Jason watched as the sailboatâs captain stepped onto the dock. He caught a glimpse of a face, and realized the sailor was a woman. A woman he knew.
Piper strode toward him. âGood morning, Mayor.â
He couldnât help but stare at her dark hair. Heâd dreamed about that hair. He swallowed, rejecting the flash of interest that prickled whenever he talked to her.
âYouâll need a car, Miss Langley. Serenity Bayâs public transportation isnât up to big city standards.â
âPlease call me Piper,â she said. âIâm familiar with the need for wheels around here. I lived in Serenity Bay years ago. They were some of the best times of my life.â
Then she smiled and it was a glorious thing. Her gaze held his. A zing of awareness shot between them.
âThat explains your enthusiasm for this place, then,â he said. âSo what do you have planned for Serenity Bay, Miss Langley?â
âYouâre the boss. Shouldnât you be telling me, Mr. Franklin?â
Sneaking a flashlight under the blankets, hiding in a thicket of Caragana bushes where no one could see, pushing books into socks to take to campâthose are just some of the things Lois Richer freely admits to in her pursuit of the written word. âIâm a book-a-holic. I canât do without stories,â she confesses. âItâs always been that way.â
Her love of language evolved into writing her own stories. Today her passion is to create tales of personal struggle that lead to triumph over lifeâs rocky road. For Lois, a happy ending is essential. âIn my stories, as in my own life, God has a way of making all things beautiful. Writing a love story is my way of reinforcing my faith in His ultimate goodness toward usâHis precious children.â
âMs. Langley? Piper Langley?â
âYes.â
Maybe it was the suit that took his breath awayâa tailored red power suit that fit her like a glove. But he didnât think of power when he looked at her. He thought of long-stemmed red rosesâthe kind a man chooses to give his love.
Maybe it was the way she so regally rose from the chair in Serenity Bayâs town office and stepped forward to grasp his hand firmly. Or it could have been her hairâa curling, glossy mane that cascaded down her back like a river of dark chocolate.
His sudden lack of oxygen wasnât helped by the megawatt smile that tilted her lips, lit up her chocolate-brown eyes and begged him to trust her.
From somewhere inside him a warning voice reminded, âTrust has to be earned.â Immediately he recalled a verse heâd read this morning: Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him to help you and He will.
âIâm Piper.â Her words, firm, businesslike, drew him back to reality.
âJason Franklin,â he stated. âWould you like to come through to the boardroom?â
âCertainly.â She followed him, her high heels clicking on the tile floor in a rhythmic pattern that bespoke her confidence.
Inside, Jason introduced the townâs councillors, and waited till she was seated. Only then did he take his place at the table and pick up her résumé. It was good. Too good.
âYour credentials speak very well for you, Ms. Langley.â
âThank you.â
He hadnât been paying her a compliment, simply telling the truth. She was overqualified for a little town like Serenity Bay, a place in Ontarioâs northern cottage country.
âI donât think we have any questions about your skills or your ability to achieve results.â He glanced at the other board members for confirmation and realized all eyes were focused on the small, delicate woman seated at the end of the table.
Piper Langley had done nothing and yet they all seemed captivated by her. Himself included.
Careful! his brain warned.
âIâm happy to answer anything you wish to ask, Mr. Franklin.â She picked an invisible bit of lint from her skirt, folded her hands in her lap and waited. When no one spoke, she chuckled, breaking the silence. âIâm sure you didnât ask me here just to look at me.â
So she knew she drew attention. Was that good or bad?
âNo, we didnât.â He closed the folder filled with her accomplishments, set it aside. âItâs obvious you have what weâre looking for, but I canât help wonderingâwhy do you want to leave Calgary? Especially now, after youâve worked so hard to build your reputation, finally achieved the success youâve earned? Why leave all that to work in Serenity Bay?â