She's the One (Lowcountry Lovers Series Book 2) (4 page)

“Three dates. Dinner on the island, the oyster roast doesn’t count. Coffee isn’t a date, but I know how much you love it, so if you want to meet for coffee, I’m good with that, too. Second date, dinner at Tristan’s.”

Shit, only the most romantic restaurant in Charleston.

“We’ll leave the third date open for now, but I’m thinking I’ll cook for you at my place. It’s not Tristan’s, but I’ve got some skills.”

Melissa growled, got out of the truck, and hurried into Island Bliss.

“Girl, that man can push your buttons like nobody’s business,” Pearl teased. “If I didn’t have Henry, I’d sure like some of that button pushing, and if Henry don’t behave himself, you might have some competition.”

“He’s all yours,” Melissa huffed, rounding the corner and heading straight for her office. “I’d love to see Shane with another woman. It would be good for him.”

S
hane stood in the lobby with Melissa’s pillowcase purse, listening to some of the exchange.

Pearl winked at Shane and hollered after her. “You would spit in any woman’s eye who got within ten feet of that man, and you know it,”

“Oh, yeah? Try me.”

“Girl, you’re so full of shit.”

“Maybe, but you were right about one thing, he does have a nice ass.”

Pearl gave Shane the high sign and looked like she was going to bust a gut if she didn’t let out the belly laugh she was holding in. He gave her a peck on the cheek and headed back to Melissa’s office.

“Hi.” He couldn’t help but smile when Melissa looked up from her computer to see him. She blushed hard and that cute little muscle above her lip twitched. “So you think I have a nice ass.”

She grabbed her purse from him, but he held on to it, totally enjoying the show.

“Let go, Shane. Don’t you have a house to build or something?”

“I’ll see you tomorrow.” He gave her a kiss that was chaste, sweet and full of promise, lingering just long enough to feel her tremble and weaken.

“Shane.” The sexy drawl she used whenever she wanted something. “Will you go by Mermaid Cove and check on Savannah? Make sure she’s settled in okay?”

“No.”

“What do you mean?” Her tone said,
you never say no to me
.

“Stop trying to pawn your lonely hearts off on me. I’m not interested. I’ve told you what I want. I know you want the same thing, but you use your matchmaker thing as an excuse.”

Yes, they’d had that discussion more than once while laying tile and hardwood, when what he really wanted to lay was Melissa. But there was more to it than just the physical thing. Working beside her just felt so—well, he wasn’t sure. Perfect? Right? Like home?

“How do you know being with me wouldn’t make what you do better?”

Well, that made her blush and shut her up—for about five seconds. “You’re making me sound crazy and I’m not. It’s a gift that can’t be clouded by—”

“Fine. Just stop trying to fix me up with your broken hearts.”

No, Melissa wasn’t crazy, but she made him that way. Still, those two kisses had weakened her, he was sure of that much. He’d just have to be patient, even though she made that next to impossible.

He drove back down Palm Boulevard towards a new construction home across the street from the beach, one of his. Ben Stevens’ truck was in the driveway, which meant Ben was there putting the finishing touches on the pool.

Shane loved everything about building a house, but his favorite homes to build weren’t second homes for people like the Gladstones. He loved the ones that were designed for a family. This home in particular was Joan and Bill Gardner’s dream home. Everything about the place screamed the couple lived for their children. Special cubbies and reading spaces, built in desks, a massive playroom, the killer tree house.

Shane wandered around back and saw Ben fiddling with the pool pump.

“Looks good,” he said surveying the elegant pool. “The landscapers are coming next week. When they get done, this would be a good one for your portfolio.”

“Everything’s coming together. The first pump I put in was defective. If they have a problem with this one, just let me know. I’ve had some concerns with this company. Don’t think I’m going to use them anymore. I’ve used this brand for years, but lately, I’ve had issues with several of their pumps.”

“Planned obsolescence,” Shane laughed. “They’ve taken it to the extreme.”

“I hate when shit that’s always worked doesn’t. It really bothers me. I used to make fun of my dad when he’d say stuff like that, but I get it now.” Ben sat back on his heels and looked around. “The house looks good, Shane.”

“Thanks. I’ve got a job for you. Fair warning, the people are assholes with deep pockets.”

“Those are my favorite kind of assholes.”

“The Jordan house on 42nd street.”

“I talked to them about a pool not long after they bought the house, but they couldn’t swing it financially.”

“Melissa will set you up with them.”

Ben grabbed a wrench out of his toolbox with a huge smirk on his face, not saying anything—for about thirty seconds. “So how’s that working out for you?”

“What?”

“Melissa still trying to set you up?”

“Don’t start.”

“Man, give it up. She keeps throwing women at you right and left. Take the hint and move on.”

“You’re one to give relationship advice.”

“I’m just saying.” Ben tossed the wrench back in the box, stood up and stretched. “Cassie’s in town, permanently she says. Still smoking hot.”

Cassie. Atlanta. A huge hot mistake. “Don’t care.”

“New boyfriend.”

“Still don’t care.”

Ben shrugged. “Now is that any way to talk about your fiancé?”

