Elisa risked a second look at the man-bear, and that’s when she saw the truth. She recognized that mask he wore—she’d put it on herself almost every day for a decade.
Noah had never grieved his grandfather.
A surge of unexpected empathy welled in her chest. And suddenly Noah wasn’t her mortal enemy, he was that awkward kid in middle school who turned bright red when the teacher called on him. The quiet teen who moved away in the midst of scandal and then reappeared as a man some four years later and swept her off her flip-flops.
“We can make this work.” She shifted to face Noah, noting from her peripheral August’s surprised straightening in his chair. But Noah continued staring at the succulent on August’s desk. She ducked her head, trying to make eye contact with him. “I’m good at solving puzzles. Together, I’m sure we can?—”
“Absolutely not.” Noah suddenly stood, his chair shoving back a few inches. “Thanks for your time, Mr. Bowman.” Then his eyes finally met Elisa’s. “But I’m afraid it was all for nothing.”
Then he simply walked out of the room.
five
He’d forgotten the paint.
Noah opened the bait and threw his line into the sunset-sparkling waters of Magnolia Bay with a little more force than necessary. After the whopper of a Wednesday he’d had, was it any wonder he’d forgotten to go to the hardware store? No matter how fast he worked or how many notes he made in his phone app, he couldn’t get ahead.
“Resorting to scaring the fish out of the water?” Cade Landry joined him at the far end of the west pier, the one only a half mile from the Blue Pirogue and the one they’d all unofficially claimed for their fishing nights. Cade’s title of City Development Director—not to mention his status as the mayor’s son—casually protected their holy grail of fishing spots.
“Might work better than the bait I used last time.” Noah adjusted his hold on his rod, his jaw tight. His mind raced with all the things he still needed to accomplish, but if he had stood the guys up tonight, they’d never let him live it down.
He didn’t need the list of people he was disappointing to get any longer.
Owen Dubois and Linc Fontenot strolled up the dock toward them, Linc toting an ice chest in one burly hand while Owen walked faster to keep up, clutching his favorite ball cap against a gust of wind. The tired but sturdy wooden planks creaked under their combined weight.
Linc set the ice chest down on the pier with a thump, his man-bun shifting with the abrupt movement. “Drinks are here.”
“Look who actually showed up.” Owen grinned at Noah and then held out his hand, palm up, toward Linc. “Told you he’d come. Where’s that fiver?”
Linc stared briefly at Owen’s outstretched hand before making an about-face and picking up his rod.
“You can pay me later.” Owen shrugged good-naturedly, pushing up the sleeves of his discount red hoodie. “Did anyone bring any extra bait?”
Cade toed his army-green tackle box toward Owen. “Help yourself.”
Owen began digging through the colorful lures while Cade and Linc set up their rods—Cade’s being a brand new designer pole he’d mentioned in the group text last week.
Noah took a deep breath, rolling his shoulders down and back as he stared toward the glittering blue depths. Maybe the guys wouldn’t pester him and he could fish in silence, clear his mind of stress. Maybe he could watch the gold-tinted waves lapping against the thick beams of the pier. Admire the seagulls swooping down to try to find the fish before they did. Appreciate the spring wind blowing off the bay?—
The crack of a can opening echoed across the open water. “How’d it go with Isaac?” Cade took a drag from his soda.
So much for that. Noah drew in his line to recast. “It went, that’s for sure.”
“Not good?” Cade swiped the back of his mouth with his hand. The sun glinted off his dark blond hair, the wind threatening to muss the perfect gel job he always prided himself on. “What happened?”
“Wait—Sadie came to the bank today and mentioned something went down with Mama D.” Owen’s brow furrowed as he stood, fumbling with his bobber. “Is she okay?”
“Of course she is. That woman is indestructible.” Linc’s deep voice refused any room for arguing. If he decided it was true, it must be—and usually was.
As Linc took Owen’s lure and showed him how to set it properly, Noah shrugged. Last I heard, she was at Magnolia Memorial and doing all right. I don’t have any details.”
“So did you get your government invasion report, or what?” Linc shot him a side-glance.
“His what?” Owen laughed.
“His piece of paper proving something he already knows about his own property.” Linc gestured with the lure in his hand. “A man should be able to run his own business without interference from the government.”
Cade nearly spewed his drink as he laughed. “You do remember my dad is the mayor?”
