Chapter Two
“How’d that meeting in Harperville go yesterday?”
Hunter Sparks looked up at his best friend, Finn Caldwell, and shrugged. “About as good as it could have, I guess. I gave him my bid. He said he’ll look it over and get back to me within the next week.”
Hunter had started his own company, Coastline Construction, three years ago, and now had a good-size crew working for him. Though Shell Grove wasn’t the biggest town in South Carolina, he had been able to get enough jobs over the years to keep the stream of money coming in steady and sufficient. Recently, however, he’d been working on expanding his reach beyond the Shell Grove area and building up the Coastline name.
Finn winked at the waitress when she stopped by with their coffees, and the poor girl turned as red as a strawberry. With his playboy good looks and megawatt smile, it was the reaction Hunter was used to seeing from the female population whenever Finn was in the room.
Around Hunter, women were usually a little more hesitant, sometimes even intimidated. Hell if he knew why. Though, his size and gruff exterior might have something to do with it.
Finn drew his attention back to him. “You’re almost done with the preschool in Crystal City, right?”
Hunter nodded.
“Now it’s on to the new store here in town and then this bid in Harperville, if you get it?”
The hand Hunter was using to pour sugar in his coffee froze over his mug. “Actually, uh, I’m not doing the store job anymore.”
Finn’s eyes narrowed. “Why not? What happened?”
Hunter concentrated on stirring his coffee. He didn’t want to look his best friend in the eyes when he said it. “Rebecca happened.”
Finn cursed under his breath—the usual reaction when Hunter’s ex-girlfriend was brought up.
Life in a small community where everyone knew each other’s business could be annoying at times. And unfortunately for Hunter, he had dated the wrong woman.
Should have seen that from the beginning, dumbass.
“What did Shell Grove’s classiest little harlot do now?” Finn asked.
Hunter took a sip of the scalding coffee and was grateful when it burned his tongue. The sting gave him something to concentrate on other than his anger over his current situation. “She’s road-blocking me.”
Finn leaned forward in the booth. “How?”
Hunter let out a frustrated breath. “You know the new condominium development that Seaside Properties is going to break ground on in a few months?”
Finn slowly nodded his head. “Yeah. I heard they paid good money for that land. Supposed to be a huge project.”
“Yeah, well, Rebecca insisted that if I wanted a shot at winning the bid for it, I had to drop the store job.” Hunter shook his head. He couldn’t believe he had ever dated the woman, selfish man-eater that she was. “She assured me I wouldn’t stand a chance otherwise.”
Finn’s head reared back. “What the hell? Why didn’t you tell her to screw off? She has no control over you.”
Hunter leveled him with a look. “Have you forgotten who her new boyfriend is? Dan Ottman owns Seaside Properties, man. All she has to do is snap her fingers and she can get him to do whatever she wants. Why do you think the last three jobs I’ve bid on for Seaside have been turned down?”
It didn’t take a genius to figure out why Coastline had been getting shut down left and right. Rebecca’s twisted idea of revenge. Even though she was the one who’d cheated on Hunter, he was the one who’d dumped her ass. She still felt wronged by him. Like he’d tarnished her stellar reputation or something.
God, he hated small-town bullshit.
The waitress came back with their plates of food, and Finn immediately shoved two pieces of bacon into his mouth. “Okay. But I still don’t get why you’re giving her what she wants.”
Did he not think the whole thing was eating Hunter up?
“Because Coastline needs that condo job,” Hunter replied. “It’s a ton of money, and I could hire on more guys. I mean, we’ve been doing all right. Been staying busy. But I need bigger jobs if I want to expand operations and build a name for my company. I could give a shit less what Rebecca wants. But who needs the grief? Giving in to her seems like a small price to pay for that kind of opportunity.”
Finn shook his head but said nothing. He had to know Hunter was right. Rebecca was a vengeful bitch. Best to avoid riling her, no matter how aggravating it was.
“Besides,” Hunter continued, “the store renovation was a small job, anyway. Wouldn’t have paid very much. I can easily get by without it.”
“Why is Rebecca threatening you, anyway?” Finn asked. “She’s with Dan now. Why does she even care if you take the job or not?”
The woman never needed a reason to be a royal pain in the ass. Though, Hunter had his suspicions in this particular case.
“You know all the talk that’s been going around about the new store owner,” Hunter said as he smothered his pancakes in maple syrup. “Pretty young thing from DC. No friends or family in this area. All by herself. I’m guessing it’s a jealousy thing with Rebecca. This new woman’s got the entire town’s attention and she isn’t even here yet. Rebecca’s social throne being threatened is probably driving her crazy.”
