by Addison Cole
When he looked at the picture in her hands, he wondered if their kids would look like his father.
“Why didn’t we stay here at all?” she asked, drawing him from his thoughts of the future.
“I thought you’d want to be with Violet and Cosmos.”
“I did, but…” She motioned toward the photographs and the drawings Hagen had made. “I hadn’t realized how big a part of you was here. When you come back, I’d really like to stay here in your world.”
Could his heart get any fuller? “We’ll stay wherever you want. And if you want to take a few of the pictures to your place, you can.”
Her eyes lit up. “Really? You wouldn’t mind? I’ll be careful with them.”
“Baby, my things are your things. Take whatever you want.”
Mischief rose in her eyes. “Careful. I might rummage through your clothes, looking for something to sleep in that smells like you.”
He kissed her, laughing. “Your cuteness gets me every time. Take my whole closet, baby.”
A knock sounded at the door seconds before it pushed open, and Drake and Serena walked in.
“I told you they’d be dressed,” Serena said. “Hey, girl.” She went straight to Desiree and hugged her. “Are you okay?”
“What am I? Chopped liver?” Rick teased. He was glad they’d become so close. Mira, Matt, and Hagen had come to say goodbye earlier.
“You’re the one who’s leaving,” Serena pointed out.
“She’s got a point.” Drake pulled him to the side of the room while the girls talked. “All kidding aside, it meant the world to me that we went in on this business venture together. I know we’ve put your partners out all this time, and I feel bad about that. But honestly, it was worth it. I’ve missed you, and I finally feel like I have my brother back.”
“Me too, man.” Rick embraced him. “You’ll keep an eye on the girls for me? They’ve been through a lot with their mother, and although Violet comes across as a spitfire, you and I both know everyone needs looking after.”
“Already in my plans.”
AN HOUR AND a half later Rick drew Desiree into his arms in the small Provincetown airport. The events of the last few weeks played in her mind like a movie, capturing all his smiles, from the heated to the boisterous, and the way his eyes turned from amused to smoldering in the space of a second. She tucked all those and a million more wonderful memories away to draw upon later, forcing the sadness down deep. She wasn’t going to make this any harder than it had to be, even if every ounce of her wanted to climb him like a tree and cling like a monkey, refusing to let him leave.
But when he gazed into her eyes, her resolve snapped. “Maybe I shouldn’t stay and run the inn. I love you, Rick. I don’t want to be apart. I can go back to Virginia, and we can be together next weekend.”
He brushed his thumb over her cheek. “I’m so proud of you for making the decision to stay. You’re my strong-willed, independent girl, and I love you for doing the right thing. This is where you belong, sweetheart. We’ll see each other often. I’ll make sure of it.”
They called his plane, and he held her tighter, letting all the other passengers make their way through the security gate before him. He put a sliver of space between them and touched his forehead to hers.
“When I come back, everyone better be ten pounds lighter.”
She laughed, even as sadness gripped her, and she snuggled against him, taking advantage of every second they were together. When they announced the boarding of his plane, he held her chin between his finger and thumb and touched his lips to hers.
“Until then, sweetheart.” He kissed her softly and held her hand as he stepped away. His fingers trailed to the very tips of hers, and then he blew her a kiss and mouthed, Love you, baby.
He blew her another kiss from the airstrip as he walked to the plane, and she’d never been so glad for a small airport in all her life. She watched his plane take off, and with a heavy heart, she pushed through the airport doors and stopped cold at the sight of her sister standing before her, holding out a handful of tissues.
“You’re gonna need them.” Violet thrust them toward her.
Sobs burst from Desiree’s lungs as she threw her arms around Violet.
“Seriously?” Violet sighed.
Her hand came to rest on Desiree’s lower back, and that simple sort of hug drew more tears. “Why are you here?” she sobbed.
“You can let go now.”
She held her tighter. “Vi?”
“What?”
“Tell me you love me.”
“Geez, you’re needy.”
“I’m not letting go until you do.”
Violet sighed again. “Fine. I love your sorry butt. Now let’s go into P-town and see what kind of mischief we can get into.”
Chapter Nineteen
RICK RAN AT a fast clip down the city sidewalk at just after five o’clock the next morning, the muscles in his neck and back knotted up tight. He’d paced the hardwood floors of his Georgetown home for hours, too restless to sleep. He’d thought the longing inside him would let up after he’d arrived back in DC, but the stop-and-go cab ride had grated on his nerves, and his echoing footsteps in the home he’d once considered the find of the century had amplified that emptiness. He’d texted with Desiree several times yesterday, and was glad Violet had kept her busy. He’d thought knowing she was okay would help, but when they’d FaceTimed before she went to sleep, seeing her beautiful face and not being able to hold her had torn him apart.
Now, as he kept pace alongside a steady flow of traffic on the city streets, surrounded by brick and concrete in all directions, he not only missed waking up with Desiree in his arms, but also waking with the pool-hopping pup licking his face, running with Drake and Dean, and eating breakfast with friends and family.
He ran an extra two miles to kill some time before heading into the office. They’d scheduled a meeting to discuss the future of their business, and Rick planned to arrive early to go over the contract for the deal he hoped to close this week.
