“Hey.” She looked up to see Tucker standing in front of her. He was wearing jeans, black boots and a pale gray T-shirt. She loved when he wore T-shirts. It showed off his amazing muscular physique, and right now she wanted to wrap her arms around him.
"Hi. I'm so glad you agreed to come."
He nodded slightly before pulling out his chair and sitting down. He rested his forearms on the table, his hands clasped together. “So, I was surprised that you wanted to meet. I thought things were pretty much over between us."
She looked at him, her lips turning downward into a slight frown. “Are things over?"
"Well, it seems to me that you saying no pretty much tells me about the state of our relationship, so…"
"Tucker, I didn't mean no forever. It's just that…"
"Just that what? I thought we were headed somewhere. I thought we had a future."
"I did too. I mean, I do. It's just that I was engaged to someone else not that long ago, and it really did a number on my head.”
"Are you comparing me to Peter?"
"Of course not! That whole engagement really took a lot out of me. I was enjoying us getting to know each other and taking our time. I just didn't expect for you to suddenly go down on one knee and propose. I was taken aback and scared.”
“Look, Colleen, I love you. We fell hard and fast. I know what I want. I want my future to be with you, but I'm worried that you don't feel the same way. I never want to feel like I’m giving my heart to somebody and they just don't want it. I’ve had my share of broken hearts along the way.”
"Tucker, nothing has changed for me. I want to be with you and build a life with you. I just need a little time. I want to make sure that this is the right thing for both of us. Can't we just take things a little slower?”
He smiled slightly. "You know, my mother always said I was a little bit impulsive. I guess I just thought if we love each other now, might as well make the jump to marriage but I didn't think about your feelings. I just thought I was doing this grand romantic gesture, and you hurt my pride when you said no."
She laughed. "I appreciate the gesture, and I really do hope you'll make it again one day.”
"Well, if it's all the same to you, I think I'll wait a little while before I try that again."
Colleen reached across the table. “Forgive me?”
He smiled. “There’s nothing to forgive. Now, I’m starving. I haven’t had an appetite in days.”
Chapter Five
Dawson stood in front of his house, his arms crossed. “Do you think we're ready?"
"Well, I reckon we’re as close as we’re going to get," Lucy said with a laugh. She had been right beside him the whole time, through every renovation and menu revision. She would never admit it, as stubborn as she was, but she had enjoyed watching the transformation of Dawson’s home into The Inn At Seagrove.
He sometimes worried that her advanced age might cause her to retire when he decided to open the inn, but she’d jumped in head first right along with him.
"I sure hope we're ready. I've already got my first couple of reservations, and we open in two days."
"I know. And I’ll be cooking ahead just so we have plenty of food. Pancakes are going to be a hit!"
Lucy had been very proud of creating a new recipe for caramel pecan pancakes with peach flavored maple syrup. She was chomping at the bit to serve it to the first visitors. The whole menu, in fact, was a sight to behold. Dawson hadn't seen Lucy this excited since Burt Reynolds came to visit the town two decades ago. She said looking at him made her feel things that she couldn't say in polite conversation.
“Oh, Dawson, it's beautiful!" Julie said as she walked up beside him and Lucy. She had driven up without him even noticing she was there, his attention completely devoted to looking at the landscaping he had just completed in the yard.
“You like it?"
“It's stunning! I love the pansies you planted over there. That violet color is just gorgeous and really makes the front of the house pop.”
"I better get back inside before I burn those casseroles I put in the oven," Lucy said, rubbing Julie's arm before walking back in the house.
“Lucy got a snazzy new apron, I see,” Julie said with a laugh.
“I’m not sure who’s more excited, me or her,” Dawson said. “I wasn't sure if I could get this place ready on time, but I think we're going to get there. My first guest is arriving day after tomorrow."
"I know you're so excited! I'm thrilled for you, Dawson," she said, grabbing his hand as they both stood there staring at the inn.
“I have you to thank for it.”
Julie looked at him quizzically as he grabbed her other hand to face her. "Me? I haven't done anything."
"You've done a lot more than you realize. Encouraged me. Made me feel like I could really do this. And gave me the space to get it done without getting mad at me for not taking you out to fancy dinners. But, we're going to go to a fancy dinner to celebrate soon."
She smiled at him. “Dawson, if you’ll remember, I had a husband who took me to a lot of fancy dinners for a lot of years and you see how that ended up. I would much prefer sitting in that swing over there with you, having an evening cup of coffee and listening to the waves roll in behind us. That's my celebration. And now every day gets to be a celebration."
"I think that might be the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.” He smiled as he leaned down and softly kissed her.
"It's true. I never thought this would be my dream life, but it is. I thought all my hopes and dreams were wrapped up in some big house in the city with a bunch of friends who weren't really my friends. But this place has become a part of my soul, and I can't imagine ever leaving here. So, you have my help for whatever you need because investing my time in this inn is investing my time in my forever home."
"Well, Julie Pike, I hope you mean that because I can't ever imagine losing you. I feel like my life didn't really start until we met. And since this place is like heaven to me, having you here just makes it even better."
"Better than heaven? Is that even possible?" she teased.
"I'm thinking it is," he said, leaning down to give her a longer kiss.
Suddenly, he heard someone clearing their throat. They broke apart, each of them turning around like two middle schoolers who had just been caught making out in the janitor’s closet. Julie's daughter, Meg, stood there, her face red from embarrassment after catching her mom kissing Dawson. Some things never change. No kid wants to see their parent smooching on anybody.
“Oh, Meg, I didn't see you there…" Julie said, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. Dawson did the same, the taste of her strawberry lip gloss clinging to his lips.
“I’m going to go inside and do some final touches on the kitchen cabinets. Good to see you, Meg," Dawson said, making a hasty retreat.
Julie sat at the picnic table, her daughter across from her, the ocean waves rolling gently to shore in the background. The sun was starting to set, a beautiful swath of pink wiping across the sky like God had painted it himself.