Sherryl Woods - Home to Seaview Key

Hannah couldn’t possibly imagine how isolating that had been, Abby thought, remembering the loneliness, the longing for someone she could open up to.

“I’m sorry,” Hannah said.

“Don’t be,” Abby said, her tone deliberately upbeat. “I’m leaving all that in the past. Somewhere around here there has to be some glimmer of the old me. I intend to find it.”

“Maybe you can start by having dinner with me and Luke,” Hannah said. “That’s why I came by. To see if you’re free on Saturday.”

It wasn’t just the invitation that startled Abby, but the warmth with which it was uttered. Taking it at face value, she said, “I really would love that.”

“Luke wants to include Seth, if that’s okay. He thought maybe you’d want to thank him for dragging you out of the water. Personally I think you need to find a safer way of getting a man’s attention, but what do I know?”

Abby thought of that moment when her senses had stirred in a stranger’s arms. It had been such a long time since she’d reacted to anyone like that. Did that make it something to be pursued or avoided at all costs? Seeing Seth again at The Fish Tale, feeling that same spark of attraction, had only added to her conflicted feelings. Unfortunately, with Hannah regarding her expectantly, she didn’t have a lot of time to decide.

“Sure,” she said finally, avoiding her old friend’s assessing gaze.

Hannah studied her curiously for a moment longer, then grinned. “Oh my God, you’re interested, aren’t you? I recognize the signs. For one thing, you’re blushing like a teenager.”

“Don’t be crazy. I barely know the man.”

“If you say so,” Hannah said. “But dinner’s going to be a lot more interesting than I was anticipating.”

Abby suddenly found herself hoping that Hannah was right.

* * *

Seth, Luke and a few of the other men in Seaview Key had been getting together for a while now to play poker on Friday nights. Seth’s discord with Luke the day before was no reason to stay away, he decided, not when he usually managed to take a few bucks from his friend before most nights were over.

Jack Ferguson was hosting tonight’s game in his apartment above The Fish Tale. He gave Seth an assessing look when he arrived.

“Saw you with Abby Miller yesterday,” Jack said, his knowing gaze shifting from Seth to Luke and back again.

Seth nodded. “Just getting acquainted,” he said, leaving it at that.

“Have you seen her since she’s been back?” Jack asked Luke.

“I stopped by last night,” Luke admitted.

Seth regarded him with surprise. “Really?” he said, not sure what that implied. Had Luke been lying when he’d claimed he was long over the woman? He sure hadn’t wasted any time in going to see her.

“Just a quick stop to say hello and see what brought her back,” Luke said, his gaze steady as if daring Seth or anyone else to question his motives.

“I’ll tell you what brought her back,” Jack said, pouring beers all around. “She’s behind this whole Blue Heron Cove development.”

Luke frowned. “What do you mean, behind it? She sold them the land, right? I thought that’s what she meant when she told me she was developing it.”

Jack shook his head. “No, it’s her deal, start to finish. She brought the plans by today for me to take a look. It’s nothing like the disaster some folks were painting it to be, myself included, I have to admit.”

“You’re backing it now?” Luke said, his surprise plain. “I thought you were dead set against it. You’ve been grumbling to anyone who’d listen since the word first leaked out that the land was going to be developed.”

“Well, I’m over it now,” Jack replied defensively. “I’ve seen for myself what she has in mind. Only a few houses, all high-end. She intends to keep most of the trees, wherever she can.”

“What happens if the builder points out it’s going to cost more to do it that way?” Luke asked. In his experience watching developments take a turn for the worse, money trumped ideals at every turn.

“She’ll stand her ground,” Jack said confidently. “If you’d heard her, you’d believe that.”

“Does Abby have any experience as a developer?” Luke asked, trying to imagine her in that role.

Jack shrugged. “Not that I know of, but I trust her to keep her word. I told her I’d back her up at the council meeting when she goes in for the final approvals.”

Seth was impressed. If she’d convinced Jack, a die-hard opponent of the island being overdeveloped, then Abby must have done quite a sales job. Her involvement might also make it easier for him and Luke to ask for a little backing for that rescue boat, too.

Nate Wilson looked at the three of them impatiently. “Are we here to play poker or are you guys going to chatter like a bunch of women all night?”

Jack gave him an amused look. “Forgive me. I thought you might be interested in the future of our community.”

Nate merely growled. “I’m more interested in winning back that money you stole from me in last week’s game.”

“Then you’ll have to play a whole lot better than you did last week. I’m feeling lucky again,” Jack told him, just as Tom Jenkins, their fifth regular, finally showed up. Jack pushed a beer in Tom’s direction, then nodded toward Seth. “Deal the cards.”

From that point on, they stayed focused on poker, beer and the snacks Jack had put out for them. Seth had the feeling there was something on Luke’s mind, but he kept silent until they were outside at midnight, both of them a little poorer. Jack had had a good night, just as he’d predicted.

“I was hoping to see you today,” Luke told him as they walked toward their cars.

“Something on your mind?”

“Hannah’s planning a dinner party for tomorrow night. She’d like you to be there. Are you free?”

“Sure, I can be there.” His suspicions kicked in. “If you don’t mind me asking, who else is on the guest list?”

“Just one other person, as far as I know,” Luke said. “Abby.”

Seth’s mouth gaped. “Seriously?”

Luke nodded. “Frankly, I thought it was a bad idea, but Hannah insisted. I think she’s trying to prove something.”

“To you?”

“Maybe. More likely, to herself. She wants to believe she’s not the least bit threatened by Abby’s return. I think your presence will help with that. Thanks for agreeing to come, especially after all the things I said to you yesterday.”

Seth considered his assigned role as buffer in a very tricky situation, then shrugged off whatever discomfort he was feeling. “If nothing else, it will give us a chance to talk to Abby about the rescue boat. It sounded to me back at Jack’s as if you didn’t have any idea that she was developing that property herself.”

“Not a clue,” Luke confirmed. “I’m shocked, frankly. Her folks were always the first to speak out against development on the island. They liked that it still felt like a small fishing village. She swears she’ll see that this is done responsibly and Jack’s backing her up, but I’m skeptical.”

“Abby’s been living in a bigger community,” Seth suggested. “She may need this place to change so she can feel better about being back. You certainly seemed to think she wouldn’t be satisfied living here as it is.”

Luke chuckled. “If Jack was right and she’s only planning on a dozen or fewer new houses, Seaview Key still won’t resemble that area around Pensacola. We’d have to grow a lot before we could support a mall or movie theaters or one of those big box stores.”

“Maybe she just needs a project, then,” Seth suggested. “She told me she gave up a business. She’s clearly not used to being idle.”