Hope Harbor

by Jill Sanders

  “It is?” she asked, looking a little excited.

  “She’ll be six.” Eve’s smile changed from sexy to happy quickly. “I promised her that when she turned six, she could have a puppy.” He sighed. “She’s been begging me ever since Dad went and got Cooper.

  “How wonderful. Are you going to throw her a party?” Eve moved behind her desk and sat down. “What day?”

  “The nineteenth. I haven’t thought about a party yet.”

  She glanced up at him, a shocked look on her face.

  “It’s her sixth birthday. Every girl should have a big blowout for her sixth birthday. Only ten more birthdays until her sweet sixteenth.”

  As her words sank in, he felt all the blood leave his brain. His chest actually tightened while his vision and hearing became blocked.

  Eve rushed over and pushed him into a chair. “Breathe,” she was saying as she handed him a bottle of water.

  “Don’t scare me like that,” he said after taking a drink of water. “It’s too soon…” He closed his eyes.

  “Easy.” Eve chuckled. “You still have ten years to go.”

  He shook his head. “That’s not enough.” He felt a pain over his heart and rubbed the spot.

  “You’ll have plenty of time with her,” Eve said softly. “Let me plan the party?”

  He looked at her and nodded, swallowing the knot in his throat.

  “Perfect.” She clapped her hands together and jumped back up. “I’ll take care of everything.” She moved back behind her desk and started typing on her computer.

  “I thought we were going to cut out early,” he said, regaining his senses.

  She glanced up at him and smiled. “Give me an hour.”

  “Sure.” He stood up, and finished the water she’d given him. “I had a few things to do first anyway.” He left her in her office, working away on her computer.

  He knew there was one person who could fill him in on Eve’s ex. He headed to the kitchen and found Kathrine yelling at one of her employees. The moment she spotted him, she waved the young woman away.

  “Trouble?” he asked.

  “Nothing a swift kick to the butt won’t fix,” she said loud enough for the young girl to hear. “My niece. I caught her smoking in one of the storerooms,” Kathrine said with a slight frown. “That girl has been in trouble her entire life. Eve gave her this job, a fresh chance at life. I don’t want her to screw it up. Besides, if I don’t treat her like the rest, everyone will think she’s my favorite employee.”

  He chuckled. “Now they think she’s your least favorite.”

  She waved him off. “What’s up?”

  “Brent Stein,” he said, as if the man’s name said it all.

  “I heard the S.O.B. was in the house.” She groaned. “It’s true then?”

  “Afraid so.” He sat down on the stool she pointed to. “What do you know about him?”

  “What do you want to know?” Kathrine sat next to him and grabbed a plate of hot fries and set them between them.

  After a few fries, he asked, “Why did Eve divorce him?”

  Kathrine laughed. “The question should be why did she marry him in the first place.”

  “Okay, why?”

  “He’s a charmer,” Kathrine started. The man he’d seen upstairs could easily be described as such. He had been wearing a suit more expensive than anything in Dylan’s wardrobe and that went far with some women. “He’s a liar and will tell a woman, or anyone for that matter, anything to get what he wants. It just took our Eve a little longer to see through his bullshit.”

  “Why do you think he’s here?” he asked, not expecting Kathrine to have the answer.

  “Probably because he wants Eve back.”

  He thought about it and nodded. “He propositioned her,” he said, remembering what Eve had told him.

  “He did?” she asked, taking another French fry.

  “Sleep with him or lose her job. Then he threw in the kicker that if she didn’t, he’d ruin her. Pull strings all over Seattle and make sure she’d never get hired.” He glanced up at the ceiling as if he could see the man through the floor.

  “What?” Kathrine started to stand, but Dylan chuckled and laid a hand on her arm.

  “She turned him down.”

  “Course she did. She’s wised up about that man.” Kathrine sighed.

  “Of course, she did.” Images of him thrashing the pretty boy in the expensive suit crossed his mind again.