Finn grunted. “I swear she’s a fucking viper, man. Poisonous and vicious.”
And didn’t Hunter know it.
Frankly, he was sick of dealing with the backlash of her childish antics. But he had responsibilities, and he didn’t want to risk not getting the condo job. Seaside had turned down his last three bids. If pretending to cave to her demand would help him break through the roadblock, he was willing to swallow his irritation. Greater good, and all.
“Why don’t you send your sister and Maggie after her again?” Finn asked, amusement lacing his words. “They’d straighten her out right quick.”
Hunter tipped his head back and groaned. Reminders of his sister, Mia, and cousin, Maggie, and all of their wild escapades were usually accompanied by a pounding headache.
“First of all, I never sent them after Rebecca when I found out she was cheating on me. How many times do I have to say that? Second of all, you know it was Maggie dragging Mia along, like she’s done their entire lives. That whole slashing of Rebecca’s tires thing had Maggie written all over it.”
Finn laughed, his eyes sparking with admiration. “That’s classic Mags, all right.”
About a year ago, Rebecca had cheated on Hunter with some pediatrician over in Ridgefield. After Hunter had broken up with her, she then dropped the doctor’s ass and moved on to Dan. The common denominator between those two men?
Money.
All that mattered to the woman was linking herself to the guy who had the most bills in his bank.
Which was definitely not Hunter.
The pathetic part was that Rebecca hadn’t been the first woman to leave him for a guy who had money. It was actually becoming a pattern in his life. He was clearly either too blind or too stupid to recognize that gold digging quality in women.
Which was why he had no desire to enter into another relationship anytime soon.
“And third of all,” Hunter added, “sending Mia and Maggie after Rebecca would only cause a catastrophe. I’d rather root for the Raiders in the Super Bowl than declare a full-scale war with the woman. I just need to get that condo contract. That’s all I want right now.”
“Whatever you say, man.”
Both their heads jerked toward the kitchen when they heard glass break, followed by the muffled curses of the greasy spoon’s longtime cook, Al. They tossed each other glances and snickered. Nothing ever changed around the coastal town of Shell Grove. Especially the local diner and its patrons. Other than the popular hair salon down the street, it was the main hub for all town gossip.
Though, Hunter only came for the plate-size pancakes.
Finn came because Maggie’s dive and surf shop was right next door, making it easier for him to go chat her up.
“We haven’t talked about that, by the way,” Finn muttered around his mouthful of scrambled eggs.
“Talked about what?”
Finn waggled his eyebrows. “The new store owner. A pretty, single woman.”
Hunter ignored his friend’s interested tone. “Her name is Jade Hollingsworth. And what are you implying?”
“Nothing,” Finn replied, feigning innocence. “Just might be nice to see some new blood around here of the female variety.”
Hunter grinned, prepared to call bullshit on his buddy. “We could get new blood that looked exactly like Gisele Bündchen and you wouldn’t so much as glance in her direction. The only direction you want to look in is Maggie’s.”
Finn scowled at him—his usual reaction when Hunter teased him about his longtime crush. “Fuck off.”
“Said the lovesick puppy.”
Finn kept his head down as he shoveled more food into his mouth, grunting something about “asshole friends” and making Hunter smile.
Hunter might be Finn’s best friend, but Maggie ranked a close second. The only thing Hunter had on her was tenure, seeing as how she had moved to the area when they were all freshman in high school, and Hunter had known Finn since kindergarten.
Hunter silently laughed. Best friend, my ass.
Finn had been carrying a torch for Maggie ever since they first met as kids, when she and her parents—Hunter’s aunt and uncle—were visiting from California. Why Finn had never acted on it was one of the great mysteries of the universe. Like Bigfoot.
A few minutes later, Finn spoke up again, changing the subject. “I couldn’t help but notice that your truck wasn’t at your house when I went home from the bar last night. You stay the night in Harperville or something?”
Finn owned The Clumsy Clam bar and grill, which had become the primo hangout spot for everyone in town under the age of sixty. If you wanted to eat some good oysters and drink some good beer while watching a good game on TV, The Clumsy Clam was your one-stop shop.
“Yeah, the guy had to push back the meeting,” Hunter answered. “I was starving by the time we got done, and after I ate, I was too tired to drive back.”
He left out the part about something—or someone—grabbing his attention in good ol’ Harperville. Which had been the real reason for his overnight stay.
