After Dark

To keep the revenue coming in for those expenses, they had to attract new tourists to their area and sign up a whole bunch of new, dues-paying members. A really rich benefactor would be a dream come true, hence the interest in both Aidan’s property and Aidan himself.

“I think we should call for a vote,” Sloan said after a few minutes.

She, Helen and Courtney carried the motion three to two. “So, we plan to use Batherton Mansion in our next publicity campaign. And, ladies, let’s keep this between us for now. We’re going to need to approach Mr. Kendrick slowly and carefully.”

“And make sure we can protect his identity,” Penelope said, with concern.

“Naturally,” Sloan said easily.

Approaching Aidan with this idea now would never work. In his present state, there was no way he would be open to photographers and historians tramping through his precious halls.

The ways she might soften him up flitted through her mind, heating her blood, sending anticipation soaring.

She cleared her throat and forced her attention back to business. “Now, what do all of you think of the plans?”

They discussed the various materials and styles Aidan was using and all agreed they were aesthetically superior, as well as historically accurate. The fact that this house would soon be returned to its glory, and on their little island, was exciting and encouraging.

When the meeting broke up, Penelope and Sister Mary Katherine walked out the door together and Helen took the opportunity to grab Sloan’s arm and hold her back. “So, how hot is he?”

Courtney, brown eyes sparkling with interest, leaned in to hear all the good stuff.

Remembering the wicked heat that flared intermittently in Aidan’s silver eyes, the silky-looking texture of his inky hair and his long, lean body, Sloan barely suppressed a shudder of longing. And since both women were always on top of the latest island gossip, she didn’t see any point in lying. “Off the scale.”

They groaned simultaneously.

Sloan could hardly argue that reaction.

“Since you got there first, I guess this means he’s off-limits to the rest of us,” Helen said.

“You are the mankiller in this town,” Courtney added, then grinned.

Sloan stared at her. “I am not.” Well, maybe lately she had been dating quite a bit. When a girl was unceremoniously dumped, she was entitled.

Courtney’s gaze turned speculative. “Your ego and heart aren’t still bruised over Davis, are they?”

Knowing she definitely didn’t want that nugget dropping around town, Sloan crossed her arms over her chest and made an effort to look bored. “Please.”

Helen leaned her shoulder against the door frame. “Oh, so you’re not upset he’s back in town?”

Sloan swallowed hard. Her susceptible, traitorous heart thumped with almost painful intensity. “He’s back?” she managed to ask, suddenly realizing Helen had been dying to share this information for the last half hour.

“Definitely,” Helen replied.

Courtney shrugged. “He worked for Kendrick Communications, which has now been sold. There was bound to be some fallout with the employees.”

Again, Sloan couldn’t help but think Aidan and Davis in the same town wasn’t a coincidence. Were the two men friends? Davis, for all his faults, had been an islander his whole life. She supposed he’d mentioned his hometown to his boss at some point.

“I’m sure Davis will come looking for you,” Helen said, her smile sly. “You’ll give us all the details when he does, won’t you?”

“Sure. You bet,” Sloan agreed absently, still trying to wrap her mind around the idea that Davis was on Palmer’s Island.

What was he doing here?

There was no doubt he could land a job with another big-time company in Atlanta. Returning to his roots was a step backward.

Not to mention her daddy still had vague ideas about reinstituting the firing squad for the sin of Davis hurting and humiliating his precious daughter.

She said good-bye to Helen and Courtney, then headed to the main desk to actually start doing her job. She reorganized the entire medieval research area, dusted seventeenth-century fiction and helped two students find the history of bacteria and antibiotics for the science fair.

But the whole time, she thought of Helen’s news.

Davis is here.

He could be standing on the front steps even now. He might have left her a message—she checked her cell phone six times. He could drop by her condo at any moment.

Davis, with his charming smile, sandy-blond hair and cheerful elegance was a polar opposite to dark and brooding Aidan Kendrick. Was that why she was so attracted to Aidan? Was she subconsciously leaning toward a man totally unlike the one who’d broken her heart and left her beloved island for more excitement and another woman?

At eleven-thirty, one of the Junior League volunteers arrived, so Sloan quickly made copies of Aidan’s plans, then headed toward the café. There, she took Mabel’s advice and ordered two blue plate specials—country-fried steak with sawmill gravy, collard greens, creamed corn and hot yeast rolls. And, of course, sweet tea.

Hey, it wasn’t part of the low-carb, low-fat diet, but it was comforting.

As she pulled into the driveway at Aidan’s, she checked her cell phone again—though it hadn’t rung. If Davis was here, why hadn’t he called?

Her mind half on historical society business and half on Davis, she wasn’t paying too much attention to the door she’d knocked on.

Until it opened.

Aidan stood in the opening. Luscious and beautiful, even with his fierce scowl.

The stubble on his face was slightly thicker. She wanted to stroke it as much as she wanted to see that magnificent jaw clean-shaven. He wore a snug navy T-shirt, showing off his lean torso and leanly muscled arms, and she couldn’t help but wonder about the heat and feel of the skin the shirt covered.

“I’m trying to work here,” he said rudely.

Her gaze darted up to his. Wow, oh, wow. He did have those intense eyes. Davis’s eyes were a nice, safe, sort-of-boring brown.

Then the scent of Mabel’s special hit her.

“I brought lunch. Like I said.” Sloan held up the bag. “You have time for a break now?”

His eyes flashed with irritation. “No.”

In her other hand, she held up his original plans. “I’m also returning these.”

He took the rolled-up plans and considered her. “That does smell good.”

Okay, note to self—don’t attempt to seduce the hot, new guy with perfume.

She smiled. “Uh-huh.”