Lighthouse Way (Huckleberry Bay 1)

“Nothing’s urgent, just things falling apart around me,” Wolfe says to her. “I’d appreciate the help.”

“Why don’t you just sell it and buy something else?” I ask him.

“Yeah, you did well with racing,” June points out. “You could buy something a lot nicer.”

“I could,” he says but shakes his head and then pins me with his dark blue gaze. “But I can’t imagine living in Huckleberry Bay and not being on this road. The house will be fine with some repairs.” He looks in the direction of his property. “I’ll see you both soon.”

But it’s me that he winks at before turning to walk out of the barn. My eyes immediately fall to his backside.

Wolfe always did have a nice butt. Somehow, it’s only gotten better.

“I’m going to go figure out how to get that automobile out of here,” he tosses over his shoulder. “I’ll be in touch.”

“Wait, you don’t have my number.”

That stops him in his tracks. He turns and walks back to me, holding out his phone.

“Just send yourself a text.”

“I feel like I’m watching a rom-com unfold before my very eyes,” June says, but I ignore her as I type in my number and send myself a simple hi.

The phone in my back pocket dings.

“Now I have your number.” Wolfe winks at me and turns away once more to leave. His sneakers are quiet on the old wood floor, but they stir up a bit of dust as he walks away. “You’ll hear from me soon.”

June bumps my shoulder with hers after he’s out the door and several seconds have passed.

“I bet you hear about more than that old car.”

“What are you talking about?” I walk over to the far wall and inspect some rotten boards. “Boy, the salty air really does a number on buildings, you know?”

“Of course, I know. I’m a builder. And you just changed the subject.”

“Wolfe’s always been good-looking,” I reply with a shrug. “That hasn’t changed. I’m sure you noticed.”

“As I’m not currently dead, yes, I noticed.”

Another slam comes from the loft.

“I guess the dead lady noticed, too,” June says. “And I saw the way you looked at his ass.”

“That’s not against the law.”

June laughs. “No, definitely not. And if it makes you feel better, he was checking you out, too.”

“We haven’t seen each other in a long time,” I remind her. “So, it makes sense that we were sizing each other up.”

“Right. Yeah, it was only normal. If lusty eyes can be considered normal.”

“Okay, I admit it. Wolfe’s damn hot.” I laugh and then turn to my friend with a shrug. “With a capital H.”

“Did you see the way his muscles strained against that shirt?”

“Maybe he needs a bigger shirt.”

“It would be a shame to cover those muscles,” June says with a smirk and turns to the old Ford. “He was crazy excited about this car. How did we not know that it was out here?”

“No one ever mentioned it,” I reply. “I’ll have to call my dad and ask him about it. The idea of using it as a guest shuttle is awesome.”

“Hell, I’ll book a room just so I can ride in it,” June adds.

“You don’t have to do that.” I grin over at her. “Hey, I wanted to talk to you about Sarah, and since Wolfe brought her up, now’s as good a time as any.”

June’s phone rings, and she immediately reaches for it. “Saved by the bell.”

But then she frowns.

“Just a spam call.” She shoves it back into her pocket. “I don’t really want to talk about Sarah.”

“I know. But, damn it, I’m worried about her, June. I’ve never gone this long without hearing from her. I only have the post office box address, and she hasn’t replied to my last letter.”

“Don’t you think it’s weird that she’s never given you a phone number to call? An email address? Why is she so damn secretive?”

“I think her husband is a controlling ass who doesn’t want her to have anything to do with any of us—or Huckleberry Bay.”

“Clearly. And if she’s willing to live like that, I say let her.”

“June.”

“Listen, I get that you’re the peacekeeper, okay? You always were. You’re a really nice person. But she left us behind without even a backward glance. She left us. So, no, I’m not worried.”

I just stare at her silently until June frowns and blows out a breath.

“Okay, I admit that it’s weird. But damn it, Luna, she made it clear that she doesn’t want us in her life. If she won’t reply to you, there’s a reason for it.”

“I guess so. I can’t help but worry about her, though. She was our best friend.”

“Was,” June says. “And I hate that as much as you do, but I’m not one to beg for attention from someone who doesn’t want me.”

June was always the most stubborn of us all. But she’s also fiercely loyal.