All Summer Long (Fool's Gold #9)(86)

Clay took the papers. “What pool?”

The mayor smiled. “We were thinking it would be nice to have another community pool. We’ll need to work out the details, of course. But we can coordinate it. Share the expenses. We’ll provide the lifeguards and insurance, if you’ll take care of maintenance. That sort of thing.”

“A pool?”

“By the vacation homes.” Mayor Marsha spoke as if that information would help. “For your guests and the town.”

“Okay,” he said slowly. “We should set up a meeting.”

“I agree.” She pointed to the other business card. “After you talk to Milo about his donation, you’ll want that number.”

“Donation?”

“Talk to Milo.” She motioned toward the living room.

He had no idea who Milo was, but if he was anything like Bernard and Ernie, Clay would like him. He nodded at the mayor and walked down the short hallway.

A man in his sixties stood when he saw Clay.

“You must be Milo,” Clay said.

“I am. I heard about your Haycations. Great idea. Tourism with a twist. We welcome their dollars.” Milo, a big-bellied guy with graying hair, rocked back on his heels. “I have a carousel. One of those old-fashioned ones with the painted horses. It needs a lot of work, but it used to be a beauty. You can have it, if you want.”

“A carousel?”

“For your guests. All I ask is you pay to get it delivered here. And fix it up.”

“Because it used to be a beauty?”

Milo beamed. “Exactly.”

A carousel? There was plenty of room and it would be an interesting attraction. He glanced down at the card in his hand. One of them was for a guy who did antique restorations. Now he knew why the mayor had given it to him.

“We like what you’re doing,” the older man said. “Fool’s Gold takes care of its own. You’re one of us now.”

“I’m starting to get that.”

Milo sniffed. “Someone put on Eddie’s chili. I’m going to get a bowl before I head out. Coming?”

“Be right there,” Clay told him.

Milo disappeared down the hall. Clay stared at the cards he held and thought about the pool and the carousel. The support shown. It hadn’t just appeared. Someone, somewhere had said something. He had one guess.

Charlie.

* * *

“YOU’RE RESPONSIBLE,” Clay said.

Charlie watched him anxiously, not sure if he was mad or not. It was about eight on Saturday night. The day had been warm, but the evening was cooling off. There was a light breeze that promised to be a stiff wind by morning. She was halfway through her twenty-four-hour shift and normally a visit from Clay would be a highlight. But she wondered if she’d overstepped any lines in their relationship.

They sat out on the patio behind the station. The rest of the shift was inside, watching TV. Charlie clutched her can of diet soda.

“I’ve been worried about you,” she admitted. “First the bones, then Nate, then the alfalfa. It was so much. Your idea is great and I didn’t want you to get discouraged. So I might have said something to a couple of people.”

“More than something,” he said, reaching for her free hand.

“You’re not mad?”

He smiled at her. “Why would I be mad?”

“Because I butted into your new business.”

He lifted her hand and lightly kissed the back of her knuckles. “No. I’m not mad. I’m a little overwhelmed. Do you know about the carousel?”

“I’ve heard rumors. You interested?”

“I want to see it first, but maybe. Mayor Marsha gave me the name of a guy who does restorations. I’d want to work with him so I can do future repairs myself. The pool idea is interesting.”

“Summers can be hot here. The tourists would like a pool.”

“We could go skinny-dipping.”

She was torn between the mental image of him naked and climbing out of the water and the idea that the pool wouldn’t be built for some time. So an invitation to go skinny-dipping meant they would still be together.

Love was a bitch, she thought, as her heart gave a little shimmy of happiness at the thought of more time with Clay. Because if it were up to her, she would be planning time together into the next century. She had a feeling she’d inherited more than her physical strength from her mother. She might have also inherited a heart that could only love one man. But that was a problem for another time.

He continued to nibble along her fingers. As she was on duty and there were a half-dozen people in the building behind them, she let herself enjoy the sensation without having much in the way of expectation. Although if Clay suggested meeting her at her place after her shift, she would happily agree. Of course that wouldn’t be until the next morning.

“They brought casseroles,” he said as he lowered her hand to his lap. “Dozens of them.”

“We’re a town that likes to feed people.”

“The chili was good.” He turned to her. “Thank you. I know you talking to people was your way of saying you believe in me. That means a lot.”

“Happy to help. And you’re right. I do believe in you.”

“It’s nice to be more than a piece of ass.”