Every Little Thing (Hart's Boardwalk 2)

m,” Mom said.

“Cherry, you there?” Dad ignored that comment.

“Right here, Dad.”

“I thought your mother scared you off.”

“Not yet. Give her time.”

He laughed and then after a moment of silence . . . “Everything is okay back there? You don’t need me to fly up to see you?”

I fiddled with the silver necklace Dahlia had made me. She designed jewelry and sold it in her gift shop. She’d made me a necklace with a silver cherry blossom tree pendant, because my dad’s nickname for me was Cherry. I was kind of a daddy’s girl, and I missed not seeing him every day. My parents visited every year for several weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and they usually stayed a few weeks in May before the tourist season hit. They missed me and they missed Hartwell, but I knew they loved their life in Florida and hated flying. Visiting so soon after their last trip was kind but I didn’t need them to do that for me. I hoped my dad heard my grateful smile in my words. “I’m really okay.”

“And Ian Devlin? Has he been bothering you?”

No, but as I remembered the smug, calculating look in Stu Devlin’s eyes last night I had to wonder if they’d decided to try to exploit me while I was vulnerable.

Except they’d underestimated me because I was far from vulnerable.

“Nope. And if they try, I can handle it.”

My dad was stern. “You’ll tell me if they try.”

“Of course.” Although I probably wouldn’t because I really could handle myself.

“Okay. We’ll let you get on. Talk soon.”

“Bye, Dad. Love you.”

“Love you, too, Cherry.”

“Love you, sweetie!” my mom called, her voice sounding distant like she was in another room. “I’ll send that link!”

I laughed. “Love you, Mom.”

As soon as I hung up, the phone rang again. I sighed, wondering if I’d ever get that ad posted. “Good afternoon, Hart’s Inn, Bailey speaking.”

“Why is that bastard Devlin calling me about the inn?” My brother, Charlie, sounded aggravated.

I groaned and buried my head in my free hand.

The next day the clouds rolled over Hartwell and the rain descended in a deluge. Like Dahlia and Jessica, I’d risked my neck on the slippery boards to get to Emery’s for lunch. She made the yummiest little sandwiches and canapés and we’d arranged the lunch last week. There was no way a little—okay, a lot of—rain was getting in our way of those canapés!

I moaned around a mouthful of one with crabmeat and shivered as the delicious heat from the roaring fire in her store warmed us. Emery had a reading nook next to the open fireplace where we were currently huddled.

She had decided to close the store for lunch, giving us guaranteed privacy to enjoy a girlie lunch break.

“I can’t believe Devlin called your parents and brother.” Jessica’s hazel eyes darkened with concern. “It sounds like he’s planning something. This is how it started when he was coming after Cooper.”

As worried as she sounded, I wasn’t. There was nothing Devlin could do to me but pester me with offers on the inn, and I could handle that. “It’ll be fine. Emery, what are in these?”

“It’s a secret.” She grinned, knowing that would drive me crazy.

“You’re lucky you’re cute.” I reached for another.

“Hey.” Dahlia playfully smacked my hand away. “You’ve had more than your share of those.”

“But I’m too skinny,” I pouted. “I want a bigger ass and boobs.”