“O
oh, child, Savannah Sinclair is on line one and she is fit to be tied.”

“Thanks, Pearl.” Melissa took a deep breath and punched the button on the phone. “Hi, Savannah.”

“I want another place, a different place. This won’t work. No, not at all.” She sounded like she was winded. “No, you know what?
I’m
not going anywhere. If anyone’s leaving, it’s
him
. That’s what he’s good at.”

“Breathe and calm down.” Melissa could still hear her rapid fire breath. “Tell me what’s wrong.”

“I
told
you. He’s
here,
at
my
townhouse.”

Well that was encouraging. She sounded like she might actually want to buy the place.

“Who’s at the townhouse, Savannah?”

“I walked out to the pool, put my towel down, and there he was. Oh, this is terrible. He has
got
to go.”

“Was someone bothering you? Do we need to call the police?”

“Oh, God, I think I’m going to be sick.”

“Try to calm down.”

“You don’t understand. Jack’s
here.
Next door to me. Oh, God, we’re actually sharing the same walls.”

The good news was, she didn’t sound freaked out like her ex-husband was some sort of ax murderer. She sounded more like a high school girl who’d answered the door in curlers and no makeup and had found her biggest crush on the other side. “He said ‘Hi, Savannah.’ Can you believe that? The bastard.”

“Then what happened?”

“I ran back inside to get my phone and call you.”

“Okay. Calm down.”
Yeah, that wasn’t happening
. “I don’t manage the unit next to you, but my friend does. I’ll call him and see if he can move Jack to another place.”

“This island isn’t big enough for both of us, Melissa. Have your friend move him to Sullivans Island, no, Kiawah.
Hilton Head
.”

“Relax, Savannah. Let the island work it’s magic and I’ll call you back in a few minutes with a resolution.

“Thank you, Melissa. I’m sorry. I know I sounded like a crazy person, but he just
does
things to me. When I’m around him, I can’t breathe. Any semblance of organized thought goes out the window.” Her breath picked back up again. “When he left me—oh, God, I’m going to be sick.”

“Sit tight, I’ll call you back.”

Melissa scrolled through the numbers on her phone and hit Bobby Bradford’s number.

“Melissa. How are you?” Bobby was an account manager for one of Island Bliss’ competitors, the one person Melissa would hire if she could afford a staff of more than just her and Pearl.

“Hey, Bobby. I’m good. You playing softball this season?”

“Yeah, I’m on Shane’s team. You should join up.” First Pearl and now Bobby. Was there anyone who wasn’t Team Shane?

“Thanks, but I’m not much for softball. Hey, I have a problem at unit B-4 over at Mermaid Cove.”

“Wow. You’re completely booked up and handing business off to me?”

“Don’t make it sound like I don’t do that whenever my rentals are full. You do the same for me.”

“Yeah, but it’s April and everybody’s got vacancies.”

“My guest’s ex happens to be in B-5 and she’s flipping out. The split broke her heart; she hasn’t seen him in three years. You can imagine how she feels.”

“Sure. So what can I do to help?”

“Could you ask him to move, Bobby? I’d owe you big time.”

“You don’t owe me anything. He’s a super nice guy. Worked for the Peace Corps and just got back stateside today. He’s only been at the place for a couple of hours; bet he hasn’t even unpacked yet.”

“He got in today?” Melissa’s Spidey sense was on high alert.

The planets were either aligning to dump on Savannah Sinclair or give her another shot at the guy who
did things to her
.

“Yeah, around 1:30.”

The same time Savannah pulled up in front Island Bliss? Bobby’s office was right across the street. Savannah and Jack probably passed each other on Palm Boulevard without even realizing it. Or maybe they did.

“How long is he staying?”

“He’s a doctor, just accepted a job at the medical college in pediatrics. Says he’s looking to buy.”

Of course, the customer was always right, and Jack had to go. But all these
coincidences
with Savannah and Jack? Definitely worth looking into.

“She still wants Jack Johns out of there, Bobby. Can you make that happen?”

“Are you sure we’re talking about the same guy? This guy’s name Wyatt Jackson, not Jack Johns? Maybe it’s not the same guy.”

“No, she says it’s definitely him. Maybe I got his name wrong.”

“No problem. I’ll call you back in a few minutes.”

“Thanks, Bobby.”

Maybe ninety seconds passed and Pearl put Bobby through.

“Wow, that was fast. You’re the best, Bobby.”

“I’ve got bad new for you, Melissa. He says he’s not moving.”

“Gosh. This is a pickle. I’ll see if she wants to ask him herself, but if she doesn’t, do you mind if I swing by and talk with him?”

“You can try, but his exact words were, ‘hell no.’”

M
elissa knocked on Savannah’s door, but she didn’t answer. “Savannah, it’s me.” The door yanked open, a long slender arm jerked her inside, and then slammed the heavy oak shut.

Savannah looked like a mortified teenager, except she did have mascara on, most of which had run down her face. “Is he gone?”

“Not exactly.”

“What? Why not?”

“I know you said Jack spoke to you, but my friend said this guy’s name is Wyatt Jackson.”