She stood and grabbed her purse. It was time for a break and a cup of coffee. She told the receptionist where she was heading then pressed the down arrow on the elevator. The doors slid open, and she rode the nine floors to the main level where there was a Starbucks.
She stepped out and froze. Not even ten feet away Chase stood looking at the directory. Shaking off the shock, she strode over to him. “Hi, stranger.”
He turned and his gaze rested on her. A smile lit his face. “I was on my way to see you!”
Her stomach did a flip-flop. “You found me. Want to join me for a cup of coffee?” She motioned toward the Starbucks in the front corner of the lobby.
“Love to.” He looked ready to burst with excitement.
She ordered them each a coffee then they found a seat near the window facing the sidewalk. “What brings you to Tacoma?”
“I have something I think you’d like to hear.”
“Really?” Unless he was here to tell her that the project was on, she couldn’t imagine what would possibly warrant an in-person delivery of news.
He sipped the coffee then set the cup aside. “That’s good. Almost as good as the general store’s brew.”
She chuckled, remembering how surprised she was at the coffee there, but Starbucks was still better. “I don’t want to rush you, but I’m very curious about why you’re here. What’s up?”
“After you left I had a change of heart about the resort. I did a little research and lobbied each council member. By the time I was done with them they unanimously voted to allow your project.”
Her eyes widened, and her heart beat a rapid staccato. “This better not be a joke.”
“No joke.”
She squealed and threw her arms around his neck. “Thank you.” A moment later she came to her senses and quickly dropped her arms to her side. “Sorry about that.”
“I didn’t mind.” He gave her a crooked grin. “So when will you come back to the island?”
“I don’t know. I need to talk with my dad and get things lined up on this end. I don’t want to waste any time though.” She stopped and took a deep breath then let it out slowly. “I can’t believe you did this, Chase. You know I won’t do anything to infringe on your privacy or that of any of the other island residents.”
“I know. Your generous greenway between our properties showed your consideration. Thank you for that.”
She nodded. Her mind zipped several different directions. She had so much to do and the first thing would be to dump her current project on someone else, then she’d sublet her condo. She was moving to Wildflower. Good thing her condo came furnished. It would make moving much easier since she’d only need to pack up personal items. “I need to go, Chase.” She grabbed her coffee and stood. “Oh, are you staying in Tacoma? We could grab a bite to eat later.”
“No. I have a small job to do this afternoon, then I need to head home.”
Disappointment dulled her excitement, but she quickly recovered. “Okay, then. I’ll see you soon.” She placed a peck on his cheek then darted to the elevator. She pressed the button willing the doors to open. Why had she kissed him? First she hugged him then she kissed him. One thing was certain, she needed to get control before she saw him again.
Chapter Twelve
Chase sat behind the wheel of his pickup in line for the ferry to the mainland. The vehicle in front of him moved forward. He followed it onto the ferry, then stopped and set the emergency brake. He already missed Piper, and it’d been less than twenty-four hours since he’d given her the news about the development.
He didn’t know what he’d hoped for, but he was disappointed when she took off so fast. Although the way she left added a bounce to his step for the rest of the day. He’d even finished a landscaping job in record time. He was headed to a different site today. That job would be more involved, but he enjoyed manual labor.
A knock sounded on his windshield. He blinked and focused on the woman smiling at him. “Zoe. What are you doing?”
“I’m heading to Portland to visit an old friend and talk wedding cakes.”
He grinned. “Have you set a date?”
“It was a challenge to say the least, but after much prayer, we decided on the second Saturday in October. According to the Farmer’s Almanac it will be a nice fall. I’ve been meaning to contact you about the wedding.”
“Me? Why?”
“Nick said you’re very good with landscape design, and I was hoping that would translate to backyard weddings. I need help with how to set things up.”
“Sure. I’d be happy to lend my expertise. Although I’ve never helped with something like that before.”
Zoe grinned. “That’s okay. I’ve never planned a garden wedding before. We’ll make a good team.”
He chuckled. “Who’s cooking at the B&B while you’re away?”
“I get two days off a week. Daisy cooks. When Nick hired her, he asked me to teach her how to make a few simple meals.”
“I’m sure she will do her best, but I doubt the food will match yours.”
“Thanks.” She glanced forward. “It looks like I better get back to my car. I’ll give you a call soon, and we can talk details.”
“Sounds good.” What had he gotten himself into? He’d heard of bridezillas and hoped that Zoe would not be one of them. A short while later he followed the other vehicles off the ferry. A black Jeep waited in line to board the ferry to the island. He did a double take. Was that Piper?
It was! He pulled off to the side of the road, jumped out of his pickup, and dodged honking cars as he ran over to her Jeep.
Piper laughed. “You trying to get yourself killed?”
He grinned. “What are you doing here? I didn’t expect you for a few days at least.”
“It’s been a whirlwind since I last saw you. I was so excited about your news, I forgot my dad had planned to sell the property. I was devastated when it hit me that all your hard work had probably been for nothing.”
His smile dipped. He’d withdrawn his offer. Did someone else swoop in and buy the land? “Oh. If he sold it, then why are you here?”
