by Bella Andre
Her heart sank. “I can’t believe it’s already time for you to leave.”
He looked just as upset as she did. “I don’t want to go.”
They shared one more kiss. And then another. And one more still.
Lola savored every moment of pressing close to Duncan as they lingered over each other for as long as they possibly could. But too soon, he had no choice but to head to the airport, or else he would miss another flight.
Lola was sorely tempted to persuade him to stay, but the sooner he went back to Boston and convinced his new hire to take over for him in the office, the sooner he’d be back in Bar Harbor with her.
For good.
They kissed once more, and then they pushed off the blankets and stood up so that he could go inside and shut off the darned alarm.
Before she knew it, he was giving her one final, sinfully sweet kiss…and then he was gone.
CHAPTER NINE
Lola wrapped her arms around herself as she stood in her front garden and watched Duncan drive away, wishing it was already Friday when he’d be back in Bar Harbor for dinner with her family. When he was near, her whole body responded to his presence. And now that he was gone, her normally full world felt a little bit emptier.
Her phone buzzed, and the text message brought a smile back to her face. I miss you already. And I love you. So damned much.
She didn’t want to distract him from driving, so she would wait until he was safely at the airport to send him a message saying she missed him and loved him too.
No one had ever put her needs, her desires, her emotions first, the way Duncan had last night. Just thinking about the way he’d loved every inch of her, without taking anything for himself, made sensual shivers run through her, head to toe. Come Friday night after dinner with her family, she couldn’t wait to make him feel just as good.
As she went to take a shower, she thought about how at the end of the previous week, she had been struggling to come up with new ideas for next season’s designs. It wasn’t that she’d lost her mojo, more that it seemed to have slowed down a bit. Now, however, she was bursting with energy, new ideas, and excitement. And most of all, with the urge to shout from the rooftops that she’d fallen head over heels in love.
Instead of shouting, however, she sang Ed Sheeran’s Perfect at the top of her lungs in the shower.
Once she was out of the shower, she sent a group text to Cassie and Ashley. Meet at my studio in 30 minutes? I’ll bring coffee and donuts.
Her sisters sent messages affirming they would be there, and then a text appeared from Turner.
Is that guy you were with last night still there?
Lola texted back a video of herself rolling her eyes. Turner had no business even asking that question, let alone getting an answer.
A half hour later, she had done her hair and makeup, put on a yellow dress, a cropped chartreuse cardigan, and bright red lipstick—plus heels that incorporated the same colors—and was heading into the local coffee shop.
Jonah, the owner, greeted her by name when she walked in. “You’ve got a special glow today, if you don’t mind me saying.” Lola had known Jonah, who was in his sixties and one of the friendliest people in town, her entire life. He was always sweet and had never made a pass at her, which earned him even more points in her book. “Good weekend?”
“The best.”
She wanted to tell him everything, wanted to turn and say to everyone in the café, I’m in love! I’ve met the most wonderful man, and I know we’re going to have an incredible life together! But she wanted to tell her sisters first, so she simply ordered three coffees and a bag of the best doughnuts on the East Coast, then headed for her studio, feeling like she was walking on air rather than four-inch heels.
Cassie and Ashley had let themselves in and were sprawled on the couch in Lola’s studio when she arrived. But instead of falling on the coffee and doughnuts the way they normally would, both gave her long, knowing looks, obviously spotting her bright glow, just as Jonah had.
“You’ve met someone,” Ashley proclaimed, a statement rather than a question.
Lola’s youngest sister had been badly burned in high school by a boyfriend. After she got pregnant he did a runner, only to return a few years ago to insist on being a part-time parent on his terms. As a result, Ashley was hugely suspicious of romantic relationships. Thankfully, both Zara and Flynn had managed to win Ashley over when they fell in love with Rory and Cassie, respectively.
Lola wasn’t particularly worried about making her case for Duncan to Ashley, though. Not when Lola knew he would pass with flying colors.
