by Annie Rains
“No, but we did say we’d review more to-dos for the cottages. Plus, I need backup when it comes to Vi. Unless you have something else to do today.”
She gave him a skeptical look. It was totally fair because whatever she was thinking was most likely right. He was just angling to spend more time with her.
“Nope. My schedule is open.” She reached for her bag on the counter. “Let’s go.”
Jake led her onto the deck, where Bailey was waiting. Then they went down the steps and headed over to one of two golf carts parked under Vi’s carport.
“Why does Vi have two golf carts anyway?” Trisha asked.
Jake patted the seat beside him. He meant it for Trisha, but Bailey hopped up to his side.
Trisha laughed as she shifted out of Bailey’s way. Then she stepped closer to the cart and sat down.
“One of the golf carts is for Vi, and the other was my grandfather’s. Vi was always running late for church, and he was always the first one there. So they rode separately.”
Trisha scooted in closer to Bailey. “So they have these golf carts just for church?”
“No, they used to ride them along the shoreline too. As far as I know, Vi hasn’t really done that much since her stroke.” Jake swallowed past the bitterness he felt every time the stroke came up. The stress that Peter Lewis had caused was a contributing factor. And now he knew that Peter Lewis was Trisha’s ex-husband.
Jake reversed the golf cart out of the covered area behind Vi’s home, and then he put it into forward motion. Once they were on the path and headed to church, he glanced over to catch Trisha smiling. “It’s fun, isn’t it? The wind in your hair and on your face?”
She glanced over. “It is.”
“A bike is a perfectly acceptable form of transportation to church at the Point too. Unless you’re wearing a dress, which I usually don’t,” he teased.
“Good to know,” she said on a laugh.
His heart skipped around at the sound.
“I’m curious about this church we’re heading to,” Trisha said. “The church I attended growing up had four walls and a roof with a steeple at its center.”
“This one is nothing fancy.”
“I don’t need fancy.” Trisha swept hair out of her face. “After my marriage ordeal, I don’t even want fancy.”
Jake drove the cart beyond Lakeshore Drive. “You lived a rich life, huh? When you were married?”
“Well, it wasn’t a millionaire’s lifestyle by any means, but it was much more than what I grew up with. It seems bizarre to think of how I lived just a couple years ago. I was never the person who wanted material things. I was a tomboy growing up. I didn’t need expensive things or clothes. All I wanted for my life was the normal stuff. A family and someone to grow old with.”
She fell silent as he turned the golf cart down a dirt path that cut through the woods and led to an opening along the lake where church services were held every Sunday morning. He pulled to a stop behind an old Southern oak with large, flat rocks encircling it. Those were used for seats. He looked over at Trisha.
“This is church?” she asked. She gave him an uncertain grin.
“Yep.” Jake pointed across the way at a man with a long, dark scraggly beard wearing jeans and a T-shirt. “That’s Pastor Lance.”
“That’s the pastor?” Her tone was thick with disbelief.
Jake chuckled. “I told you things were dressed down. At least on the outside. Don’t be fooled though. You’ll leave here feeling like you’ve gotten a sermon. The kind that makes you feel like you need to do better. Be better.” Jake glanced around at the other golf carts and folks in lawn chairs. They wore sunglasses and ball caps like they were here to watch a ball game, and with the same kind of excitement and hunger.
“From where I’m sitting, you’re already pretty great.”
Jake leaned behind Bailey to whisper, “That’s just the after-kiss talking,” he said, knowing he shouldn’t. They’d agreed this morning to leave the kiss behind them.
Her laugh sounded nervous. Her cheeks blushed faintly as she looked at him, lips slightly parted. “Are you telling me there was some type of spell attached to last night’s kiss?”
Jake straightened back into an upright position. “That’s right. It’ll wear off eventually.” He kept his tone casual even though his heart rate was picking up. “Unless, of course, we kiss again.”
* * *
At the end of the church service, Trisha was sold on outdoor sermons. It was similar to the sunrise services that were traditional on Easter Sundays when she was growing up, except this apparently happened every week, rain or shine.
