Joe Harmon walked his grandson out front, and through the window, Halley watched him climb into an SUV. She couldn’t see the woman in the front seat because of the glare of the sun. With a shrug, she turned back.
She picked up her purse from the floor and dug through it for some dollar bills before heading into the garage for a cold soda. She returned and settled back into the chair, popping the top on the can and taking a long sip.
She tapped her foot, waiting, hoping for good news about her car. Her Aunt Joy had bought her the SUV, used because she’d known Halley wouldn’t want to accept something extravagant. She’d already bought her the beach house. Because Aunt Joy was trying to buy Halley. Not in a bad way, either. It was just the only way someone with money, who wanted things to be good, easy, normal between them, knew how to act. And what was Halley supposed to do but graciously accept and try to be what Joy wanted?
But Halley didn’t feel normal. She didn’t feel like everyone else. Life had been hard for her, and she hung on to the pain because it was all she’d known, at least until she was thirteen and Aunt Joy had shown up and saved her from her last foster home, where she’d landed after the trauma with the Smiths. There, the worst hadn’t happened, but bad things had. And though Halley knew she ought to be grateful to her aunt and she was, the child in her just wished Joy had found her and Phoebe sooner.
She didn’t mean to make Aunt Joy pay for something out of her control. She just didn’t know how to be any way but what she was. She was a loner by nature. And Aunt Joy and Halley’s older sister, Phoebe, weren’t. Halley didn’t want to think about this anymore.
She looked around the garage, the beat-up beige walls, the toy cars and trucks on the shelves, a half-dead plant on another. Joe hadn’t returned, she realized. And she continued to tap her foot.
The trill of her phone rang from her bag, giving her something to do. She dug it out and saw Phoebe was calling. She answered, wondering what her sister, who was usually busy showing houses as a Realtor to the wealthy, wanted.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Halley! Guess what?” Phoebe asked.
“What?” she asked because she really had no idea.
“I sold the old Callahan Estate!” she said of the massive mansion on the outskirts of town that had been empty since its owner, an elderly woman, passed away five years ago. The heirs had been ridiculous in their demands on price, at least according to Phoebe, and so the place had sat vacant.
“That’s fantastic!” Halley said, happy for her sister. “That’s a huge coup!” Not only a financial windfall, but Phoebe had managed something her competitive fellow agents hadn’t been able to do.
“Thank you. We’re going out to celebrate. Dinner and drinks at the Blue Wall. Aunt Joy said she’d watch Jamie,” she said of her son, who was eleven years old.
“Wait. What?” Her mind flew back to what her sister had just said. We’re going out. “I’m not going. Surely you want to celebrate with Nate and the people from your office.” She mentioned Phoebe’s friend, and anyone else Halley could think of to keep her sister company so she didn’t have to join in.
Halley did not want to go out tonight. She never wanted to go out. Especially to the Blue Wall, where, yes, they could have a private dinner on the restaurant side of the establishment, but where they’d inevitably end up on the bar side afterwards. And Halley didn’t like big crowds and guys trying too hard to pick her up.
“I’m not—”
“You are. I’ll be at your place at seven. I’ll drive,” her sister said, and Halley recognized that tone in her voice. They might not have grown up together, having been sent to separate foster homes, but they’d been reunited long enough for Halley to realize Phoebe wouldn’t take no for an answer.
Halley pushed down the anxiety that followed and said, “Okay. Only because you deserve a celebration.” She’d just try and find an excuse to leave right after dinner.
“Good. Dress up,” her sister ordered. “Have to go. Love you, bye.”
“Love you, too,” Halley muttered to the dial tone.
Despite being pushed into something she didn’t want, Halley smiled, happy for her sister.
“Good news?” Kane asked, as she realized he’d walked into the office and had been waiting for her to finish her call.
“My sister sold a house she’s excited about.”
He grinned and that was a good look on him. “Good for her,” he said as he wiped his hands on a rag.
How could a man look so sexy doing something so simple? She wondered, taking in his strong forearms and masculine hands, drinking him in and hoping he didn’t notice she just might be ogling him.
“What’s up with my car?” she asked, her voice a little rough. She hoped for some positive news of her own.
“The fuel pump is out. I need to order a new one. I called, and unfortunately it’s going to take a few days, probably through the weekend.” He shot her a regret-filled look.
She sighed. “Okay, well, thanks for taking care of it. I’ll call my sister for a ride home.”
“I can take you,” he said, catching her off guard.
She shook her head. “You really don’t have to go out of your way.”
He lifted a shoulder in a lazy shrug. “I don’t mind. Let me just go upstairs, wash up, and we can get going.”
“Upstairs?”
“I live in the apartment over the garage,” he explained. “I’ll be right back.”
“Umm, okay,” she said, agreeing to something she didn’t think she wanted for the second time in a few minutes.
But that was a lie. Because as she watched Kane stride out of the office, his muscular yet lean body a sight she couldn’t ignore, she realized, for the first time in forever, she desired something.
She desired Kane Harmon.
