by Kay Correll
“I know. That’s a long way from The Nest.” Sara nodded. “And I’m not thinking she’ll agree to a wheelchair.”
“I could make a ramp for the stairs to The Nest. A long, gentle slope,” Noah offered.
She looked at him doubtfully. “You know how to build stuff?”
He laughed. “I do. I’ve learned lots since I left the advertising business. I’ve built stage props and I even built a dollhouse for Zoe when she was little.”
What other surprises was Noah hiding? Every time she turned around she found out something new about the man.
“I can help you this afternoon,” Jay offered.
“Great. I’ll get the lumber and bring over some tools.”
“Wow, I know I keep saying this, but you guys are helping me so much.”
Jay shrugged. “Nah, it’s helping Lil. Anyway, it’s no big deal.” Jay waved a spatula at all of them. “Now, take those rolls out to the dining room and grab some coffee. I’ve got work to do.”
“Okay, okay. We’ll get out of your hair.” Sara led them out of the kitchen and they settled at a table by the window.
“He makes the best cinnamon rolls.” Robin took a big bite.
“He does. I remember that much.” Sara tried hers. “Yes, just like I remembered.”
“If I ate Jay’s cooking all the time, I’d gain a zillion pounds.” Robin shrugged and took another bite. She quickly finished her roll and stood. “I better run. I’ve got to put in another order for Jay.”
Sara got the distinct feeling Robin was just using that as an excuse to leave her alone with Noah…
And she didn’t really mind that…
“Might have to take another walk to work off this cinnamon roll.” Noah patted his stomach.
They finished their rolls and sat sipping their coffee.
“Sorry about falling asleep on you last night.” She set her mug down.
“Not a problem. I was afraid I might wake you up when Coop and I left, but you were really out of it.”
“I was tired. I’d been up most of the night before working on a presentation for Diane.” She shook her head. “But Diane didn’t even read it. It was late. She went with Terrence’s proposal and they ended up not getting the account. Coastal Furniture. I had a really great idea for them.”
“Diane is a stickler for deadlines.”
“I know, but Aunt Lil spiked that fever, and I needed to be with her. I guess I should have brought my laptop with me to the hospital, but I was so worried when they called, I just rushed out the door to see her.” She fiddled with the salt and pepper shakers, putting them carefully in alignment. “And that promotion I told you I was up for? I’m pretty sure this shot all my chances of that.”
“You don’t know that for sure.”
“I told her it was too bad she didn’t use my idea because it was one of my better ideas. Then, I kind of told her I had accrued vacation—lots of it—and I would either be taking it or I could work remotely. Then…” She grinned. “I clicked off my cell phone and didn’t give her a chance to yell at me.”
“You did?” His eyes widened in surprise.
“I did. And you know what? It felt good. I did come up with a great proposal, and even if it was late, it was there in time for her to use. And they lost the account with Terrence’s idea. Let’s just say he’s not the most creative person they’ve hired.”
“So have you heard from Diane since?”
“Nope, not a text, not an email all day yesterday.”
“That’s probably a welcome break.” He grinned at her.
“It was.” She sighed. “I guess I’m officially taking that vacation since she hasn’t sent me another project to work on. I have roughly a bazillion vacation days accrued.”
“You never were one to take many days off.”
“And it only got worse. I rarely even took weekends off.”
“That’s no way to live.” He looked at her with concern in his eyes.
“Now that I’m back here on Belle Island, I’m beginning to realize that.”
“Good. But then you’d actually have to do something about it.” He pinned her with a gaze that would have rivaled one of Robin’s listen-to-me gazes.
“Okay, okay. I’ll make some changes.”
“Good. Now how about if I go get the supplies for the ramp, and you can meet me back at The Nest after lunch? I have to check on a few things at the community center, too. I’ll teach you how to build a ramp.”
She looked at him doubtfully. “I’ve never swung a hammer or used a saw. You sure you want my help?”
“I’m a great teacher. I’ll see you then.” Noah stood, took one more sip of his coffee, and hurried off.
He crossed the dining room with confident, long strides. This new Noah was quite the enigma.
Lil stood at the window in the room at the rehab center. She looked out on the courtyard dotted with palm trees. A cheerful fountain splashed in the courtyard and residents more mobile than she was wandered around in the sunshine.
She was ready to go home. Enough time in the hospital and rehab with people coming in constantly to check on her. She was fine. Or she would be fine if people would just leave her alone.
It felt like an eternity since she’d been back on her beloved Belle Island and at the inn. And the sooner she got back, the sooner Sara could get back to Boston and her real life. She didn’t want her niece sacrificing for her.
She really should consider getting a manager for the inn who could help with the day-to-day running of things. As they expanded and the dining room grew larger and busier, both she and Jay had their hands full.
She’d work on that as soon as they let her out of here. She didn’t know why Ashley had insisted on two more days of therapy. She felt fine now… if a little bit tired.
She sighed and turned away from the window, using the silly walker they insisted she use, and walked over to the recliner. She carefully lowered herself into the chair, ignoring the twinges of pain.
