Sweet Beginnings

by Melissa McClone

  A pleased smile curved Zoe’s lips. “That’s so nice of her.”

  Nice didn’t begin to describe Jenny Hanford and her endless amount of compassion. Since he’d apologized, she’d asked him to meet her one morning a week at the cupcake shop where Missy worked… much to the surprise, or perhaps delight, of the town gossips. Jenny was becoming his closest ally outside his family, and she’d gone a step farther by inviting him to the wedding.

  “Jenny would have delivered this herself, but she was afraid she might forget to pack it.”

  “Weddings do that to a person, no matter if it’s a large gathering or a more intimate affair.” Zoe’s gaze traveled from the gift bag to Josh before handing him the folder and keys. “You’re staying in the cherry-red cottage.”

  “My brother made the reservation. I wasn’t sure what he booked.” He reached for his wallet. “I’ll give you a credit card.”

  She glanced at her computer screen. “It’s been taken care of.”

  Leave it to his brother. Sam wouldn’t mention this until he wanted something—say the last slice of their mother’s homemade chocolate silk pie.

  As the image of one of their loud family dinners formed in Josh’s mind, he nearly laughed. Those meals were one of the better things about being back in Berry Lake. “Thanks.”

  “Would you like to know a little bit about Indigo Bay Cottages?” Zoe asked.

  “That would be great.”

  “This is the guest services building. If you need anything during your stay, let us know by dropping in or using your room phone. We have maps and info about sightseeing in town and the general vicinity. We’re happy to make dinner reservations or have food delivered.”

  This was his first and likely only vacation this year—one he’d never expected to be taking on his own. He wasn’t sure what he wanted to do, but going out to a restaurant by himself wasn’t on his list. Delivery would be the best option.

  “Are there menus in the cottage?” he asked.

  “You’ll find a binder with the info you need in the kitchen.” Zoe’s smile never wavered. “Jenny and Dare’s wedding ceremony will be on the beach out front on Friday afternoon. A dinner reception will follow in the multipurpose room across the courtyard.”

  “Convenient.”

  “Vacations should be,” Zoe said in a matter-of-fact tone. “The cottage interiors are decorated to match the exterior paint color. Each has a sitting area and kitchen. The size depends on the floor plan. Yours is one of our most popular two-bedroom cottages with incredible views and a great location. You’re a short walk to Main Street and all Indigo Bay has to offer.”

  “Sounds great.” Except one bedroom wouldn’t be used. Sam’s vacation request to the police department where he worked had been denied. “I’m on my own, though. My brother couldn’t make it.”

  “If you get lonely, Indigo Bay is full of friendly faces who are always happy to chat with visitors.”

  “Thanks.”

  He hoped his brother not being here was the only glitch in his plan to stay until Sunday. So what if this was the longest he’d been on his own since entering rehab?

  Josh would make the most of this trip. He would prove to his family and to himself that he could handle this time away. Otherwise, he would never get on with his life.

  Almost eleven months of sobriety. An uneventful cross-country flight. A place where only die-hard football fans might know about his troubles.

  Indigo Bay sounded like the perfect getaway. His sponsor had also given him a list of meeting times in the area in case he needed extra support. Rudy did all he could to support Josh and said to call whenever, whether things were going good or bad. What could go wrong?

  “Do you have any questions for me?” Zoe asked in a pleasant customer-service tone.

  Josh remembered the other gift bag. “Jenny sent something for the artist who made the wedding favors.”

  “That’s Hope Ryan, my assistant. She’s working in the multipurpose room if you want to give it to her now.”

  “I would.”

  Zoe pointed to her right. “Go out the side door and across the courtyard. You can’t miss it.”

  “Thanks.”

  He headed outside, and then through a pair of double glass doors. Large vertical painted panels hung on the wall facing him. The landscapes with dunes, grass, and the ocean in the background made him feel as if he were standing on the sand, not inside on a hardwood floor. Incredible artwork.