  “Eve doesn’t understand why Brent can’t seem to let her go.” Kathrine shook her head.

  “I can.”

  “Course you can. You’re a man with blood flowing through your veins.” Kathrine chuckled. “Besides, something tells me that Brent Stein has always gotten everything he’s ever wanted and now that Eve has gotten away from him…”

  “He’ll do anything to get her back,” he finished.

  “Right.” Kathrine nodded.

  “Do you think that includes murder?” he asked, suddenly.

  Kathrine was silent, then leaned forward. “I wouldn’t put it past him. I don’t know the man well, but… he has stalker written all over him.”

  After finishing the plate of fries, Dylan made his way back upstairs. As he crossed the desk, he stopped to talk to Genie.

  “What room is Mr. Stein in?” he asked.

  “I’m not supposed to tell you that.” Genie glanced down the hall to where Eve’s office was.

  “What room?” he asked.

  Genie sighed and rolled her shoulders. “Don’t tell Eve I told you.” He waited. “Two-thirteen. That man smooth talked me into giving him the biggest suite on the floor for the price of our standard room.” She groaned. “Damn, he’s charming and kind of looks like Chris Pratt.” She sighed. “If I’d known who he was, I would have stuck him in the basement.”

  Dylan smiled. “Thanks.” He turned to head towards Eve’s office. Knocking on her door, he let himself in just as she hung up the phone.

  “Ready?” he asked.

  “Yes, let me get my bags.” She shut down her computer and grabbed her purse. As they walked by the front desk, she took up one of the three bags she’d stashed behind the desk. “The others are for the top floor rooms. Can you put them in storage until the rooms are ready?”

  “Will do, boss,” Genie answered. “I’m really sorry about…”

  “Don’t mention it,” Eve said. “Let me know if you have any… issues with our guests.”

  Genie nodded and waved them off. “Have a good evening.”

  Eve took his hand and started walking out. Just as they stepped out, lightning filled the sky and thunder crashed seconds later. The rain started falling when they were halfway to the parking lot.

  “Perfect timing,” she joked as they dashed towards his truck.

  “After we shop, we can head to the animal shelter. I called them earlier today. They have a litter of puppies that might be ready to pick up right around her birthday.”

  “I bet she’s going to love it,” Eve said with a grin as he started to pull out of the parking lot. “Are you getting a boy or a girl dog?”

  He thought about it. “Palmer has been saying Cooper needed a girlfriend.” He chuckled. “Course, I’ll make sure there aren’t any little ones running around anytime soon.”

  “Why? You have a thing against kids?” she asked with a smile.

  He laughed. “Human, no. Palmer’s been begging for a brother or sister ever since her friend Aubrey had a baby brother last year. The furry kind, that’s a different story. The shelter on the island is full already.”

  “Responsible and sexy.” Eve laughed. “I like that.”

  Of course, the conversation had him thinking about having more kids of his own with Eve. At that thought, he smiled. Hell yes. He wanted more kids, as many as Eve wanted. Then he frowned and glanced over at her. Did she want kids? She liked Palmer. Most women who had shown interest in him since Kendra’s death hadn’t even bothered getting to kno
w his daughter.

  He watched Eve dash through the rain into the boutique to return the sexy red silk that had been somehow, in her mind, tainted by her ex. The primal voice in his head wanted to see her in it, knowing Brent never would. But he figured Eve would feel more comfortable picking out something he hadn’t seen yet.

  It took her almost half an hour and when she walked out of the store, she had a glow about her that had him wishing they had time before they had to pick Palmer up from school to go try out whatever she’d purchased.

  “When can I see you in whatever you bought?” he asked with a grin.

  She glanced at him and blushed. He liked the way her face heated. Reaching over, he took a strand of her hair in his hands and played with it. “When Palmer stays with your dad next.” She tucked the little bag with her purchase inside into her purse

  “I can’t wait,” he said as he steered the truck towards the animal shelter.

