“You’re next.”
Matt Blakefield choked on the
piece of wedding cake he’d been about to swallow. “Not in a million years. Why
don’t you pick on one of our unmarried friends like Tony or Jules?”
“They aren’t here,” his sister
Allie said.
Matt’s gaze slid around the long
table in the inn’s dining room spearing each couple with a glare. Friends and
family had gathered to celebrate this morning’s wedding of his brother to the
mother of his nine year old son.
“I have a friend who you would
like,” Allie said.
Meg grinned. “She would be
perfect.”
Matt pretended to shoot his
sisters. “No sale.” He dropped his napkin on the table.
“Remember the curse.” Mark’s sly
smile teased. “None of us has escaped. Maybe there’s a woman from your past you
can’t forget.”
Was there? Yes. But the reason
he couldn’t forget her showed him in a bad way. Time to hit the road. With this decision made he wondered how he
could flee before his sisters set up a date. As if in answer to his wishes his
cell vibrated. Salvation.
“Matt here. Sorry you missed the
wedding…I’ll tell him.” He looked up. “Jules said congrats. Sorry he was on a
hunt and couldn’t book a flight in time… So what did you learn?”
His friend and investigator’s
news was all Matt wanted to hear. “I’m on my way. Yes, today.”
As if he’d stay here where plans
he wanted no part of were being laid. He’d been present for the important
event. He had no reason to linger and a huge need to escape. Although he wasn’t
to meet Jules until Monday morning the opportunity was perfect.
He rose. “Have to leave. Jules
has info I need on this year’s makeover house.”
“On the weekend?” His father,
CEO of the Good Magazine Group and recently married to his teenage love arched
an eyebrow.
“Yeah, it’s the Smiton house.
You know the one I’ve always been interested in. I want to use this as the
project for converting a house from energy sucking to energy efficient. Jules
has a line on the owner’s location. I want the contract signed so we can start
work soon.” He didn’t mention how his mother had loved the house and talked
about the mystery of the heir’s disappearance. There’d been no thought of the
man’s death, just that he had gone to
His father’s forehead wrinkled.
“If there’s a problem, find another house. Who knows what condition the Smiton
house is in. No one has lived there for more than twenty five years.”
“I’ve checked. The house is
solid.”
“Find one with the owners in
residence. They’ll appreciate the free upgrade.”
Matt groaned. “And spend hours
suggesting changes that won’t work or constantly complain about the
inconvenience. Not on a bet.” Matt rose. Another thing he failed to mention was
his plan to live in the house.
