"But you don't need to worry. You need a code to get in and out of that floor. The lock down was just a precaution."
"Good to know. So, is it okay if I bring my dog to visit Mark and Claire again?"
Jace glanced over at her in surprise.
"They both seemed to enjoy Pixie—even though Claire kept calling her Sophie."
Gabby clapped. "Oh, that would be fantastic! You're welcome to talk with anyone on this level who wants to talk with you. It's good to call ahead, though. Just to make sure someone is at the desk to buzz you in."
"Okay." Sky glanced down at the stack of business cards and added the phone number into her contact list. "Will do."
A police officer sauntered down the hallway and stopped at the desk. He leaned against the counter and looked at Gabby, ignoring Jace and Sky. "Everything is secure and all statements have been taken. Someone will need to call the family members of those involved."
"Have a nice afternoon you two." Gabby smiled at Jace and Sky and then turned back to the policeman. "Thank you, Officer Moore. I'll make the calls personally."
Sky waved as she and Jace headed for the door. He held it open for her. She loved that he was such a gentleman. Outside, the warm air and humidity stuck to her. She turned to Jace. "How do you deal with it?"
"With what?"
She pulled her ponytail away from her neck. "The humidity."
"I don't really notice it—not this time of year, anyway. It can be a bit much in the summer. Sometimes I just want to hide inside with the AC all day."
"Well, at least everything is air conditioned."
"And your cottage will soon have a new one, ma'am."
"Please don't call me that."
He stared at her. "What do you mean?"
"Ma'am. It makes me feel old."
"I'm sorry. What do you want me to call you, then?"
"Just Sky is fine."
He nodded. "Okay, Just Sky."
She laughed. "Thanks."
Pixie squirmed in the handbag. Sky pulled her out and set her on the ground. Pixie bounced around, sniffed everything in sight, and then stopped to do her business in the grass.
"You take that dog everywhere?" Jace asked.
"Just about. Even though she has a ton of energy, she behaves whenever we go anywhere."
"That's good, but I don't know how Miss Caroline will feel about a dog in her shop."
"She probably won't even notice Pixie in my purse. You'll see."
"Huh."
"So, have you lived here your whole life?" Sky asked.
"Yep. Barely ever left, in fact. Is it different than the big city?"
"Oh, definitely. I lived in Seattle for close to ten years, but I grew up in Enchantment Bay, Oregon. It's bigger than here, but still counts as a small town."
"So, you're a small-town girl?" He tilted his head.
"Yeah. When my friend told me about Indigo Bay, I couldn't wait to see it for myself. Having grown up near a bay myself, I figured it had to be a good sign."
"Must be. You tired of the city life?"
"Something like that." If only people didn't mistake her for Aspen all the time, she would love to go back to Seattle. "I guess you could say that you can take the girl out of the small town, but you can't take the small town out of the girl."
"Makes sense." They came to Sweet Caroline's and Jace held the door open for her again.
She scooped up Pixie and put her back into her handbag.
"You going to take your sunglasses off?" Jace asked.
Sky glanced around, making sure those teens weren't in there. They were probably in school. She slid off the glasses and nestled them into a pocket.
They went to the counter and Jace ordered the two teas.
Caroline smiled at both of them. "How are y'all doing today?"
"Good, Miss Caroline," Jace answered. "There was some excitement at the Manor, but everything's fine now."
She tucked some hair behind her ear. "Really? More exciting than last week's shuffleboard tournament?"
"Oh, definitely," Jace said. "You'll have to ask Gabby."
"I certainly will. I'm curious now." She slid the drinks toward them.
Sky reached for her wallet, but Jace handed Caroline enough for both and a tip.
"Thanks," Sky said. "You didn't have to."
"Don't mention it." He took the two drinks from Caroline. "Thanks, Miss Caroline."
"Enjoy." She smiled and then turned to the next customer behind them.