  “Neither can I,” she whispered. He tried to think about anything except for what was in the small bag as he drove.

  The moment they walked into the pound, he knew they would be taking not one but two puppies. The little black furballs were too adorable not to. Besides, there were two sisters left unclaimed.

  Eve fell hard for the littlest one with a white patch just below one of her eyes. The little thing clung to Eve and when she sat her down to pet its brothers and sister, it rushed over and promptly peed at his feet.

  Eve laughed. “She was just so excited to see you.”

  “Right.” He shook his head as he picked the small thing up. She was no bigger than his palm and suddenly, the memory of holding Palmer that first time surfaced.

  Him, sitting in his scrubs, face mask, and gloves at the hospital, unable to touch his daughter with his bare hands but able to hold her tiny body. She really had fit into the palm of his hand. He’d been so concerned he’d hurt her that it had taken close to ten minutes for the nurses to convince him that he was holding her correctly.

  He remembered crying like a loon. So much that he’d had to dash the tears from his eyes so he could see his daughter’s face. She was close to a month old, that first time he’d gotten to touch her, her little fingers no bigger than a tear drop. How had time flown so fast? Six years old. She was everything he and Kendra had ever imagined she would be. Strong, smart, happy, and so full of love.

  Sitting down, he held the small puppy and couldn’t help but love it already.

  “Are you okay?” Eve asked, picking up the sister and sitting next to him.

  He nodded, not trusting his voice. “This is how small Palmer was when I held her for the first time.” He looked to Eve.

  She touched his arm and smiled. “Bet she didn’t wiggle this much.” Eve laughed as the little thing jumped up and licked his face. “They’re sisters,” Eve said, holding the other black-and-white puppy. In all, there were four in the litter. Both the brothers had been spoken for, making his decision to get both sisters an easy one.

  “We can’t just take one,” Eve said.

  He liked that she included herself in his plans. Somehow, she’d melded into his family unit. It was no longer him and Palmer, it was we when she talked.

  “No.” He smiled and wrapped his arm around her. “We can’t.”

  28

  Up in the air

  As the weather forecast had promised, sometime during the night the rain turned to sleet and then to snow. They woke to the beautiful sight of a white wonderland outside their window.

  The snow wasn’t supposed to stick around for long, which meant in a day or two, everything would be muddy, including the long drive up to the inn, which would need to be cleared.

  There was also a bunch of yard work that would need to be handled. They were busy preparing everything for a big party that had been scheduled for that weekend, a local couple’s fiftieth anniversary party.

  She remembered the Bucklans from when she’d been a child. Ruth had been her fifth-grade teacher and her husband, Ben, had been the principal at the high school. The party was sure to be a who’s who of the small island, bringing out all the locals. She was really looking forward to it.

  The police had come and gone several times, interviewing everyone who had been on her list when Steve and Ramona had been murdered. Barb had informed her that all members of her family had been interviewed but hadn’t shed any light on what they had found.

  It wasn’t as if the local police had any bona fide experience at catching a murderer. She didn’t doubt Barb’s ability to catch the murderer, but she was concerned that, so far, someone had gotten away with murder, twice.

  She was thankful when things quieted down. Her family’s lawsuit against her was looking more and more like it was going to be completely dropped any day.

  Now, the only one left for her to deal with sat in the dining room, sipping a cup of coffee while reading the news on his iPad.

  “You sure you want to deal with him?” Dylan asked as they stood in the lobby.

  “He’s not just going to go away. He’s been here almost a full week. Something tells me he’ll be back as often as he can.” She shrugged. “Besides, he can’t hurt me. Jon has made it clear I’m legally covered so…” She smiled up at Dylan. “I’ll come upstairs after and let you know how it goes. I’ve been dying to see the progress.”

  He chuckled. “It’s still a mess. We’ve cleared all the rooms, including your grandfather’s.”

