“Don’t run tomorrow. Just walk,” he said. “Pick up running the next day. Try to go a little farther.”
“I take it you’re not going to bang on my door at five.”
“Maybe.” She felt his smile all the way to her backbone and down to her toes.Harlow Hayes, careful. He’sout of your league.“I know you said you don’t skate, but it’s great exercise. Easy on the joints.”
“Harlow Hayes is going to need this face for CCW. Can’t risk skidding across the rink floor.” She patted him on the shoulder and started inside. “HH is going back to bed. See you this afternoon, boss.”
“One o’clock. Punch in on time or I’ll have to dock your pay.”
MATT
The Save the Starlight group reconvened the last Saturday in March. Dion was able to join this time, so their ranks swelled to six. Got to say, Matt was disappointed more townspeople didn’t show, especially on a weekend morning. Granny deserved better from her fellow citizens.
Gathering folks to help the petition campaign was the one place Matt had counted on his celebrity power—after all, fans traveled to California from around the world for a chance peek of him. But in Sea Blue Beach, he was just Tuesday’s grandson and Dupree’s kid.
However, Mary and Tyler, Spike and Dion, and even Granny, assured him folks were eager to save the Starlight.
“Where are we on the petitions?” He looked at Tyler. “And the flyers?”
“Sorry, Matt, I had a big job come in from the high school for prom and graduation. My crew has been working overtime.”
“Understandable. Can you get to it this week? Mary, what about the petition? Did you file the paperwork?”
“Got busy myself. I’ll file on Monday. Remember, forms can only be posted at city hall and the post office.”
Okay, the Save the Starlight team was fumbling a bit.
To be honest, he was a bit distracted himself with Harlow Hayes crossing his mind at random intervals. Last night, he set his alarm to wake up for a jog, then fell asleep thinking about her.
He never let women sneak up on him, get into his head and dreams. But the supermodel was not just any woman.
“Did you talk to Dup, Matt?” Spike asked. “Did he have any ideas of alternate locations for expansion?”
“He said there’s land west of town. In fact, another developer is building a gated community.”
“A gated community?” Granny puffed up. “In Sea Blue Beach? We don’t gate up our neighborhoods. We share things around here.”
“Welcome to the future. Dad said Murdock has plans to do the same.”
“I don’t mean to throw a wrench in the works,” Dion said, a seriousness in his southern drawl, “but have y’all seen Harry’s flyers? He’s launched his own campaign.”
No one was surprised, but Dion’s words lit a fire under them. Tyler said he’d start on the flyers today, before his son’s baseball game. Mary pledged to start calling her committees and clubs, but first—
“Who was the beautiful woman you were with at the diner?” Mary smirked at Matt.
Matt made a show of looking down at his clipboard. “I’m sorry, that’s not on the meeting agenda.”
“I move to add Matt’s lunch date to the meeting agenda,” Mary said.
“Second.”Granny, you traitor.
“All in favor, say aye.” A rousing affirmation followed. “The ayes have it.”
“Spike, Tyler, way to turn on a guy. Dion, I thought you’d have my back.”
“I’m an old romantic at heart.”
“She’s just a friend,” Matt said with no amount of affection, ignoring the silly flutters thoughts of Harlow inspired. “She owns 321 Sea Blue Way. Now, can we get to work on saving the Starlight?”And remove me from under the spotlight?Small-town life ... sheesh.
