I knew it must be true because Cash dodged the credit and said, “I’m taking the supplies in. Join me whenever you’re all ready.”

  The guys went with him, past the ballroom, to the west wing hall, leaving me with a group of women I barely knew, all who’d shown up to help with a task I’d been dreading.

  “I’m so overwhelmed. You don’t even know me and you’re going to spend your Sunday painting?”

  “Hey, we’ll have fun,” Anna said.

  “Painting party,” Shawna called out. “But first…give me one of those cookies, Olivia.”

  “Shawna’s just here for the cookies,” Magnolia teased.

  “I’ll take her for whatever reason she showed up,” I said, laughing. “Let’s take the cookies with us. I’ve got donuts out here for the guests.”

  “I’ll take those right off your hands,” Shawna said as she relieved Olivia of the box, making us all laugh. “Anyone wants one, you can follow me.”

  “Ava,” Magnolia said with a hand on my arm as everyone else except Anna headed toward the west wing. “I assume you haven’t had the perfect manager pop up in the past twelve hours?”

  “Ah, no,” I said, laughing again, because if I didn’t laugh, I might cry.

  “I was telling Anna you were looking for someone to run this place when you move back to California. Anna’s a property manager for Shoreline Rentals.”

  I turned to the pretty, friendly brunette. “Really? They have rental homes around here somewhere, right?”

  “They have a development on the southeast side of the lake, close to Runner. We’re currently at thirty-six vacation homes and building another dozen in the next two years.”

  “I remember now. My aunt mentioned them when they started building. It seems like it was a few years ago?”

  “That’s right. It’ll be five years. I’ve worked there since the first construction was in progress.”

  “So you manage all thirty-six homes?”

  “Some of them are owned and rented by us, and some have private owners, most of whom have us manage for them. As a matter of fact, Zane and Cole’s brother Gabe owns a couple of them.”

  “Small world.”

  “Let’s just say it’s a smart investment,” Anna said. “Anyway, I currently manage thirty-two of them. I handle all the rental schedules, the maintenance, the cleaning between renters—”

  “She runs the whole place, basically,” Magnolia cut in. “Her boss is all about the construction, so he’s occupied with that.”

  “He is. And he can have it. Construction is chock full of delays and problems with supplies these days.” Anna laughed, and I found it impossible not to like her. A lot.

  “Are you looking for a new job?” I asked.

  “I wasn’t,” Anna said. “I like what I do. I like my boss and the people I work with. I just got back in town from a conference on the East Coast for property managers and learned a lot. I heard about your aunt right before I went—I’m so sorry for your loss.” She grasped my wrist with a small hand with gorgeous, modest-length aquamarine-painted nails. “Phyllis was such a sweet lady.”

  I swallowed, wondering when this would ever get easier. “Thanks. She was.” I managed to smile. “She loved this place so much. I want to find someone who will love it too and run it for me.”

  “I’ve always liked this place,” Anna said, her eyes lighting up, making me believe her. “From the name to the front porch to the view. This place is special to Dragonfly Lake.”

  “That’s how my aunt felt,” I said.

  “I’m going to help them get the painting going,” Magnolia said. “You two can talk.”

  “Thanks, Magnolia,” I said. “Get yourself a cookie. We’re going to need our energy.”

  “You don’t have to tell me twice. I haven’t had breakfast.”

  Anna and I laughed. “Let’s go in here,” I said to Anna, gesturing toward the gathering room—for one, to give us a little privacy from Deshon and Sadie at the desk, and two, because that lake view was one of the best parts of the inn, and part of me already wanted Anna to fall in love.

  She followed me through the doorway, and we ended up by the windows, facing the bright, sunshine-dappled lake. “When Magnolia told me she was working here, she mentioned you were looking for a manager,” Anna said. “Like I said, I wasn’t looking, but I’d love to know more about what you want, what the position would entail, what role you’ll be playing, things like that. Not necessarily now.”

  “I suddenly have more time than I thought, thanks to a bunch of awesome people.”

