Blue Heaven (Blue Lake) Read Free

with Jane’s back to Eva so she couldn’t hear much of what was said. Then Jane shut her phone, promising Eva the paperwork would be typed up and ready to sign in ten minutes.
    Eva felt a little like Cinderella meeting her fairy godmother, but she decided not to question the fortunate turn her day had taken. It was about time for something to go right in life. She sipped her glass of wine, just to be polite. It was surprisingly delicious. She took another small sip, which had nothing to do with the fact that she was a tad nervous about how Daniel would react when she waltzed back into the bank and claimed her cash. This reminded her that she still didn’t know why he cared about that guy named Bryman—and her bungalow—so much.
    Eva clinked glasses with Jane. “Thank you,” she said. After a final token sip, Eva set her wine glass back on the dark polished wood of the bar.
    “Why is Daniel so territorial about my property?”
    “He’s a Bryman,” Jane said, rolling her eyes.
    Bryman. Eva had a sense before that Daniel talked as if this unknown Bryman was another Frank Lloyd Wright or something, but now everything clicked into place.
    “He’s related to the architect who designed Blue Heaven,” Eva said.
    “His great-granddaddy,” Jane confirmed.
    Interesting. Eva took another sip of her wine, without thinking, and then set it as far out of reach as possible.
    “I know you want to keep a clear head,” Jane said, eyeing the distant unfinished glass of wine. “But we have to give our clerk time to type up the paperwork.”
    “After the deal’s signed, I’d be happy to buy you an entire bottle of wine,” Eva said.
    A smile softened Jane’s face. In her designer suit and high heels, Jane appeared a super-competent businesswoman, but her smile transformed her into someone else. Maybe a new friend.
    “I’ll take you up on that,” Jane said.
    “I still don’t understand why Daniel would spite the entire town just because he’s afraid I’ll botch the renovation.”
    “He’d call it a restoration. Bit of a control freak. But it’s not his fault.” Jane eyed Eva’s glass of wine. “Hit me one more time, Eddie,” she said, pushing her empty glass toward the bartender.
    “Why isn’t it his fault?” Eva asked, since she had to wait for Jane to drink yet another glass of wine. “That he’s so controlling, I mean.”
    “Daniel wanted to be an architect, too. He was in college in Ann Arbor when he was called home. Family tragedy.” She set down her wine glass and crossed her arms. “I think buying up and renovating every Bryman home in town became kind of an obsession with him.”
    Eva wondered what the tragedy was, but she didn’t want to pry. She thought about Daniel’s face in the bank that morning when she’d mentioned his father. It hit her all at once, like most of her verbal gaffs. Something bad had happened to Daniel’s father.

Chapter Two
    Daniel took the loan papers for Eva’s financing from his secretary, and looked them over. Everything was legal, if not ethical. Jane had her father wrapped around her little finger, so old man Augustine fast-tracking Eva’s paperwork didn’t pique his curiosity as much as Jane taking an interest in Eva. He felt an old stir of discomfort.
    Just then, Eva sashayed in the front door of the bank like a satisfied cat who’d just licked clean a bowl of cream. She walked toward him, hips swinging, a smile on her face. This woman demanded notice. And he did. Notice her. He was human, after all. He handed her the documents and indicated a chair. He sat across from her, watching her read. She took her time on the fine print. Smart and pretty all in one petite package.
    “One missed payment and we begin foreclosure.”
    “I can read.” She signed the pages and pushed them toward him. “Anything else?”
    “Good luck.” This time he turned away from her swaying hips and her pert ass. He had to find a way to stop her from ruining Blue Heaven.
    Once