They headed for a table by a window and Jace set the glasses down. He pulled a chair out and looked at Sky. She knew he'd been raised with good manners, but she still couldn't help feeling a little like a princess with him holding doors and chairs for her. She sat. "Thank you."
"Of course." Jace scooted the chair in and then sat across from her. He sipped his tea and glanced out the window.
She took the opportunity to study him, past the obvious—his rugged good looks. Though he didn't say much, his eyes made him seem like there was a lot going in the background. She wanted to figure out what he was thinking about. He seemed like the kind of guy who had some really interesting stories to tell.
He turned his gaze back to her and she looked into his eyes, trying to unravel even just a bit of the mystery that was Jace Fisher.
"You like the tea?" he asked.
"I do. It's very… sweet."
Jace chuckled. "Different than you're used to?"
"Yeah, but I like it." They held each other's gazes, not saying anything. Sky liked how they could slip into a comfortable silence, and not have to fill every moment with talking. "How often do you visit Claire?"
He shrugged. "A few times a week, usually. Probably should stop by more, but she's not usually as with it as she was today."
Sky sipped her drink. "What was different about today?"
"Don't know." He frowned. "Wish I did, though. I'd like more days like today."
"But she still didn't recognize you."
He finished his tea. "Probably too painful. Most everyone she cared about has passed away. I'm just a reminder of that."
Sky patted his hand. "I'm sorry."
Jace's eyes widened and he pulled his hands away. "It happens."
"Still, it has to be hard. Sometimes I wonder if that's why people's minds go when they get older—it's easier to forget than to hurt. I mean, I know it's an actual medical condition, but not wanting to remember could be part of it. I'm not sure I'd want to live with the pain of losing so many people I care about."
"Maybe." He glanced back out the window. A family with two small kids walked by. Jace watched them and frowned.
Sky twisted her ponytail around her hand. Maybe she shouldn't have said anything about it being easier to forget. What if Jace had taken that to mean she thought his mom didn't want to remember him?
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. Sometimes I speak before I think."
He turned to her, his expression blank. "Come again?"
"About the memories. I know she didn't want to forget you. She seems to have a lot of great ones, and she definitely adores your family. Even if she thinks you're her brother, it's obvious she thinks the world of you from what she said about you."
"It's—" A song sounded across the table. Jace pulled out his phone and looked at the screen. "I have to take this. Pardon me." He turned his back toward her. "Hello?"
Sky sipped the rest of her tea, guilt wracking her for saying anything about Jace's mom. She finally met a guy who acted like she was normal and she had to let her mouth run off and say something stupid.
Jace turned around. "I'm sorry, but I have to run. A commode is flooding in one of the cottages."
"I understand." Her voice came out smaller than she intended.
Ten
Jace locked his truck and headed for the hardware store. He'd managed to stop the toilet's flooding and dry the floor, but now he had to replace the tubing and the flush valve. His boots sloshed and his pants st
uck to his legs as he walked. At least the sun would dry the pants before he got back to the cottages.
"Oh, Jace!" sang Lucille's voice.
He turned to see her waving to him from across the street. She wore the same polka-dotted dress, but this time had her white dog with her.
Jace waved. "Hello, Miss Lucille." He kept walking, hoping she'd take the clue.
The clacking of her heels told him otherwise. He groaned inwardly and pretended not to notice.
"Wait, Jace!"
Sighing, he turned around. "I don't mean to be rude, but I have a commode to fix."
"This will only take a minute."
"Okay."
Lucille looked at her dog. "Sit."
It did as it was told.
Jace noticed that its collar was the exact same shade of bright blue as Lucille's shoes.
"What is it, ma'am?" He adjusted his cap and looked at her.
"I spoke to Maggie and—"
"Maggie?"
"My daughter's niece."
"Right."
"I told her all about you, and she's looking forward to meeting you."
Jace took a deep breath. "I mean no disrespect, Miss Lucille, but I'm really not interested."
"You haven't even met her. Let me show you her picture. Y'all are sure to hit it off."