Trisha released a sigh after the dismissal prayer and then turned to look at Jake.
“I told you,” he said. “You’ll never want it any other way.”
Her mind went to that kiss of theirs as she looked at him at this close proximity. Then another golf cart pulled up beside them, interrupting the moment. It was Mr. and Mrs. S.
“Mr. S,” Trisha said. “I missed you this morning.” She’d almost forgotten that he’d been missing on the shore when she’d hurried down that way at the crack of dawn.
Mr. S gestured at Jake. “He got to me before you could.”
Trisha turned to Jake. “You woke Mr. S?”
“I did,” he said. “I was trying to help you out. I guess I could’ve texted you to stay in bed, huh?”
Trisha felt a warmth radiating from inside her chest, imagining Jake rolling out of bed earlier than he’d like on her behalf. “I see. Thank you for helping.”
“So you two are a thing now?” Mr. S asked, bouncing a finger between them.
Trisha looked at Mr. S and shook her head. “No, Jake was just showing me the best-kept secret on Sunday mornings.”
Mr. S chuckled. “Sharing secrets sounds like a thing to me.”
Mrs. Santorini elbowed him and made him howl in mock pain. Then she looked at Jake and asked, “Where’s Vi?”
“She can’t always get out of bed this early anymore,” Jake explained. “We’re going to check on her once we leave here.”
“Well, do me a favor and don’t tell her that I was lying on the beach this morning,” Mr. S said. He’d said that to Trisha a few dozen times since she’d started the job, obviously thinking that Vi didn’t know what went on along her stretch of the lake.
Instead of elbowing him again, Mrs. Santorini jabbed a finger into his shoulder. “Maybe you should just stop lying out there in the buff.”
“You can’t change a man’s habits after so many years. Living at the nudist colony was the best thing I ever did besides marrying you,” he told his wife. Then he looked at Jake. “I was about your age when I started. I’d recommend a colony life to anyone.”
Jake held up his hands. “I’ll pass, Mr. S.”
The old man chuckled. “The only reason I ever left was because I couldn’t get my lovely bride to join me out there.”
It was kind of a sweet story. Kind of.
“You can take the man out of the colony, but you can’t take the colony out of the man. We men don’t change. Right, Jake?”
Jake raised his palms outward. “I’m staying out of this argument. But I won’t tell Vi a word about your early morning habits.”
“Good boy.” Mr. S nodded approvingly. “Well, we’ll leave you two lovebirds alone,” he added before zipping away on his golf cart.
Trisha felt embarrassed. She looked around and noticed that others were also watching them. “Just because we came to church together, people think we’re lovebirds?” she asked Jake quietly.
He laughed. “Oh, come on. You grew up in a small town. You know the drill.”
She dodged Bailey’s wet nose to her cheek as she narrowed her gaze. “I was hoping it was just a Sweetwater Springs thing that people started planning your marriage as soon as they saw two singles sharing a conversation.”
“Afraid not.” Jake looked around at the dispersing crowd. “At least some
of them are watching us and just talking about the fact that I’m home. They’re probably wondering if I’ll stick around. Or if I’m taking over for Vi. And maybe they’re wondering where Vi is, like Mrs. S was.” He lifted his brows at her. “And half are talking about you. Who are you? Where did you come from? Why are you here?”
Trisha felt a familiar uneasiness settle over her. “Oh.”
“Small-town talk.” Jake put the golf cart back into gear. “The talk doesn’t bother me. Does it bother you?” he asked after a moment as the golf cart bumped along the uneven ground.
Trisha thought about it. “I guess I’m used to it. Or I should be by now.” They grew quiet again. Then after several minutes, Trisha asked, “Are you worried about Vi?”
“A little.” He rested one hand on the steering wheel and one on Bailey’s back. “She’s not one to miss church.”
“I’ve been here over a month now. I’ve never seen her take the golf cart out on a Sunday morning,” Trisha said. “I would’ve driven her myself had I known.”
Jake’s lips pulled into a slight frown. “My whole family is worried about her being here all alone.”
