It's a Wonderful Wife Read Free Page A

evening, and I can’t wait until the party winds down for him to show me the plans, because I’d rather not drive that road to Castle Cove in the dark.”
    â€œThen just spend the night in the back driveway.”
    Jesse shook his head. “The camper is supposed to be loaded onto a barge tomorrow morning, and I still have to stock it with supplies.”
    And there was that I-know-a-secret smile he remembered, the one responsible for making those large blue eyes sparkle. “I happen to know there are
two
architectural models in there with your name on them,” she said in a conspirator’s whisper as she nodded toward the office. “One of your house, and the other one showing it sitting on Hundred Acre Isle.” She leaned closer. “And I also happen to have a key to the room where he keeps them.”
    â€œYou’d sneak me in even though Stanley told me he doesn’t like showing clients anything until he’s certain a design works?” Jesse countered in mock surprise, deciding Cadi Glace in a playful mood was even more appealing. Which had him wondering if there might be something in the Maine air that was responsible for producing such interesting women, since his two sisters-in-law certainly hadn’t wasted any time captivating Sam and Ben.
    Miss Glace gestured toward the driveway when a horn honked behind them. “It’s the least I can do after you graciously protected me from my exploding car.” That sparkle intensified. “Trust me, Mr. Pooh, the moment you lay eyes on those models you’ll not only see a home that works perfectly but one that belongs tucked up against that southeast-facing bluff.”
    That surprised him, as he’d always pictured the house sitting on top of the high ridge at the north end of the island, where it would have a three-hundred-sixty-degree view. The horn honked again and Jesse put the truck back in gear. “Well, Ms. Rabbit, you definitely know how to catch a man’s interest.”
    â€œRabbit?” she repeated, her smile disappearing.
    â€œIf I remember correctly,” Jesse said, watching in his right side mirror to make sure the camper didn’t run over any partygoers as he turned down the driveway, “didn’t Winnie the Pooh have a scheming buddy named Rabbit?”
    That sparkle returned. “Ah, yes, Rabbit. If
I
remember correctly, he was the brains of the operation,” she said, deadpan, escaping out the door before he even shut off the engine.
    Unable to stifle a bark of laughter, Jesse quickly got out and hustled around the front of the truck to find Cadi Glace scowling again as she eyed the remaining balloons pressed up against the window in eager anticipation of being set free. He gently nudged her out of the way, determined to hold on to the elevated position of gracious hero rather than slow-witted bear. “You bring the cake and I’ll battle the balloons. I promise not to let them go even if the sea breeze sends us soaring over the trees.” He stopped with his hand on the door and slashed her a grin. “Will you come find me if I get carried off?”
    She arched a delicate brow. “I guess that would depend on whether or not you have a check in your wallet for the second installment on your design.”
    Oh yeah; there definitely had to be something in the air around here, as Jesse couldn’t remember the last time he’d dared to flirt with a woman who wasn’t at least sixty years old.
    But then, Cadi Glace was safely engaged.
    â€œI guess you’ll have to hunt me down to find out,” he said as he opened the door. He lunged at the strings tied to her purse when the balloons shot forward in a mad dash to escape, and this time Jesse heard himself sigh at the sound of two sharp pops when the stiff sea breeze drove them into the corner of the door.
    â€œThat room isn’t getting unlocked until you take the blame for the cake
and
the