  To his left, a blonde stood near the top rung on a ladder. Jean shorts showed off long, lean legs. Her pink t-shirt inched up at the back, giving a glimpse of smooth, honey-colored skin. She stretched on her tiptoes to attach the top of a panel to a clip.

  That looked sketchy.

  The ladder shifted.

  Josh ran toward her. “Be careful.”

  She swayed, arms sticking out as if trying to balance herself, but the ladder tipped over. The woman fell, limbs flailing.

  He stepped forward to break her fall. Somehow, she landed in his arms. The breath he’d been holding rushed out.

  “I’ve got you.” He stayed upright without dropping the gift bag, folder, or keys. Then again, he’d spent over half his life making sure he held onto the football no matter who was about to tackle him.

  Catching her was unexpected. Not unenjoyable. She didn’t weigh much, was soft in the right places, and smelled like strawberries.

  His pulse quickened. Something that hadn’t happened with a woman in months. He wasn’t in any hurry to let go of her. At least until she shifted positions, wiggling as if she wanted down.

  Yeah, this was more awkward for her than him.

  Josh placed her on her feet but kept his hands on her waist to make sure she was steady. She was tall. Around five-nine to his six-three.

  “Are you okay?” he asked.

  Her cheeks a bright pink, she nodded.

  She was thin, not the healthy kind. If his mom were here, she’d make the woman eat a meal and two desserts. “You sure?”

  “Yes.”

  The woman, who he assumed to be the artist, raised her chin, letting him see her hazel-colored eyes—more green than brown with gold flecks. Her pretty face was makeup free, but her clear skin, high cheekbones, and full lower lip didn’t need anything extra.

  “Thanks for catching me,” she said, almost breathless.

  “Glad I was around.” She was attractive in a girl-next-door kind of way. He’d always preferred women with perfect makeup and designer clothes… camera ready was the term he used. “The floor might have hurt.”

  Her gaze dropped to the hardwood before returning to his. “I hope I didn’t hurt you.”

  “You didn’t.” Linemen hit harder. Josh was standing too close for strangers, so he stepped back. “Are you Hope, the one making Jenny’s wedding favors?”

  “I am. “Hope’s cheeks turned redder. “Are you the groom? I mean, Dare?”

  “No, I’m Josh Cooper, a friend of Jenny’s from her hometown.” He felt comfortable calling himself a friend after the times they’d spent together over the past month. Holding up the gift bag, he said, “She wanted you to have this.”

  “That’s so thoughtful.” Hope sounded touched, a shy smile gracing her lips as she took the gift. “Jenny sounded so sweet when we spoke on the phone.”

  “She is.”

  As Hope peeked inside the bag, a lock of hair fell across her face. Josh fought the urge to push the strands behind her ear to see her face better.

  What was going on? He wasn’t interested in a vacation romance. Even if he were, he was in recovery. No dating for twelve months. He’d heard that during his stay in rehab, at the sober house, and in therapy.

  His interest, if he wanted to call it that, had to be due to holding her so closely, intimately. He was male, and he was missing physical contact. Something he’d had plenty of before rehab. When he’d been drinking—okay, while he’d been playing football, too—there’d been a revolving door of
women coming in and out of his life. For months, there’d been none.

  “Thanks for delivering this.”

  Hope’s words jolted him back to reality. “Did you paint the panels?”

  “Yes.”

  Her satisfied smile zinged through him like a pinball, bouncing off parts and lighting up his insides. Not pretty—beautiful. He gulped.

  His reaction was unexpected and unwelcome. Maybe he should call Rudy or Dr. Kettering to see what they had to say about his attraction to Hope. Granted, looking was different than touching. On purpose touching. Catching her didn’t count, but Josh didn’t want to make any mistakes. Not when he’d come so far.

  Hope studied the opposite wall where more panels hung. “My boss, Zoe, wants the room to look less multipurpose-ish for social events, starting with this weekend’s wedding.”

  “You succeeded.” Thankful to have something else to look at other than Hope, he took in the various panels. Each fit together as if part of a panorama. “You’ve brought the outside in.”

