Sara watched Parker walk into the restaurant and sneered.

“Is this how strong your work ethics is? Showing up late on the first day?” She leaned against the bar top.

He smiled at her as his crew entered behind him, setting down equipment and tools.

He stopped a foot from her, his eyes running over her face.

“Sorry, boss, it took me a while to get… motivated this morning,” he said softly. His meaning sent her insides warming. “I can’t guarantee it won’t happen again.”

“Is that a promise?” She wanted to reach out and touch him, but there were six other people in the room with them.

“More like a warning,” he said, then he turned towards his crew. “You didn’t have to be here so early. Your uncle gave me a set of keys.”

“I’m here to make sure everything goes smoothly.”

“Suit yourself.” He smiled. “I’m sure my guys won’t mind being watched.” He winked at her and walked across the room to get to work.

She sat behind the bar, watching them hang and tape plastic sheets along the back wall.

Her team had removed all of her grandmother’s paintings and the rest of the decorations the night before and had put them in the storage container sitting in the parking lot.

When the hammering and loud noises started, she retreated to her uncle’s office to save her sanity. Still, she made sure to check in every half hour.

From what she could see, everything was going smoothly. It hurt a little, seeing the old stones around the fireplace lying on the floor in piles. Still, she’d seen Parker’s designs for what he had planned.

Parker was one of the men using a sledgehammer to break the massive stones from the wall. He’d removed his long-sleeve shirt and wore only his T-shirt along with heavy leather gloves.

With each of his swings, she watched the muscles in his arms and her excitement grew.

Several of his men eyed her every time she checked on the work but left her alone. When lunch time came, she helped Valerie supply the workers with food.

She sat with Parker in a booth, away from the others.

“When will you start on the deck area?” she asked, looking out the window.

“Once we get the inside done. Your uncle thinks it’s best to finish up in here before doing the add-on.”

She nodded. “Good idea.” She glanced at the wall of plastic. So far, it was keeping the majority of the mess out of the main dining area that they would be using for customers over the course of the next few weeks. Still, the men hadn’t started hauling the stones outside to the industrial-sized dumpster that had been delivered. She knew once they did, there would be a trail of dust and grime through the front doorway.

“How’s it going?” she asked as she finished up her soup and sandwich.

“Whoever installed the stones around the fireplace must have used some of the hardest cement known to man.”

She smiled. “My great-grandfather.”

He glanced at her. “Oh?”

Nodding, she glanced at the plastic. “He built this place, along with most of the other men in town. At that point, there were probably fewer than a hundred of them.” She leaned closer to him, placing her elbow on the table and her chin on her fist as she imagined what Pride was like back then. “I’m sure their wives all cooked for them while they worked. My great-grandmother was a painter, not a chef, so she probably only gave my grandfather sandwiches.” She chuckled. “The story goes that my great-grandfather had to build the first restaurant in Pride since he didn’t want to starve waiting for his wife to stop painting and start cooking.”

Parker chuckled. “Sounds like you know a lot about them.”

“Oh, everyone in Pride does.” She sat up. “You can read about them down at city hall or the local library. The library is named after my great-grandmother, who helped start up the art program there.”

“It must be strange, and nice, to know so much about your family’s past.”

She tilted her head and looked at him more closely. “What about you? Surely you have a little of your own family’s history.”

He glanced around. “Only what I could squeeze out of my grandmother.” He sighed. “She wasn’t one for what she called gossiping about the past.”

She could see sadness fill his eyes and decided to change the subject.

“So, it appears that Riley is infatuated with you.”

She’d caught him as he’d been sipping his drink and he coughed and choked on the small swallow of water. She slapped him on the back as his face started to turn red.

“Are you okay?” she asked after he settled down.

“What is it with you Jordan women that makes me choke on water?”

She didn’t mean to, but she giggled.

“Yeah, laugh it up.” He rolled his eyes and took another drink of water. “Riley is a cute kid, but…”

“Chill.” She laid a hand on his arm. “I was just teasing you. She’ll get over it. I’m sure by next week, she’ll have someone else to fantasize about.”

He groaned. “That long?”

“What? Can’t wait a week to get her off your back?” She moved to gather their empty plates.

“Not when I have who I want already.” His hand covered hers and stopped her from moving. “When do you get off work?” he asked in a low tone so no one near them could hear.

“Late, after midnight again.” She groaned.

“I’ll be here to pick you up.”

She almost shook her head and said no, but something stopped her. “Okay.” She smiled. “When do you pick up Toby?”

“Tomorrow afternoon. The vet called this morning to tell me that the surgery went smoothly.”

