Last Chance Harbor Read Online Free Page A

over a list of all the plays and programs in her head that they could put on here, she saw potential, even among the mess. It would be a perfect place for years to come where they could hold band concerts and talent shows and savor the community spirit she yearned to foster.
    Daydreaming, Julianne had no idea she’d drawn the attention of every male on site. When she finally realized she was the center of attention and that every eye had landed on her, she suddenly felt self-conscious. She had the presence of mind to stick out a hand in greeting.
    Every one of them grinned and waved back, but it was Logan who joined her below what used to be the orchestra pit.
    “This is a surprise. What are you doing here?”
    Julianne beamed at him. “I stayed away until now. But I just had to see what you’d done so far. I know it seems I’m anxious but I couldn’t come to Pelican Pointe without checking it out.”
    Logan threw his arms out wide. “What did I tell you guys? Expect visitors to drop by on a daily basis just to check up on our progress. Unannounced.”
    “Oops,” Julianne said in embarrassment. “Sorry.”
    “No need to apologize. Before you got here I was just explaining to the guys how we’d likely have to beat off volunteers with a stick once we get down to refinishing this place. I’m glad you’re here. You can provide your input now or whenever you want to drop by. Let us know how best to recycle what was here.”
    “You mean like desks? That sounds perfect.”
    “Desks and other things like light fixtures, tables and chairs. I tracked down the man who salvaged most of the inner furnishings, still lives on the outskirts of town. Cleef Atkins is his name, has to be in his eighties. Anyway, the man has most of the original stuff in his barn collecting cobwebs.”
    “Oh Logan, you’re a wonder. Leave it to you to find out what happened to what was here. I would love to be a part of that. Count me in.”
    “Hey, it’s all about upcycling what we can to keep costs down.”
    “I also wanted to see if there’s any word yet on the accreditation while I’m here.”
    “Nick obtained a temporary accreditation from the state board of education. They’ll audit us throughout the school year to see how we adhere to the curriculum and standards they set.” Logan glanced around. “Sorry about all the dust. But you’d better get used to it or grab one of those masks we keep by the main door to prevent breathing in so much of it. We need to get you a hardhat.”
    “Oh. Well.”
    All at once she felt a plastic helmet shoved into her belly. Her head turned to see one of the men, tall and lean, standing next to her.
    “It’s heavier than it looks,” Julianne commented after gripping the bump cap in her hand and awkwardly plunking the thing on top of her head.
    “Heavy, but necessary,” Ryder stressed to their visitor as he adjusted the hat down over her mahogany-colored hair. “Especially since you’re standing where the plaster may come down on your head at any moment,” he added.
    “This is Ryder McLachlan, one of the talented guys who’ll be turning this place into your state-of-the-art school. Ryder this is Julianne Dickinson, the soon-to-be principal,” Logan explained.
    “The principal?” Ryder’s eyebrows raised a good inch or two.
    Logan grinned at his reaction. “Yeah, not really like any principal I ever had either.”
    “There’s a compliment in there somewhere,” Julianne reasoned as she held out her hand to Ryder. She met the man’s ocean-blue eyes with a wide smile and did her best not to stare at his strong jawline and his coal-black hair that curled up at the ends.
    “Thanks for taking on this disaster area. I’m hoping your skill will help turn it from the relic of the fifties into the ultramodern vision I have for it.”
    She was the vision, thought Ryder. Wide chocolate eyes with little vanilla flecks floating around the edges stared back at him, giving off a doe-eyed