“Yeah.” She tilted her head to the sky, closed her eyes, and took a deep inhale. After painting murals in each cabin at Camp Luciole this spring and then working in arts and crafts, Avery had far surpassed her normal artistic output for the summer. Her daily sixteen hour shifts behind her, she looked forward to the next two weeks of sleeping late, nestled in the Red House’s birch tree bed. Waking up, with nothing to do but gaze up at the pitched ceiling and plan her day however she pleased.
Miles reached across the armrests and rubbed her forearm.
“You okay?”
“I’m great.” She turned her head and cracked open her eyes, further relaxing into the chair. “I’m appreciating this moment of quiet. It’s been a full throttle summer, and I’m ready to cruise for a while.”
Miles had worked harder than she had. Where he got the energy, she didn’t know. He should be dog tired by now.
“Oh, you don’t fool me.” He turned a page in his book. “I know you have the whole next year planned.”
Avery smiled to herself. Over the last year, she’d learned to let go of her need to always have a plan. When she’d moved to Manhattan,she told herself she was going exploring. She’d taken classes in pottery, wood working, interior design, even a rom-com seminar so she could keep up with Hayes and Anna Catherine’s references. By Thanksgiving, she’d designed a line of wallpaper and fabric. She found a manufacturer in South Carolina and convinced an elite Manhattan design studio to carry her line. Since she couldn’t call it the Peppered Page and she didn’t want her name in her brand, Miles had come up with the name: Paprika Home. Her camp-themed line was doing quite well and after being around toddling Lennox, she had a plethora of ideas for children’s rooms.
Miles traced the webs where her fingers met her hand. “What’s on the schedule for next year?”
“I’ve been thinking about something for a while. I want to spend more time here.”
Miles closed his book. “Here?”
“In Maine,” she said.
A week before camp started, Hayes and Anna Catherine announced they were moving to London for a few months while Anna headlined a play in the West End. Lily and Nate were here all year. With the camp, Miles commuted to and from Portland frequently. Now that they had a successful summer in the books and hoped to offer more sessions next year, he’d mentioned needing to hire year round office staff. Avery loved Maine in summer and wanted a taste of winter.
“Remember when we came up here for Valentine’s Day?” she asked. “You took me ice skating on the lake. I keep thinking about that. It was so cool.”
“I liked what we did next better.” He raised an eyebrow. They’d made love in front of the fire. “I’m always up for more of that.”
He winked.
Avery asked herself how once upon a time, she’d not only resisted that sultry wink, but managed to find it utterly vexing. These days, whenMiles winked, she melted. He knew this and used it to his advantage. And she loved him for it. Avery knew what drove him wild too.
“Yes, I want more of that too.” She ran her finger along her lower lip and watched him lick his own lips. “After you give me lessons.”
“Lessons.” The word hung in midair while he absorbed it. Miles swallowed, a dark flicker in his chestnut eyes. He shifted his lips like he was assessing her suggestion and adjusted his pants.
“Not those kind of lessons,” she giggled. “Teach me to cross-country ski and snowshoe. Maybe we’ll even see a moose.”
She laughed as his face fell flat. Yes, she loved sleeping with him. But Avery also wanted to get outside.
“Just so you know,” he said, “I have never seen a moose while skiing.”
“And you won’t if you don’t get out there. It’s not like a moose will magically appear while you’re banging me either.”
“If I can make you see stars, I can make you see a moose.”
“Now, there’s some big dock energy.” She laughed.
Tabasco barked at the sight of Sam and Casper, out on the lake in their canoe, taking a cruise. Everybody waved to one another and Casper barked in return. They paddled away under a purple sky. It was heartwarming to see Sam happy and healthy.
Miles stood, took out his phone, and snapped a photo of the man and his dog. He picked up the base of his chair, turned it to face hers, sat down, and rested his elbows on his knees. His brow furrowed as he steepled his fingers. A sign he was considering her seriously.
“Back to this Maine thing. I’m confused. Are you asking to move here? Or visit more often?”
Avery bit her lip and met his gaze. He was so intently focused on her, she couldn’t read his emotion. And she didn’t know what she wanted. She’d never lived in Maine and the winters seemed long.
“I don’t know,” she said. “I’m trying this out. You have experience with winter here. Is this some pipe dream that ends with us snowed inand driving one another crazy? I don’t know if I would like it.”
“We don’t have to move here. One option is to spend more time here this coming fall and winter.” His eyes were brightening. “You can get your feet wet. Well, hopefully not. It’ll be cold and you’ll want dry feet. That’s what Bean boots are for. We can test it out. See how we like it. And if we don’t, call it quits with little investment.”
