“So we have a double failure. Earl will sell this fantastic song to another band, and we still don’t have the refresh Aunt Dahlia wants.”
He hesitated, his gaze intense. “Or you could record it and send it to Ned. Branch out on your own.”
And add another rejection? She shook her head.
Caleb took a step closer. “But we have one big win. At least, I do.”
“I don’t see it.”
He took her hands, his eyes gentling. “I’m looking at the win. I got to see you again, get to know you.”
How sweet. “I’m glad, Caleb.”
“I didn’t honestly expect to succeed as an innkeeper. And that could still go either way. But when I heard you were coming to the island, I figured I’d catch your concert next month and maybe try to say hi at some point during your stay.” He hesitated. “Never dreamed I’d get to spend this much time with you.”
“I’m glad you’re here. You were my hero at the Dove Awards, you know, and I always wanted to thank you.” She gave him a rather shaky-feeling smile. “So, thank you, Caleb.”
“That night changed something in me. I wanted to be there for you, protect you from hateful people like Molly Banks.”
Oh…wasn’t that what Ariel always wanted? Someone to be there, to help her find her place in the world? Someone she trusted to tell her the truth about who she was and what she had…
“Your aunt has an uncanny knack for recognizing talent. If she believes, as I do, that you have what it takes, then you do.”
“She does, but I’m the child she never had. If I suddenly went tone-deaf, she’d say I was singing great harmony and would defend me to the death. So while I trust her heart toward me,and I know she’d never intentionally hurt me, I don’t trust her perception of me as a musician.”
He smiled a slow smile. “Do you trust her ability as a businesswoman?”
“Other than her aversion to merch, yes.”
“And when it comes to you.”
Oh. She’d never thought of it that way.
“But even if you left music behind and never sang another note, you’d continue to bless people. You love your fans, and people trust you because they sense your genuine love for them, even the first time you meet them.”
“If I do, I learned it from Aunt Dahlia.”
Caleb turned to her, took her hand. “I’m glad you’re here. I wouldn’t have made it through these hard times without you. Not only because you have a knack for solving problems either.” His voice dropped to a deep, raspy, delicious near-whisper. “Ariel, I like you. A lot.”
And just like that, he eased closer, then wrapped one arm around her waist and drew her close.
The raindrops pattered down on the grass and the leaves and the bricks, playing their little percussion tune that brought a sense of peace, of contentment. And as she looked into his soft brown eyes, she saw trust and affection and protectiveness. Just as he’d spoken.
So when his gaze fell to her lips and his other hand slid down her back, down the length of her hair, she knew he wanted to kiss her. She leaned in and closed the distance between them, her fingers brushing his cheek and her face tilting up.
It was the moment she’d waited for, dreamed of for years. Now she knew she wanted her first kiss with this man. Unsure what to do, she waited for him to lead, and he took his time, let his gaze roam her face, touched the hair falling over her shoulders.
He smelled of leather and fresh rain, tasted of sugared mint and contentment as he kissed her in the mist, as if his kiss could heal the past and seal the future. And the wind blew and the thunder crashed and they were safe, here together, strengthening each other and present for each other and speaking silent words of comfort and affection?—
Then the door burst open.
Aunt Dahlia. Stepping onto the porch, mouth open, eyes wide. She recovered quickly, pointing at him with a manicured, red-nailed finger. “Caleb Kennedy, I trusted you.”
Ariel let out an audible breath as she stepped from his arms.
And realized nothing would ever be the same again. With Caleb or Aunt Dahlia.
A phone call at five thirty on a Sunday morning was never good news. Especially when Caleb hadn’t fallen asleep until four.
