Page 21 of Meet Me at Sunset Cove (Jonathon Island #5)
Chapter Nine
T he clatter of plates and the hum of conversation filled the diner as Hunter and Daisy sat across from each other in a cozy booth inside Martha’s on Main.
The red cherrywood table between them held a massive plate of fries and several piles of paint samples, tiles, and fabric swatches, all grouped by color scheme.
“Okay, hear me out.” Daisy leaned forward, popping a fry into her mouth as she rearranged one of the piles, her excitement obvious as she threw out her idea. “We do periwinkle for the door.”
Hunter raised his brows. “ Periwinkle ?”
“Don’t laugh,” she said, laughing herself. “It’s coastal. It’s timeless. And it will be so pretty next to the lilacs.”
“What lilacs?”
Daisy dipped another fry into the ketchup between them. “The lilacs we’re going to plant next to the porch steps. Keep up, Barrett.”
Hunter leaned his chin against his thumb, his knuckles brushing his lips as he gave her a thoughtful look. “Hard to keep up with the infamous ‘girl with a plan.’”
Heat unfurled in his chest as her bright eyes dropped, her cheeks flushing.
“Aw, for the love of—” An exasperated shout carried across the room, followed by the sharp sound of cards being slapped onto the table. “That’s it, I’m done. You fellas are cheating, I swear it!”
Hunter glanced across the diner, where the usual group of locals was engaged in a lively game of cards. Roger scowled animatedly across the table at Stuart “Mac” MacBride, sitting beside Randy Hart, the pair chuckling conspiratorially.
“Who needs to cheat…” Stuart started, his eyes on his hand.
“When you couldn’t bluff your way out of a paper bag,” Randy finished, followed by a roar of laughter.
Lyle Graves stood just behind Roger, leaning on his elbow against the booth. “I told you holding on to that seven of hearts was a bad idea.”
Roger swatted at Lyle playfully. “Get outta here, you old busybody! If you hadn’t been yapping about my cards the whole game, I might’ve had a chance!”
Hunter turned back to Daisy, chuckling.
Things had been easy between them the last twenty-four hours. They’d moved past the awkwardness and found their rhythm. Friends again.
He didn’t hate it.
He plucked a fry and slumped back against the booth as Roger tossed down his cards, storming away with dramatic flair. Daisy glanced at Hunter and covered her lips, stifling a laugh with her hand.
It was becoming comfortable, sharing these moments with her. Easy.
He reached out and snatched a green paint sample, tossing it in her direction. “I’m still voting green for the door.”
Daisy scoffed, pressing a wildly over-offended hand to her heart, and then shifted gears, pointing an accusatory finger back at him.
“You listen here, Mr. Macho Contractor Man. I may not be an expert in contracting, but I do have a degree in design, and colors are where I really shine. You should take my advice. Periwinkle and all.”
“All right, all right,” he replied, lifting his hands in surrender. “Have it your way.”
“Thank you.” Daisy folded her arms over her chest in mock indignation.
Hunter took a sip of his drink and set the glass back down on the table.
“It occurs to me, we never talked about Daisy the designer all those years ago. It was always renovation. Construction… Decks .” He gave her a pointed look at that last one, and she rolled her eyes.
“Tell me about this fancy design school you keep waving in my face. Where’d you go? ”
Daisy tapped her straw in her drink, breaking up a chunk of ice. “I went to Cornell, actually.”
“That’s impressive.” Hunter nodded approvingly. “Must have made your parents proud.”
Daisy’s smile faltered slightly. “Mom was thrilled. Dad”—she flicked the straw away—“not so much.”
Hunter tilted his head, his brows furrowed. “He wasn’t happy? That’s one of the best schools in the country.”
“He didn’t exactly see design as a ‘real career.’ He thought I was wasting my potential.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Hunter said, his voice gruff.
Daisy shrugged as she picked through the plate of fries. “I dunno…I guess I can see where he was coming from. Dad was always really focused on my achievements. You know? He’d make a point to show up when it mattered.”
“Mattered to who, exactly?”
Daisy’s gaze flickered upward, catching his own before dropping again.
She selected a fry, picking it up in her fingers.
“He’d come to state debate championships.
Honors Society banquet. My valedictorian speech,” she said, listing off an impressive list of accomplishments.
“So it was sort of a shock to him when I went into a field a little less…” She shrugged again, pulling the fry apart.
“…impactful.” Her eyes lifted for a moment, catching his before finding somewhere else to look.
