His Winter Rose

“Thank you, kind sir.” She curtsied to Andy, then strode toward Jason. “Good morning, Mayor.”

“Good morning.”

He couldn’t help but stare at her bouncy haircut. It had been a long mane of ebony when they’d first met. He’d dreamed about that hair. He couldn’t decide which style he preferred.

Her ice-blue shirt and matching slacks managed to look both businesslike and chic. The wool jacket added to her polished look, though her eyes weren’t businesslike at all. He swallowed, rejecting the flash of interest that prickled whenever he talked to her.

“I didn’t realize—that is, er…” He hesitated. “You’ll need a car, Miss Langley. The area is large and our public transportation isn’t up to big-city standards.”

She frowned, obviously trying to decipher his curt tone.

“Please call me Piper,” she begged. “I don’t get to sail very often so I thought this would be the perfect way to commute across the lake. I left my car here.” Her gaze brushed over the boat in obvious fondness, then she focused on him and the brown eyes darkened to almost black.

“I paid for the berth. Yesterday.”

Andy hadn’t told him. Jason wished he could time-warp back about an hour and do this all over again. Though it was a little late to explain, he gave it his best shot.

“I wasn’t implying anything. I just wanted to be sure you knew you’d need a car.” Idiot! How old was he that her appearance could knock him for a loop?

“I don’t know whether or not I explained to you when we talked before, Mr. Franklin, but years ago I lived in Serenity Bay. I’m familiar with the need for wheels around here.”

She smiled and it was a glorious thing. Her skin glowed, her eyes shone and her curls danced in the breeze. She was more beautiful than he remembered.

“No, I don’t believe you mentioned that.” Otherwise, I wouldn’t have made an idiot of myself talking about public transportation.

Her gaze held his. A zap of awareness shot between them.

“Well, I did. Six summers, actually.”

“Really?”

“They were some of the best times of my life.”

Which meant—what? That she was here to recapture the past? That her life had taken a downturn and she’d returned to start over?

“That explains your enthusiasm for this place then.” And her knowledge of the economic possibilities in the area.

“I guess.” She continued to watch him, her scrutiny unflinching.

“What do you have planned, Miss Langley?”

“You’re the boss. Shouldn’t you be telling me, Mr. Franklin?” Heavy emphasis on the Mr.

“Actually I didn’t think you would start till Monday.”

“Why wait?”

She stood tall and proud, head tipped back, face impassive as her glance clashed with his. She shifted as if she were eager to get on with things.

Something was tapping. Jason looked down, noticed that her blue shoes matched the blue of her suit perfectly, and that the toe of one was rapping impatiently against the dock.

During his Boston years, Jason had known a lot of women. But he’d never met one who couldn’t stand still for even a few minutes. Piper Langley pulsed with leashed energy.

She cleared her throat. “Mr. Franklin?”

“I prefer Jason. We’re informal around here. Okay, Piper?” He smiled, showing there were no hard feelings. “Now perhaps—”

“Wait a minute. Jason. Jason Franklin. Man, I’m slow.” The whispered words slipped through her lips on a breath of recognition.

He froze.

“There was a rather well-known Jason Franklin who gained the reputation of finding fantastic recreation property that developers could evolve into spectacular tourism centers. He worked for a company called Expectations in Boston.” She paused, searching his face while she waited for his response.

“Guilty,” he admitted, heart sinking. “But that was in the past. Now I’m my own boss.” And I like it that way, so don’t ask any more questions.

“Of course.” She nodded, obviously receiving his message loud and clear.

Immediately Jason wondered exactly what she’d heard, and from whom.

“It’s a wonderful marina,” she murmured. “We never had anything like this when I was here.”

“Thank you. I’ve enjoyed putting it together.”

Then in the blink of an eye, Piper Langley became all business.

“I’ve done some preliminary work since you offered me the job of economic development officer. I hope that’s all right?” One finely arched eyebrow quirked up, daring him to say it wasn’t.

“Great.”

“Nothing too risky, but I thought one way to begin getting Serenity Bay on the map might be to initiate a fishing tournament, with a rather large prize. I realize it’s only the first of April, but these things take a while to publicize and we don’t want to miss the season.” She glanced around, took in the lack of customers. “Do you have time to discuss some of my plans now?”

As mayor, he’d made her the offer on behalf of the town council, agreeing to hold the position until she was released from her current job. Her eagerness to get started was a far better beginning than Jason had dared expect.

He’d known she was the right one at their first meeting. Looked as though he was about to be proved correct.

“Now’s a bad time?” The toe was tapping again.

Jason considered his schedule. Saturday. There would be very few people looking for a boat to rent this early in the season. Maybe a couple of guys would drop in looking for new rods and reels, but the majority of the cottagers hadn’t opened up their summer homes yet and those year-round residents who weren’t enjoying the sunshine were more likely to be planting what little garden they could, rather than visiting his marina.

“Now is good,” he agreed. “Why don’t you come inside, into my office? I’ve got some coffee already made.”

“Great.” She followed him. “Thank you.”

Early on in life Jason had learned that tidiness was an asset with inestimable value. Today it proved its worth, especially when he found himself oddly confused by her presence in his personal space.

“Great office.”

“Yes, it is.” Jason checked for sarcasm but her appreciation seemed genuine. He castigated himself for suspecting her motives. Not everybody was insincere.