“Jack?” Logan’s voice seemed to come from far away. “You okay, man?”
Jack realized he had frozen in place, staring across the street. Holly was already walking away, heading toward the parking lot. She had not seen him.
“That’s Holly,” Jack said, his voice sounding strange even to his own ears. “She was meeting with Simon.”
Logan followed his gaze, his expression immediately shifting to concern. He spotted Simon still standing outside the café, now gesturing animatedly into his phone. “Are you sure?”
“She just walked out of that café, and Simon came out right after her,” Jack said. The words felt hollow in his mouth. “What other explanation is there?”
“Jack, there could be lots of explanations,” Logan said carefully. “Maybe it was a coincidence. Maybe?—”
“Maybe she’s working with him,” Jack said, the words tasting bitter. “Maybe this whole thing, her coming to the inn, getting close to me, to my family. Maybe it’s all been part of Simon and Terry’s plan.”
Even as he said it, Jack didn’t want to believe it. Couldn’t believe it. But the evidence was right in front of him. Holly had been meeting with Simon, and she hadn’t told Jack about it. What was he supposed to think?
“That doesn’t sound like Holly,” Logan said firmly. “Come on, Jack. You know her better than that.”
Did he? Jack had thought he knew Pamela too, and look at how that had turned out. He had thought he knew the contractors Pamela had recommended for that Charleston job, and they had been part of the scheme to destroy him.
“She didn’t tell me she was meeting him,” Jack said quietly. “If it was innocent, why wouldn’t she tell me?”
Logan was silent for a moment, clearly trying to think of a reasonable explanation. “Maybe she was planning to tell you. Maybe she wanted to handle it first and then explain.”
“Or maybe,” Jack said, his voice harder now, “she’s been playing me this whole time. Getting close, learning about the inn, finding out who’s been helping us. That’s what Simon and Terry want to know, right? Who’s been holding up the sale?”
“Jack, listen to yourself,” Logan said, his voice sharp now. “You’re letting your past with Pamela cloud your judgment. Holly is not Pamela. She’s nothing like her.”
Jack wanted to believe that. He really did. But the doubt was there now, planted and growing like a weed.
“I need to get back to the inn,” Jack said abruptly, turning toward his truck. “We’ve got work to finish.”
Logan followed, his expression troubled. “Are you going to talk to her? Ask her about the meeting?”
Jack climbed into the driver’s seat and started the engine. “I don’t know. Maybe. I need to think.”
They drove back to Anastasia Island in tense silence. Jack’s mind was spinning, replaying every interaction he’d had with Holly over the past week and a half. The morning jogs. The dinners. The way she had looked at him, touched his hand, and smiled at his jokes. Had it all been an act? A manipulation designed to get him to trust her so she could gather information for Simon?
No. He couldn’t believe that. He wouldn’t believe that.
But then why had she not told him about the meeting?
By the time they pulled up to the inn, Jack had a pounding headache. He helped Logan unload the supplies, carrying them up to the second floor, where they were working on finishing one of the guest rooms.
“You want to talk about it?” Logan asked as they set down the crown molding.
“Nothing to talk about,” Jack said, his tone clipped. “Let’s just get this work done.”
They spent the next two hours working in near silence, measuring and cutting trim, making touch-up paint, and installing hardware. The physical labor helped calm Jack’s mind somewhat, giving him something concrete to focus on instead of the swirling questions and doubts.
Around four o’clock, Jack heard footsteps in the hallway. He looked up to see Holly standing in the doorway, a small smile on her face that did not quite reach her eyes.
“Hi,” she said. “I was looking for you. Charlie said you were up here working.”
“Hey,” Jack replied, his voice carefully neutral.
“How’s it coming?” Holly asked, glancing around the room. “It looks beautiful.”
“It’s getting there,” Jack said. “Another day or two and it’ll be readyfor guests.”
