Twilight at Blueberry Barrens (Sunset Cove #3)(59)

He was right. There was nothing tying her to those fields. She could live in the house and get another job, anything she wanted. Her smile faded. “There’s hardly a market for interior design skills up here. Many can’t afford that kind of service.”

“There are businesses. The decor in this hotel could use refreshing. Think about your vision for the place, then go talk to the manager.”

Could he be right? There were other places, too, businesses in Bar Harbor and Ellsworth as well as vacation homes. She would have a tiny nest egg after this summer. It might be enough to let her launch a design consulting business. The problem was, she had no real experience to show. But she didn’t know if it would work if she didn’t try. “I decorated Claire’s house, and everyone has raved about how welcoming it is. I could take some pictures and show them around.”

She could start small, maybe with a café or a clothing store in Bar Harbor. The ideas flashed through her head so fast she wished she had a pad to jot them down.

She studied his strong face. “Was it scary for you to start your business?”

He tipped his head to one side. “Not really scary but sobering. I put every cent I’d saved for years into it. I started building drones in my garage fifteen years ago as a hobby, and it really took off. I started a real business about ten years ago.” He looked away and his face went somber.

“Something wrong?”

His gaze swung back her way. “I’m sorry. I just had an idea how to fix the design on my drone.”

“Don’t apologize. I know you’ve been struggling with it. Did you call the Fish and Game Service guy? That regional director?”

He nodded. “We had a good discussion, but the call revealed the modifications will need to be more extensive than I thought. I have an idea to try when I get home though.” Drake dipped a giant shrimp into cocktail sauce and took a bite. “Eat up, honey.”

Honey. The endearment took her by surprise and stopped her ideas dead. He admitted there were feelings developing between them, something she hadn’t wanted to face. If she became wrapped up in a new career here, shouldn’t he be worried there was no room for him?

She studied his strong jaw and firm lips. He was a good man who seemed to care about other people. A man like her uncle would pooh-pooh her ideas and would try to keep her chained to the past if it meant he might lose her. But Drake was different, and she was finally ready to let her guard down a little and see where it might lead.

*

The girls slept in the back of the Land Rover with Jackson sleeping between them even when they hit the dirt road in front of the cottages. Though the girls had been going to spend the night with Dixie, Drake was too worried about what was going on to leave them with his aunt for the entire night.

He glanced across the seat at Kate. The moonlight lit up the planes and angles of her beautiful face. If they’d been alone, he might have pulled over to the side of the road and taken her in his arms. Everything about her fascinated him, from her tiny ears to the dimples that so often flashed in her cheeks.

He slowed as he approached her house. “Hey, we need to fetch that missing notebook you remembered when you talked to Gwen today. Want to do it now?”

She hadn’t said much on the ride back, but she straightened now and turned to look at him. “What about the girls?”

“They won’t wake up. You can stay in the SUV with them, and I’ll retrieve it. I’m curious, aren’t you?”

Her dimples appeared. “I haven’t thought much about it since we left. Some handsome guy has been keeping my head in a whirl.”

He loved her honesty and the way she didn’t try to hide her attraction to him. She wasn’t coy and didn’t play games. It was the sexiest thing he’d ever experienced, and he felt a powerful surge of attraction again. “I plan on doing more of that.”

She caught her full lower lip in her teeth and gave a breathy chuckle. “I’m not sure I can handle much more.”

He pulled into the drive behind her little yellow Bug. “Why do you have that ugly little car?”

“Ugly? That’s Mildred. I bought her with money I earned myself in a summer job my first year of college. She’s taken good care of me.”

“College, huh? So you’ve had her at least ten years?”

“Twelve. She’s a tough old bird.”

“Rust is going to claim her one of these days.”

She put a hand over her heart. “Shh, she’ll hear you. I can’t bear to think about losing my longtime friend.”

He grinned and put the SUV in Park. “Hang tight. I’ll be right back. I’m going to leave the lights on so I can see.”

“It’s in the trunk. I think it might be in the wheel well. I think it got shoved there when I was wrestling with the tire. Want me to help you find it?”

“I think I can find my way around an old Beetle.” He grabbed a flashlight in case he needed it, then got out and released the hatch. The damaged tire was still on top of the carpet, and he walked back to the SUV. “Should I put the tire away or did you not get it fixed?”

Her cheeks went pink. “I haven’t gotten it fixed.” She shrugged. “I forgot.”

Most likely she didn’t have the money. He’d get that done right away. Returning to the car, he lifted out the tire, then moved the trunk carpet and aimed the flashlight at the tire well. Aha, there it was. The small leather notebook looked old and worn, and he hesitated. It was possible this was a clue to his brother’s death. He probably shouldn’t touch it.