CHAPTER 11
Days later, Seb stood in the center of his office, the silence deafening. He’d gone into lockdown to prevent any further glitches with the merger. Teams of people were counting on them. He let Willow speak for him on the lighthouse issue and let her navigate Marv’s persistent calls as well.
Despite Digby alternating between cheery and chill and getting Seb up from the desk at regular intervals, Seb was lonely. He missed Holly and so far, he hadn’t had much time to sort out how to make it up to her. She deserved the world and he wanted to give it to her.
Assuming she agreed to see him.
He hadn’t meant to hurt her. It wasn’t as if he’d been ignorant of how much transparency mattered to her. Letting her down tarnished every good thing he’d accomplished in recent days.
“How do we fix it?” he asked the dog.
Digby stretched and then popped to his feet, eyes bright.
“I blew it, Digby.” Seb sat down on the floor, the dog climbing into his lap. “Got any suggestions?”
The dog licked his chin, making Seb chuckle. He’d won the merger. He had secured the estate. He had even, in his own convoluted way, protected the lighthouse. But somehow, he’d lost his way. Lost the guide who made him feel like he was finally home.
Home. That was the key.
He fished his phone from his pocket and called the one person on this side of the Atlantic who might be able to help him fix a disaster of his own making. “Lucy?” he said when the singer picked up. “I need a favor. A big one. It involves the Brookwell music festival.”
Across town,Holly sat in theBugleoffice, reading through Vince’s interview and feature on Seb. Mr. Sterling. First names were too much for Holly at this point. She’d met a fascinating man who kissed like her sweetest dream come true.
But she’d let all the extra sweep her away and dilute the focus she prized above all.
“This is excellent,” she said to her co-editor. “Even-handed and clear.”
“Thanks,” Vince said. “Helps that he wasn’t a bad guy.”
“I’m sure.” She was miserable with herself. Time and again she’d wanted to go to Seb. Not to apologize exactly. But something close to it. She’d fallen for him. Hard. Before she’d really gotten to know him. She’d let a few soft details—sitting the dog for his deployed sister and losing his parents—sway her entire outlook. She’d let those details break down her own defenses.
And now… what? She had yet to find an answer.
“Hey.” Vince waited for her to meet his gaze. “Seb was never the bad guy. You didn’t make a mistake.”
She only smiled. The right words just weren’t there.
Her mind wandered back to the day they’d met. Watching Seb fix the fence. Taking his boat to Parker’s. The way his eyes had lit up at his first bite of apple strudel. The feel of his lips against hers, the way she’d felt safe and secure in his arms.
Vince tapped her shoulder. “Holl! Look.”
She’d missed the notification and it took her a moment to understand the document on his screen. She scanned the source information at the top of the email from the town council. Seb had delivered on his promise. Brookwell now had full control of the lighthouse and surrounding acreage. When Vince clicked back to the email, there was no more doubt.The site shall remain open to the public in perpetuity, under the stewardship of the Brookwell Island town council. To celebrate, please join us at the lighthouse for a special concert tomorrow night featuring Wish Blender.
Holly stared at the screen through a sudden sheen of tears. Her heart soared, urging her to accept the possibilities. Wish Blender could only be an apology from Seb. For her. As a fan, Holly knew Wish Blender was touring in the Midwest right now. But they were coming here at a moment’s notice? She couldn’t recall anyone calling in a favor of that magnitude for her. Of all the things that illustrated his influence and intention, this was the most astounding.
“You’re going, right?”
She’d forgotten about Vince. “Yes.” But she wasn’t thinking of the concert. “I’ll see you there.” She grabbed her bag and darted away.
Seb had extended an olive branch and she wasn’t about to waste another minute before accepting it.
CHAPTER 12
The drive to the Sterling estate felt like the longest of her life. Standing at the gate, her breath was ragged with a desperate need to see Seb. She pressed the button, but the gates remained closed. Had she blown it? Was it too late?
She wouldn’t blame him if he’d given up on her. She’d been awful, the way she’d jumped to doubting him.
In her pocket, her phone chimed with a text. She was surprised to see Scarlett’s number, but Holly opened the message immediately. “He looks lonely” was the message under a photo of Seb and Digby on a walk near the lighthouse.
