Page 9

Sadie made a face. “Hardly. He’s rude.”

“Come on, Sade.” Dani added more sticks to the growing pile. “He’s not that bad.”

“You know him?”

She lifted a shoulder. “He used to visit his aunt and uncle when he was a kid, so I’d hang out with him, his younger sister, and his cousins, even though they were older than I was.”

Sadie shaded her eyes and glanced at the ranch. “I didn’t see anyone else at the house. Looked like he was alone.”

Lily picked up a decapitated gerbera daisy head and smoothed out the petals. “You’ve been there?”

Sadie explained about going to the Quinn ranch to get someone to retrieve Gus.

“Ahh, yes. Makes sense now.” Dani wiped her hands on her jeans, then eyed Sadie. “You know, Asher is pretty good with a hammer, from what I hear. Maybe he’d be willing to help us with the stage construction for the concert.”

“Gran talked highly of him, but he didn’t come off as the kind of guy who wanted to lend a hand.” Sadie surveyed the mess in the backyard. “He was a little gruff when I asked for help in getting Gus back where he belonged and getting the tree off Gran’s patio.”

“Maybe you could give him a second chance.” Lily straightened one of the spilled pots, scooped the soil, and patted it in place around the red geraniums.

Sadie righted one of Gran’s patio chairs and set the cushions back in place. “Second chance for what?”

“To change your opinion of him.”

Shading her eyes, Sadie squinted at her. “Why would I want to do that?”

Lily laughed as she rescued a pot of pink and white striped petunias. “Well, you’ll be neighbors as long as you’re on island.”

“And I’m perfectly content staying on my side of the fence.” Sadie eyed the property line.

Dani folded her arms over her chest. “Okay, then, but would you do it for me?”

Sadie swiveled on her heel and faced Dani. “Do what?”

“Ask him to help with the stage construction?” Dani pushed to her feet and rubbed dirt off her fingers.

“Why me? You’re the one who’s friends with him.”

“I mentioned it in passing, and he just laughed. I don’t think he took me too seriously.” Dani looked away but not before Sadie caught the flash of hurt in her large green eyes.

“You mean he knows how to crack a smile? I find that hard to believe.”

Holding pieces of broken glass in her hands, Lily frowned. “Wow, Sade. It’s not like you to be this judgmental.”

Her friend’s words poked at her heart. Lily was right. She did her best to try and not pass judgment. She lifted her hands, then dropped them to her sides. “Sorry. The guy got under my skin.”

“Oh, did he now?” Dani winked.

Sadie rolled her eyes and made a face. “Nothing like that. Maybe I did come off as a little bossy. He just annoyed me when I asked for help.”

“Maybe if you get to know him, then you’ll see he’s not that bad.”

“But I don’t want to get to know him. I came to care for Gran after Mom came down with the flu. And to see you guys,of course. While I’m here, I need to figure out what’s next. After leaving Sternwood, I haven’t found a job that’s worked out. And doing remote work is fine, but it feels a bit isolating. At least, it was until I came to the island.” Flashing her friends a smile, she opened the outside basement door and retrieved a broom off a hook on the wall. “And that definitely doesn’t involve getting to know some guy. I’m not the best judge of character when it comes to choosing men.”

“Just because that last guy was a jerk doesn’t mean they all are. After all, we ended up with good ones.” Dani waved a finger between her and Lily, then took the broom from Sadie and started sweeping the storm debris off the patio. “Now it’s your turn.”

Sadie glanced at the diamond glinting in the morning sunshine on Lily’s left hand. “You’re right—Liam and Declan are great. But most of them are less than honorable.”

Lily slung an arm over Sadie’s shoulders. “That’s your broken heart talking. Give it time, and you’ll be ready for romance again.”