“As it turns out, my dad decided to keep the property. Shocking, if you ask me. I was so certain he was going to accept a ridiculous offer for the land, I tried to raise enough money to counter the offer. I failed to put together enough cash, but it all turned out fine in the end thanks to you.”
His stomach leapt. He should tell Piper that he had made the offer, but what good would it do? And it might make her angry.
She quickly added. “You are looking at the new owner of Wildflower Resort and Spa.” Her eyes shone, and she looked ready to burst with pleasure. “Dad said he would give it to me if I could get approval for the development, and he stayed true to his word. It will be a new adventure for me as I’ve never run a resort, but I learned from my dad to surround myself with people who know what they’re doing. I only hope I don’t let my parents down.”
“I’m sure you won’t. You put a lot of pressure on yourself. No way could anyone feel let down by your work ethic.” Today was looking better by the minute. Too bad they were headed in opposite directions. “Where are you staying?”
“The Wildflower Bed-and-Breakfast.” Her eyes sparkled. “I’m so excited about how everything turned out.”
“I’m happy for you.” And me. It suddenly struck him that she was here to stay. Excitement like he hadn’t felt since he was a boy surged through him. “We need to celebrate. When I get back I’ll call.”
“I’d like that.”
“Me too.” He grinned. A car horn beeped, pulling him from his daze. He waved to the impatient driver behind Piper and stepped back. “I’ll let you go.”
“Okay. See you.”
He jogged across the road to his truck and climbed in. A twinge of sadness gripped him. He knew the development would be good for everyone, but there was a piece of him that longed for the way things were. Then again, if things didn’t change, he
never would have met Piper and that would have been far worse.
Piper climbed the stairs at the B&B. She couldn’t wipe the smile off her face after her encounter with Chase at the ferry line. Something had definitely changed in the man. He seemed very pleased to see her, which warmed her to her toes, especially considering how unprofessionally she’d behaved the day before. She had a crush on him, and he was a big reason she’d chosen to run the resort herself rather than hiring someone.
Nick greeted her at the door. “Welcome back.”
“Thanks.”
“Your room is ready. May I help you with your bags?”
Her arms were weighted down with two suitcases, a computer bag and a duffle. “Sure. Thanks.” She handed him the suitcases and followed him up the stairs.
Piper stepped into her old room. Everything was the same. A surge of happiness shot through her. “Thanks for checking me in early, Nick. It helps to be able to get settled so I can jump right into work.”
Nick placed her bags to the right of the door. “Wednesdays are usually slow. I’m glad I had a room available. The other rooms aren’t free at the moment. I’ve been told once the rainy season hits things will slow. I hope you don’t mind the Poppy room again.”
“Actually, I’m happy to be in here. It feels like coming home. If you get any cancelations or have rooms open up let me know. I think I could help keep this place filled for several months.”
He grinned. “Sounds good. This room was home to another guest not all that long ago. She lived at the B&B most of the summer.” He shrugged. “Maybe it’s destined to be the long-term suite.”
“Works for me. About that. I don’t suppose we could work out a deal, since I’m going to be here for a while. I’d find a place to rent, but this is so much more convenient for now. I’d like to book the room for a month.”
Nick’s brows rose. “Does your being here mean what I think it means?”
“If you’re thinking the resort is going to happen, then yes.” She’d been smiling so much since yesterday her face hurt.
“That’s great news. I’m glad the town council came to their senses. I think we could work out a fair price. How does eight hundred dollars sound?”
“Like a deal!” She stuck out her hand, and they shook on the price. Piper couldn’t believe how easy that had been. Her dad had told her to ask for a deal on the room, but she never thought Nick would agree. “Thank you. I didn’t realize you supported my idea.”
“A lot of people want to see this island move into the twenty-first century. But it took a few residents a little longer to realize it.” He tapped the doorjamb. “Everything is in the same place and nothing else has changed, except we will have a different cook for a few days.”
“Is Zoe okay?” She still needed to approach her about running the restaurant at the resort.
“She’s fine. She has Wednesdays and Thursdays off. I believe Daisy, our other help, was sick the last time you were visiting.” He grinned. “Zoe and I are in the middle of planning our wedding, and her baker friend in Portland wants to make our cake.”
“You’re engaged?” That might make it difficult to convince Zoe to work for her since she would be an owner of the B&B, but she’d deal with that later. “Congratulations! I’m surprised she went all the way to Portland for the cake, though. Surly there are bakers in the area that can make as nice a cake.”
“There are, but her friend is giving us the cake as our wedding present.” Nick backed out of the doorway. “If you need anything I’ll be around.”
“Thank you.” Piper closed the door and immediately went to the window that looked onto the Sound. The view from here was perfect. But the view from Chase’s little cliff-side outlook was even more spectacular. She’d yet to discover if her land had a similar view. There were too many trees in the way to know for sure. Once all the proper permits and red tape were worked through, they’d break ground. She couldn’t wait. She’d love to be able to build a little cabin for herself on the property. Dad already said she could. Now she needed to find the perfect spot.