“Honestly, if I hadn’t landed the show, I don’t know if I could really call myself a success. ”
Again, Hunter frowned, his mind unable to match what she was saying against that lighthearted tone she couldn’t seem to turn off.
“Anyway,” she said, pulling that practiced “Daisy Decker” smile back onto her face. “Dad came around to it once the show took off. He calls every once in a while, asks how it’s going.”
Hunter couldn’t stop himself. He reached across the table to take her hand, his thumb brushing her wrist. “Seems like your dad really missed out,” he said quietly. “Because it sounds like you were already something pretty special, even before all the success.”
A mix of emotions played across Daisy’s face. She opened her mouth to respond but was cut off.
“Hunter!” a gruff voice called from behind him.
Hunter turned to find Asher Quinn strolling up to the booth, his hand clasped with his new fiancée’s.
They were a good-looking pair, with Sadie’s blue eyes and dimpled cheeks, and Asher’s square jaw and dark hair.
Hunter had been harboring a secret jealousy for Asher’s beard.
He wasn’t so sure he could pull that off.
Hunter quickly withdrew his hand from Daisy’s. He nodded a greeting toward the approaching couple. “Good to see you, Asher.”
Hunter had only met Sadie a few times, but she was friendly enough. “Nice to see you, Sadie.”
“You too.” Her eyes turned toward Daisy and then returned to Hunter expectantly.
“Right! Sorry. This is my beautiful fiancée, Daisy.” Hunter gestured between the women. “Daisy, Sadie Hudson.”
“How’s the renovation going?” Sadie asked. “Asher mentioned he’s seen the house a few times while passing by.”
“It’s going really well, actually,” Daisy said, all traces of their somber conversation evaporating with her bright smile. “We were just discussing some design choices.”
Sadie’s gaze fell on the color palettes on the table, and her eyes lit up. “Oh, I love this one!” She tapped the periwinkle, and Hunter shook his head, a smile creeping across his face.
“I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.” He let out a sigh, smiling across at his partner. He glanced at the nearly empty plate of fries between them, then back to Daisy. “Looks like we need some reinforcements if we’re going to tackle the rest of these design choices. I’ll grab us another order.”
He slid out of the booth, giving Asher and Sadie a nod. “Nice seeing you both. Enjoy your evening.”
“Another one?” Vera asked as he rounded the corner, strolling up to the counter.
“It’s thinking food, Vera,” Hunter said, grinning. “Gotta keep the design juices flowing.”
“I see,” Vera said. “Well, maybe you ought to use some of those design juices to start planning your wedding.”
Hunter coughed in surprise.
Vera chuckled and strolled back into the kitchen. She reemerged a moment later with a fresh plate of fries. “Here you go, honey,” she said, setting it down in front of him.
“Thanks,” he replied warmly and started back.
When he reached the corner, Hunter paused, a familiar voice carrying from the next room.
“I know it’s none of my business,” Martha Kelley said, her voice low, “but I would be remiss not to tell you to think twice about getting involved with the Barrett family.”
“Excuse me?” Daisy’s voice asked, and Hunter’s heart picked up speed.
“They’re good people. Bless their hearts.
It’s just that, well, everywhere they go, things just seem to go wrong.
You know, it was Barrett Construction that nearly drowned a woman with their failed boardwalk project.
Then of course, there were the lightning strikes and the house fire.
And of course, that unfortunate situation with Belle.
It seems to me that they may be more effort than they’re worth. ”
A wave of cold washed over him, his chest tightening.
And then Daisy chimed in, and he froze, holding his breath.
“With all due respect,” Daisy said firmly, “I think I know what I’m talking about when it comes to construction and contracting.
So you can take it from me, Barrett Construction is one of the most reputable construction businesses in all of Michigan.
They’ve won the GSA Construction Award three years in a row.
They’ve won the Excellence in Business Award, and the National AGC Safety Award.
I was aware of their history when I decided to renovate with them.
And I would have selected them to partner with even if I weren’t engaged to Hunter Barrett. ”
Hunter stood there, unable to process her words for a moment. And then warmth rushed in, replacing all traces of cold.
He peered around the corner to see Martha’s red face, sputtering, “Well, I…I could be wrong.”
“As for the superstition surrounding the Barretts,” Daisy went on, “I didn’t think I’d have to dignify that with a response, but apparently I do.
So here it is. They are more than the sum of the things that have happened to them.
And it breaks my heart to hear you call them more effort than they’re worth. ”
Martha sucked in a sharp breath. Hunter almost felt bad for her.