Island Hope (Wildflower B&B Romance Book 4)

by Kimberly Rose Johnson

  ***

  Hope looked up from the cookie she was decorating and frowned. Where’d everyone go? Voices filtered in from the dining room. She placed the cookie on a rack and pushed through the swinging kitchen door. A few people she didn’t know but recognized as B&B guests stood in line at the buffet table. Most of the seating at the table was full.

  Zoe caught her eye. “Feel free to sit anyplace you’d like. We’re all spread out.”

  Maybe she’d grab a plate and head to her room. Something amazing had happened while she was decorating cookies, and she needed time alone to process.

  “I believe I saw Derrick and Alyssa head outside,” Zoe said.

  “Okay. Thanks.” Would it be rude to sequester herself in her room? Probably. She could think later. She grabbed a white ceramic plate from a small stack and filled half her plate with a green salad and the other half with a couple slices of ham then made her way to the front porch.

  The Trainor clan occupied the lone table with three seats remaining. Alyssa spotted her. “Come sit with us, Hope.”

  She settled beside Alyssa. Derrick sat on the end and Jill sat across from them. “Wasn’t that spread something?”

  “Yet all you took was ham and rabbit food.” Derrick sliced through a piece of ham.

  She shrugged. “I happen to enjoy rabbit food.” She stabbed a tomato and popped it into her mouth. The juices exploded into delicious goodness.

  A man she didn’t recognize walked outside holding a plate and glass. He looked around until his gaze landed on Jill. He walked in their direction, and said, “Mind if I join you?” He set his plate beside Jill and then sat. “I’m Nate.” He announced to those at the table.

  Jill’s cheeks turned the color of the strawberries on her plate. “I’m glad you could make it. I didn’t see you come in. I don’t know how we missed each other.”

  “You were busy serving hors d’oeuvres when I arrived, and then I spotted Nick. We ended up hiding Easter eggs in the backyard.”

  “Thanks for helping.”

  “Sure. Anything for you.” He winked.

  Jill tucked her chin.

  Derrick raised a brow. “The two of you know each other?”

  Jill nodded. “We met at the church several weeks ago.” She tilted her head shyly toward Nate. “We’ve been dating.”

  Derrick’s eyes widened. “How did I not know this?”

  Jill shrugged. “You’ve been in your own world.”

  Hope tried to look at the man without being obvious. His brown hair was neatly trimmed, and he wore khakis with a long sleeve lavender shirt. He had a boy-next-door look to him, which Jill and her niece clearly liked—must be a family thing. Jill’s bright color had faded some, but still shone a pretty shade of pink.

  Good for her. She’d wondered why Derrick’s sister was still single. It wasn’t like she was unattractive. In fact most people would consider her pretty with her long, dark hair and classic features. Plus she had a huge heart once you got to know her.

  “I’m Derrick, Jill’s brother. This is my daughter Alyssa. And that is our friend Hope. How’d the two of you meet?”

  “We’re in the same small group at church,” Nate said.

  Hope hadn’t realized the church had small groups. She’d love to join one, but what was the point if she was leaving the island. Her job at the resort would be finished in another week. Which begged the question—where would she live?

  She needed to figure out her housing and fast. Staying on Wildflower appealed. Her feelings about Derrick were mixed, but she wanted to see where things went. Leaving the island at this point would hamper any hope they might have for a future together. She wasn’t good at the long distance thing, even if it was only an hour each way.

  Could she trust him with her heart? He would never hurt her on purpose. Of that she was certain, but deliberate or not, hurt was painful and she couldn’t take any more pain from the people she loved.

  Loved? She shot a glance in his direction. His eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled. Yes, she’d fallen for Derrick, and in spite of everything, she still loved him. What was she going to do? Maybe she should get serious about staying on the island at least for a while, and see how things went.

  Jill mentioned that Rachel and her husband had a rental. Maybe it would be wise to speak with them today to see if her idea was feasible.