Chapter Two
Kane drove Halley to her house on the beach. He didn’t need directions until they got closer, since he didn’t know exactly where she lived. She was quiet on the trip over and he let her be, mostly because he didn’t plan to just drop her off and walk away. He had, while upstairs washing up, thought quite a bit about this enigmatic woman and whether he wanted to put in the effort to pursue her.
He normally didn’t have to work hard to get a female into his bed. Not that he was bragging, but ever since he’d been aware of his interest in the opposite sex, they’d come easily and willingly. He hadn’t had many long-term relationships, mostly because no one woman had held his interest for long, but he wanted to get involved with someone who could be with him for the long haul. His parents had had a good marriage despite his father’s failings. His mom had put up with the gambling, probably because it hadn’t been as bad when she was alive to keep him in check. And though Kane hadn’t met the right person, he’d like to.
Of course, he was plenty busy with his family, keeping his father on the straight and narrow and keeping an eye on his sister’s kid when he could.
Once he arrived at Halley’s cottage, which was a name many houses in this area had, he realized it was a misnomer. He took in the beautiful structure, the water lapping in the background, the gorgeous porch in the front, and the visible wraparound deck in the back, and he was struck with the enormity of Halley’s family’s wealth.
It didn’t bother him, not in the way of she’s out of my league. Which was odd, considering ever since Liza had slept with him, led him to believe she was interested in a relationship only to dump him when her summer at the beach ended, with her amused comment that he’d believe she’d remain involved with a mechanic, of all things, he avoided the women who vacationed here during the season. Women who rented the type of house Halley lived in for the hot months of July and August. But nothing about Halley screamed standoffishness because of either her money or family status, so he immediately put it out of his mind.
Nothing really mattered but chemistry and the genuineness of a person, or so he believed, something he’d never found in the summer visitors. But Hal
ley, for all her wariness about people, was as genuine as they came. No airs. So yeah, he’d decided, though he didn’t know her well, he wanted to go for the pursuit.
He parked the car he drove, a classic royal-blue Camaro, and climbed out, determined to beat or at least meet her around by her side.
She’d already swung her legs out and stood, glancing at him with a confused expression on her pretty face. “What are you doing?”
“Walking you to your door,” he said with his most charming smile on his face.
“But… this isn’t a date. You’re dropping me off after doing me a favor.”
“Aah. But my father raised a gentleman, and a gentleman always walks a lady to her door.”
She shot him a skeptical glance. She was on guard, as she should be, because he wasn’t planning to leave her on her front porch and walk away. Not if he could help it.
“Your house is gorgeous. Have you lived here long?” he asked as they walked up the gravel drive and along the well-gardened, cultivated path leading to the door.
“Yes. And no.” She hesitated, then said, “My aunt bought the house five years ago, while I was living with my sister in the guest cottage on the property of the family’s main house.”
She didn’t elaborate on where that was. Everyone in Rosewood knew of the Ward Estate and she obviously knew it.
“So you moved in then?” he asked.
She shook her head. “For a while I used it as a painting studio. I figured my aunt would rent it out, but she insisted the place was mine. I wasn’t exactly comfortable accepting a house as a gift.” She shrugged awkwardly. “But the view and the peacefulness for my work, well, they couldn’t be beat. I spent more and more time here painting, sometimes staying overnight. Eventually I just moved in.” She blushed, obviously uncomfortable.
He understood. Who gave this kind of expensive house as a gift? It was beyond generous. He sensed there was more to the story with her aunt that he wouldn’t be getting from her now.
She pulled her keys from her purse, deliberately dangling them in front of him. “I’m here.”
And you can go now. He heard the unspoken words and grinned. “I was kind of hoping for a tour of the place.”
She rolled her eyes at him in a gesture he found cute. “Kane, this is a small… ish,” she conceded, “Cottage on the beach. There’s nothing to see.”
“Except the view from the back,” he corrected her. “I love the water. I’d like to see.”
He wasn’t backing down. If he lost this battle, he’d lose the war. She’d push him away; he’d drive off and lose ground. Not happening.
“Fine,” she said in light of his persistence. She unlocked the door and let them inside.
He stepped over the threshold. For the décor, she had minimal beige furnishings. The walls were also a cream with light blue molding and accents, and he could see from the front entrance straight through to wall-to-wall windows with the ocean in the background. The view was spectacular. No wonder she found this a perfect place to paint.
He crossed through the house and stood by the glass, looking out at the gorgeous scenery, the lapping waves and beach beyond. “You’re damn lucky to live here,” he said. “Can I take a look out back?”
“Sure.” She unlocked the slider and they stepped out onto the deck. “Steer clear of that side,” she said, pointing to the right, where the deck seemed to fall off midway through.
There were stairs but no railing to help her down, but at least she could easily get to the beach, with its clean sand below and the lapping water hitting the shore. If this were his place, he’d spend most of his time out back. From the looks of the beautiful barbeque grill gleaming in the sunlight on the far side of the deck that was finished, that had been her plan.
“What happened? Are you mid-construction?” he asked.
She came up beside him. “It turns out that the deck was rotting underneath and I had to have it torn down. The guy I hired to do the work building the new one wasn’t reliable. He didn’t show up on time, sometimes he didn’t come at all, or he’d leave early. The supplies were purchased and are under that tarp.”
