That was one way to get Louisa and her questions and these memories out of his life. Just not the way he intended.

Way to go, you idiot. Way to go.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

TOPPER’S RESTAURANT AT THE WAUWINET was fine dining at its very best, which was why Louisa’s mother loved it so much.

JoEllen Chambers loved all things fine, so when Louisa called her that morning to confirm that she and Louisa’s father were indeed on the island, her mother instantly insisted on lunch at Topper’s.

Louisa had begrudgingly agreed and now sat as straight as a board at a table near a window, trying not to replay Cody’s comments about her guilty conscience—proof that he still thought about their undoing.

No. It wasn’t proof of anything. It only meant that he still hadn’t forgiven her, and she was foolish to try to repair what was broken between them.

She was scrolling through her phone mindlessly, waiting for her perpetually late parents, when a man’s voice interrupted her.

“Hi, Louisa.”

She glanced up and found Eric standing beside her table. He wore a black suit, white shirt, and red tie. He looked like a politician. A smug one. “Eric?”

He smiled at her.

“What are you doing here?”

“You didn’t hear? I took a job managing the Wauwinet.”

Louisa was bad at pretending, but she tried to muster a smile. “Really?”

The Wauwinet was a beautiful hotel. This was a step up for Eric—a big one.

“Yes,” he said.

“Wow, congratulations.”

“I’m surprised your mom didn’t tell you. She and your dad were in here last night.” He chuckled. “She seems convinced we’re getting back together.”

Louisa let out a nervous laugh. “Funny. She didn’t mention it.”

Eric sat down across from her. “I told her I’d be open to it.”

Louisa waited for the flutters of butterflies. She counted to five and felt nothing. “I think things are just as they’re supposed to be.”

Eric leaned in closer, his hands on the table, dangerously close to hers. Still, she felt nothing. “I’ve been watching your business closely.”

She raised her eyebrows as if to say, Oh?

“I think I could help you take it to the next level,” he said. “Or you could do the really smart thing and come here. Work for me. It’ll be like old times.”

Louisa moved her hands from the table and folded them in her lap. “My business is doing quite well, actually.”

He leaned back and studied her. “I heard about your auction idea,” he said. “It’s . . . interesting.”

“It’s brilliant,” she said in a tone she hoped radiated more confidence than she felt. “I bet you wish you’d thought of it.”

“I don’t plan fundraisers, Louisa.” He smiled coyly as if he hadn’t just zinged her.