“One of your aunts came to visit last month. I think her name was Dawn?” Trisha asked with uncertainty.
“That’s right,” Jake said.
“She seemed like a nice woman with good intentions,” Trisha said, “but Vi seemed a little bothered by all her hovering. I really think she’s glad that you’re here though.”
“I’m glad I’m here too.” Jake glanced over. “So Mr. S is really lying on the shore naked every morning?”
Trisha laughed at the unexpected change of subject. “Yes, he is. Vi asked me to make sure he’s gone before anyone else happens upon him. It’s part of my job, and I take it very seriously,” she said as she laughed harder, resting her hand on her chest to catch her breath.
“That’s the craziest job description I’ve ever heard.” Jake grinned over at her. “And I’ve heard a lot of crazy things as a lawyer.”
“Well, I love being the property manager for the rental cottages, so I don’t mind. Much.”
Jake pulled the golf cart under Vi’s carport behind her house. They both stepped off and walked around to the back of the house. Jake led the way up Vi’s steps and onto her deck. He knocked before entering the unlocked door.
“Good morning. How was church?” Vi looked up from the dining room table, where she was having coffee and a plate of eggs. And she wasn’t alone.
Trisha didn’t recognize the man, but Jake visibly stiffened beside her.
“Uncle Tim. I didn’t realize you were coming today,” Jake said.
Tim gave him a wide smile that struck Trisha as insincere. “Well, I tried to call you yesterday, but you didn’t answer,” the man drawled in a thick Southern accent that also felt a touch insincere. He glanced at Trisha and back to Jake. “I’m guessing you were pretty busy.”
Jake didn’t respond to that last comment. Instead, he said, “It’s good to see you, Uncle Tim. How long will you be staying?”
“A week. Maybe two.” Tim looked at Trisha again, his gaze sticking this time. “You must be the new property manager I’ve been hearing about.”
“Trisha Langly,” she confirmed.
“Vi told me I could stay in one of the vacant cottages. Do you have one that isn’t going to crumble around me while I sleep?” Tim asked on a quiet laugh. Trisha didn’t think the question was funny though. “Because these cottages look like bulldozer fodder to me.”
“Well, Jake and I have been working on them. Jake just fixed the roof of Magnolia Cottage so that one’s in good shape right now. It needs new paint on the inside and updated appliances would be nice, but I think you’ll find it in livable condition.”
“Jake fixed the roof?” Tim’s brows rose high on his forehead. “A man of many talents, huh?”
“He’s proving to be,” Trisha said, feeling a bit defensive on Jake’s behalf, but she wasn’t sure why. “And I’m very grateful for his help.”
“I bet you are. Makes your job a lot easier, huh?” Tim asked.
Trisha took offense at whatever he was suggesting.
Vi tapped the table in front of her to gain Trisha’s attention. “What did you think of the church at the Point?”
“I thought it was amazing.” Trisha wondered if Vi was having similar thoughts to Mr. and Mrs. S’s. Was she also wondering if Trisha and Jake were getting romantically involved? Was Tim wondering the same? Trisha didn’t want to do anything to compromise her job.
“Good.” Vi picked up her fork and stabbed at a mound of eggs on her plate.
“Well, we won’t interrupt you two any longer,” Jake told Vi. “Do you need help with anything? I’ve got the whole day. Give me a list, and I’ll take care of it for you.”
“Such a sweet grandson. No, I’m fine. Why don’t you and Trisha do something together? I saw young Petey go off this morning.” She gave Trisha a questioning raise of the brow.
“Yes, his aunt and uncle took him for an outing. They’ll drop him off later tonight.” She hoped Vi wouldn’t ask questions, especially with Tim watching and listening. Trisha instinctively didn’t trust Jake’s uncle.
“Well then, you both have the whole day to do as you please. I imagine you want to take that plane of yours up in the sky,” Vi suggested. “Why don’t you give Trisha a ride?”
“I actually took her up yesterday. Her and Petey,” Jake said.
“Oh?” Vi looked between them, her eyebrows lifting shakily on her forehead.