“Good.” She stood up and took the plates. “I’d better get back in there and start things for tonight.”

“Sara.” He stopped her by touching her arm.

She waited for him to speak, but he seemed to be debating telling her something. “Yes?” she finally said.

“Nothing.” He shook his head and stood up suddenly. “I’ll see you at midnight.”

She nodded and walked towards the back, her mind preoccupied with Parker.

She almost bumped into Damion, whose hands were full of containers of tomatoes.

“That would have been a mess,” she joked.

He frowned slightly at her. “Get your head out of the clouds.” He glanced towards the door and rolled his eyes. “You’ve got a business to run.”

Her back straightened and she glared at the man’s back as he walked away from her. He was only a few years older than her. Her uncle had hired him on one of his trips to New York.

Why the man had left the hustle and bustle of the big city for Pride was beyond her. He seemed like the type that preferred the city over the country, but she had to admit, he was one of the best sous chefs around. She’d tolerated his rudeness from day one. After all, it wasn’t just her that he seemed to have issues with. She’d even heard Iian arguing with him a few times.

But Damion had been correct. Her mind had been in the clouds and if she wanted to prove to her uncle that she was up to the task of running the Golden Oar, she needed to keep her mind off of the wonderful sex-filled morning she’d had with Parker and get to work.

* * *

Parker left the Oar long before guests started arriving and decided to drive around town and look out for the dark-haired woman Riley had talked to. He was hoping to stumble across her, but ran into everyone else in town, instead. So far, no one else hinted at any new gossip from his past. Instead, he’d lined up a few more odd jobs. Some he could handle after he clocked off from the restaurant every day. Most he could handle by himself.

As he made his way towards the first small job at the local barber shop, he bumped into a tall blonde woman. Before he could excuse himself, he saw her eyes and the grip he had on her shoulders to keep her from falling down tightened.

The woman laughed up at him. “I’m very flattered that a young man your age would be eyeing me like this,” the woman said, “however, my husband might take offense to it.”

He shook his head and dropped his hands. “I’m sorry, it’s just…” He narrowed his eyes and scanned her. “You’re too young,” he said out loud.

“Why, thank you again.” Her smile grew, then she leaned closer as if she was about to tell him a joke. “Too young for what?”

“To be Sara’s mother. You’re too old to be her younger sister, so that leaves…” He thought about it. “Older sister?”

The woman laughed. “I like you.” She nodded, then held out her hand. “You must be Parker.”

He nodded, putting his hand easily into the woman’s smaller one. “I am.”

“Well, you’re right about one thing, I am Sara’s mother. Megan Jordan. I’ve been looking forward to meeting you.”

“Likewise.” He smiled and looked around. “I hope your husband didn’t see me ogling you. I’d hate to get off on the wrong foot with him. It’s just… You have Sara’s eyes.” He shook his head quickly. “I mean… the other way around.”

Megan laughed. “Yes, to my husband’s delight, all three of our children got my green eyes.”

“I met your son as well. Matt.”

“Yes.” Her chin rose slightly, and he could see pride grow in her eyes. “So, I’ve heard. It’s hard knowing he’s gone off and purchased a home of his own, but there’s been gossip about the house.” Worry replaced pride.

“Oh?” He started worrying that he’d gotten in too deep when he’d agreed to remodel the place.

Megan laughed and laid a hand on his arm. “Nothing structural, but spiritual.”

He frowned. “I’m not following you.”

She laughed. “Ghosts.” She patted his arm. “There have always been rumors surrounding that old house.”

“Oh.” He relaxed. “From my experience, small towns will manufacture gossip when there is none.”

Megan’s eyes glowed with pride again, only this time they were directed at him. “I couldn’t agree with you more. Case in point, there are rumors surrounding you…” His heart jumped, and his gut did a little twist like it always did when lies about him surfaced. “And my daughter,” Megan finished up, but not before she’d seen the change in him.

“Oh.” He relaxed slightly. He ran his hand over the back of his neck and realized there was sweat rolling down his shoulder blades. “Right, I… um…” He swallowed.

“Relax. Save the smooth talk for my husband.” She chuckled. “Sara is a grown woman. We raised her right and trust her decisions.” She waved as a car passed by them and honked. “I better get going.” She started to turn. “Oh, Parker?”

“Hmm?” She glanced back at him. “If you hurt her, you’ll have me to contend with. And ask anyone in town—I’m a force to be reckoned with.” She said all of this with a sweet smile on her lips, and he smiled back and nodded in agreement.

“I’d never think to cross you.”