  “That was the plan.”

  “It’s perfect.” Josh was far from an art expert, but he’d been to galleries and recognized talent, even if the panels weren’t typical canvases or tapestries. “You’re good at what you do.”

  She kept her gaze lowered. “Thanks.”

  He waited for her to say more—the creative types he’d met might be introverts, but once their art was mentioned they lit up and wanted to talk. Hope, however, didn’t. That intrigued him. Was she shy or embarrassed about winding up in his arms?

  “You’re welcome,” he said finally.

  She wiped her palms over her shorts. “I better get back to work.”

  No way was she hanging that panel by herself. If he hadn’t caught her, she could have broken a bone or hit her head. He didn’t mind putting off his shower.

  Josh picked up the ladder. “Want help?”

  * * *

  Help? Hope’s heart beat triple-time. No doubt from the shock of falling and being caught by a stranger.

  A tall, handsome stranger with thick brown hair named Josh. His chiseled cheekbones, straight nose, full lips, and stunning blue eyes fit together as if created by a master painter. He had a body that would cause a sculptor to drool.

  Her, too.

  He must work out. Physiques like his didn’t just happen. His navy polo shirt stretched across his wide shoulders, chest, and muscular arms. Not bulky body-builder muscles. His were leaner. Faded, well-worn jeans showed off his trim waist, flat abs, and clung to his thighs.

  Stop staring at him.

  Hope had been burned by one gorgeous guy who’d vowed to love and cherish her forever. Getting distracted by another man with a pretty face and killer body was stupid. The artist in her must be captivated by the aesthetic beauty of him. Nothing more.

  She raised her gaze to his face.

  Amusement glinted in his blue eyes.

  Busted. Hope bit her cheek. He’d caught her checking him out, but he had no idea she wasn’t interested in him that way. She’d rather go on a liquid diet of green and orange vegetables than date again.

  Josh held onto the ladder. “I’ll help you.”

  The last thing Hope wanted was his help. She wanted to hear him say goodbye before he walked out the door. If he was here for the wedding, however, he was likely staying at the cottages. Dallas, the resort’s owner, and Zoe, her boss, took customer service seriously. Hope needed to be polite and not offend Josh. Otherwise, she might get in trouble or worse… lose her job.

  “Thanks for the offer, but you should spend your time exploring this beautiful town.” She kept her tone steady, her breathing even, and her gaze on the panel hanging haphazardly by one large clip. “I hung the other panels, and I only have two left to do.”

  “You did a fine job.”

  His rich voice washed over her like melted butter. Awareness thrummed through her. She opened her mouth to speak, but the words remained lodged in her dry throat.

  What was happening to her? The last time she’d felt this way was when she met Adam at an exhibit. The heady rush had led to a living nightmare that still haunted her.

  Never again.

  She would remind herself that until the words sank in.

  Her heart had no other purpose than keeping her blood pumping. Loving another man, even liking or being attracted to one, wasn’t allowed. Okay, maybe that was a bit extreme, but she’d removed herself from the dating scene—permanently.

  Time to say goodbye to Mr. Josh Cooper. A smile would soften her words. “Again, thank you, but I’m sure you—”

  “I don’t feel right leaving you to do this on your own.” His concern didn’t bother her, but the male interest in his gaze made her uneasy. “If you fall again—”

  “I’ll be more careful.” He’d interrupted her, so she didn’t mind doing that to him. “I’m sure you have something better to do.”

  “Not really.” A charming grin lit up his face, turning her insides to goo. “I arrived in Indigo Bay only a few minutes ago.”

  “Welcome to town.” She tried to sound cheery. Maybe she could distract him, get him to leave. “I hope you enjoy your stay.”

  “It seems like a fun place to visit.”

  “If you like the beach and small towns, it is.”

  “I do.” His gaze traveled from the top of her head to her canvas slip-ons. “Do you?”

  Hope got the feeling he was teasing. Or flirting. That annoyed her. “Of course. I grew up here.”

