“That’s good news, isn’t it?”
“I wish I could say it is, but there’s still a long way to go before he’s convicted of tax evasion.”
Barbara opened the dishwasher.“After that happens, will you stay here or move back to New York?”
“I’m not sure.”
The sincerity in Theo’s gaze made her heart pound.“Sapphire Bay has a lot to offer.”
“Including a marketing expert who loves spreadsheets?”
Barbara placed the cups in the dishwasher and sighed.“Only for a few more months.”
“That’s what worries me.”Theo gently pushed a strand of hair away from her face.“I enjoy your company and want to spend more time with you, but neither of us knows where we’ll be living in six months.”
“Does it matter?”
“It could.”
Barbara knew he was saying exactly what she should be thinking, but she wanted to know if they could be more than friends.“What if we forget about the future and enjoy the time we have together?”
Theo’s eyebrows rose.“Where’s the woman who plans her life a year in advance?”
“She moved to Sapphire Bay and remembered what it’s like to relax.”Taking a step closer, she held onto his T-shirt.“Is it okay if I kiss you?”
“You don’t have to ask.”
When their mouths touched, his lips softened, welcoming her closer.She savored each gentle nudge of his body against hers.She didn’t want this moment to end, didn’t want to think about the future.
Then a door banged open and they jumped apart.
“Oops.Sorry.”Penny cleared her throat.“I’m only passing through.Carry on.”
Barbara lifted her hand to her mouth.When she looked at Theo, she sighed.“You know what this means, don’t you?”
“In five minutes, everyone in your family will know we kissed each other?”
“How do you feel about that?”
Theo smiled and pulled her into his arms.“Really good.Do you want to try again?”
With a grin, she kissed his cheek.“Better?”
“Almost.”
And, with a deep sigh, she showed him just how better kissing each other could be.
THE FOLLOWING DAY,Theo turned on the lights in one of the old steamboat museum’s storage rooms.“How long has the furniture been here?”
Pastor John rested his hands on his hips.“From what I’ve been told, at least forty years.We tried looking for the owners, but we couldn’t find them.Does Barbara know where we are?”
Theo nodded.“She’ll check these rooms when she sees we’re not in the reception area.”When he’d told Barbara he was looking at the furniture today, she’d wanted to help.He didn’t know what they’d find, but he was just as excited as she was.
He scanned the room, amazed that so many pieces of furniture had been left here.From tables and chairs, to bookcases and desks, everything had been carefully packed away, waiting for the owners to return.
He pulled a rolled tube of paper out of a box.“This looks like a sheet of music for a pianola.”
“I’m impressed.Most people wouldn’t have recognized it.”
