Her Summer Crush

Don put his burger on his plate and leaned forward. “Have you met my sister? She’s got a mind of her own. You don’t mess with her. But in your situation, she writes and you take pictures. You’re a winning combo.”

“Sure. We’ll be working together. That’s all.”

Don shrugged and picked up his burger again. “That’s up to you.”

Cody finished his meal and wiped his lips with his napkin. “Why do I feel like she and I are some sort of experiment you’re all watching? Lab rats or something.”

“Your mind is weird, my friend. I’ll have to think on that. Just don’t hurt my sister, okay?”

Cody raised both hands. “Of course I won’t. You’ve got my word on that.”

“Just kidding. I know you wouldn’t.”

When they were on their way out of the restaurant, Don said, “You still going fishing with me and Max on Saturday?”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

Max Billings was another friend from high school. The three of them fished a lot back then, and when Cody was in town, they kept up that tradition.

“Great. Max is bringing a new guy in town, Ben somebody.”

Cody gave a thumbs-up. “As they say, the more, the merrier.”

Don headed back to work, and Cody went to the beach, his thoughts centered on Luci. If she still had feelings for him, maybe their working together this summer wasn’t such a good idea. Maybe he should’ve turned down Glen’s offer.

But he did need the money. He had a few checks coming in from some freelance jobs, but not a steady salary. Not that he wanted steady. He didn’t want to be tied down, day after day doing the same thing, with the same people, in the same place. That routine might work for some, but not him.

A shout from teenagers playing Frisbee caught his attention. The orange disc sailed high into the air, and their cocker spaniel leaped after it. Cody grabbed his camera and went to work. Fifteen minutes later, after the kids ambled off down the beach, he sat on a log reviewing what he’d captured. One photo caught a boy with his hand outstretched, having just let go of the disc. Another showed the dog snagging the Frisbee in its mouth. The other pictures brought a smile to his lips, too. This was what he was born to do. And wasn’t that what life was all about? Discovering what you were meant to do and then doing it?

CHAPTER THREE (#ulink_f8076146-b5e3-5a1b-a34d-457aa00f61bb)

“HOW MUCH FARTHER?” Cody asked, drumming on his SUV’s steering wheel.

Luci consulted the map on her cell phone. “Looks like a couple more miles before we reach the turnoff.”

“Okay. I’ll keep an eye out.”

Three days had passed since Luci and Cody began working together. Actually, they hadn’t really talked since that first day. She’d spent the time familiarizing herself with her office and the routine, and Cody had been in and out, doing some special photography work for Glen.

Today, they were on their way to interview Ray Dunbar, owner of Cranberry Acres, for the article in Coastal Living. They’d left Willow Beach behind and driven through a countryside dotted with farmhouses and fields where cows and horses grazed.

Luci would have enjoyed the trip more if she’d been alone—or if she’d been with anyone other than Cody. She had no idea how they would work together in this new arrangement. Would he be a good partner? Or would he be off doing his own thing?

Just being near him was disconcerting. Like now—barely a foot separated them. She was so aware of him. Today he wore a blue T-shirt that showed off his broad chest and muscular arms. He still hadn’t had a haircut, and the ends were beginning to curl.

The SUV lurched as Cody made a quick turn to the right. “Almost missed the turnoff. I thought you were watching.”

“I was, ah, thinking about my interview questions.”

“You’ve got them all written out, I bet.” He checked his mirrors and continued driving down the new road.

“Of course I do. Don’t you plan what pictures you’re going to take when you’re on an assignment?”

“Not so much. I like to be spontaneous. Life is out there. Let it happen and look for the moment.”

“The moment, huh?”

He took his gaze off the road long enough to shoot her a quick grin. “Yeah. That special moment in time that I’ll capture forever with my camera.”

“Must be nice. For an interview, I need to have a plan.” She held up her notebook.

“Nothing wrong with a plan. But open yourself up to being spontaneous, too.” Catching her frown, he added, “Hey, I’m only trying to be helpful. I’ve been in this business longer than you.”

Luci pressed her lips together. “I know, but I do have my degree now, with a lot of field experience behind it. That ought to be worth something.”

“Sure, Luci. Just some friendly advice.”

Luci fell silent. How was she supposed to do her job with him micromanaging her?

At Cranberry Acres, a woman in the office gave them directions, and they found Ray Dunbar rinsing out buckets under a faucet. Besides the wide-brimmed leather hat the woman had told them to look for, he wore a plaid shirt and khaki work pants. His knee-high rubber boots were caked with mud.

He turned off the water and studied Luci. “Ervin Monroe’s daughter, right?”

“I am.” His flat tone gave no indication whether that was an asset or a liability.

“So you’re working for Glen this summer.”

“Not just for the summer. I’m back in Willow Beach for good.”

“I see.” He hooked the bucket handle on the faucet and shifted his attention to Cody. “And you’re—”

“Cody Jarvis. I’m the summer help.”

Ray pulled off his work gloves, and he and Cody shook hands. “Either of you ever visit the farm before?” he asked.

Cody nodded. “When I was in grade school, my class came here on a field trip.”

“Mine, too,” Luci added. “But I’m sure I’ll have a different perspective now.”

Ray nodded. “Growing and harvesting cranberries is an involved operation. But let me give you a tour, and I’ll explain the process as simply as I can.”

Ray led them to the troughs where the cranberries grew. Having taken out her tablet, Luci asked him the questions she’d listed. Keeping his promise to make his explanation simple, Ray’s answers were short and to the point. The berries were planted in April or May and harvested in mid-October. Most of the harvest was made into juice.

“I’d like a few pictures of you,” Luci said after she’d got what she needed for the article. She looked around for Cody. He was nowhere in sight. Her temper simmered. Why couldn’t he stay nearby while she was interviewing their subject?

Ray consulted his wristwatch. “We’ll have to make it quick—I need to leave for a meeting in a few minutes.”

“Sure. Just as soon as I can find my, ah, associate.” Finally, she spotted Cody on the other side of the field, aiming his camera at the top of a pine tree. What did a pine tree have to do with cranberries?