The Sweetheart Secret by Shirley Jump

information, Daisy realized. A little neighborly prying. “Just long enough,” Daisy said with a smile, “to finish what I started.”
    â€œWhat’s that?”
    â€œI moved here, thinking I’d reopen the Hideaway Inn with my cousin, but . . .” She sighed and closed up the paper. None of the jobs she’d seen paid enough to finance the loan, or to allow her to pay for the renovations on her own. Daisy needed to face reality. She’d bitten off more than she could chew. That’s what she got for being too impulsive. “I can’t get a loan to repair the inn without a job, and even if I did, I don’t know if I can afford the repayment schedule. The amount the contractor quoted me is way out of my range.”
    â€œFinally, something I can help with, and something I’d be delighted to be a part of.” Greta patted Daisy’s hand. “I know a contractor. He’s fair, honest, quite a good-looking man, too, and happens to be almost family.”
    â€œ
Almost
family?”
    â€œHe’s marrying Diana, who is my granddaughter-in-law-to-be’s sister.”
    Small town connections. Daisy bit back a laugh. “Luke’s fiancée’s sister?”
    â€œThe exact one. She’s also the town veterinarian, and she runs the local animal shelter with Olivia. Oh, and if you know anyone looking for a pet, the shelter is having a little adoption fair in the park this Friday afternoon.”
    Greta seemed determined to get Daisy plugged into this town. Probably a good thing for someone looking to reopen a local business, but still a little overwhelming for someone who’d never been part of anything larger than an apartment-building Labor Day barbecue before. “I’d appreciate the recommendation for a contractor, Mrs. Winslow—”
    â€œGreta, please. Remember, I’m not old enough to be called Mrs. Winslow.”
    â€œGreta,” Daisy corrected with a smile, “but I can’t promise that I’m going to get the financing to pay for the work. I’ve run into a . . . snag with the bank, and I’m debating whether it’s just a sign that I’m doing the wrong thing.”
    Greta’s hand covered hers. “No, it’s a sign that you need to work harder, my dear. Everything worth having is worth fighting for.”
    If she had fought harder for Colt all those years ago, would they still be together? Or would she have realized sooner that they were a mistake that never should have been? And what if she fought like hell to save the Hideaway Inn, but never got her cousin back?
    â€œWhat if you fight,” Daisy said softly, “and still lose?”
    â€œDon’t let a little defeat stop you. My daddy always said that a closed door is really just an invitation to break in through the window.” Greta winked, then got to her feet. “So find yourself a window, my dear, and if you need to throw a brick through it, well, just make sure you sweep up any broken glass afterward. After all, you’re going to be keeping that contractor busy enough.”

Eight

    As soon as that infernal woman pulled out of the driveway, Earl picked up the phone so he could get the hell out of here before that visiting nurse got it in her foolish head to come back—or worse, send reinforcements. The second the nurse had shown up, Earl was ready for her. Nothing said
I’m not interested in being poked and prodded
like a man on the porch with a twenty-two. The dust cloud from her hasty exit was just settling when the phone call connected. “Pete, it’s Earl. Need a favor.”
    Pete didn’t question. Never had, never would. Earl had worked on Pete’s fleet—if one could call three taxis for the only taxi service in Rescue Bay a fleet—for more than two decades. In twenty years, Pete had never lost a day of work, or a dollar of wages, because Earl had kept his good