by Fiona Rivers
“I prefer the ocean,” he said.
Adalyn let out a light laugh. “Me too. But it is sure beautiful here.”
“It is. But I still prefer the ocean.” Colin grinned. “Did you have a good time tonight?”
“I did. I had a great time.”
“I’m happy to hear that. Listen, we never did go bowling. Would you still like to go?” he asked.
“Sure.” Adalyn bit down on her bottom lip. “When?”
“How about tomorrow afternoon? I think it’s a perfect way to spend your day off.”
“Tomorrow afternoon is perfect.”
“Then I’ll pick you up around noon.” The corners of Colin’s mouth curved upward into a captivating smile that was illuminated by the moonlight shining down on them.
28
The next morning, Adalyn was up early to have breakfast with Luis and Alfred at their house. A wonderful breakfast that consisted of banana pancakes, Belgium waffles with fruit, scrambled eggs, homemade potatoes with green peppers and onions and mimosas.
“I feel like I’m at a resort.” Adalyn smiled as she enjoyed her breakfast on the patio with the two of them. “I got to thinking, we need to hire another person for the gallery.”
“What? Why?” Luis cocked his head.
“Because we’re busy and it’s getting hard with just the two of us.”
“That’s a really good idea, Addy,” Alfred said as he pointed his fork at her.
“And whom do you suppose we hire?” Luis asked.
“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “We’ll put a help wanted sign in the window.”
“Are you ready for your big bowling date with Mr. Bar Hottie?” Alfred grinned.
“It’s not a date. It’s just two friends going bowling.”
“Keep telling yourself that, girlfriend.” Luis grinned.
Adalyn’s phone dinged, and when she glanced over at it, she saw she had a text message from Colin.
“Bad news. Apparently, there was a small fire at the bowling alley last night and they are shut down.”
“Oh no. I hope nobody was hurt.”
“My friend, Jake, from the fire station said there were no injuries. If you still want to hang out, I thought maybe we could do some beach stuff since it’s so hot out.”
“What did you have in mind?”
“Maybe a little kayaking, paddle boarding or if you’re up to it, we can go parasailing.”
“I love to parasail.”
“Great. I’ll still pick you at noon if that’s okay.”
“I’ll see you then.”
“Wow, that must be some interesting conversation,” Luis said.
“We can’t go bowling. There was a small fire last night and it’s closed, so we’re going to hang out and go parasailing.”
“Ah, a parasailing date. How romantic.” Alfred grinned.
“It’s not a date.”
Adalyn got up and took her plate into the house, rinsed it off and put it in the dishwasher.
“Thanks for breakfast, but I have to run.” She kissed both their cheeks.
“I want juicy details later!” Luis shouted as she walked out the door.
“There won’t be any juicy details!” She turned and gave him a smile.
Adalyn put on her two-piece blue and fuchsia floral bikini and threw her fuchsia colored lacey cover up over top of it. In a small beach bag, she packed a change of clothes and then threw her long hair up in a ponytail. She loved parasailing and the last time she’d been was with Hannah three years ago when they went to California to visit their cousin who was ill. Darren didn’t like heights and he would never take her or go with her. When they were on their honeymoon, she went by herself while he watched.
It was exactly noon when Colin knocked on Adalyn’s door. The fluttering in her belly kicked into high gear as she opened it and found him standing there looking as handsome as ever.
“Hey.” He smiled.
“Hey.”
She grabbed her bag from the table and the two of them climbed in his truck and drove to the beach where Atlantic Watersports was located.
“You two ready?” the captain of the boat asked.
Adalyn and Colin both gave him a thumbs up and soon they were up in the air. The smiles never left both their faces as they looked at each other.
“Make sure to breathe in that salty sea air!” Colin said.
“Oh I am.” Adalyn grinned. “Did you know that parasailing is a stress reliever?”
“Yeah, from the pressure of the air on your body,” he replied.
“I’m happy you like to parasail,” Adalyn said.
Colin looked at her as the corners of his mouth curved upward. “I’m happy you do too.”
After parasailing, Colin rented a couple of paddle boards and they both headed out into the blue calm water. They talked as they paddle boarded side by side, shared some laughs and both of them had an amazing time. Once it was time to leave the beach and they were heading back to Colin’s truck, he had an idea because he didn’t want the day to end.
“How about dinner on my boat?” he asked as they climbed into the truck.
“Dinner sounds great. I’m starving.”
“Me too. How does fish n chips, a seaside salad with house dressing and a basket of rolls sound?”
“Excellent.” Adalyn grinned. “Any way we can make those chips sweet potato fries?”
“Of course. I wouldn’t have it any other way.” He gave her a wink as he picked up his phone and dialed the Seaside Bar and Grill.
When they arrived back at Colin’s boat, a small round table for two with two chairs and a white tablecloth was set up on the deck.
“Wow. I guess this is a perk of owning a bar and grille,” Adalyn spoke.
“It sure is.” Colin pulled the chair out for her.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, Madame.” He grinned as he took the seat across from her.
