Her Summer Crush Read online

  “No, you didn’t, and I’m so sorry. If only he could’ve beaten the cancer.” She bit her lip and looked away.

  Cody walked over to his mother and put his arm around her. “That’s why I’m traveling now. I like to think he’s with me on my trips, helping to capture the moments.”

  “That’s a wonderful tribute, Cody. But what about passing on your love of photography to your son or daughter—wouldn’t that also be a way to honor him?”

  Cody smiled. “Ah, we’re back to that again, are we?”

  “You can’t blame me for hoping.” She cast him a sheepish look. “Some grandchildren would be nice.”

  “You have Emma’s grandchildren.” He replaced the camera on the shelf. “Think how lucky they are, having two grandmas to dote on them.”

  Olive and Emma Chester were lifelong friends. When Cody’s father passed away, Cody and his mom had moved from Portland to Willow Beach, next door to Emma. One of the reasons Cody didn’t worry about being gone so much was that his mom had Emma and her family for support.

  “Emma’s grands are sweet, but they’re not the same as my own would be,” she insisted, and then her expression brightened. “Anyway, it’s nice to have you home, even if it’s only for a week or so.”

  If Cody accepted Glen Thomas’s offer, he’d be staying longer than a week. But could he handle it? Before long, the open road would be calling him again, like it always did.

  CHAPTER TWO

  “I DON’T SEE why you have to rent this apartment when you can live at home.” Anna lifted a box from the family SUV and handed it to Luci.

  “Mom, we’ve been over and over this issue.” Luci took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I want my own place. Simple as that. I’m only a couple miles away from you and Dad.”

  As much as Luci loved her parents, she needed her own apartment. Besides, she’d been living away from home for the past four years.

  Before her mother could say more, Luci followed the stone walkway to unit six, where she set her box on the doorstep and unlocked the door. The aroma of fresh paint rushed to greet her. She picked up her box and stepped over the threshold. Her mother followed.

  “Isn’t this a cute place?” Luci set her load on an end table and made a sweeping gesture. “This is the living-dining room. That alcove is the kitchen, and there’s the door to the bedroom and en suite bathroom.”

  Her mother set a box next to Luci’s. “More like a motel than an apartment.”

  “It was a motel, Mom. Now, it’s been remodeled and expanded into apartments. This will be my work space,” she continued, indicating a large, rectangular table between the living area and the kitchen. “I’ll put a file cabinet next to the table, and those cupboards underneath the counter will hold all my writing stuff.”

  “We have a real office you could use at home,” Anna said.

  Ignoring her mother’s pointed comment, Luci crossed the room and opened the sliding glass door. “Come look at the patio.”

  Anna joined her, and they stepped onto a slab of cement furnished with two lawn chairs, a small, wrought-iron table and chairs, and several rectangular planter boxes. Cement walls on either side provided privacy from the neighbors.

  “See how close I am to the ocean?” Luci nodded to a path leading through the dunes to the shore. “I can take my daily walks, same as at home.”

  “Our house is closer to the beach and much more private. And what’s in those planters? Looks like weeds.” She walked over to inspect one box.

  “You have my permission to plant something else.”

  “I’ll see if I can spare something from my garden.”

  They finished unloading the SUV and Luci’s car. Anna consulted her wristwatch. “I have a meeting with the garden club in fifteen minutes.”

  “Thanks for all your help today.” Luci gave her mother a hug.

  A smile softened Anna’s tight lips. “You’re so welcome, honey.” She stepped back and snapped her fingers. “Oh, I almost forgot.”

  “What?”

  “You’ll see.”

  Anna dug into one of the boxes and pulled out a bowl Luci recognized. “For me? But that’s your favorite bowl for your roses.”

  “I know, but you’ve always admired it and now it’s yours.”

  “Oh, Mom.” Luci’s eyes misted as she ran her fingers over the bowl’s yellow enameled surface. “Are you sure?”

  “I am. It’s a housewarming present. Or should I say ‘apartment-warming’?”

  “I’m honored. I’ll put it here so I can admire it every day.” She centered the bowl on the coffee table and gave her mother another hug. “Love you, Mom.”

  “Love you, too, darlin’. You’ll have to excuse me today. It’s hard to let go.” Anna pulled a tissue from a pocket and dabbed at her eyes.

  “I know. Me, too.”

  “Got to run now. Be sure to call if you need anything. And don’t forget family Sunday.”

  “Of course not. I wouldn’t miss dinner for anything.”

  Family Sunday had been a tradition for as long as Luci could remember. Once the kids started growing up and spending time away from home, her parents were adamant about maintaining the event. “We don’t want you to forget you’re part of this family,” Ervin told them.

  When Luci was away at university, they hadn’t expected her to attend, but now that she was back in Willow Beach, there would be no excuse.

  Not that she’d ever offer one. Family was the main reason she’d come back to Willow Beach. As the youngest child, she’d had the love of her parents and her older brother and sister. Of course, they’d experienced the usual sibling rivalry, but underneath was a strong bond that kept them all together. And now that Don and Francine were married with children, there was an extended family. Luci looked forward to having her own family someday, knowing they would be welcomed and loved as much as she was.

