Brody crossed his fingers. “It’s going to be hard to hammer like this, you know.”
“Somehow I’m sure you’ll find a way.”
***
Elli got up and dressed, but Brody had already headed out. The first of the work teams should be on site already, and Brody and Kenny were working from the detailed plan that would keep everything on track. She resisted the temptation to stop in and check on things, trying to give Brody the respect and trust he deserved for taking on such a huge project, but she still slowed down and ogled the work that was already getting underway as she drove by. A half-dozen trucks spotted the parking lot, and someone had pulled a big flatbed trailer in front of the plaza. It looked like they were already clearing the space.
She sang to the radio all the way to Carolina By The Sea. Aside from some spa guests, Elli seemed to be one of the first regular customers at the restaurant this morning. While she waited for Ed, she reviewed the updated paperwork Brody had left for her. Since the last version she’d seen, there were now even more detailed tasks with names aligned to them and even a timeline with a detailed materials breakdown for each phase.
If all went according to plan, the major part of the renovation would be done in seventy-two hours, and they’d be all done except the paint on the walls. All said and done, in ten days it would be complete right down to hanging the sign over the door.
“Hi, Elli. Am I interrupting? You kind of look like you’re in deep thought.”
“Hi, Ed. No, please join me. I was just looking over some paperwork for something else while I waited for you. Well, yes, I guess I was kind of in deep thought, but sit. Please.”
“Something wrong?”
“No. Not really, in fact things are good. It’s business.”
“I happen to be a pretty good businessman, and a great listener. Try me.”
She quickly brought him up to date on what had happened since she’d seen him last. “Now I just have to figure out the best way to fund all of this without going broke. A lot of my assets are tied up. But that’s not your problem. So, I hope you’re still interested in the house and not the plaza. I realize that changes the deal we originally discussed when I showed you around.”
“That works fine. The plaza could really add to the town’s revenue in the long haul too. And there’s still enough privacy beyond those dunes that the beach house won’t be impacted at all. How much do you need?”
“I’ve worked up a new asking price for just the beach house. And here’s the plat too.” She pushed the information across the table.
“Seems fair, but I meant how much capital do you need to raise for your project?”
“Oh, Ed, I wasn’t hinting at a donation.”
“I’m not offering to give you any of my money.”
“Oh.” She wished she could slurp back the comment because now she felt really silly.
“But I can help you raise the money.”
He had her attention. “How would you do that?”
“I’ll play a benefit concert for you.”
She wasn’t quite sure how to tell him thanks but no thanks. It wasn’t likely they’d raise much money playing music in a town the size of Sand Dollar Cove. But Brody had said Ed played guitar. To be polite she said, “What kind of concert?”
He reached into his pants pocket and pulled out his phone. “Here. I guess Brody didn’t tell you.”
“Tell me what?”
“I just assumed when he recognized me the other day that he told you. Here.” Ed started a video on his phone and turned it toward her.
“You’re going to get Cal Blackwood to play a concert here?” I don’t think that’s going to happen?
“I stand next to him over two hundred nights a year.” Ed laughed. “And that’s me.” He pointed to the screen. “Last week. In front of 50,000 people.”
“What?” She grabbed the phone from his hand. “That’s you? That IS you. Wow, how do you play while you’re spinning around like that?”
He gave her a rock star smile.
“How did we not know?”
“I don’t usually tell people. I mean Cal can hardly go anywhere without someone recognizing him, but I can. And I just want to have a quiet place on the beach. Touring is a blast. I love the music, but I need to spend less time on the road and more time in a home I can call my own. A place I can spend time with my kid and just enjoy the simple stuff.”
“This is the perfect place to do that. But if you help me by playing a concert, you’d be sacrificing your anonymity. I can’t let you do that.”
“If I’m going to live here, I want to be a part of the community. I’m sure people will respect that. I have a good feeling about this place. If I’m wrong, well, then better to find that out now.”
“You’d do that for me?”
“Yeah. I would.” Then he grinned. “Besides, those shops are going to improve the value of my beach house. Don’t you go raising the price on me. In fact, don’t show it to anyone else. That’s why I was tracking you down. I’ve already spoken to my agent. He’s moving funds around right now.”
“You’re kidding me?”
“Nope.”
She reached out and shook his hand. “Welcome to Sand Dollar Cove, neighbor. Now let’s talk about that concert.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
For sixty hours straight, people came and went, and the progress on the plaza was like watching one of those time-lapse videos. Walls were built, plumbing corrected and new wiring pulled just to ensure there wouldn’t be any fire hazard down the road.
The local heat and air conditioning company donated a used unit and was scheduled to install it in the morning. The miracles Brody were pulling off just kept besting themselves.
Nana set up a makeshift sweet tea stand and was doling out encouragement like smiles on Sundays. Elli carried a big cup full of iced sweet tea with her for Brody. She wasn’t sure if he’d even slept the last two days.
