Ellie lifted her hands, stared up at the ceiling. “Hallelujah.” She looked at Grace again. “It’s about time.”
Grace checked the napkin dispensers, storing the extra packages under the counter. “You know I needed to make sure he was moving around okay before I left.”
She felt Ellie’s gaze. “Or maybe you were afraid to take something you deserve? Afraid that mama of yours was going to try and take it away.”
Grace rearranged the napkins, turning the packets sideways so more could fit. “Still seems weird they’d leave the house to me instead of their own daughter.”
Ellie grabbed another box of napkins, opened it, and started handing packets to Grace.
“Or they knew their daughter was as selfish as the day is long. Makes it all the more amazing you’re such a sweet thing.”
She glanced up at Ellie. “You’re biased.”
“Doesn’t mean I’m wrong.”
Grace stood, about to break down the boxes, but Ellie pulled her into a hug. “Proud of you,” Ellie whispered.
She swallowed around the lump in her throat. “Thanks.”
Ellie let her go, looked up at the clock over the chalkboard menus.
“I’m going to work on payroll. Call me if we get slammed before Hugo shows up. That boy better not be late.”
Grace nodded, unable to wipe the smile from her face. She hummed under her breath as she cut assorted squares, arranged pastries, and checked supplies. She liked the routine, enjoyed the mundane tasks of setting everything up just right.
She did her best not to let thoughts of her mother dampen her spirit. Tammy Travis never let her know grandparents who’d cared enough to leave her a freaking house but she’d waxed poetic about the life she deserved. As Grace got older, she wondered how her mom planned to achieve that life without putting in some damn effort. She’d never understand why her mother had kept family from Grace’s life. Why she’d let them struggle to the point that Grace couldn’t wait to escape her mother’s trailer. Coming to Harlow was the best thing she’d ever done.
Hugo, a twenty-one-year-old college student who made Grace feel ancient despite her being only seven years older than he was, burst through the swinging door from the back.
“Sup Gracie-girl.” His long dark hair was tucked into a ponytail.
“Not much, Hugo. Good thing you showed on time. You want to unlock the door? We’re ready to go.”
“I’m always on time.” He winked at her exaggeratedly, pointing his index finger her way, making Grace laugh. His serious lack of flirting skills made him endearing. The customers loved him.
Grace laughed, lifting her brows in question.
Hugo chuckled. “Yeah. That’s fair. But I’m charming.”
“You are that.” Which was why Ellie let him get away with his perpetual lateness.
Hugo lowered his chin, focused on attaching his name tag to his apron. “Big plans tonight?”
He asked it every shift, teasing her when she told him she was curling up with books or a design program. This time, she waited until he was looking at her. “Moving into my place. Any chance you could help? I don’t have much but my bed and dresser are heavy.”
He clapped his hands together. “Yes! Finally. I will help in exchange for you letting me plan the shindig to end all shindigs.”
Grace laughed. “First, you’re not old enough to use that word. Second, no parties. Too much going on. I just want to get in there and get settled.” She didn’t have the cash to do most of the renovations that needed to be done but being able to call it her home would offset her impatience about that.
“Fine. Small, simple gathering to celebrate then. I’m not budging.” He crossed his arms over his chest, lifting his chin in the air.
Shaking her head, she patted his arm. “Deal. But not until I’m ready.”
Hugo gave an exaggerated fist pump. “I’ll take it.”
Grace shook her head, starting an espresso order for the customer who’d be walking through the door shortly.
On cue, Mrs. Kern, Grace’s favorite professor, walked through the door, smiling at Grace. “Morning.”
“Morning. How’s your Saturday?” Grace pushed the espresso across the countertop.
“The girls were still asleep when I left so it’s been blissful,” she said, pulling a wallet out of her oversize purse.
During the week, Mrs. Kern was all business, her blond hair in a tight braid, makeup expertly applied, her attire a great blend of classic and functional.
