“So Mr. Mannie was certain Houdini wasn’t there?” Julie asked, eyeing the tunnel at the side of the house.
“Don’t worry about Houdini, Mom. He’s sulking somewhere,” Bri reassured her, but Julie couldn’t help but worry. He wouldn’t be able to find his way home if he got out of the tunnels.
Wind released Julie. “No way you’re changing the subject now.” She propped her elbows on her legs and held her head between her hands, staring Julie down. “Come on. Give us more details about naked Trevor, girl.”
“Nothing to tell. It was an accident.”
“Mom, seriously?” Apparently Bri wasn’t going to let this go, either. Why had Julie even mentioned it? Because she’d been so flustered, she needed to tell someone.
“How do you accidentally see a man naked?” Wind asked with an air of sarcasm.
“He was showering.” The minute the words were out of her mouth, she knew she’d made a mistake. “Outside. He was bathing outside when I accidentally saw him.”
“What did he do? What did you do?” Bri asked, abandoning her packing and settling cross-legged facing her.
“I screamed. He covered himself. That’s it.” Julie grabbed her nearby iced tea and took a sip, trying to keep the warmth bubbling up inside her from surging through her. Funny how it happened each time she thought of seeing Trevor naked.
“Wait until Kat and Trace arrive in a couple days. They’re going to love this story.” Wind took her phone out of her pocket and started typing.
“I think it can wait until they get here,” Julie grumbled, not looking forward to the three of them, plus her daughter, playing matchmaker. How could she sit here packing her husband’s clothes while talking about another man? It was wrong.
“I’m not texting them. I’m looking up more on our Trevor Ashford. Dustin said he’d been cheated on by his ex-wife and there was all sorts of publicity around it.”
“Poor guy.” Bri tucked her legs under her, as if to settle in for a while. “Maybe that’s why he decided to come to Summer Island. It’s a place to get away from it all.”
“I think so.” Julie twirled her metal straw around her glass, watching the amber liquid swirl. Trevor had said she’d been the one who had suffered more, but that wasn’t true. Heartbreak couldn’t be measured. She was glad she’d extended an offer of friendship to him. “I’m helping him by providing an introduction to the town tomorrow. He’s agreed to concentrate more on family adventures than spring break crowds, so I thought I’d help.”
“What did you have to do to convince him of that?” Wind asked in a sensual tone.
“Please, we barely know each other. I’m just helping a new business out while ensuring we keep the charm of our small town intact.”
“Barely know him. I think you know him intimately.” Wind gasped. “Oh my goodness, Dustin didn’t tell me that Trevor was married to the Marsha Thompson.”
“Who’s that?” Julie asked, even though she wasn’t sure she wanted to know.
“Only a world-famous model and social diva.” Wind dropped her hands, still holding the phone in her lap. “Wow, this guy must not have a type.”
“Thanks. I realize I’m not model material, but I have other good qualities.”
Bri rubbed Julie’s back and handed her another shirt to fold, as if she had to soothe her each time she touched something of Joe’s. This was Bri’s father. Julie should be comforting her daughter, not the other way around.
“I’m not talking about the model part. She’s a head-tripping, manipulative, crazy woman who uses men to further her career.”
“Sounds like he deserves a better woman in his life. Hmmm, I wish I knew someone who would be good for him.” Bri stood. “Refill?” She took Julie’s glass, but Wind waved her off as if she didn’t have time to focus on anything but the juicy gossip on the internet.
“It sounds like she’s given him some trouble.” Julie struggled between wanting to know more and facing further conversation with Wind. “Dustin didn’t say anything else?”
Wind shouldered her gently. “Ah, now she wants the deets.”
Deets? What was she? Ten years old? “Don’t tell me. It doesn’t matter.”
“Since you twisted my boa, I’ll dish.” Wind acted like she threw a scarf around her neck and leaned back. “Soooo, Dustin said that the woman cheated on Trevor with his secretary. A male secretary he’d hired because his ex insisted he not work with a woman. She was apparently the extremely jealous type. Despite her infidelity, Trevor tried to make it work. Something about believing in the institution of marriage and needing to try, unlike his parents.”
Considering Wind had divorced twice already, Julie guessed she didn’t feel the same way about marriage. Julie didn’t want to touch that conversation, though, so she folded two more articles of clothing and moved a little out of Wind’s reach to work on some tools. “Doesn’t sound like the type of woman he’d go for.” Julie dropped a rusty saw into the trash with a clammer. “Not that I know him well enough to attest to that.”
Wind laughed. “Oh, I think—”
“Stop. I get it.” She threw her arms in the air and spun around in her best imitation of Wind commanding a stage. “We all know I saw Trevor Ashford naked.”
“I guess everyone does now,” a deep male voice Julie willed not to be Trevor’s echoed through the garden, stilling her movement.
She closed her eyes and mumbled to herself, “Please tell me that isn’t him behind me. It wouldn’t be. It can’t be.”
“Oh, it is, dear.” Wind approached and tapped her on the shoulder. “I’ll give you two some privacy,” she said loud enough to make sure everyone in the garden heard.
She spun around, eyes open, feeling like someone had used a torch to heat her skin. “What are you doing here? I thought you were busy. I know I am.”
Bri inserted herself between them, holding Houdini up with his wiggling nose. “Mom, he brought Houdini back.”
“I found him snuggled up in
