His Winter Rose. Lois Richer
small lake towns that development hadn’t yet reached seldom found cash to spare.
A noise drew his attention to the dock and he stepped outside.
“Hey, Andy. Did you get those rentals all cleaned up?”
“Yes, sir.” Andy saluted him, then grinned. “You find the customers, I’ve got the boats spick-and-span.”
The kid looked like a double for an actor on Gilligan’s Island. That effect was enhanced by a kooky sailor cap Andy loved, but which always slipped to one side of his shiny head.
“Ready to roll, boss. I also swabbed the decks, checked the minnow stock and measured the gas tank. We’re good to go on all counts. Now I’ll get at that painting.”
“Good job.” The boy was an employer’s dream. He took pride in accomplishing his duties before being asked.
Andy reminded Jason of himself, long ago, before he’d learned that fresh-faced eagerness wasn’t necessarily an asset in the corporate world.
“You see that?” Andy’s gaze was also on the trim red craft and the pristine sails. “She’s a beauty, isn’t she?”
The sharp bow cut cleanly through the crest of waves, zooming ever closer, sails puffed out smooth. As they watched, the boat tacked left, turning in a perfect half circle as it headed into the harbor, straight toward them.
“I hope he knows how to bring her in. It’ll cost a fortune if I have to get those docks redone.”
Andy grinned, shaking his head.
“Don’t worry, boss. The way that beauty’s moving, there’s no novice at the helm. Man, I’d love a chance to go out in her.”
Who wouldn’t? Jason pretended to busy himself, but he kept close watch as the sailor trimmed his sails perfectly and the delicate red hull slipped easily into dock. He turned away, refusing to let the owner of such magnificence witness his jealousy. Someday, when he retired, maybe he’d get a boat like that.
Someday.
“Ahoy, there. Mind tying me off?”
That voice was familiar. Jason twisted around, watched Andy snatch the line tossed at him and fasten stem and stern so that the sailboat was perfectly docked against Styrofoam buoys that would keep its hull mar free. Golden letters in a delicate font shone from the bow. Shalimar.
The sailboat’s captain accepted Andy’s hand and stepped onto the dock. Once the thick coat was unzipped and he caught a glimpse of her face, Jason realized the sailor was a woman.
Piper Langley.
She tossed her coat inside the hull, then drew the red knitted cap she was wearing from her head and flipped it into the boat, allowing her glossy black curls to dance in the breeze.
“Thank you, kind sir.” She curtsied to Andy, then strode toward Jason. “Good morning, Mayor.”
“Good morning.”
He couldn’t help but stare at her bouncy haircut. It had been a long mane of ebony when they’d first met. He’d dreamed about that hair. He couldn’t decide which style he preferred.
Her ice-blue shirt and matching slacks managed to look both businesslike and chic. The wool jacket added to her polished look, though her eyes weren’t businesslike at all. He swallowed, rejecting the flash of interest that prickled whenever he talked to her.
“I didn’t realize—that is, er…” He hesitated. “You’ll need a car, Miss Langley. The area is large and our public transportation isn’t up to big-city standards.”
She frowned, obviously trying to decipher his curt tone.
“Please call me Piper,” she begged. “I don’t get to sail very often so I thought this would be the perfect way to commute across the lake. I left my car here.” Her gaze brushed over the boat in obvious fondness, then she focused on him and the brown eyes darkened to almost black.
“I paid for the berth. Yesterday.”
Andy hadn’t told him. Jason wished he could time-warp back about an hour and do this all over again. Though it was a little late to explain, he gave it his best shot.
“I wasn’t implying anything. I just wanted to be sure you knew you’d need a car.” Idiot! How old was he that her appearance could knock him for a loop?
“I don’t know whether or not I explained to you when we talked before, Mr. Franklin, but years ago I lived in Serenity Bay. I’m familiar with the need for wheels around here.”
She smiled and it was a glorious thing. Her skin glowed, her eyes shone and her curls danced in the breeze. She was more beautiful than he remembered.
“No, I don’t believe you mentioned that.” Otherwise, I wouldn’t have made an idiot of myself talking about public transportation.
Her gaze held his. A zap of awareness shot between them.
“Well, I did. Six summers, actually.”
“Really?”
“They were some of the best times of my life.”
Which meant—what? That she was here to recapture the past? That her life had taken a downturn and she’d returned to start over?
“That explains your enthusiasm for this place then.” And her knowledge of the economic possibilities in the area.
“I guess.” She continued to watch him, her scrutiny unflinching.
“What do you have planned, Miss Langley?”
“You’re the boss. Shouldn’t you be telling me, Mr. Franklin?” Heavy emphasis on the Mr.
“Actually I didn’t think you would start till Monday.”
“Why wait?”
She stood tall and proud, head tipped back, face impassive as her glance clashed with his. She shifted as if she were eager to get on with things.
Something was tapping. Jason looked down, noticed that her blue shoes matched the blue of her suit perfectly, and that the toe of one was rapping impatiently against the dock.
During his Boston years, Jason had known a lot of women. But he’d never met one who couldn’t stand still for even a few minutes. Piper Langley pulsed with leashed energy.
She cleared her throat. “Mr. Franklin?”
“I prefer Jason. We’re informal around here. Okay, Piper?” He smiled, showing there were no hard feelings. “Now perhaps—”
“Wait a minute. Jason. Jason Franklin. Man, I’m slow.” The whispered words slipped through her lips on a breath of recognition.
He froze.
“There was a rather well-known Jason Franklin who gained the reputation of finding fantastic recreation property that developers could evolve into spectacular tourism centers. He worked for a company called Expectations in Boston.” She paused, searching his face while she waited for his response.
“Guilty,” he admitted, heart sinking. “But that was in the past. Now I’m my own boss.” And I like it that way, so don’t ask any more questions.
“Of course.” She nodded, obviously receiving his message loud and clear.
Immediately Jason wondered exactly what she’d heard, and from whom.
“It’s a wonderful marina,” she murmured. “We never had anything like this when I was here.”
“Thank you. I’ve enjoyed putting it together.”
Then in the blink of an eye, Piper Langley became all business.
“I’ve done some preliminary work since you offered me the job of economic development officer. I hope that’s all right?” One finely