On Sara’s first full day off of work, she found herself rolling up her sleeves and getting dirty, helping Parker install a new water heater. She wanted to spend more time at his place for Toby’s sake, and taking another frozen shower wasn’t an option.

The install of the new heater was mostly just handing Parker tools while she watched him work. It was a huge turn on, though, since he had to remove his shirt and wedge himself in the small closet space to tug out the old heater. Once it was removed, she cleaned out the dusty closet area. She was expecting another large tank to go back in, but he pulled out a smaller box.

“What’s that?” She frowned down at the thing.

“Tankless water heater.” He pulled the device out of the box.

“We have those at the cabins. I didn’t know what they were for.”

Parker chuckled. “They are the reason you have unlimited hot water when you want it. I noticed it at your place and decided I wanted one for my own place. This one is bigger than yours, since I have two bathrooms and a full kitchen.”

Once the water heater was installed and tested, he handed her a pair of gloves and a mask.

“Now to conquer the porch.” He groaned.

“It won’t be so bad,” she said, pulling on the mask as she stepped outside.

The red paint was everywhere. Not only could the lettering still be seen, but there were bright red drops all over as well, as if his mother had sprinkled it everywhere on purpose.

“How do we do this?” She looked around at the mess.

“First, we powerwash this all off.” He nodded to a machine. “It’s messy. Be prepared to get wet.” He chuckled. “Stand back, I’ll start out.”

She stepped off the porch while he started the loud machine. It sounded like a lawn mower at first, then as he began to spray, it sounded more like a car wash. She was pretty sure she could handle the job, and when he waved her over, she took the wand from him and repeated what he’d been doing to each board.

Two hours later, they had stripped his entire decking of every inch of paint, including the layer he had done himself less than a week ago.

“We’ll have to let this dry before painting it again. How about we pack a lunch and take Toby to the beach?”

“Sounds wonderful.” She smiled. “I’ll change.” She looked down at her soaking jeans and T-shirt.

After a quick hot shower, she pulled on clean jeans and a clean top. She slid on her shoes and walked out to the kitchen where Parker had lunch already packed. Toby was dancing at the door with his leash hanging from his mouth.

“He started that a few days ago.” Parker laughed. Parker had changed into shorts and a gray shirt. “Ready?” He bent and strapped Toby to the leash.

“I’ll carry the food. You’ll have your hands full with him.” She laughed when the dog bolted as he opened the front door.

She carried the basket until they reached the pathway, where he let Toby loose. He took the basket from her and took her other hand in his free one.

“It’s a perfect day.” She rested her head against his shoulder.

“Too bad we can’t do this every day,” he said as they walked. “We can set up lunch down by the water.” He nodded to a spot.

“Perfect.” She laughed at Toby as he hit the surf and jumped in the water.

“I know someone who’ll be staying outside until he dries off,” Parker said. “I’m thinking of installing an outdoor shower to hose him off.”

“That’s a great idea. We have them at some of the cabins. It helps keep the sand outside.”

“I have big plans for the place. I just need a little more cash flow before I start on the bigger items.”

“Like?” she asked when he dropped her hand and started setting out their lunch. She sat down on the soft sand.

“Like,” he said pulling out containers, “I want to put a metal roof on the place and remove the shingled exterior walls and put up something more up-to-date. And that’s just the outside.” He handed her a container and a fork. She had been expecting sandwiches but there was a fresh caprese salad inside it. “Inside, the master bathroom and bedroom will get a complete overhaul. I plan on turning the back workroom into an office space with sliding doors to the backyard.” He took a bite of his own salad. “The kitchen also needs a serious update.”

She smiled. “So, how long do you expect all this to take?”

He shrugged. “I’ve got time. I’m in no hurry. I want to make sure I know what I want. I’ve already changed my mind a few times on things.”

“Oh?” she asked finishing her salad.

“Sure, like the workroom. I was originally thinking fourth bedroom, but then I realized I needed space for paperwork.” He shrugged, then pulled out another container.

She opened it and looked inside.

“It’s Italian chicken pasta,” he said.

“I can see that. You had time to make this while I got ready?” she asked.

“No.” He smiled. “I made most of it yesterday and threw it together while you showered.”

“Okay,” she said after her first bite. “Serious skills in the bedroom and the kitchen. Why hasn’t someone tied you down yet?”

He chuckled and started on his own food. Toby had found a large piece of driftwood and decided this was a good time to lay it across Parker’s lap.

Parker jumped up, almost spilling his food. The driftwood was soaking wet and had dumped sand and dirt on his lap.

She waited to see how he would respond to the dog and was happily surprised when instead of yelling, he brushed his shorts off and spent a few minutes playing tug of war with the dog.

When the dog had tired of the game and decided he’d chase some seagulls instead, Parker sat back down next to her, a large smile on his face.

“You know, none of my previous boyfriends would have acted like that.”

He frowned. “Like what?”

She shook her head, feeling foolish all of a sudden, but he waited patiently until she finally told him.

“They were all very low on patience when it came to animal behavior. Joe came over for dinner once, and Raco jumped on him when I opened the door. The dog didn’t have dirty paws and didn’t leave a mark on his slacks, but Joe yelled at him and acted like he had been soiled. A day later, I broke up with him.”

“I broke up with my girlfriend in high school because she was allergic to my grandmother’s cat.”

She smiled and held up her bottled water. “To animal lovers.”

