Page 38 of Coastal Reflections

“So you’ve gone out with her before, huh? Well, I hope things work out better for you two than they did for me and Audrey. I certainly don’t envy you having to help her deal with that mess of a hotel.”

Audrey could hardly believe that Clark was being so rude. Was he secretly jealous of Evan? Was he making a show for Molly, so that she wouldn’t think he still harbored any feelings for Audrey? Or was he really truly just that obnoxiously self-centered?

He’s a bully, Audrey thought, making a fist under the table. I’m so glad I’m not married to him anymore.

“That hotel has been featured in two prominent national magazines, and the reviews for it are glowing, both in those articles and online,” Evan said crisply. “I would recommend doing research before speaking to people who aren’t just as ignorant as you are. And as far as Audrey and I go, I feel confident that things are going to go amazingly well between us. I intend to treat her right, and she makes everything she touches wonderful.” Evan spoke so quickly that Clark was unable to get a word in edgewise, although he tried a couple of times. “And that includes The Birchwood House. Audrey is the hardest-working woman I have ever known. What she’s done with the Sutton house is both impressive and admirable, especially considering she started doing it just after she had to pick up the pieces of her life after you shattered it.” Evan made a huffing sound as he inhaled, finally coming up for air after letting out his long string of sentences.

Clark, finally faced with an opportunity to say something in response, seemed to be struck dumb.

“I am beyond proud to be at Audrey’s side as she runs the hotel,” Evan continued, speaking a little more slowly now and with even more emphasis. “I love assisting her in any way that I can. As mayor of this town, I have plenty of connections. For example, I’m friends with some of the best lawyers on the East Coast. And as mayor, I can leverage my reputation to hire the best lawyer possible, should you ever foolishly decide that Audrey owes you a single thing after everything you’ve done to her. Not something I’d recommend—I’ve heard my lawyer friends say that the best defense is an offense, and I don’t think you’d want us to go after you in any way. Your behavior wouldn’t hold up too well in a court of law, especially considering the lapsed mortgage payments.”

Audrey’s jaw dropped. She was in shock, but at her core, she wanted to applaud. Evan had charged to her rescue with all the skill and passion that a woman could possibly ask for.

Clark’s eyes were wide, and it was clear that he was also stunned. He finally opened his mouth for a second and then closed it again.

“Come on, Molly, let’s go,” he said, turning toward the front of the restaurant.

“What?” Molly protested. “We’re leaving? But we’ve already eaten at all the other restaurants in town. I wanted to go somewhere new.”

“We’re going,” Clark said between gritted teeth.

Molly tossed her hair as they went through the front door. “You need to take me back to the city, Clark. This place is boring me to death. You said we were going to get that clock and then⁠—”

Her voice faded away as the door closed behind her and Clark. Audrey stared after them for a few moments, completely dumbfounded, and then she turned to Evan.

“Evan,” she said, feeling exquisitely happy but still too stunned even to smile, “what has gotten into you?”

Evan smiled at her. “I will always defend you,” he told her solemnly. “And I meant every word of that. If Clark tries to come after you in any way, he’ll regret it.”

Audrey leaned across the table and gave Evan a big kiss. “My hero,” she whispered.

Evan’s face lit up, and he gave her another kiss. She was glad she’d made him so happy with the comment, but she knew that she was much happier in that moment than he was.

I never expected that, she thought as warmth expanded in her chest. And Clark turned tail and ran! Just like bullies always do.

She picked up her glass of wine and took a triumphant sip, her heart swelling with joy. Evan had come to her rescue, and a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

It looked like she was going to be able to fully enjoy her romantic date with her boyfriend after all.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Elaine sat down at the reception desk of The Birchwood House and began to sort through the mail. Most of the letters that had arrived that morning were bills or advertisements, but there were a few thank-you notes from guests, and those Elaine tucked aside so that she could read them with Audrey and Michelle later on.

She sighed as she tossed the pile of credit card offers into the trash bin at the side of the desk. She was still feeling a bit gloomy and discouraged about being rejected by Shep. She hadn’t seen him since the incident, and she couldn’t help wondering what he was thinking. Was he upset with her for barging into his kitchen yet again? Was he regretting turning down her offer of a romantic walk down Main Street? Or had he not even thought about her once since she’d disappeared from his store?

She was just tucking the thank-you cards into a drawer inside the reception desk when the front door of the hotel opened. Elaine glanced up with a practiced smile, ready to greet whatever guest had just stepped inside.

It wasn’t a guest, however. It was Shep.

“Oh!” she squeaked, unable to help herself. She wished she looked a little more tidy—there were smears of flour on the sleeves of her blue sweater from making pancakes that morning and she had a feeling that some of the strawberry syrup she’d made had ended up in her hair.

“Good morning, Elaine,” Shep said slowly, his deep voice as gruff as usual. He looked a little shy, Elaine thought—or was he acting distant because he was annoyed with her? He held a large basket in his arms, and she knew that it contained the hotel’s pastry order for the day.

“Good morning,” Elaine said, standing up and hurrying over to him. She tried to keep her voice bright. “Thank you for this—and for bringing it over. I really appreciate it.”

“Certainly,” Shep said, and coughed. He set the basket down on the entryway’s table. “How are you doing?”

“I’m just fine,” Elaine said, even though at that moment her heart was thumping in her chest and a hot sweat was breaking out on the palms of her hands. “I’m still going on that walk,” she found herself blurting. She realized a second later that she was trying to make it look as though it hadn’t really been a date, just a friendly outing that she’d invited him to, and she knew she shouldn’t keep talking. She did anyway, however, chatting as rapidly as a schoolgirl. “I’ve decided to go with some other friends of mine. We’re going to walk along the lines of trees on Main Street and enjoy the fall colors. Probably at dusk so that we can enjoy the colors of the leaves as well as all those twinkling lights that they have strung up along Main Street. I’m sure it’s going to be an absolutely wonderful time. I’m very excited.”