When it came to Cassie, on the other hand, Lola wouldn’t have to sell her older sister on Duncan at all, given that Cassie was head over heels in love herself. Flynn Stewart had come to Bar Harbor from Los Angeles with his niece when he’d become a parent in the wake of his estranged sister passing away from a drug overdose. Cassie had quickly taken both of them into her heart, and now the three of them were the happiest family imaginable.
“Is Ashley right?” Cassie was on the edge of her seat. “Have you met someone?”
Lola nodded happily. “His name is Duncan Lyman. He took my drawing class yesterday. He’s so talented. And gorgeous. And we just stayed up all night together. Well, almost all night, since I ended up falling asleep in his arms.” She stopped and gave a happy little sigh just thinking about how good it had felt to be held by him. “Anyway, he left an hour ago, but he’ll be back on Friday to have dinner with all of us at Mom and Dad’s.”
Cassie jumped up off the couch and threw her arms around Lola. “I’m so happy for you!”
But Ashley, who remained on the couch, tearing a glazed chocolate doughnut into lots of little pieces rather than eating it, didn’t look quite as overjoyed. “Tell us more about him.”
Lola refused to allow herself to be irritated by Ashley’s reluctance to immediately embrace her joyous news. She understood how past pain could make a person unwilling to trust in love.
“Well,” she began, “the most important thing is that we’re in love with each other.”
She’d known as she said it that it was akin to dropping a bomb in front of Ashley, but even Cassie’s eyes grew huge.
Cassie was the first to recover from the shock of hearing that Lola had not only fallen in love, but so quickly to boot. “That’s amazing, Lola! And I get it, because that’s exactly what happened for me with Flynn and Ruby. Other people might think it isn’t possible to fall in love so fast, but it definitely is. As soon as I met Flynn and Ruby, I knew they were going to mean everything to me.”
But Ashley’s eyes had only narrowed further. “I’m sure he’s gorgeous and wonderful, but are you sure it’s actually love after less than twenty-four hours together?”
“Yes, I’m sure. We both are.” Lola wanted her sister to understand. “For the first time in my life, I’m not worried that a relationship is going to blow up in my face. When Duncan looks at me, he isn’t seeing a sex object—he actually sees me.”
Though Ashley nodded, she pulled out her phone and typed something into it.
“Are you looking him up online?” Lola asked, finally getting a little irritated.
“Of course I am. I love you.” Ashley looked up from her screen briefly to meet Lola’s gaze. “And I just want to make sure he’s who he says he is.” She pointed to her screen. “It says here that he runs a—”
“Venture capital firm,” Lola finished for her. “He invests in companies that create renewable resources and prosthetic limbs and other innovative products that help people.” Before Ashley could continue reading from whatever Web page she had pulled up, Lola continued, “He started the company five years ago after having worked with his brother before that. From everything he’s told me, his brother isn’t a great person. They are estranged now.”
Ashley frowned. “But if his brother was a bad guy, why did Duncan work with him until five years ago?”
Lola hat
ed how Ashley was forcing her to defend Duncan this way. “His brother is ten years older and raised him after their parents passed away when Duncan was six. They had a strong bond when he was a child, until his brother drove them apart. I don’t know exactly what happened, but we all know how messy families can be. We’re lucky to have such a close-knit family. And even then, it isn’t always easy.”
“I’m not judging him for his brother’s misdeeds,” Ashley clarified, “I’m just making sure there’s no wife and kids hiding in—” She looked down at her screen again. “Boston.” There was a new question in her eyes now. “Are you guys planning to have a long-distance relationship?” She looked slightly horrified. “Or are you going to move away?”
“I’m not going anywhere.” Lola chose a pink frosted doughnut with rainbow sprinkles and took a big bite. “He’s found someone to take over the day-to-day of his business in Boston so that he can move to Bar Harbor and pursue the passion he’s pushed aside for so long. He’s a magnificent cartographer,” she explained.