Panic swept over Trisha. Was Jake going to tell Vi about her ex being in prison? In front of Tim too. She’d trusted him with her secrets, but maybe Peter’s warning had been right yesterday. Was Jake now going to use her past against her?
“That’s right,” Jake said. “But I didn’t give Trisha a decent tour of the town. I think everyone who lives here should get to see Somerset Lake from the clouds. What do you say, Trisha?” He looked at her, lowering his voice just a notch. “Fly with me? Again.”
Trisha exhaled softly. No, her ex-husband was wrong when he’d made her question the new people she was surrounding herself with. She could trust Jake with her secrets. And her life.
Chapter Fourteen
Jake glanced over at Trisha beside him in the plane. “Why do you look more nervous today than you were yesterday?”
Trisha nibbled her lower lip, seemingly searching her brain for some faraway answer. “Maybe because I was mostly in the back of the plane yesterday. And Petey was distracting me.”
“It’s just like driving a car,” he teased, hoping to lighten the mood. “Except we’re several thousand feet above the ground.”
“And you’re the one steering,” she pointed out.
The plane was bumping along the water’s natural current. He hadn’t even started the engine yet. He wanted to gauge if Trisha was truly up for this. Her son was fearless when it came to flying, but Trisha didn’t seem as comfortable. She’d gone up with him out of necessity yesterday, but today was different.
“Would you rather steer?” he asked.
Her eyes widened. “No, you’re the pilot. I’m just going along for the ride.”
“I want you to enjoy yourself though. That’s the whole point. Here, maybe it’ll help if I give you a little lesson on flying.”
“A flying lesson?” she asked.
“Why not?” He pointed at the control panel, which was admittedly intimidating to someone who knew nothing about planes. “This is the ignition.”
She was looking at him as if he were crazy right now.
He continued anyway, pointing out the various buttons and levers and telling her what their function was. He tried to keep the technical names and language to a minimum, opting for layman’s terms. Levers, buttons, and liftoff. Altitude, visibility, and landing.
“I don’t want to pilot this plane,” she finally said. “We’d crash for sure.”
Jake gave her a steady l
ook. Her eyes were a brighter shade of brown in this light. They were almost copper. “What if I promise to catch you if you go down?”
Trisha’s lips parted. Had he said too much? He started backtracking. “Sometimes there’s comfort in knowing how things work and what will happen.” He pulled his gaze from hers. “The first time Gramps took me flying, he sat me in the copilot seat and told me everything there was to know. After his instruction, I could have flown that plane if I’d wanted to.”
“How old were you?” Trisha asked.
“Eleven. Hungry for knowledge. Eager for adventure. He didn’t let me actually operate the plane until I was fifteen, and even that was legally too young.”
“I won’t tell Deputy Bruno.”
Jake chuckled under his breath as he looked out on the lake through the front windshield. He didn’t dare look at Trisha again right now. He couldn’t seem to control his mouth when he did. “Any kid growing up in Somerset Lake is eager for something exciting.”
Trisha sighed beside him. “I guess the same is true for Petey.”
“It’s a sleepy little town, but a boy with a big imagination can find things to do.” Jake sucked in a breath and looked at her. “Are you ready now? I know you only went with me yesterday because you kind of didn’t have a choice.”
“Not unless I wanted to break Petey’s heart,” she agreed.
“You have a choice this time,” he said. “You can still change your mind about this trip.”
Trisha hesitated and then shook her head. “No. It’s not just little boys who are eager for something exciting.” One corner of her mouth kicked up, and a fire seemed to ignite behind the golden brown of her irises.
Jake felt breathless for a moment. Trisha was beautiful in every way. If Jake wasn’t already worried that he could fall for her, he was now. Which spelled trouble—but it also felt like that same adventure and excitement he’d been looking for as a boy on this very lake. Some part of him was still looking, but finding it in different ways.
“Okay. Buckle up. I’m about to take us into the clouds.” He waited for Trisha to click her belt into place. Then he turned the ignition with a key and a press of a button. The propeller began to spin.