Home to Seaview Key. Sherryl Woods

future of our community.”

      Nate merely growled. “I’m more interested in winning back that money you stole from me in last week’s game.”

      “Then you’ll have to play a whole lot better than you did last week. I’m feeling lucky again,” Jack told him, just as Tom Jenkins, their fifth regular, finally showed up. Jack pushed a beer in Tom’s direction, then nodded toward Seth. “Deal the cards.”

      From that point on, they stayed focused on poker, beer and the snacks Jack had put out for them. Seth had the feeling there was something on Luke’s mind, but he kept silent until they were outside at midnight, both of them a little poorer. Jack had had a good night, just as he’d predicted.

      “I was hoping to see you today,” Luke told him as they walked toward their cars.

      “Something on your mind?”

      “Hannah’s planning a dinner party for tomorrow night. She’d like you to be there. Are you free?”

      “Sure, I can be there.” His suspicions kicked in. “If you don’t mind me asking, who else is on the guest list?”

      “Just one other person, as far as I know,” Luke said. “Abby.”

      Seth’s mouth gaped. “Seriously?”

      Luke nodded. “Frankly, I thought it was a bad idea, but Hannah insisted. I think she’s trying to prove something.”

      “To you?”

      “Maybe. More likely, to herself. She wants to believe she’s not the least bit threatened by Abby’s return. I think your presence will help with that. Thanks for agreeing to come, especially after all the things I said to you yesterday.”

      Seth considered his assigned role as buffer in a very tricky situation, then shrugged off whatever discomfort he was feeling. “If nothing else, it will give us a chance to talk to Abby about the rescue boat. It sounded to me back at Jack’s as if you didn’t have any idea that she was developing that property herself.”

      “Not a clue,” Luke confirmed. “I’m shocked, frankly. Her folks were always the first to speak out against development on the island. They liked that it still felt like a small fishing village. She swears she’ll see that this is done responsibly and Jack’s backing her up, but I’m skeptical.”

      “Abby’s been living in a bigger community,” Seth suggested. “She may need this place to change so she can feel better about being back. You certainly seemed to think she wouldn’t be satisfied living here as it is.”

      Luke chuckled. “If Jack was right and she’s only planning on a dozen or fewer new houses, Seaview Key still won’t resemble that area around Pensacola. We’d have to grow a lot before we could support a mall or movie theaters or one of those big box stores.”

      “Maybe she just needs a project, then,” Seth suggested. “She told me she gave up a business. She’s clearly not used to being idle.”

      “And that’s why I have trouble believing she’s back to stay,” Luke responded.

      There was no mistaking the hint of warning in his voice. Seth smiled. “Still looking out for me?”

      Luke sighed. “I just don’t want you to get blindsided if she ups and leaves in a few months. She told me herself what her intentions were about staying, but that doesn’t mean I buy that she’ll be here for the long haul. What’s she going to do once she’s developed Blue Heron Cove?”

      Seth gave him a long look. Luke held up his hands.

      “Okay, backing off now. You’re a big boy.”

      “Thank you. And thanks for the dinner invitation. I’m looking forward to it.”

      “I wish I were,” Luke said.

      “Are you thinking you could wind up skewered right along with the kabobs?”

      “Something like that,” Luke said.

      Seth laughed. “Maybe you’re the one who needs protection here, not me.”

      “Entirely possible, my friend. Entirely possible.”

      5

      “Please tell me I did not hear this right,” Grandma Jenny said to Hannah when she marched into the house on Saturday morning. “You’ve invited Abby here for dinner?”

      Hannah regarded her with amusement. “Since you obviously heard this from Seth, then you know I have.”

      “What happened to keeping some distance between the two of you?”

      “It didn’t seem practical,” Hannah said.

      Her grandmother regarded her with dismay. “Have you seen her? Is this fiasco a done deal?”

      “I went by yesterday to ask her to dinner, if that’s what you’re asking,” Hannah said. “She accepted. So has Seth.” She felt compelled to add, “Abby looks fantastic, by the way.”

      “Do you think I give two figs about how she looks?” Grandma Jenny grumbled. “What’s she up to? That’s what I want to know.”

      “She came back for a fresh start,” Hannah said, finding herself in the odd position of trying to defend Abby, when she had her own doubts about her motives running through her head. “You were supportive enough of Luke doing that. Me, too, as I recall. In fact, you were downright eager to get me to move back here.”

      “That was different,” her grandmother declared.

      “How so?”

      “I was being selfish. I wanted you close by and I knew Luke would keep you here and make you happy. Abby’s just going to stir up trouble.”

      “Not if I don’t let her,” Hannah insisted. “I honestly don’t believe Luke has anything to do with her coming back. I really don’t. And let’s not forget about Seth. You were the first to say there was something there. Luke seems to think so, too. I’m counting on that. A hot and heavy romance between those two is the answer for everyone.”

      Grandma Jenny sighed. “I’m a big believer in romance, but I still don’t like this.”

      Hannah leaned down and gave her a fierce hug. “Be glad that I’m making the best of the situation. Isn’t that what you wanted? Not a panic attack yet.”

      “Okay, then,” her grandmother said, looking relieved. “But I have half a mind to go to the council meeting next week and speak out against that whole Blue Heron Cove thing just to get Abby out of town. If she doesn’t get those permits, trust me, she’ll be gone soon enough.”

      “And that would be selfish and spiteful,” Hannah scolded. “The Seaview Key economy needs that development. You’ve said so yourself. There were plenty of people who were skeptical, but you were all for it when you first heard about it.”

      “I might have been wrong.”

      Hannah laughed. “When were you ever wrong?”

      Her grandmother gave her a triumphant look. “Never, and that’s something you might want to remember. I’m probably not wrong about Abby, either.”

      Hannah’s expression sobered. “I’m hoping that’s the exception that proves the rule. I want this to be okay,” she said softly. “For all of us. I’ve only had one other friend as close as Abby and I once were. Unfortunately, Susie’s in New York and phone calls aren’t nearly enough. I realized when she came for the wedding just how much I miss that closeness. It would be nice to have a best friend here again.”

      Though her grandmother continued to look skeptical, she nodded slowly. “Then I’ll hope it works out that way, but I’m going to keep my eyes wide open. You should, too.”

      “Will do,” Hannah promised.

      After