Page 37 of Unexpected Entanglement

Jane was his event manager at his one remaining club in New York. He trusted her to deliver what she promised. “Tell Jane to expedite the delivery. I’d like them to get here by Monday next week at the latest. The event is next Saturday, but we’ll need to have it up by Friday.”

“I’ll let her know.”

“Email me the bill.”

“What’s this for? What event?” Walter asked curiously.

“A wedding.”

“Whose wedding?” Walter’s voice rose a pitch in surprise. “What exactly are you doing in Vinalhaven?”

“Just some people. I’m helping this quaint island inn make this wedding happen. It’s complicated.”

“But wait, did you say the wedding is next Saturday? Aren’t you supposed to be in Cape Cod?” Walter asked.

“Don’t remind me.”

“I’m literally paid to remind you,” Walter pointed out.

“Yeah, well, I’m not going.”

“Excuse me. What am I supposed to say if your dad’s secretary calls?”

“Just tell her you don’t know where I am.”

“That’ll make me look bad at my job,” Walter complained.

“I won’t fire you.” Chris grinned. “Just get me those drapes and the bill. Oh, and tell Jane to stand by for the next few days. I might need her—you both, actually—to help with other things.”

“You got it, Boss.”

They said their goodbyes, and Chris pocketed his phone. He looked back into the gray barn and found it empty, but he heard a conversation on the side by the broken pipe.

“Thanks for coming so fast on such short notice.” Chris heard Rowan say. “I didn’t expect you to come until tomorrow at the soonest.”

“I was in the neighborhood,” a deep masculine voice replied. “You know you can call me anytime. I’ll come as fast as I can.”

Chris came around the corner and saw a stocky guy with slicked-back dark hair flashing a big grin at Rowan before he bent to look over the pipe. He was wearing a work shirt with a name patch on the left breast and jeans that sported some dirt from a day’s work.

“Looks like the pipe broke, but you can see that,” Greg said. A deep frown replaced his earlier grin.

“What would cause that break? It’s brand new, just like those other busted pipes you fixed before.” Then Rowan questioned directly, “Or are these pipes defective? Did the contractor put in cheaper pipes than what we agreed on?”

Greg straightened quickly and faced her. “No way. I worked on this project with Jackson, Rowan. Everything we put in was top shelf, as per your dad’s instruction. This is one of the best pipes on the market.”

“Then why would a barely used pipe burst like that?” Rowan asked.

Greg scratched behind his ear, looking a little perplexed. “It could be the water velocity. Perhaps the water pressure is too great for this pipe.”

Rowan frowned skeptically. “Really?”

“It’s the only reason I can think of, unless someone broke it,” Greg answered with a shrug. “I can fix it in no time. I have the materials in my van. Then I’ll check your water flow rate.”

Greg started to the back of the barn, where he’d parked his van.

Chris was almost at her when Rowan spun.

“Oh, hey,” she said. “The plumber’s here.”

---