Finding Home Again

“THANKS FOR HELPING out today. Anything interesting happen?”

Bryce glanced at Vashti. Had her friend known Kaegan would be making those deliveries and hadn’t told her? She would admit that Kaegan seemed as surprised to see her as she’d been at seeing him. “Anything interesting like what?”

“Anything. Mondays are always interesting here at Shelby. Last Monday we had that dog deliver puppies on the roof of the gazebo. Not sure yet how she got up there. Then the Monday before that we had that paddleboat wash up on shore with clothes but no people. Sawyer is still working with the Coast Guard trying to determine if a couple who possibly went swimming skinny-dipping in the ocean were reported missing. So far no one has filed a missing-person report.”

Bryce nodded. “The only interesting thing that happened around here was that Kaegan dropped by.”

Vashti lifted an eyebrow in surprise. “He did?”

So she hadn’t known. “Yes.”

“Did he say what he wanted?”

“He made the normal Monday deliveries,” Bryce said.

Vashti nodded. “I know John is on vacation, since he mentioned as much a few weeks ago, but where was Marty?”

“He was out today, as well.”

Vashti came over to Bryce and looked her over. Bryce gave her a pointed look. “What are you doing?”

“Checking for battle scars.”

Bryce rolled her eyes. “You won’t see any. We were pretty cordial to each other.”

“That’s a switch. Especially after Friday night.”

“I’m trying, Vash. Of course, he was in his usual foul mood, but I’ve made the decision not to let Kaegan rattle me any longer.”

“Good. And I hope he’s made that same decision about you.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing. Did you see Reid’s wedding announcement in yesterday’s paper?”

Bryce knew Vashti was deliberately changing the subject. “Yes, I saw it.” Reid LaCroix, the wealthiest man in the cove, was getting married.

“I’m happy for Reid. Gloria is a beautiful soul and just what he needs. Of course, the girls are thrilled to death about it,” Vashti said.

“And how are the girls doing?” Bryce asked Vashti about her daughters.

“They love college and Sawyer and I are glad they decided to attend the same one. I’m looking forward to seeing them over the holidays since Kia will be spending Thanksgiving this year with us. Knowing Gloria and Reid, they will plan their wedding when they know the girls will be here to attend.”

Bryce nodded. “Speaking of weddings, don’t forget that I’m attending a wedding this weekend. I’m flying out early Friday morning.”

“I remember. You’ll have to tell me all about it when you get back.”

“I will.” Bryce glanced at her watch. “Time for me to go. I have that closing at three and want to swing by the office to go over the paperwork before then.”

A few moments later Bryce was on her way home, but she was still dwelling on her encounter with Kaegan at Shelby by the Sea. Same scent from that morning, when she’d gotten a whiff of him, and he still smelled good a few hours later. While watching him put those boxes in the freezer she had admired his broad shoulders and the way his backside fit his jeans.

Suddenly she heard a pop and her steering wheel began shaking. A flat tire. Damn. She pulled to the side of the road and tugged the cell phone from her purse to call for roadside service when an SUV pulled alongside of her.

“Car trouble, miss?”

She glanced over at the handsome man. She figured he was in his midthirties, possibly a little older. “I believe I have a flat and was about to call for roadside service.”

“There’s no need to call anyone. I can change it for you.”

It was a little after the lunch hour and a steady stream of vehicles was on the road. Catalina Cove was a pretty safe town. Sawyer made sure of that. “I hate for you to bother.”

“No bother.”

When he pulled off the road to park his SUV in front of her vehicle, she noticed his license plate was for a rental vehicle. Was he visiting someone in the cove?

She watched him get out of his truck and walk back to her car. In addition to being good-looking, he was tall and well built, dressed in jeans and a Western shirt. When he reached her car, he said, “You don’t have to get out. If you’ll just release the trunk, I can get out your spare and everything else I need.”

“All right.”

“My name is Jeremy Skinner, by the way,” he said. He smiled and offered her his hand through the open window.

“Hello, Jeremy. I’m Bryce Witherspoon.”

“Hello, Bryce.”

“Are you from around here, Jeremy?”

He shook his head. “No, I’m from Shreveport. I love to fish and heard this is the best place for it and rented a cabin near the water for a few days.”

It didn’t take the man but a few minutes to change the tire. “You have a leak and will need to get it repaired. I got the spare on for now.”

“Thanks, Jeremy.”

“You’re welcome.”

“What do I owe you?”

“Not a thing. It was my pleasure to help such a beautiful lady.”

His flirty words made her smile, and since he didn’t have a ring on his finger, she figured she could do a little flirting, as well. “I really would like to show my thanks. Here’s my business card. If you ever return to the area, please give me a call. Maybe we can get together for coffee.”

He glanced down at the business card and then back at her, and a huge smile curved his lips. “Thanks, Bryce. I’ll do that.”

CHAPTER FIVE (#u87cadfe7-46c4-56eb-b6b0-905922d3c32e)

“MORNING, KAEGAN.”

Kaegan turned when Ray walked into the office. “Morning, Ray. What are you doing here so early? I take it your in-laws are still in town.”