And she was thrilled to know her parents would be nearby. Thrilled but surprised. Last week she’d spoken with her mom, who told her she’d always wanted to move here. It was hard to imagine her citified mother enjoying this rustic island, until she remembered that her mom had been raised in the country. Now the idea of her parents retiring here didn’t seem so out there.
As much as she’d like to stare at the water all day, Piper had work to do and unpacking was the first item on her list. Twenty minutes later, she sat at the window side table and stared at her laptop. She’d been trying to get her dad to tell her why he hadn’t sold the property, and now she knew. The offer had been withdrawn. Why hadn’t he forwarded this to her sooner? It would have saved her a lot of worry. For the next three hours she waded through emails, wrote a report, and filled out the proper paperwork to get the development moving.
“It’s too pretty to be cooped up in here,” she said to the empty room. “I need air.” She closed the laptop and stood. She’d much rather be hiking the property. Since it was only one o’clock she had plenty of daylight to go exploring.
She slipped into jeans and hiking boots. Too bad Chase wasn’t on the island. She’d hoped he’d go with her as she traipsed around the land, but if this project was going to break ground before the fall rainy season she needed to get a move on.
She slipped essentials into an old backpack then trotted down the stairs. A familiar face greeted her at the bottom. “Chase. What are you doing here? I thought you were on the mainland.”
Chase stood at the reception desk. “I worked extra fast. I know I said I’d call, but I was driving by anyway, so I stopped.”
Piper took the last few steps to the ground floor. “I’m glad you did. I’m headed to the property. I want to hike it before we break ground and make sure my designs will work with the land.”
“Would you like company?”
“Are you volunteering?” Her pulse amped.
“I am. If you don’t mind, I have a four-wheeler we could take. It’d save time, and we’d be able to cover a lot more ground. I don’t think you realize how much land six-hundred-forty acres is. Your family owns almost half of the island.”
“Oh.” She tossed him a cheeky grin. “Perhaps walking it is too ambitious.” She really liked this man when he wasn’t trying to stop her from doing what she wanted to do. This project had become the most important of her career.
“Let’s take my truck. I’ll bring you back later. The temperature has been cooling off in the evenings, so you might want to grab something to keep you warm.”
“There’s a hoodie in my backpack.” She patted her black nylon pack and was reminded of the last time she’d donned it. She had taken Devon out to the site her dad had assigned her to draw up plans for and put a bid in for a major job. That project had been her baby. She had been so excited that Dad had finally trusted her to represent the company in that capacity and had wanted to share her success with the man she loved—or at least believed she loved.
She pushed thoughts of that liar to the back of her mind. She had no desire to relive old memories. The way Devon had used her still stung. She hadn’t dated anyone seriously since.
She should have seen through Devon. He’d only wanted to be with her for his own professional gain. Instead he’d blindsided her when he underbid her on the project. She had no idea he was representing her competition.
Piper strolled beside Chase, mentally urging him to pick up the pace. She couldn’t wait to be out on the property again. In addition to double-checking a few things, she was anxious to discover if there was any part with a view of the Sound. She rushed around to the passenger side, not waiting for him to get the door for her, and jumped in.
“You in a hurry?” He chuckled as he started the engine.
“Kind of.” She ducked her head, glancing at him sideways. At least he didn’t appear put out, but rather, amused. Let
him laugh, she didn’t care. This day had been a long time coming, and she intended to enjoy every second.
Thirty minutes later, Piper clung to Chase’s waist as he blazed up a hillside covered with tall firs and grassy weeds. Would there be a view from the top? The four-wheeler slowed then crested the top and stopped.
On shaky legs, Piper climbed off and stood on solid ground. She turned one-hundred-eighty degrees and sighed. “There’s no water view from here.”
He pointed between a large stand of trees. “You’d need to cut some trees to see the Sound clearly, but it’s there if you look closely.” Chase stayed seated on the ATV.
Her shoulders sagged. “I had hoped for an unobstructed view.”
“You can still have one. It’s not that big a deal to take out a few trees.”
She shook her head. “I promised the town council I’d only remove the trees that were necessary to clear space for the resort. This wasn’t part of that scope.”
“It’s your family’s land. I’m not aware of any laws or ordinances that would forbid you from removing a handful of trees. Plus you could re-use them in some way at the resort.”
She hadn’t thought about that. Using the logs at the resort would be a nice way to preserve the trees.
Chase drew his arm across his forehead. “What did you want to do up here?”
“I thought it’d be nice to have a cabin.”
“There’s no road, and you’d have to clear a good deal of land for the supplies to be delivered.”
“I could get an ATV like yours and haul things up with a trailer.” Although the ride was less than pleasant and at times scary, if she was in control of the machine, it would be fine.
He chuckled. “You know as well as I do there is no way an ATV is big enough or powerful enough to haul large building supplies like timber logs.” He rubbed his neck. “Are you telling me you want to build a cabin up here for yourself?”
“You don’t have to sound so incredulous. What’s wrong with me having a home-away-from-home?”
Island Dreams (Wildflower B&B Romance Book 2) Page 7