Seaside Sweets

by Melissa Chambers

  He stepped away from the still-talking Bo and walked toward Bo’s work truck as he answered. He inhaled a deep breath and took the call. “Hey, man.”

  “Thanks for answering. I was afraid I was going to have to hunt you down.”

  “What’s up?” Blake asked.

  “A job. Here in Kansas City, working with me. There’s a doctor who’s pregnant and due in January. We’d need you here early December to get acclimated and in case she delivers earlier than expected.”

  “Interim work?” Blake asked.

  “She’s not coming back. Her husband’s a cardiologist. She wants to stay home with the baby.” Blake nodded, even though Kevin couldn’t see him. “Look, man. It’s time,” Kevin said. “It’s been three years.”

  Blake knew how long it’d been. It didn’t mean it was time to do anything different. “I don’t know.”

  “I do know. You are a doctor. You’re not a maintenance man.”

  Blake’s chest heated up. “It’s a respectable job.”

  “I’m not saying it isn’t. But you’re a talented doctor. You are needed elsewhere.”

  “I’m needed here.” The words sounded weak.

  “The only way you’re going to get right about this is if you jump back in. It’s the reason you haven’t gotten over what happened yet.”

  His chest was being torn apart with conflicting emotions. He hated Kevin right now as much as he appreciated what he was trying to do for him. Kevin cared about him. He was only trying to help. But need it or not, Blake didn’t want it.

  “How long do I have to decide?”

  “I’d love to know as soon as possible.”

  “If I have to tell you now, the answer’s no,” Blake said.

  “I figured as much. Give me an idea of how you’re leaning by the middle of next month. I’ll need to know for sure before Thanksgiving.”

  “Thanks. I’ll think about it.”

  “Think long and hard, man. This is a chance for you to jump back into what you were made for. And I’ll be here with you. Once you’ve gotten through the first month or two, you won’t even remember why you were holding off.”

  Blake’s chest burned, and he let out a frustrated sigh.

  “Sorry, man. I didn’t mean it like that. I know you’ll never forget what happened, but you’ve got to get to the point of self-forgiveness. You think I haven’t had to forgive myself for letting someone die on my watch?”

  Blake checked to make sure Bo wasn’t looking at him or within earshot. “Was it your goddamned fiancée?” Blake asked.

  Kevin let a moment sit between them, likely for Blake to calm down. “Yes, you should have stepped back and let me handle it, but I’m telling you I’ve been over that autopsy report a hundred times. She would have died no matter who was treating her.”

  “You don’t know that.”

  “I do. And I take just as much responsibility for that night as you do.”

  “Because you didn’t fight me to get me out of the room?”

  “Damn straight. I should have done whatever it took.”

  Blake’s gut churned, and he thought he might throw up, reliving the night.

  “I take responsibility. I was the one who let you stay,” Kevin said.

  “You didn’t let me do anything,” Blake said.

  “I know. You’re the most headstrong asshole I’ve ever had the privilege to work with.”

  “I don’t need your charity.”

  “My getting you to come here to work isn’t charity. You’re the best doctor I know, and we work well together. You don’t have an ego, and you care more about patients than anyone I’ve ever worked with. I want you here because you’re the best at what you do, and that’s not an easy thing to find. For you to quit medicine for the rest of your life would be like Eddie Van Halen refusing to play guitar.” Blake had to admit he didn’t mind the comparison. “You are needed here. I’ll talk to you mid-October, but call or email me as you think of questions.”

  They disconnected their call. Working under Kevin’s supervision couldn’t be a more ideal situation for getting Blake back into medicine. Kevin understood the gravity of Blake’s mental state. He would ease him into the job rather than any other hospital which would cut him no slack. And he liked Kevin. He was the only person from his old life who regularly reached out to him and tried to bring him back among the living. It wasn’t as if anyone else knew where he was though.

