“Almost as if they were meant to be together,” Maxi said, her eyes softening as she looked up at him.
“Yes, it is.” James took her hand. “Now show me the rest of the cottage and your artwork. I think I’m going to be spending a lot of time here.”
Maxi’s heart was lighter than it had been in years. But she also felt bad. That day in the street when she’d thought James had avoided her had all been because he was getting her a precious gift.
He should have been mad at her, but here he was, smiling and holding out his hand.
She took it and stood. Keeping her hand firmly in his, she gestured around the cottage. “It’s not big, but it works for a nice studio. As you can see, it’s not fancy either.”
“Who needs something fancy with that view?” James pointed at the beach.
“I know, right?” They had a great view from their house on the cliff, but there was something about being right on the beach and being able to hear the sound of the waves and smell the sea. She pulled him toward the slider and then out onto the patio. “This is my favorite part.”
“I can see why.” James’s gaze drifted from the ocean to the easel setup in the corner. “Is this where you paint?”
Maxi nodded. “I’m going to start a new one tomorrow.”
“Excellent. The ones you had at the gallery were amazing. I’m happy for you.”
“Really?” Maxi was seeing a new James. He’d always been generous with money and compliments, but he’d never really acknowledged her creative side.
Of course, that might have been because she’d never talked about it. After all, it was she who had abandoned painting, so she couldn’t really blame him. She could sense he really was proud and that he wanted her to continue. He wanted to be a part of it. She wondered, though... how far would he go to be a part of her new life?
“I was thinking... maybe later on we could have a drink at the Purple Blueberry,” Maxi said shyly.
James’s brows rose. “Okay, if that’s what you’d like. The place seemed... interesting.”
“You don’t have to go there if it makes you uncomfortable.”
“Uncomfortable? I don’t know if I’d say that. It’s just not the sort of place I’m used to. But a wise woman told me I have to get out of my comfort zone, so I’d be happy to go.”
“A wise woman?”
“Yeah. Sally.”
Maxi laughed. “Well, she does like to dole out advice.”
“And sometimes it is wise.” James pulled her into his arms and kissed her. “She helped me see that I’d become complacent in our relationship. Took you for granted. That’s not going to happen anymore.”
“Good. Me either.”
James looked thoughtful. “You know, getting to know the artsy side of town might not be such a bad idea. Maybe I should institute a lending program for artists down at the bank.”
At least James hadn’t changed totally. He was still thinking of business, but this time he was mixing it with pleasure. James loved business, and she didn’t want him to push that aside for her, but now it seemed like maybe they could both have what they wanted. She could still have James and not lose herself in the process.
One week later...
Andie put the inventory list beside Gloria Farnsworth's silver box on the counter of the antique store. She’d paid nine hundred for the box. That was top dollar, and she'd be lucky to make any profit on it, but the look on Gloria's face when she’d realized the extra money would allow her to purchase horse-riding lessons along with the admission to 4-H camp for her granddaughter was worth it.
The grandfather clock in the corner chimed the hour. Almost time to meet Jane, Claire, and Maxi at Sandcastles for morning coffee. She’d made a dent in the inventory this past week, cataloguing everything in the shop and entering it into her computer. She’d dusted and polished so that everything was in top shape for her opening next week.
The apartment upstairs, on the other hand, still needed work. And furniture. But she could work on all that later. It had been an adjustment moving out of Tides, but with bookings up, she wanted the room to be empty so they could rent it out.
She grabbed the old skeleton key that locked the front door, stepped outside, then turned and slipped the key into the lock. It was still warm, but the air had that brisk undertone that signaled fall was right around the corner. The leaves were still green, but she pictured how pretty they would be when the tall oaks and maples that lined the street started to turn color.
“Well, hello, stranger.” The familiar deep baritone sent her pulse skittering.
Shane Flannery leaned in the doorway of the beauty salon next door. His long legs were crossed, T-shirt stretched across his broad chest.
