Somewhere With You (Windswept Bay Book 2) (2 page)

“Shar, you’re late,” Gracie Close called from behind the front desk. She grinned when Shar shot her an exasperated look. “What’s up?”

“Turtle rescue.” Shar plopped her bag on the counter. “Store this suitcase for me, will ya? And where are they? I hope I didn’t miss anything…not that those two really need my input. They’ve got this renovation under control and we all know it.”

Gracie had recently been hired as the manager of the hotel by Shar and her sisters. None of them wanted the actual job of the day-to-day running of the family resort that they had taken over together. The idea of being stuck behind that desk all day made Shar cringe every time the thought crossed her mind. Cali, who was getting married in five days, was already stretched to the limit with promotions and plans to travel with her soon-to-be husband, world-famous artist Grant Ellington. And Jillian’s head was on landscape and flowers outside, not indoors with the dealings of day-to-day resort business. And Shar’s third sister was busy off in movie land and had firmly turned down joining up with her three sisters to take over the running of the family resort. So that left Shar to step into the running of the place and everyone knew that would be an absolute disaster. Shar didn’t do confinement, schedules, and tied down anything. Nope, Gracie was a godsend and very wonderful at her job. She’d had glowing credentials and Shar could have kissed the woman the day she’d walked through the door after accepting the job.

“They need you. Whether you think so or not, they do. They’ve headed to the renovation wing to meet with the contractor. If you hurry, you won’t miss much.”

“Shoot, I should have stayed at the hospital longer.”

Gracie laughed. “Hurry, they’re waiting.”

Shar sighed and added unenthusiastically, “Thanks.”

“You’re very welcome.”

Gracie’s chuckles followed Shar as she hurried toward the double doors at the back of the lobby. Shar loved the resort that her family had owned for all of her life and the thought of selling it when her parents had decided to retire had prompted her and her two sisters to take it on. Her five brothers hadn’t wanted the responsibility nor had Olivia and so, though Shar really couldn’t see herself fully invested in the project, she’d stepped up to help Jillian and Cali. But sometimes she felt as if she were failing them. Not that they ever even hinted at it. But she felt it.

And yet, her heart was with her turtles and the volunteer hours she put in there. The job, however, didn’t pay, thus she needed a job, a career—and the family resort was perfect.

She would do better. She would.

Hurrying to the back of the property, she walked past the gorgeous landscaped courtyard, due to Jillian’s hands and planning. And then past the pool area with its fairly new mural painted by Grant Ellington, or McDreamboat as she called Cali’s fiancé. The very idea of murals for the resort was due to Cali’s marketing ideas. Shar loved the painting but she loved more the fact that McDreamboat had swept Cali off her feet. Shar had been all for the two of them getting together and had enjoyed watching their spark-filled romance—and doing a little egging on of it in her own big-mouthed way. But, she wasn’t looking for that. Her sister Jillian had said they were all of the age that they were looking for love, but she was wrong. Shar loved her life and she was far from ready to give up her freedom of choice to a man. But she was thrilled for Cali.

Sometimes she wondered where she got such strong feelings on the subject and she really wasn’t sure. All she knew was that like many of her five brothers, she was satisfied being single. But her sisters were meant for love and she’d give them a push when needed; it just wasn’t for her.

Sexy Beach Guy popped into her thoughts. The man had nearly taken her breath away when he’d come out of that water, dripping wet and in nothing but his swim trunks.

Goose bumps prickled across her skin even now—he had been something to behold with that gleaming, muscled chest and taut abs. But it had been the scruffy jaw and raw look in his pale-blue eyes that had her toes curling in the sand—even as worried for the turtle as she’d been.

Shaking off the overwhelming walk down memory lane, she reached the open door of the room where renovations were set to begin. She peeked inside and instantly Cali saw her.

“Shar, you made it—what happened to you?” Cali asked, as Shar moved into the room still wearing her jogging outfit that was dirty and a bit bloody from the turtle’s bleeding wounds.