  He pocketed his phone and made his way back to the pool. Bo was crouched by the water with a testing strip. He looked up at Blake. “Next time I’d appreciate a head’s-up that you’re walking away. I sat here and told the goddamned water all about my sister’s promotion.”

  “Shayla got a promotion?” Blake asked.

  Bo glared him down. “Yeah. What’s with you today, anyway?”

  Blake’s head had been screwed on sideways since Seanna had come to town. Just the half hour he’d spent with her the other day when he met her at Chase’s house to quote on the kitchen remodel had messed him up for the rest of the day. He’d been nervous around her like when he was fourteen and a pretty girl at school said hello to him in the hallway. But just like back then, he knew that was as far as it could ever go.

  She made him smile wider by the minute when they were together. He liked her mix of humor and realism. He liked that she cared deeply and how she seemed to feel comfortable enough to talk to him. And he liked most that she trusted him. He was honored to be the one she’d chosen to talk to.

  “Earth to Blake?” Bo waved his hands elaborately.

  “What?”

  Bo tapped his finger against his chin, squinting. Blake rolled his eyes, knowing what was coming next. Bo stood and approached his friend, still squinting. He pointed at Blake. “I know that faraway gaze.”

  “Shut the hell up.”

  “I know it well. I haven’t seen it from you before, which is why it took me a while to catch on. You like a girl.”

  Blake busied himself with picking up a net. “Jesus Christ. Get a freaking life.”

  Bo’s smile widened even farther if that was possible. “It’s Cassidy’s niece, isn’t it? Susan.”

  “Seanna.”

  “I knew it!”

  “You’re so full of shit we’re gonna have to drain this pool,” Blake said.

  “You never did tell me what happened when you disappeared on me the other night at Jazz on the Lawn. Where’d you take her?”

  Blake shrugged as he picked up the rest of the equipment. “The beach.”

  “Sex on the beach, huh? You still finding grains of sand in your ass?”

  Blake headed toward the truck with the equipment. “I don’t have to screw every girl I meet.”

  “Ah. Deciding to wait. Must be someone special.”

  “She’s nobody to me but Cassidy’s niece.”

  Bo rested his arm on the side of the truck bed. “What would be so terrible about taking this girl on a date?”

  “You’re one to talk. I haven’t seen you take a girl on a date in months.”

  Bo dumped the remainder of the equipment in the truck bed. “I don’t keep you abreast of all my female situations.”

  “You mean your late nights spent with Skinamax and a jar of petroleum jelly.”

  Bo shoved him, Blake shoved back, and before he knew it they were knocking each other around like brothers. Nothing helped release stress like a brawl with his best friend. When they finished, Blake dusted himself off and took a look around. “You’re gonna get yourself fired from this job site.”

  “I’ll just explain I had to put up with your bullshit, and they’ll pay me double.”

  Blake rolled his eyes and got in the truck. “That the last job? You owe me lunch.”

  “Just get yourself buckled in there, Romeo. Wouldn’t want anything to damage that pretty face of yours.”

  Blake pulled the visor down and assessed the damage. “I think I’m gonna have a bruise on the left side of my chin.”

/>   “Want me to kiss it and make it all better?”

  Blake punched Bo in the arm and they headed down the road.

  The thing was, Bo wasn’t completely off base. Not only did he like her personality, but he turned into a protective warrior when anyone even mentioned her name. He didn’t know how to explain it. He just wanted her to be his.

  But he couldn’t even ask her out on a date. He wasn’t worthy of any woman after what he did, especially not her. She’d had a tough go of it, dealing with this asshole who lied to her and stripped her life from her dollar by dollar. That was what she needed—another boyfriend who kept secrets from her. She’d run like the wind if she had a clue about him.

  He needed to keep his distance as much as was possible, as much as he could force himself to. Maybe heading to Kansas City wasn’t a terrible idea.

  Chapter Eight

  Seanna rubbed her temple as the nice woman on the other end of the line let her down easy. “No, I understand completely,” Seanna said. “I hope you’ll keep me in mind if anything else opens up.”