Back home, he checked his phone first thing, happy to see a message from Desiree. He opened it and smiled as a video of her and Cosmos came to life. Her green eyes smiled back at him as Cosmos kissed her whole face. “We miss you,” she said in a singsong voice. “Less than two weeks, now. Good luck with your business stuff. Love you to pieces!” She blew him a kiss and held up Cosmos’s paw, making him wave, too.
He called her back, but the call went to voicemail. He wasn’t big on videos, but there was nothing he wouldn’t do for Desiree. He ran a hand through his sweaty hair and cleared his throat. He held up the phone, feeling funny talking to his reflection, and reminded himself not to let her know he was having more trouble with the distance between them than she was. With a smile plastered on his face, he said, “Hey there, beautiful. I missed you last night. Oh, baby, I miss you right now, but I loved the video. Kiss pool-hopper for me. I just got back from a run. Sorry for the sweat. I’d much rather get sweaty with you.” Oh man, don’t go there. “I’m going to shower and head into the office. I’ll call you when I get a break. Have a great day. Love you more than you can imagine.”
Long-distance relationships officially sucked.
Before showering, he printed out two pictures of Desiree he’d taken the night they’d gone sailing. In the first she had her hand over her face, because her pink cheeks were visible between her fingers, and he loved that adorably shy side of her so much the picture warmed him all over. And the second picture was the one he’d taken just after, with the wind blowing her hair away, the moonlight reflected in her eyes, and that smile. Oh, how he missed her smile. He put them with his briefcase and headed into the shower. If she couldn’t be here with him, at least he could see his girl while they were apart.
DESIREE SAT AT the kitchen table pushing cereal around in her milk and petting Cosmos, who was asleep on her lap. He’d become her constant companion overnight, as if he could feel her loneli
ness.
Violet flew into the kitchen, wearing an ultra-mini-skirt she’d tie-dyed a few days ago and the new purple bikini top they’d bought while they were in Provincetown. “What’s going on? Where is everyone?”
Desiree stared into the bowl, trying to force a smile, but it refused to come. It had been hard enough playing happy on the video for Rick and lying to Serena and Drake when she’d sent a text telling them she was going out this morning and wouldn’t be making breakfast.
“Cereal.”
“No kidding, sis. But why?”
She shrugged, set Cosmos on the floor, and carried her bowl to the sink, unable to watch the cereal get any mushier. “Just tired today. I didn’t sleep very well last night.”
Violet crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. Desiree turned away. She didn’t have the energy for that either.
“We do have toys,” her sister suggested.
She gave her a deadpan look.
“I’m only kidding,” Violet said more empathetically. She leaned her hip against the counter beside Desiree. “I know you miss him. What can I do to help?”
“I don’t know. I think I made a mistake. A big mistake.” She met her sister’s gaze. “I want to be here with you, but I feel like I’ve got this big hole inside me. I’ve never felt like this before, except…”
“When Lizza left,” Violet said flatly.
“When you both left. Only it’s different. When you guys left, I was angry and sad. But this…Vi, I don’t even know how to explain it. I’m a grown woman, and two weeks is nothing. Soldiers and their wives go months without seeing each other. But Rick’s gone for one day and my heart actually hurts like it’s been manhandled.”
“You’re an idiot.”
“Mean girl, much?”
“What? This is so simple.” Violet poured herself a cup of coffee. “You know you can live without me. You’ve done it for years. But you’ve never been in love before, Des. Rick lights you up, inside and out. Being in love is totally different from loving someone. Of course you feel like you have a hole inside you.”
“How would you know? You slept with the first guy you found when we got here.”
Violet rolled her eyes. “I knew the guy I slept with. I’m not a total whore. He’s lived here since we were kids. We used to make out while you were up in the widow’s walk reading ‘Little Miss Muffet.’”
“Gosh, it’s like you had this whole life I was never a part of.”
“I did.” Violet shrugged. “Look, Des. I’m a big girl. I’ll hire someone to help me run the inn. I bet Serena knows a dozen people who would be willing to work here.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying that I can eat cold cereal without you, but by the looks of your sappy self, you can’t eat squat without him.”
Desiree’s heart thundered against her ribs. Could she leave Violet and go after Rick? Did that make her the worst sister in the world? “I’m not just going to leave you hanging. I’m not Lizza, and I don’t want you to hate me.”
“Holy cow, Des. You’re as far from Lizza as anyone could be. You’re going after the man you love. I’m your sister. Your blood. I’m here for you no matter what. I might miss you, but I could never hate you.”
She’d waited her whole life for this connection with Violet, and her emotions erupted. She threw herself into Violet’s arms. “Thank you. I really needed to hear those things.”
“Great, this again.”
Desiree laughed. “One day you’ll hug me back. Until then you just have to suffer through it.”
She kissed Cosmos’s head, feeling a little better, and grabbed her purse and keys from the counter.
“Where are you going?”
“Out to Indian Neck. I have a lot to think about.”