“I’m sorry, but I had a turtle rescue this morning while I was out on the beach. I had to call the ambulance and well, it set me back from changing and showering.” She caught a visual of herself in the mirror and grimaced. “Yikes, that’s bad. As you can tell, I did not look in a mirror.” Her hair looked like a mangled mess.

Her expression rapt, Jillian hurried over to her. “It’s okay. You
saved a sea turtle
. That’s incredible. You are so dedicated it hurts.”

Shar laughed. “Thanks. I’ll take saving a turtle over my appearance any day. So what’s going on?”

“This is Abe Timmons, the contractor doing the renovation.”

Abe Timmons was a handsome man of about thirty to thirty-five, with smoky brown eyes that had smile lines creasing around the edges as he smiled at her. “Nice to meet you.” He held out his hand.

Shar placed her hand in his and shook. “No, the pleasure is mine. I’m excited about this renovation. Glad to have you on board.” She placed her hands on her hips and her thoughts went to the feel of the sexy man’s touch earlier on the beach. Abe was a striking man, rugged, with an engaging smile that she was sure turned most women’s hearts to jelly. Not hers. Nope, nothing—especially next to the fireworks that had exploded at the sexy man’s touch.
And the eyes—oh wow, just a look from them—

“Shar, are you okay?” Cali’s question cut through her thoughts.

“Um, yes, sorry. Sure.” She focused on Abe. “So, whatcha think about our plans?”

“I think it’s very doable. Ripping out this wall and enlarging the bathrooms will steal space from the bedrooms but it’ll still give you room for everything and make it more to the liking of people today. Nothing says outdated like a tiny bathroom.”

“That’s true,” she said. “Windswept Bay Resort is about forty years old.”

“And no major remodeling ever done,” Cali added.

“Exactly,” Shar agreed. “So it sounds good to me. What about you, Jillian?”

“Please let’s do this. Knock it out,” she laughed.

“It’s a go, Abe,” Cali said. “Let’s do this. You have a green light.”

“Then I’ll have my crew start setting up in three weeks.”

“That sounds perfect,” Shar said. “We have a wedding happening soon and a honeymoon to be taken by Cali and she needs to be here when you get started.”

“Congratulations. I read that in the papers,” Abe said.

Cali blushed. “Thank you.”

Jillian nodded at Abe and gave a small smile. “Yes, thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” he said and Shar thought she caught interest in his gaze when he looked at Jillian.

Interesting
.

A few minutes later, he left and Shar stared at her sisters. “He seems like he’ll be good. And he’s cute, don’t you think, Jillian?”

Jillian looked perplexed. “Yes, are you interested?”

“I just thought I saw interest coming from you.”

“Not my type,” Jillian said—a little too quickly, Shar thought. “But, Levi recommended him, so our big brother must trust him.”

“And if the chief recommends him, then I think we’re probably doing okay,” Shar added.

Their brother Levi, the chief of police on Windswept Bay, had given his friend rave reviews. “Don’t you agree, Cali?”

“Hmm, oh, yes I think so,” Cali said, all smiles. “I’m sorry. My mind went to wedding plans.”

Of course they did.
She had been floating on cloud nine and distracted ever since she and Grant had decided to get married.

Shar laughed. “We’ve got to get you through this wedding and back from your honeymoon so you’ll get your mind back on the job.”

“Sorry, I can’t help it.”

“And that is just the way it should be,” Jillian said softly.

“So true.” Shar could only imagine how her sister was feeling and to her this should be normal. “Now that we have that settled, you can completely focus on the wedding.”

“That is what I plan to do. I never thought it was possible for me to want this again, but I am so very ready to become Grant’s wife.”

Shar saw the love there and was happy for her older sister. She had even been part of pushing Cali to step out and take a chance on love. “It’s going to be a great night.”

“It’s going to be a very busy week,” Jillian said. “I am so ready. You two just make me smile watching you. And I’m so happy for you both.”