She needed to be up and mobile. Exercising her muscles, getting stronger. She wasn’t ready for some kind of fragile period of life. She had years of vibrant life yet and she planned on living them to the fullest.
Only old ladies broke their hip, and she refused to consider herself an old lady. So she’d ignore it and get stronger. Soon she could put this whole silly episode behind her and things would get back to normal.
She needed that. Craved that. Normal.
She sighed when an overly cheerful worker came bustling into the room.
“So, how are we doing today?”
We are doing just peachy if we could just get out of here.
But she smiled and replied, “Just fine.”
Chapter 22
Sara checked on the progress of the yellow cottage and the teal cottage. The teal one was just about finished. Charlotte had done a great job with everything.
She walked back to The Nest and climbed the stairs, trying to figure out how Noah was going to make a ramp work. Oh well, he sounded confident in his abilities. She’d just let him have at it.
She walked inside and heard noise from the direction of the sunroom. She went to investigate. Charlotte stood in front of a blank easel. She’d spread a drop cloth on the floor and had a selection of paints and brushes on a small table beside her.
She entered the brightly lit room and Charlotte turned and gave her a weak smile. “So… it’s not really working well for me just yet.” She nodded at the blank canvas.
“I’m sure something will come to you soon. Something will inspire you.”
“I hope so. I thought maybe coming here and getting away would. Or all the work I’m doing on painting the furniture for the cottages might help.”
“You’re doing such a great job on those. Aunt Lil is going to be so pleased.”
“I hope so. I’ve had a lot of fun with them. Did you see the nautical compass I stenciled on the top of that dresser in the teal cottage?”
&nbs
p; “I did. And did you letter that beach this way sign?”
“I did. I had some leftover paint, found those boards, and painted them. I think it tied together the colors I used, don’t you?”
“It’s wonderful. I can’t thank you enough for all your work.”
“I’m really enjoying myself.”
“I’m glad.” Sara hugged Charlotte. “Now, we’ll just have to work on your painter’s block.”
“I hope so.” Charlotte glanced at the canvas. “Enough of this. I’ve got a second coat of paint to put on the chairs at the teal cottage.”
“Oh, hey. Aunt Lil is coming home on Saturday.”
“That’s great.”
“And this afternoon Noah and Jay are going to make a temporary ramp for her to use.”
“Always good to have handymen around. I’ll come help, too. I’ve done my fair share of basic carpentry.”
“You have?” Was she the only person on the island who didn’t know how to paint, how to build, or how to cook? What was she good at besides coming up with ideas for clients? She frowned.
“I’m off to paint something that wants me to paint it, instead of this canvas that doesn’t want me to paint it.” Charlotte grinned and walked away with a wave of her hand.
That afternoon, Noah and Jay attacked the job of building the ramp. Sara helped when she could, jealous of Charlotte’s skill with a saw and quick job of measuring boards for the guys. She measured and cut them, and Noah and Jay efficiently put them together.
Cooper sat in the shade watching all of them until he spotted some birds on the beach and went chasing after them. Charlotte laughed at his antics and snapped some pictures with her cell phone.
Noah jogged to the beach to retrieve the dog, though he hadn’t gone far. “Coop, come on.” He bent down and patted the dog, then threw a piece of driftwood. Coop went charging down the beach after it.
Charlotte took more photos. “They look so carefree, don’t they?”
Sara stood next to her friend. “They do.” She was still boggled that Noah had a dog. A pet. But she was beginning to get used to the idea and this new Noah McNeil.
They finished the ramp and Jay left to check on things in the kitchen. Charlotte went to paint yet another piece of furniture she’d been working on.
“You guys did a great job.” Sara looked at the long sloping ramp. “That should be easy for Aunt Lil to walk up, even with her walker.”
“Hope it works for her.” He picked up the last of his tools, crossed over to his vehicle, and put them inside.
She wasn’t ready for him to leave. Not yet. “Hey, do you want a cold beer? Sit and rest for a bit? Do you have time?” The questions rushed out of her.
He rewarded her with a smile. “I do have time, and I’d love a beer.”
He and Coop walked up the ramp and they all went inside. She grabbed a couple of beers and handed them to Noah to unscrew the tops before they returned to the deck.
He sank onto the rocker loveseat and she sat beside him.
“That breeze feels great.” He shoved his hand through his hair, then took a sip of his beer.
Cooper settled in the shade by the door, resting his head on his paws and closing his eyes.
“Looks like chasing driftwood is tiring.” She nodded toward Cooper.
“A dog’s life. Someone’s got to do it.” He grinned at her.
She had to drag her gaze away from his grinning face. And his twinkling eyes.
How could this be happening? Was she actually smitten with the man again? After all these years?
He watched Sara take a sip of her beer. He watched her lips. And her delicate fingers wrapped about the bottle. And her long eyelashes. She licked her lips after her drink and set the bottle down on the table beside her.
The breeze lifted locks of her hair, framing her face.
He tore his gaze from her and looked out at the sea, taking a long swallow of his beer. As if that was going to calm his jangled nerves. He looked back at her and she was staring right at him.