Chapter Twenty
RICK CHECKED HIS watch for the hundredth time since the meeting with his partners had begun, wishing he could take a break and call Desiree. It was nearly four o’clock. She would be wrapping up work for the day. Or maybe she was painting or taking Cosmos for a walk. While his partners outlined a strategic plan for the next twelve months, Rick tried to remember what about this city, and this business, had sucked him in all those years ago. Drake’s voice roared through his mind. You know why you work eighty hours a week, hundreds of miles away from us.
Darn right he did. He’d needed the safety of distance and working too many hours in order to forget what he was running from. But Desiree had changed that. In just a few short weeks she’d reminded him of the importance of dreams, and family, and love. She showed him what strength really looked like, and she’d given him a reason to feel again.
And here he was, sitting in a meeting with two men who were driving him up the wall with their bickering and leaving the woman—and the family—he adored, hours and hours away. Missing him, and probably wondering why he was being such a stubborn fool.
He’d built this business to make his father proud.
He looked across the table, listening to one partner arguing about the bottom line and the other saying they had enough money to survive for years and to give him a break. What was he doing? If his father were alive and sitting in this room, he’d tap him on the shoulder and nod toward the door. Come on, buddy. We’ve got better things to do than complain about money. Life’s waiting. You’re either moving forward or moving in the wrong direction.
Rick pushed to his feet feeling lighter already.
Craig and Michael looked over, stress pinching their brows, tension riddling their tight jaws.
“Where are you going?” Craig asked.
“I’m done. I’m out. Michael, you can take over my clients. I’ll send a personal note to them explaining that I’m relocating and you’re taking over. That should take care of your financial obligations for the next year, at least.”
“What?” Craig bolted to his feet. “You can’t just leave the partnership.”
“Listen, we had a good run, but I don’t have it in me to do this anymore. The three of us were great friends, and look where we are now. Michael’s going through the roughest time of his life and you’re berating him for being human. Michael, I feel bad for you, man, but it’s been months. It’s time to get back on the ball. Hopefully this will help both of you. You don’t need me hanging around.”
They both spoke at once, and Rick held up his hands. “Guys. I’m not changing my mind. I’ll have our attorneys take care of the appropriate documents this week, but right now I’ve got to get back to the Cape.”
Rick blew out of the conference room and pulled his phone from his pocket, feeling like he’d just been cut loose from years of prison. He stalked down the hall to his office as he called Desiree. One ring, two. Come on, pick up.
He pushed open his office door as the phone rang a third time, and he lifted his gaze toward the sound, nearly dropping the phone at the sight of his sweet girl standing in the middle of his office. She was fishing in her purse, and stilled, tears filling her eyes.
“Hi.” Her voice cracked.
His heart raced as he took her in his arms. “Baby? What are you doing here?”
“I couldn’t eat cereal,” she said through tears and kisses. “I love the Cape, and I love Violet, but nothing compares to my love for you. I don’t want to be all those hours away.”
“You’ll never have to again. I was just calling to tell you I was coming back.”
“Back?” Her face clouded with confusion.
“To you, baby. To the Cape, where we both belong.”
Chapter Twenty-One
FALL SWEPT THROUGH the Cape at breakneck speed, bringing colorful foliage and brisk air. But in the span of a few short weeks, winter bullied its way in, leaving a blanket of white over the quiet, small town. Rick and Desiree had moved in to one of the cottages on her property so she could be on site once the inn opened early next year. Rick loved having all their belongings in one place, their family photographs intermingled, her favorite candles in every room.
He’d even built a special bed for Cosmos, which they kept beside their bed, but the little pool hopper still found his way onto theirs after they fell asleep. Rick didn’t mind. He was truly blessed. He’d been given a second chance with the family he’d spent too long away from, and he went to sleep every night with the woman he adored and woke up loving her even more than he had the night before.
It was Christmas Eve, and everyone had gathered at the inn to exchange presents, except Mira and her family. They were off exploring castles for the next few weeks. Desiree’s father had a business meeting out of the country, but he’d Skyped with them yesterday, which had made Desiree’s day. Excited about the surprise he’d planned for Desiree, Rick pulled out his phone and sent a quick text to Serena, setting his plan into motion.
“Got a date?” Violet smirked as she sidled up to him with Cosmos trailing beside her. “I’m pretty sure everything you need is right here in this room.”
She was as snarky as ever, in a pair of leather leggings and a short black sweater. But Rick really liked her, just as he had from the moment they’d met. She might be brash, and overprotective of Desiree, but he couldn’t blame her. They’d gone far too long without each other.
“You’ve got that right,” he said. “I was just checking to see if her present had been delayed.”
He watched his beautiful girlfriend busily taping a picture Hagen had made to the window behind the Christmas tree, alongside several other pictures from the students in her children’s art class, which she held on Wednesday afternoons. She’d been painting more often, and like her mother, all the paintings stuck to one theme. Although Lizza’s theme was women, Desiree’s was family. She’d painted memories of her and Violet, and pictures of her father, Rick, Mira, Hagen, and the rest of their close friends and family. She’d even painted a picture of Lizza wearing a long orange dress and standing on the front porch of the inn.