That Summer Place - Omnibus (2008) by Debbie Macomber;Jill Barnett;Susan Wiggs

Author:Debbie Macomber;Jill Barnett;Susan Wiggs
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Man-Woman Relationships, Anthologies (Multiple Authors), Contemporary, Fiction, Romance, American, Summer Romance, Islands, General, Short Stories, Love Stories
ISBN: 9780778327134
Publisher: MIRA
Published: 2008-07-01T07:00:00+00:00

John arrived back at Rainshadow Lodge at four o’clock. He wasn’t actually supposed to begin work until the following day, but he figured the sooner he got started on this project the better. Maybe he could even finish ahead of schedule and get out of here a week early. His temporary home was hardly going to be a haven of peace and quiet. If Nikki’s attitude wasn’t bad enough, he was stuck playing host to a widow and her teenage son.

He didn’t need the aggravation. Already he could see that he wouldn’t have a moment to himself. Mornings were his, and he liked it that way. Some people woke up cheerful and eager; not John. He eased into the day, accepted it gradually, without rushing. By habit he awoke early, showered, shaved, made coffee and took his time reading the paper.

One thing he didn’t want or need in the morning was a lot of chatter. Nor did he appreciate company. This was his hour alone and he preferred not to share it with anyone else. Including Beth. Yet not ten minutes after he sat down, she’d come into the kitchen, asking questions and making a general nuisance of herself. Well, to be fair, not exactly a nuisance. But he’d have to make sure she understood he didn’t want to be disturbed. If she was awake, fine, but she should stay in some other part of the house. He planned to tell her that at the first opportunity.

To John’s surprise the house was empty. The back door was open and the screen unlatched when he entered the kitchen. A salmon filet was marinating on the island inside a glass baking dish covered with clear wrap.

“Nikki?”

His daughter didn’t respond. Setting aside his briefcase, he worked his tie loose and wandered into the living room.

“Nikki?” he called again, and noticed the front door was wide-open. No one with a shred of self-preservation left a door unlocked in California. Unlocked was one thing, but unlocked and open was beyond comprehension.

He stepped onto the porch and saw his daughter sitting on a large rock that overlooked the beach.

“There you are,” he said, walking toward her.

“Hi, Dad,” she said, smiling at him.

He wasn’t accustomed to a warm greeting from her. “What did you do today?”

“Nothing.”

“I thought Beth and Paul were riding bikes into town.”

“They did.”

“You didn’t join them?”

She rolled her eyes, implying that was a stupid question. “No way.”

He wondered at her mood, which seemed to have improved vastly in the time he’d been away. Perhaps it was wishful thinking on his part. She’d been brooding for so long that anything even resembling a smile encouraged him.

“Where are Beth and Paul now?” he asked, certain he’d noticed the tandem and the two regular bikes when he pulled into the garage.

“There,” she said, and pointed toward the beach.

His gaze followed her gesture and he found mother and son walking along the beach side by side. The tide was out and they appeared to be beachcombing, stopping now and then to lean over and examine something the tide had left behind.

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