“It has.” Aidan shrugged, ducking his head against the bite of wind. “Usually they rented it out during the summer season. The only reason they lived there full-time was because you loved it so much.”
No wonder his father never had any kind of attachment to the beach house. He’d never lived there. It held no meaning for him.
“So,” Brock ventured, choosing his words carefully. “We agree the beach house will be used as a wedding venue?”
“On one condition,” Aidan countered.
Awareness prickled down Brock’s spine. Maybe things weren’t as good between them as he had hoped. “What’s that?”
He shoved his silver-touched auburn hair back from his face. “You lend me Juliette so she can design the interior of the office buildings over on Shoreline Drive.”
“I thought those were empty.”
“Not anymore.” Aidan grinned. “I’m moving my company here. I’ve missed out on so much already. I don’t want to miss anything else.”
Brock didn’t know what to say. This was the most time he’d spent with his father in the history of, well, ever. To have him here permanently would be…great. It would be more than great.
“That is,” Aidan edged, his voice hushed with expectation, “if you think there will be space for me.”
“There will always be space for you here.” Brock surprised them both by hugging his dad. “And it’s Kelly.”
Aidan pulled back. “What?”
“You can call me Kelly.”
His father’s eyes filled for a quick moment, and he hastily blinked the unshed tears away. Clearing his throat, he shoved his hands back into the pockets of his coat. “Speaking of Juliette, where is she?”
“Over there with her sisters.” Brock nodded toward the opposite side of the bonfire. The hour was growing late, and the Mystic Cove locals were gradually leaving the beach to return to their lives. “Maybe I should go talk to her.”
“Maybe you should.” Aidan’s smile was broad and knowing. “I’ll see you around…Kelly.”
Brock returned the smile. “Bye, Dad.”
Finally, he made his way over to Juliette.
The corners of her dark plum lips lifted when she saw him, and her breath puffed out in front of her on a sigh. “Hi.”
“Hey, Jules.” He nodded toward the twins. “Adrienne. Viv.”
Vivianne rolled her eyes, then looped her arm through her sister’s, tugging gently. “Come on, Adrienne.” She dragged out her name. “We’re obviously not wanted here.”
Adrienne laughed, and Vivianne stuck out her tongue. Then the two of them trudged through the sand to where the beach spilled into a gravel parking lot.
“Thanks for waiting.” He reached out, wrapped his hands around her waist, then pulled her close. Warmth radiated from her into him as she molded against him, as her body fit so perfectly in his arms. “I feel like I haven’t seen you since?—”
“It’s okay.” Her eyes looked like stardust in the firelight, and when she ran her thumb along the scruff of his jaw, all he wanted to do was kiss her. “It’s been a long week.”
“It has,” he agreed.
She wound her arms around his neck and nuzzled into him. He inhaled the smell of her, flowers, something sweet, and the sea. He relished the feel of her—familiar, like an old love song.Comfortable, like the softest blanket. But most importantly, right. She feltright.
“I’m sorry I’ve been so distant these past few days,” she began, her chilled fingers skimming the back of his neck.
Brock held his breath.
“I wanted to give you space.” She looked up at him, and he searched her starlit eyes. “And I may have needed a little bit of time to process everything that happened between us.”
He didn’t answer her.