He raised his coffee mug, signaling to the waitress for a refill, and looked back to see a curious expression on his friend’s face. “What?”
As Finn slowly shook his head, Hunter felt dark clouds looming over their booth.
“That’s, like, your fourth cup this morning.”
Hunter averted his eyes. “So?”
“So, I’ve never seen you drink more than two cups any morning. Even when you’re getting up at five to go work on a site. Which tells me you’re tired and didn’t get enough sleep last night.” The bastard grinned and pointed a finger at Hunter. “Why didn’t you get enough sleep last night?”
Hunter ran his hand through his hair. “Are we really doing this right now? I drove a shit ton yesterday and got up early this morning to drive back to town. Big deal.”
Finn leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest. “It is a big deal because you got laid, and we don’t have secrets. Who was she?”
“No one you know,” Hunter said through clenched teeth.
Finn’s expression was smug, satisfied that he’d caught him in a lie. “Blond? Brunette?”
“Redhead,” Hunter blurted out, instantly recalling images of the woman from the night before.
Finn groaned, his eyes squeezing shut. “Damn. How was she?” Hunter glared at him, making him chuckle. “That good, huh? That mean you’re seeing her again?”
“It was one night, man,” Hunter growled. “She was just passing through. I don’t know where she lives, or anything. Hell, I didn’t even get her name.”
Even though he’d been desperate for it.
He had wanted a name to put with that heart-shaped, sweet-as-sin face. Something to remember their frenzied night together—the best sexual experience of his entire life.
All he had was Red.
Well, that and the sound of her moans whenever he went down on her. Her gasps of surprise when he finally drove into her. And the shy smile she’d offered as he lightly kissed her lips when he pulled out of her.
Does it feel good? he’d whispered into her perfect mouth. The way my cock is filling you up?
Her response still made his dick twitch.
Hell yes, it does. Do it harder.
He’d had a full-blown erection from the moment she’d walked into that bar. Her silky red hair, her tight little body, her full, painted lips, had all immediately grabbed his attention. She’d sat at the bar, stroking the stem of her martini glass, inspiring images in his mind of her stroking his dick instead. With that luscious red hair and dark lipstick, she’d looked like a stage singer from a 1940s nightclub. The kind that sang into one of those old-school microphones while seducing every man in the building with her husky voice.
Yeah. She was that kind of woman.
“You didn’t get her name or her number?” Finn asked incredulously. “Have I not taught you anything?”
Hunter rolled his eyes. “I didn’t have much choice, jackass. She bailed on me first thing this morning. I woke up and the room was empty. She must have lit out of there at the crack of dawn.”
It actually bothered him she’d done that. Not that he’d expected them to snuggle in bed or get breakfast together. But he would have at least enjoyed talking to her one last time.
A quickie in the shower would have also been nice.
At minimum, he would have settled for her name.
Instead, all he’d been left with was her lingering scent on the pillow.
Finn tried to subdue his laughter, but it didn’t work. “She literally ran out on you? It seems I haven’t taught you anything at all.”
Hunter was ready to punch him right in the face. But then he’d have Maggie to deal with.
Strike that. Maggie would probably laugh and tell Finn he deserved it.
“We’re done with this conversation,” Hunter said firmly. He collected his tab and slid out of the booth, Finn following closely behind. “I’ve got calls to make and a business to run. And don’t you have some flirting to do with Maggie?”
Finn shoved him toward the register counter. “We’re just friends, asshole.”
“Sure you are,” Hunter retorted, turning for the door. “Have fun out there in the friend zone.”
“Have fun being a dick,” Finn called back, a little too loudly.
Old Mrs. Winters, their second grade teacher, smacked Finn’s arm with her purse. “Finn Caldwell! Don’t make me tell your momma what a potty mouth you have.”
Finn hung his head sheepishly. “Sorry, Mrs. Winters.”
Hunter pushed through the door with a big grin, waving to his friend as Finn mouthed kiss my ass.
Driving down Main Street on his way to the Coastline office, he passed the empty storefront that would soon be the new home of Chic on the Beach, and felt a twinge of guilt. He felt like a giant asshole for canceling on Miss Hollingsworth at the last minute.
But he’d had to do what he had to do.
He did wonder about the woman, though. They didn’t get many new residents in town, especially outsiders who had no connections to the area. What would she be like? Would she fit in here? Was she planning on staying for a while?
Not that any of it mattered to him. The situation was no longer his concern.
He just hoped to God the woman wasn’t a redhead.