For a moment, time froze in place. He didn’t notice the wind, the waves, the call of the gulls that had been so obvious just moments earlier.
Nothing existed but Sara and him.
She licked her lips again with a small dart of her tongue, and that was it. He took in a deep breath of air and set his beer on the table.
As if in slow motion, he reached out to touch her face, trailing his finger along her jawline.
She sat still, her gaze locked on his face.
He lowered his lips toward hers and gently, ever so gently, kissed those lips. An electric shock jolted through him. She raised a hand to cling to his arm. He kissed her again, lost in the sigh that escaped her lips.
He pulled back and looked at her flushed face. She opened her eyes, shining with emotion.
“I’ve waited a very long time for that. Never thought it would happen again.” He fought to get his words out past the emotions that threatened to choke him.
“It was… I never thought…” She let out another sigh. “I’m glad you moved to Belle Island and we…” She shook her head. “I can’t even get my thoughts untangled.”
He reached out and cradled her face with his hand. “I know that feeling.” His own thoughts and feelings were crashing against each other like waves on the sand.
He draped an arm around her and pulled her close, pressing a quick kiss to the top of her head. She dropped a hand on his leg, the touch searing him.
They sat like that, not talking, watching the world go by around them. People walking past them on the beach, pelicans flying overhead, and Cooper snoring gently beside them. But none of that seemed to pierce the magic wrapped around them.
Chapter 23
Friday raced by in a whirl of activity for Sara. She cleaned Aunt Lil’s room and put on fresh sheets. She shopped for all of Aunt Lil’s favorite foods. The whole time she worked, her mind replayed last night over and over.
Noah had stayed until the sun set. They’d talked and kissed. His kisses had stirred long-buried feelings. Feelings she’d hidden for so many years. Now they swirled around her and memories popped into her mind at every turn.
Noah McNeil had reentered her life like a storm surge, sweeping along everything in its path. Every emotion, every memory.
This was not what she’d expected on this trip back to Belle Island. Not at all. She gathered a load of laundry, and as she walked past the sunroom she peered through the glass doors and noticed the easel. There was paint on the canvas. Charlotte had started painting. Fabulous news.
She hummed as she went about her chores. Every part of her thrummed with life and happiness. Aunt Lil was better and coming home. She had her two best friends here with her.
And Noah. Noah McNeil was back in her life.
She grabbed the towels from the dryer and buried her face in their fresh, clean scent. She dumped them into the clothes basket and loaded the dryer with another load.
She’d get this load folded then go and see if Jay needed any help in the kitchen.
She found him there working with a new cook he’d found to help out. Jay was patiently showing the worker how to make their famous cinnamon rolls. He looked up and shrugged at her as if saying this was going to take longer than he thought. But Jay did need help in the kitchen. He couldn’t be in it twenty-four seven, and Aunt Lil wouldn’t be up to helping out like she had before. Not for a while anyway.
“Can I do anything for you?”
“Could you get the tables set for the dinner rush?” Jay sighed. “I’m a bit behind.”
“I can do that.”
“The silverware needs to be rolled in napkins, then placed on the tables. There’s an order of fresh flowers I haven’t gotten into the vases yet, either.”
“I’m on it.” Finally, some chores she could do. How much could she screw up napkin rolls and flowers?
She rolled the silverware and placed it around on the tables. Then she tackled the flowe
rs. Not as easy as she’d thought as she wrestled the stems into vases and messed with each one until she thought it looked right. Okay, maybe flower arranging wasn’t her forte either. If Diane fired her, she definitely wouldn’t take a job in a flower shop…
“Hey, you.”
She looked up to see Noah standing in the doorway. A rush of emotion flooded through her and she broke a stem on one of the flowers she was holding. “Oops.”
“Here, let me help with those.”
“You know how to arrange flowers?”
“Of course. We get them in often for events at the community center.”
“Well then, you can finish these up while I place the ones I already fought with on the tables.”
They finished up the task and she looked around the dining room. Everything looked perfect and ready to go.
Jay poked his head out of the kitchen. “Hey, Sara, a server called in sick. I don’t suppose you’d like to help wait tables tonight.”
“Of course, I will.” That was something she was good at. She’d grown up helping Aunt Lil in the dining room.
“Thanks.”
She didn’t know why he was thanking her. It was her job now to help run the inn and help Aunt Lil. Especially because she might be on a permanent vacation from her job after her screw up. She’d sent in her official notice for taking vacation but had heard nothing back from the agency or Diane. She pushed the thought away and turned back to Noah.
“I was going to ask you out tonight, but it appears you’re going to be busy.” He had the expression of a kid who’d been told Christmas was delayed.
“Sorry.” She’d have loved to go out with him, but helping Aunt Lil came first.
“Well, I guess I’ll eat dinner here. That way at least I can see you.”
“And I’ll be your waitress. But no special attention for you, mister.” She grinned.
“Darn.” He flashed her an impish grin. “But there is one thing I need from you.”
“What’s that?”
He glanced around the room, then reached over and pulled her close. “A kiss.”