Page 14 (1/2)

Rick Sullivan would only cause her trouble She should really stop spending soabout him and worry more about her own life

Rick’s layoff notice finally came, one day before the end of the ht hours and his truck was nearly out of gas It ood house with novacant, so he put in his notice and moved home

To, but Rick hadn’t given hi a paycheck froree He knew exactly what she thought They were old friends and she felt sorry for him To a point But she hadn’t exactly jumped at the idea at the café the other day He still remembered the look of relief that had passed over her face when he’d refused

So … first things first He began with unpacking his painting supplies Panes of glass, vinegar, rags, paints, brushes, and his sketchbook where he worked out his designs He put theht would flood through when the blinds were opened

Painting had gotten hi not only so to occupy his hands but his es wouldn’t leave hilass, only five by seven, that he’d been working on Paul Finnigan’s white boat, bobbing at the Jewell Cove dock in the sunset It was his favorite so far, a si he truly enjoyed Sure, he’d been happy for the job in the boat shack, but he’d longed to be out on the water, too Anywhere that he didn’t feel boxed in … but Jack hadn’t needed him on the boat, and Rick had taken whatever job was offered

He sighed He’d sail the bay another tioing to go upstairs and put his clothes away And then go soroceries in the house

He worked for an hour or so, settling back in, trying to ignore theon the past, because nothing could be changed and you could never go back in time It was just too bad then that even when he tried to keep occupied during the day, he couldn’t control what he sahen he went to sleep His drearets

The house was too quiet and his stomach rumbled in the silence, so he headed don to Breezes Café for so The Rusty Fern because today was one of those days he wasn’t overly confident in his willpower to stay off the rum

It was growing dark as he hts bobbed with the waves on the water On a Thursday at the end of September, most of the shops closed at six and the traffic wasThere was a back-to-school display still up at Eulalie Harris’s bookstore, Cover to Cover, and Halloween candy was already stocked in the pharmacy storefront for the trick-or-treaters who’d h town in costuaze drifted up the hill toward Jess’s shop on Lilac Lane Had she closed for the night? Was she holding any of her classes in the back roo in that ele what she loved, her eyes sparkling Her heavy curls would be pulled back in a ponytail and there would probably be paint splatters on her work shirt as she laughed at soh, soft and husky The kind that made a man sit up and take notice

She never laughed when she ith hi her When she gave that low, sexy laugh, so inside of him eased

Frowning, he pulled open the door to the café and stepped inside As he expected, e faces, probably from the few bed-and-breakfasts scattered around town Rick went to the counter rather than take a table It would feel too conspicuous to sit all alone Pathetic

“Rick Sullivan Twice in a week To what do e the pleasure? The Fernyour business”

Rick tried not to wince He really had dahtly in si, but the truth of them cut a little He forced a smile “Well, Linda, it’s either Gus’s roast chicken or your apple pie Maybe a little of each”

Linda’s face softened “Aw, hon, you know I’ out, anyway? Heard you wereback into your mom’s house”

He raised an eyebrow “I just ”