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  “I promise. Now how about I get some food into your favorite author so she can get back to the word mine.” Shawn opened the door to the refrigerator. “Hey, if you get bored up there, come on down for a long weekend. We can hang out at the beach or maybe even take the shuttle boat down to Key West for a couple of days and play Hemingway.”

  “Oh, no, you don’t. You’re not using me as an excuse to play hooky. I’d love to get together after you present me with your latest rendering, though. We can have a great time then, and not before…unless you’re having issues… You aren’t, are you?”

  “Nah, I’m fine. Just tired after all that driving. Hey, let me get back to some sustenance, please? Talk to you soon.”

  Shawn hit “end” on the phone before she could press her any further. She didn’t need to ‘talk’ about it. AJ knew this, but she was trying to be a friend, and Shawn couldn’t fault her for that.

  Chapter Three

  SHAWN SMILED AS SHE turned from Summerlin onto San Carlos Boulevard toward Fort Myers Beach. She passed the familiar colorful seaside stores that had been there for decades selling swimsuits, shorts, towels, and T-shirts. Even from a little over a mile away, the salty smell of the Gulf wafted in the Jeep’s open window. Mixed in with the T-shirt shops, fishing outfitters and boat marinas, brightly painted seafood restaurants with signs that looked like huge tropical fish lured in the passer-by.

  Crossing the bridge onto the island always felt good to her, and especially today she couldn’t help grinning as she drove. She’d been looking forward to having lunch with Greg all morning. After making a left onto Estero Boulevard, she had to stop several times to avoid the people wandering across the street at odd places. Tourists were the lifeblood of Fort Myers Beach. Although they could sometimes be a pain when they ignored the traffic around them, she certainly didn’t want to hit one of them. She was looking forward to a nice long lunch with some great seafood and one of her favorite people.

  The Beached Whale was on the left and Greg was standing on the veranda—tall, lean, suntanned, and grinning from ear to ear when he saw her. He waved and came to meet her as she parked. He was one of the few in the family who accepted who she was at face value and loved her for herself. Ten years older than her own thirty-eight years, her cousin had been her hero as a child. Now, they were more like close friends.

  “So good to see you!” Greg hugged her tight the minute she got out of her Wrangler, and then held her out at arm’s length as he looked her up and down. “You look great and I love the new shorter hair. It fits you.”

  Shawn ran her fingers through her short sandy locks. “Thanks. I needed a change. And you don’t look so bad yourself. You never seem to get any older. How come I get older but you never do?”

  “It’s a secret,” he whispered, followed by a laugh. “Good genes, I guess. You know my dad has never stopped looking like a handsome forty year old. Are you starving? I sure am.”

  Greg and Shawn stepped onto the wooden deck that surrounded The Beached Whale on three sides and into the cool shade of the restaurant. The hostess nodded at them and pointed to the back stairs. Up a set of well-worn wooden treads they found the upper deck and a nice breeze. They chose a table with wooden benches, right by the deck railing and under a turquoise umbrella for shade. A waiter clad in a bright blue tropical shirt took their orders of sweet tea and grouper sandwiches before he quickly disappeared.

  Shawn took a deep breath, leaned back, and spread her arms across the back of the sun-bleached wooden bench. Her gaze wandered across the two lane street below, following the path to the wide strip of bright white sugary sand leading to the turquoise water of the Gulf of Mexico. For a moment she was again a six year old, playing on that same stretch of beach and running in the surf as her mother watched. She sighed and breathed in the familiar aromas of salt, wet seaweed, and fish. Brightly clad tourists walking by beneath them on the boardwalk contributed the scents of various coconut-concoctions of suntan oil which drifted up on the Gulf breeze.

  “So, what’re you up to these days?” Greg asked, breaking Shawn’s reverie. “Seems like quite a while since we talked. Still writing those bodice rippers?”