  “Cash is pretty great,” Anna said, giving me a knowing look.

  “He is.” I couldn’t help smiling at the thought of him.

  Fifteen minutes later, I’d laid out everything for Anna, from the ongoing projects to the marketing rebuild I hoped to do for the inn to the hires I’d made in the past week and the additional ones I’d budgeted for. It wasn’t an official interview, but I asked her multiple questions and got a lot of info and, more importantly, got a feel for the kind of person she was. She’d been three years behind me in school. Her grandfather had made the Welcome to Dragonfly Lake sign on the highway coming into town, so her roots ran deep here, and she seemed to love living in this thriving little tourist town. Working as a property manager had provided her with experience that would be a great fit for the inn. She was personable, friendly, and intelligent, and when we agreed to meet for an official interview tomorrow evening, I had a fluttery, optimistic feeling in my gut.

  “I see something I need to check out on the deck real quick,” I told her as we were about to head toward the west wing and help paint. “Tell Cash and the others I’ll be there in five.”

  “You got it. Can’t wait to talk more tomorrow, Ava.” She went back through the lobby, and I went outside to straighten the outdoor chairs that’d been left in a cluster by a family reunion group last night.

  Outside, the early-morning sunshine felt good after the air-conditioned inn. As I moved the chairs to their usual casual but organized groupings, I tried to get my brain to catch up with the past half hour.

  A dozen people had showed up to help me. People who didn’t even know me well, some who I’d never met before. It was more than a little incredible and so exactly what I’d needed mentally—not to mention physically.

  It was mostly quiet out here, with a trio of twentysomethings on the docks, getting some early-morning rays, and a young family sitting out on one of the upper-level private decks, the parents chatting quietly and their infant son cooing every now and then as they fed him. As I picked up the last chair to carry to its spot, a door must’ve opened on the west wing because I could suddenly hear a bunch of voices, laughing, talking—probably my insta-paint crew.

  When I glanced in that direction, Cash appeared around the corner of the building, walking in my direction.

  I set the chair in place, adjusting it just so, and when I straightened, he was at my side, shining his panty-melting smile down on me. I felt it in my chest as well as my nethers.

  “Hey.” I went up on my toes and kissed him. “Your friends and family are awesome.”

  “They are. This town is like that,” he said, his big palms landing at the sides of my waist. “They jump in to help when someone needs it.”

  I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him again. “Thank you, Cash. The painting will be done about ten times faster because of the help.”

  He kissed me back, pulling my body into his solid one, and I almost wished there wasn’t a crowd of people here to help us so we could blow off the job and disappear back into the cottage.

  “Oh,” I said, ending the kiss abruptly in my enthusiasm. “And Anna Delfico…what do you know about her?”

  “She’s good people. One of those types that everyone likes.”

  I nodded, thrilled that he was backing up my initial impression of her. “We’re meeting tomorrow night to discuss the management position.”

  “For the inn?” His approval was audible.

  I nodded again, feeling light enough that I could bounce on my toes.

  “I like it. From what I know of her, she’d be good.”

  I took hold of his hands and peered up at him, my heart overflowing with gratitude. Not only was he thoughtful and generous and really damn good at keeping me fed with out-of-this-world food, but he was my biggest supporter here. Though the inn was mine, there were so many decisions to be made, and he’d heard me out on multitudes of them and weighed in when I’d asked.

  “You’re incredible, Cash. I appreciate you.”

  When I went up on my toes again to press one more kiss to his lips before we got back to the painting crew, he caught my head and held me there, lingering over my lips. I felt his attention in every inch of my body. When the kiss ended, he gazed down at me, looking so one-hundred-percent into me. I couldn’t deny it—I felt the same about him.

  As I lowered back to my heels, the realization hit me with the force of a blunt but deadly object.

  I’d gone and done the worst thing ever. I’d fallen in love—again—with Cash Henry.

  Chapter 20

  Cash

  “You”—Ava lowered herself to my lap, sitting sideways on the lounger out by the lake—“are wonderful and thoughtful and one of my favorite people in the whole entire world.”

