Barefoot in Pearls (Barefoot Bay Brides Book 3) Read Free

fine.”
    And all those dancing cells in her body tripped and flatlined.
    After a few seconds, he scooped up his sunglasses and stood. “And, by the way, if you don’t have the owner’s permission, you won’t be able to come here when construction starts.”
    She looked up at him, digging deep for some semblance of sanity and cool, when all she wanted to do was grab his jaw and stare into his eyes and figure out if he was her future…
    Wait a second. “Did you say construction?”
    “That old hovel that got messed up in Hurricane Damien? It’s history, along with this hill, which the owner said would block his water view when he builds his house. Well, when I build it for him.”
    Another, different kind of buzz hummed through her head. “It’s history?” Her gaze shifted to the right, to the string of pearls not an inch away. Yes, it was history. Ancient, hallowed history. “How can you get rid of a hill?” Especially when it might not be a “hill” at all?
    He lifted one mighty shoulder. “With a backhoe.” He wiped some sweat from his brow and shifted his gaze to the water. “I wish we could put the house up here for the best view, but there are crazy-strict rules about how close you can build to the shoreline.”
    And rules about protected land, rules she’d heard about a hundred times from her grandmother. “You can’t just backhoe this hill.”
    “One of my subs will, and soon.” He angled his head and looked closely at her, his stare so intent her heart ached like it was…expanding.
    Expanding to make room for the man who wanted to destroy what might be sacred ground? What would Grandma Good Bear have to say about that?
    “You positive you’re okay?” he asked.
    No, no, she was not okay. Not at all. “Yes,” she lied glibly.
    “Maybe I’ll, uh, run into you again.” He winked and slid on his sunglasses. “Next time I’ll have my eyes open.”
    As he took off, she stared at his physique, the back every bit as mouthwatering as the front. Her fingers brushed the pearls next to her, and a different, visceral tug tightened her chest.
    She’d have to find out the truth about these pearls and this land. And if it turned out she was sitting on a Native American burial ground, this man would not bulldoze it away.
    Even if he was The One .

Chapter Two

    When Ari arrived at the Casa Blanca Resort & Spa, the management offices were hushed and dark since Willow and Nick had decided on a Sunday afternoon beach wedding. Ari was headed to the bridal dressing room when she noticed the door to the Barefoot Brides office was open, and that quickened her step and her heart.
    Maybe Gussie was in there, and Ari could tell her what happened today. She had to tell someone or she’d go crazy, but she certainly didn’t want to steal a moment of Willow’s special day by chattering on and on about some mystery man.
    She rushed inside and came face-to-face with Gussie McBain, who was dressed in one of the white satin robes the Barefoot Brides provided for members of the wedding party.
    “Where have you been?” Gussie asked, a tinge of impatience in her usually bright tone.
    Ari froze, not realizing she was that late.
    “Why aren’t you in the dressing room with the rest of the bridal party, clean, showered, made up, and ready to put our dresses on for Willow’s wedding?” She came closer, curiosity and a little frustration sparking her green eyes. “Why didn’t you answer your phone?”
    Had her phone rang? Wow, she’d really been daydreaming after meeting him. “I was…out.”
    Gussie frowned. “Do you mind telling me what is more important than the fact that one of your best friends is getting married and you are a co-maid of honor?”
    “I had to go somewhere,” Ari said, suddenly realizing that Gussie was right—their best friend was getting married, so this might not be the best time to go into details about the stranger she’d met.
    But Gussie looked extremely curious. “Where? Tell