Sweet Beginnings

by Melissa McClone

  Hope raised her chin. “I’m not wrong. I won’t be too tired to work on Friday.”

  His jaw jutted forward, making him look sexy and dangerous, like a bad boy from a romance novel come to life. A good thing she’d been married to an alpha male and was immune to them.

  “I’m not trying to be a jerk or upset you, but I’d rather my friend’s wedding not suffer if you’re tired.” Josh’s tone wasn’t icy, but the edge to his words told her this was important to him.

  Fine, but he had no idea she used to paint for days with zero sleep and limited food. Her work might have slowed toward the end, but it never suffered. If anything, she tried harder when she found herself in the zone—the place where only the painting existed.

  “Nothing will suffer.” Despite feeling twisty and knotted inside, her words came out calm. She needed to act professional even if she wanted to dump the rest of her iced tea on his head. Yeah, that would be too much—too extra as Paula might say—and probably cost Hope her job, but something about Josh Cooper set her off even though they didn’t know each other.

  Strike that. She knew what it was. Adam had shown her that handsome and arrogant went together like salt and pepper. Attractive and nice was a harder combination to find.

  Not that she was looking.

  She stared down her nose at Josh. “I’m sure Jenny appreciates your concern, but I’ll be able to do my job as required.”

  He tilted his head from one side to the other. “What if you have car trouble or can’t get back to Indigo Bay in time for the wedding?”

  “I’ve had no problems with my car.” Von made sure of that. “But if I did, I’d call roadside assistance. I’m returning on Thursday. The wedding isn’t until Friday afternoon. That gives me plenty of time if something doesn’t go as planned.”

  “You have leeway, but it’s not worth the risk.” As the concern in Josh’s eyes deepened, he rubbed his chin. “Jenny and Dare have been through so much to get where they are. Do you believe in fate?”

  Hope had once thought something greater brought Adam into her life, but now… “No, I don’t.”

  Josh’s shoulders pushed back. “I do. It’s a miracle Jenny and Dare found each other, even more of one that they fell in love once they did. They deserve to have a perfect wedding. I’ll do what I can to make sure that happens.”

  The emotion in his voice surprised Hope. He must be a close friend of the bride to care this much.

  Her annoyance faded. “What do you suggest?”

  “Let me fly you to Nashville.” He spoke as if he were offering her a ride to a mall in Charleston. “You’d be back in Indigo Bay tomorrow night—well-rested for the wedding on Friday.”

  Hope’s mouth dropped.

  Caroline clapped. Funny, but Hope had forgotten the woman was there. “That’s a great idea, Josh. Flying will be quicker than driving. Safer, too. I’m sure Von would agree.”

  “I haven’t agreed.” Hope stared at Caroline, willing the cafe owner to back down. “I appreciate the offer, but a private plane will be too small for the painting I’m picking up.”

  “I have a lightweight jet.” If Josh didn’t look so earnest, Hope would think he was boasting. “Is the painting bigger than four by five?”

  Who was this guy? Regular people didn’t own planes or “lightweight jets.” Although the bride was a bestselling author with movies being made from her books. Maybe she hung around other wealthy people. That was another strike against Josh. Hope kept her distance from rich people. That had been Adam’s world.

  “It’s four by three,” she answered.

  A satisfied smile settled on Josh’s face. “The painting will fit. Though you’ll need to wrap it in case of turbulence.”

  “It’s settled then.” Caroline grinned like a kid who’d gotten what they wanted from Santa Claus. “I’ll leave you two to discuss the details.”

  Hope sighed. “I haven’t said yes.”

  “True.” As Josh positioned the straw to his mouth, he winked. “But you haven’t said no, either.”

  Unsure what to say, she finished her pie.

  He appeared happy to drink his frozen hot chocolate in silence, but amusement lit his eyes.

  The man was back to being annoying. Not that he’d stopped. “Is something funny?”

  His mouth released the straw. “You are.”

  “Me?”

