“I worked here for eight years and ran the waterfront for three.” He flexed every arm muscle for her viewing pleasure. “How about you take land, and I take water?”
“But, you’re too”—his phone buzzed again, and she tapped it with her pen—“busy.”
“I’ll get whatever that is later.” He pointed at his phone. “I can handle it.”
On the Zoom call, Nate nodded. “That’s a good plan. You both know how to run the resort. Let me know if you have any ideas to improve Montressa. We need more stars on those ratings. I want to add a website and maybe social media, but that’ll have to wait until winter, when I have the time.”
Casper stood and meandered to the end of the table. In one swift motion, he grabbed a molasses cookie off the plate.
“First thing on the list.” Miles tapped her list. “Train that dog.”
Avery scowled.
“And Nate,” he said. “There’s room for twelve for your bachelor party canoe trip. We’ve got the bros from high school, three from your college brew crew, Wes, and me. Let me know who should fill that sixth canoe.”
“How about Hayes? He’s cool, and Lily suggested asking him to do a reading at the wedding,” Nate said, checking his smartwatch. “Listen, I gotta go. I’ll think of another person. Thank you. I appreciate your help more than you know.”
After wishing him well, Avery stood, shook her head, and left. Her drawing remained on the table. Silhouettes. Five pine trees, the moon above, a moose below.
His phone buzzed again.He checked his texts. Every single one was from Nate.
Nate:Dude, put her on tv so she has to stay longer
Nate:OMG. Stop watching her play with her pen. You look ready to pounce
Nate:Noooo. Do not come between her and Casper
Nate:Damn! She is checking out your six-pack
Nate:I think she saw the tatt
Nate:She’s not over you
Nate:WTF! You’ve been waiting for this. Get it together.
Getting it together was harder than he’d expected. Going out with women one time required little emotional investment. Trying to win back someone you hurt required perseverance, humility, and vulnerability. If he couldn’t find them, Avery would leave.
“Have you seen my lip balm?” Avery reappeared, patting her pockets as she’d done so many times ten summers ago. “I swear I brought it in here.”
“You did, but I haven’t seen it.” He looked under the table. Nothing. He walked around to her side of the table and checked each chair as she peered into the box of samples. Nothing. He shrugged and gave her his best smirk. “Maybe Casper ate it.”
“You blame him for everything.” She rolled her eyes and started to leave.
“Avery,” he said, lightly circling her wrist with his thumb and forefinger. “I’ll be in New York part of next week on business. The rest of the time, I’ll try to stay out of your way.”
She glanced from her wrist to him. He wasn’t the only one feeling the buzz jumping between them. A tiny gasp evaporated off her lips as their gazes met. Aware he’d touched her without asking, he let go. She brushed something off his shoulder.
“So soft,” she said in an almost whisper.
“Snuggle,” he said.
Her eyes grew wide.
“Oh, no. Miles, I wasn’t trying to, we’re not, um—” She stepped back.
“No,” he said, grinning. “My fabric softener. It’s Snuggle.”
“With the bear?”
