Small-Town Girl. Jessica Keller

can spend a bunch of money to impress a girl who will just dump him later on?”

      Well, that went horribly.

      “Some people actually end up happy and married.” Not her. Or anyone she knew very well. But that didn’t stop her from hoping it was true. Kendall blew out a long stream of air that ruffled her dark bangs. “Anyway. I wanted to introduce myself and make sure that sound wasn’t going to be a constant thing. Since you said it’s not, I’ll head back to my place and try to accomplish something before locking up for the night. Nice meeting you both.”

      She retreated to her side before either of them could get in another word. Rounding her desk, she dropped into the rolling chair and pressed her face into her hands.

      Five weeks ago she’d sold more than half of her possessions and moved to a town she’d never visited before to open a new business. Her home back in Kentucky hadn’t been the type of place to attract tourists, and the pull for a business like hers there was almost nonexistent. There was one small country club in her hometown where she’d worked, but that would have been the extent of her clientele. In Goose Harbor, where new tourists flooded the streets each week of the summer, the possibility for work was endless.

      But had it all been another mistake waiting to happen? Would everyone react the way Brice had? One more thing to add to the list of failures she’d experienced in her life?

      Kendall prayed for guidance but only heard the murmur of the Daniels brothers talking next door.

      * * *

      Brice grabbed the broom out of the back room and started sweeping the sawdust from his brother’s latest creation into a pile. He’d already put in a full day’s work down at his shipping business near the dock but hadn’t felt like going back to his empty cabin after he sent his men home for the day. The cryptic voice mail from his father on his business’s answering machine might have something to do with that.

      Evan locked the front door and grinned at Brice. “She’s cute.”

      “Leave the poor woman alone, Evan.” Brice shook his head. His brother always showered attention on attractive women. Actually the trait had gotten Evan into trouble far too many times in his life. The whispers even reached the docks. Women visiting Goose Harbor loved batting their eyes at Brice’s younger brother. There were some who came a few months each summer trying to win Evan over. Little did they know, Evan was a lost cause where love was concerned. Brice had been around and seen the women in action, though. His brother didn’t shy from their attention, and—right or wrong—it brought him sales.

      “Admit it.” Evan nudged him in the ribs. “You thought she was cute too.”

      Evan had always been considered the best-looking and most charismatic of the Daniels brothers. Not that he had much competition when compared to only Brice. Most people had forgotten or chose not to talk about their middle brother, Andrew, who took off years ago. Brice hadn’t heard from him in a good four years. He clenched his fist. Their little sister, Laura, hadn’t even been ten years old when Andrew left. How could his brother have done that to the family?

      Brice found the dustpan and filled it twice. “You know better than me—cute is dangerous.”

      His brother watched him work for a moment before speaking. “Not every woman is Audra.”

      Brice winced. While thoughts of Audra didn’t bother him any longer, he still wanted to avoid that part of his life. Love had the same effect on the heart as a stingray barb did. It hurt and had the potential of killing something inside a man that didn’t ever want to be revived again.

      “I didn’t come here to talk to you about women.”

      Evan cocked his head and clearly fought a smile. “Half the time you act like you’re allergic to all of humanity and hole yourself up in your cabin all alone. Tonight you just happen to wander down to my shop in the heart of where the tourists hang out. I know you too well. You wouldn’t be here unless you had something serious to talk about.”

      Brice scrubbed his hand over his aching jaw. His TMJ was acting up again. “How many times do I have to tell you that introverts don’t necessarily dislike people, we just prefer being alone more?”

      “There are introverts and then there are hermits.” Evan held up both hands like a scale. “You, brother, lean much closer to the second category, I’m afraid. But that’s neither here nor there. What do you need?”

      Brice’s brother had always possessed an ability to read people. Or maybe it only worked where Brice was concerned, since he and Evan had been through so much together. Brothers couldn’t spend hours as children huddled under piles of clothes in their closet, praying their father’s rampage ended before he found them, without becoming close.

      Tell Evan about Dad’s voice mail? No. Not today.

      Brice shoved his hands deep into his pockets. “I need advice.”

      “All right.” Evan hopped up so he was seated on top of the counter by the register. “Shoot.”

      “My business is in trouble.”

      Evan’s eyes grew wide. “What kind of trouble? Do you need money? I could—”

      Brice stopped Evan’s words by holding up his hands. “I didn’t come here to ask you for money. I hate admitting it, but I think I bit off more than I can chew. I’m not in serious trouble—at least not yet—but I could be soon if business keeps going in the direction it’s heading right now.”

      “Are you behind on bills?”

      “Not yet.”

      “Listen.” Evan slid back down so he was standing on the floor. He crossed the room so he was inches away from Brice and lowered his voice. “Don’t mess with Sesser. Whatever you do, promise me you won’t go into debt to that man. He will... Just don’t get in debt to him.”

      “Evan, I know what he did to you. I won’t—”

      “Promise me.” Evan growled the words through clenched teeth. A vein on his neck bulged.

      Brice dropped a hand onto his brother’s shoulder. “I won’t go into debt to the likes of him. You know I wouldn’t do that. I’d lose my house and move in with your hide before missing a payment to that man.”

      “Good.” Evan lifted his shoulders, making Brice’s hand fall, and strode away from him. “So, what—exactly—is going on?”

      “When I first started, shipments were good. But last winter was colder than normal and there was less of a demand. Last summer, since things seemed to be going well, I purchased more boats. And not just barges, all different kinds. If business had kept up like it had been, I would have been able to start socking away money. But it didn’t. Do you know how expensive upkeep on a boat is?”

      Evan shrugged and glanced around his furniture shop. “Costs a lot more than buying wood.”

      “And if those boats are just sitting in dock, taking a space that I have to pay for and not doing anything...they become a red line in my accounting books.”

      “You still use actual books? The sort with paper and pens?”

      “Stay on topic, will you?”

      “Sorry. Too many boats.”

      “Better.” Brice turned away from his brother and watched the people seated outside, on vacation, joking with one another. Had he ever taken a break or just gone away from home? Not other than college...and that could hardly have been considered a break. “I think I need to start selling off my boats and cut my fleet to just the two or three that are constantly in use. Then I’ll just pray that none of them break down.”

      Short term, the unused boats might be a problem, but they only masked what truly bothered him. Sesser Atwood was the real issue.

      What Brice wouldn’t give to get out from under that millionaire’s thumb. Everything the man touched