Page 18 of Second Chance at Sunshine Inn

“Oh.” She studied the black bike with its orange and silver pinstripes and whitewall tires. “How long have you had it?”

“Few years.”

“Do you ride it much?”

“Every once in a while.”

“It’s beautiful.” She pushed a lock of thick, red hair behind her ear. “Well, thanks for opening the garage. I’d better get going.” She returned to the Jeep and climbed in before lowering the window. “Bye, partner. We’ll talk again soon, okay?”

He bit back a stinging retort as she put the Jeep in gear and drove off.

Once she was out of sight, he closed the garage door and stood in the driveway, looking out toward the bay. His anger boiled inside him, and he wondered how he was going to keep himself sane during the next few months while Everleigh Hartnett was in town.

As Cade stalked toward the main house, Bryant loped over to him. Cade rubbed the cat’s head before opening the back door and allowing the cat to skip inside ahead of him.

If only there were a way to buy the inn from her. Buying her out would solve everything, but the option was impossible since he didn’t have the funds. Plus, his parents had suffered a bankruptcy, so they wouldn’t be able to cosign for him.

Cade scowled. He was thirty-three years old and couldn’t qualify for a loan. He had to get his life together! He’d hoped coming hometo Coral Cove would help him get back on track, but now he was in danger of losing his livelihood—again.

The idea of selling the place made him sick to his stomach. He was certain that if they put the inn up for sale, a developer would swoop in, buy the land, knock down the inn, and build overpriced townhomes or apartments in its place—and he couldn’t allow that to happen.

No matter what.

***

“How’d it go at the inn today?” Dad asked, looking from Everleigh to Mom.

Everleigh added cheese, sour cream, and lettuce to her taco, then took a big bite in order to avoid her father’s curious expression. She’d arrived home from the inn, helped her mother unload the containers of Alana’s things, and stored them in the garage before insisting on making supper.

Putting together a taco kit from a box was about the extent of Everleigh’s cooking skills, but the task kept her busy while she contemplated her quandary: Cade Witherspoon and his complete refusal to entertain the idea of selling the inn.

“Everleigh?”

“Huh?” She peeked up at her parents, who were watching her with concerned expressions. She plastered a smile on her face. “I’m sorry. Did you say something?”

Dad set his taco down. “Your mom said it was an emotional day at the inn.”

Everleigh nodded and took another bite of her taco.

“You never said how it went with Cade after I left.” Mom built another taco while she spoke.

Everleigh shrugged. “It was fine.”

“Really?” Mom seemed unconvinced. “You two looked like you were having an intense conversation when I came in and asked for help packing the car.”

So shehadoverheard their disagreement. Everleigh had hoped she hadn’t. She did her best to appear unaffected. “We talked a little bit longer, and then I drove the Jeep home.”

Mom sipped her glass of Diet Coke. “Your conversation wasn’t... heated?”

“No.” Everleigh tried to laugh. “Why would you think that?”

“From where I was standing, Cade looked irritated when he offered to help me.”

“Doesn’t he always look that way?” Everleigh asked. “I haven’t known him very long, but I haven’t seen him smile yet.” She leaned toward her mom. “Is he okay?”

“I think so. Alana once mentioned he was a serious guy, but she admired him.” Mom’s expression remained concerned for a moment, but then she turned to Dad. “How was your day?”

“The usual.” Dad shrugged. “I mowed the lawn and then played a round of golf.”

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