  After her mom left, Luci looked at the boxes and then at the open patio door. The door won. She could unpack later. Rummaging in her boxes of clothing, she located her favorite wide-brimmed hat. She put it on and tied the strings under her chin. Then she headed along the path through the dunes to the beach.

  Once there, Luci tucked her hands in her sweater pockets and kept going. The beach was busy today. Some people were walking, like she was, while others jogged. Kids and dogs played in the surf, and on the hard-packed sand near the shore an occasional car or truck rumbled by.

  A gull swooped down and landed in a large tide pool. Several more followed. The birds splashed and high stepped, poking their heads in and out of the water. It wasn’t long—a few minutes at the most—before the leader spread its wings and flew into the sky. The others followed. Soon they were mere dots against the blue backdrop.

  The birds reminded her of Cody. He never stayed in one place, either. Before long he swept off on a new adventure.

  They were so different. He needed to keep moving, and she needed to stay still. Good thing they’d never gotten together. A relationship wouldn’t work. Not then and not now.

  * * *

  MONDAY MORNING, JUST short of nine o’clock, Luci went through the glass double doors of the two-story Stafford Building, on the corner of Main and Seaview. Her heart fluttering, she followed the brightly lit, high-ceilinged hallway to the office of the chamber of commerce.

  With her major in journalism, Luci could have applied for any number of positions. However, Willow Beach was a small town, and the opportunities were limited. Even the Willow Beach Herald had no openings. So she felt lucky to have found this job with the chamber of commerce.

  Luci took a deep breath, then greeted the receptionist, Marge Delano.

  Marge looked up from a desk piled with folders. “Luci, glad you’re here. This mess belongs to you.” She scooped up the fol
ders and thrust them at Luci.

  “Okay, but—” Luci juggled the folders to keep them anchored in her arms.

  Marge made a dismissive wave. “Glen can explain. I’ll let him know you’re here.”

  She made a call, and a couple minutes later Glen Thomas appeared in the hallway.

  Besides Luci’s father, who was president of the Willow Beach National Bank, Glen was probably the only man in town who wore a tie to work. She’d bet there was a suit jacket in his office, too.

  “Good morning, Luci,” Glen boomed. “You’re right on time. That’s good. I like my staff to be punctual. So, let’s get you started on your projects. Come this way, please.” He motioned for her to follow him down the hall.

  Luci’s office turned out to be a large room with picture windows along one wall. She immediately looked out to see a courtyard with a fountain in the center. Colorful flower gardens and wooden benches surrounded the fountain. Two women sat drinking coffee in the sunshine.

  Luci turned to Glen. “What a pleasant setting.”

  “Mmm, yes, I suppose it is.” He pointed to a table stacked with file folders, magazines and brochures. “You can put those files Marge gave you with the rest of that stuff. It all goes together.”

  Luci deposited her armload on the table, then sat and took her tablet from her purse.

  “Nice party the other night.” Glen pulled up a chair across from her.

  “I’m glad you and your wife could join us.” Luci turned on her tablet, ready to take notes.

  “Your dad and I go way back, you know. We both came to town about the same time. He worked at the bank, and I worked at the hardware store. Now he’s the bank’s president, and I’m owner of the store and president of the chamber of commerce.” He chuckled. “How about that?”

  “I’d say you’ve both done very well for yourselves.”

  He nodded and stroked his chin. “I wasn’t sure I’d like living in such a small town, but it hasn’t been so bad, after all. The place kinda grows on you.”

  “Yes, it does.”

  “Well. We’d better get moving.” He tapped his wristwatch. “Have to meet with the mayor soon. There’s a list for you somewhere around here. At least, Marge said there would be.” He poked around the piles and came up with a piece of paper. “Ah, here it is.” He took a pair of eyeglasses from his shirt pocket and put them on.

  “You’ll be writing an article each month for Coastal Living magazine. It’s published in Hampton, but the surrounding towns all contribute stories.” He gave her a questioning look over the top of his glasses.

  “I’m familiar with Coastal Living.” Luci made a note on her tablet.

  “Good. The next issue is out the first of July, so you’ll need to turn in your article soon. The person who last had this job planned to write about Cranberry Acres. I suggest you follow through on that.”

  “I’ll make it a priority.”

  He pointed to another item on the list. “The Fourth of July celebration. That’s taken care of by the outfit we hire to do the fireworks display. You’ll need to do some publicity, though, flyers around town, that sort of thing.”

  Luci nodded, busily taking notes.

  Mr. Thomas took off his glasses and dangled them between thumb and forefinger. “Now, here’s a real challenge. The sand-castle contest in August. We want to add something new this year, something that will get us a lot of attention. You decide what that will be. Make us look good.”

  “Okay...”

  He replaced his glasses and consulted the list again. “The newsletter to our members. Published twice a month.”

  “All right.”

  He put down the list and gestured to the stacks of papers and folders on the table. “Then, there’s all this stuff. Needs to be sorted and put in those file cabinets over there.” He nodded at several cabinets standing side by side on the far wall. “A lot of the brochures need to be updated. You can do that, too.”

