He rolls off the doorframe. I swear, that’s his favorite place to hover. As the bathroom door closes and the water turns on, I stare out the window, trying to warm up to the idea of going back to the city. It’s only a matter of days now. Just over three weeks until I have to have this book done and submitted.
Waves roll in, flattening on the beach side of the island with such effortless ease, it makes me wish I could stay here and learn their secret.
“All done. Your turn, smelly.”
A kiss dots to my temple when the man wrapped in a towel drips water onto my arm with his wet hair, taking me by surprise.
He’s stunning. All muscular and bearded. Blue eyes for days.
I swallow past my anticipated loss, at the thought of him being here alone again. “Won’t be long,” I manage.
I have a quick shower and blow dry my hair. After applying a light smatter of foundation, blush, and a little mascara, I finish with my berry-tinted lip gloss from my makeup bag. I haven’t used it since I arrived. It’s almost strange to get done up now.
My reflection makes me smile. With a small sigh, I slip my clothes and underwear on before fluffing out my hair over theshoulders of the dress and slipping my boots on. Downstairs, I find Cal at the kitchen counter, dressed in Levi’s and a navy button-down shirt, the sleeves rolled up.
“Oh,” I utter as I take him in.Reallyin.
He looks up from the apple he’s cutting. “Christ, baby girl.”
Heat flushes my cheeks, as if it’s the first time he’s laid eyes on me. “You look nice,” I say.
Cal grunts, shoving a slice into his mouth. He snaps it in half with his teeth as he studies me, eyes darkening by the second. God, with that look, we will never make it off this floating rock. Not that I’d be complaining—this man is incredible—but it’s been so long since I’ve done anything for fun.
“Ready?” I prompt.
Swallowing, he slides the rest of the apple slices into a ziplock bag and seals it. “Yup.”
He grabs his coat off the hook by the door, and I grab my bag, tossing my purse and new phone in for good measure. We walk in silence down to the dock. His gaze burns into the side of my face the whole way. I dip my head and will the tug-of-war in my heart to fade out of existence.
I’m leaving.
He asked me to leave.
My time here will forever be a marker of what I want. In a man. In my life, period.
Cal boards the boat and turns to me, extending a hand. I take it and step aboard. How far we have come hits me with a sucker punch.
I clear my throat and find a seat in the cabin as he casts off and pulls the fenders over the side. When the engine roars to life, I remember the overnight bag he had last time. “Bag?”
“Under the dashboard, baby. Extra toothbrush this time.”
I huff a soft, half-amused sound.
But my stomach is a tangle of knots and butterflies, and I don’t know which will win the battle for control. We cruise away from the jetty, and I stare at the open water, lost in thought.
Iris’s smile stretches her face. “Hello, come in!”
Cal holds the door for me, and his sister raises a brow at him. I try to hide the amusement on my face by wandering around the café. Much the same as last time I was here, it’s such a lovely spot. Quaint, homey, and inviting. An accurate reflection of Iris.
“Hey, Irry.” Cal messes up her gorgeous red hair with a rogue hand. She bats him away.
“Have a seat at the window table, I’ll grab the papers.”
I wander to the shelf with the photos. Now the fishing hut in the picture of Callum and his father is familiar. And I remember Em’s words.Doubt he’ll take you there.
He didn’t, not exactly, but we did live wild in that small hut for days. He let me in. To his fishing hut, to his last connection to his dad, to his past with Ava, and to his strained relationship with this town. That was where whatever changed between us grew roots. Found its foundation. I’m sure of it.
A foundation I’m going to obliterate in three weeks’ time.