"It's nothing against you or her. I'm just not interested." He glanced down at his wet pants. "And I really need to get back to the cottages. That commode isn't going to fix itself."
Lucille tilted her head. "Do you have an interest in someone else?"
Sky's lovely face popped into his mind. He thought of the way his pulse had quickened when she had put her soft, smooth hand on his back at the coffee shop. His palms became clammy.
"Do you?" Lucille took a step closer.
"Ma'am, I need to get going." Jace stepped away. "It was nice talkin' to you."
"I think you're trying to put me off."
"No. I'm just not interested and I have to get back to the cottages and fix that commode before Dallas has my hide."
Lucille stood taller. "Well, I need to make my way over to Frank and Mildred's. They're expecting me."
Jace froze. "Did you say Frank and Mildred?"
"Yes."
His mom had mentioned them. In fact, she'd been convinced Sky was their daughter.
"Are you okay?" Lucille asked.
Jace clenched his fists. It was too much to be a coincidence. Lucille had to have stopped by the Manor and spoken with his mom before lunch.
"Jace?"
He snapped his attention toward her. "Did you talk to my mama?"
"I've chatted with her plenty of times."
"Today." The word almost came out as a growl.
Her eyes widened. "Why, I don't know what you're talking about."
"Don't put ideas in her head. She has enough to deal with. And don't try to set me up with anyone."
Lucille's mouth dropped open. "I beg your pardon?"
"Thank you for understanding." Jace walked away, his mind spinning. Could it have been a coincidence that his mom and Lucille both mentioned Mildred and Frank? It didn't seem likely, especially since the Fishers had never been close to them. On the other hand, if Lucille had been planting ideas in his mom's mind, why not bring Maggie into it? Or had she, and his mom had gotten confused, only remembering Mildred and Frank, since she'd known them? Lucille's great-niece was a stranger to them all.
Not that it mattered now. He'd already set the busybody straight. Jace had no interest in being set up, period. He didn't want to pursue anything with Sky, even though she did set his heart aflutter. Maybe especially since the girl in the dark blue cottage evoked such a strong response from him.
He'd sworn never to trust another woman with his heart again. Seeing Alisha with Ben and their two kids outside Sweet Caroline's while Jace had been sitting with Sky may as well have been a message from the heavens above—telling him to keep guarding himself against further hurt.
The hardware store came into view. Good. He needed to focus on toilets and get everything else out of his mind. He didn't want to think about his ex-fiancée, his ex-best friend, some girl named Maggie, and especially not Sky. She was the most dangerous of them all, because she was starting to chip away at the wall he'd built around his heart.
Eleven
Sky clicked "publish" and waited as her blog post uploaded for the world. She'd spent the last couple days wandering around town, taking pictures and videos of Indigo Bay as she familiarized herself with everything. In a matter of moments, her followers would know the cute little town as well as she did.
The doorbell rang. She jumped out of her seat, hoping it was Jace. They hadn't seen each other since having tea at Sweet Caroline's a few days earlier. Sky wanted to apologize again for making the thoughtless comment about Alzheimer's. Though she'd been having fun traipsing through town, in the back of her mind, she couldn't stop worrying that she'd offended the handsome handyman.
Instead of Jace, she found a stack of packages.
The mailman turned around and waved. "Have a nice afternoon!"
"You, too!" Sky bent over and slid her fingers underneath the bottom box. Once inside, she set them on the couch and looked at the return address labels. One was a box of clothing, one was beauty products, and the last one was some health food items.
Pixie jumped around, curious.
"Time for some unboxing videos." Sky smiled as she tried to decide which one to open first. One of the best parts of being a fashion and beauty blogger was all the free stuff she got in exchange for reviewing the items.
Pixie barked and then darted around the room.
"Oh, right. I promised you a walk. Let me just put these away first." She lugged the boxes into her room and set them next to the desk, her mind already putting together the videos.
