Sunset on Moonlight Beach - Sheila Roberts Page 0,40

goes wrong?”

“I’ll make sure it doesn’t.” He slipped a lock of hair behind her ear. “I get it, Jenna. I really do. Your ex did a number on you. But I promise I’m not him. How long do you want to stand in the doorway watching the party instead of joining it?”

“Good point.”

“So then, let’s go back to my place.”

“Soon.”

He smiled ruefully. “Did I mention I hate cold showers?”

“I’m sorry.” And she really was. It wasn’t fair to keep the poor man hanging. “You should give up and go find someone else.”

“I don’t want anyone else. I want you. And I don’t give up easily.”

That was obvious.

* * *

Since he’d paid cash, Brody’s deal with Susan closed in record time, and by the Saturday after Jenna’s birthday party, Courtney and Annie and Moira were in the shop, busy boxing up the ugly clothes that had once defined Beach Babes. They’d actually found a thrift store willing to take them. Proceeds went to a women’s shelter in nearby Aberdeen, and the store owner was more than happy to take both the clothes and the donation Courtney had given her.

“So, basically, you bribed her to take them,” Annie said.

“Something like that,” Courtney said.

“Somebody might want them. They’re not all that bad,” put in Moira.

“They’re not all that good, either,” Courtney said. “But hey, if the shop owner is happy, so am I.”

“We need to paint this place,” Moira said, looking at the ugly brown walls. “This color is way too dark. Something neutral, like a cream.”

“Good idea,” Courtney said. “I want the walls to enhance the clothes, not compete with them for attention.”

“I wonder if you could find one of those old-fashioned mirrors to stand in one corner,” Moira continued. “You know, the ones where you can tilt the mirror. What are those called?”

“Cheval, I think,” Annie said.

“Cheval,” Moira said, trying out the word. “That would be cute. Paint the purchase counter white and stencil some blue fish on the front of it,” she continued, “to give the place a beach feel.”

“And add a sign on the wall that says Life’s Good at the Beach,” added Annie.

Yes, it sure was. “I like that. Maybe I’ll see if I can find a glass-top table to display socks on.”

“Did you order some fun, funky ones?” Moira asked.

“Of course,” said Courtney.

Moira pulled out her cell phone and began scrolling through it. “I was thinking about you yesterday and saw the cutest wallpaper. I thought you could put it in your changing booths.” She turned her phone so Courtney could see the screen.

“Oh, my gosh, flip-flops. I love it! I swear if you weren’t so good with hair you could become an interior decorator.”

“I love making things pretty,” Moira said.

She’d certainly done that for Waves Salon, which she was now managing for Pearl Wellman. Pearl wasn’t around much anymore. She had a man in her life and had spent the winter at his digs in Palm Desert.

“I really appreciate both of you taking time to help me with this place,” Courtney said.

“You helped me when I needed a place to stay,” Annie reminded her. “I’m glad I can finally do something for you.”

“You’re the best, both of you,” Courtney said.

It was Saturday morning. Annie had a party to cater that evening and Moira would have to leave for the salon soon. Both women were busy with their own careers but still taking time to help her. And Jenna and Brody were coming over in the afternoon to help haul the boxes of clothes to the thrift store. Tyrella had offered Courtney a twenty percent discount on anything she might need from Beach Lumber and Hardware. Talk about good friends! Courtney had found treasure at the beach more valuable than anything any pirate could ever imagine.

“So when do we paint?” Moira asked. “I could help tomorrow. Victor’s off, too.”

“I can do tomorrow,” Annie said.

“Then let’s paint tomorrow,” said Courtney. “I’ll hit the hardware store after this and pick up some.”

“This is going to be so amazing when you get it done,” Moira said. “Have you thought about when you want to have your grand opening?”

“Memorial Day,” Annie said. “You should shoot for that. We’ll have lots of visitors in town.”

“That hardly gives me any time,” Courtney said, thinking of all the things she needed to do—what she still wanted to order. And make.

“You’ve been ordering things since the minute you struck the deal with Brody. And Patricia’s giving you all the clothes you had in her gift