  “Oh, you’re so funny. You know very well I don’t write that heaving bosom stuff. I do have another book almost finished, but for some reason I’m just not satisfied with it. I have a magazine article going as well, and can’t seem to finish that, either. I’m headed over to Sanibel after lunch for a little updated color for that article. Want to come?”

  “I’d love to, but I’ve got an appointment with a client this afternoon about two thirty. I think you’ll be surprised at how nice it’s looking out there, though. The last time you were on Sanibel was probably not long after the cleanup after Charley, wasn’t it?”

  Shawn nodded. “Yeah, it’s been a long time. By the way, I need to ask for your input on something. I’m thinking about adding a room onto my place. Since I’m going to live here full time now, I definitely need more space.”

  The waiter returned with two large glasses of sweet tea, and disappeared again.

  Greg took a sip of his tea. “Yeah, your place is pretty small. It was fine for one person who wasn’t there much, which you weren’t. Or for spending a short vacation with one other person.”

  “I know. I don’t want to buy another house since I love the one I have.” Shawn reached for her spoon, dipped out a piece of crushed ice and chewed it slowly. “It’s just feeling cramped. I think the only option is to expand, since my lot is plenty big enough. I like the style of it, so I’d like to find someone who’d stay true to that old cracker house. The tin roof, raised porch, and center hallway layout works well for me, although I’d love to set up a real office instead of writing on my laptop literally on my lap on the sofa or at the kitchen table. I also have a lot of books that need a home.”

  Greg smiled. “I get it. I’m very happy to hear you’re making it a home now. That means you’re staying for sure?”

  Shawn grinned back. “Yeah, that’s the plan. Can you recommend anyone?”

  “I can. Gladstone Construction,” he said without hesitation. “They’re even on your side of the river and they do great work.”

  “How do you know them? Have you used them?”

  “No, I haven’t actually used them myself. They’re my clients. I upgraded their computer system earlier this year,” he said. “Check out their website, too. They do additions as well as ground up stuff. I got to know Rich Gladstone quite well while working on his system. He’s a good guy and the company has a great reputation. You’re welcome to tell him I recommended him and that you’re my cousin. Even without that, I know he’d give you a fair price and come in on time. That’s just the way he does business.” Greg pulled out his phone and looked up some information on it, took out one of his own business cards and wrote on the back. “I’m putting Rich’s office info on here and if you want, I’ll call him and tell him you’ll be calling.”

  “That works, thanks.” She took the card and shoved it into her shorts pocket. “I’m looking forward to getting this stage of settling in over with.”

  Greg took a sip of his sweet tea. “I notice you’re here by yourself. That really means you and Jen are over with?”

  “Yeah, it’s definitely done.” Shawn pushed her already sweating glass of sweet tea around in its puddle. “I’m glad, to tell you the truth. It was over long before it was over, if you know what I mean. She’s been gone nearly a year, now. I guess it took me this long to realize I needed to come home.”

  “I do know what you mean. It’s not easy, but one day you wake up and realize it’s time to get on with your life. I’m so glad you came home. Maybe you’ll meet some nice, sweet local girl and fall in love again.”

  “Oh, God, not for a long time!” Shawn waved her hands in front of her face, warding off even the idea. “I’m not going to go through that again anytime soon.”

  Chapter Four

  CARRIE WAS JUST BACK from a
late lunch when the phone rang. She was greeted with the familiar bass voice of her boss, Rich Gladstone. “You remember Greg, the guy who redid our computer system?”

  “Of course I do. He spent a lot of time with me while he was figuring out what we needed.”

  “Well, he’s sending some business our way. His cousin just moved back here, and she’s interested in having us add an office onto her house. Her name is Shawn Richards. I told her to come in tomorrow morning at ten, since I knew Simon cancelled. I know I should’ve called you first to check. Tell me you didn’t schedule anyone else in there yet.”