  If the price was right, staying on the island while her house was being built would be nice. Sure, she’d have to commute to the mainland every day and would need to calculate the expense of that into the cost of living here, but the perks of staying were too good to pass up without at least checking into it.

  She quickly finished her meal. “Excuse me. I need to talk with someone.” She pushed back from the table and stood.

  The B&B door opened, and a little boy darted out and raced around to the backyard. Was it time for the Easter egg hunt already?

  Rachel and her husband, Chris, came out next. “Did anyone see a boy about this tall?” She held her hand at her waist level.

  “He ran to the backyard,” Hope said. “Are you leaving? I was hoping to talk with you about your rental unit. Jill mentioned it might be vacant.”

  Rachel glanced at her husband. “I’ll find Jason while you talk with Hope.”

  Chris nodded. “We can talk in the sitting room. No one’s in there.”

  Hope followed then sat in an armchair.

  He took a seat on the couch. “How long are you looking to rent?”

  “If the price is right I could sign a six month lease. My home caught fire and was destroyed. It hasn’t even been demoed. I’ll need a place to stay for at least six months to a year, possibly longer depending on how slow things move along.”

  He quoted the monthly price which was almost equivalent to her monthly mortgage. It’d be tough to manage both, but it wasn’t like she had any other bills since the utilities were included. Maybe she’d be better off staying on at the B&B. The meals, other than breakfast, would stop as soon as her job was finished at the resort, so that could prove to be a huge inconvenience.

  “Is there anyone else interested in your rental at this time?”

  He shook his head. “The tenant moved out last week, and we are in the process of doing needed repairs. You’re welcome to drop by anytime to check the place out. I work from home, so I’m usually there.”

  “Okay. If I decide I’m interested, I’ll do that.”

  He pulled a business card from his wallet and wrote on the back. “That’s the address.”

  “All right, then. Thanks.” She shook his hand.

  Derrick stepped into the room. “Hope. We need to talk.”

  Hope’s heart rate kicked into double time. From the look on his face, she suspected whatever he had to say would be life altering.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Derrick waited in the entryway to the B&B’s sitting room, trying to be patient while Hope wrapped up her conversation with Chris.

  She glanced his way. Her brow furrowed and she sucked in her bottom lip. He hadn’t meant to cause her alarm, but he needed to speak with her before she did anything rash, like sign a lease on the rental at Chris and Rachel’s. He didn’t like the idea of her locked into anything long term. What if she hated their place after being there for a short time and was stuck in a lease? Chris nodded as he walked by him. Hope stood still as if frozen in place.

  “Let’s talk outside. They’re about to do the Easter egg hunt for the kids. We could watch that and talk.”

  “Oh. Okay. What did you want to talk about?”

  He almost chuckled at the strangled sound of her voice. As tough as she looked and acted, one would never know that she had such a soft, vulnerable side too. “Don’t worry, Hope. It’s nothing bad.”

  Her stance instantly relaxed. “Your tone unnerved me and had me worried. So everything is okay?”

  “Yes. I only want to run an idea by you.” He gently gripped her elbow and guided her outside to wh
ere most of the guests were gathered. “I heard you talking to Chris about leasing his rental.”

  She nodded. “I’m not sure what I’m going to do. I think while my house is being rebuilt I’d like to stay on the island and see how things go.”

  How things go? Could she be saying what he thought she was? “I like the sound of that. Does that mean you’re willing to pick up where we left off?”

  “I’d like that very much, but I’m not ready to go there yet. Something happened to me today, and I need to spend some time with the Lord figuring things out.”

  “Okay. I’ll give you all the space you need.”

  “Thanks. What did you want to talk about?”

  “Your living situation.”

  They stopped along the edge of the area set aside for the Easter egg hunt. Spring bulbs in yellow, red, orange, and various shades of purple filled the flowerbeds making this truly feel like Easter.

