“You’re sure about this?” Ava’s voice strained with emotion, but she had to be sure. She had to give him a final out, because after this, she wouldn’t be able to let him go again. Him or Avery. The family she desperately wanted.
“More sure than anything.”
A flush crawled up her chest, and she let her doubt fall away. She dropped the folder to the ground, and Owen closed the gap betweenthem, banding a strong arm around her back to haul her against his body. The loon alarm pushed into her back, but she didn’t care about the discomfort. He ran a finger down the side of her face, and she shivered in response, leaning closer to him.
A few silent tears spilled from the corners of her eyes, but she smiled widely at him. “I love you too, Owen. I love you, and I never stopped.”
The words barely left her lips before he descended on her, kissing her breathless. She allowed her hands to roam freely, her nails raking up his neck to fist his hair. When they broke apart, she had only one question left.
“Why did you bring the loon alarm?”
He held it between them and caught her eyes.
“I thought it deserved a new home at the bed-and-breakfast. A tribute to your dad. What do you think?”
“It’s perfect.”
Chapter 37
The Homecoming
Ava hefted up the box of her belongings that she’d gathered from her office. She’d done enough packing to last a lifetime over the summer, but this time felt different. This time, she was excited to clear her space and move on.
She balanced the box on her hip and walked to her manager’s office next door. Ava knocked on the ajar door and walked into Jacqueline’s office.
Jacqueline paused her typing at Ava’s entry. She pushed the glasses on the tip of her nose into her thick brown hair, which was already messy from how much she’d been running her hands through it that day. A tiny sliver of guilt pricked Ava. She was leaving her boss in a bind.
“Is that everything, then?”
Ava placed the box down on a chair. “That’s everything,” Ava said.
Jacqueline lifted a hand to run it through her hair, knocking her glasses off. They clattered on her messy desk. “And you’re sure this is what you want to do?”
“Positive,” Ava said. She approached Jacqueline’s desk. “Chris is an excellent replacement. He’s been filling in for my role all summer with no hiccups.”
Jacqueline heaved a sigh like Ava leaving was the biggest inconvenience in the world, but her green eyes twinkled with amusement, letting her know it was more for show. “Chris is fine, but he’s not you. He’s too afraid to push back, unlike you.”
“He’ll learn. Besides, we planned for this when I applied for the board position. It’s not like my leaving is coming out of nowhere.”
Jacqueline waved her off. “I know, I know.”
Jacqueline stood from the desk and checked her watch. “I’ll walk you out.” She picked up Ava’s box of things.
“I can carry it,” Ava protested.
“But now you don’t have to. Come on.”
Ava followed behind Jacqueline.
As Ava and Jacqueline entered the lobby, a voice stopped them.
“Ava, hope you’re not leaving because of me. I’m sure Jacqueline would give you your job back; you quit prematurely.”
Ava turned around to face Austin Whitlock. The same guy she’d interned with all those years ago, and who she was up against for the board member position.
“Austin. I’m not leaving because of you, but thank you for the concern,” she said with a fake smile.
“Guess you didn’t have what it takes to be a board member. Not everyone’s cut out for the task,” he continued.
