avidly from the parlor window as she and Jase made trips from the truck to the front hall. He showed no indication that he had seen them, which had Jordan grinding her teeth.
“Are you sure something isn’t wrong?” he asked while ripping open packages of screwdrivers and wrenches and organizing them in the tool chest.
“Not a thing.”
He raised an eyebrow but didn’t push the issue, handing her the shredded packaging. “These are the basic toolsyou’ll need available for most small projects. As you prioritize and start the actual work, I can help you put together lists of additional supplies.”
She mustered a smile. “I seem to be thanking you a lot.”
“There’ll be a pop quiz this evening on the first two books, including the one that explains the National Register of Historic Homes.”
“Right.” Her expression was wry as they walked out onto the front porch.
A late-model pale cream Cadillac edged up to the curb behind Jase’s truck. A slender man of average height and carefully styled sandy hair climbed out, and she grinned, recognizing him.
“Jordan!” He loped onto the porch and enveloped her in a bear hug. “I heard you’d hit town.”
When he would have held on a bit too long, Jordan stepped back, turning to include Jase. “I think you already know Ted Rawlins—”
“—of the Ted Rawlins Trio,” Jase finished, introducing himself and shaking Ted’s hand. “I’ve been expecting you.”
“Well, this is convenient,” Ted said. “I was on the way to your pub when I spied Jordan.”
“I booked the trio for this evening,” Jase told Jordan. His expression was curious. “I didn’t realize you were connected to the L.A. jazz scene.”
“I’m not, but I’ve heard the trio play a time or two.” She quickly explained her acquaintance with Ted, omitting any details. “Ultimately, Ted’s the reason I ended up in Port Chatham.” Jordan turned back to him with a smile.“But the festival is a month away. What’re you doing in town so early?”
“I told you I bought a summer home up here. The band’s been using it as a sound studio for the last month. And thanks to you, I landed a job teaching the seminars this year.” He was referring to the work she’d done with him to help him iron out personality conflicts he’d had with colleagues in the music business. “Jordan, here, literally saved my life,” he told Jase, who looked surprised.
“That’s an overstatement,” she protested.
“Not from where I sit,” Ted said firmly, then his expression turned sober. “So how are you holding up? Any news on who might’ve killed Ryland?”
She shook her head. “Nothing so far.”
“How about lunch tomorrow? You can bring me up-to-date.”
“Why don’t you drop by and I’ll give you a quick tour instead? The movers will be here and it will be a zoo, but you’ll enjoy seeing the house, I think.”
If he was disappointed, he had the grace not to show it. “It’s a date.”
“And I can’t wait to hear the trio play this evening,” she quickly added, knowing he was still somewhat insecure about his comeback, even though his career showed every sign of a meteoric recovery.
“The pub’s just around the corner,” Jase added. “Give me another minute to wrap up here, and I’ll be right behind you.”
“Sounds good.” Ted’s tone was jovial. “Well. Tomorrow, then.” With a casual wave, he returned to his car.
She could feel Jase’s gaze on her as Ted drove away, but his next question was innocuous enough. “What time do the movers show up?”
“Early, hopefully.” She needed to make a call and nail them down. “I haven’t figured out where they can put everything—most of the rooms need a thorough cleaning, stripping, and painting before I can even put furniture in them.”
“My advice? Pick a room that’s a low priority and have the movers stack most of your belongings in there. That way, you can unpack and arrange as you have time, and as
“Are you sure something isn’t wrong?” he asked while ripping open packages of screwdrivers and wrenches and organizing them in the tool chest.
“Not a thing.”
He raised an eyebrow but didn’t push the issue, handing her the shredded packaging. “These are the basic toolsyou’ll need available for most small projects. As you prioritize and start the actual work, I can help you put together lists of additional supplies.”
She mustered a smile. “I seem to be thanking you a lot.”
“There’ll be a pop quiz this evening on the first two books, including the one that explains the National Register of Historic Homes.”
“Right.” Her expression was wry as they walked out onto the front porch.
A late-model pale cream Cadillac edged up to the curb behind Jase’s truck. A slender man of average height and carefully styled sandy hair climbed out, and she grinned, recognizing him.
“Jordan!” He loped onto the porch and enveloped her in a bear hug. “I heard you’d hit town.”
When he would have held on a bit too long, Jordan stepped back, turning to include Jase. “I think you already know Ted Rawlins—”
“—of the Ted Rawlins Trio,” Jase finished, introducing himself and shaking Ted’s hand. “I’ve been expecting you.”
“Well, this is convenient,” Ted said. “I was on the way to your pub when I spied Jordan.”
“I booked the trio for this evening,” Jase told Jordan. His expression was curious. “I didn’t realize you were connected to the L.A. jazz scene.”
“I’m not, but I’ve heard the trio play a time or two.” She quickly explained her acquaintance with Ted, omitting any details. “Ultimately, Ted’s the reason I ended up in Port Chatham.” Jordan turned back to him with a smile.“But the festival is a month away. What’re you doing in town so early?”
“I told you I bought a summer home up here. The band’s been using it as a sound studio for the last month. And thanks to you, I landed a job teaching the seminars this year.” He was referring to the work she’d done with him to help him iron out personality conflicts he’d had with colleagues in the music business. “Jordan, here, literally saved my life,” he told Jase, who looked surprised.
“That’s an overstatement,” she protested.
“Not from where I sit,” Ted said firmly, then his expression turned sober. “So how are you holding up? Any news on who might’ve killed Ryland?”
She shook her head. “Nothing so far.”
“How about lunch tomorrow? You can bring me up-to-date.”
“Why don’t you drop by and I’ll give you a quick tour instead? The movers will be here and it will be a zoo, but you’ll enjoy seeing the house, I think.”
If he was disappointed, he had the grace not to show it. “It’s a date.”
“And I can’t wait to hear the trio play this evening,” she quickly added, knowing he was still somewhat insecure about his comeback, even though his career showed every sign of a meteoric recovery.
“The pub’s just around the corner,” Jase added. “Give me another minute to wrap up here, and I’ll be right behind you.”
“Sounds good.” Ted’s tone was jovial. “Well. Tomorrow, then.” With a casual wave, he returned to his car.
She could feel Jase’s gaze on her as Ted drove away, but his next question was innocuous enough. “What time do the movers show up?”
“Early, hopefully.” She needed to make a call and nail them down. “I haven’t figured out where they can put everything—most of the rooms need a thorough cleaning, stripping, and painting before I can even put furniture in them.”
“My advice? Pick a room that’s a low priority and have the movers stack most of your belongings in there. That way, you can unpack and arrange as you have time, and as
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