Ashley opened her mouth to speak, but before she could, Cassie put a hand on their sister’s arm to quell her next question. “He sounds wonderful, Lola. I can’t wait to meet him at dinner on Friday.”
Lola grinned as she told them, “Mom already met him at lunch at the café yesterday, when I brought my class in to eat during our midday break. She liked him so much that she went into full-on matchmaker mode. It was so embarrassing. Although, given that she ended up being one hundred percent right that he’s the perfect man for me, I suppose I can’t give her too much grief about it.”
It was exactly the right thing to say to settle Ashley down. “If Mom liked him, that’s good to hear. Although, remember that guy she set me up with last year?” Ashley made a face. “He kept asking me to send him pictures of my feet.”
“He also had a habit of wiggling his nose like a bunny rabbit,” Cassie said.
When they had stopped giggling, Ash asked, “Has Dad met Duncan?”
“Nope. And I’m a little worried Dad will come across as really overbearing on Friday.” She looked at Cassie. “Remember how weird he was with Flynn the first time they met?”
Cassie nodded. “He was way too protective for my liking that night.”
“Speaking of overprotective, you should have seen how Turner behaved last night when he let us into the Maritime Museum to look at the antique maps!” Lola took another bite of her doughnut before saying more, needing the sugar to sweeten her lingering irritation. “He all but tried to yank us apart when we kissed, then proceeded to send me a text this morning demanding to know if Duncan was still around. I was half expecting him to barge into my cottage last night to make sure Duncan wasn’t having his wicked way with me.” She felt her cheeks go hot at the memory of all the delicious ways Duncan had adored her.
“The two of you have always shared an extra-close bond,” Cassie reminded Lola. It was true that Turner and Lola were so close in age they were practically twins.
“I’m trying to cut him some slack,” Lola said, “but is it too much to ask for everyone just to be happy for me? Especially when I never thought I’d find anyone who makes me feel the way Duncan does?”
At last, Ashley gave Lola a hug. “I am happy for you. I swear I am. Which is why I’m going to stop acting suspicious and weird like Turner.”
Lola hugged her sister back. “You guys are the best. That’s why I wanted to see you this morning. To share my happiness with you before I talked to anyone else about it.”
“We’re so glad you did,” Cassie said.
“Now, enough about me. How are you guys?” Lola asked.
Cassie looked radiantly happy as she replied, “I’m awesome. Flynn’s awesome. Ruby’s awesome. And I was actually going to text you both about meeting this morning because there’s something really important that I wanted to share with you before anyone else.”
Lola instantly knew. In fact, given the way Cassie was glowing, Lola would have guessed her sister’s big news immediately had she not been so caught up in her own joy.
Ashley beat her to the punch. “You’re pregnant!”
Cassie nodded, and the three of them fell into a group hug, tears of joy in their eyes and on their cheeks.
“How long have you known?” Lola asked.
“I’ve done approximately eighteen tests since last night. All of them said the same thing, that Flynn and I are going to have a little brother or sister for Ruby!” Cassie looked radiantly happy. “I don’t want to tell too many people for the first few weeks, until I see my doctor and know that everything is okay, but I had to tell you guys.”
“It’s amazing news, Cass. And am I right to assume that Dad will be walking you down the aisle soon too?”
“Flynn and I almost knocked each other over diving to the ground to propose. I had actually been working out for a while now how I wanted to propose to him, and it turned out he’d been doing the same thing. But doing it this way, when we’d just gotten the best news ever, was absolutely perfect.”
Ashley passed their coffee cups around. “Here’s a toast to my two favorite sisters.” Cassie and Lola both laughed, as they were Ashley’s only sisters. “To two women I love so deeply and dearly—may you both be this happy forever.”
They tapped coffee cups, then sat in companionable silence, sisters who knew each other better than anyone else in the world. Sisters who had been with each other through thick and thin, bad times and good. Sisters who would always be there for each other, no matter what.
