Windswept Way (Hope Harbor #9)(21)
Author: Irene Hannon

 

“As soon as I can pack up my place. I’m anxious to get there and settle in, but I think I’ll spread the trip out over three days since it’s a long drive alone.”

 

A solo cross-country drive?

 

That didn’t sit well.

 

But voicing his reservations could be interpreted as chauvinistic. At least in today’s cell phone world, help would be a call away if she ran into trouble.

 

“I agree it would be safer not to push yourself.”

 

“To tell you the truth, though, I’m so pumped I think I could jump in my car right now and do the drive nonstop—with energy left over!”

 

At her infectious animation, Jon’s mouth bowed. Leaning one shoulder against the side of the truck, he watched as two seagulls that were a bit far afield from their usual foraging grounds at the harbor circled overhead. “Save it up. You’ll need every ounce with all the ambitious plans you have.”

 

“Trust me, I have energy to spare. And an exciting project doesn’t consume energy, it creates energy. I imagine you felt the same when you launched your business.”

 

Not quite.

 

“To a certain degree. But landscaping wasn’t in my original plans.”

 

Scowling, Jon straightened up as the words fell out of his mouth.

 

What had prompted that admission?

 

He never talked about the shattered dreams that had forced him to find a new direction, far off his original course. Only with Laura had he opened up, on rare occasion. And only after a ton of pushing and prodding on her part.

 

“Really? What did you intend to do?” Ashley’s tone remained chatty and conversational. “I know your company is new, but I assumed you’d always been in the field. Your academic credentials are impressive, and I saw on the background information you supplied with your bid that you worked with another landscaper in the Portland area.”

 

“That was just to gain field experience while I compiled those credentials. My plan after I left the service was to go back to school for a master’s degree.”

 

“In what?”

 

He was getting in deeper and deeper—but how could he dig himself out of this hole without being rude to a new client?

 

“Foreign affairs.”

 

“Whoa! That’s about as far from landscaping as you can get. What did you want to do with your degree?”

 

“Get a job with the State Department. I had my sights set on the diplomatic corps.”

 

“No kidding?” Her manner was still bubbly. “I imagine that would have been exciting. Why did you change direction?”

 

He worked a rock loose from the dirt with the toe of his boot and kicked it. Hard. “Diplomatic work requires face-to-face interactions. Negotiating with foreign nationals, assisting US citizens who are traveling overseas, doing presentations and programs, representing the US at all kinds of public events. It wasn’t a good fit after . . . after I got out of the service.”

 

In the silence that followed his explanation, he tightened his grip on the cell.

 

Ashley appeared to be an intelligent woman, and it didn’t take a genius to read between the lines of what he’d said.

 

A career in the diplomatic service that focused on one-on-one interactions wasn’t an option for a man whose distracting appearance would get in the way of dealing with US citizens who needed assistance, comfort, and guidance—or with foreign nationals who had to be persuaded or won over or influenced.

 

“So you went with a second-choice career.” Her tone had grown pensive.

 

“Second choice at the time, but in hindsight an excellent fit.” No way did he want her sympathy. “Outdoor work has always appealed to me. After I got the appropriate credentials, I applied for a small business loan and hung up my shingle. Turns out I love what I do. And I couldn’t have picked a more beautiful spot to live than the Oregon coast.”

 

After a moment, she spoke again. “It’s strange how unexpected events can lead us in directions we would never have anticipated, isn’t it?”

 

As her quiet question hung in the air between them, the two gulls landed a few feet away and snuggled close together, watching him.

 

Her comment could refer to his war wounds or the fire at the place she’d worked, but a poignant undertone hinted that it wasn’t only about either of their altered career trajectories.

 

“Are you talking about the fire?” If there was a more subtle approach to probe for information, it eluded him.

 

“That’s one example.” When she continued, the bounce was back in her voice. “Now I should let you get back to work. As soon as I have the green light, I’ll text you.”

 

She wasn’t going to share anything more. And who could blame her, if her reference to an unexpected event was personal in nature? The two of them were almost strangers, after all.

 

“Thanks. I’ll watch for it.”

 

“And I’ll look forward to working with you to give Edgecliff the gardens it deserves.”

 

“It will be my pleasure, Ms. Scott.”

 

“Let’s dispense with formalities. Ashley is fine. Talk to you soon.”

 

Jon signed off, slowly pocketing his phone as a smile tugged at his lips.

 

Working with Ashley would, in fact, be a pleasure. Her enthusiasm was contagious, and while she’d never be anything more than a client, spending time in the presence of a vibrant, beautiful, insightful woman would be a treat after two long, lonely years with only Daisy for company.

 

When he turned to rejoin the crew, Kyle was watching him with a wise-guy smirk from a few feet away.

 

“I take it that was Ashley.”

 

Jon called up his most intimidating expression. The one he’d used whenever his squad got out of line. “Were you eavesdropping?”

 

“Not on purpose. I came over to tell you we finished the cleanup, and the guys took off. I caught the tail end of the conversation.”

 

Bad news.

 

The tail end would have been sufficient to fan the flames of Kyle’s sudden propensity to play Cupid, given the warmth that had crept into his voice as they ended their conversation.

 

Best to play this low-key, however.

 

“We got the job.”

 

“I picked that up—among other things.”