On the weekends, however, she wore sweats, her hair loose, face makeup free. She was Grace’s idol, and though she couldn’t be more than thirty-five, Grace wanted to be her when she finally grew up.
“Sounds nice. You marking our papers today?” Grace leaned on the counter while Hugo helped the two teens carrying backpacks who approached the display cabinet.
“Actually, I’m finalizing some exciting news I’ll share Monday.” She hesitated, her easy smile sliding into something … different. “Listen, Grace, I have a favor. A big one.”
Her excitement over whatever her teacher was finalizing fizzled. Grace was horrible at saying no to favors. It was how she ended up walking five dogs when she didn’t even own one. How she’d ended up telling Morty of course she didn’t mind staying at his house longer. How she ended up working this Saturday at the shop when she’d had the day off and could have spent it moving into her house. Or chatting with a hot guy on the beach.
“Sure.” Stretching her mouth into a smile, she hoped it looked genuine. She should have made herself a double shot of what she was serving.
“The girls have their birthday party next Sunday. Our face painter canceled. She’s got shingles, of all things. I’m in a bind.”
Pulling her lip between her teeth, Grace pictured dozens of squirmy seven-year-old girls asking for butterflies and unicorns to be drawn on their cheeks. If she could go back, she wouldn’t use her summer painting faces at a carnival as one of her truths in the icebreaker, two truths and a lie, her first class this semester in Mrs. Kern’s course.
“You’re a great artist,” Grace said weakly.
“Not on skin!” Mrs. Kern picked up her coffee. “Please. I’ll pay you three hundred dollars.”
Whoa. This favor was looking up. She had a small nest egg but that much money would let her splurge on a few extras.
“I feel bad taking your money,” Grace heard herself say.
“No reason to. I’m happy to give it if it means I don’t have to do it.”
“Then, I guess I’m in.”
“You’re a lifesaver.”
Today had taken a series of detours she couldn’t have predicted. It took all of her brainpower to focus on her job instead of twirling around with the excitement of it all. She was moving into her own house. Tonight. She thought about that weird saying about the first day of the rest of someone’s life. Tonight was the first night of her dreams coming true. Look out, Harlow Beach. Here I come.
3
Noah Jansen waited outside of the fitness club for his younger brother, checking his watch again. He hated the restless energy coursing through his body and wanted to get inside, hit the punching bag. His phone buzzed with a text.
“Shit,” he said, looking at the screen.
Something came up at the radio station his brother owned—well, technically, the station he and his two brothers owned. Typing out a quick “that’s fine” text, he spun around, thinking he’d go for a run on the beach. He’d already gone paddleboarding but that hadn’t settled anything inside of him either.
If anything, meeting the sexy dog walker had only pumped him up more, made him feel like a kid on a sugar high.
“You lost, man?” Rob, the owner of the gym and friend of Noah and Chris’s, walked up to him, a gym bag slung over his shoulder.
“Nah. Chris was supposed to meet me here but bailed.”
“Can’t work out without your baby brother spotting you?”
Noah huf
fed out a laugh. “Bite me. Just trying to figure out if punching a bag is enough today.”
Rob arched his brows. “You okay?”
Fuck. Now what? You want to stand out here dissecting your feelings or something?
“Fine. Just a little restless. I’m waiting to hear back from a Realtor. I’m trying to buy the house next door to me. It’s been empty since I moved in but I’m getting the runaround about the owner.” His brother’s words from months ago still haunted him. You jump from one goddamn thing to the next wondering why you’re not satisfied. Stand still and maybe you will be. He was trying.
Rob shook his head, dropped his gym bag on the ground between them. “Uh-oh. Poor little rich boy.” The grin took away the sting.
“I repeat, bite me.”
“So, go buy something else. Work on the house you have,” Rob said, as if both of those things were as easy as walking into the gym.
“I am. I’ve been jotting down ideas, calling and arranging contractors. I’ve got a crew coming by soon.” Noah pushed both hands through his hair. “Never mind. Ignore me. I just need a distraction.”
