A pang went through her that she hadn’t been at his side when he was researching. Wasn’t with him when he went looking for clues about his uncle. Missed seeing them meet each other for the first time.
“I’m glad you found him. You’re a good researcher.”
“It sure came in handy this time.”
She took a deep breath, her heart skipping a beat as she turned to face Brent. “Can we talk about something else for a minute?”
His brow creased slightly, but he nodded. “Of course. What’s on your mind?”
She clasped her hands together, trying to steady her nerves. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately. About my life, my career, and what I really want.” She paused, searching for the right words. “I’ve decided not to go back to teaching in the fall.”
His eyes widened in surprise. “Wow, that’s a big decision. What made you choose that?”
She shrugged, a small smile tugging at her lips. “A lot of things, I guess. Being here on Magnolia Key, helping Gran with the B&B, and working on this research project with you… It’s made me realize that I want more than just the same routine I’ve been stuck in for years.”
She looked out at the water, the gentle waves rippling through the bay. “I don’t have everything figured out yet, but I know I want to explore new possibilities.”
He reached out and took her hand, his touch warm and comforting. “I think that’s great. You have so much potential, you have so many choices stretching out ahead of you. I know you’ll find something that truly makes you happy.”
Her heart swelled at his words, and she turned to face him fully. “There’s something else I wanted to talk to you about, too.”
He tilted his head, his brown eyes searching hers. “What is it?”
She took another deep breath, gathering her courage. “I was thinking… maybe we could give each other a chance? To see where this thing between us might go?”
His expression softened, a smile spreading across his features. “I’d like that, Felicity. I really would.”
He reached up and brushed a strand of hair from her face, his touch sending a shiver through her. “I know we’ve had our ups and downs, with the research and everything that’s happened. But I can’t deny that I’ve grown to care for you deeply.”
Her heart soared at his words, and she leaned into his touch. “I care for you too, Brent. More than I ever expected to.”
They sat there for a moment, lost in each other’s eyes, the sound of the night and the distant chatter from inside the B&B fading away. His hand cupped her cheek, and he leaned in closer, his breath warm against her skin.
Her eyes fluttered closed, and she tilted her head up to meet his lips, knowing he was going to kiss her.
She leaned in, anticipating the warmth of his lips on hers. But just as they were about to connect, the porch door swung open with a creak.
“Hey, Brent.” Jonah’s voice shattered the moment. “How about a nightcap? We’ve got a lot of catching up to do.”
She pulled back abruptly, her cheeks flushing as she tried to compose herself. Brent cleared his throat, looking a bit flustered himself.
“Uh, sure. That sounds great,” Brent said, rising from his seat. He glanced at her, an apologetic look in his eyes. “We’ll continue our talk later?”
She nodded, offering a small smile. “Of course. Go on, you two have a lot to discuss.”
As Brent followed Jonah inside, she let out a long breath, her fingers tracing her lips where Brent’s had almost touched. She gazed out at the moonlit water, her mind reeling from everything that had happened.
A few minutes later, the porch door opened again. This time, it was Gran who stepped out, a knowing smile on her face.
“Mind if I join you, sweetheart?” Gran asked, settling into the chair Brent had vacated.
“Of course not,” she replied, grateful for her grandmother’s company.
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, listening to the sound of the breeze blowing through the trees. In the distance, the sound of the ferry’s horn announced its arrival.
Finally, Gran spoke up. “So, you and Brent seemed to be having quite the conversation out here.”
She felt her face grow warm again. “We were just talking about… well, everything that’s happened. And maybe… about us.”