  “Oh yes, of course,” the lady said, but Seanna knew that was code for delete resume.

  It’d only been a week since she submitted the resumes, but she’d sent out more than fifty, and the only ones that had responded were low-level assistant positions. She’d rather work at the bakery with Cassidy for that kind of money.

  Her stomach rumbled as she sat in the car at the client’s house waiting for Blake to meet her there. He had texted her that he was running late. He’d insisted on being there to make the introduction between her and the client. She could certainly handle introducing herself to a client, but since he was the one making this connection, she was happy to follow his rules.

  If she could just land this kitchen remodel, she’d have it as a resume builder. She could prove that she was capable of handling a project all on her own, start to finish. This job could help her build her career. It could open doors that were shutting hard in her face.

  The front door to the house opened and out walked a dark-haired guy who practically had to duck coming through the doorway. This was the guy she’d been waiting for all week. He’d been out of town, and Friday was the earliest he could meet with them.

  He walked toward her, bare-footed, with a smile on his face like he was up to something. The closer he got to her, the cuter he got. He had a deep, rich tan…or possibly that was his natural skin color. Either way, he was easy on the eyes from head to toe. She got out of the car, leaving the proposal on the passenger seat.

  “So you’re Cassidy’s niece,” he said. “I haven’t heard so much gossip slung around this town since that guy on the city council mowed down his neighbor’s palm tree.”

  Seanna couldn’t help a grin. Not only was this guy cute, but he had an easy way about him. She was suddenly not nearly as nervous about presenting her quote. She held out her hand. “Seanna Perry.”

  “Chase O’Neil. Pleasure.” He grinned so kindly she actually felt her heart warm.

  She looked down at the proposal in her car. “I know Blake wanted to be here to connect us. We can wait for him to go over the proposal or…”

  “Oh, yeah. He’s been texting. Wants to be here for the whole production.” He motioned to her as he turned back toward the house. “Come on. Let’s have a beer while we wait for him to get here.”

  “Okay,” she said and grabbed the proposal from the front seat of her car.

  He held the screen door open for her, and she walked into his house. Before, when she’d been in there without him, she’d had a sense of empowerment. The space had felt like hers. Now, it was clear this was his domain, and she was an employee…if she was lucky enough to get the job.

  “Have a seat,” he said, nodding at the kitchen chair she was standing next to. “Do you like a hoppy beer or something lighter?”

  “Whatever you have is fine.”

  He eyed her. “You like Blue Moon?”

  Relieved, she said, “Perfect.” She hated hoppy beer, but she loved a good wheat beer.

  He closed the refrigerator door. “I knew it. Girls love Blue Moon.”

  She frowned, seeing he had an Abita. Rather than seeming like a girl to him, she wanted to seem like a capable, hoppy-beer-drinking woman. “Thanks,” she said, taking the bottle.

  “You want a glass?” he asked.

  “No. This is fine just like this.”

  He was easy and kind, but her nerves were kicking in. She just wanted to get this quote presented. Where was Blake? Chase pulled out a chair and sat. “So Blake said you’re just here visiting,”

  “That’s right, but if you select me for this job, I’ll see it through. It will take about two to three weeks, and I can get started immediately.”

  He picked up the quote and perused it. She glanced at the door. Blake had wanted to be here for this, but she couldn’t grab it out of Chase’s hands. He frowned and then eyed her. She swallowed, not liking the look on his face.

  He set the quote down and relaxed back in his chair, studying her. “How long have you been doing this?”

  “Four years,” she answered. It was true, she had been working in this business being prepped and trained for four years. Did she need to disclose this was her first job on her own?

  He narrowed his gaze. “Commercial?”

  “Yes.”

  He gave a knowing nod, like it all suddenly made sense. “Did Blake mention I have a property management company?”

  “No, actually he didn’t.”

