by Kay Correll
Did she see disappointment in the depths of those eyes of his? She gave him a weak smile.
“That makes sense to go back today.”
“Okay, then. I’ll give the pilot a call and head back home today.”
“Good.” Gary nodded. “Now, I’m headed off with Lillian to help with preparing for the storm. Something about a million hurricane shutters to put up.”
Lillian and Gary walked away, and Zoe looked at Mason. “That’s good that you’ll get out before the storm.”
“I guess. I’m sorry about today though. I was looking forward to spending it with you.”
“Me, too.” Really looking forward to it. But then, this moment had to come eventually, didn’t it? Their lives were on opposite sides of the country.
They finished their meal and headed to the lobby as she counted her seconds with him.
Which. Was. Silly.
“I’m going to head up and pack. You going to be around in about twenty minutes?”
“Yes.”
“Let me pack and I’ll meet you back here in the lobby. I’d like to say goodbye before I head out.”
She nodded and watched him hurry up the stairs to his room. She went to stand by the window. Hard to believe a storm was coming with the brilliant blue sky and fluffy white clouds out there today. But she’d seen it before. That was life in Florida. Always keeping an eye on a developing storm. There would be so much work to do to get the inn ready. And she really should offer to help Noah get the community center all ready, too. She’d go over there after Mason left.
After Mason left.
The thought filled her with sadness. She shook her head slightly. It was what it was.
Mason was back in fifteen minutes, pulling his suitcase behind him. “There you are. Walk me out?”
She nodded and walked outside with him and over to his rental car. He swung the suitcase in the trunk and turned to her. “Zoe, I had a really good time this week. Unexpected, but really nice.”
She gave him a small smile. “I did, too.”
“I… well, there’s something I’ve been wanting to ask you. Something I’ve been wanting to do.”
“What’s that?”
“I was hoping to… kiss you.”
Her eyes widened. “You were?”
“Yes…” His eyes darkened with a hopeful glint.
Her breath quickened and she nodded the slightest movement of her head. He reached out a hand and cupped her cheek, then leaned in closer. He kissed her. Tentatively at first, but then he kissed her until she was breathless.
She grabbed hold of both of his arms, steadying herself, savoring every moment of the kiss.
He pulled away. “That was…” He tossed her that impish grin. “That was a very nice kiss.”
“It was.” She smiled back at him.
“Fate is funny sometimes, isn’t it? I came for my dad’s wedding, and instead, I found you. I had a really great week.”
“Me, too.”
He reached out and brushed her cheek with his knuckles. “I’ll miss you, Zoe. Take care.” His mouth curved into a reluctant smile. “And I’m only six hours away by jet.”
He slipped into his car and pulled away. She stood in the shade under a palm tree, staring after where the car had disappeared, feeling an emptiness settle over her. Stifling her. Smothering her.
Fate was funny sometimes. She was sorry to see him go. He fascinated her. She let out a long sigh.
Of course, she’d finally fall for a guy… and he was a six-hour plane trip away. It figured.
Chapter 28
Robin had promised Lillian that she’d talk to Jay. And she would. When it was the right time. Now, with all the storm prep, it didn’t seem like the right time. Or maybe she just wasn’t ready yet.
She took a break mid-afternoon to go back to the bungalow and check on their hurricane shutters there. She hated putting them up. They had the kind that screwed on with wing nuts and it drove her crazy screwing them all on. Then repeating the process to take them down. Ugh, how she hated it.
Most of the shutters were metal, but they had a few almost clear ones so a bit of light would come into the bungalow. She hated the dark, dim days, waiting for storms. But she’d waited for many storms during her life here on the island. This was just one more. With the stupid hurricane shutters.
She stood in the garage looking at the despised shutters. She’d put a handful of them up now. Then maybe she and Charlotte could finish up later.
“I’ll help.”
She whirled around at the sound of Jay’s voice.
“I know how you hate putting them up. Lillian said you’d headed back here to get started. I figured I’d give you a hand.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I want to.”
She stared at him for a moment. “Okay, then. I do hate putting them up.” They each grabbed a shutter and headed out to the side of the bungalow. Mrs. Gleason sat on her porch with a suitcase by her side. Barney lounged beside her.
“I should go say something to Mrs. Gleason.”
“I’ll come with you.”
They crossed over to Mrs. Gleason’s porch. “Are you leaving?” Robin pointed toward the suitcase.
