Her Summer Crush Read online

Don’s grin turned sly. “The problem is she likes you too much.”

  Cody jerked to attention. “Say what?”

  “You heard me. You might see clearly through that lens—” he pointed to Cody’s camera “—but without it, you’re kinda nearsighted.”

  Cody shook his head. “Are you sure? I know she had a crush on me years ago, but she’s over that, right?”

  “I don’t think so.”

  “Did she actually tell you that?”

  “Ah, no.”

  “Did she tell anyone you know? Francine? Arliss? Your parents?”

  “Not that I know of.” Don spread his hands. “But, trust me, I know my sister and what goes on in her mind. Well, most of the time.”

  Cody waved that aside. “Anyone who says they know what goes on in a woman’s mind is kidding themselves.”

  Don laughed. “You can think what you want, and I’ll know what I know.”

  A waiter arrived with their orders, and for the next few minutes, food claimed Cody’s attention. He started with the chowder, which was as good as he remembered: the sauce rich and thick and loaded with clams, bite-size potatoes and bits of bacon.

  When he came up for air, he looked at the hamburger on Don’s plate. “You’re having a burger when there’s all this great seafood?”

  Don took a sip of his Coke and set down the glass. “Arliss is on a fish kick. After three nights of salmon—broiled, loafed and quiched—I’m ready for a change.”

  “She’s gonna keep you healthy.”

  “She’s trying, anyway.”

  Cody sliced off a piece of fish and popped it into his mouth. “Married life agrees with you,” he said when he’d chewed and swallowed. “Never would have thought it. And your job, too. Look at you, all dressed for the part.” He nodded at Don’s blue dress shirt and tan slacks.

  Don laughed and then sobered. “Maybe so, but I told Dad no tie. Never.”

  “He still wear one?”

  Don rolled his eyes. “Oh, yeah. But at his age, he can be excused. Tell you the truth, though, I’d rather be fishing.”

  “Are you sorry you followed your dad into the world of finance?”

  Don looked away. When he turned back to Cody, his eyes were troubled. “Yes, I am sorry.”

  Cody grimaced. “That’s a shame. You worked hard to be where you are.”

  “I know.” Don put a finger to his lips. “So don’t tell the old man. The money’s good, and it comes in handy when you have a wife and two kids, which I wouldn’t trade for anything, mind you.”

  “Well, I’m glad you and Arliss are happy together.”

  “For sure. But marriage is not for guys like you.”

  Cody dipped a French fry into the ketchup on his plate. “What do you mean, ‘guys like me’?”

  “You’re not a nester.”

  Cody wrinkled his nose. “A what?”

  “A nester. You need to settle down someplace, especially if you plan to have kids. That’s what Arliss said before we were married. ‘Where’s our nest, honey?’”

  “Huh, the only nests I get close to are filled with birds.”

  Don laughed. “Figures.”

  “So, back to Luci. You don’t mind that we’re working together when she’s got a thing for me? I’d think you’d want to protect her.”

  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

  “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 u
p 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?

  She caught his eye and waved him over. He took his time, pausing twice to aim his camera at something, she wasn’t sure what. Her cheeks were burning, and she struggled to paste a smile on her face. Ray paced, checking his watch again.

  “Ray has to leave for another meeting,” she said when Cody finally joined them. “And we need his photo.”

  “Oh, sorry, I didn’t know—” Cody wrinkled his forehead.

  Ray made a dismissive wave. “It’s okay. But let’s get a move on.”

  Later, on their way back to Willow Beach, Luci stared out the window at the passing landscape. The interview had left her nerves ragged.

  Cody broke the silence. “Did I drive you crazy?”

  “Just about,” she said, only half kidding. “This job means a lot to me, you know.”

  “I do know. And I take my work seriously, too. We just have different approaches. You like to have a plan, and I like to be spur-of-the-moment.”

  “Maybe so, but it would’ve helped if you’d hung around while I was interviewing him. There wasn’t time for as many photos of him as I’d hoped.”

  “Oh, I don’t know. I’ll bet that of the ones I took, you’ll find some that will work. And I can’t wait to read what you write about him. If I had to describe him, I’d probably say something like ‘tall dude with big leather hat.’”

  Despite her annoyance, Luci giggled. “Yeah, I can just see that in the article. Glen would have a fit.”

  “Maybe you should try something offbeat sometime. Well, not that offbeat, but you get the idea.”

  When they returned to the office, Cody pulled into the parking lot. Leaving the engine running, he turned to her. “Want to go over the photos I took?”

  “Yes, but I’d like to have a rough draft of the text before we sit down together. How about tomorrow afternoon?”

  “Sure. I have another project I’m working on, too. Something I think you’ll be interested in.”