  He nodded. “You aren’t sure if you like me or not.”

  “I don’t know enough about you to decide that.” But she was leaning toward not liking him.

  “If you fly with me to Nashville, we’ll have plenty of time to get to know one another.”

  Nice segue. Not.

  Hope wiped her mouth with her napkin, moving slowly to give herself a moment before answering Josh’s question. He was the definition of charming—she’d give him that—and, if she weren’t careful, she might find herself on his plane without realizing how she’d gotten there. His concern and wanting to help Jenny reminded Hope of her brother.

  “I’m still thinking about your offer,” she said finally.

  Part of her wanted to say no and be done with him, but the practical side didn’t want to lose two days to driving. She prided herself on doing a good job, even if she were running on fumes, but she didn’t want Josh mentioning the long drive to Zoe if something were to go wrong on the wedding day.

  “When do you need an answer?” Hope asked.

  “Later tonight.” He sipped his frozen hot chocolate.

  That sounded more than reasonable, more than how she couldn’t seem to drag her gaze away from his lips on that straw. Best to be on her way before he caught her staring. Again.

  “Sweet Caroline’s is getting more crowded, and I’m finished with my pie.” She pushed back her chair and stood. “I’ll leave a message for you with guest services.”

  Rising as well, he pulled his cell phone from his pocket. “Exchanging numbers will be easier.”

  True, but only a handful of people had her number. That was on purpose. Still, she took his phone and texted herself. A beep sounded from her phone on the table. “You have mine now.”

  “Where are you going?” he asked, his eyes eager and a big grin on his face.

  “Home. I need to finish a few ornaments.” She pressed her lips together to keep from saying more. He didn’t care what she needed to do tonight—like not freak out about whether she could find enough of her lost mojo to repair the damaged painting she would pick up tomorrow.

  “I’ll walk out with you.”

  She glanced to where his half-filled mug still sat on the table. “You didn’t finish your drink.”

  “I’ve had enough.” As they left the cafe, Josh held open the door for her. “Which direction are you going?”

  “Toward the beach.”

  “Me, too.”

  Of course he was. She swallowed a sigh.

  He fell into step next to her. “Indigo Bay is a quaint town.”

  “The place checks all the boxes for vacationers, but sometimes I wish…”

  “What?”

  “That there were fewer tourist-oriented places and more for full-time residents,” she admitted. “Charleston isn’t far. We have a hardware store and a few other places, so I shouldn’t complain, but it’s easy to feel stuck here.”

  “You need a vacation.”

  “Yes, I do.” She hadn’t been anywhere since she moved back from New York. “Though lots of people call this place a vacation spot.”

  “It’s not the same when you live here full time.” He stared into the window of Coastal Creations, Whitney Layton’s jewelry store. “I’m from a small town called Berry Lake in Washington state. It has a Main Street similar to this one, but there’s nothing nearby, so the town caters to both tourists and residents. A few times a year, people flock to festivals. By the last one, many residents are fed up, but several have that same stuck feeling due to their businesses or not wanting to leave their homes empty.”

  “T
hat’s what Fourth of July and Labor Day weekend are like here.”

  “I’m sure others living in similar places feel the same way.” He slowed his pace to match hers. “I watched our sleepy little town turn into a tourist destination.”

  “Do you still live there?” she asked.

  “I moved back last summer.” He kept glancing at shop windows. “Before that, I lived in New York City.”

  Interesting they had that in common. “I lived in Manhattan for four years.”

  He raised a brow and opened his mouth, but then closed it.

  “What?” she asked.

  “Don’t take this the wrong way, but you don’t seem like the New York type.”

  She laughed because she was no longer that type. Never had been. “I had a closet full of black when I lived there.”

  Adam had hated the clothes she’d brought with her—saying they were too beachy or college-like. He’d made her throw those away and buy new outfits he’d picked out. All in one shade… black.