She pointed to the dark, heavy plastic covering what was probably lumber and other materials.
She shrugged. “I haven’t had a chance to make phone calls and try to find someone else reliable to finish the job.”
He shoved his hands into his pockets and studied the half-finished project. “It’s a shame when people can’t run a business,” he muttered, frustrated on her behalf. He did all the handiwork at his father’s place and enjoyed that kind of work in his spare time. This looked like a big job.
“I have a list of contractors. I just have to dig in and actually make the calls.”
She started to head back into the house and he took her cue, following her inside, his gaze on the graceful way she walked, the subtle sway of her hips, and the flirty way her dress floated against her legs. Beautiful long legs he could envision wrapped around his hips. He adjusted his pants and bit back a groan.
She shut the door and locked it again, turning back to face him. “So that was the deck and the back. As for the rest of this place, it’s a normal house. So now that you’ve seen it…”
“You’d like me to leave. I got the message.” He shoved his hands into his front pockets. “I’ll tell you what. I’ll go if you agree to one date.”
She sighed, her pretty lips pursing. “Kane, don’t make me turn you down again.”
“I’m persistent. One of these days, you’ll say yes.” He was sure of it.
An unwilling smile pulled at her lips. “Arrogant much?” she asked.
“Just certain. Because I intend to keep asking, and at some point, you won’t be able to turn me down.”
She shook her head along with treating him to an eye roll, as if the suggestion was insane. “We went over seven years without running into each other. What makes you think you’ll see me again so you can keep asking?”
He winked at her, the answer obvious. “Because now I know where you live and I have your SUV. Good-bye, Halley,” he said with a grin. She was a challenge and he didn’t mind at all.
He treated her to a raised hand, his version of a wave so-long, and headed for the door, leaving her open-mouthed and speechless.
Just as he’d planned.
* * *
The Blue Wall was the main restaurant in town. Upscale on one side, where you would go on a date or for a nice dinner, and a bar with live music some nights on the other. The walls were, of course, an aqua blue to match the ocean, and inside the restaurant, there was an enormous fish tank that was spectacular.
Halley sat with her sister in the restaurant, having polished off a delicious lobster dinner, and was now tackling dessert.
“You know I’m proud of you, right?” Halley asked. “I mean, you sold a house nobody else could. You’re a goddess.”
Phoebe beamed, dressed every inch the successful business woman. Her long white-blonde hair was pulled back in a sleek, low ponytail, and she still wore the cream-colored suit from her earlier home showing. They were sisters, but they looked nothing alike. According to their aunt Joy, they each favored a different parent. Neither Halley nor Phoebe remembered much of what their mother looked like, and their dad had been in the army, deployed to Iraq and killed in action when Halley was three.
“I am a goddess, aren’t I?”
“An arrogant one.” Halley laughed. “But I love you.”
“And I love you.”
They said it often, making up for lost time.
Phoebe raised her champagne glass and took a sip.
And Halley dug into her dessert. Called Fire and Ice, it was vanilla ice cream and mixed heated berries, with a sugary crust on top.
“This is delicious.” She slid the spoon into her mouth again, savoring the sweet and tart mix, moaning at the taste. She had a sweet tooth and she was in heaven. “I’m glad you dragged me out tonight for this alone.”
&
nbsp; Phoebe waved her spoon at Halley. “You know what your problem is?”
“No, but why am I sure you’re going to tell me?”
Phoebe grinned. “You don’t give things a chance. You stay holed up in your ivory tower—”
“House on the beach,” Halley corrected her.
“And you assume you’re going to hate every new experience.”
“Untrue. I’m trying to get my work out into the world.” She wanted one of the bigger Manhattan galleries to pick up her paintings.
She didn’t want to do showings where she had to be present, that went against who she was, but she wanted to make real money selling her paintings. She could only charge what people deemed they were worth, and right now she made enough for expenses. She wanted more. Unfortunately, she felt like she’d hit a wall with her latest work, and she wasn’t sure what was wrong. Or how to change it.
“That’s your work you want out there. Not you. But…” Her sister’s expression softened. “You’re good. Your time will come.”
“I hope so.” Gallery owners visited their beach town in the summers and frequented Glaziers Galleries, where Halley showed her paintings. She just needed the right piece to catch the right person’s eye.
“I know so,” Phoebe said. “But back to my point. Tonight proves you’re wrong. New experiences are good for you. You should be more open-minded.”
Halley glanced down at her dessert bowl. “Because I liked the ice cream, you’ve decided I’ll like every new experience?” she asked.
Phoebe rolled her eyes.
If they were kids, Halley thought she’d have stuck out her tongue. But she couldn’t really know what Phoebe would have done when they were children. They’d been separated and sent to different foster homes. Halley had been all of three. Phoebe had been six. And Juliette, she’d been all of two years old when her real father, a different parent than Halley and Phoebe’s dad, had taken her away for good. Their loving mother had all but sold Juliette to her biological father in exchange for cash to support her drinking and drug habit, and when the neighbors reported her for neglect, Halley and Phoebe had been taken away next.
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