Page 104 of Second Chance at Sunshine Inn

Landon drank from his bottle too. “We got it done.” He held his bottle out to Cade, which he tapped as an informal toast.

“We sure did, man,” Cade said. “Thanks for your help.”

Landon shrugged. “No problem. I was off today, and my dad told me I should lend a hand. I’m just grateful my baby sister is in town for a while. I’m happy to spend some time with her.” He grinned. “Even if it does involve manual labor.”

Cade chuckled and took another drink of water. “Is it better than driving around in a patrol car and giving out tickets to people who drive too slow?”

“I guess Evie told you about my run-ins with Old Man Burns?”

Cade nodded. “I see him around town occasionally.”

Landon took another long drink and peered out toward the back of the house, where Trevor spoke animatedly to Everleigh, whowas listening with an indecipherable expression. “What’s with that Trevor guy?”

Cade’s eyebrows shot up. “What do you mean?”

“I don’t know.” Landon set his water bottle down on the tabletop and rested his elbows on his thighs. “There’s something about him. He’s just... sketchy.” He squinted as he looked in their direction, then nodded as if to confirm his judgment. “Yeah. Definitely sketchy.”

“That’s an understatement.”

Landon turned toward him. “How so?”

“Where should I start?” Cade moved his hand over the stubble on his neck. “He’s working with the Realtor who’s been hounding us to sell to a developer. I saw them together at the home improvement store, and it just solidified what I’ve suspected all along. That guy is bad news. He’s pretending to be someone he’s not.”

Landon’s eyes slid toward Trevor and Everleigh again and then back to Cade. “And let me guess. My sister doesn’t believe he has any bad intentions.”

“Bingo!” Cade pointed his water bottle toward Landon. “I’ve tried to convince her, but she thinks I’m just suspicious of everyone.”

Landon let out a long-suffering sigh. “My sister has always believed the best in people—no matter what. You should’ve seen the guys she brought home in high school and college.” He rolled his eyes. “She was always convinced she could ‘save’ them.” He made air quotes with his fingers.

“Really?” Cade was fascinated.

Landon frowned. “The guys treated her badly. They’d never be there for her when she needed them. They’d cheat on her and break up with her and leave her devastated. But then she’d move on to another guy who wasn’t any better. She’d bend over backward helping them with homework, paying for their dates, things likethat. My folks would try to tell her she deserved someone who treated her as well as she treated him, but she’d never listen.”

Cade considered Everleigh, and everything Landon said made sense. She’d always been a giving, caring, and trusting person—to a fault. None of that disappointment broke her belief in people, which might have been why she’d become a nurse. Her loving nature had guided her toward helping people and to the idea of a nonprofit to help parents of critically ill children. Cade admired how she always put everyone else before herself. But it was also her downfall when it came to men like Trevor.

“She can’t see the writing on the wall.” Landon leaned back on his hands. “Or she chooses not to.”

Cade took another drink. “I suppose there’s no getting through to her.”

“I hope she’s learned something over the years.” A deep frown contorted his face. “Tell me she’s not dating him.”

“No, she’s not, but she refuses to see the truth about him. I’m not going to give up until she acknowledges it. I don’t want to see her hurt again.”

Landon finished his bottle of water. “I have a feeling you’ll get through to her.”

“I’ll do my best to get through to Trevor, too, since he hasn’t gotten my point yet.” He set his jaw.

Landon pushed himself off the picnic table. “I’m meeting Amber for supper, so I need to head out soon. But I’ll go check on my dad and see if he wants help cleaning up.”

“Thanks, Landon. I’ll be there in a few minutes.” Cade shook his hand before Landon started down the driveway toward his car.

When Trevor headed down the drive carrying a tool bag, Cade took off after him. He was going to handle the situation right now.

Chapter 25

“Trevor,” Cade called him. “Trevor! We need to talk.”

Spinning to face him, Trevor fixed his face with an apologetic expression. “Look, man, I feel like we started off on the wrong foot,” he said. “I’m sorry if I’ve given you the wrong impression. I’m not trying to take advantage of Everleigh. I just want to help. That’s it.”

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