But what now?
The question taunts me, so I push it aside and take my wallet from my pocket. There’s a paper napkin folded inside, with a phone number scribbled in green eyeliner.
Noelle’s number.
She left it with me that night. Every day after, it was a battle not to call, but for some reason, I hung on to it—not willing to let the possibility of her slip away forever.
Just like how I can’t keep away from her now. It’s crazy, all it takes is a single glance, an accidental touch. All I have to do is look at her, and that fever takes hold of me again. Today, it took everything I have not to peel that wet shirt from her body and shove her up against the wall. Relive the dark rush of possession I felt claiming her body, taste that tempting mouth, and all the sweetness I know is waiting there for me.
She makes a madman of me, and that scares me half to death.
I crumple the napkin in my hand, and in a single motion, toss it from the window. It dances on the breeze, and in an instant, it’s whipped away.
Big deal, a voice mocks me. You don’t need her number, you know where she lives. You can have her, any time you like.
All I have to do is lose control.
Lose myself again.
What’s the worst that can happen?
I angrily put the car in drive and speed away, but I can’t escape that simple question.
What am I so scared of?
13.
Noelle.
“Have a great trip, and drive safe!”
I keep waving until Bunny’s car is around the corner and out of sight. Then I sit down on the front steps and let out a massive sigh of relief.
It’s over. The night passed without any emergency, and Bunny even came down for breakfast with a smile on her face. She chatted with the Petersons, picked at her plate of eggs, and then hit the road to make it to her next appointment in time. As she was leaving, she told me that her review would run in the next issue, on newsstands next month.
“I think you’ll be satisfied. I certainly have been,” she told me with a brisk nod before she drove away.
Mission accomplished.
I can’t believe it, that after all the drama of the past twenty-four hours, I’ve made it out alive. And I thought that my job in NYC was stressful! But Harper and his depositions are nothing compared to fixing pipes, scheduling guests, and launching this place as a successful B&B. For the first time, I really care about what I’m doing. To an outsider, Rose Cottage may not seem as important as a high-powered law career, but it is to me. I want so desperately for this place to work, for me to live up to Nana’s legacy and do her work justice.
To build a life here. A home.
And a big part of that is the other people here in Beachwood Bay: my new friends who pitched in to help when I needed it most.
I think again about Ash’s invitation. I’ve been deliberating over it all night, my brain ticking overtime in the dark of my moonlit studio, but now, in daylight, the answer seems obvious. Of course I want to go: to thank everyone, and celebrate Bunny’s visit.
And see him again.
I’ve got some time before they’re all meeting at the harbor, so I decide to whip up some thank-you cupcakes and picnic items. I go a little overboard, fixing a delicious pasta salad with fresh basil and peas from the garden and a dense focaccia bread packed with olives, onions, and hot peppers baked right into the dough. By the time I load up the car, there’s enough food to feed an army. There’s barely a moment for me to change into my bikini and a cute, breezy sundress before I have to go make the sail time.
I drive through town, nervously glancing in the rear-view mirror to check I don’t have flour dusted across my face. When I reach the docks, the group is easy to spot: unloading some coolers in the parking lot, along with beach bags and towels.
“Noelle!” Tegan greets me with a wave as I pull in to park beside them. “I didn’t know you were coming.”
“Oh,” I look around for Ash, but he must not be here yet. “Is that OK? I’m sorry, I didn’t think—”
“Don’t be silly, of course you’re welcome.” Her eyes land on the containers beside me in the passenger seat and light up. “Are those cupcakes?”
Ryland appears beside her in an instant. “Did I hear someone say ‘cake’?”
I laugh. “Do you have like a special radar or something?” I get out of the car, but he’s already gone around to help unload. He steals a cupcake from the carrier and bites down, smearing frosting across his chin.
“Oh my God, you’re such a pig!” Tegan playfully hits him. “There’ll be none left for the rest of us.”
“Don’t worry,” I say as I go open the trunk, “I went kind of overboard. I think I brought too much food.”
“Impossible,” Tegan reassures me, taking a bag. “Trust me, my brothers eat more than you think is humanly possible.”
“OK, good.” I follow her down to the gangway, where the boats are all moored. A dark-haired, tattooed guy who must be Dex is loading a cooler onto a yacht at the end of the row. It’s a beautiful white cruiser, and although I know nothing about boats, I can tell, this is a special one.
“It’s beautiful,” I tell Tegan as she helps me aboard. There’s a main cabin, outfitted with leather seating and steps leading down below, plus a polished deck at the nose of the boat, and more seating up on the second level.
“One of the perks of having all these over-achievers in the family,” Tegan grins, shoving Dex good-naturally as she passes. “I get to enjoy all their manly macho toys.”