Page 10 of Summer Love

Her cheeks flushed. "I came home to take care of my grandmother, and this was the only job that's remotely in my field. My boss told me to write this story." She sighed. "Trust me, it's not what I want to be doing."

Now we were getting somewhere. "Where did you move from?"

"Boston. I went to college there and then stayed afterward."

"And now you're home to take care of your grandmother?" At her nod, I continued, "Is it a temporary move, or are you planning on staying?" There weren't many job opportunities on the island unless you were in the tourist industry.

"I'd like to find something permanent. I don't want to be far from Grams."

"Grams, huh?" I asked, charmed by the way her cheeks flushed red.

"After I graduated, my parents moved to Naples to be closer to my brother since he's already married with kids. But they're worried about Grams living here by herself."

"She's important to you."

"Very."

I moved to grab another slab of drywall. "Tell me why I can’t remember you in school."

Elena shrugged. "Clearly, I didn't make an impression."

"Are you sure about that?" She sure as hell did now in that getup. She might have been going for a casual outfit, but it was sexy as hell.

She shrugged. "I went to school with you all the way through."

"Do you look different now? Do you dye your hair, or did you wear glasses?"

She shook her head, her cheeks pink. "I did wear glasses."

I had a flash of memory: a blond girl in one of my science classes, her hair in one long braid and tortoise shell glasses perched on her nose. "I think it's coming back to me now."

Her cheeks were still flushed pink, and I wondered if my accusation of her liking me had some ring of truth to it. "Did you crush on me back then?"

She rolled her eyes. "Please."

"My brothers are more popular with women than I am."

Elena huffed. "Your dad is the one who insisted I shadow you, not your brothers.”

I drilled in the screws on the edges of the board. The noise made it impossible to talk while I worked. When I finished with one side, I moved to the other.

Elena stepped back once it was secured. "It must feel good to accomplish things so quickly."

"What do you mean?" I asked as I grabbed another piece of drywall.

"There must be a sense of satisfaction with each board you secure, and when you're done, you'll have a closed-off room." Elena gestured around us.

"I never thought about it before, but I guess you're right."

"I feel that way when a story is done, but there's so much that goes into the research part of it. I have to interview people and get to know them. Then figure out what the angle of the story is."

"What's the angle of my story?" I couldn't help but ask her.

"I'm wondering if it's the getting-to-know-you part that's the mystery. How many people know how Hudson Kingston really is? You know, underneath the strict set of guidelines, rules, and high work standard."

I frowned. "It sounds like you're stereotyping me."

She raised a brow. "Are you sure about that?"

---