  Children varying in age from toddlers to ten-years-old waited to be told they could begin the hunt. He spotted his sister talking with the kids. The hunt was her brainchild, so she was responsible to make sure it went off without a hitch.

  “I was going to caution you against signing a long lease agreement. I thought you might like to keep your options open.” And if things progressed the way he hoped, she wouldn’t need to lease. She’d be living with him as his wife. “I also was going to offer a room at my house as a last resort, but that’s probably not a good idea.”

  She rested a hand on his forearm. “You’re very sweet, Derrick. I agree with you. That would not be a good idea.”

  Nick sauntered their direction and stopped beside Hope. “I heard you spoke with Chris about leasing.”

  “News travels fast.” Hope’s brow scrunched.

  “Chris is a good friend. I spoke with Zoe, and I believe we can help.”

  They listened as he quoted a price for a room at the B&B that included breakfast and a sack lunch like she’d been getting.

  “I realize it’s not the same as having a home with your own space, but as I understand, you are without furniture, and considering you’ll be out on jobs most of the time anyway, this would save you a little money, and you wouldn’t have the responsibility of cleaning.”

  “You and Zoe have given me a lot to think about. Thank you for your generous offer. I’ll let you know my decision in the morning.”

  “Good.” He started to walk away then stopped. “I forgot, I’m on call at the hospital tomorrow. If I miss you, please inform Jill of your decision.”

  “Will do.”

  Unsure what to say about this turn of events, Derrick stayed quiet. He’d been so afraid she’d return to the mainland and disappear from their lives.

  “Did you put Nick up to that? Hope asked.

  “Nope. But I can see why you’d ask.” He rubbed his chin. “Whatever you decide, know that you are welcome to come to dinner at my house whenever you are able. Alyssa would love it, and so would I.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind.” She nodded once. “Today has been a little overwhelming. I really need time alone to think.” She grasped his hand and gave it a light squeeze. “I’m going to my room. Please tell Jill and Alyssa goodbye for me.” She rushed away.

  Disappointment hit him. He’d hoped to spend more time with her today, but clearly she had a lot on her mind.

  Jill shouted. “On your mark. Get set. Go!”

  The kids taking part in the egg hunt scurried around the yard, each holding a cloth sack. A little girl pulled an egg out of a watering can, while Jason, Rachel and Chris’s son, snatched one from inside an old metal wheelbarrow.

  There was laughter and smiles all around as parents and friends watched the children. He remembered how fun Easter had been with Alyssa when she’d been little, but she’d outgrown the entertainment several years ago.

  He spotted Alyssa across the yard with Jill and Nate. The guy seemed nice, and clearly his sister was smitten with him. He’d never seen her blush like she had when he’d come to sit with them. He chuckled softly at the memory.

  It was about time she found someone who could make her blush. Jill had been alone for a very long time, and although she never complained, he knew she desired a family of her own.

  He glanced up and spotted Hope standing at her bedroom window, looking out. Her focus went beyond the yard, probably to the Sound. It was mesmerizing even to him, and he’d been living on the island for several years.

  The fact that she’d decided to stay on Wildflower while her house was being built was the first sign of encouragement he’d gotten from her that they might have a future together. He only hoped she wouldn’t change her mind.

  ***

  Four days later, Hope strode out the door of the final resort cabin with satisfaction. They’d finished the job a day early. She’d done little but work this past week to make the deadline. She’d sent her crew home a while ago. They’d begin a new job tomorrow in Tacoma. Everything was falling into place. She’d finally made an official decision. She was staying on the island.

  Derrick had been surprisingly absent since Easter, and she was growing concerned. He’d promised her space, but she hadn’t expected him to vanish from her life completely. Had he decided she wasn’t worth the effort? She couldn’t blame him if he had. She hadn’t been overly encouraging. She glanced at her watch and sighed. He should have been here five minutes ago.

  Her cell chimed, indicating a text.

