Eclipse Bay

the food-and-beverage area than I am on the innkeeping side.”
    “What did you do at this five-star place in San Diego? Wait tables?”
    “Among other things,” he said. “What about you? Know anything about the innkeeping business?”
    “As a matter of fact, I’ve been taking intensive classes in hotel management for nearly a year. Ever since I got the idea of turning Dreamscape into an inn.”
    “Is that so? And just where did you get the brilliant notion of converting this place into a hotel?”
    She hesitated. “Aunt Isabel and I started talking about it a year ago.”
    He whistled softly. “What an astonishing coincidence.”
    “Don’t tell me.” Hannah’s jaw was very tight now. “She mentioned the idea to you at about the same time, right?”
    “Right.”
    Hannah tapped a neatly manicured nail against the side of her glass. “Let me make something very clear. This isn’t an impulse or a flash-in-the-pan idea for me. I’ve done a lot of thinking and planning during the past year. I’ve made my decision. I’m going to sell Weddings by Harte and open this inn. I’m absolutely committed to this project.”
    “What a coincidence,” he said again.
    “Let’s get real here. Sooner or later we’re going to have to come to some agreement about what to do with Dreamscape.”
    He settled deeper into his chair and looked out over the bay. “I’m in no rush.”
    She gave him a frozen smile. “I noticed.”

chapter 3
    Snow’s Café had changed little in eight years. Whenever she stepped inside, Hannah always felt as if she had entered a time warp. The colorful posters on the walls were always the same—a mix of classic rock band ads and pithy sayings that reflected the conspiracy theories of the owner, Arizona Snow. The large one over the cash register summed up Arizona’s worldview. The illustration showed two bug-eyed space aliens in heavy-metal attire. They were armed with futuristic weaponry. The slogan underneath read, We’re from the government and we’re here to help.
    The café was the main hangout for the faculty and students of nearby Chamberlain College. The Eclipse Bay Policy Studies Institute was not far away, but the think tank staff tended to avoid Snow’s. It was no secret that since the day the institute had opened its doors Arizona had viewed the facility with deep suspicion. She was convinced that whatever was going on there constituted a dangerous threat to all those who cherished a free society.
    “Over here, Hannah.” Pamela’s face lit up in welcome. Pamela McCallister was now on the faculty of the English department at Chamberlain, and over the years her upwardly mobile path through the thorny territory of higher education had been marked by subtle but highly significant changes of fashion. She still wore a lot of black, but there was less of the romantic poetess about her now and more of the trendy professional. Her hair was much shorter, marking her shift from student to faculty status. The voluminous bag she carried was made of much more expensive material than the one she had favored eight years ago.
    “Sorry I’m late.” Hannah gave her a quick hug before sliding into the booth across from her. “I stopped by Dreamscape, and then I had to take my dog and my luggage to my folks’ cottage.”
    Pamela gave her a knowing look. “You’re not staying at Dreamscape?”
    “Rafe got there ahead of me.”
    “I heard his car was seen parked in the drive all last night.”
    “He’s definitely taken up residence.” Hannah snapped the well-worn, plastic-coated menu out of the slot behind the napkin holder. “I think he’s working on the premise that possession is nine-tenths of the law.”
    “Well, well, well.” Pamela looked deeply intrigued. “This is going to be interesting.”
    “Think so?”
    “Yes, indeed. Can’t wait to see how it plays out.” Pamela’s eyes gleamed behind the lenses of her glasses. “And just think, the whole town will be watching.”
    “I’m glad everyone else finds this mess so amusing.” Hannah glanced at the menu and saw that it hadn’t changed in eight years, either. It still featured the same eclectic but curiously inspired assortment of vegetarian burgers, French fries, pizzas, quesadillas, and noodle dishes. “I can assure you that from where I’m sitting, there’s nothing remotely entertaining about it. Rafe made it clear this afternoon that he’s going to be a problem.”
    “He always was a problem, as I