  “Now I have a rainbow of colors to wear.” Thinking of the clothes hanging in her closet brought a smile. “I prefer that.”

  Josh moved behind Hope to let a family of five pass. “New York seems like the perfect city for an artist. Why’d you come back to Indigo Bay?”

  “A lot of reasons.”

  Ones she didn’t want to go into details with Josh. She’d left this town full of promise before returning divorced and devastated. Only her brother and Paula knew the truth. Others had believed the lies and rumors.

  There was one reason she didn’t mind sharing. “Von went to college in Alabama, but he returned after graduation. It made sense for me to move back.”

  “Being near family is important.”

  She’d be lost without her brother. “Why’d you go back to Berry Lake?”

  “Family,” Josh said without hesitation. “My parents and older sister live there. My younger brother is a few hours away in Seattle. Sometimes a person needs a change but a familiar one.”

  She could relate to that. “I sure did.”

  Curiosity flared in his gaze, but he said nothing.

  As she passed Mrs. Donovan’s floral shop, the sweet fragrance of fresh-cut flowers in buckets lingered in the air. A watercolor of the storefront would be fun to paint. Well, not a painting, she corrected herself, but something else. She’d have to think about that more.

  She made her way toward Seaside Boulevard where her and Josh would go their separate ways. Her brother’s beach house was in the opposite direction of the Indigo Bay Cottages.

  “Is there anything that might help you decide between flying and driving to Nashville?” Josh asked.

  She thought the discussion about the flight was over. Guess not. “Not really,” she admitted. “Truthfully, I don’t step out of my comfort zone much. I need time to think about it.”

  “Are you afraid of flying?” he asked.

  “No. I haven’t flown that much, but flying doesn’t bother me.”

  He brushed his hand through his hair. “Are you afraid to go with me?”

  She stopped in front of the gift shop that sold her hand-painted Indigo Bay magnets and ornaments. “Not afraid, but I just met you. Caution seems prudent in this situation.”

  “Makes sense.” His lips curved upward. Good, he didn’t appear upset by what she’d said. “What’s your gut instinct tell you?”

  To stay away, but that was due to her issues, not Josh. “My instincts have been wrong in the past. That’s why I take my time making decisions.”

  “If it helps, I’m a friendly guy.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “A few serial killers have been called friendly by those who knew them.”

  “You’re going there, huh?” He chuckled. “I haven’t killed anybody—though when my brother pushed me into the lake with my brand-new cell phone in my pocket, I thought about it.”

  She laughed. “A sympathetic jury might have let you off.”

  “Yeah, but my mom wouldn’t have.”

  Joking around with Josh was fun, but she didn’t understand those butterflies flapping around her stomach.

  “Tell me about the painting you need to pick up,” he said.

  They were less than a block from where they’d go their separate ways. Hope needed to make this quick.

  “I met Dan and Cami Mulholland five years ago at a gallery. They’re art lovers. A fire recently destroyed their house. Only one of their paintings survived. They asked me to restore it if I can.”

  Hope left out the part that four of her other paintings had been burnt to ashes. The news had brought her to her knees, knowing those works were gone and she’d never add more to her portfolio.

  “That’s horrible.” His brow furrowed. “Are they okay?”

  Her stomach clenched when she remembered Cami’s sad call a few days ago. “They got out without any injuries—their animals, too—but they lost so much. I don’t know if I can repair their painting. The smoke and water damage are bad, but I need to try.”

  “I hope you can.”

  “Me, too.” She blew out a breath, trying to stop the uncertainty over painting with oils again from overwhelming her. “They didn’t want to ship the painting in case it got lost. I offered to go there to make it easier on them.”

  “You have a kind heart.”

  “Anyone would do it.”

  “But you’re the one making the effort.” He touched her arm, his fingertips rough against her skin. “I can’t imagine what losing everything in a fire would be like. I want to help you bring the painting back to Indigo Bay.”

  The genuine tone of his voice wrapped around her heart like a hug. Saying no might be the smarter move, but he seemed sincere.

