Summer in Good Hope (A Good Hope Novel Book 2) (7 page)

Prim wasn’t certain exactly how the parade in Good Hope was organized, but as she continued her report, she focused on common tasks cited in the articles.

“Our focus for this week is to fine-tune the lineup.” The way Prim figured, a lineup could always be adjusted to make it better. “We want to—”

“The lineup is the same every year,” Eliza interrupted, obviously determined to squish her like a bug under those pretty black heels.

“The parade is one of the Cherries’ biggest events,” Prim continued without breaking stride. “For instance, just because fire trucks normally come later in the parade doesn’t mean we shouldn’t move them closer to the beginning.”

“What would be the advantage of moving them up?” Katie Ruth asked, genuine interest on her face.

“They’d be able to leave more quickly in an emergency.” Several of the articles Prim had read with smaller communities in mind had stressed that point.

“That makes sense,” Katie Ruth said.

The other women seated in the room nodded.

“Max and I will be viewing the videotape of last year’s parade to analyze problematic areas,” Prim added.

“That should have been done long before now,” Eliza said.

“Prim just took over this position.” Lynn Chapin spoke up, shooting Eliza a pointed look. “I don’t know about all of you, but I’m impressed by the strides our newest Cherrie has made in such a short time.”

A ripple of applause sounded.

“Yes. Thank you, Primrose. Good job.” Eliza’s sweet tone didn’t fool Prim. Still, she’d spoken the words.

Heels O. Bug 1.

Though she wanted to jump up and do a happy dance, Prim listened quietly while Katie Ruth, Vanessa, and Ami gave their reports. She couldn’t wait to go home and tell—

The thought brought her up short.

Tell who? Callum and Connor? They’d listen for maybe ten seconds, not understanding a word she said, then ask if they could watch television or go out and play.

Fin and Marigold were too far removed from Good Hope business to understand the significance.

There was only one person who would understand, who would truly celebrate her victory over Eliza’s machinations.

Her lips curved into a smile. Wasn’t it lucky she knew just where to find him?

C
hapter
S
even

Prim shielded her eyes from the sun with one hand and watched Max and her sons build a sand castle. Or what she assumed would eventually be a castle. Another little boy she didn’t recognize crouched beside Connor, helping pack sand.

They all looked like they didn’t have a care in the world. Which was exactly how Prim felt at this moment. She couldn’t stop smiling as she started down the steps leading from the parking lot to the sandy beach . . . just as Clint Gourley started up them.

Clint was older than Prim by a good seven years. She vaguely recalled him being cute in his younger days. But the blond good looks had faded, leaving him middle-aged and paunchy with a receding hairline he tried to hide with too much gel.

One thing hadn’t changed: he still had that leering smile that made her skin crawl.

“Hey, Primrose, lookin’ good.”

Prim gave him a perfunctory smile and brushed past him. He deliberately bumped her. She heard him laugh but didn’t turn around. Instead she hurried across the sand, weaving in and out of the sunbathers with their beach towels and umbrellas and floaties.

In her one-piece navy swimsuit and shorts, she fit right in with the crowd. The intensity with which the boys were patting sand on their castle-in-progress made her glad she’d gone with impulse and swung by the house to change. She’d had a feeling the twins might be having too much fun to want to leave immediately.

Max glanced in the direction of the now-empty steps. “What did Clint say to you?”

Behind those sunglasses, he’d been watching her, she realized. The thought added another layer to her happy mood. She didn’t want to chance bringing it down by discussing creepy Clint. Prim waved a dismissive hand. “Nothing important.”

“Mommy, Mommy, look what we’re building.” Connor jumped up and grabbed her hand, tugging her to the mound of sand.

Callum lifted his head from where he sat on his knees, hands buried deep. “Can we stay longer?”

“Please can they stay?” the tow-headed boy, the unknown part of the construction crew, added his pleas.

Prim scooped up a handful of sand, intensely aware of Max’s scrutiny. “Absolutely. For a while, anyway.”

The boys cheered, then went back to working on their masterpiece.

Prim dusted the sand off her hands. “Two wasn’t enough?”

Max tilted his head. “Huh?”

Prim pointed toward the third boy. “You picked up another one.”

