trendy kitchen accessories
those wooden plaques with cutesy sayings
gourmet oil and vinegar
upscale linen beach wear
“I’ll call it…A Touch of Class? A Cut Above?” He tossed the stylus onto the counter and closed his laptop with a snap. “Hannah’s right. I do sound snooty.”
A knock sounded on the door. He opened to find the object of his affection, the haunter of his dreams, the pricker of his conscience, wrapped to her chin in a woolly scarf, her dark hair lifted by the wind. Flanking her stood the Delaney sisters, their weathered faces wreathed in knowing grins.
Well, fabulous. More grist for the Trappers Cove gossip mill.
“Hi, Xander.” Hannah shoved her hands into her jacket pockets and gave him a wary smile. “Donna and Diane were just showing me around. Really impressive what they’re doing with these campers.”
“DIY queens, that’s us!” Donna chirped and fished a bandana from her pocket to wipe her sweat-dotted forehead. “We installed a gas fire pit like yours in front of the ’72 Airstream.”
Eyes sparkling with interest, Hannah pivoted slowly on the wooden deck, taking in the dilapidated RVs waiting their turn for a makeover. “What model is this one?”
Donna patted its red and aqua aluminum wall. “1950 Vagabond travel trailer. Found it in a field south of town, covered in blackberry brambles. Can you believe it?”
Xander huffed, impatient for one-on-one time with Hannah.
She noticed—because her sharp eyes noticed everything—and turned to the sisters with a smile. “I’ve got an interview with Xander today. How about if I come back tomorrow, and you can tell me all about your plans for this place. We’ll do a full-page spread for the Sunday edition.”
“That’d be grand.” Diana grabbed her sister’s sleeve. “Now come on, spotlight hog. Let Hannah get back to work.”
“But I was just—”
“Showin’ off, like you always do.” She threw a wink over her shoulder.
“Skillful deflection,” Xander said once they’d departed.
“It’ll make a good story.” She gazed up at the tall trees. “This will be beautiful when they’re done. Nice twist on the usual mini log cabins you find in beach towns.”
“Well, that’s Trappers Cove, right? Full of unusual twists.” He held the door and made a sweeping gesture. “Care to see what they’ve done with the interior?”
She chewed her lip for a moment, then mounted the stairs and stepped inside. “Nii-ice. Love the colors.” She lifted a moss green pillow from the cream-colored sofa.
He slid behind her, close enough to inhale the scent of her hair—some magical mixture of fruit, flowers, and spice. “Hannah, I still feel terrible about the other day. If I’d have known about your house…”
She turned quickly, which put her an inch from his nose, then jolted backward and bonked into the sofa.
