The Bad Boy of Butterfly Harbor(55)

Simon shrugged. “I guess.”

He more than guessed. She’d seen that flash of hero worship in her son’s eyes even as a danger sign flashed in her mind. Opening herself up to Luke was one thing. Having her son begin to depend on him...there was a Grand Canyon–size difference.

“And if Sheriff Saxon can forgive you for what you did, likely there’s a good chance Charlie will, too.”

Simon went quiet for a while, and Holly felt herself relax enough to finally doze off.

“I’m really sorry, Mom,” Simon whispered.

“I know you are. Tomorrow’s a new day. Let’s try to make it a better one, okay?”

“Yeah, okay.” He dropped off to sleep and a few minutes later, bathed in the soft glow of her grandmother’s stained-glass lamp, Holly followed.





CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

“DON’T YOU WISH we could be kids again sometimes?” Paige leaned her chin in her hand and looked misty-eyed at Charlie and Simon huddled in their usual corner. “You’d never know they spent the past couple of days not speaking to one another.”

“We must grow into the concept of holding grudges,” Holly said. Simon had awakened grumpy, but Holly had known he was nervous about talking to Charlie, and to Paige, who had accepted his apology with as much enthusiasm as her daughter had. “Sorry my son tried to turn your daughter into a delinquent.”

Paige rolled her eyes. “Yeah, ’cause Charlie’s all innocence. Remind me to tell you about our last visit to Pizza Palooza. We’ve been banned.”

Holly could well imagine. “Well, she was the voice of reason in this instance. Taught Simon a lesson he’s not going to forget anytime soon. Good afternoon, Sheriff.”

Holly straightened as Luke walked in, a stack of papers in one hand, a relaxed smile on his handsome face. “Hello, ladies. Hey, Holly, I was hoping you might be willing to pass some of these out.” He set the papers on the counter.

“You’re putting out the call on the youth center already?” The fluorescent pink Community Help Wanted flyer would definitely catch eyes. She was ready to hop on board. It was the least she could do given Luke had put her father in charge of the project.

“The sooner people know I want to establish a safe zone for their kids, the better,” Luke said.

“Sounds great.” Paige read over Holly’s shoulder. “Let me know if I can do anything to help.”

“Thanks. I’m actually on my way over there to post a sign-up sheet for any of the kids and teens interested in being members.”

“How about that,” Paige said as Holly hugged the flyers against her chest. “Holly was about to take a break before the lunch rush. I bet you could do with some fresh air.”

Holly’s face went flame hot.

“Happy to have the company.” Luke didn’t give any indication he’d noticed Paige’s matchmaking intentions. “Your dad’s making the rounds to some friends’ stores, including Harvey’s Hardware. He’s determined to get whatever repair materials we need donated so we can wait and go to the mayor for bigger items. We’re hoping to get everything we need by next weekend.”

“Dad has plenty of favors to call in. And, um, sure.” She nodded, feeling that antsy dance she hadn’t felt since her first date with Gray. But this wasn’t a date. “A walk sounds great.” She reached behind her and pinched Paige hard on the arm.

Paige jumped but her grin widened.

“Can we come, too?” Simon ran over with Charlie bringing up the rear, her crooked pigtails giving that quirky, cute personality of hers a boost.

“Sure.” Luke pulled open the door and waved them outside. “It’ll give me and Simon a chance to discuss his sentence for his misdeeds.”

Simon grumbled something as he trudged ahead, but Charlie stopped in front of Luke, peering up at him with a glimmer of uncertainty on her face. “I should be sentenced, too.”

Luke’s brows shot up. “You should?”

“I helped Simon.”

“Yeah, but you didn’t want to,” Simon proclaimed in her defense. “She only went along because I told her she had to.”

“But I still did it,” Charlie insisted. “We’re a team, remember? If Simon’s in trouble, then so am I.”

Luke nodded and Holly had to glance away, only to have her gaze stop on Paige, who looked proud enough to burst.

“Aah. Would this make you the C in the SC Brigade?” Luke asked.

Simon’s eyes went wide, the sparkling gray colliding with the neon green of his shirt. “You know about that?”

“Ozzy’s pretty good on the computer,” Luke said. “He found where you hid that information in the virus email.”