Page 19 of Resting Beach Face
“Not yet.”
“Maybe I could take a look,” I offered. “See if I can save you some money? I spent a few days apprenticing with Pipe Pirates.”
“A fewdays?” he said, then paused. “Pipe Pirates, really?”
I snorted. “We clear the way for your booty. Argh!”
“Dear God.”
“Are you really surprised after visiting Big Loads laundromat? This is Swallow Cove, home of the silly pun.”
He shook his head, lips quirking up at the corners. My stomach fluttered, and I wanted more than a twitch of the lips. I wanted a full-blown smile.
“You’ve eaten at The Savory Swallow,” I added. “And aren’t you a regular visitor at The Dirty Hoe garden store?”
“Okay.” He grinned. “Point made.”
I basked in one of his rare smiles until he blinked and sighed. “I doubt you learned enough in a few days to handle my plumbing, though.”
“Oh, trust me, I can handle your plumbing anytime you’re ready.” I fluttered my eyelashes at him.
He shook his head, not responding to my flirtation. Nothing new there.
“I’m just going to close the Tree Hut to bookings.”
“Really? But it’s so cool. If you got the cabin open too, you could accommodate a lot more guests.”
Declan shuddered. “No, thanks.”
“Sick of the tourists already?” I teased.
“Like you wouldn’t believe,” he admitted.
Oh, I believed. Declan had always struck me as an odd choice for a B&B owner. He didn’t particularly like people.
“Well, if you change your mind about letting me handle your pipes?—”
“Stop it,” he said, but without heat. The man seemed immune to my flirting. “I won’t change my mind.”
“Well, my offer stands,” I said. “Not just for pipes. For…anything you might need. I’m here to help.”
“Why?” he asked, suspicion coloring his tone. I guess that was fair. I’d hit on him enough times that he probably thought I was hoping for some kind of quid pro quo.
“I don’t know. I’ve stayed at your B&B a lot; it’s the least I can do.”
“That was a long time ago, and you were invited by guests,” he said.
“Not the last time.” My eyes met his and held for a long moment. The memory of that ghost of a kiss rose in my mind. I wondered if he ever thought about it? Probably not. But it haunted me.
Declan cleared his throat. “Uh, yes, well that was just… You don’t owe me anything for that. You never did. Not that night. Not now.”
I cocked my head. Something about the way he said that struck me as odd. But I couldn’t quite figure it out, so I shrugged it off. “Okay, well, maybe I just want to be friends.”
“Friends?” he said, forehead creasing.
“We got off on the wrong foot, and that’s on me. I knew you weren’t comfortable with me coming here so often, and I did it anyway.”
Declan looked confused. “Cash, you don’t have to explain all that. I realized the last night you were herewhyyou were doing it. It had nothing to do with me.”
