Welcome to Serenity

“I don’t, unless you happen to be peddling skin creams, aromatherapy products or spa attire. Unfortunately, we’ve already established that you’re not.”

There was a gloating note in her voice that irked him. Instead of letting his irritation show, he turned on his charm. “That is a shame, isn’t it? Maybe we can find something else we have in common.”

The amusement in her remarkable eyes vanished. “I doubt that,” she said coolly. “Have a good evening.”

She opened the door, stepped inside, then shut it very firmly in his face. He had a hunch if the spa hadn’t been open for another hour, she’d have turned the lock, as well.

Tom stared after her. His annoyance over the spa’s discrimination against men had suddenly taken a backseat to his fascination with the feisty woman who’d just brushed him off. As the presumed heir to the McDonald fortune, he hadn’t had a lot of experience with rejection, especially in the upper echelons of Charleston society. He discovered he didn’t like it. Coming on top of his losing battle with the mayor, it really soured his mood.

His father would say that the day he’d just had in Serenity was no worse than he deserved for not following the more illustrious career path that had been chosen for him at birth. It was the image of the gloating expression he’d likely find on his father’s face that stiffened his spine and made him resolve to make tomorrow better. He had a lot to prove, not just to his father, but to himself.

He’d come to Serenity because he cared about towns like this. He thought he had something to offer. His years as a planning administrator and as a chief financial officer in another community had prepared him to run Serenity and deal with whatever issues might face the community. If he had to do battle with a demanding mayor and suffer a little rejection at the hands of an intriguing woman, he could handle it.

He cast one last, longing look through the window of The Corner Spa, decided to skip a workout at Dexter’s and jogged back to the Serenity Inn for an unappetizing meal of beer and takeout.

After her disconcerting encounter with the man on the porch, Jeanette retreated to her office to try to make a dent in the mountain of paperwork on her desk. It was as good a time as any to deal with this unpleasant aspect of her job.

Unfortunately, she couldn’t seem to focus on it. Images of the man she’d just met kept intruding. The thought of him taking on Helen in a fight made her smile. He’d sounded so sure of himself. It would be fun to watch Helen teach him a thing or two about the law.

And even though she’d sworn off men, basking in the undisguised admiration of a sexy man for just a couple of minutes had given her a faintly quivery feeling in the pit of her stomach. It had been a long time since a man had looked at her like that. Or maybe it had just been a long time since she’d been aware of it and felt anything in return.

Not that she intended to do anything about it, she reminded herself sternly, turning back to the paperwork on her desk with renewed determination.

She’d completed her monthly report for August when Elliot tapped on her door and stepped inside. With his gleaming black hair, glowing olive complexion and well-muscled body, he was a walking advertisement for fitness. He was also one of the nicest guys around. He came from a large, exuberant family and was about to marry a single mom, who’d had a very tough couple of years. He and Karen had weathered their own stormy issues thanks to his rigorously Catholic family’s initial disapproval of him marrying a divorced woman. Karen had finally won them over.

“You’re here awfully late,” he said.

“Catching up on paperwork,” Jeanette replied with a grimace. “Is it time to close up? I’ve lost track of time.”

“I sent the last of the clients on their way and locked the doors five minutes ago. If you’re ready to go, I’ll give you a lift home.”

Jeanette gave him an odd look. “That’s okay. I can walk. It’s not that far.”

Elliot immediately shook his head. “Not tonight. There was some guy peering in the windows here earlier. I’ve never seen him around before. It made a couple of the women nervous. They were about ready to call the sheriff, but when I checked outside, he was gone.”

Jeanette smiled and shook her head. “I talked to him on my way in. He’s harmless. He wanted to join the health club, but I told him he couldn’t. I guess he’s new in town. He left after we spoke.”

Elliot’s frown didn’t fade. “I still don’t like it. Did he give you a name?”