  It had taken a few of the men, including Dylan, to disassemble her grandfather’s large desk and move it downstairs to replace the older one that had been in her office. She’d spent an entire day rearranging the room until she had the space just to her liking. Now, with two newer armchairs she’d found in one of the storage rooms, the space felt more like hers, from Palmer’s painting to the one of her great-grandparents that hung over the corner fireplace to the clock that sat underneath it.

  “You’re welcome to come look, you just may not like what you see.” He leaned down and kissed her. “But I’ll be there. Good luck.” He motioned towards the dining hall.

  “Thanks.” She took a deep breath and walked across the floor, her heeled boots clicking on the marble flooring.

  Brent glanced up and spotted her when she was halfway across the space. At one point, years ago, her heart would have skipped at the way he was looking at her, like she was a conquest he was willing to do anything to achieve. Now, the look caused a shiver to race down her spine, which stiffened the closer she got to him.

  “Good morning,” she said in a calm voice. “I hope your accommodations are to your liking.”

  He’d turned off his iPad and set it aside and was now just looking at her. “You look lovely today,” he said instead of answering her. “Please.” He stood up and pulled out a chair for her.

  One thing she could say about Brent, he was charming when he wanted to be.

  Sitting down, she waited, knowing he would take control of the conversation. She’d never gotten far talking to him about subjects he didn’t want to talk about.

  “You know, I think you’ve made your point,” he said after clearing his throat.

  “About?” she asked, determined to keep calm.

  “This place.” He motioned around them as if that explained everything. “There’s so much work to be done here, I doubt you even know where to begin.” He leaned closer to her and lowered his tone. “Let me come in, the firm, and help you out.” He leaned back and smiled at her. “We could turn this place into an exclusive resort within a year.”

  She waited until she had his full attention. “I plan on doing it in half that time.”

  His eyes darkened and she could see the small crease on his forehead that he always got when he was annoyed.

  “Working for a marketing firm is a lot different than running a place of this magnitude,” he said, changing course, a tactic she’d seen him use numerous times over the years of working with him.

  “And you think you could run this
place?” she asked, allowing a hint of question to fill her voice.

  He smiled and leaned closer again.

  “Yes, with my expertise, and the firm’s backing”—he glanced around the dated room—“by next Christmas we could be booked solid.”

  “We?” she asked, tilting her head slightly.

  “Of course.” He slowly crossed his hands. “As I mentioned, the firm would be backing the rehab. There’s a lot to do around here.” He waved his hands as if she didn’t already know what needed to be done.

  “Yes, and I plan on getting it all done, myself.” She started to get up, but he put a hand over hers.

  “Eve, you’re not being smart. Let me come in, then, on my own. My money, my expertise. I’ll get this place turned around for you.”

  She sat back down and, after slowly pulling her hand out from under his, looked at him.

  “What are you really doing here?” she asked, determined to wait until he gave her a truthful answer.

  “I’m here to make you an offer. One that you should take.”

  She narrowed her eyes and waited. When he didn’t say anything else, she stood up to go again.

  “This is my last chance.” He sighed with frustration. “I’ve been told not to come back if I let this opportunity pass.”

  She leaned back in the chair again. “By?”

  “My family. For some reason, they want this place.” There was something he wasn’t telling her. Something more.

  “Why?” she asked, enjoying the power she held over him now.

  He shrugged. “They claim that it’s because it’s a sound investment, but after a little research, I think it’s a money pit.” He glanced at her quickly. “Sorry, but it’s a rundown inn on a useless island.”

  She chuckled. “Thanks for your honesty.” She rose. “I won’t expect you to stick around much longer.”

  “There’s another reason I’m here,” he said, causing her to still. “You know it.”

  “That’s not going to happen,” she warned. “I’ve moved on and so should you.”

  His hand snaked out and he gripped hers again. “I made a mistake, and instead of working through it, you left.” He glanced around the room.