Forever Summer - Melody Grace Page 0,6

apple.”

Evie took in the display and burst out laughing. “I thought you were legally bound to sell nothing but sailboats and seashells on Cape Cod,” she joked.

“Oh, I have plenty of those, too. But there are only so many sailboats a girl can paint before she loses her mind, just a little,” Mackenzie confided. “That’s when I switch to the creepy-crawlies. And the dragons. And the vengeful volcano gods. I do have normal stuff, though. If you’re looking for that kind of thing.” She waved to a shelf full of beautiful glazed dinnerware.

“Oh, they’re lovely!” Evie exclaimed, spotting a set of vivid blue bowls. “They’d be perfect for when I open. I just bought the Beachcomber Inn,” she explained. “I’m Evie Baxter-Jones.”

“Evelyn?” Mackenzie’s smile grew wider. “The spinster?”

Evie blinked. “Excuse me?”

“Nothing.” Mackenzie beamed. “It’s very nice to meet you.”

Evie glanced outside. The coast was clear: no sign of Noah. “I better get going, before he comes back.”

“You do that,” Mackenzie said, looking amused. “But I should warn you, it’s hard to avoid anyone in a small town like this. You find you run into someone when you’re least expecting it.”

Evie gulped and checked outside again before dashing back to her car and hightailing it back to the inn. She hoped Mackenzie was wrong. It wasn’t just her bad first impression that made Evie want to keep her distance from Noah; there was something about him she already knew spelled trouble.

Stomach-whirling, pulse-racing trouble.

She wasn’t looking for a complication like that. She already had plenty on her plate, thank you very much, starting with the fact she needed running water to make it through another night at the inn. It had been two years since Glen passed, but no matter how much her friends hinted, romance wasn’t in the cards for Evie, not anytime soon—and especially not with someone as stubborn, arrogant, and annoyingly handsome as Noah.

Her stomach would get the hint soon enough. A man like that was the last thing on her to-do list.

Noah Montgomery was a man in high demand. He couldn’t make it ten paces through the town square without being stopped by another person, wanting to chat.

Funny thing was, they were all women.

“I wanted to ask your advice on a new stereo system …”

“I’ve been testing out a new roasted chicken recipe, if you’re free one night …”

“My niece is visiting and needs a tour guide. She’s single, you know …”

“Sorry, I have to get to work. Another time!” Noah backed away and made his escape.

What was going on this week? Had a memo gone out, naming him the most eligible bachelor in town?

Not that he was complaining. Ever since moving back after years away, Noah had been getting reacquainted with the many attractions the Cape had to offer … including its female population. He hadn’t set out looking for dates, but somehow, they’d found him; now his evenings were packed full with casual dinners, late drinks, and a revolving door of willing company.

And some mornings, too.

His schedule had never been fuller, but Noah was glad for the distraction. Anything was better than being left to his own devices with too much time to think, and as long as they all knew the rules and just wanted to have a little fun …

Well, who was he to turn down a good time?

“Oh, Noah?”

He turned, bracing himself—until he saw who it was. “It’s you.” He exhaled in relief, greeting Aunt June with a smile.

“Did you think I was another one of your adoring fan club?” June asked, teasing. “We should call in extra security when you’re in town. The Beatles in Shea Stadium have nothing on you.”

Noah chuckled. “What can I do for you?”

“I was just looking for help with my flyers,” June said, nodding to the boxes stacked in front of her real estate office.

“And there was nobody else around to help?” he asked, amused. He knew for a fact that a whole team of volunteers was out decorating the town for the Spring Fling, adorning every building with banners and bunting.

June gave a wink. “Nobody half as interesting. Or easy on the eye.”

He couldn’t help laughing. “Lead the way,” he said, following her over to the store. Aunt June wasn’t really his aunt, but everyone called her that; she was an eccentric, with at least four ex-husbands—that they knew about—and a raunchy sense of humor, and Noah always had admired her zest for life. He’d mowed her lawns and shoveled snow off her porch in high