Chapter 7

As the door swung shut behind him, Calder squinted at the bright late-morning sunshine. Interesting day. Idling at the curb was the blue beast . . . and a pensive-looking Scarlett. And it’s not even noon yet. He’d expected she’d be testy from being kept waiting. He really needed to stop assuming the worst about her.

“Your gravel, ma’am,” he said and motioned toward the trunk.

She looked up, clearly startled from her thoughts, making him wonder what had brought that brooding expression to her face. Then her eyebrows climbed even higher. “You. Again.”

“Small town,” he replied, motioning again to the trunk.

She leaned down and reached around for the lever, then popped the lid for him. “Why are you here?”

“According to you? To destroy the Blue family and civilized life in the Cove as you know it.”

She gave him an arched look. “I meant here at Hartley’s, but never mind, it’s none of—just never mind. If you could put that in the trunk, I really need to get back over to the pub. Careful, the