“I woke up alone.”
Her expression gentled. “I’ve had to sneak away whenever I could to get this done. I knew if I got up early this morning, I could finish.” She was quiet for a minute. “What do you think? We still need to decorate. This place needs some character. I was thinking we could go to Bell’s store, Second Chances, tomorrow and—”
I cut off her words with a kiss. This one was no gentle good morning. It was hungry and just a little bit desperate. Seeking and demanding at the same time. When I pulled back, Shay’s eyes were a bit dazed.
“Does that mean you like it?” she asked.
I chuckled. “Never had anyone care this much that I had the perfect space to create.” And just the knowledge of that had the itch to paint taking root in me for the first time in over a week.
Shay let her hands trail over my face as if she were trying to commit it to memory. “What you do is important. Not just for you, but for the people your work touches. I read a few posts from fans, and you make them feel understood, seen, not so alone. That’s art’s greatest gift. I don’t want you to stop giving it to the world.”
I stilled, each word hitting me like a blow to the chest. “I don’t want to stop trying to create those kinds of pieces.”
“Then don’t.”
My hand slipped under the hem of Shay’s tank top, trailing across her lower back. “There’s something I need to do first, though.”
Her breath caught. “What’s that?”
“Christen this kitchen.”
She squealed as I lifted her into the air, her legs wrapping around me. And christen it we did. I’d always smile when I looked at that kitchen counter.
32
Shay
“Shay…”
My name was part warning and part exasperated groan. I held up the antique anchor so that Brody could see it better. “It’s perfect. And I know just the spot for it.”
“You said that about the last ten things you picked up.”
My lips twitched as I tried to hold back my laugh. “The studio has a lot of empty space.”
Brody sighed. “And I like it that way. Leaves room for creativity.”
My shoulders slumped as I set down the anchor. “Fine. But I get to decorate the office space in the loft.”
“Deal. Now can we please get out of here? I’m starving.”
I stretched up on my tiptoes, pressing my lips to the corner of his mouth. “You’ve been a very good boy, and I promise I’ll reward you later.”
Brody’s dark eyes heated. “Never mind. I’ll stay as long as you want.”
I chuckled and lowered myself back to my heels, heading for the register. Bell looked up from where she was carefully packing our purchases into a few bags. “Find everything you needed?”
“More than we needed,” Brody grumbled.
Bell grinned. “You sound like Ford when I force him to go to an estate sale with me.”
Brody’s gaze darted to me. “No estate sales. Please, no estate sales.”
I held up both hands. “I promise, I’m done.”
Bell handed two bags to Brody and one to me. “Maybe I’ll get you to come with me next time.”
“I’d like that.” The words were out before I could reconsider the wisdom of them. And I found I wanted to go. Without realizing it, I had become a part of a community. And I was starting to have the friends I’d always wished I had. They might not know my deepest secrets, but they were starting to know me. The person that I was still discovering myself.
“Awesome. I’ll text you whenever the next one comes around,” she said.
I glanced at Brody and then back to Bell. “And you guys should come out for another barbeque. Maybe next weekend?”
“Only if there are s’mores.”
“I’m doubling the supplies I got last time.”
Bell laughed. “Like the smart woman you are. We’re in.”
We said our goodbyes and pulled on ballcaps and sunglasses before heading out to Main Street. The reporters seemed to have headed back to Seattle, but it was better to play it safe. Brody wrapped an arm around my shoulder, pulling me closer into his side. “I do believe you made social plans of your own free will.”
“It’s okay, right? That I invited them over?” I’d become so comfortable with Brody that I hadn’t even considered I might need to ask for permission. But he was still my boss, and the island belonged to him, not me.
Brody scowled down at me. “Shay, it’s your home, too. Invite whoever you want, whenever you want.”
I relaxed a fraction in his hold. “I’m still not sure what the right balance is here. We’re together, but you’re still my boss.”
He was quiet for a moment as if choosing his words carefully. “Do you like your job?”
“I love it.” I’d found a peaceful rhythm on the island that I’d never experienced before. A sense of purpose that was more healing than any of the therapy sessions I’d ever attended. Tending the land, the animals, the buildings…it gave me something I needed. Maybe it somehow proved that I could take care of myself, too.
“If you love it, then nothing needs to change. You know how to run Harbor better than I ever could, so it’s not like I’m actually your boss. I just sign your paychecks.”
I let out a soft snort. “Yeah, no big thing.”
Brody slowed to a stop on the sidewalk. “Does it bother you?”
I searched my mind, my heart, trying to be as honest with myself as possible. “At first, yes. But mostly because I was terrified that if something happened between us and it didn’t work out, I’d lose my perfect hiding spot. But now…I trust you.” It was as simple as that. I trusted the man of honor that Brody was. I trusted his heart. I knew he’d never be vindictive or cruel.
If things didn’t work out between us, I’d likely still have to leave. Not because Brody forced me to but because it would be too painful for me to be near him, knowing that he was no longer mine. But for once in my life, I was taking the risk anyway. I had no choice. The pull was too strong, and I wanted to reach for my happiness.
Brody’s free hand slipped beneath the fall of my hair, tipping my head back so he had better access to my mouth. His lips brushed against mine, then again. “Your trust is one of the best gifts I’ve ever been given.”
My throat clogged, and I swallowed the swirling emotions. Three little words were dying to escape, but I held them back. It was too soon. And it was a risk I wasn’t quite ready to take. “Don’t go making me emotional. It’s not very nice.”
Brody chuckled and guided me forward. “I’ll try to refrain.”
“Thank you.” I tugged him towards The Exchange. “I want to check the mail before we go.”
“Good idea. I’m supposed to be getting some papers from my lawyer.”
I pulled open the door to the shop. “Is everything with Lara okay?”
He held open the door for me to duck inside and then followed. “All’s calm on that front. She seems to have slunk away quietly.”