  * * *

  LUCI SAT BACK in her desk chair and read the paragraph she’d just written. The article on Cranberry Acres was taking shape, but she still wasn’t ready for Cody’s input. And here it was, Friday already. When she’d returned to the office yesterday, Glen had summoned her for an impromptu meeting with some of the people involved in the Fourth of July celebration, and it had lasted until quitting time. At home, she’d spent most of the evening reviewing Cody’s pictures—there were quite a few—and did little writing.

  She checked her wristwatch. Only an hour before quitting time. She could stay late, but if she were going to work overtime, she’d rather do it at home. But what about Cody?

  She called him, breathing a sigh of relief when he answered the phone. She explained her predicament, ending with, “The deadline’s Monday, so that doesn’t give us much time.”

  “You’re almost done, you say?”

  “I think so. I’ll know better when we finalize the photos.”

  He let a beat go by and then said, “Why don’t I come over to your place tonight? Unless you have a date?”

  “Ah, no. My only date is with the article.”

  “How about seven o’clock?”

  “Well...okay. I’m at the Driftwood, number six.”

  “See you then.”

  * * *

  AT A QUARTER to seven that evening, Luci stood in front of the bathroom mirror brushing her hair. She put down the brush and peered at her image. Should she wear lipstick or go natural? Did her sweater look ratty? Or casual and comfortable? Finally, she came to her senses. What was wrong with her? This wasn’t a date—this was work. She didn’t have to fix herself up for Cody.

  He arrived promptly at seven and breezed in, carrying a white paper bag in one hand and a small black box in the other. He handed her the paper bag.

  “What’s this?” she asked and then spotted the Bon Ton Bakery logo. She peeked into the bag. “Ah, doughnuts. Chocolate frosted.” Her mouth was watering already.

  “There’s strawberry, too. I trust you have coffee to go with.”

  “I do. Good thing I made a big pot.” She pointed to the box. “What else did you bring?”

  He patted the top. “This is for later, when we’re through working.” He set the box on the coffee table.

  “I have the article up on the computer. Why don’t you take a look while I put these doughnuts on a plate and pour us some coffee?”

  “Got to check your view first.” He walked to the patio door and looked out.

  “Don’t you want to take a picture or two?” she asked. Of course, his camera was slung around his neck.

  “Maybe later,” he said with a good-natured grin.

  By the time she had set the doughnuts and coffee on the table and pulled up a chair beside him, he was deep into reading the article. While he finished, she munched a doughnut and sipped her coffee. Finally, he sat back and frowned. Uh-oh. Her stomach knotted.

  “So what do you think?”

  He nodded and reached for a doughnut, brushing against her shoulder in the process. “I think it’s pretty darn good.”

  “No, I hear something else in your voice. What?”

  He studied the screen again, scrolling up and down. “It might be a little stiff.”

/>   “Stiff? What does that mean?”

  “A few more quotes from Dunbar might liven it up.”

  She put down her mug and folded her arms. “He wasn’t the most talkative person.”

  “I know. Forget I said anything. Why’d you ask me, anyway?”

  “I wanted, ah...” What did she want? His approval? He wasn’t her boss.

  But he was her partner. They were in this job together, for better or worse. “I’ll give quotes some thought.”

  “And the photos of Dunbar. They turned out all right, didn’t they? How about that shot where he’s cupping one of the plants in his hands? I thought that showed how much he cares about his plants.”

  “I do like that one.”

  “But what about the one where he’s standing and gazing at the bogs. It’s a good one, too, even if he has a poker face.”

  She had to smile. “He did, didn’t he? Hmm.” She skimmed the article. “I don’t see a spot for it, though.”

  “How about here?” He pointed to a line on the screen.

  “No, no, doesn’t fit.”

  They went back and forth for a while without reaching an agreement. Finally, Cody threw up his hands. “I think we’re done here. But give my suggestions some more thought, okay?”

  “Sure.” Maybe.

  Luci turned off the computer. She picked up their coffee mugs and carried them to the sink. He followed with the plate of leftover doughnuts.

  “Thanks for coming—and for your help.” She took the plate and placed it beside the mugs.

  “You’re welcome, but we’re not done yet.”

  “I thought you just said we were?”

  “Nope. One more thing.” He held out his hand. “Come on.”

  Luci stared for a moment and then, with an inward sigh, held out her hand and let their fingers mesh. He led her to the sofa, and while she sat he picked up the box he’d brought and held it out.

  “What this?”

  “Something I made for you. Go on, open it.”

  She pulled off the lid. Inside lay a book. “Luci’s Homecoming” was printed on the cover, and below that a photo of her smiling face.

  “From my party. Oh, Cody...”