“Yes, my daughter is coming to pick me up. Wants me off the island because of the storm. And then she’s moving me into the retirement center. And we’re dropping Barney off with the lady who runs the beagle rescue. They promised they’d find him a good home. But he’ll be with strangers.” Tears filled the woman’s eyes.
“I’ll take Barney.” Jay stepped forward.
“You’ll take him?” Robin and Mrs. Gleason asked in unison.
“Sure, Barney and I get along great. I’d like to have a buddy at my house. I mean, if you want me to take him. And you could come visit him whenever you wanted. Or I could even bring him over to see you when I have time off.”
Mrs. Gleason stood up. “Are you sure? You want to take him?”
“I’m sure. We’ll be great buds, won’t we Barney?” The dog wagged his tail.
“Oh, that’s so wonderful.” Mrs. Gleason threw her arms around Jay’s neck and hugged him.
Jay blushed. Blushed. Robin smiled. Jay Turner was a good man.
She stared at him for a long moment. He was a good man. A very good one. And she was a fool.
Chapter 29
Jay gathered the box of dog supplies from Mrs. Gleason’s porch and brought it over to Robin’s, then returned to say goodbye to the woman as she got in her daughter’s car. He pressed a piece of paper with his phone number into Mrs. Gleason’s hand.
“Call any time to check up on Barney. And I promise we’ll come visit after the storm, okay?”
Mrs. Gleason reached a hand out the window and touched his arm. “I’ll be forever grateful.”
“And I’ll take good care of him,” he assured her, then watched as they drove away.
Robin stood on Mrs. Gleason’s porch watching him. “You’re a good man, Jay.”
“I just thought it was about time to get a dog. Tired of rattling around that empty house. Besides, Barney is great.”
“Except when he’s eating my shoes,” she said dryly.
“He won’t eat mine, will you, Barney?” The dog stood and stretched.
“Don’t count on it. But it was a very nice thing to do for Mrs. Gleason. She’s so worried about him. And now she’ll get to see him, too.”
He shrugged, uncomfortable with the compliments.
She stepped off the porch and walked up to him. “Jay… can we talk?”
“We did talk, remember?” He didn’t think rehashing everything was where he wanted to go.
“Can we talk again?”
He let out a sigh. “Sure. I guess.”
They returned to Robin’s and sat on the chairs on the front porch. Barney settled at his feet and he petted the dog. He was going to have to make some adjustments in his life. Pop home more often to let the dog out. Luckily Dana was
working out. He could probably start a schedule where they both weren’t working together so much. He could take some time off.
Robin sat patiently waiting for him to look at her. He knew she’d wait until he looked at her before she started talking. It’s what she did. He finally gave in and looked her way.
“Jay… I was upset when I found out all that about you. So much I didn’t know.”
“We’ve been through this before, Robs.”
“Hear me out.” She held up a hand. “I was… foolish. I reacted badly. I let the surprise of it get to me. I hate surprises.”
“I know that about you.”
“And you had every right to keep your past to yourself. To pick the time to tell me. And I do think you would have eventually told me.”
“I would have. And I actually came to tell you. Right after the money went missing. So you could hear it from me. But… you were with Mason.” He scratched Barney’s head. “And I didn’t tell you about my grandmother because… well, honestly, Robs, it hurts to talk about her. I still miss her every single day.”
She reached out and touched his arm. “I’m sure you do. And I’m sorry for your loss.”
He nodded, staring down at her hand on his arm with the pink nails and the thin silver bracelet encircling her wrist. There it was again. The details. Noticing every little detail. And he wasn’t sure he wanted to notice them. Not anymore.
But then she jumped up and crossed the porch to lean on the railing. “I— I owe you such an apology. I’ve been so wrapped up in how I feel, how it all surprised me. I should have been thinking about how all this affected you. How you felt.”
Now, these were words he hadn’t planned on hearing.
“Jay, of course, you didn’t take the money. Not Lillian’s. Not the other money. You aren’t that person.” She paced down the porch and came back. “I know the real Jay. I trust the real Jay. I—I care about the real Jay.”
He swallowed. Swallowed hard.
“Jay, can you please, please forgive me? Give me another chance?”
“You believe me?” He just wanted to make sure he’d heard correctly.
“Of course I do. I really do.”