“No, but I didn’t ask. Stop worrying. I’m a halfway decent judge of people.” Okay, not men, but this was different. “This guy was clean-cut and well-spoken. He’s not a threat to anyone.”

Even as she uttered the assurance, she wondered if it was entirely true. The man probably wasn’t dangerous in the way Elliot was thinking, but he might very well pose a threat to her. Before her cool dismissal of him, she’d responded to his fleeting attempt at flirting. She hadn’t wanted to, but she had.

He was attractive. Okay, very attractive. Sexy. He didn’t have the kind of muscular body Elliot had, but he was fit in a lean and lanky way. His eyes were more gray than blue and they’d sparkled with mischief. His neatly trimmed brown hair had the kind of golden highlights that came from spending time outdoors. And he had a dimple when he smiled. That dimple had knocked her socks off, which had been a shock. She’d thought herself immune.

His clothes had been casual, but she could easily envision him in a shirt and tie. A tailor-made suit. He was a professional man, if she was any judge.

Elliot didn’t appear convinced. He moved a stack of papers from the extra chair, then sat down, propped his feet on her desk and pulled out a cell phone.

“What are you doing?” Jeanette demanded.

“Calling Karen to let her know I’ll be late.”

“Why?”

He grinned. “Because I’m not leaving here without you. It would tarnish my sterling reputation as a nice guy. Last time I let one of the Sweet Magnolias out of my sight when my gut told me not to, she nearly got herself killed.”

Jeanette winced. She recalled the incident. “You weren’t responsible for what happened to Helen. Her client’s husband was determined to get even with her. No one was going to stop him.”

“Not entirely, no,” he agreed cheerfully. “But I’m not taking any chances.”

Jeanette saw the stubborn set of his jaw and gave in. “Oh, for pity’s sake. I’m not going to be responsible for you turning up late at Karen’s.” She stood up. “Let’s go.”

He gave her a smug look. “Good choice. Want to come have dinner with us? I’m cooking Mama’s famous seafood paella.”

“You’re cooking?” Jeanette said incredulously as they stepped outside. “Your wife works in a restaurant.”

“Which is why she shouldn’t have to cook at home on her day off.”

Jeanette regarded him with wonder. “Why don’t you have brothers, instead of all those sisters?”

Elliot chuckled. “I have cousins. Want to meet one of them? I’m the best of the lot, but there are one or two who come close.”

“Are their egos as big as yours?”

“Twice the size,” he declared.

“Then, no. I think I’ll continue to fly solo.”

Elliot shook his head. “That’s a pity. You’re a beautiful woman with a good heart. You should share your life with someone special.”

Jeanette sighed. “Once upon a time, I thought the same thing.”

“Don’t say that,” Elliot chided as he tucked her into his car. “The right person could be right around the corner.”

Jeanette couldn’t help thinking about the way she’d felt earlier with the stranger’s eyes on her. Maybe Elliot was right. Maybe it was a little too soon to give up on love.

Mary Vaughn Lewis had her jam-packed day planner spread open on her desk and was trying to transfer all of the information into her new BlackBerry, something her daughter, now a sophomore at Clemson, insisted she needed. Since she was about as computer literate as her Persian cat, Mary Vaughn wasn’t so sure. Still, in this day and age, she couldn’t afford to be left behind. People had certain expectations of the most successful Realtor in Serenity. Add to that her role as president of the Serenity Chamber of Commerce, and she desperately needed something to keep her schedule straight. Rory Sue swore this gadget was the answer.

When it rang, she was so taken aback she almost dropped it on the floor. It took her a minute to find the right button and answer.

“Yes, hello, Mary Vaughn Lewis,” she murmured distractedly, still reading the directions as she spoke.

“Mom, it’s me. Am I your first call on your new Black-Berry?”

“You absolutely are,” Mary Vaughn told her daughter, brightening at the sound of Rory Sue’s voice.

“No wonder you sound so weirded out. You’re going to love it once you get the hang of it. I promise.”