NGEL I NN —A LL A RE W ELCOME . Her aunt Elizabeth had painted and hand-lettered that sign with a scroll of vines and flowers on the border. Liza had restored it herself to its former glory. Below that plaque hung another that now read, VACANCY .
There had been so much bad weather this past month. Liza tried to stay positive, believing the rooms would fill up again for the last few weeks of the summer season.
She turned up the drive and spotted Daniel Merritt’s pickup truck parked near the back door, then saw him up on a ladder, leaning against the inn. He was working on one of the window shutters that had come down during the last storm.
Was he supposed to be working here today? She would have remembered. Liza took a quick glance at her reflection in the rearview mirror. Large blue eyes peered back at her. She looked pale and sticky, her long dark hair an outrageous mess of curls. And she really needed some lipstick.
“Oh, Daniel’s here,” Claire said happily. “I wonder if he’s had any lunch.”
“As if that has ever stopped him from eating your cooking, Claire.”
“It has nothing to do with that. He has a healthy appetite. He works very hard,” Claire quickly defended him, though she did seem pleased by Liza’s compliment.
Daniel Merritt did work hard, and Liza was grateful to him. She had more or less inherited Daniel—a carpenter, painter, roofer, and all around fix-it man—with the property. She was sure that if not for his persistent care, the place would not be standing. She sometimes wondered if she would be herself, if not for his support and encouragement.
Liza was always happy to find Daniel here. She hadn’t expected to see him until Wednesday night. They had planned to go up to Newburyport for dinner and a movie. They were officially a couple now; at least that’s what everyone on the island said. Though their courtship had hit a few bumps along the way.
But Daniel’s life was still unsettled, and Liza tried not to look too far into the future or make too many demands. She simply lovedbeing around him, which was enough for now. Even if he made surprise visits when she looked like a complete mess.
Claire waved up at Daniel and carried her purchases to the inn, going in through the front door.
Liza walked back to the ladder. “Hey, up there. Want some lunch?”
He came down a few steps and kissed her hello. “Sounds good. I’ll be done in a minute. Did you pick up the shutters at the hardware store?”
“I tried, but the store was closed.”
“In the middle of a Monday? That’s funny. I hope Frank isn’t sick or anything.”
“There was a note. It just said, ‘Be Back in Fifteen Minutes.’ We’re pretty sure where he went. There’s a movie crew in town filming at the harbor. Claire and I saw a huge crowd down there, mostly just waiting for something to happen. Or one of the movie stars to come out of a trailer.”
“A movie crew? Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” Daniel jumped down from the ladder and smoothed out his paint-spattered T-shirt. “I always wanted to be in a movie … you know, one of those guys you see walking in the background, looking very busy and in a rush to get somewhere?” He faked a serious expression and glanced at his watch.
With his tall, strong build, dark hair, and eyes to match, Daniel was just as attractive as any movie star Liza had ever seen. Including Nick Dempsey. She laughed and rested her hand on his broad shoulder. “I’m pretty sure they have enough candidates trying out to be one of ‘those guys.’ Besides, I think Claire is serving chowder for lunch today.”
Daniel grinned at the mention of one of his favorite dishes. “Hollywood will have to wait. I’ll have some lunch and think about it.”
“I was hoping you would say that.” Liza slipped her arm through his, and they walked around the house to the brick patio that was covered by a lattice filled with thick wisteria.
Claire had already put out three place
There had been so much bad weather this past month. Liza tried to stay positive, believing the rooms would fill up again for the last few weeks of the summer season.
She turned up the drive and spotted Daniel Merritt’s pickup truck parked near the back door, then saw him up on a ladder, leaning against the inn. He was working on one of the window shutters that had come down during the last storm.
Was he supposed to be working here today? She would have remembered. Liza took a quick glance at her reflection in the rearview mirror. Large blue eyes peered back at her. She looked pale and sticky, her long dark hair an outrageous mess of curls. And she really needed some lipstick.
“Oh, Daniel’s here,” Claire said happily. “I wonder if he’s had any lunch.”
“As if that has ever stopped him from eating your cooking, Claire.”
“It has nothing to do with that. He has a healthy appetite. He works very hard,” Claire quickly defended him, though she did seem pleased by Liza’s compliment.
Daniel Merritt did work hard, and Liza was grateful to him. She had more or less inherited Daniel—a carpenter, painter, roofer, and all around fix-it man—with the property. She was sure that if not for his persistent care, the place would not be standing. She sometimes wondered if she would be herself, if not for his support and encouragement.
Liza was always happy to find Daniel here. She hadn’t expected to see him until Wednesday night. They had planned to go up to Newburyport for dinner and a movie. They were officially a couple now; at least that’s what everyone on the island said. Though their courtship had hit a few bumps along the way.
But Daniel’s life was still unsettled, and Liza tried not to look too far into the future or make too many demands. She simply lovedbeing around him, which was enough for now. Even if he made surprise visits when she looked like a complete mess.
Claire waved up at Daniel and carried her purchases to the inn, going in through the front door.
Liza walked back to the ladder. “Hey, up there. Want some lunch?”
He came down a few steps and kissed her hello. “Sounds good. I’ll be done in a minute. Did you pick up the shutters at the hardware store?”
“I tried, but the store was closed.”
“In the middle of a Monday? That’s funny. I hope Frank isn’t sick or anything.”
“There was a note. It just said, ‘Be Back in Fifteen Minutes.’ We’re pretty sure where he went. There’s a movie crew in town filming at the harbor. Claire and I saw a huge crowd down there, mostly just waiting for something to happen. Or one of the movie stars to come out of a trailer.”
“A movie crew? Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” Daniel jumped down from the ladder and smoothed out his paint-spattered T-shirt. “I always wanted to be in a movie … you know, one of those guys you see walking in the background, looking very busy and in a rush to get somewhere?” He faked a serious expression and glanced at his watch.
With his tall, strong build, dark hair, and eyes to match, Daniel was just as attractive as any movie star Liza had ever seen. Including Nick Dempsey. She laughed and rested her hand on his broad shoulder. “I’m pretty sure they have enough candidates trying out to be one of ‘those guys.’ Besides, I think Claire is serving chowder for lunch today.”
Daniel grinned at the mention of one of his favorite dishes. “Hollywood will have to wait. I’ll have some lunch and think about it.”
“I was hoping you would say that.” Liza slipped her arm through his, and they walked around the house to the brick patio that was covered by a lattice filled with thick wisteria.
Claire had already put out three place
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