“Beer sounds perfect.” She said the words almost too quickly. His offer was yet another surprise, and she was happy to have a drink with him and prolong their time together. Although he probably just wanted to talk about the festival plans.
“Good. Let’s go.” He closed the workshop doors, and they headed up on his porch, the boards creaking softly under their steps. “Just take a seat. Be right out with the drinks.”
He returned quickly and handed her a bottle of icy cold beer. “Thanks.”
“Oh, did you want a glass? Where are my manners?”
“No, the bottle is fine.”
He sank onto the chair next to her and stretched out his long, tanned legs. A faint dusting of sawdust clung to this shirt, and he absentmindedly swiped at it before taking a swig of his beer.
She took a sip of hers, enjoying the rich, amber liquid as it slid down her throat. “This is so good.”
“This is a local craft beer I pick up when I’m over in Moonbeam Bay. Have you been there? Or over to Belle Island? There’s this little cafe right on the beach that I went to once. Magic Cafe. Great food. Have you explored around the area much?”
“No, just here on the island.” Her gaze drifted out to the expanse of beach before them and the swaying fronds on the palm trees. “And I’m not sure I feel like I’ve seen everything the island has to offer yet. I am planning on going to a play. I’m anxious to see what Tori has done with the theater.”
“I’ve heard a new show is opening. Maybe we should both go.”
“You mean together?” she blurted out in surprise.
A low chuckle rumbled from Connor’s chest. “Yes. Unless you’d prefer to see it alone.”
Heat crept across her cheeks as she stumbled on her response. “No. I mean yes. I mean, sure, let’s go together.” She nervously tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
“I could pick up the tickets. Saturday work for you?” he asked casually, as if the whole thing wasn’t any kind of big deal.
She nodded, still stunned at his offer and not sure exactly what the offer was. Was he thinking it was a date? Had he asked her out? Or was it simply friends heading to a play together?
“Connor, you know what?”
“What?” He stopped mid-sip and looked at her over the top of his beer.
“You’re different than I expected.”
“Different how?”
“Well…” She considered her words carefully, “You were kind of… gruff when I first met you.”
“Megan would say I was rude.” He laughed. “I’ve just been on my own for a while now. Working alone. I’m not much of a people person. It’s just… I do like my solitude.” He shrugged, downplaying the admission.
“Yet you asked me to join you in your workshop tonight. Watch you work.”
He stared at her for a long moment, his forehead wrinkling. “Because… you don’t feel like people. You feel like… a… friend. And you’re easy to be with. Nice to talk to.” His voice was low as if he were revealing something deeply personal. Then he quickly shrugged, as if dismissing his thoughts. “I just felt like having you there with me.”
Her heart fluttered at his unexpected candor. “And I was thrilled to be there. Watching you work was… moving, Connor. Really. You are so talented.”
He held up a hand, a self-deprecating chuckle escaping his lips. “Okay, but can we come to an agreement?”
“Sure.”
“You won’t nag me to show my art like Megan does.” A hint of pleading flickered across his features, revealing a touch of vulnerability that contrasted with his rugged exterior.
She snapped her fingers. “That reminds me. The piece you donated. The doves? It sold. It sold for enough to cover the fireworks.”
His eyes widened, then narrowed. “It did? Who bought it?”
She detected a hint of wariness in his tone. “I don’t know. Beverly said someone came in and saw it. Asked if it was aConnor Dempsey piece of work. Examined it closely. She said they even turned it over to look at the bottom of it. Then he wrote a big check and left.”