  Carrie pulled up the appointment calendar. “No, I didn’t. You do have a meeting with Brad at nine, but that’ll give you a good reason to keep him from going on longer than an hour. Ms. Richards is now on your calendar for ten.” She grinned. “You didn’t do anything else I need to know about, did you?” She could hear him laughing.

  “Right, I know. Not this time, though. See you in an hour.”

  Carrie always gave Rich a hard time, part of their easy working relationship. Rich told her fairly often how smart he’d been to hire her. Even if he hadn’t known her father, he said she was far and away the best assistant he had ever had except for maybe his wife. And when his wife wasn’t listening, he told her she was in a class by herself. His wife had not worked in the office for a long time, since raising a house full of boys took most of her time. He always told his wife that every assistant had to measure up to her. Carrie thought that was sweet. She wished she had someone to love her like that.

  Carrie took a deep breath and let out a sigh as she fiddled with some papers on her desk. She just wasn’t herself today. Her mind was still on those gorgeous blue eyes she saw at Publix. Not to mention those strong arms that held her for an instant. Geez, girl. Get over it and get back to work. That woman is probably not your kind and you’re barking up the wrong tree. A few hours later Carrie was on her way home. She thought maybe she should stop by Publix again, just in the off chance that same woman would be there, but she reconsidered, thinking that would be just downright silly.

  As she approached her driveway, she caught a glimpse of someone running down the road. Looking closer, she realized she looked like the woman she saw running a couple of days ago. For a minute, she wondered again who she was. Since that was twice in such a short time, she must either live nearby or be visiting someone in the area. It was time to get changed and out on the bike for a few miles and just what she needed to get her mind off those blue eyes for a while.

  A bit later, dressed in bike shorts and a tank, dark curls pulled back in a ponytail, she walked her bike to the end of the driveway. As she paused to put her helmet on, she saw the same woman running toward her. The woman slowed down and stopped when she saw her.

  “Hey!” the woman said without removing her sunglasses. “You live here?”

  “Yeah, I do,” Carrie said. “I saw you on your way out earlier. Do you live around here?”

  “Just down the street,” she said, pulling up the front of her tank top to wipe the sweat off her face.

  Carrie noticed the woman looking her over slowly. Oh brother, another of God’s gifts to the world of women. “I’m Carrie,” she said, holding out her hand.

  The woman wiped her right hand on her shorts and then briefly shook Carrie’s hand. “Shawn. Nice to meet you.” She grinned. “I’ll see you around then.” She took off running, waving without looking back.

  Carrie chuckled. No doubt about it, that woman had an amazing body, but she wasn’t much on conversation. Oh well, at least she said hi. She sure looked a lot like the woman she ran into in Publix, but she couldn’t be sure. She’d only seen her for a few seconds and mostly what she remembered about her were her eyes. Without her sunglasses, she would’ve known for sure. Carrie shook her head, and started pedaling down the road in the direction Shawn had been running from.

  ***

  Smooth move, Shawn. Really, could you have been snottier? She stopped at her driveway and glanced down the road. Yep, she’s the woman I saw the other day on the bike and she looked like the same woman from Publix. She’s undeniably cute. One thing’s for sure, the neighborhood has definitely improved. Maybe I should be neighborly and invite her over some time. Not tonight, though. I’ve got work to do and an appointment in the morning at the construction company office.

  Chapter Five

  SHAWN WALKED INTO GLADSTONE Construction ten minutes before her appointment time. Based on her cousin’s description of the company, she was surprised to see that it had a rather small office. A nicely appointed waiting room greeted her, with just a few chairs and….the woman from yesterday afternoon? What was her name, Carly? No, Carrie. At least she looks a lot like her.

  The receptionist and object of her scrutiny was on the phone with someone. She glanced up, smiled and waved to let her know that she’d be right with her. Shawn sat in one of the available chairs and waited for her to be free. Meantime, she managed to take a closer look at Carrie without staring at her. Dark curly hair, big brown eyes, yep, that was the woman from yesterday.