“Animal lovers.” He tapped his water bottle to hers, then added, “They make the best lovers.”

* * *

Parker had never spent a more fulfilling day in his life. He was tired and sore by the time they climbed into bed, but he had to admit, it felt wonderful to hold Sara in his arms as he drifted off to sleep. Toby was curled in a tight ball at their feet, nice and clean from the bath Sara had given him.

He was jolted awake in the middle of the night when her cell phone started buzzing loudly.

She sat straight up and fumbled for it.

“What? What time is it?” He sat next to her, trying to see her screen.

“It’s 2:30. The motion camera just went on in front of the restaurant.” She showed him the screen. He couldn’t make out anything on the night vision camera. They sat and watched the screen for a few minutes then got dressed and headed down there to check things out for themselves.

“It could be that a bat flew in front of the camera and set it off,” he assured her as he drove.

“I’d rather check, just in case,” she said, biting her lip and looking down at her phone screen nervously.

As he pulled into the parking lot, Sara’s eyes were still glued to the picture on her phone. She kept flipping between the front door and back, then would check the ones inside.

“Anything?” he asked, already feeling more relaxed.

“No, nothing.” She sighed. “Maybe it was a bat.”

“Just the same, I’m here. I’ll go check the storage unit and make sure no one has messed with it.” He jumped out. “Lock the door behind me. I’ll be just a minute.” He took the flashlight from the door and made his way across the parking lot. He heard Sara lock the door behind him and smiled.

The lock on the heavy metal doors to the storage container was still in place. He tested it to make sure it was locked, then turned back towards the truck. He was just about to step out between the two large containers when he saw a movement out of the corner of his eye. He didn’t have any time to respond before something hard and metallic hit him in the side of his jaw, sending him falling forward to the ground. He had only a moment to respond and he rolled, expecting another blow. Instead, there was only silence.

His flashlight had landed on the pathway and in its beam of light lay a large cylinder-shaped buoy the size of his fist. He figured that was what had just hit him. He listened for any sounds and when he guessed it was clear, he reached for the light.

He felt his jaw and wiggled it a few times before slowly standing up. Flashing the light in the direction the buoy had come from, he held his breath and listened. When no sounds or movement came from any direction, he moved over to the spot and could see footprints in the dirt that led towards the grassy area.

Shining his light down the street, he listened for any sounds of a vehicle. He didn’t hear anything and made his way back to the truck.

“Is everything okay?” Sara asked as he got in. He turned towards her and she gasped. “What happened?” She was across the seat, her fingers gently playing over his jawline.

“Someone threw this at me.” He held up the buoy.

“What?” She looked down at the metal can. “What is it?”

“It’s a can buoy. Usually used for fishing or lobster bait traps or marking off areas in the water. One this small I’d say was used for bait traps.”

“You got hit with it?” she asked as her fingers brushed over his skin. “Someone threw it at you?”

“I’m guessing so.” He sighed. “I doubt it fell from the space station.” He chuckled slightly, trying to lighten the mood. “Looks like it wasn’t a bat after all, but a ruse to get me down here.” He leaned back. “I guess we weren’t good spies when we put up the cameras outside. Someone obviously saw us.”

She groaned. “Let’s go get some ice on your jaw. It’s going to be swollen and probably black and blue by morning.”

Just what he wanted, he thought as he drove home again.

“Maybe we should make a show of removing the outside cameras?” she suggested as he drove.

“No. My mother may be crazy, but she’s not stupid. She’ll know if we put them up outside, we would have installed them inside as well.”

“Now what?” she asked as he parked out front.

“Now, we report it to Robert, try to go about our lives, and wait for her to make a mistake. I’m sure the police will eventually find her. There’s probably only a few places she could be staying on her budget.”

“What does she do for a living?” Sara asked as they parked in front of his garage.

“Nothing. My grandfather set up a trust fund for her before he passed away.” He rushed around and helped her out of the truck. “It’s one of the reasons she was always demanding more from my grandmother. She didn’t like the slow trickle of money and wanted it all at once.”

“All?” She stopped on the front porch and turned towards him. “What did your grandfather do for a living that he could leave her enough money to live on like that?”

“Clark Enterprises,” he said. Her eyes went big.

“You’re that Clark.” It was a statement, not a question. “The largest aviation firm along the West Coast, outside of Boeing, of course.”

“Yup, my grandfather was. He sold it all when he found out he had cancer. That was before I was born. He wanted to leave his wife and daughter something while he could. But at the time, my mother was running around and out of control, so my grandmother talked him into putting her in charge of a trust fund so my mother would be taken care of all of her life instead of blowing all of her inheritance within a few years.”

“Then why is she upset at you? And why does she think I’ll get the money?” she asked.

“Because when my mother dumped me on my grandmother’s porch, my grandmother made up a new will that, upon her death, would give me everything, leaving my mother nothing other than her monthly payments.”

“And she thinks your grandmother is dead?”

“Yes. I didn’t want my mother to find her. At this stage, my grandmother isn’t even mentally able to understand where she is and what happened, let alone fight against being forced to change her will. I want her last days to be peaceful and not filled with worry.”

She stepped up and wrapped her arms around him. “Since it appears we’re not going to get any more sleep, how about I cook us some breakfast.”

He kissed the top of her head. “I’m sorry for dragging you into all this mess.”

“You didn’t drag me.” She leaned up and kissed him. “I jumped in with both feet, willingly.”