Return to Pelican Inn (Love by Design) Read Online Free PDF Page B

Escapes people today,” she said. “Wanda says hello.”
    “Wanda?” Pike frowned as he selected a pillowy roll and passed the basket to Cy. “Oh, red-haired lady. Right.”
    “She told me you helped Bitsy prepare the contest materials. That was nice of you.”
    Pike nodded. “I’m Bitsy’s lawyer. I created a history of the inn to be used for other purposes, and Bitsy attached it to the entry form.”
    Bitsy smiled. “Oh, you’re much more than just my lawyer. You’re my darling nephew, and I don’t know what I’d do without you.” She shot a look at Rosa. “I can’t figure out why you two never got along. You’re both such angels to me. Here you are, Rosa, with Cy, ready to transform my inn, and Pike has helped me manage the legalities of this old place ever since he finished law school.”
    “You could have done it, too, Rosa,” Pike said. “Why did you decide on that career change, by the way?”
    She tried to read his expression. Was he baiting her or simply curious? “Never mind.”
    “It’s a big job, running a bed-and-breakfast,” Pike said, eyeing Rosa as he spoke. “Too big.”
    Rosa put her fork down. Time to take off the gloves. “Are you trying to pressure Bitsy to sell this place? Is that why you don’t want us here?”
    “No one is pressuring me to do anything, honey,” Bitsy said, taking a tiny sip of water. “I’m not that pliable. I do what I want to.”
    “And you don’t want to sell,” Rosa said. “But Pike thinks you should.”
    Pike stared at Rosa and put down his fork. “I’m going to come right out and say it. I think it would be better for her to sell than participate in some cockamamie contest that, at best, will disrupt her life and, at worst, bring in more guests than she can handle.” He sat back. “That’s my position and I’m working toward getting the Pelican sold. With Bitsy’s permission, I might add.”
    “Your position is wrong,” Rosa snapped.
    “You’ve been here all of three hours and you think you know what’s best for my aunt?”
    “Maybe I do,” she retorted.
    “You’re not a lawyer, remember?”
    “Hang on,” Bitsy said, an offended gleam in her eye. “As far as I can tell, I’m still in the room. I love the Pelican and I want to see her spread her wings again. I’m not a spring chicken, but I’m not dead quite yet.”
    Rosa and Pike both started to speak, but Bitsy held up a hand and silenced them. “We will finish out this contest and see where things lie, but in the meantime, I want everyone to try and get along. Is that clear?” She directed a stern, blue-eyed stare at Rosa and Pike.
    “Yes, ma’am,” Pike said, after a moment.
    Bitsy gave them an impish smile. “I’m not sure that sounded sincere. You’ll both get along for the sake of your cherished aunt, won’t you?”
    Rosa sighed, thinking it would probably be easier to negotiate peace in the Middle East.
    “For you,” Pike said to Bitsy, “I will try.” He extended a hand to Rosa across the table. “Truce?”
    A temporary one. Rosa reluctantly stretched out her own hand and Pike clasped it. His palms should be clammy and soft, she thought. Reptilian, perhaps. Instead, they were strong and warm, sending an electric shock through her body. She pulled her hand away and hastily shoved some chicken into her mouth.
    Cy began to happily wolf down every morsel that passed near his plate except for the chicken, which he declined on account of his longstanding vegetarianism. He stopped chewing only for a moment when his phone chirped, indicating a text. “I think it’s from Dad,” he said, consulting the screen, “but it makes no sense. He hasn’t gotten the hang of text speak.”
    Pike stiffened. “So what is your old man up to these days? Falsely accusing other families?”
    “Pike,” Bitsy warned. “We just agreed to a truce, remember?”
    Rosa glared at him. “And I thought we weren’t going to bring up family business.”
    “Guilty