Marcus stepped on the deck and set the plates of salad down on the table along with a basket filled with bread.
“Thank you, Marcus,” Colin said.
“You’re welcome. What can I get you to drink besides water?” he asked.
“I’ll have a Seaside Runner.” Adalyn smiled.
“And I’ll have the same.”
As Adalyn’s hand rested on the table after they finished their salads and waited for the fish n chips to arrive, Colin reached over, lightly grabbed a hold of it and began to softly stroke her skin with his thumb, sending shivers throughout Adalyn’s entire body.
“I had a really good time today with you,” he spoke with a serious tone.
“I had a really good time with you too.” She softly smiled.
He looked down at his hand holding hers and then his eyes diverted to hers as they both held each other’s gaze.
“Is this bothering you?” he asked.
“Not at all.”
The corners of his mouth curved upward into a sweet smile until Marcus and Katherine stepped aboard with a second round of Seaside Runners and fish n chips. Katherine saw their hands intertwined and she gave Colin a smile.
“Here are your Seaside Runners,” she said.
“And your fish n chips,” Marcus spoke as he set down their plates.
Once dinner was finished and they topped it off with a slice of peach pie, it was time to call it a night.
“I should get you home. It’s getting pretty late,” Colin said as he didn’t want the evening with Adalyn to end.
“Yeah. That’s probably a good idea,” she spoke as she stared into his mesmerizing eyes.
They stood on her front porch like a couple of teenagers who had just gotten home from a date. Colin brought his hand up to Adalyn’s cheek and softly stroked it.
“Thank you for spending the day with me.” A smile graced his lips as he stared into her beautiful eyes.
“Thank you for asking. I had a lot of fun.”
“Me too. We should do it again someti
me soon,” he spoke as he lowered his hand and took hers.
“I would like that,” she said as she chewed on her bottom lip.
“I’ll call you.” He let go of her hand and began to walk down the stairs.
“Colin?”
“Yeah.” He stopped and turned to face her.
“Will you text me when you get back to the boat? Just so I know you made it home safely.”
“Of course I will.” He grinned.
She walked into the house and let out a deep breath as she shut and locked the door. Peeking out the corner of the window, she watched him pull out and drive away. She was on cloud nine and full of energy. The feelings she had always felt for him, but kept hidden in the back of her mind, came out full force and heightened after the day they shared together. She pulled her phone from her bag, took it upstairs and started the water for a relaxing bath. After pouring in a capful of coconut mango bubble bath, she climbed in, called her sister and told her about the amazing day she had with Colin Young. She knew Luis was waiting for her call, but she decided to tell him all about it in person tomorrow at work.
29
Adalyn carefully hung the “Help Wanted” sign on the door of the gallery as Luis stood there and grilled her about her date with Colin.
“So, after hearing about your fabulous time, I’m going to ask you a question and I want total honesty from you. Do you see yourself with him?”
She studied the sign one last time to make sure it was on straight and then turned to him with a smile splayed across her face.
“Yes. I like him, and I can see myself with him some day.”
“Without fears or hesitation?” he asked with a narrowed eye.
“Yes. I believe so.” She tapped the tip of his nose.
He grabbed her hand and spun her around, then the jingling of the bell above the door startled them. When they turned around, they saw Colin standing there.
“What is going on in here?” he asked with a grin as he held a plastic bag in his hand.
“Nothing. Just two friends sharing a little dance in the middle of the day.” Luis smiled.
“Hey.” Adalyn grinned. “What are you doing here?”
“I just thought I’d stop by and bring my two favorite people some lobster rolls and sweet potato fries.”
“Oh dear God. Have I told you how much I love you?” Luis grinned as he took the bag from Colin and took it upstairs to the offices.
Colin let out a chuckle.
“I see you put up a help wanted sign on the door,” he said.
“Yeah. We need help. Especially during this busy season.”
“I totally get that. If I can think of anyone, I’ll send them over.”
“Thanks. I’d appreciate that.”
“I better get going. I need to stop across the street at Annie’s shop and pick up a few pies for the bar and grille.”
“She makes your pies?”
“No. But I told her I’d buy some and serve them up as a free dessert with a meal to drum up more business for her.”
Adalyn raised her brow. “Have you seen the lines over there?”
“I have.” He chuckled. “I’ll call you later.”
“Okay. Thanks for lunch.” She smiled.
Her heart melted at what he was doing for Annie and her business.
“Earth to Adalyn.” Luis snapped his fingers at her.
“Sorry,” she said as she watched Colin walk across the street.
“Oh my God. I think you’ve fallen in love, Adalyn Richards.”
“I think so.” She chewed on her bottom lip as she glanced over at Luis.
Over the next week, Adalyn and Colin saw each other just about every day for dinner after Adalyn closed up the gallery for the night. They would sit out on either Colin’s boat deck or Adalyn’s patio, eat, talk, enjoy a glass of wine and watch the sunset together. Their newfound relationship was quickly blossoming into something more than friendship and both of them knew it.
Later that day, as Adalyn was behind the counter wrapping up an art piece to be sent out, the bell above the door rang. When she turned to greet the customer who walked in, she saw it was Olivia.
