Every Little Thing (Hart's Boardwalk 2)

Yes, I was determined now.

My only course was to move on and see where starting over would take me.

SEVEN

Bailey

“Why am I getting a call to see if we’ve changed our minds about selling the inn?” my dad said without preamble.

It was the day after my tranquil midnight swim and decision to make a go at this whole starting-over business. In an attempt to do just that I’d decided to hell with my control freakery. If I wanted to start dating, I needed a personal life. And in order to have a personal life I needed to learn to trust someone to be my inn manager.

I was in my office, in the middle of posting the manager position ad online, when my dad called.

“What are you talking about? Did Ian Devlin call you? I own the inn.”

“Along with your sister and brother. Something I reminded Ian.”

I rolled my eyes. “Yeah. Sure. They’re here every day to help out.”

“You know what I mean. Technically they are also part owners with you. But that’s beside the point. Devlin is concerned the inn is too much stress for you considering your recent breakup with Tom, and thought perhaps we, as good parents, were considering selling the place to ease your burden.”

I heard sarcasm in my father’s voice so I knew he hadn’t bought that crock of crap. “Does that man have no shame? For your information, Dad, I am more than fine. In fact, I’ve decided to get a new manager. And not because I’m stressing over my breakup, but because if I want to move on, I need a personal life.”

“I couldn’t agree more!” I heard my mother shout in the background.

“Oh, by the way, you’re on speakerphone.”

“You know I hate it when you do that. I can’t bitch about Mom when you do that.”

“Funny,” Mom said. “Does that mean you’re considering dating?”

There was more than a hint of curiosity in the question so I gave a rather guarded, “Perhaps.”

“Wonderful! Our neighbor, Kelly Hewitt, has a grandson in Dover. Can you believe that? How small is this world?”

“Oh yeah, it’s small alright.” I was not even surprised my mother had already lined up a date for me.

I thought I heard my father chuckle under his breath.

“His name is Hugh Hewitt. Isn’t that adorable?” my mother continued.

“And he’s still speaking to his parents?”

My father gave a bark of laughter.

“Oh, Bailey, hush. It’s a perfectly musical name.”

“That’s a very diplomatic way to put it, Mom.”

“Anyway, Hugh is forty years old, has a full head of hair, is an accountant, and recently divorced. I thought you’d have lots in common and I showed Kelly your picture and she thinks you’re just so gorgeous. So we thought it might be nice if you two met. I can send you his Facebook profile link if you’d like so it’s not a blind date. But I think he’s very handsome. You needn’t be concerned.”

Ah, what the hell. “Sure, Mom. Send me the link.”

“Now that you’re done pushing Cherry into a date with an accountant who must spend most of his days fending off name-based mockery, can I talk to my daughter again?” Dad said.

I had to press my lips together to silence my laughter.

“And you wonder where she gets her smart mouth fro