He looked at her. “And I should have trusted you more. Told you all about my past a long time ago. It was just such a hard discussion to have.”
“So, we’ll have no more secrets?” She looked right into his eyes, not wavering for a second, and he felt his heart swell.
“No more secrets, Robs. You know everything now.”
“So, we’re going to try this again, right?” She grinned at him, her heart filling with…something. Was it love? She wasn’t certain, but she was certain she wanted to find out. “You know that no one ever wins an argument with me. You might as well give in.”
He grinned right back at her. “Well, since no one wins an argument with you, I won’t argue.” He jumped up, took her hands, and pulled her to her feet. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. “I’ve been wanting to do that for days.”
She leaned against him, drinking in the feeling of being in his arms again, listening to his heart beat against her cheek she pressed to his chest. “And I’ve been wanting that, too.”
He tilted her head up and she looked into his eyes. “Robs, let’s try not to mess it up this time.”
“Fine by me.”
“And now I’m going to get that kiss I’ve been wanting ever since we had that picnic at Lighthouse Point. And I want to go out on a date. A proper date. And everyone can see us, I don’t care. I don’t want you to date Mason or anyone else. It’s been five years or so, Robs. Time enough. Now it’s time for us.”
She closed her eyes and he kissed her right there on the front porch, for all the world—or the town—to see. She forgot all about the coming storm and whatever had torn them apart. Because now they were back together. And with his kiss… with his kiss she was certain it was love she felt for this man.
“And one more thing…” Jay pulled back slightly. “I love you, Robs. So I wasn’t going to argue with you anyway.”
And he kissed her again.
Dear Reader, I hope you enjoyed this story. Now, are you ready to read more about Robin and Jay? And what about Anna, the journal writer? We need to know if Lillian ever finds out what happened to Anna, right? Okay, one more question… who stole the money? Try Book Six - Six Hours Away to get the answers to all these questions!
Also by Kay Correll
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Comfort Crossing ~ The Series
Did you miss the start of this series? Click here to get the first book for free now! The Shop on Main - Book One
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COMFORT CROSSING ~ THE SERIES
The Shop on Main - Book One
The Memory Box - Book Two
The Christmas Cottage - A Holiday Novella (Book 2.5)
The Letter - Book Three
The Christmas Scarf - A Holiday Novella (Book 3.5)
The Magnolia Cafe - Book Four
The Unexpected Wedding - Book Five
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The Wedding in the Grove (crossover short story between the Comfort Crossing and Lighthouse Point series - Josephine and Paul from The Letter.)
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LIGHTHOUSE POINT ~ THE SERIES
Wish Upon a Shell - Book One
Wedding on the Beach - Book Two
Love at the Lighthouse - Book Three
Cottage near the Point - Book Four
Return to the Island - Book Five
Bungalow by the Bay - Book Six
Click here to learn more about the series.
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CHARMING INN ~ Return to Lighthouse Point
One Simple Wish - Book One
Two of a Kind - Book Two
Three Little Things - Book Three
Four Short Weeks - Book Four
Five Years or So - Book Five
Six Hours Away - Book Six
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SWEET RIVER ~ THE SERIES
A Dream to Believe In - Book One
A Memory to Cherish - Book Two
A Song to Remember - Book Three
A Time to Forgive - Book Four
A Summer of Secrets - Book Five
A Moment in the Moonlight - Book Six
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INDIGO BAY ~ Save by getting Kay’s complete collection of stories previously published separately in the multi-author Indigo Bay series. The three stories are all interconnected.
Sweet Days by the Bay
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Sweet Sunrise - Book Three
Sweet Holiday Memories - A short holiday story
Sweet Starlight - Book Nine
About the Author
Kay writes sweet, heartwarming stories that are a cross between women’s fiction and contemporary romance. She is known for her charming small towns, quirky townsfolk, and enduring strong friendships between the women in her books.
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Kay lives in the Midwest of the U.S. and can often be found out and about with her camera, taking a myriad of photographs which she likes to incorporate into her book covers. When not lost in her writing or photography, she can be found spending time with her ever-supportive husband, knitting, or playing with her puppies—two cavaliers and one naughty but adorable Australian shepherd. Kay and her husband also love to travel. When it comes to vacation time, she is torn between a nice trip to the beach or the mountains—but the mountains onl
y get considered in the summer—she swears she’s allergic to snow.
Learn more about Kay and her books at kaycorrell.com
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