Cali was all smiles. “It’ll be good to have us all together on Friday night too.”

“I can’t wait,” Jillian said. “I think Olivia is arriving Friday morning. It will be so good seeing her.”

Olivia hadn’t been home in a few months.

“Now that we’ve gotten that all settled, if it’s not a problem, I’m going to run home and take a shower and put on a smidge of makeup. I’m going to drop by the hospital to check on Don Juan and then I’ll be back.”

“Wait.” Cali laughed. “You
named
him
Don Juan?
Is he one great-looking turtle or something?”

“You know the person who finds an injured sea turtle gets the honor of naming it,” Shar pointed out with a laugh. She had named it on a whim; she just hadn’t thought about the consequences of naming the turtle after the sexy guy.

“So,” Cali urged. “Why did you name it Don Juan?”

“Yes—we all want to know,” Jillian joined in.

“It was the guy helping me rescue him.”

“Really?” the sisters both asked in unison.

“Okay, so if you must know, I had help rescuing the turtle this morning and he was this amazingly gorgeous guy who came jogging from the surf to help me. I couldn’t even think when I first saw him, so when it came time to name the turtle, Don Juan is what came out.”

“Now that sounds interesting,” Cali said.

“But what is his name?” Jillian smiled curiously.

“I was busy with the turtle. I don’t know what his name is.”

“But,” Cali gasped. “You know where to find him, right?”

Shar didn’t add that he was staying right down the beach from her. “I think I can.”

Cali was all smiles. “Do you want to?”

“Maybe. Just to thank him for what he did, you know.”

“Right, certainly,” Jillian agreed. “That would be the right thing to do, to thank him.”

“Were you on the beach near your house?” Cali asked, her expression hopeful.

“Yes, actually. Why?”

“That’s a little bit of a secluded area. I wonder where he came from?” Jillian looked thoughtful.

“Oh,” Cali gasped. “I think I heard the Glass Castle had been rented out. Do you think he came from there?”

Shar thought about it. The Glass Castle was the island’s nickname for the large beach house at the end of the beach. It had so many windows it almost appeared from the beach to be all glass. And from the other beaches that curved along the coastline, the house, while not visible during the day, became a glowing gold flash as the settling sun reflected off all the glass.

“You know, he went in that direction when he went for a knife. I was busy working with the turtle and didn’t watch where he went. Maybe he’s renting the place or works for someone who rented it.”

“You should go by there and find out. He’s your neighbor.” Cali looked mischievous. “I’m going to enjoy this if you find him. With all the pushing and teasing you do to me and Jillian about finding a guy, this sounds like our time to push.”

Shar frowned at her. “Do not get your hopes up on paying me back for pushing you toward Grant. You know you love me for it. Besides, you have a wedding to get ready for. No time for matchmaking.”

“Ha, like you listened when I said that to you,” Cali pointed out. “Right, Jillian?”

“Oh, so true.” Jillian chuckled. “You like the guy, Shar. What’s the problem?”

Now she wished she hadn’t mentioned him. “I’m too busy for a relationship. With the resort and all my volunteer work—I don’t want to be tied down and you both know it.”

“Ha! You like him,” Cali exclaimed.

“You’re hedging.” Jillian chuckled. “That’s a gardener’s joke, if you didn’t get it. But it works here.”

“I am not trimming bushes nor am I about to jump off into some relationship with a guy I just met on the beach. Even if he is tempting.”
Why had she added the last part?

“Then maybe there’s hope,” Jillian added, her eyes bright.

“Hope for what?” Grant asked from the doorway.

“Of Shar falling for a tall, dark, and handsome stranger.”

Shar shook her head at McDreamboat. “They are just teasing. Ignore them and take my sister to lunch so she’ll have something more exciting than me to yap about.”

Grant wrapped his arm around Cali when she crossed to give him a hug. He bent his head and kissed her soundly. “Your sister is right,” he murmured after a moment. “I came to sweep you off your feet for lunch.”