  Shawn walked up to the desk when the receptionist was free. “Shawn Richards to see Rich Gladstone at ten.”

  Carrie smiled what looked like her receptionist smile at Shawn. “Good morning, Ms. Richards. He’s expecting you. Nice to see you again. He should be out in just a minute or two. You’re welcome to have a seat and wait.”

  Shawn grinned and leaned on the counter in front of Carrie’s desk. “Nice to see you again, too.”

  “So, I understand you’re planning to have some work done on your house. Adding on an office?”

  “Yes, I need more space…nothing big,” she said, still leaning on the counter.

  Just then, a man stepped out of the office door to the right, followed by another man, who kept talking. Carrie excused herself, went over to them, and said a few words Shawn couldn’t hear to the first man, who turned to look at her. He smiled as he strode across the carpeted waiting area and reached out his hand. “Hi, I’m Rich. You must be Shawn.”

  Shawn nodded and shook his hand. “I am. Thanks for seeing me so quickly.”

  “Come on back. I had a client call yesterday morning to cancel his appointment today, so it worked out great. Greg told me a lot about you. Seems he’s rather proud of his author cousin. It’s nice to meet you.”

  “He told me quite a bit about you, too. He thinks quite highly of you and your company.”

  “The feeling is definitely mutual,” he said as they walked toward Rich’s office. “Now let’s see what we can do for you.”

  Shawn followed Rich into his office, which was just big enough for a sofa, chair, and his desk without appearing overcrowded, along with a table holding blueprints in the corner by the window. A big twelve-paned window behind his desk looked out over the corporate yard. Lots of bookshelves lined two of the walls. There were many shelves holding books, small trophies and awards. The scent of paper and leather also greeted her. Looking around, she tried to imagine what she wanted in her office, but she kept seeing Carrie. She shook her head to clear the image. What kind of nonsense was that?

  Rich offered Shawn some coffee or water and motioned for her to have a seat on the sofa. Shawn accepted a bottle of cold water and sat, immediately deciding she liked the idea of a leather sofa. Over the next half hour, Shawn and Rich discussed what she was looking for in more detail. Returning to the lobby, Rich had Carrie check his schedule for open field appointments.

  “How about two on Friday afternoon? Does that work for both of you?” Carrie asked. Shawn agreed, and gave Carrie a business card with her home address and phone number handwritten on the back. She shook Rich’s hand and smiled at Carrie, and was out the door seconds later.

  ***

  “Rich, she lives down the street from me,” Carrie said.

  “Really? How nice. Do you know her?”

  “Actually, I ran into her at Publix a few days ago. And by ‘ran into her,’ I
mean actually ran into her next to the lettuce bin. I tripped over a box of something and fell right into her. It was so embarrassing, I hope she doesn’t remember that part. Then last night we met at the end of my driveway. She was on her way back from her run and I was on my way out for a bike ride. The second time I saw her she was wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses. I wasn’t sure she was the same woman until she came in today…She seems nice enough.”

  “Nice enough? Hmm…I think she might be someone you’d like to get to know, since you read so much. She’s a writer.”

  “Really? Okay, now that’s interesting.” Carrie watched out the front window as Shawn walked out to her Jeep.

  “Greg told me a little bit about her. While she was in my office, I asked her for more about what she does, since we’re going to design and build an office onto her house. So her name doesn’t sound familiar at all?”

  “Nope, I don’t think so, although I’ll definitely look her up later. Maybe I’ve read something she’s written and just don’t recognize her name.” Carrie mulled this information for a few seconds. “Did she say whether she writes books or for a magazine?”

  “You know what, she did say she wrote books.”

  “By any chance did she give you the name of any of them?”

  “Hmm, I think she said her last one was Grand Compulsion or something like that. I didn’t recognize it, but then again I’m not much of a fiction reader, myself, and with a name like that, I’d assume it’s fiction.”

  “I’ll check her out on the Internet. If she’s written anything much at all, it’ll be searchable.”