Relief prickled under my skin, surprisingly potent. “You think so? Because right now it feels completely unhinged.”
Brenna laughed, that soft, musical sound that always felt like coming home. “Well, youarea Coleridge. Unhinged is kind of our baseline.” She came around the counter and leaned back against it beside me. “But there have been some serious sparks and tension between you two.”
“God, now you sound like Braden. We havenotbeen…” I started, then trailed off because, honestly, who was I kidding? “Okay, maybe there’s been some underlying… professional friction.”
“Uh-huh.” Brenna smirked. “Friction. Is that what we’re calling it?” She nudged my shoulder playfully. “Sounds like this… friction between you two was pretty good.”
I sighed, letting some of the bewildered energy settle. “Better than good. Amazing. And he’s just so easy to be around. It’s completely illogical. He’s Eli’s best friend. He’s our business partner now. The timing is objectively terrible. There’s no other way to put it.” I threw my hands up slightly. “And yet, when I’m actuallywithhim, arguing about plumbing or hovering over blueprints, it just… clicks. It feels easy somehow, comfortable, even when we’re disagreeing. Which makes absolutely no sense.”
“Since when does anything involving attraction make logical sense?” Brenna asked wryly. She took another sip ofher tea. “So, it feels easy and comfortable, even though it’s complicated and messy. Sounds about right.”
“Is that supposed to be reassuring?”
“Maybe.” Her smile was warm now, full of genuine affection. “Look, Harper, you’ve had your life locked down tight for years. Finn first, resort second, everything else—especially you—a distant third. Maybe it’s okay for something illogical and messy to feel good for a change?”
“But the complications are real,” I insisted. “Do you want me to recount them again?”
“Okay, okay, breathe.” Brenna held up a hand. “Yes, the complications are real. They always are. I married Hunter! The Markham name alone was practically a declaration of war in our family.” She shuddered theatrically. “You can’t let the complications overshadow the good stuff. And there’s obviously good stuff.”
“Yeah. Plenty.” I smiled, unable to help it. “We’re going on a real date on Friday. Away from the resort.”
Brenna’s eyes lit up. “See? That’s progress.”
“It is nice,” I agreed, a flutter of anticipation mixing with the nerves. “It’s just scary. It’s been so long.”
“Of course it’s scary,” Brenna said gently. “Jumping back in after… well, after everything, it’s always scary. And Chase isn’t exactly low-stakes, given the circumstances.” She paused, her gaze thoughtful. “But, Harper, don’t let thewhat-ifsruin theright now. You like him, don’t you?”
I nodded, unable to deny the warmth spreading through my chest at the thought of his reassuring yet very sexy gaze, his unexpected humor. “Yeah. I really do.”
“And he clearly likes you. So, go on the date. Have fun. See what happens when you’re not covered in sawdust or arguing about copper pipes.” She nudged me again. “Stop trying to plan the next ten years based on one explosive night and a potentially great date.”
Tears I hadn’t expected pricked my eyes, blurring the colorful book covers surrounding us. It wasn’t profound advice, maybe, but it was exactly what I needed—permission to justbein the moment.
“You think it could actually work?” I asked.
“I have no idea,” Brenna admitted with a shrug. “Nobody ever does at the start. But this is Chase. He’s a good guy, Harper. Steady. Kind. Maybe a little too controlled for his own good sometimes, but straight up. And from what you just told me”—she smiled softly—“it seems worth finding out, doesn’t it?”
I pictured his smile, the way his eyes crinkled at the corners, the surprising tenderness he’d shown me after my initial panic. The easy way he was with Finn. Yes, it was worth finding out.
“Okay,” I said, taking a shaky breath and finally returning her smile. “Okay. I’ll stop catastrophizing. For tonight, anyway.”
“That’s my sister.” Brenna gave my arm a squeeze. “Now go figure out what you’re going to wear.”
I felt lighter leaving the bookstore than I had arriving, the anxieties still present but now overshadowed by a burgeoning sense of excitement and curiosity. A real date. With Chase Ashworth. Maybe this ridiculously complicated situation could lead to something wonderful.