Rob eyed him a moment longer, then picked up his bag. “I have something that might work but you’d need to be a hundred and ten percent in.”
Noah flashed the smile he’d used in the media when he’d been the face of his father’s company. “As opposed to the half-ass effort I usually put in?”
Rob’s laughter rang through the air, reminding Noah it’d been too long since he’d felt as carefree as he was known for being.
A few people waved at Rob as they headed into the gym. “Not saying that. This is just something if you give your word, something else can’t come up.”
Irritation crawled up his spine. That’s what he was known for: a cameraworthy smile and his inability to stick around. Which was bullshit. He’d worked his ass off for his father in New York. Saw everything through to the final signature on the bottom of the paperwork. He’d even tried to have a serious relationship. That had gone three kinds of sideways.
Bailing on drinks or a couple of workouts so he could meet up with some possible network connections wasn’t the same as being unreliable. Rob should know that.
“If it’s important enough, nothing will get in the way.”
Rob eyed him carefully, making Noah want to squirm. Which only irritated the hell out of him further. “Let’s go.”
Without another word, he walked into the gym, waved to his employees—Noah did the same, as he’d seen them often enough to know some of their names—then headed for the back exit.
“You taking me out back?” Noah’s grin came easier.
“You’ll see. I want you to meet my friends.” He stopped at the exit door, turned to face Noah with a far more serious expression. “I work with a group of kids who get bused in here from surrounding counties. It’s something I’ve been working on. We play basketball and I’m trying to set up a three-on-three tournament to fundraise for a community center. You’d know, since that’s part of what you used to do, it’s a hell of a long road. But these kids don’t need a place to hang as much as adults they can turn to.”
Noah’s brows furrowed. “Okay. I knew you were doing some stuff with the local school districts.”
Rob nodded, his jaw clenching. Whatever he was thinking got under his skin. Something Noah could appreciate and understand.
“Spit it out, man.”
“These aren’t just elementary kids learning about fitness and health. Most of the kids are between twelve and sixteen. Some from broken homes, some from families just doing the best they can. They’re not always easy to connect with.”
Noah’s heart tugged sharply. His grandfather’s final legacy ended up being a rec center in the neighborhood where he’d lived most of his adult life. It was the first time the company had built anything from the ground up. The last time, as well.
“You already know how charming I am. Let’s go.” He knew, better than most, how to work a crowd. He could handle some kids.
“They can see through bullshit, so just be yourself.”
Rubbing the back of his neck, Noah tried not to glare. “Jesus, man. You don’t sound like you think too highly of me. You sure you want me around them?”
He was sort of joking but truthfully, Rob’s hesitation was pissing him off.
“Sorry. I’m protective of them. They’ve been through enough. I just want to show them there are people in their lives that will show up. Whether we raise enough money or not, they need to know they matter.”
“I can do that. Let’s go. Unless you want me to give you some pointers on basketball?”
Rob’s laugh evened out the tension in Noah’s shoulders. “They’re going to eat you alive.”
He pushed open the door, letting the sunshine and heat in. On one of the two courts out back, two kids were hunched, one with a ball in hand, the other waving his arms around, spewing a bunch of trash talk. Oh yeah, he could do this.
The kids turned, saw Rob, smiled. Their gazes landed on Noah, and though they looked nothing alike, their snarls were nearly identical.
“They don’t love newcomers,” Rob said under his breath. “Hey. I brought a friend. This is Noah. Noah, meet Leo and Danny.”
Danny gave a small wave, then pushed his hand up into his long blond bangs, tucking them behind his ear. “Hey.”
Leo grabbed the ball from Danny, started dribbling.
Rob grimaced. “Where’s everyone else?”
“Busy,” Leo answered, not looking at them as the ball sailed right through the hoop. Good shot. Bad attitude. He could relate.
