“It has. We’re talking more often, trying to work it out.” She opened her mouth as if she had more to say, but she closed it again.
Maddy offered a smile. “That’s hopeful. I’m glad for you. I always thought you and Ethan were good together.”
“I do love him. And I’ve missed him so much. But I’ve been too afraid to be vulnerable with him. I don’t know if we’ll be able to work things out, but I’m going to try. It’s worth the potential disappointment.”
Maddy let the words sink in. They reflected her own situation with Connor, her own fears. Was it worth it? Emma seemed awfully sure, despite the pain she’d endured.
“Speaking of romantic relationships,” Emma said after they’d painted in silence a few minutes. “Have you heard from our friendly neighborhood hottie since yesterday?”
“Sure haven’t.”
She was a little surprised Connor hadn’t called or texted. Their time on the beach had been foremost in her thoughts the past twenty-four hours. She couldn’t get the image of that crooked grin, those steady gray eyes, out of her mind.
But maybe he’d only been caught up in the moment. Maybe he regretted pressing her about dating him. Maybe his own fears had kicked in. He had even more reason to be cautious than she did.
“What are you going to tell him? Do you want to go out with him?”
Maddy gave a rueful laugh. “Have you met him? Of course I want to go out with him.”
“And yet I sense an unspokenbutbehind that last word.”
Maddy used the tip of her brush to smooth out a drip of paint on the arm of the chair. Nick had tried to call again this morning. She’d recognized the number on the caller ID and hadn’t answered. He’d left a message asking her to return his call, but she deleted it. She used to love listening to him talk. He had a faint Boston accent and spoke with such passion. Now she only heard his arrogance.
“If you’re not careful,” Emma said, “fear can rob you of the most wonderful gifts life has to offer. I’m not saying that’s Connor, necessarily. But it could be. You won’t know until you give it a chance.”
Emma made a lot of sense. “I’m praying about that. But it’s easier said than done.”
“Oh, believe me, sister. This I know.”
“Got an extra paintbrush?” The baritone voice startled Maddy.
Connor was rounding the deck, that infectious smile widening his lips.
Maddy hoped he hadn’t heard their conversation. There was no indication from his expression that he had.
“Know what?” Emma popped to her feet. “You can have mine. I just remembered a, um, creak in the stairs that needs immediate repair.”
“You leave those creaks be.” Maddy impaled Emma with a look, but her sister was too busy handing her paintbrush to Connor to notice.
He wore a pair of khakis and a stained blue Sullivan’s Marina T-shirt that stretched taut over his broad shoulders and around his biceps.
Once Emma disappeared inside, Connor took her place on the deck and gave her that roguish grin. “Well, that worked out rather nicely.”
“What?” She quirked a brow. “Your devious plan to get me alone?”
“Is it devious? Can’t a guy just want to flirt in private?”
She slid him a look. “I thought you came to lend a hand.”
“I’m an efficient guy. I can do both at once.”
“I have no doubt.” She thought he could handle a good deal more than that with those soulful eyes and charming grin. Maybe he wasn’t the player she’d thought him to be, but he probably did have all the local women in a tizzy.
He dipped his brush and went to work. “So how was your day, Maddy? Did you get a lot done around here? I noticed the flower beds. They look great.”
“Changing the subject?”
“Trying to, if you’d just let me.”
