“Did you ever fill her in on what a jerk he was?”
Connie smiled. “Of course not. On the off chance that he ever came back into her life, I didn’t want her to hate him.”
“That’s a pretty generous attitude under the circumstances,” Thomas said, his gaze warm. “It just proves what a remarkable woman you are.”
Connie felt herself blush. “I’m not remarkable.”
“Hey, I get to be the judge of that. You need to learn to take a compliment.”
“Usually the most personal compliments I get are customers at the nursery telling me I have a nice phone voice or that I’ve been very helpful.”
Thomas shook his head. “I have to tell you, you have just painted a very dark picture of the intelligence level of the men in Chesapeake Shores.”
She laughed, unable to disagree. “I think that’s a discussion best left for another time.”
He laughed with her. “I hate to do it, but I should probably get back to Annapolis,” he said. “I’ll see you next weekend at the fall festival?”
“Absolutely.”
They walked to her car. He held the door while she got in, then smiled down at her. “It was a good first date.”
“It was.”
He winked at her. “The next one will be even better.”
That wink set off a frisson of anticipation that rattled her even more than his earlier kiss. She had a feeling if this attraction got any more powerful, she was going to throw herself into his arms and cause a scene likely to be talked about in Chesapeake Shores for years. She wondered what her daughter, who thought she was a stuffy prude, would think about that.
10
Jess spent an hour cleaning out the attic at the inn, then lost interest. What she needed, she decided, was to do something even more physical, something that would burn some real energy, maybe help her to stop thinking about Will, about her pitiful lack of a social life.
Never much of an athlete, she wasn’t at all like her brothers. Almost the only sport that had ever appealed to her was kayaking. There was something soothing about paddling around on the water, and, from time to time, when the whitecaps kicked up on the bay, it could be strenuous and challenging, as well.
The inn kept a couple of kayaks on hand for use by the guests. Both were in their rack at the foot of the steps, their paddles locked in place beside them. Using her key, Jess took the more lightweight of the kayaks off the rack and lowered it into the calm water. It was a perfect afternoon, she thought, noting that quite a few people had had the same idea. Kayaks dotted the waterfront, along with way too many speedboats for her comfort.
Staying close to the shoreline to avoid the wake of the larger, more aggressive boaters, she paddled hurriedly along, then took a turn to the left when she reached the narrow inlet leading to the more tranquil Moonlight Cove. There were fewer people on the water here and no powerboats. It was a small cove loved by locals because tourists hadn’t discovered it. It was also an ideal place to spot the occasional eagle or osprey sitting high atop the branches of the old oaks, cedars and weeping willows that shaded much of the shoreline.
And its tiny beach, not that far from Connor and Heather’s Driftwood Cottage, remained inaccessible by road. It had always been especially popular with teenagers looking for a secluded place to be alone.
She thought of the times she’d come here with one boyfriend or another, only to have Connor or Kevin come after her in their small motorboat to chase her back home before she did something utterly foolish. Though she’d protested their protectiveness vehemently at the time, claiming total humiliation, she now appreciated that they’d kept her from an impulsive mistake that could have ruined her life.
Today, though, the beach was deserted. She paddled close to shore, pulled the kayak up onto the sand, then went for a swim before tossing her towel on a tiny patch of warm sand and lying down to dry off in the last rays of the day’s sun.
Exhausted, she fell asleep almost immediately. When she awoke, darkness was falling rapidly as it seemed to do especially quickly on fall afternoons.
Muttering an expletive, she grabbed her towel, but when she turned toward where she’d left the kayak, she realized that it was gone, pulled back out to sea on the tide. In the dusk, she could actually see it bobbing on the waves, which set off a few more curses.
Now what? She could probably swim out to retrieve it, but in the gathering darkness, she recognized that wasn’t smart. She had her cell phone, though, so she could call for help. Connor or even Kevin would probably come and rescue her. But they’d also lecture her from now till next Sunday about being irresponsible. She could probably even hike through the woods and get to Connor’s place, but the same issue would confront her if she appeared on his doorstep and explained what had happened. Besides, as close as Driftwood Cottage probably was if she walked directly there, it would be way too easy to get turned around in the woods after dark.
Almost without realizing she was doing it, she found Will’s number on her phone. His lectures would probably be only a shade more bearable than her brothers’, but she made the call before she could talk herself out of it.
“Jess?”
“Hi,” she said, relaxing at the sound of his voice.
“Where are you? I can barely hear you.”
“I’m on my cell. I’m at Moonlight Cove.”
“What on earth are you doing there at this hour? It’ll be dark any minute.”
“Believe me, I know that. I hate to bother you, but there’s a problem.”
“What kind of problem?” he asked, his tone suddenly crisp and efficient. “Tell me.”
“It seems my kayak