“You need to take a break,” she said handing him the cup.
“Thanks for bringing this.” He took the lid off and gulped half of it down. “Things are moving right along. We’ve bumped into a few snags, but nothing we couldn’t fix pretty quickly with the right guys on site. What do you think?”
“It’s nothing short of a miracle.”
“I had an idea I wanted to run past you. What do you think about revitalizing that skimboard stuff your grandfather used to do? I was thinking maybe I could sponsor a skimboarding contest. The first annual one this year. It could draw some folks in. We could plan it for July.”
“I love the idea. I wonder what kind of insurance you’d need for an event like that?”
“I don’t know, but I have someone I can ask to look into it and start working up some details. I wanted to float it past you first.”
“I think it’s an awesome idea.”
“You still owe me some skimboarding time together. How about later tonight? Under the moonlight?”
“Sure. You’re on. There’s a full moon tonight. It’ll be perfect.”
A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “I was thinking exactly the same thing. Oh, and I forgot to tell you that the inspector came about an hour ago to check the plumbing and electrical.”
“Do I want to hear this?”
“We’re in good shape. Now we just have the final inspection to go. One last hurdle.” When he smiled, his eyes danced, and that made her insides dance a little too. “I have something for you. Wait right here.”
She stood her ground as he disappeared inside the building.
When he walked back out he was carrying the SandD’s Gift Shop sign. Repaired and brightly painted. “Brody! It’s perfect.”
“Think she’ll like it?”
“Yes. Absolutely.”
“Good.” He set it down in front of the corner storefront. “It’ll look good.” He clapped his hands together. “So we’re getting down to the details. By tomorrow, we’ll be able to let the teams go.
All we’ll be doing is waiting on the drywall to cure so we can start priming and painting. I rented a dehumidifier to help speed that along. If it rains that could slow down the drying time, but we’re right on schedule.”
“We can do that ourselves. I love to paint.”
“Great. If we do the cut-in overnight, I can get the guys to finish it the following day. Then all that’s left is the final inspection.”
“Perfect. I’ll be your overnight date tomorrow night,” she said, and she liked the way his eyebrows perked when she said that.
“But tonight you’re my skimboarding date.”
“Yep. How about you come up for dinner and then we’ll head out.”
“You’re on. I put the skimboards in the back storage area. Want me to just grab two?”
“Oh no. You pick one out for yourself. I have a special one.”
“Have I met my match?”
“Wait and see.”
***
“I was beginning to think I’d been stood up,” Elli teased when Brody finally came inside for dinner.
“Not on your life. Do I have time to take a quick shower?”
“Take your time.”
He whistled softly as he climbed the stairs. When Elli heard the shower start running, she turned and caught Nana staring at her with her dimples so deep it looked almost like someone had reached up and squeezed her cheeks.
“I know what you’re thinking.”
“Me?” Nana chuckled and moved along. “No need for me to put words to it, honey. It’s all in the air. I’m headed to my room.”
“You’re not going to eat with us tonight?”
“No way.” Nana grabbed a jar of peanut butter and a sleeve of Ritz crackers and marched out of the room. “I’ll be upstairs.”
Elli went over to the stove, cranked up the temperature on the crab pot and sprinkled a healthy dose of Old Bay seasoning into it. Then she cracked open a beer took a generous sip and dumped the rest into the water.
Once she heard the shower turn off, she took the salads out of the refrigerator and put them on the table, and then dropped the shrimp into the pot. Boiled shrimp was about the only thing she could cook and guarantee success.
She was just pulling the last of the jumbo shrimp out when Brody walked in wearing a pair of flowered boarding shorts and a T-shirt. With his hair wet he looked like he could be on the cover of one of those fitness magazines, and it was all she could do to peel her eyes off of him.
“Smells great.”
“It should be. Sit down.”
They ate, and then Brody helped Elli clear the table and wash the dishes. “I think our forty-five minutes between eating and playing in the water is up. You ready to hit the beach?”
“Oh yeah. I’ve been waiting all day for this. And in case you didn’t know, there’s nothing better than the cove on a full moon.”
“I’ll be the judge of that.” He took her hand, and she was surprised by the gentleness of his touch. “Let’s go.”
He led the way outside, and when they hit the last step of the stairs, she veered off to the right and picked up a bright pink skimboard.
“Oh, I see you’ve already chosen your weapon. Didn’t see that one down in the shop.”
“I might have had this one stored here,” she said with a raise of her brow. “Don’t tell me you didn’t spend some time picking the perfect one out.”
“You’re right. I did survey them pretty closely. I left mine down on the other side of the dune. You seem to be ready for a little competition.”
“Oh you better believe it.”
“First one to hit the water gets the first point.” He took off running.
She shouted after him. “Think you need a head start?” She was laughing as she ran, but he wasn’t running too hard because she caught up to him fairly easily.
The moon glowed on the water.
