Hometown Reunion by Lisa Carter

Author:Lisa Carter [Carter, Lisa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2018-02-05T16:01:02+00:00

Chapter Eleven

At the shop a few weeks later, Darcy restocked the first aid kit. Every day, Jax took more ownership of the business as she handed off additional responsibilities to him. The upcoming corporate weekend retreat would be his first overnight paddle. And he’d serve as expedition leader.

He was a quick study. Either that, or eager to get rid of her. As eager to get rid of her as she was to get rid of him? On her part, not true. Grown-up Jax had proved to be even more dangerous to her sensibilities.

With the sunshine glinting off the water like diamonds, she relished having the shop to herself in the mornings. But for only a few months longer. Her stomach knotted.

She’d arranged their schedules so Jax had time to take Brody to the Pruitts’ house before arriving at the shop midday. Sticking to her resolve to avoid Jax whenever possible, she made sure her shift ended as soon as he arrived.

Afternoons, he oversaw Ozzie and Savannah’s tours. When the shop closed at five, he left to pick up Brody. And Chas came on board to conduct the ever-popular summer sunset or full-moon paddles. The latter were Jax’s idea, proving popular not only with the tourists, but locals, too.

She glanced out to the dock. On a clamming expedition, a family of six paddled behind Savannah. The line of kayaks soon emerged on the other side of the busy marina traffic, Ozzie in the rear.

Darcy drifted to the front window. Cars and trucks filled the Sandpiper parking lot. The usual crowd included her father, an honorary member of the ROMEOs—retired older men eating out.

She relished the simple rhythm of small town life. Was she crazy to long for somewhere else? Or was the longing not so much for another place as a longing for something—someone—else?

Darcy jolted when the bell above the door jingled. As Jax sauntered inside, the tranquility of the morning was broken.

She grimaced. “You’re early.”

He threw her an insolent grin. “Miss me?”

“Pitter patter goes my heart.”

His lips twitched. “I live to please.”

She sighed. With his cheeky grin, laughing eyes and wind-ruffled hair, Jax was all too pleasing to the eyes. Way too appealing for her peace of mind. This would not do. This would not do at all.

A niggle of panic wormed its way into her thoughts. Maybe she could turn the business over to him earlier than Labor Day. Keep her distance till then. She and Jax functioned best at arm’s length. Always had, always would.

She went over the details of the overnighter with him while they waited for the executives across the bay to arrive. A maroon van pulled into the parking lot.

“You’re on, Jax.” She gathered supplies in her arms. “Time for you to work that Pruitt charm.”

He cocked his head. “Does it work on you?”

She sniffed, heading outside.

The corporate execs, male and female, ranged in age from early thirties to late fifties. She and Jax spent the first few minutes gauging their experience in the water.

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