  “One of your favorites?” I teased. I leaned forward and lowered my voice so the group around us couldn’t hear. “Guess I’ll have to campaign for a higher ranking later tonight.”

  She laughed and kissed me briefly, touching our foreheads together. “Promise?”

  “Count on it.” She had me smiling like a dumb ass, which was a feat considering I’d never been known as a smiley guy and certainly not after spending a full day painting.

  She went serious, sitting up straighter. “Thank you, Cash. I can’t believe how much we got done.”

  “That was these folks.” I waved toward the group surrounding us on the inn’s private beach, some of them on loungers like us, some standing in a group closer to the water, all of them in some stage of devouring the pizza Chloe had brought us. Holden’s pregnant wife hadn’t wanted to inhale paint fumes all day, so she’d taken on the task of keeping us in meals and drinks.

  “But you’re the one who asked them. Without you doing that, you and I might’ve managed two guest rooms. Instead we painted the entire west wing.”

  “That we did. They’re wonderful and thoughtful people.” I leaned closer again. “I’m just counting the minutes until I can get you naked.”

  It wasn’t a lie, but this moment itself was pretty damn incredible, having this beautiful woman looking down at me with her eyes sparkling and her appreciative, joy-filled smile aimed at me.

  She kissed me again, this one lingering a little, sparking my hunger for her instead of sating it. It was over too quickly. “The sun’s sinking fast,” she said. “I need to close all the doors up there to keep the bugs out.”

  “Let me do it. You stay here and rest and be social.”

  She looked about to protest, so I cut her off by touching my finger to her lips. “I insist.”

  After studying me for a moment, she smiled and rose to her feet so I could get up. “Don’t forget to lock them—”

  “I’ll lock the doors, close the windows, make sure the box fans are on high. I’ll lock each interior door too.”

  “Please.” She extended her hand to help me up.

  Taking hold of it just to touch her, not because I needed help, I resisted the urge to pull her back down on top of me, stood, and kissed her before heading up to the building.

  I went in through one of the open guest room doors and systematically made my way through all of the rooms, closing them up for the night and turning the lights off. The sand color we’d painted all twelve rooms was drying evenly. A second coat wouldn’t be necessary thanks to the premium one-coat paint Jake had recommended.

  After the first-floor rooms were locked up, I went up to the second and did the same, then went back down, this time through the lobby. Magnolia had left the paint crew early to shower and cover the desk this evening as scheduled. I knew she wasn’t particularly liked around town, but I didn’t have any bones to pick with her. Now that her rich daddy wasn’t controlling her, she seemed to be legitimately trying to make her own way and be a decent person. She’d been good to Ava, between helping at the desk—granted, as a paid employee—and becoming a friend, and that’s what mattered to me.

  “Hey, Magnolia. Did Chloe drop off some pizza for you?”

  “A whole pie,” Magnolia said. “I ate two pieces and I’m stuffed. Why don’t you take the rest down to the group. Someone will clean it up.”

  “We’ve got plenty. How about I put it in the fridge in the kitchen and you can take it home with you. We’ve got pizza coming out of our ears.”

  There was a wary look in her eyes for a split second, but then she smiled and nodded. “Sure. If you guys have enough.”

  “More than. Come down and join us if you want. I’m sure Ava won’t mind if you put the sign up.”

  “I might do that after I make note of the reservation I just took.” She pointed to a notepad.

  I nodded, started on my way, then paused. “Thanks for rounding up your friends. It means a lot to Ava—and if Anna works out as a manager…”

  She smiled genuinely. “I hope it does. I don’t know if Anna wants it or if Ava will like her, but to me, it seems like it’d be perfect.”

  “Can I bring you a drink?” I asked, thinking she wasn’t unlikable after all.

  “I’ve got a big ice water, but thanks.”

  “Okay. See you.” I took the pizza box with the leftover pizza to the kitchen and stuck it in the fridge.

