Until The Ride Stops. Amie Denman

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СКАЧАТЬ every day. And our police department has already chased at least one trespasser out of here, so I’d say yes,” Jack said.

      Jack’s face betrayed nothing, and as far as Matt knew, Jack wasn’t talking about him.

      “Gawkers,” Matt said.

      Jack shrugged. “It’s a pain, but I’m glad people are excited about the ride. It’s a huge investment for us and we could lose our shirts if it fails.” He grinned. “No pressure or anything.”

      Matt followed Jack through the mud zone to a gate partially obscured by a tree. He hung his yellow hard hat on a nail before he left the construction area.

      “Pink awning,” Jack said, inclining his head down the midway. “Land of sweets.”

      Matt didn’t see a pink awning. He saw a tall, slim police officer all in black. She stood, shoulders squared, watching the crowd. Her posture said don’t mess with me.

      It was too much temptation. As he and Jack neared Caroline, Matt stopped.

      “Excuse me, miss. Can you tell me what they’re building?” He pointed toward the long fence around the coaster project.

      Caroline crossed her arms and cocked her head. She recognizes me for certain.

      “They’re building a swinging bridge that will connect Starlight Point to the mainland,” she said with straight lips and a professional tone. “It will be the longest bridge built from licorice in North America.”

      “That’s what I heard,” Matt said. “I’ll be sure to spread the word on social media.”

      Jack laughed. “We’re getting doughnuts, Caroline. You want one?”

      The owner knows her first name and is offering her doughnuts? Matt glanced at her silver name tag which only displayed her last name. Bennett.

      “Of course I do,” Caroline said. “Cinnamon roll. Maple frosting. I have a break coming up, and I’m a lot nicer to teenagers with sugar in my bloodstream. This place is crawling with school groups.”

      “I’ll bring two,” Jack said.

      Jack and Matt strode toward the far end of the midway. When they had gone a few steps, Jack grinned. “My sister-in-law,” he said. “Interesting lady.”

      “Really?”

      “Her brother, Scott, just got married to my sister Evie a few weeks ago. Caroline was a bridesmaid.”

      As they approached the pink awning with Aunt Augusta’s Midway Bakery spelled out in script, a woman leaned across the counter. Jack gave her a quick kiss on the lips.

      Matt began to feel as if he was in the twilight zone.

      “My wife, Augusta,” Jack said.

      Matt shook hands with the dark-haired woman and turned to Jack. “Are you related to everyone here?”

      Augusta drew her eyebrows together and looked at her husband.

      “We just talked with Caroline,” Jack explained. “She wants two cinnamon rolls.”

      “With maple frosting,” Matt added. Augusta and Jack both turned their attention to Matt and he felt his ears get hot. So I pay attention to detail, so what? “Could you also box up a dozen for my crew? I can’t go back there and eat in front of them unless I bring enough to share.”

      They ate their doughnuts while they walked back toward the construction site. Matt gave Jack the progress report, which didn’t differ much from the week before. Things were moving along on schedule, but it was still early. And worrying about the project really did keep Matt awake at night.

      Jack’s phone rang as they passed the Kiddie Land motorcycles chasing each other on a track. He answered, listened and dropped the phone back into the pocket of his suit coat. “I need to go to my office,” he said. “Will you deliver Caroline’s doughnuts?”

      “Sure.”

      Jack handed over a white pastry bag, waved and left the midway with long strides. He cut through Kiddie Land, his steps keeping time with the beeping horns and flashing lights.

      Matt headed toward the long fence where Caroline stood like a post, arms crossed. He held out the bag and was gratified to see her posture relax as she reached for it with a hint of a smile.

      “Thanks,” she said.

      “Anytime.” He balanced his crew’s box of doughnuts on his hip. “If you’re going to be out here all summer, we should get to know each other. So far I know you don’t like spiders or camping, you’re merciless with a flashlight and you like pastries more than teenagers.”

      “Everyone likes pastries more than teenagers,” Caroline said. She opened the bag and looked inside, nodding approval at what she saw.

      “I can’t believe you doubted me,” Matt said.

      “Aren’t you supposed to be on the other side of the fence?”

      “Yes. But I get out every now and then. Like when we’re waiting for a fresh truckload of licorice.”

      Caroline smiled. “Sorry about that. While I’m standing here, I make up ridiculous answers to the question about what we’re building, but I can’t use my snarky answers with actual guests. I don’t think the Hamiltons would be impressed.”

      “But you’re related to them. Jack said your brother married his sister.”

      She nodded. “They met last summer.”

      “And Jack met his wife here, too?”

      “Yes. That was before I worked here.”

      “Must be something in the air,” Matt said.

      Caroline raised her eyebrows but didn’t say anything.

      “You could probably have your pick of jobs with family connections like yours. Why are you standing in the hot sun warding off gawkers outside a construction zone?”

      Her jaw tightened and she turned steely eyes on him. “I’m willing to work my way up and earn my stripes. Justice is a serious business.”

      Matt cleared his throat. “So is building stuff. I should get back to work. We’re digging out some old roller coaster footers.”

      “From the Loose Cannon,” Caroline said.

      Matt bit his lip and goose bumps lifted along his back. When Bayside Construction had won the bid to build the new coaster practically on top of the one his uncle had built, he’d asked his stepfather for more information. The older man had muttered something about letting sleeping dogs lie. Bruce Corbin’s heart was delicate, and Matt hadn’t pushed for details.

      Why was Caroline so quick with the coaster’s name? She seemed to be a few years younger than he was, and the Loose Cannon was gone long before either one of them was born.

      “How СКАЧАТЬ