The Truest Thing (Hart's Boardwalk 4)

They exchanged barbs often. Sometimes it was entertaining. Other times it was hard to watch. Like last year when I’d offered to supplement everyone’s income if we boardwalk owners had to shut down in protest against the corruption amongst our bureaucrats and Ian Devlin. Tremaine hadn’t been happy with me for letting everyone know about my money situation, and I’d felt a little silly for being open to trusting people only to be scolded. The scolding was tempered by Tremaine’s obvious desire to protect me, which was nice. What wasn’t nice—and was in fact upsetting—was watching how hurt Bailey was when Vaughn said, in front of everyone, that he didn’t like her.

Foolish man.

Anyone who was paying attention (and I, the constant romantic, was always paying attention) could see the way Vaughn looked at Bailey when she wasn’t aware of it.

Longing.

Pure longing.

And I suspected Bailey was equally attracted to Vaughn.

I just didn’t know how that would play out and if it should so soon after Bailey’s breakup with Tom. Yet I was eager to find out. But with Ian Devlin turning his evil plotting toward Bailey now that he assumed she was vulnerable, her romantic entanglements were the least of her concerns.

Ian Devlin.

He really was the devil.

“I can’t believe Devlin called your parents and brother,” Jessica said. Ian had gone behind Bailey’s back and made overtures to her parents and her brother Charlie who owned shares in the inn. He voiced his concerns that “Bailey wasn’t able to cope with running the inn at this juncture” and might be better off selling it.

Asshole.

“It sounds like he’s planning something. This is how it started when he was coming after Cooper.”

Bailey didn’t appear all that worried. “It’ll be fine. Emery, what are in these?”

“It’s a secret,” I teased, knowing how much she liked to know everything.

She reached for another, shooting me a mock glare. “You’re lucky you’re cute.”

I warmed at our teasing.

It was so nice to be myself and not worry about offending or upsetting or chasing people away with my shyness. It had taken Jess’s influence to show me that I could trust Bailey and Dahlia to accept me just as I was.

“Hey.” Dahlia playfully pushed Bailey’s hand away. “You’ve had more than your share of those.”

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

Dahlia rolled her eyes at her friend, and I assumed it was because Bailey didn’t actually mean it. I’d never met anyone as confident or self-assured as Bailey. She seemed to like herself wholly, and I admired that so much about her.

Not that I had self-image issues. I was content with what I saw in the mirror. I’d been told I was my mother’s spitting image, and she was hailed as the diamond of her debutante ball. But I wished I had Bailey’s sense of self. She liked herself. I didn’t completely dislike who I was. Yet, I knew I could be a better version of myself. Braver. Like Jack once had, Bailey inspired me to be braver.

“What’s with the sudden scowl?” Dahlia’s voice brought me out of my musings. Her question was directed at Bailey.

“Just thinking about Devlin and his never-ending need to be a pain in the ass.”

“You should tell Vaughn,” Jess suggested.

“What?” Bailey’s eyes widened, and something guilty crossed her expression. Like she’d been caught doing something she shouldn’t. “Tell him what?”

“That Devlin is gearing up to bother you.”

Relief flickered in her expression.

Hmm.

What on earth did she think Jessica had meant?

“Vaughn told Cooper that he wouldn’t let Devlin cause trouble for us and I believe him. I know you have your issues with him, but this is bigger than that.”