Max grinned. “That’s Chris. He’s Cory and Jackie White’s son. They live just down the street from us.”

“The names ring a bell.”

“Your sister was involved in several Giving Tree fundraisers for the family. Cory was diagnosed with leukemia, but he’s in remission now and doing great.”

“I hope that continues.” Prim thought of her mother. For six years she’d been cancer-free. Then it had come back with a vengeance.

Max motioned to her. He took a couple of steps away from the boys and lowered his voice so they wouldn’t be overheard.

“Jackie, Cory’s wife, has MS.” Max gestured with his head toward a couple with two younger children sitting in the shade. “They’re good people. You’ll like them.”

“You’ll have to introduce me before you leave.”

“Before I leave?”

“You’re off the clock. I’m ready and willing to assume sand castle duty.” She gave him a mock salute, then glanced doubtfully down. “I assume that’s what that blob of sand is supposed to be.”

He quirked a brow. “What if I’m not ready to leave?”

“Then stay.” Her heart quickened. “It’s a public beach.”

“Do you want me to stay?”

“Sure.” She spoke quickly, too quickly, then added, “If you want to, I mean, that’s your decision.”

His smile slowly widened until Prim felt tingly all over. She was trying her best not to stare but it was becoming increasingly difficult. While she’d seen a lot of men in swimming attire, the sight of Max in striped board shorts made her mouth water. His skin was a light golden brown, and his broad, taut chest held just the slightest dusting of hair.

She’d let her eyes drift downward, admiring the cut of his suit . . .

“Have you been in the water yet this year?”

She jerked up her gaze. He’d lifted his sunglasses, and she flushed at the knowing look in his eyes. “Is it cold?”

He held out his hand. “One way to find out.”

With the surface a vivid blue and smooth as glass, the water did look enticing. But she wasn’t a single female out for a day of fun at the beach. She had responsibilities, and they were sitting at her feet, covered in sand. “I can’t leave the boys by themselves.”

“Cory will watch them.” Waving broadly, Max caught the man’s eye and gestured for him to join them. “You can trust him. He teaches with your dad at the high school.”

Prim hesitated. “It’s not that, it’s the boys. They’re very fast and—”

“He’s also the father of three little ones. He knows how slippery they can be at that age. He won’t let them out of his sight.”

In his early-to-midthirties, Cory had short, sandy-brown hair and a ready smile. After the introductions were complete, he made a shooing motion with his hands. “Enjoy the water. I’ve got this under control.”

“Thanks, Cory.” Prim shifted her gaze from one twin to the other, her voice stern. “You listen to what Mr. White says.”

She got two impatient nods in response.

Max crouched down, put a hand on each of her sons’ shoulders. “Don’t forget the moat.”

“We won’t,” Callum said. “That’s my favorite part.”

“Listen to Mr. White.” As she’d done only moments before, he focused on one boy and then the other. “Promise?”

“We promise,” they said in unison.

Prim breathed a little easier as she slipped off her shorts and placed them on top of the towels.

She smiled at Max. “I’m ready.”

“Then let’s get wet.”

Prim waited until she reached the water’s edge to tell Max the news that had been on her tongue since she’d arrived. “You should have been at the meeting today. Eliza was in rare form.”

As she stepped farther into the water, she gave him a blow-by-blow account. By the time she finished with Eliza’s compliment, they were chest deep in cold water. Max raised one hand and high-fived her. “I’m proud of you, Prim. I wish I could have been there to see you shine.”

Despite the coolness of the water, Prim felt warm all over.

They swam nearly to the buoy, putting needed distance between them and all the inflatable rafts, water toys, and jostling bodies.

The sun, high and hot overhead, warmed her face as she treaded water. It had been a long time since she’d been able to relax in anything other than a bathtub. And that was for five minutes at best.

“My arms are getting tired.” She shot Max a sheepish smile. “But this is so pleasant I don’t want to get out. Not just yet, anyway.”

“I’ll hold you up.” Without waiting for an answer, Max moved closer. “Arms around my neck.”

“Bossy, much?”

He grinned and repeated, “Arms around my neck.”

After only the briefest internal struggle, Prim did as he’d instructed.

They were nearly eye to eye and his were gorgeous. Flecks of gold glistened in the blue depths. Her heart gave a sudden leap and desire pooled low in her belly. She realized only a thin piece of material—that now clung to her like a second skin—separated her from the hardness of his body.