Stretching out his shoulders, he let Rob take the lead, updating the kids on the event he was planning. Noah listened, seeing how Leo’s gaze kept landing on him, like he was just waiting for Noah to make a wrong move. He couldn’t help but wonder what the kid had gone through to be that distrustful at such a young age. He didn’t even look old enough to drive.
“We’ll play two on two. Leo, no cheap shots,” Rob said.
“Scared I’ll hurt your friend?” Leo’s smile was a little mean.
“Play fair or don’t play,” Rob returned easily, whipping the ball out of his hands and taking a jump shot. When it went in, he strutted around under the hoop. Danny laughed outright, grabbing the ball. Leo’s lips twitched but he didn’t crack.
“Come on, dude. Let’s whip their old asses,” Danny said.
“Whatever,” Leo said, taking Danny’s pass. “Nothing better to do.”
* * *
Noah pulled into a drive-through after the gym, surprised at how hard he’d had to work to keep up with a couple of kids. He and Rob had won, barely. Leo hadn’t spoken to him the entire time, but he didn’t cheap-shot.
After ordering a burger and large Coke, Noah headed for the freeway. The drive from San Verde to Harlow Beach was a good one. Gave him enough time to think. In New York, he’d rarely driven. Once Chris had pulled up stakes for good, leaving New York behind for the California sunshine and the love of a woman who, no shit, completed him, Noah’s restlessness had begun.
He thought a relationship was the answer and tried to make a serious go of it with a former flame who’d … well, flamed out. He realized a few weeks in that there was a reason they’d been on only two dates, both of them to high-profile events. Still, he’d worked at it, telling himself he wasn’t his father, who was on his sixth engagement.
While he’d been trying to find the good in his so-called relationship with Belle—short for Belinda—she’d been telling mutual friends that she wasn’t sure Noah had deep enough pockets for her liking. It’d been the final straw. He’d leased out his penthouse apartment, told his father he was headed west, ignored the laughter his old man had thrown at him, and cut his ties.
Tapping his fingers along to the music playing on the radio—96.2 SUN, the station he’d gone in on with Chris and their brother, Wes—he made a mental list.
A quick flash of Leo’s scowl reminded
him he had lots to be grateful for in this life. He just needed to feel productive again. Then he’d feel like himself. Since he’d moved to a sweet corner lot by the beach, the little bungalow next to it had sat empty. The tiny shack was begging to be razed so Noah could use the land to make his dream property. The house he’d purchased needed work. It was a monster of a thing that took up most of the land it sat on. Which meant that he needed the property next door to truly turn the space into a place he could call home.
“Time to make things happen,” he ground out, turning off at the freeway exit for Harlow Beach. He could commit just fine. When it was warranted. He told Siri to phone his assistant, Josh.
“What’s up, boss?” Josh’s phone came through the Bluetooth.
“You hear back from the real estate agent?”
“Yes. He said he contacted the owner and it isn’t for sale.” Noah heard the sigh in his assistant’s voice. Noah was persistent. So what? It was what made him good at what he did. Or it used to.
“Bullshit.” Noah squeezed the steering wheel. “Everything is for sale when given the right price.”
“Maybe not this one,” Josh said tentatively.
“No one even lives in it.”
“Maybe we could find the owner, set up a meeting. You’re pretty convincing in person. When you turn on the charm anyway. I’m not basing that on your personality lately.”
Noah laughed. “Shouldn’t you be nice to me since I’m in charge of your paycheck?”
Josh’s chuckle answered. “Probably, but no one else applied to run your errands and buy your groceries. The mood you’re in lately, you couldn’t pay someone else to put up with you, so I think I’m safe.”
Jesus. What happened to the charming guy who had a packed social life? Had he completely forgotten how to be around people?
“Second time today someone has commented on my mood. Sorry, man.”
“I’m just giving you a hard time. You need to get out, go on a couple dates, go surfing, something. I’ll try setting up a meet with the owner. See you tomorrow?”
“Yeah. See ya.”
How to Love Your Neighbor Page 2