  When I went out onto the main deck, Knox Breckenridge was leaning on the railing, peering at the painting crew below. Like a reflex, I gritted my teeth at the sight of his pretty-boy head, but then I caught myself. Loosened my jaw. Let out my breath.

  “Knox,” I said as I walked up to his side.

  “Hey, Cash.” He straightened and smiled, as friendly as he always was to me, which only highlighted what a jealous prick I’d been. “Looks like I wasn’t invited to the party.”

  My gaze followed his to the gathering, my eyes zeroing in on Ava. She’d moved from the chair where I’d left her and was ensconced in the middle of the women. It looked like my sister was telling a story, with everyone’s attention on her. She made a gesture with her hands, and we could hear the feminine laughter peal from here. My eyes were glued to Ava, who threw her head back as she laughed. I loved seeing her laugh, especially after how down she’d been when she’d first come to town after her aunt’s death.

  “Don’t feel too bad,” I told Knox. “It was a painting party. We painted the rooms in the west wing.” I hadn’t thought about asking him, but even if I had, I wasn’t sure I would’ve. Which was ridiculous. I was the one in Ava’s bed every night. I understood, at least now, that the ties between Ava and Knox were only platonic and professional.

  “All of them?” he asked.

  “Every last one. Ava treated everyone to pizza, beer, and soda.”

  “Well earned, I’d say. That’s a lot of rooms.”

  “It wasn’t bad with so many people.”

  “Looks like most of your family showed up,” Knox said, nodding to the guys who were at the shore now, horsing around.

  “I’m related to all four of them,” I said. “The two who aren’t Henrys are Norths and they’re my new stepbrothers, one of them a brother-in-law too.” I chuckled at the convoluted family tree we Henrys and Norths made.

  “I’ve met Hayden’s husband, Zane.”

  “The other one is Cole. His wife is Sierra.” I pointed her out. “Our dad married Cole and Zane’s mom, Faye.”

  Knox stood up straighter and glanced around, as if looking for the older couple. “They didn’t get roped into painting, huh?”

  I grinned at the phrase roped into. “Actually, I suspect they would’ve been here helping, but they ended up babysitting Hayden’s son and some other grandkids.”

  He leaned forward on the railing again. “I guess you had a big enough crew to get the job done.”

  “I’m surprised you didn’t hear us. We weren’t a quiet bunch. We wouldn’t have turned down more help.”

  He looked at me as if to gauge whether I meant it. Maybe, if he’d shown up, I would’ve grumbled to myself, but today was about Ava, and I liked to think I would’ve lived and let live—or painted and let paint.

  Turning back to the scene below us, where Zane had swept Hayden up in his arms and was holding her over the water, threatening to drop her, Knox said, “I was downtown for most of the day with my laptop. Spent the morning at the bakery, grabbed lunch at the diner, then found a bench on the square and tried to get unstuck on my book but mostly people watched. A frustrating day overall. Painting would’ve been more fun and more productive.”

  I was surprised he’d shared that much with me. God knew we’d never been buddies. My doing, of course. “Ava said your story’s good,” I offered.

  “She read my first one. I appreciate her taking time to read a newbie like me.”

  “She loves writing, talking writing, reading writing. I’m sure she enjoyed it,” I said. “Maybe see if she has suggestions for getting unstuck.”

  “She volunteered to read what I have, which isn’t much. I keep telling myself I did it once. I can write another one. I suspect the first one went so fast because I didn’t know any better.”

  “I don’t know how you guys do it,” I said, letting the thoughts I’d had toward Ava’s writing surface.

  “Just like I don’t know how you create the dishes at Henry’s. Creativity’s weird, I guess.”

  Not everyone understood the creativity involved in being a good chef, and I couldn’t help appreciating his comment. Maybe even almost starting to like him. It wasn’t that hard if I didn’t look at him as someone who was interested in Ava beyond friendship.

  Yeah, I might be slow and stupid. Just look at how I’d handled things seventeen years ago. It’d be nice to be able to say I was less stupid now.