  Chase rolled his eyes. “Of course he didn’t, mister tight lips. I’ve been in this business for over a decade, and I’ve looked at about a hundred quotes for kitchen remodels.”

  She swallowed, hard, realizing she’d screwed up. She was too high.

  “Look, with you being Cassidy’s niece and a friend of Blake’s, before you got here I had every intention of accepting this quote unless you were more than double what I knew it should be.” He tapped the quote. “I can’t in good conscience let you take this job at this price. You’d lose your shirt.”

  She blinked, realizing she had it backwards.

  “You’re used to quoting out commercial jobs,” he said. “Residential is a whole different ball of wax.”

  She nodded, trying to keep her emotions in check. She’d screwed up, and he was letting her know, likely keeping her from getting herself further in debt. She needed to be thankful, not humiliated.

  He walked over to a drawer and pulled out a red pen. He came back to the table and started marking up the quote, and the paper began to bleed. She refrained from shaking her head at her own idiocy. She’d wanted so bad to impress this client, to impress herself, to prove she was ready for this step in her career.

  He slid the quote back to her. “This is what this job should cost. And it’s going to take a month if it takes a day.”

  She remained stoic, reviewing his changes. He’d initialed beside all of them and signed on the dotted line. He was giving her this job. Holy crap. She nodded. “Got it.”

  He sat back in his chair. “So why are you doing this if you’re down here on vacation?”

  She fiddled with the pen, looking at the quote. “Well, it was an opportunity. I wanted to take it.”

  “But you live in Nashville?” he asked.

  “Mmm hmm.”

  “Are you on a leave of absence or between jobs?”

  She pulled together her pride. “Between jobs.”

  “You looking for work?”

  “Yes, actually,” she said.

  He narrowed his gaze at her again, thinking. “Look, I’ve got a property under contract set to close in a few weeks—gut-job, whole house. I want someone who will redo it top to bottom and get it ready to rent. If you want to put your hat in the ring, you’re welcome to.”

  “You’d be willing to give me a shot?”

  He shrugged. “We’ll see how you do on this buildout. Are you in a place where you could stick around here a while? I assum
e you’re staying with Cassidy.”

  She’d been so determined not to let Jason kick her out of Nashville, but she was getting nowhere with the fifty plus jobs she had applied for. And going back to Nashville meant living in the same space with Jason, at least until December. As much as she wanted to stake her territory back home and show him he could not send her scurrying from her own town—her own apartment—this was an opportunity she could not pass up.

  She could stay here a while. If she was able to score this job he was talking about, then that would certainly be enough to keep her busy until she was through with her lease in December. She could continue looking for a job back in Nashville and be building her resume while she was at it.

  “Yes, Cassidy’s already told me I can stay with her as long as I need to.”

  “You got some workers lined up for this job?” he asked.

  “Yes.” That wasn’t the whole truth, but she knew she could find workers. That was part of what she did at the firm.

  “I know some guys who do good work if you wouldn’t mind using them. I’m usually not that controlling, but since this is my own house…”

  “Of course,” she said, a tad relieved. She knew she could find workers, but it certainly helped that he already had some in mind.

  He pulled a card out of his wallet and handed it to her. “My assistant’s information is on there. Call her, and she’ll get you names and phone numbers. If you’ll bring her a copy of that contract, she’ll get a check cut for the cost of materials and half the labor.”

  Seanna tapped the card twice against her palm. As much as this guy had put her in her place, he was also being generous to a fault. She met his gaze. “I screwed this up. We both know I did. Do you mind if I ask you why you’re willing to give me such a big opportunity…not just on your kitchen but possibly this gut-job?”

  He let out a deep breath. “Because I think a lot of your aunt and of Blake. If you’ve got their stamps of approval, then that’s all I need to know.”

  Her heart swelled with appreciation, but the pit of her stomach rolled with the sense of responsibility. “Thank you, seriously.”

  He shrugged. “It’s just a kitchen.” To him, sure. The front door opened and Chase yelled, “There he is.”