Her Summer Crush. Linda Hope Lee

BEFORE NOON, Cody headed to Charlie’s Fish House, a favorite of his. Charlie’s hadn’t changed since he’d last been there. The same plain wooden tables and chairs, the same counter with red vinyl stools, the same chalkboard menu hanging on the wall.

      As he stood in line to place his order, he heard a familiar voice behind him say, “Well, look who’s here.”

      He turned to see Luci’s older brother, Don. “Hey, what’s the banker doing at Charlie’s? I’d expect you to choose someplace like the Beach Café.”

      “Not unless I’m entertaining clients. How come you’re by yourself?”

      “First day on the job, and Luci didn’t want to leave the office.”

      Don stuck his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels. “Ah, so you accepted Glen’s job offer.”

      “I did. The money will come in handy.”

      “Having you in town for a while will be like old times. Wanna share a table?”

      “Sure.”

      When they got to the front of the line, Cody chose the fish-fries-chowder combo, a house specialty. They took their tickets and sat at a window table. Other diners filled the deck, and on the beach below, several kids played volleyball while two golden Labrador retrievers chased each other around the dunes. Cody let his gaze wander over the scene, automatically framing pictures. After lunch, he’d take a walk on the beach and capture some of the action.

      “So, how’s your first day going?” Don asked.

      Cody shrugged. “Glen’s a little full of himself, but I can deal with him. I’m more worried about your sister. She’s not happy with the situation. Maybe she’s decided she doesn’t like me.”

      Don’s grin turned sly. “The problem is she likes you too much.”

      Cody jerked to attention. “Say what?”

      “You heard me. You might see clearly through that lens—” he pointed to Cody’s camera “—but without it, you’re kinda nearsighted.”

      Cody shook his head. “Are you sure? I know she had a crush on me years ago, but she’s over that, right?”

      “I don’t think so.”

      “Did she actually tell you that?”

      “Ah, no.”

      “Did she tell anyone you know? Francine? Arliss? Your parents?”

      “Not that I know of.” Don spread his hands. “But, trust me, I know my sister and what goes on in her mind. Well, most of the time.”

      Cody waved that aside. “Anyone who says they know what goes on in a woman’s mind is kidding themselves.”

      Don laughed. “You can think what you want, and I’ll know what I know.”

      A waiter arrived with their orders, and for the next few minutes, food claimed Cody’s attention. He started with the chowder, which was as good as he remembered: the sauce rich and thick and loaded with clams, bite-size potatoes and bits of bacon.

      When he came up for air, he looked at the hamburger on Don’s plate. “You’re having a burger when there’s all this great seafood?”

      Don took a sip of his Coke and set down the glass. “Arliss is on a fish kick. After three nights of salmon—broiled, loafed and quiched—I’m ready for a change.”

      “She’s gonna keep you healthy.”

      “She’s trying, anyway.”

      Cody sliced off a piece of fish and popped it into his mouth. “Married life agrees with you,” he said when he’d chewed and swallowed. “Never would have thought it. And your job, too. Look at you, all dressed for the part.” He nodded at Don’s blue dress shirt and tan slacks.

      Don laughed and then sobered. “Maybe so, but I told Dad no tie. Never.”

      “He still wear one?”

      Don rolled his eyes. “Oh, yeah. But at his age, he can be excused. Tell you the truth, though, I’d rather be fishing.”

      “Are you sorry you followed your dad into the world of finance?”

      Don looked away. When he turned back to Cody, his eyes were troubled. “Yes, I am sorry.”

      Cody grimaced. “That’s a shame. You worked hard to be where you are.”

      “I know.” Don put a finger to his lips. “So don’t tell the old man. The money’s good, and it comes in handy when you have a wife and two kids, which I wouldn’t trade for anything, mind you.”

      “Well, I’m glad you and Arliss are happy together.”

      “For sure. But marriage is not for guys like you.”

      Cody dipped a French fry into the ketchup on his plate. “What do you mean, ‘guys like me’?”

      “You’re not a nester.”

      Cody wrinkled his nose. “A what?”

      “A nester. You need to settle down someplace, especially if you plan to have kids. That’s what Arliss said before we were married. ‘Where’s our nest, honey?’”

      “Huh, the only nests I get close to are filled with birds.”

      Don laughed. “Figures.”

      “So, back to Luci. You don’t mind that we’re working together when she’s got a thing for me? I’d think you’d want to protect her.”

      Don put his burger on his plate and leaned forward. “Have you met my sister? She’s got a mind of her own. You don’t mess with her. But in your situation, she writes and you take pictures. You’re a winning combo.”

      “Sure. We’ll be working together. That’s all.”

      Don shrugged and picked up his burger again. “That’s up to you.”

      Cody finished his meal and wiped his lips with his napkin. “Why do I feel like she and I are some sort of experiment you’re all watching? Lab rats or something.”

      “Your mind is weird, my friend. I’ll have to think on that. Just don’t hurt my sister, okay?”

      Cody raised both hands. “Of course I won’t. You’ve got my word on that.”

      “Just kidding. I know you wouldn’t.”

      When they were on their way out of the restaurant, Don said, “You still going fishing with me and Max on Saturday?”

      “I’m looking forward to it.”

      Max Billings was another friend from high school. The three of them fished a lot back then, and when Cody was in town, they kept up that tradition.

      “Great. Max is bringing a new guy in town, Ben somebody.”

      Cody gave a thumbs-up. “As they say, the more, the merrier.”

      Don headed back to work, and Cody went to the beach, his thoughts centered on Luci. If she still had feelings for him, maybe their working together this summer wasn’t such a good idea. Maybe he should’ve turned down Glen’s offer.

      But he did need the money. He had a few checks coming in from some freelance jobs, but not a steady salary. Not that he wanted steady. He didn’t want to be tied down, day after day doing the same thing, with the same people, in the same place. That routine might work for some, but not him.

      A shout from teenagers playing Frisbee caught his attention. The orange disc sailed high into the air, and their cocker spaniel leaped after it. Cody grabbed his camera and went to work. Fifteen minutes later, after the kids ambled off down the beach, he sat on a log reviewing what he’d captured. One photo caught a boy with his hand outstretched,