Sky grabbed her phone and the leash, and a couple minutes later, she and Pixie were out in the sand. She was already starting to adjust to the humidity—at least it didn't hit her like a tidal wave when she stepped outside anymore, but she still noticed. With any luck, soon she wouldn't even think about it.
She just enjoyed being outdoors, allowing the sights and sounds of the bay to relax her. They wandered away from the busy part of the beach, stopping every few minutes so Pixie could sniff something and dig around. After stopping about sixty times, they came to a little shaded area underneath the trees. There was even what looked like a seat where a root stuck out at a funny angle.
"This is great, don't you think?"
Pixie just sniffed around at the base of one of the trees.
"I'll take that as a yes." Sky sat on the root and leaned against the tree. "Ah, this is nice."
She looped the end of the leash around her foot and watched the water as Pixie explored. Birds flew around, some chasing each other and others floating lazily on the water, bouncing around the soft waves. Eventually, Pixie settled down next to her and curled up.
Sky yawned. "If we stay here any longer, I'm going to fall asleep. But I don't have time for a nap. We need lunch, and then I have to start replying to comments and getting ready for the unboxing videos. Then I have to check the bank account and do a hundred other things. Let's head over to Sweet Caroline's. I'm so not in the mood to make lunch."
She rose, dusted sand off her legs, and grabbed the leash from her ankle, then they made their way back to the cottage. Her stomach growled. She went to the bathroom to check her hair and makeup. When she came out, Pixie was snoring in her doggie bed.
"I'll just let you sleep." Sky rubbed her between the ears and headed back outside. She smiled and waved at people as she took the short walk to the cafe. It was so nice that people were friendly without thinking she was a celebrity.
As soon as she stepped into Sweet Caroline's, Caroline waved to her from behind the counter. "Good afternoon, Sky!"
"Hi, Caroline." She grinned and walked over.
"What can I get you, dear?"
"Do you ha
ve the Oceanic sandwich today?"
"Always. It's a staple."
"Perfect. I'll have a whole one with a lemon water."
"Lemon water?" Caroline's mouth dropped. "What, are you on a diet? You're a skinny thing. Have some coffee or tea."
"Thanks, but I just went for a walk. Lemon water sounds divine."
"If that's what you want." She gathered the sandwich onto a plate and added some chips. "So, you made friends with Jace Fisher?"
Sky's cheek's warmed. "I'm not sure I'd say that. We just keep running into each other."
She tucked some hair behind her ears. "Y'all came in to eat together and he paid for your food."
"It was just a glass of tea and I think he was just being nice. I've never met anyone so…" She searched for the right word. "Gentlemanly."
Caroline leaned over the counter and lowered her voice. "Let me tell you something about Jace."
Sky leaned closer. "What?"
"That boy has gone through enough heartache for five people. He barely talks to anyone—and I never see him in here with a pretty girl. Or anywhere, for that matter. He fixes the cottages and then hides out."
Sky's heart skipped a beat. "How do you know that?"
"Indigo Bay is a small town, honey. I hear everything that goes on over there in the cottages because my son Dallas owns them. He's Jace's boss."
"Oh, he's the one who doesn't want to replace the AC."
"What?" Caroline tipped her head to the side.
"I have to whack it every couple hours to keep it running. Jace said Dallas hasn't replaced it."
"Oh, honey. I'm so sorry. I'll talk to that boy. He's been distracted with some stuff, but that's no excuse." Caroline glanced behind Sky. "I've got to help some more customers, but I'll talk with Dallas once things slow down around here."
"Wow, I really appreciate that." Sky paid for the food and took it over to a table—the same one she and Jace had sat at the other day—and watched people stroll by outside.
Just as she finished the first half of the sandwich, Caroline came over and sat across from her. "I just spoke with Dallas. He sends his apologies and promises you a new unit as soon as possible."
"Thank you."
"Think nothing of it. You should have a working air conditioner—especially if you're not used to our weather. I hear it's pretty cold up where you come from this time of year."
Sweet Dreams (Indigo Bay Sweet Romance Series Book 1) Page 4