checkbook.”
At Gabe’s raised eyebrows, Morgan’s smile turned self-deprecating. “On second thought, since I’m supposed to be helping him with that, forget I mentioned it.”
“I can think of worse things to do with both,” the woman said with a fast grin. “And, who knows, if I end up sticking around, maybe I’ll do exactly that.”
“Great,” Morgan said, with Gabe echoing the sentiment. “You thinking of moving to Sugarberry, then?”
“Moggy,” Lilly said, drawing out the syllables into a classic kid whine.
Nice to know she can beg, he thought. “Nice to meet you,” he called as he stumbled along behind Lilly. “I’m Morgan, by the way. And the tiny terror is my niece, Lilly.”
Her smile faltered at that. “Ah. Uh, I’m Kit,” she answered after a moment, more polite afterthought than sincere offering.
Morgan smiled through the surprised little gut punch her reaction had given him. She was just passing through. God only knew the reaction he was going to get when he mingled with the folks who actually lived here. “Enjoy your stay, Kit.” With that, he disappeared into the rehab center.
She didn’t disappear from his thoughts quite as easily.
So, Kit thought, that was Morgan Westlake. Figures. Hot, handsome, and adorable with his niece.
And single, she recalled as the conversation she’d overheard between Alva and Lani floated through her mind again. It competed with the far stronger memories of her months spent in court, going up against those unbearably snotty lawyers from his family’s firm. The last thing she needed or wanted was to tangle any part of her new life with anyone remotely connected to ending her old one.
“Sorry,” Dr. Langley was saying, “didn’t mean to leave you standing there.”
“No, no, not to worry,” she assured the older gentleman. He was pretty much the textbook description of what she’d imagine if she was asked to picture a doctor of ecology and wildlife conservation. She pegged him somewhere in his mid-to-late sixties.
He was tall and lanky bordering on bony, with longish gray hair a bit on the wispy side, as was the accompanying beard. He sported wire-rim glasses, a lab coat over faded khakis, and exceedingly well-worn hiking boots. The few pens in the upper pocket and a folding knife sheathed to his belt completed the outdoorsy-nerdy combination. He had a calm quiet voice, but his hazel eyes sparked to life when he talked about the plight of the endangered species he clearly loved and was dedicated to helping.
Kit had liked him on sight. “Actually, I’m truly curious about the work you’re doing here.” Surprisingly, it was the truth.
The court case and complete dismantling of Mamie Sue’s, not to mention the family turmoil caused by sitting across a courtroom from a vengeful Trixie and smug Teddy, had overwhelmed Kit for what felt like forever. Add to that the emotional toll of trying to figure out what was next for herself. . . and it felt like it had been ages since she’d thought of anything outside the takeover.
She certainly wouldn’t have guessed sea turtles would capture her attention, and she wasn’t sure anything more than a pleasant and interesting conversation with the good doctor would come of it . . . but she couldn’t deny it was blissfully restorative to step outside her problems and think about something—any thing—else, even if for only a short time.
Kit continued the conversation. “What got you started here? Why the turtles?”
“I’ve always been interested in working with animals. Grew up in the Smokey Mountains. My dad was a park ranger and taught me a lot about them, how they manage themselves and how the environment can affect them. As for the turtles, I moved to Savannah to take on a teaching position at a college there, got involved with a few professors who were already studying turtles.” He smiled and his eyes brightened. “One in particular really . . . engaged my attention.”
Kit
At Gabe’s raised eyebrows, Morgan’s smile turned self-deprecating. “On second thought, since I’m supposed to be helping him with that, forget I mentioned it.”
“I can think of worse things to do with both,” the woman said with a fast grin. “And, who knows, if I end up sticking around, maybe I’ll do exactly that.”
“Great,” Morgan said, with Gabe echoing the sentiment. “You thinking of moving to Sugarberry, then?”
“Moggy,” Lilly said, drawing out the syllables into a classic kid whine.
Nice to know she can beg, he thought. “Nice to meet you,” he called as he stumbled along behind Lilly. “I’m Morgan, by the way. And the tiny terror is my niece, Lilly.”
Her smile faltered at that. “Ah. Uh, I’m Kit,” she answered after a moment, more polite afterthought than sincere offering.
Morgan smiled through the surprised little gut punch her reaction had given him. She was just passing through. God only knew the reaction he was going to get when he mingled with the folks who actually lived here. “Enjoy your stay, Kit.” With that, he disappeared into the rehab center.
She didn’t disappear from his thoughts quite as easily.
So, Kit thought, that was Morgan Westlake. Figures. Hot, handsome, and adorable with his niece.
And single, she recalled as the conversation she’d overheard between Alva and Lani floated through her mind again. It competed with the far stronger memories of her months spent in court, going up against those unbearably snotty lawyers from his family’s firm. The last thing she needed or wanted was to tangle any part of her new life with anyone remotely connected to ending her old one.
“Sorry,” Dr. Langley was saying, “didn’t mean to leave you standing there.”
“No, no, not to worry,” she assured the older gentleman. He was pretty much the textbook description of what she’d imagine if she was asked to picture a doctor of ecology and wildlife conservation. She pegged him somewhere in his mid-to-late sixties.
He was tall and lanky bordering on bony, with longish gray hair a bit on the wispy side, as was the accompanying beard. He sported wire-rim glasses, a lab coat over faded khakis, and exceedingly well-worn hiking boots. The few pens in the upper pocket and a folding knife sheathed to his belt completed the outdoorsy-nerdy combination. He had a calm quiet voice, but his hazel eyes sparked to life when he talked about the plight of the endangered species he clearly loved and was dedicated to helping.
Kit had liked him on sight. “Actually, I’m truly curious about the work you’re doing here.” Surprisingly, it was the truth.
The court case and complete dismantling of Mamie Sue’s, not to mention the family turmoil caused by sitting across a courtroom from a vengeful Trixie and smug Teddy, had overwhelmed Kit for what felt like forever. Add to that the emotional toll of trying to figure out what was next for herself. . . and it felt like it had been ages since she’d thought of anything outside the takeover.
She certainly wouldn’t have guessed sea turtles would capture her attention, and she wasn’t sure anything more than a pleasant and interesting conversation with the good doctor would come of it . . . but she couldn’t deny it was blissfully restorative to step outside her problems and think about something—any thing—else, even if for only a short time.
Kit continued the conversation. “What got you started here? Why the turtles?”
“I’ve always been interested in working with animals. Grew up in the Smokey Mountains. My dad was a park ranger and taught me a lot about them, how they manage themselves and how the environment can affect them. As for the turtles, I moved to Savannah to take on a teaching position at a college there, got involved with a few professors who were already studying turtles.” He smiled and his eyes brightened. “One in particular really . . . engaged my attention.”
Kit
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