  “And you’re still here?”

  She’d never planned to stay in Indigo Bay forever. Her goals had been too big for the small coastal town. Now that she was back, she often felt stuck, but this was home, and she was determined to make the best of her situation. Besides, where else would she go? But Josh didn’t need to know all that.

  Say as little as possible. “Lifer after a few years away.”

  That made him laugh. “I have an idea. I’ll hold the ladder steady while you climb.”

  He wasn’t letting this go. She blew out a breath. “I’m fine on my own.”

  “The other option is I ask Zoe to help you on my way out.” His casual tone belied his serious gaze. “Which will it be?”

  Neither option appealed to Hope. She didn’t want to disturb her boss, nor did she want to fall again. If she got hurt, Hope would be in trouble. Especially with a long drive to Nashville tomorrow. Though being around Josh any longer might open herself up to a different kind of trouble.

  She wet her dry lips. If she did this quick… “Hold the ladder, and I’ll climb.”

  He repositioned the ladder near the wall. “Ready when you are.”

  She wasn’t ready for this…

  For him.

  But the panels had to be hung before she left town in the morning.

  With a breath to steady her nerves, she climbed the ladder. One rung, two, three.

  “You don’t need to go all the way to the top,” he cautioned.

  His concern was clear, but so was his arrogant stance and swagger when he moved. Once she finished with the panels, she would avoid the man.

  “I’ve done this before.” She didn’t need someone else telling her what to do. Von was enough. Speaking of which, her brother wouldn’t be happy if he found out she’d climbed with no one else around. A good thing he’d never find out.

  As she went up the rungs, the ladder didn’t sway as it did the last time. Must be Josh. His arms and legs looked strong. Not many guys could catch someone without stumbling or falling themselves.

  Stop thinking about him.

  She hooked the second clip to the fabric panel she’d been hanging when she fell. The tulle, lights, and garland would hide the hardware holding everything in place, but the florist was handling that part.

  “Finished.” Hope climbed off the ladder. Pointing to the space where the next one would go, she said, “I’ll get the final panel in place now.”

  The piece lay on the floor. She’d h
ad to roll the panels to transport them in her car. She was hanging them today to make sure they’d lay flat against the wall by Friday.

  Josh repositioned the ladder before grabbing the end of the panel. “You don’t need to drag it yourself when there are two of us here.”

  His eagerness to help should have surprised her, but didn’t, given him holding the ladder and dropping off the gift bag. Still, she had to ask, “Were you a Boy Scout when you were younger?”

  He grinned. “No, I was too into sports, but my brother made it all the way to Eagle Scout.”

  “Mine, too.” Josh being an athlete made sense given how fit he appeared. Together, they carried the panel to the ladder. “Ready?”

  “Wait.”

  As if transporting a precious piece of art, he gently placed his end of the panel on the ground and straightened the piece to remove the creases.

  His care touched her heart. Well, her artist heart. Few understood what the acrylic-painted panels meant to her. This attractive stranger didn’t, but he’d still treated the pieces with respect. That eased some of her frustration with him but didn’t change the fact she wanted him out of here ASAP.

  He returned to the ladder, holding it steady by gripping the sides. “Now, you’re good to climb.”

  “Thanks.” She wanted to be upset with him for forcing her to accept his help, but his actions made her feel cared for. A way only Von and Paula had made her feel. They’d watched out for Hope since she’d been back in Indigo Bay. Feeling this way was disconcerting given she knew nothing about Josh except his name and that he was a friend of the bride.

  “You okay?” he asked.

  Oh, no. How long had she been lost in her thoughts?

  “Fine.” She arranged the panel in front of the ladder, maneuvering to climb while lifting it.

  “Stop.” Josh sounded alarmed. “You’re not holding onto the ladder.”

  “I have to hold the panel.”

  “I’ll pass it up to you when you get toward the top.”

  She hadn’t thought of that, but she was used to doing things on her own. “Sounds safer.”

  His smile widened. “Much safer.”