By the time they hit the beach they were both laughing. He snagged his board on the run down, but Elli beat him to the water. She tossed her board ahead of her and ran right up behind and leapt on top of it fully clothed, skimming for a good fifteen feet before she hopped off. It was just like riding a bike.
Brody yelled, “Nice.” Then he hit the water just as a wave broke and rode it in, lifting the board in a hop and turn until he was almost right in front of her. “You do know what you are doing, girl.”
“Can’t take the beach out of the girl.” She carried her board just above where the waves were coming in and quickly wiggled out of her jeans. They were already wet, but it was hard to skimboard in jeans, and she had her bathing suit on underneath. Then she picked up her board and took off again in the other direction, this time leaping onto the board in a squat and then turning around in a spin as she glided along the moon-swept water.
It didn’t take long for Elli to realize Brody might have been sandbagging with just how good of a skimmer he was, because she’d about exhausted her talents when he started flipping his board in the air and riding the waves a little farther out to where they’d crested.
Out of breath, she took her board up and sat on it and watched him. “You rock, man!”
He played to her applause for another good ten minutes before he finally came up and dropped his board next to hers. “I’ve never ridden one of these old boards before. Your old gramps knew what he was doing.”
“He taught me how to skimboard before I even knew how to swim.”
“I bet those are some good memories.”
“Oh yeah. It’s been a long time since I’ve done that. I have a feeling I’m going to be sore tomorrow.” Elli rubbed her hands along the sides of her legs.
“Worry about that tomorrow. Tonight, there’s a full moon and this is great.” He grabbed her hand and lay back in the sand.
She followed his lead. The sky was full of stars, but they paled in comparison with the bright moon.
Brody rolled over on his side and propped himself up on his elbow. “Isn’t it neat the way the moon seems to lay a path through the water?”
“Yeah. The water’s choppy tonight, but on a still night it looks like you could walk on it.”
“You are full of surprises, Elli Eversol.”
“So are you.”
He leaned in.
When she’d first seen him she’d found him handsome in an outdoorsy, rugged sort of way, but tonight…he was disturbingly handsome with the moon making his skin shine.
Her hand slid down his arm, sweeping the water droplets from his skin. She could almost feel his thoughts.
His gaze focused on her lips and she wished he would just kiss her already. A sense of tingling anticipation swept through her.
A sensuous smile came to his lips, and then his mouth covered hers, brushing hers in a tantalizing invitation for more as he settled his hand on her hip.
All of the air expelled from her lungs in one wild gasp.
He planted taunting little kisses along her lips, her cheek, and then ever so softly to the crook of her neck. And those sent shimmers as bright as the stars coursing through her.
“I really like who you are, Elli Eversol.” He whispered into her ear. Then he straightened and gazed into her eyes.
Elli could feel the heat from his body so close to hers.
He leaned forward and dropped another kiss to her lips, then her nose, and then her forehead. “When I responded to your note on Facebook, this was the last thing I ever expected.”
“You’re just impressed by my skimboarding skills,” she teased, because if she didn’t she was liable to let this go a whole lot further than a first kiss should ever go.
“Oh, yeah. And so much more.” He sat up. “You ready to call it a night?”
She wasn’t. She had a million naughty thoughts running through her mind right now, but she sat up and let him help her up instead. They walked hand in hand over the dune and set their boards next to the house to dry.
His hand settled on the small of her back as they took the stairs up to t
he deck.
She paused at the front door. “I had the best time tonight.”
“You’re not the only one.” He glanced over his shoulder. “I’m going to sit out here for a while before turning in. Good night.” He kissed her on the neck. “I hope you have sweet dreams.”
She smiled and went inside, wishing with every step that the door might open behind her and he might follow her to her room.
***
Brody had already left for the plaza when Elli woke up the next morning, but rather than check in on him she chose to spend the day with Nana instead.
She had a painting date with Brody tonight, and a little space between last night under the moon and tonight would probably keep some perspective on the situation, although giddy was about the best way she could describe what she was feeling for him right now.
At the end of the day she walked down to the plaza. Brody was shaking hands and thanking the last of the workers when she showed up ready to help with the painting.
Wearing an old pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt that had seen better days, she couldn’t be accused of trying to impress him. “Ready?” she asked.
Brody turned and gave her a once up and down. “Looks like you are.”
She gave him a dramatic curtsey. “New fashion statement.”
“Shabby chic. You look adorable, let’s see how good you paint.”
“Even better than I skimboard. You’re on.”
He poured paint into two trays, and the two of them got right down to work.
They knocked out the three small kiosk-sized spaces first. “These look incredible,” Elli said. “I wish we’d thought to do this years ago.”
“It’s turned out really nice. I’m glad you’re happy with it.”
“I’m thrilled.” She turned to face him. “Thank you so much for everything. I don’t know how things would have played out if you hadn’t happened on my path.”
They worked for two more hours, making short work of painting out the space.
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