to take me for tea there on Sundays, as a treat. Mrs. Calendar’s scones couldn’t be beat.”

“Those scones were legendary,” Noah agreed. “The new owner’s trying to fix the place up,” he explained. “But she called in Louie about the job.”

Cooper scowled at the name. “That guy’s a piece of work.”

Riley nodded in agreement. “Tried to talk me into tenting the place for non-existent termites when I first got to town.”

“I don’t suppose you could go give her an honest quote?” Noah asked.