“You have beautiful eyes,” he said unexpectedly.

“Thank you.” Even though she knew this was dangerous territory, pleasure rippled through her at the compliment. Apparently she wasn’t the only one who’d been doing some surveying.

Focus
, she told herself. On anything but his handsome face, broad shoulders, and muscular legs. “Want to know how my conversation with Ami before the meeting went?”

A wave broke over them but Max held her tight. “Not particularly.”

“Strange,” she managed to stammer. “All she wanted to do was grill me about you.”

His lips curved. “I do have a way with women.”

Max said this as if it were a joke, but the statement made Prim wonder. Max was no longer a gawky adolescent boy with a passion for math and baseball. Though he seemed totally unaware of his charisma, he definitely had a quality that made a female take a second look.

The thought had her tightening her hold on him. “Ami thinks you’re
wonderful
.”

He stilled as if waiting for the punch line.

Prim leaned close. “Want to know what I think?”

Red flags popped up faster than kernels in a hot skillet, but Prim paid them no mind.

After a glance at the shore to confirm the boys were fully engaged in the building of their castle, she slid her fingers into his hair and brushed a kiss across his cheek. “You’re a good guy, Max Brody. The best.”

He’d given her a compliment; now she was giving him one. She was grateful for what he’d done to protect Gladys, grateful he’d taken time to play with the twins. Yes, she was very grateful.

“Prim.”

How could he make her simple name sound so sexy?

“Yes?”

“I apologize in advance if I’m misreading the situation.”

She tilted her head back and studied him. “What are you talking about?”

“Let me show you.” He lowered his head and covered her mouth with his.

His lips were warm from the sun. The tenderness in the touch stirred a part of her that had been cold and dark for a long time.

As she clung to him in the waters of Green Bay, Prim was forced to admit what she’d tried so hard to deny: the fire that once burned for this man still smoldered.

Now she just had to figure out how to put out the embers before it burst into flame and consumed them both.

Prim stood in the shower and let the warm spray soothe her sore muscles. She tried not to think of Max and the kisses they’d shared.

Instead, she reflected on all she’d accomplished in the past twenty-four hours. Thirty minutes ago, she’d reached the finish line. At least in terms of the house. The last of the moving boxes had been brought in from the garage and emptied. All contents were now neatly stowed in closets, drawers, and cabinets. Her new house finally felt like a home.

She stepped back from the pulsating spray to squirt coconut-and-lime-scented gel onto the loofah. She sang along with the radio while smoothing the light green soap over her skin.

Though way too many freckles dotted all visible surfaces, Prim was generally pleased with her body. She’d once feared her stretched-out belly would never recover after delivering two seven-pound baby boys.

She slid the loofah across her lower abdomen. While that section of her body might not be as flat as it had been when she’d gotten pregnant at twenty-one, a slight pooch was a small price to pay for her wonderful sons.

As she moved the sponge upward, she recalled how Max’s gaze had lingered on her chest when he’d seen her in her swimsuit.

The tips of her nipples hardened with the memory and a tightness filled her belly. Prim could no longer deny the electricity between her and the handsome CPA.

Back in high school she’d done her best to explain away the connection. She’d told herself the kiss they’d shared after their mathlete win was simply due to excitement over the victory. When she’d been unable to completely silence the doubt in her head, she’d blamed it on Calvin Klein Eternity. The totally awesome scent
had
to have contributed to her losing her head and kissing Max back.

“M-om.” A pounding sounded against the bathroom door, making it rattle.

Startled, Prim whirled. The loofah spurted from her hand.

“Callum won’t let me have any grapes.” The whine in Connor’s voice came clearly through the closed door.

Prim closed her eyes and counted to five.

“Tell your brother I said he has to share.” She leaned over and scooped up the pouf. “I’ll be out in a minute.”

She’d put in a movie and sat the boys down with a bowl of grapes hoping for fifteen minutes of peace. She’d gotten five.

With a sigh, Prim quickly finished her shower. She wrapped her freshly shampooed hair in one thick towel while drying off with another. Turkish bath towels, soft and known for their incredible wicking ability, were leftovers from her life with her husband.