  Running late. Will be there soon.

  Per her contract, she couldn’t leave until he signed off on the work. At least she didn’t have too far to go. She was now officially a resident at Wildflower Bed-and-Breakfast. Knowing the island was home made her more at ease. She’d keep an eye out for the perfect home to settle into, but for now the B&B was her new home. She would commute to the mainland as needed, but she had a trusted employee who could handle most jobs on the mainland.

  This was no longer a temporary stop in her life. She could put down roots and get involved with the church and community here. Excitement bubbled inside her.

  A cool breeze made her shiver. She strode to her SUV and slipped into her favorite hoodie and sat inside with the door open. The hoodie had seen better days, but its softness couldn’t be beat. She loved it.

  A truck approached. Finally. She got out and waved as Derrick pulled up beside her. She grabbed the clipboard that held the contract along with a pen for him to sign off.

  He slid out. “Sorry about being late. We had several guests wanting to check in at the same time, and things got a little harried for a while.” He walked toward the cabins.

  She strolled beside him. “No problem. It’s not like I have to catch the ferry or anything.”

  He stopped. “Does this mean what I think it does?”

  “If you think it means that I’m staying on the island, then yes.” She grinned as his eyes widened and a twinkle lit them.

  “That’s the best news I’ve had all week.”

  “I’m surprised you didn’t know. I told Jill on Monday.”

  “My sister is not permitted to discuss B&B business with me.”

  She shrugged. “I suppose that’s good. Considering everyone seems to know everyone’s business around here. At least some things should be private.”

  He pushed into the cabin. “Good point.”

  She waited by the door and let him do his thing. It’s funny how she no longer minded him looking over her work. Granted, it had always been her policy to have a client sign off on the job when it was finished.

  She’d changed since coming to Wildflower. More than anyone yet knew.

  Derrick turned and headed in her direction. “It all looks great.”

  “Thanks.” She stepped outside and waited for him to lock up. “I need a favor.”

  “What’s that?”

  “I want to surprise Piper with the sign she asked me for, but I have nowhere to make it. Would it be possible for me to work at your place?”

 
A smile broke across his face. “Absolutely. When will you start?”

  “I have a job in Tacoma tomorrow. While I’m there, I’ll pick up the supplies and my tools from the friend who’s been borrowing them. Maybe I could come by your place on Saturday.”

  “Sounds like a plan.” He studied her eyes. “What’s changed?”

  She looked away, unnerved by his open curiosity. “Me.”

  “I can see that. I meant specifically.”

  “Remember when I was decorating the cookies at the B&B on Easter?”

  He nodded. “I could tell something special was taking place.”

  “It was, but it had begun earlier in the day. I was so afraid of being hurt that it was stifling. I finally let go of the fear and then the hurt. Later that evening, I realized the weight of hurt I’d been carrying around had lifted.” She shivered and tucked her hands into the pockets of her hoodie.

  “So your creative juices are flowing again?”

  “Yes.” She grinned.

  He did a fist pump. “That is great news.” He wrapped her in his arms.

  His body heat warmed her as she snuggled closer. “I could stand like this all day.”

  A laugh rumbled in his chest. “All day might be pushing it.”

  She leaned her head back and grinned. “Fine.” She let go and stepped away, immediately missing the feel of his arms.

  “Do you have dinner plans?”

  She shook her head.

  “Alyssa is cooking tonight. You’re welcome to come.”

  “Will there be enough?”

  “I’m sure of it. Alyssa always cooks too much. Gabe, Jill and Nate will be there too. I’d love it if you joined us.”

  “Sure. That sounds like fun.” Although she’d prefer a romantic meal with only the two of them. “So Gabe and Alyssa are still an item, huh?”

  “Yeah.” He rolled his eyes. “But the big news is Nate and my sister. I was beginning to wonder if she’d ever find someone.”

  She playfully punched his shoulder. “That wasn’t nice.”