children’s book Granny had worked on was set on Oahu, Pippa had settled on a party to match. The tropical theme had gone over well, as evidenced by the plethora of citizens dressed in floral attire that made the room look as if it were a neon garden. The addition of palm trees and tropical touches to Granny’s otherwise traditional décor gave the oversize reception room an island feel. With the doors thrown open, the sea air and sounds of the waves crashing nearby added to the ambience.
Waitstaff in Hawaiian garb passed through the crowd, offering fruit drinks and appetizers while Don Ho’s ukulele music played softly through the sound system. Though Pippa had borrowed the ideas from an oil company executive’s retirement party she had planned before she’d left the corporate world, the addition of Granny’s paintings and the mayor in the costume of a Hawaiian chief was all Vine Beach. Mayor Murdoch caught her watching and lifted his spear in greeting.
“How you managed to get that man to wear that outfit is beyond me, Pippa.”
She turned to see her friend Leah Berry-Owen grinning. “The same way I got Pop’s Seafood Shack to provide the sushi.”
Leah chuckled. “Pop would have a fit if he knew any fish was leaving his kitchen in a condition other than fried or grilled.”
“It’s just for the party,” Pippa reminded the restaurant’s owner. “Unless you’re considering putting it on the menu. The guests are certainly enjoying it.”
“It does seem to be disappearing.” Leah’s gaze slid past her to fix on something near the door. “And speaking of disappearing, look who is back in Vine Beach. And at a party, no less.”
“What do you mean?” Pippa turned in the direction that her companion indicated but found her view blocked. “Who’s back?”
“Well, I mean Ryan said he’d been going to Starting Over group for the last couple of months, so technically I knew he was back, but this is the first time I’ve seen him out socially.” Leah paused to address Pippa. “You know about Starting Over, right?”
Pippa nodded. She had indeed heard of the church-sponsored widowers’ group and of Leah’s husband’s history, first as a member and now a mentor.
“His father probably made him go, what with his practically founding the group. Still...” She craned her neck to look at the subject of her musings and then returned her attention to Pippa. “I’m just surprised he’s here, that’s all. I mean, even though it’s been almost two years since...Oh, he’s coming this way.”
“He? Leah, who are you talking about?” Pippa turned around but a broad shoulder kept her from seeing anything. By tipping her head up, she looked directly into the pale green eyes of Logan Burkett. “Oh.”
Swallowing hard, she took in high, tanned cheekbones and thick black lashes ringing eyes the color of beach glass. Caramel-colored hair streaked in places by the sun curled at the edge of the collar of his white button-down shirt. Faded jeans and boots gave the impression of a cowboy who had found a luau while looking for a rodeo.
His eyes darted past her as he smiled. “Leah Berry, right?” Logan extended his hand, and Leah shook it.
“Owen, actually. Or rather Berry-Owen. I married Ryan almost a year ago now.” Leah’s attention flitted to Pippa, her expression exhorting her to say something. Anything.
Seeing Logan Burkett again after all these years shouldn’t have given Pippa a swarm of butterflies in her stomach. What was it about the man that made her feel as if she were still that goofy ninth grader with the awkward hairstyle and the complete inability to fit in?
Maybe it was the fact that Logan had changed very little since she’d last seen him. Oh, he was older, definitely sporting muscles that weren’t there back in high school. But he was still the good-looking guy with the attitude that told the world he knew it and the oh-so-handsome face that backed it up.
He grinned, and her stomach did a flip. Oh.
Making a face at Pippa’s prolonged silence, Leah continued. “Logan, you remember Pippa Gallagher from Vine Beach High, don’t you?” Now she smiled directly at her friend. “Pippa, this is Logan Burkett.”
Pippa reached to shake his hand and found his grip firm, his hands showing the calluses of a working man. “Welcome back to Vine Beach,” she said, an absurd statement considering she herself had just returned a few months ago.
“Well, thank you,” he said, “but we’ve already met.”
“No,” Pippa said quickly. “I would have remembered.” The words, once out, made her cringe.
“B and B Construction?” He shook his head. “Surely you remember the guy you’ve been emailing with for the past month.”
“LB?”
As in Logan Burkett. From ninth grade. The guy whose head probably still bore the scars of her skateboard falling out of the locker above his. The one with whom she had debated everything from ambient lighting and reclaimed floor tiles to low-flush toilets?
“Yes, that’s me. Guess I should have spelled out my whole name, but I don’t have much patience for emails.” A shrug. “Besides, with Vine Beach being such a small town, I figured you knew.”
“Wait a minute,” Leah said. “You’re her...”
“Construction foreman on the remodel? Yes, that’s me. I’ve sent her a construction update email every Friday at noon for the past four weeks.”
“Punctual,” Leah whispered when Logan looked away. “I like that in a man. And, girl, he is cute, too.”
Pippa nudged her friend and then gave her a look that, of course, Leah ignored. “Behave,” she added as a useless afterthought.
Leah would never behave. Not when it meant giving up a chance to find a man for Pippa. Just because Leah was happily married to the handsome fire marshal, she did not have a license to send Pippa toward the altar.
The music on the sound system switched to a Beach Boys tune, a distraction that lasted only a second. Pippa’s eyes narrowed as she thought back over the series of emails regarding the renovation of the building in downtown Vine Beach.
In a previous conversation, Granny had mentioned something about the foreman being a changed man. About finding his faith and going off to build churches in Africa and then losing it over some life tragedy, though the details on both were a bit vague. Perhaps she should have paid more attention.
Had Pippa known Granny was rattling on about Logan Burkett, she certainly would have.
“Pippa?” Leah nudged her. “You’re staring,” she whispered. “Stop it.” And then she turned to Logan. “So, tell me what you’re doing for my silent friend here. Rumor around town is the old bakery is going to be Mrs. Gallagher’s showplace. I can’t even get Pippa to tell me what the plans are.”
“There’s nothing to tell because the plans haven’t been finalized yet,” Pippa said as she found her voice.
“About that,” Logan said. “I had an idea on the way over that I’d like to talk to you about when you get a chance.”
“Before our meeting with Granny?”
A
