Page 58 of When Summer Returns

“Under normal circumstances, perhaps.” Abernathy adjusted his wire-rimmed glasses, a nervous tic Luke remembered from previous encounters. “However, your father included certain time-sensitive provisions that I’m obligated to address within thirty days of his passing. The hurricane has already delayed matters considerably.”

Miguel, ever sensitive to emotional undertones despite his jovial exterior, slid a glass of iced tea toward Abernathy. “On the house, counselor. You’re welcome to use the corner booth for your business. Quietest spot in the place, especially before the lunch crowd arrives.”

Abernathy accepted the drink with a grateful nod. “Most kind. Miss James, shall we?”

Jessie glanced at Luke, a silent question in her eyes. He nodded slightly. “Go ahead. Miguel and I can handle setup.”

She followed Abernathy to the secluded booth, their heads soon bent over papers spread across the scarred wooden surface. Even from a distance, Luke could read the tension in her posture—the slight rigidity in her spine, the careful way she held herself apart from the documents as if they might somehow contaminate her.

“Twenty bucks says old Jesse left some nasty surprise in the will,” Miguel murmured, methodically slicing limes for the day’s service. “That man never did anything straight if he could do it crooked.”

“Not a bet I’d take,” Luke agreed, keeping his voice low. “The real question is whether it’s just typical Jesse James manipulation or something worse.”

“Define worse.”

“With Jesse? Hard to say.” Luke’s jaw tightened as he watched Jessie’s expression shift from neutral to surprised to something approaching dismay. “Man had a gift for finding people’s weak spots.”

“Present company especially,” Miguel observed with uncharacteristic directness. “You sure you’re okay with all this? Her being back, being part owner?”

The question deserved more consideration than Luke had given it. The hurricane had rushed by in a blur of preparation, survival, and recovery, leaving little time for examining the fundamental shift in his life’s trajectory. Jessie James had returned to Seeker’s Island. She was now his business partner. And somehow, she was back in his bed. None of which he’d imagined possible a month ago.

“I’m getting there,” he answered honestly. “It’s complicated.”

“Relationships usually are,” Miguel said with the sage wisdom of someone who’d never maintained one longer than a season. “But hurricane romance? That’s some serious movie-of-the-week material right there.”

“It’s not a hurricane romance,” Luke protested automatically.

“No? Let’s see—beautiful woman returns after years away, hurricane forces you together, passion ignites amid disaster.” Miguel ticked off points on his fingers. “Pretty sure I saw that on the Lifetime channel last Christmas.”

“Don’t you have inventory to check?”

“Already done. Which leaves me plenty of time to provide relationship counseling. My second profession, you know.”

“Your second profession is professional annoyance,” Luke retorted, though without heat.

“It’s a gift,” Miguel agreed cheerfully. “Speaking of which, incoming at two o’clock. Looks like we’ve got company.”

Luke turned to find Reece navigating the threshold, his sheriff’s uniform dusty from the morning’s recovery efforts. Dark circles beneath his eyes testified to the sleepless nights every first responder had endured since Benedict’s arrival, yet he moved with the same controlled energy that had made him a natural leader during the crisis.

“Please tell me you’ve got real coffee,” Reece said by way of greeting, sliding onto a barstool with a stifled groan.

“Freshly brewed from our emergency reserves,” Luke confirmed, already pouring a mug. “Though I can’t vouch for the quality. It’s Miguel’s cousin’s boyfriend’s uncle’s special import.”

“So potentially lethal but definitely caffeinated?”

“Exactly.”

Reece accepted the steaming mug with evident gratitude. “Latest update from the mainland—power restoration still at least four days out for most of the island. They’re prioritizing the medical center and water treatment plant.”

“Makes sense,” Luke agreed. “We can manage with generators for a while longer.”

“Easy for you to say. You actually have a functioning generator.” Reece took a long swallow of coffee, then winced. “Though this coffee might be worse than no coffee.”

“Beggars, choosers, et cetera,” Miguel sing-songed, sliding a plate of banana bread toward the sheriff. “Calm your caffeine desperation with carbs.”

Reece’s gaze drifted to the corner booth where Jessie and Abernathy remained deep in conversation. “Estate business?”

“Looks that way,” Luke replied, keeping his tone carefully neutral. “Apparently there are time-sensitive matters that couldn’t wait for basic island services to be restored.”

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