  He waited while Luci keyed in a few more notes. “How’re we doing here? Any questions?”

  “Yes. For the articles and the brochure updates, will you want me to take photos, too? I’m not a professional, of course, but—”

  “Photos won’t be your responsibility. Our regular guy, Sam Reynolds, is on an extended vacation, but I’ve hired someone to fill in.”

  A knock sounded on the open door. Glen looked up. “Here he is now.”

  When Luci turned to see who had arrived, shock rippled through her. “Cody?”

  He waved. “Hi, Luci. Glen.”

  “Have a seat.” Glen motioned to a chair across from Luci. “And you call me Glen, too, Luci. No need to be formal.”

  Cody, looking neat and trim in a short-sleeved plaid shirt and jeans, ambled across the room. He pulled out a chair next to Glen, sat and stretched his long legs underneath the table. Of course, his camera was with him, slung over his shoulder.

  Glen continued talking, but his words barely registered. All Luci could think about was that she and Cody would be working together. Was she his boss now?

  “Cody, you can set your own office hours,” Glen was saying, “just so long as you meet all the deadlines. Luci, I’ll expect you to be here most of the time, except when you’re out doing research, of course.” He looked at his watch. “Ah, time for the mayor. I’ll let you two get started.”

  After Glen left, neither Cody nor Luci said anything. She fussed with her tablet while he folded his arms and leaned back in his chair. The seconds ticked by.

  Finally Cody cleared his throat. “I get the feeling you’re not happy with this situation.”

  Luci put down her tablet and idly picked up one of the brochures. “I’m surprised. No, shocked. Why would you want this job? I thought you were eager to be off to see the world again.”

  “I am. But when Glen offered me the job, I decided to take it. I won’t be stuck here long. At the end of the summer, Sam Reynolds will be back, and by then I’ll have a new assignment. In the meantime, I could use the money.”

  Money. Why hadn’t she thought of that? Of course, his accepting Glen’s offer didn’t have anything to do with her. Not that she wanted it to.

  “We worked together at the Herald,” Cody said.

  She slid the brochure away and snatched at another one. “A few times, and I was an intern then—still in high school, for goodness’ sake. This is different.”

  “Don’t worry, Luci, we’ll be fine.” He leaned forward. “So, what’s first on the agenda?”

  “An article about Cranberry Acres for Coastal Living. We’ll need to make a trip there for an interview and photos.”

  “Sounds good. I’ll let you work out the details. Meanwhile, how about going for a coffee?”

  “Ah, no thanks. I really need to stay here and get acquainted with my new office. I’ll have some later.” I really need to be alone for a while.

  His brow furrowed, and she braced herself for an argument.

  Instead, he said, “All right, call or text me when you’ve got something for me to do.”

  “You’re really going to take orders from me?”

  “Well...that depends. I pretty much do my own thing when it comes to taking pictures. But, like I said, we can make this work.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “You think?”

  “We have to. This job is important for both of us.”

  After Cody left, Luci leaned back and closed her eyes. She didn’t share his confidence that they could work together. If only she could get rid of her feelings for him. Feelings she didn’t understand. Did she still have a crush on him? No, she didn’t think so. Then what? Was she in love with him? What would be the use of that? He obviously wasn’t in love with her, and their goals and lifestyles were so far apart.

  She squared her shoulders a
nd lifted her chin. This was her dream—coming home after graduation, being a part of her wonderful family and having a job she loved. She wasn’t going to let Cody Jarvis spoil her joy. He’d be here for the summer, and then he’d be gone again and out of her life forever.

  * * *

  JUST BEFORE NOON, Cody headed to Charlie’s Fish House, a favorite of his. Charlie’s hadn’t changed since he’d last been there. The same plain wooden tables and chairs, the same counter with red vinyl stools, the same chalkboard menu hanging on the wall.

  As he stood in line to place his order, he heard a familiar voice behind him say, “Well, look who’s here.”

  He turned to see Luci’s older brother, Don. “Hey, what’s the banker doing at Charlie’s? I’d expect you to choose someplace like the Beach Café.”

  “Not unless I’m entertaining clients. How come you’re by yourself?”

  “First day on the job, and Luci didn’t want to leave the office.”

  Don stuck his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels. “Ah, so you accepted Glen’s job offer.”

  “I did. The money will come in handy.”

  “Having you in town for a while will be like old times. Wanna share a table?”

  “Sure.”

  When they got to the front of the line, Cody chose the fish-fries-chowder combo, a house specialty. They took their tickets and sat at a window table. Other diners filled the deck, and on the beach below, several kids played volleyball while two golden Labrador retrievers chased each other around the dunes. Cody let his gaze wander over the scene, automatically framing pictures. After lunch, he’d take a walk on the beach and capture some of the action.

  “So, how’s your first day going?” Don asked.

  Cody shrugged. “Glen’s a little full of himself, but I can deal with him. I’m more worried about your sister. She’s not happy with the situation. Maybe she’s decided she doesn’t like me.”