Met Her Match (Summer Hill 2)

“And again it’s my fault.” He handed her a cookie, which she devoured in two bites. “I see you’re still always hungry. So where are we going?”

“I’m trying to find Nate.”

“From the gossip I heard, you two are conjoined twins. Did you really live together while he was engaged to Stacy?”

“Yes. And the gossip I heard about you is that you’re going to be the new preacher at St. Anne’s.”

“True.”

She glanced at him. “I think that profession suits you. You’ll...for my mother?”

“Yes,” he said solemnly. “I will conduct the service.”

For a moment they were silent. “You like this guy, huh?” he asked.

“I do.”

“Save it for later.”

“What?”

“The ‘I do.’ Save it for the ceremony that I’ll perform for you two.”

She gave a little laugh.

“So tell me what’s going on. Are we playing detective?”

“Maybe.” As quickly as she could, she told him about Nate’s call and the missing silver bowl.

“With the FBI here, it could be that they discovered an unrelated robbery.”

Her expression told him what she thought of that idea.

“Yeah, I don’t believe it either.”

Terri pulled into the parking lot by the clubhouse. “I want to know what Anna’s heard, then you and I are going to check cabins.” She drained the last of her lemonade.

Billy stopped her as she started to open the door. “Terri, I want to tell you that I’m sorry for what happened. I’ve been talking to people and I’ve heard what you’ve been through because of me. I should have contacted you but I was wallowing in self-pity. I was a kid and about to be a father.”

“It’s okay,” she said. “It’s over now.”

“But it isn’t really. This town seems to think I’m a...a...”

“A saint?” she said. “The Great Billy Thorndyke.”

He was looking at her as though he was understanding something. “It wouldn’t have worked with us, would it?”

“No. I saw that when you were here the other day. We’ve become different people. But then, I guess we always were. Youth and hormones kept us together.”

“You were a challenge to me.”

“I was the only girl who didn’t run after you.”

Billy was silent for a moment. “I hear Nate and you save lives every day.”

“Not quite, but Nate reacts well to emergencies. He thinks quickly. He can fix anything. Boat motors and kids’ bikes and roofs. And he can cook. And people really like him. And he—” She broke off, her face turning red.

“I’m glad for you. Very happy that you found each other.” Billy kissed her cheek, then got out of the car.