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“You have a printer?” Maddy said.
Abby pointed to the desk in the corner. “It’s still in the box.”
Maddy refilled her coffee and grabbed her laptop. “Okay, I’m on tech.”
Despite hangovers, the four of them worked all morning, assembling five freestanding shelves and loading them with supplies and products. They placed one in an area designated to pack orders for pickup or delivery. Abby made a list of shipping materials to purchase, plus other items such as gift baskets and tissue paper.
A little after noon there was a knock at the back door, and Jenna poked her head through. “Lunch delivery.”
Connor trailed behind Jenna, who carried a large takeout bag. “Afternoon, ladies. Looks like I arrived at the right time.”
“Connor has a knack for arriving on time when a free meal is involved,” Emma said. “It’s gotten to where I automatically set an extra place for him at dinner.”
“Guilty as charged, and good to know,” Connor said. “What Em here neglects to mention is that the food is payment for hours of late-night reno, like steaming off wallpaper.”
“Sounds like bribery to me,” Natalie said.
“I can live with that,” he said.
Abby’s pulse increased at seeing him, and she wasn’t sure how to act, especially with her friends there. She’d been sitting on a stool at the worktable assembling a gift basket of products they were going to raffle off when people signed up for their online newsletter—which she technically didn’t even have yet.
Connor helped take the decision out of her hands when he came over to her. “Hey, darlin’. You’ve all been busy.”
“We’ve unpacked all my boxes and are wrapping soap samples to hand out,” Abby said.
“Speaking of samples, here.” Jenna opened her large tote bag and pulled out an assortment of printer labels.
“I’ll take them,” Maddy called.
She’d set up the printer on a box on the floor next to Abby’s desk and was operating two laptops.
“This afternoon, we’re going to set up a table outside the front of the store,” Abby explained. “Maddy printed coupons to include with the samples.”
“Smart idea,” Connor said. “I’ll work on finishing the front room. Anything you need me to do first?”
“As a matter of fact, yes. Follow me,” Abby said, and led him into the shop area, where a large box that had been delivered late yesterday was lying.
“What is it?”
“The awning for the front of the store. Would you be able to hang it?”
“Sure, I’ll do it now so it will be up before you hand out samples,” he said. “But first…”
He slid his hands along her waist and pulled her close. “Hi.” He kissed her, a slow, drawn-out kiss, like he had been waiting his entire life to kiss her despite having had his mouth all over her body only hours ago.
“Hi.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed against him, wishing they were alone and she could drag Connor onto the worktable.
He broke the kiss, but continued to hold her close. “Sorry I got here later than expected. Had to handle an issue at the lighthouse.”
“What happened?”
“Someone decided it would be fun to mess with the area where the museum will be built.”
“Oh no. How terrible. What’d they do?”
“Nothing major. Trash everywhere, ripped out the stakes we had used to mark the location, spray-painted signs.”
“Seems to be a recurring theme around here.”
