Wind Chime Café (A Wind Chime Novel) Read Online Free PDF

to why he’d rather be back in BUD/S doing flutter kicks with his head in the surf than face all his old friends and neighbors tonight at Rusty’s. He gave each dog one last pat on the head before Ryan backed away.
    A white Mercedes turned into the lot, sliding into the empty parking space Ryan left behind. Will took one look at the driver and bit back the urge to haul Spencer Townsend out by his crisp, white button-down shirt and shove him head first into the water.
    Spencer was the same age as Will and Ryan, but they’d never been friends. His father owned the local bank and had almost put Will’s grandparents out of business twice by threatening foreclosure when they’d missed a few payments during the winter lulls.
    The only reason Will had even considered hiring Spencer as his real estate agent was because he knew he’d work his ass off for the commission. If there was one thing that motivated the Townsend men, it was money. And before coming back to the island, the only thing Will had cared about was selling the inn as fast as possible.
    Spencer flashed him a bright-white smile as he stepped out of the car. His light brown hair was slicked back and his hazel eyes were covered in a pair of aviator glasses. His white shirt was tucked into a pair of tailored khakis, and he wore loafers with no socks. He looked like he’d stepped out of a yachting magazine.
    “Will!” he said, striding forward like they were best friends. “Long time no see. How are you?”
    Will folded his arms over his chest. “It’s not happening.”
    Spencer stopped in his tracks. “What?”
    “The sale.”
    Spencer’s smile faded as he pulled off his sunglasses. “What are you talking about? Why not?”
    “You said the buyer was an experienced inn owner. I assumed you meant a person, or a husband and wife team, not a developer.”
    “What difference does it make?” Spencer asked, confused. “You said yourself you didn’t want the place.”
    “It matters when they want to tear it down.”
    “Don’t be ridiculous.” Spencer waved him off. “This development will be huge for the island. Think of the jobs it’ll create.”
    “It’s not happening,” Will repeated. He was done with this conversation. He turned, striding into the market.
    Spencer trailed after him. “I guess that’s not your problem, is it? You haven’t been back in over ten years. You don’t really care about anyone on Heron Island.”
    “You don’t give a damn about jobs either,” Will growled as he spun around. “You want this sale for the commission.”
    Spencer took a step back, knocking into a rack of salt-and-vinegar potato chips. “Look,” he said, bending down to pick them up off the floor. “You asked me to help you with this and I found you a buyer—”
    “Find me another one.”
    Spencer looked up. “You can’t be serious.”
    “I’m dead serious.”
    Spencer stuffed the bags of chips back onto the rack. “You can’t walk away from this offer, Will.”
    “I just did.” Will turned, following the scent of fried eggs and bacon to the grill in the back. “If you still want the commission from this sale, find me another buyer.”
    “You don’t know what it’s like out there,” Spencer called after him, raising his voice. “The housing market is dead. This might be the only offer you’ll get—”
    “Find me a family who wants to run it as is, someone who’ll maintain the integrity of the place.”
    “Screw integrity,” Spencer bit back. “No one else is going to offer you that kind of price. Think about the money, Will.”
    Will turned, looking back at him. “It was never about the money.”
     

     
    Annie gnawed on her fingernail, glancing up at the clock. The contractor was supposed to be here over an hour ago. She had a million errands to run, but she didn’t want to leave and miss him if he stopped by. He’d agreed to squeeze her in today, and she needed his estimate so she could start planning the renovations.
    She