  He dropped his hand to his side, and Hope missed his touch. Weird.

  Maybe she was overanalyzing the situation. Josh was out of her league, even if he might have flirted with her a little earlier. Though she’d bet flirting came as natural as breathing to him. He might not even realize he was doing it. Von was like that.

  “Please,” Josh added, sounding more like a big kid than an adult.

  That made her laugh. “If I say yes, I want to pay for your expenses.”

  “Not necessary. You’re doing someone a favor.”

  “You will be, too, if you fly me there.”

  “I’d like to help out that couple, but I’m also doing this for Jenny and for me.” He moistened his lips. “I’ve been trying to make up for some past mistakes. I’d love the chance to do this with you.”

  Josh’s words made his offer that much sweeter. “Jenny’s lucky to have a friend like you.”

  “I’d like to be your friend.”

  In a different place, under different circumstances, his words might be considered a pick-up line, but he wasn’t putting a move on her. He only wanted to help. The question was—would she let him?

  A beat passed. And another.

  “You’re not going to make this easy on me by just saying yes, are you?” He didn’t sound upset, more surprised as if he were used to getting his way.

  At the corner of Seaside Boulevard, she stopped. “I’m not trying to be difficult.”

  “You’re not. You’re being practical and safe, the way I’d want my sister to be if someone she didn’t know offered to fly her somewhere.”

  “Thanks for understanding.” Hope pointed to her left. “I live that way. I’ll… be in touch.”

  “Don’t go yet.” There was a hint of urgency to his words. “You’ve spoken to Jenny on the phone. Why don’t you talk to her again to get a character reference?”

  He was more adorable than annoying right now. “I’m past thinking you’re an axe murderer.”

  “Lucky me.” He grinned. “But seriously, I understand why you want to take your time and contribute toward the flight.”

  “I hear a “but” coming.”

  “Not quite but close,” he admitted sheepishly. “I was thinking of something you could do for me if
I fly you to Nashville.”

  Hope straightened. “What?”

  “Buy me lunch.”

  “Lunch?”

  He nodded. “There’s this barbeque joint I love. I eat there whenever I’m in Nashville.”

  “Paying for your meal isn’t enough.”

  He rubbed his chin. “Money for fuel?”

  She had no idea how much that would cost, but with her new job, she’d been putting part of her salary into savings each paycheck. “That would work.”

  “Then it’s a go.” His happy voice matched his smile. “I’ll text you later to nail down where and when to meet in the morning.”

  “O-kay.” Except she wasn’t sure why he’d taken her words “that would work” to mean “yes, she was going with him.”

  So why wasn’t she correcting him instead of letting him walk away believing they’d made a deal?

  CHAPTER SIX

  The next morning, Josh rose with the sun. He’d slept better than he expected for his first night on his own, but anticipation for the flight to Nashville made him unable to sit still while he drank a cup of tea. A run would settle him.

  As his feet pounded against the sand, he breathed in the sea air. Sweat dampened his hairline and dripped down his back. His muscles twitched. Nothing new given his leg had never truly healed after being snapped in two from a late hit. He ignored the pain. That would never go away, no matter how many surgeries he had or physical therapists he visited. He pushed through as he always did.

  Only today was a little sweeter.

  Not only would he be flying, but he’d also be spending time with Hope Ryan. She was… challenging. Yeah, that seemed the right word. Women—at least before his arrest and rehab—flirted and wanted to spend time with him. Hope wasn’t like that. She’d seemed ready to bolt both times he’d spoken to her yesterday. She hadn’t accepted his offer to fly, but he’d taken a chance by acting as if she had because he wanted to help—Jenny, the couple who lost their house, and himself. Besides, he wouldn’t mind getting to know Hope better, too.

  If the phrase “wear her heart on her sleeve” needed a poster child, Hope would be it. Every feeling shone in her eyes and on her face. That included annoyance, attraction, frustration, and confusion.