AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Poppy?” he asks, raising his brow.
“Yes. She told me you’re a contractor?”
Parker cracks his knuckles and nods. “Yep. Sure am. Me and my boy Smitty are the best in the county. Promise.” He winks at me, and warmth blooms in my belly. It’s been an absolute age since anyone flirted with me, even if only to get my business.
“Would you be able to take a look at my aunt’s house and give me an estimate? Like, tomorrow?” I ask, batting my eyelashes at him. After all, I only have a week.
He lets out a long whistle. “I’m slammed here, but I can ask Smitty if he can do it. I’ll text him right now.”
“Great, thanks.”
I wait while he dashes off a text, then makes another round of margaritas for the college girls. Ten minutes later, he’s back.
“Good news. He shuffled his schedule and can meet you tomorrow morning at eight.”
“Really? That’s fantastic, thank you.” I smile up at him and he grins back.
“Yeah, no problem. Listen—if you don’t mind my asking…” He leans back down on the bar, resting his chin on his hands. “What’s the story with the Bennett house?”
“What do you mean?” I finger a droplet of condensation on my glass, wondering where this conversation is going.
“Not to pry, but are you a relative? I’ve lived in Seaglass Beach my whole life, and I never knew Ginny Bennett had any kin.” He squints at me, his eyes the exact same shade of blue as his sister’s.
I clear my throat, dropping my voice lower, although I don’t know why. “She was my great-aunt, twice removed. I’m her only living relative. I found out about the house last week, so I’m here to check it out.”
“Huh. Interesting. You ever been here before?”
“Once, a long time ago; I think I was five. Probably before you were born.”
He chuckles, laugh lines creasing his face, the result of accumulated sun exposure more than age. “Doubt that. You can’t be older than thirty.”
“Ha! If you weren’t the bartender, I’d buy you a drink. I’m forty.”
“Shit. That was before I was born.” Parker scrubs his jaw.
“Yeah, I’m old.”
“Nah. Experienced.” He winks at me again, and I get the distinct impression he’s way more experienced than me, even if I am older.
“Did you know my Aunt Gin?” I ask.
“I saw her around town every now and again. She wasn’t real sociable; mostly stuck near home. How’s the house?” One of his blond eyebrows quirks up as he wipes the bar with a towel.
“It needs work. Do you know how long it’s been vacant? Seems like no one’s lived there for a while.”
Parker shrugs. “Not sure. Last I heard, your Aunt Gin went north for the summer. So that was almost nine, ten months ago. Don’t recall seeing her around this winter, so the house could’ve been closed up this whole time.”
I sigh, a heavy sadness settling in my chest.
Am I going to end up like Aunt Gin? Gone the better part of a year and no one even realizing?
“You okay?” Parker touches my hand, interrupting my reverie, and I glance up at him.
“I’m fine.” I shrug off his concern, not wanting to delve into my marital problems with the bartender. Way too cliché.
“Hey.” A low, deep voice rumbles behind me, and I glance over my shoulder.
“Smitty! What brings you out tonight?” Parker grins at Smitty as he slides into the seat next to me at the bar.