“Good.” She nodded again before walking down the sidewalk towards the grocery store.

He took a couple deep breaths and tried to relax his shoulders. He could see where Sara had gotten her beauty from. The woman was stunning, just like Sara.

When he walked into the old barber shop, he was greeted by the man who’d hired him.

Gus Malcom looked like he was an original Pride resident. The man could have easily been over a hundred years old.

Parker had gotten his hair cut from the man once before and had been surprised at how good the guy was at his job, considering how much his hands shook.

“There you are, my boy,” Gus said. He smiled, causing deep creases in his cheeks.

From the looks of him, Parker guessed the man had spent most of his life smiling and laughing.

“We were just talking about the job you did at Patty’s place.”

He set his toolbox down and nodded, waiting for the man to continue.

“Joe, here”—he slapped the man who was currently in the chair, getting a shave—“was telling me he has a few odd jobs around his place.”

“I’m not as young as I used to be. This fall, I’ll need someone to get up on my roof and check my shingles. I’ll also need someone to clean out my chimney. It hasn’t been done in a year or two.”

“Here’s my card.” He handed the man one from his pocket. He’d learned to be prepared when going anywhere in town. “Give me a call when you’re ready. I’ll give you a quote.”

“Perfect,” the man said just before Gus wrapped a warm cloth around his face.

“The old sink is in the back there.” Gus nodded towards a dark wood door. “I’ll be just a few more minutes here.”

Parker picked up his toolbox and made his way towards the back. Three hours and two successful jobs later, he drove his truck back to his house. He was sweaty and had a layer of grime on his skin. What he wanted was a long shower and a nap before picking up Sara at midnight.

Instead, he had to settle for a quick cold shower and two hours of working on the water heater. He finally gave up and decided to replace the old thing.

After a second cold shower, he ate a cold turkey sandwich and then fell asleep on the couch, watching the news.

When his phone alarm went off, he rubbed his hands over his face, then remembered why he’d set the damn thing and perked up.

Grabbing his keys, he headed out to the restaurant to pick up Sara.

He parked in front of the dark place and texted her.

-I’m out front.

After five minutes with no response, he decided to use his keys and let himself in. Her Jeep was still parked in its spot from earlier, so he knew she hadn’t gone anywhere.

He walked in to the dark restaurant and turned on his cell phone light. Why were all of the lights off? He could have used more light, but the light switches used a key to turn on and off, and he hadn’t been given one.

Frowning down at his watch, he noticed it was ten past midnight. Making his way towards the back, he called out to Sara.

He heard banging and rushed to where the sound was coming from, a massive walk-in freezer near the back of the kitchen. A U-shaped bar was threaded through loops that used to be part of an old lock, holding the door shut from the outside. He removed it and opened the freezer, and Sara fell into his arms.

“What the…?” He pulled her close to him when he felt how cold she was.

“St-st-stupid door sh-sh-shut on m-m-me,” she said as her teeth rattled.

He ran his hands up and down her bare arms as he pulled her further away from the massive freezer.

“You’re freezing.” He pulled off his jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders. “How did you get locked in there?” He glanced towards the door, which still stood wide open.

“I… I don’t know. It j-j-just shut.” She pulled her arms through his jacket and wrapped the rest around her tightly. “God.” She closed her eyes.

“How long were you in there?” he asked, as he nudged her into a chair. He walked over to a coffee pot and, finding it empty, filled it with water and started the machine up.

“W-what time is it?” She glanced towards a clock that hung over the back door. “Half hour.”

“Half an hour?” He glanced at the fridge. “You could have frozen to death. Why didn’t you call me?”

“N-no s-signal.” She closed her eyes and rested her forehead on her knees. She pulled her phone from her slacks and set it on the countertop. Just then, it chimed, and his message showed up on the screen.

He walked over to the freezer door and shut it, then slid the U-shaped bar into his back pocket so no one else could lock someone in there again.

“Someone would have had to lock you in there. Who else was here when you went inside?”

She shook her head. “No one. Everyone had left already.”

“The front door was locked.” He walked over to the back door and tested it. “This one is locked too.” He frowned. “Who was the last person to leave?”

She closed her eyes as if trying to remember. “I…” She shook her head.

“You’re too cold.” He poured a cup of hot water from the coffee pot and mixed up a package of hot chocolate for her.

“Here. We’ll head over to your place and you can take a hot bath. But for now, this will help.”

As she drank the hot liquid down, he assessed the situation again. The only conclusion was that someone had locked her in the freezer, on purpose. Someone had tried to kill Sara and if he hadn’t shown up, they would have succeeded.