Donut Heaven, Bert’s Hardware, the Bay Mercantile Store and the barbershop were here before, but the building facades are updated. The Candy Cave, the Buried Treasure and Raging Waters are new. They appear more for tourists than locals. But I’ll bet the new store owners have the same small-town mentality as everyone else.”
“That so-called mentality is part of the appeal.”
Her odd—almost disapproving?—expression jabbed at him. Libby wasn’t a yes-person, but if her opinion differed from his she wasn’t vocal like Emma. The nanny had no problem speaking up. He wasn’t used to people doing so and wasn’t sure if he liked it or not. “The mentality is difficult to take growing up.”
“You feel that way, but many people didn’t grow up in a small town. They want to experience what that’s like. That’s why tourists like visiting. Haley’s Bay has to be a popular destination or we’d see the effects of a downturned economy, empty businesses and for lease signs in the windows.”
Interesting. A nanny with a keen sense of business. She wasn’t a carbon copy of Libby, and that was surprisingly okay. He leaned toward Emma, wanting to know more about her. “What was your major in college?”
“I didn’t go to college.” Not an ounce of regret sounded in her voice. She raised her chin with a hint of pride and determination, two more traits that appealed to him. “I attended a thirty-month nanny certification program in Portland. But I loved my economics class in high school. I like to read and stay up on current events. Nannies are a child’s second teacher, after their parents. I aim to enhance a child’s natural interests.”
Initiative in the flesh, plus confidence and curiosity. All packaged as a prim, proper, mousy nanny who had a pretty smile when she let it show. Emma would work out nicely. The more she dealt with, the more he could retreat.
“You might not like your hometown, but I love the quaint shops and cafés.” She rested her head against the back of the seat, her shoulder brushing his. “Quintessential Pacific Northwest coastal town.”
Her wistful, romantic tone annoyed him. So did the tingle racing down his arm from where she’d touched him. “Forest and water, Emma. Please. Don’t get all rose-tinted on me, okay? This is Hicksville and being here held me back, badly. I never would have amounted to anything if I’d stayed in Haley’s Bay. This place was suffocating.”
The words rushed from his mouth before he could stop them. He’d never said these thoughts before. Weird. He was more careful and reserved around strangers. Around people he knew, too.
She tilted her head, attention fixed on him. Her focus unsettled him. He was used to being deferred to. Most bosses were. Emma must not have gotten the memo.
Of course she hadn’t. She consulted with parents and left when they didn’t agree. A free agent unused to following the chain of command. Like him when he’d started his business. How unexpected.
“What?” he asked finally.
“You...” She pursed her lips, full and unglossed.
He prepared for a lecture. Wanted to hear what she had to say if she didn’t drag on for more than a minute or so.
“...couldn’t have done a better job at getting away and making something of yourself.”
The praise filled him with unexpected warmth. Most people complimented him, but AJ never knew if they meant the words or were trying to suck up to him. Emma didn’t seem to be the kind of person to belong in that second group. “Thanks. There’s more—”
She nodded to him, as if encouraging him to continue. “More what?”
Damn. AJ balled one of his hands. He didn’t know why he kept telling Emma things. He didn’t let his guard down around anyone, friend or employee. Fresh-smelling hair and pretty smile aside.
“More I want to do. Places to visit.” Not what he intended to say, but the words were true and the perfect way to change the subject. “Are there places you’d like to travel?”
“Anywhere.”
“In the world?”
She nodded. “The farthest from Portland I’ve been is Puerto Vallarta. It’s hard to get around the flying.”
“You flew today.”
“To help Libby.” Emma’s gaze returned to the view out the window. The limousine followed the road along the bay toward his grandmother’s house. “I should have suggested driving myself and meeting you here, but I was so worried about Libby I wasn’t thinking straight.”
He knew the feeling being with Emma. “When it’s time for you to return to Portland, my driver will take you home.”
She glanced around the limousine, taking in the multiple screens, leather seats, bar. “This is your, um, car.”
AJ nodded. “Charlie drove down from Seattle this morning. I never intended on flying to Haley’s Bay, but I didn’t want to leave Libby alone in New York. She’s too valuable to me. If I’d known she hadn’t been feeling well before we’d left on the trip, I never would have taken her along, but she hid her abdominal pains until they became acute. I waited for her mother to arrive, made sure she was settled and comfortable, then flew here with a couple stops along the way.”
“Oh.”
The surprise in the one word spoke volumes. Emma Markwell had thought the worst of him. She wasn’t the only one, especially here in Haley’s Bay. “You assumed I left Libby in the hospital alone.”
“Maybe.”
“That means yes.”
Emma stared up at him through her eyeglasses, her cheeks red and a contrite look on her face. “It’s nice to know you didn’t. Leave Libby, that is.”
Not a full compliment, but better than being slammed for something he didn’t do. Still, he liked the idea of making Emma squirm since she’d done the same to him. “You’re backpedaling.”
“Not really.”
“I’m a nice guy.”
Emma raised an arched brow. “Are you always nice?”
Damn. “I try to be.”
“Trying doesn’t always work.”
“No, but I can tell myself I didn’t set out to be a jerk.”
“Is this something you tell yourself often?” she teased.
Her sense of humor had returned. She would need every funny bone with his family. “You’ll be able to answer that question on Sunday.”
“That sounds like I should be worried.”
“Maybe.”
Emma laughed. “Guess I deserve that.”
The limousine pulled to a stop. The engine turned off.
AJ glanced to his right. His grandmother’s Victorian stood peacock-blue and
