Holiday In the Hamptons (From Manhattan with Love 5)

Those were the questions he’d wanted to ask.

But he’d got one thing cleared up.

An important thing.

“I’d better go. The clinic opens in an hour and there’s always a crowd at this time of year.” He whistled to Lulu. “We’ll be seeing you around, Harriet.”

“Looking forward to it.” Her tone told him she wasn’t looking forward to it at all.

He loaded the dog into his truck and drove back toward his house. It was within easy driving distance to the clinic, down a road that was little more than a rough track.

He’d found the house two years before and fallen in love with the location. The property itself had been a little harder to love, and it had taken every day of those two years to transform it into the home he wanted.

With the help of Chase, who had pulled together a team to help both with the design and the construction, he’d knocked down the single-story building and replaced it with a two-story structure with a double-height dining and living area and a wall of glass opening onto the pool.

The house nestled behind dunes that were part of a bird sanctuary, and in the evenings during the renovation he’d often sat on the deck, nursing a beer, watching the gentle sway of the sea grass and listening to the plaintive call of the gulls.

A short drive and he was on the edge of town, but here there was only the whisper of the wind and the rhythmic crash of the ocean. People had been listening to the same sound for centuries, and there was a simplicity to it, a soporific blend of nature that soothed the senses.

His house lacked the palatial feel of his childhood home, and in his opinion, it was all the better for that.

There were no ghosts here, and no memories.

He let Lulu out of the car and stood for a moment, admiring the lines of his new home.

“Got yourself something good here.” The voice came from behind him, and he turned with a smile.

“Chase! I didn’t notice your car.”

“I was right behind you, but you were obviously thinking about something else.”

Not something, someone.

“I wasn’t expecting to see you this week. I thought you were in Manhattan, wheeling and dealing.” He eyed his friend’s board shorts. “You don’t look much like a CEO of a major corporation.”

“What can I say? I’ve discovered the joys of the weekend.”

“It’s Wednesday.”

Chase grinned. “So the weekend has started early.”

“This from a guy who didn’t used to know what the weekend was. Who are you and what have you done with my friend? On second thoughts, don’t answer that. I like this version of you better. I guess that’s what being married has done to you.” Seth closed the car door. “How’s Matilda?”

“Uncomfortable. The heat is bothering her. The baby’s due in four weeks, and I’m working down here from now until it arrives.” He raked his fingers through his hair, looking uncharacteristically nervous. “I’m going to be a dad. CEO of a family. Toughest job yet.”

“Funny, because I would have said Matilda was CEO of your family. You’re just staff.”

“You could be right about that.” Chase narrowed his eyes as he studied Seth’s house. “It’s coming along.”

“Yes.”

“Are you going to admit I was right about the deck?”

They’d argued about the details by email and in person. “You were right. And I owe you.”

“You’re welcome. And you can pay me in babysitting.”

Seth felt a stab of pain under his ribs. “Not my area of expertise. But if Hero ever needs a vet, I’m your guy.”