Page 24

But she didn’t have the time or the desire to put it together. Meeting Gran’s needs and keeping her on island was her highest priority.

Chapter Five

Asher had better things to do than to hang out at Martha’s on Main to discuss what needed to be done for the upcoming festival.

But he had given his word to Dani a few days ago that he’d be there, so he showed up.

With his baseball cap tugged low and sitting in the back corner, Asher hoped to be as unobtrusive as possible. Around him, other people filed into the dining room that closed half an hour earlier for tonight’s meeting.

Despite the dark wood-paneled walls, pendant lighting, and wooden booths lining the wall across from the bar, the room vibed with a warm and homey atmosphere. Sounds of clinking glassware and utensils came from the kitchen separated from the dining room separated by a swinging door.

Scents of seafood mingled with grilled steak, which had been the evening special according to the chalkboard easel next to the hostess station.

His mouth watered. He hadn’t had a decent meal in ages, preferring to grab a quick sandwich over actually cooking for himself.

The door opened again, and Sadie held it for Hetty, who moved slowly with a walker. Then Seb Jonathon, the mayor of the island and Dani’s uncle, grabbed the door from Sadie and followed them inside the diner.

Seb’s presence nearly filled the room. Tall with wide shoulders, the man could wrestle a bull and win. His deep voiced boomed over the din of conversation as he greeted others sitting on the green vinyl stools lining the bar.

Dani and her boyfriend, Liam Stone, who’d finally learned to shed his California suits for casual shorts and a T-shirt, headed for the hostess podium turned toward the dining room.

Sadie left Hetty seated at one of the front tables closest to the door and joined them, giving Asher ample opportunity to observe his new neighbor.

Her dark hair had been twisted and clamped with a colorful clip at the back of her head with a few loose hairs framing her face. She didn’t need to turn for him to remember the blueness of her eyes or the dimple in her cheek when she shot him one of her rare smiles.

He’d met her three days ago or so, and already he spent more time thinking about her than he had any other woman in the past eighteen months.

Liam moved to the front of the dining room and lifted both hands. “Hey, everyone. If you could find a seat, then we’ll get started. We don’t want to take up too much of your time, but we wanted to get some plans in place so we could move forward with the festival.”

Chairs scraped across the floor as people found places to sit.

Pete Graves, the prop plane pilot, nodded to Asher as he pulled out the chair next to the booth Asher had claimed. “Evening.”

“Pete.” Asher returned the nod and pressed closer to the wall.

Pete’s bulk overflowed the chair. He smelled of fuel and sunshine. Sunspots dotted the man’s large hands. He spent plenty of time outside with very little—if any—regard for sunscreen.

Once people settled in their seats, they quieted as Dani and Liam exchanged places.

Dani Sullivan, the island sweetheart who wanted to make the island a better place and bring it back to its former glory, stood quietly with her hands clasped in front of her.

She flicked her blonde braid over her shoulder and smiled at the crowd. “Thank you for coming on such short notice. Tonight, I want to share more about Summer Sunset MusicFest. We’ve been working hard to revitalize the island to draw in tourists.” She paused and waved a hand toward the large front window that overlooked Main Street where guests crowded the sidewalks. “Now, let’s send them off with a musical celebration and give them a reason to return.”

Dani rattled off her ideas for the music festival—the same ones Sadie had shared with him. But then she included his idea about the battle of the bands.

Huh.

Sadie actually listened to him. Asher tuned Dani out while his eyes drifted to Sadie, who laughed at something Hetty had said.

She looked up and caught his gaze. Held it a moment. Then she returned her attention to Dani, but not before she gave him a quick look over her shoulder.

“Asher?”

He jerked his attention to Dani, who grinned at him with her eyebrow raised. “Yes?”

“I asked if you had any input about the stage you wanted to share?”

“Stage?” He searched his brain, trying to recall what she was referring to.