Those Cassabaw Days. Cindy Miles

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      She ended the call, stuck her phone into her back pocket and rested her forearms against the Jeep’s fender. “So, any idea what’s wrong with it?” Her ponytail slid over her shoulder.

      “Why don’t you start her up and let me listen to it?”

      “Okay,” she said. Sliding into the driver’s seat, she turned the key. The engine sputtered a few times, then started. After a little more inspection, Matt stepped around the hood.

      “All right, you can turn it off.”

      She did, and slid back out. “Well? I’m in trouble, aren’t I?”

      He rubbed his hand over his head and looked at her. Her eyes were wide, soft. “Might be your alternator.”

      “Oh, man,” she said. Then, her brow lifted. “Your dad signed you up to be my fix-it man and mechanic. You still up for the job?”

      Matt rubbed his chin and studied her. “Yep. Won’t be cheap, though.”

      Emily fake scowled, with her brows slashing together. “Your dad said not to let you charge too much or else.”

      God, the way her face screwed up into that silly frown, it made her look twelve again.

      “I’m the cheapest you’ll find. But you’re going to need a loaner car for a few days until I can order the parts and get the job done.”

      She smiled. Instant relief softened her features. “Deal. I’ll call my insurance company right now.” Pulling her cell from her back pocket, she started to tap the front of it.

      Matt stilled her hand with his. Her skin felt soft beneath his fingers. Soft, and warm. “Nope,” he said. “You’d have to go to King’s Ferry to pick one up. You can use Jep’s old truck for a few days.”

      “You’re sure he won’t mind?” she asked.

      Matt shook his head. “That old dog lives on the water. He’s out on the trawler with Dad and Nathan every day.” He pressed his lips together to keep from smiling at her like an idiot. “He won’t even miss it.”

      The uneasy lines by her eyes and mouth relaxed. It almost completely transformed her face. Funny, how worry did that to a person. He’d seen enough of it to know.

      “That would be so supergreat,” she said. “Thanks, Matt.”

      “No problem,” he answered.

      “And did Owen tell you about the fix-it part of the job?”

      “He said you had a crater-sized hole in your dock.”

      Emily’s laugh hadn’t changed too much over the years. Not too loud, or obnoxious, but definitely infectious. “Yeah, that’s true.” She turned her head toward the marsh, and Matt studied her profile. Slender neck, straight little nose, firm jaw, full lips. And not a lick of makeup on. Little Emily Quinn had grown into a natural beauty.

      “I’m afraid the whole dock needs repairing.” Her eyes returned to his. “And the dock house. And from what the estate attorney said, minor repairs need to be made to the house and to the café.”

      Matt lifted a brow. “So you’re taking over the Windchimer?”

      A bright smile lit up her face. “Sure am.”

      “I guess you’re moving back to Cassabaw?” Stupid question, Malone.

      She glanced at the house, and back at the marsh before answering. “I am.” Pride shone in her eyes. Made her smile widen. Made his damn heart lurch.

      “For good?” he repeated.

      Emily’s eyes softened again and she glanced around before returning her gaze to his. “I can’t see myself ever leaving again. This is home.” Her slight shoulders lifted. “Always has been, I guess. It just took me a while to remember that.”

      A breeze came in from the marsh and brushed Emily’s ponytail off her shoulder, exposing the tattoo.

      Matt rubbed his chin. “You’re going to be a busy girl, then.”

      She cocked her head. “I sure hope so. And what about you? I didn’t see you at Aunt Cora’s funeral.”

      Matt rubbed his jaw and shrugged. “Wasn’t here. I’m on a day-by-day agenda at the moment.” What it really depended on was whether his ex-commander proposed any special-op missions to him. Matt missed the corps. Missed his role in it.

      “Well,” she said, fidgeting with the charm on her necklace, “now that I’m lined up with who Owen Malone claims is the best mechanic and fix-it man around Cassabaw, I’m all set.” She nodded at the house. “The power will be turned on by five this afternoon. The truck will arrive tomorrow with all of my stuff.”

      Matt fought a grin. “Stuff, huh?”

      That barely there laugh left her throat and shot straight through him, leaving his insides feeling...weird.

      “Yeah, all my spectacular stuff. I need to take inventory at the café, order supplies and check on repairs.” Her hazel eyes narrowed. “Are you sure you’re up for all this? I mean, do you have other work planned on that day-to-day agenda of yours? Your dad said you were in the marines?”

      Emily probably thought he was some sort of loser drifter. He didn’t know how much of his special-ops past Owen and Jep had told her, but the less she knew, the better.

      “Been in the corps since I turned eighteen. Two tours in Iraq, two in Afghanistan. The last one left a load of shrapnel in my shoulder from a blast. Was just released a few weeks ago.” That’s all she’d need to know about his military history.

      “God, Matt—I didn’t know. I mean, Owen didn’t say you’d been injured.” Her gaze moved over him, and her eyes softened again. She chewed on her bottom lip and leaned a little closer, as if she wanted to touch him. Instead, she hugged herself. “Looks like we made it back home together then, huh?”

      He met her gaze and held it. “Looks like it,” he responded.

      A quiet stretched between them. Beneath the shade of the trees, the breeze grazed the back of his neck. The brine of the marsh ran through his lungs, and it reminded him of simpler times. He ran his hand over his head, breaking their trance.

      “Well,” he said, and cleared his throat. “We’ve got work to do.”

      “We do!” A spark lit her eyes. “What to tackle first? I guess you’ll want to go over everything and then give me an estimate?”

      Matt grabbed the hood and closed it. “Yep. But I need to take your Jeep for a spin, see what’s up, then get it over to our place and on the lift so I can see what’s going on with it.” He glanced out over the way he came. “Let’s drive it on over and you can bring Jep’s truck back.”

      The smile she gave him was brilliant, full of hope, full of light.

      “Sounds like a plan. Are you all mechanics now, too?”

      He СКАЧАТЬ