“Hey, Adalyn.” She gave her a small wave.
“Hi, Olivia. Can I help you with something?”
“I was inquiring about the help wanted sign on your door,” she nervously spoke. “I need a job and I can’t seem to find one. Everyone in town hates me and the money I had saved is running out and I don’t know what I’m going to do. Especially with the baby on the way.”
Adalyn stared at her as tears formed in Olivia’s eyes.
“Back when I lived in Seattle, I worked at Tres Chic Art Gallery. The older woman who owns it took a chance on me even though I didn’t have any experience in the field and basically taught me just about everything there is to know about art. I can provide you a copy of my art sales if you want.”
“You worked in a gallery?”
“Yes. I can give you Gerrianne’s number and you can call her if you don’t believe me.”
“I believe you.”
“Listen, Adalyn. I know you know all about what I did to Colin. The whole town knows, and they hate me for it. I hate myself for what I did to him. But I have a baby on the way I’m going to be raising all alone and I need this job. But I understand if you’re not interested.”
“Why did you come back to Harbor Falls if you knew the people in this town would be angry with you?”
“Honestly, I don’t know. I didn’t have anywhere else to go. I guess I could have started over someplace new, but Harbor Falls is familiar territory to me, and it always felt like home. I thought maybe Colin still loved me and would take me back, but he made it very clear he doesn’t, and he never will. And I don’t blame him at all for that. I wouldn’t take me back either.”
“What about your parents?”
“They haven’t spoken a word to me since I broke it off with Colin to go be with Thomas. I tried to reach out to them, but they won’t answer my calls or my text messages. The last message my mother sent me two years ago was to let me know that I was nothing but a failure at life and they were very disappointed in me. We never got along very well, I left home at the age of eighteen, traveled from place to place and ended up in Harbor Falls when I was in my early twenties.”
Adalyn felt bad for Olivia as she stood there and listened to her story. She couldn’t imagine being turned away from her parents the way Olivia was. She was sure the stress of her money running out was taking a toll on her and the baby and that was probably the reason she ended up in the ER that night.
“You know what, Olivia. I’m willing to take a chance on you as well. You’re hired.” Adalyn smiled as she extended her hand to her.
“Really, Adalyn?” She beamed with excitement as she shook Adalyn’s hand.
“Yes. Really. Can you start tomorrow at nine a.m.?”
“Yes. That will be perfect.”
“We’ll go over your pay and commission in the morning. So go home, get some rest, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Thank you. Thank you so much. You have no idea how grateful I am.”
She walked out of the gallery just as Luis was walking in holding a goodie bag form Annie’s.
“Was that Olivia that just walked out of here?” he asked.
“Yeah. About that,” she spoke as she walked over to the door and removed the help wanted sign from it.
“Oh no, Addy. You didn’t.”
“I did.” She turned around and faced him.
“Oh my God. You really want her to work here? Where you’ll see her every day? What’s the problem? Nobody else in town will hire her?”
“No. Actually they won’t,” she spoke in a stern voice. “She’s pregnant, Luis, and she’s going to be raising that baby on her own. Her parents want nothing to do with her and haven’t spoken to her in over two years. The money she saved is about to run out and I’m not going to let a pregnant woman be homeless. The
people in this town need to understand that people make mistakes. And I can guarantee nobody in this town is perfect and they all have skeletons in their closet.”
“Okay.” He held his hand up. “I get it. What’s Colin going to say?”
“I don’t know. I’m sure he’ll be fine with it. He does whatever he can to help people out.”
“Then why didn’t he offer her a job at the bar and grille? She used to work there, you know.”
“I have no clue why he didn’t offer her a job.” She sighed.
After six o’clock rolled around and they closed up the gallery, Adalyn hopped in her jeep and drove to the Seaside Bar and Grille. She figured tonight would be as good as night as any to tell Colin she hired his ex-fiancée to work for her. She wasn’t worried because she knew what a heart of gold Colin had, and he would be happy she gave Olivia a job. But it did bother her as to why he wouldn’t offer her a job at the bar.
She stepped into the Seaside just as Colin was approaching the door.
“Adalyn.” His face lit up. “I was just going to call you.”
“You were?” She smiled.
“Yeah. I have to go and pick up some cases of alcohol. The delivery truck broke down and now the distributor doesn’t know when they’ll be able to get it to me. So me and Scott are going to hop in one of his delivery trucks and go pick it up ourselves. It’s about a two-hour drive from here so I won’t be back until late tonight. What are you doing here? Did we have dinner plans that I forgot about?”
“No.” She gave him a tender smile as she placed her hand on his chest. “I was just coming to see you. That’s all.”
“You’re so sweet. I’m sorry. I wish I could stay, but I have to go.”
“It’s totally fine. Go. I understand. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“You’re the best.” He grinned as he planted a small kiss on her forehead and walked out the door.
30
Olivia showed up at the gallery for work at precisely nine a.m. and brought Adalyn and Luis a coffee from Rooster’s.