Soft twilight cast long shadows across colorful beds. Some of the flowers had closed for the night while others were only beginning to bloom, sending their intoxicating fragrances through the air.
One of his favorite coping mechanisms when he felt overstimulated was to try describing every real-life scene in his head as he might try to write it. How the dark silhouettes of partygoers moved around the yard like graceful shadows, how the rhythmic crash of waves below mingled with muffled laughter and conversation on the light breeze that rustled through the leaves, how the rich, earthy scent of damp soil and bark mulch mingled with sweet jasmine, spicy carnation, delicate roses.
A sense of tranquility washed over him like those waves against the sand, and he eased down onto a wooden bench overlooking the water.
He was enjoying the taste of salt on the air when he became aware of someone else walking along the path toward him. He felt an instant magnetic pull, as clear as the inexorable rhythm of the tides, when he recognized Rosie in the fading light.
“No fair hiding out,” she said as she approached. “You’re supposed to be out there meeting the neighbors.”
“My threshold for meeting new people was exceeded some time ago. I’m taking a breather, then I’ll probably grab the kids and head home.”
“You’re not enjoying yourself?”
“I am. I like meeting people. Maybe not a few hundred at once. That’s one of the reasons I became an author, so I can spend the day with my imaginary friends.”
“How do you handle book tours? Press appearances? I saw some of the publicity you did when your book was made into a movie. You seemed to have no trouble with that.”
It seemed odd, wrong somehow, to think of Rosie watching him in interviews before he ever knew she existed.
“I can handle anything in small doses. More than that, and I end up exhausted. I have another book tour coming up later this year when the new book comes out. I’m not really looking forward to it.”
They both turned their heads at the sound of children’s loud shrieks and laughter. He spotted Zara, her face bright with happiness as she raced across the lawn, followed quickly by her younger brother.
As usual, his heart ached with love for these two extraordinary little humans.
“Your kids seem to be having fun. I believe they’re playing freeze tag with some of the other kids, organized by my friend Nina’s teenage daughter and her friends.”
“It’s nice that they’ve made a few friends.”
“And you haven’t?”
He made a face. “A few. There’s you.”
Even as he said the words, he had to ask himself if they were true. Were they friends? He wasn’t entirely sure. He only knew that he definitely liked Rosie Lucas. Of all the people he had met in Wood Briar, she was the one who most intrigued him.
He certainly hadn’t dreamed spicy dreams about any other women in town.
Thank heavens.
“I was admiring your garden. It will probably be years before I can enjoy the same kind of lush escape at Stormhaven.”
“The gardens there are in pretty rough shape,” she agreed. “But you can always hire people to help you with them.”
“Do you have any recommendations?”
“Sure. We work with some great landscaping companies on the properties we develop. I’ll come up with the list.”
“I want the one you use,” he said on impulse. “Your yard is gorgeous.”
The sound of her soft laughter rippled through him as if she had caressed his cheek.
“I don’t use anyone. Only myself, I’m afraid.”
He blinked, taking in the neat flower beds, the trimmed hedges, the exquisite trees. If anything, seeing her garden and knowing how much passion she must have poured into it only added to his fascination.
“It’s lovely,” he said truthfully. “I feel more at peace here than I think I have since I came to Wood Briar.”
“Oh,” she exclaimed, a sound of sheer pleasure. “That’s lovely to hear. I’m so glad. I’m sorry I interrupted your moment of zen.”