Lola couldn’t wait for Duncan to meet Cassie and Ashley on Friday. Just thinking of him brought a new smile to her face.
Safe in the knowledge that he would be at the airport by now and out of his car, she finally sent a reply to his earlier text. I can’t wait to see you on Friday. I’ll be counting the minutes. And I love you too. Before hitting Send, she drew a heart on the screen, with her name written through the center of it, as a graphic signature.
She was delighted when, a few minutes later, he sent back a text with a drawing of his own. It was a map of two illustrated hearts, with the suit-wearing heart from Boston heading straight toward the dress-and-heels-wearing heart in Bar Harbor.
CHAPTER TEN
Duncan’s focus was laser sharp during the workweek. The first thing he did was thank Gail for giving him Lola’s drawing class as a birthday gift. She was clearly pleased that he’d enjoyed it so much and said she couldn’t wait to see his next map. He spent the rest of the week giving his new employee, Anita, all the tools and information she’d need to fill his shoes at the helm of his company in Boston—and quickly—so that he could begin his new life in Bar Harbor with Lola.
For the past five years, he’d deliberately kept his company small so that he knew every detail of every deal, with Gail as his only full-time employee to help manage the office and assist with clients. He would never again let himself become so overloaded, or hire so many people to work for him, that he missed seeing crimes committed directly under his nose.
Not that he could imagine Anita ever doing anything illegal. She had graduated from Harvard Business School five years earlier and was enthusiastic, open to listening to new approaches and new ideas. She also had experience running her own startup, which she’d sold in her late twenties. Married with a young child, she was more than capable of having a full-on career and a well-rounded personal life. At last, he was ready to let go of the reins he’d held so tightly for the past five years.
Ready to start anew.
Fortunately, Anita was thrilled at the chance to take on the extra responsibilities Duncan wanted to give her. Throughout the week, they worked long hours while Duncan brought her fully up to speed on the finer details of each client. But even while he was working, Lola was there with him in his head and heart—both in the sweet digital doodles she sent him several times a day and when he simply closed his eyes and thought about her.
For the first few days back in Boston, the rush of
falling in love with Lola was enough to keep the darkness from his past from creeping back in. And late in the evenings when he finally found time to sit at his drafting table, he was hit with a rush of inspiration. He knew exactly what he wanted to draw. Not a map this time, but a family tree. Lola had joked over dinner their first night together, while she was telling him about her family, that he wasn’t there to draw the Maine branch of the Sullivans. He knew how much she’d love having exactly that, though. So he began his research of family trees and started sketching out ideas in pencil.
Unfortunately, as the days passed the familiar regrets and remorse, along with his fury at himself for having blindly trusted his brother, eventually came slipping back in through the cracks. Several times while on a video call with Lola, he came close to confessing everything. But each time, the thought of losing her stopped him cold.
When and how could he tell her the full truth without risking the love he’d only just found?
All week, the question plagued him. Worse still, with each day that passed, he felt more and more like he was lying to her by omission.
On Friday night, after dinner with her parents, he’d tell her everything. And hope like hell that she wouldn’t run, that she’d somehow find a way to forgive him for his past mistakes.
If anyone could find the good in someone, surely it was Lola.
Meeting her was the luckiest thing that could ever have happened to him. And more than anything, he wanted to be a permanent part of her world. A bright and beautiful world where, in the face of love, nothing seemed insurmountable. Not even the darkness from one’s past.
Come Friday morning, knowing he wouldn’t have the patience or focus to sit in his office while he counted the minutes until he was back in Bar Harbor with Lola in his arms, he decided to drop by the offices of several clients for face-to-face meetings.
His last visit of the day was with Dave Fischer, who had recently hit a rough spot in his research. Eight years ago, Dave’s daughter had been born with a birth defect that left her without a right arm. A mechanical engineer before her birth, Dave decided to shift his focus into robotic limbs. His company had been Duncan’s first investment five years ago.