by Rachel Hanna
“Long day?” Rebecca asked as she approached Laura’s table, knocking her out of her walk down memory lane.
“So far. But good,” Laura said with a smile. She took a sip of her iced coffee as Rebecca sat down.
“Yeah, it gets busier this time of the year with all of the tourists starting to check out our little hidden paradise.”
“It definitely is a paradise,” Laura said. “I didn’t think I’d love it here so much. Or so soon.” She really hadn’t planned to like January Cove at all, given that it wasn’t on her dream board. Actually, she didn’t even have a dream board yet.
“Coming from New York City, I thought I’d get bored here. It was an adjustment not to hear the noises I was used to like police sirens and honking horns. But I quickly adapted, and now this is a home I could never leave.” Laura nodded and drank more of her coffee, noting that she only had a few more minutes before she had to re-open for the afternoon crowd.
“Yeah, Baltimore was much the same. I thought I’d struggle going from a big city lifestyle to such a quiet place, but I feel peaceful here. More peaceful than I think I’ve ever felt in my life.”
“Well, good. That means I might have your awesome cupcakes for years to come then,” Rebecca said with a wink before she stood up to help a new customer who had just walked through the door. Laura waved goodbye as she picked up what was left of her drink and hurried toward Sweetcakes.
“Quick! Lock the door before another person gets in,” Laura said laughing as Sawyer turned the lock and switched the sign to “closed”.
As thankful as she was for such loyal customers, the day had been busier than she expected. Before long, she’d have to hire some help. Sawyer wasn’t going to work there forever, and she didn’t expect him to. His talents would be wasted.
“Wow! I don’t think we’ve ever had so many people in here before,” Sawyer said, wiping real sweat off his forehead. “I guess tourist season has officially arrived.”
“I guess so.” She smiled nervously at him, wondering what to say now that they were completely alone. It would take another half hour to clean and close up.
“Listen, I need to talk to you about something…” he said, wiping his hands on his apron.
Uh oh. That was never a good sentence to hear from a man, she thought. He was regretting their impulsive kissing extravaganza.
“Okay,” she said softly, trying not to make eye contact.
“Remember how your mom had that one thing on her vision board about dating a younger man?”
Okay, that was a weird way to start. “Um… yeah…”
“Well, I was wondering if you’d like to do that?”
“Sawyer! What in the world is wrong with you? You’re going to fix me up with some young buck just so I can check something off my mother’s vision board?” She couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
Sawyer smiled slyly and removed his wallet from his back pocket. “I might look wiser and older, Laura, but remember I’m six months younger than you.” He held out his license, and Laura leaned over to look at it, a confused look on her face.
“Sawyer, are you asking me on a real date?” she asked, smiling bigger than she intended to.
He slipped his wallet back into his pocket and walked forward, putting his hands on her waist. “Well, since that’s the only way I might get more of these lips,” he said, leaning in and brushing his against hers lightly, “then I guess I’d better be.”
Laura sucked in a deep breath when he pulled away and looked at her, sad at the absence of his lips. “What are you proposing we do on this date?”
Sawyer leaned against the bar that ran down the side of the bakery. “Well, I propose that you be my plus one at my high school reunion tonight at the pier.”
Her mouth dropped open. “Tonight? Why didn’t you say something earlier?”
“Because I didn’t think I was going until Brad started blowing up my phone around lunch time today. He threatened me with bodily harm if I didn’t come.”
“And you’re scared of Brad?” she asked with a laugh as she went back to wiping down the counters.
“Not really, but I was scared he’d keep talking until my ears bled so I gave in. So, what do you say, Miss Bennett? Care to hear lots of silly stories about what an idiot teenage boy I was back in the day?” he asked, his hands in the prayer position.
“Well… I guess it would allow me to check one more thing off my list without having to go over to the local college and search for a hot young guy…”
“Are you saying I’m not a hot young guy?” he asked with a sexy grin.
“No comment.”
Sawyer paced - as well as he could pace with an air cast - in front of Addy’s. Addy and Clay were already down at the pier since Adele was watching Anna Grace for the night. Right now, he was waiting for Laura. Normally, he’d walk up to the door, but the stupid cast made everything more difficult.
He’d been thinking all day about how much of a risk he was taking. What if someone told her who he was? Mentioned one of his albums or concerts? He’d done his best to keep a lid on who he was, and he wanted to tell her in his own way and in his own time, but he could feel time ticking away like a bomb about to go off.
“Wow,” he said when she appeared on the front porch. She was wearing a small red sundress that clung to all the right places and a pair of silver sandals. “You look amazing.”
He thought she blushed a bit, a smile spreading across her face. “Thank you.”
She met him on the sidewalk, and he leaned in to kiss her softly on the cheek. “Are you sure you’re ready to go out with a younger man? Think you can keep up?”
She laughed as she looked down at his air cast. “I think so. I’m pretty spry for my age.”
“You know what? I refuse to wear this ugly thing on a date with such a beautiful woman,” he said, reaching down and popping the cast off his leg. He tossed it behind a bush in front of Addy’s.
“Sawyer! Put that back on. You’re going to be in pain all night!”
Sawyer slid his arms around her waist and pressed his lips against her ear. “Not possible. I couldn’t possibly be in pain when I look at you.”
She smiled at him, and a part of him ached as he thought about lying to her. He could only hope that she would understand why he did it, why he had hidden that part of himself from her for so long. And if she didn’t forgive him? He just couldn’t think about that right now.
The pier was all set for Sawyer’s reunion, with candles adorning small bistro tables scattered around the old wooden structure. Music was playing softly in the background, the ocean waves adding a special accompaniment to the sounds of pop love songs.
A few couples were already slow dancing, including Addy and Clay, and most everyone else was standing around talking. Sawyer had told her that he didn’t know why they were having a reunion since most of these people saw each other everyday in January Cove, but any excuse to get together and have a party was a good one.
Sawyer had struggled a bit to walk there without his cast, but Laura had pretended not to notice. Instead she focused on how good he looked. He was wearing tan shorts and a baby blue t-shirt that showed off his natural tan. His stubble was gone in favor of a freshly shaved look that she loved just as much, and the scent of his cologne was making her want to do things that she’d get arrested for in public.
“So you’re Laura Bennett? I’ve heard all about your delicious cupcakes,” Ronni said. “I can’t wait to try one!”
“Come on by,” Laura said. “Try the hot fudge cupcake. It’s my new favorite… this week!” she said with a laugh.
“Ronni is Brad’s girlfriend,” Sawyer said, explaining who the beautiful leggy blond was. Laura normally steered clear of women who made her feel matronly, but Ronni seemed like a very nice person. So far, everyone in January Cove seemed nice, actually.
“That must be… interesting,” Laura said, referring to dating Brad. Ronni giggled.
�
�It takes a special woman to handle me,” Brad said, sneaking up behind Ronni and kissing her on the back of her neck.
“Medication?” Sawyer suggested as the reason she was able to put up with Brad’s crazy personality.
“Thinking about it,” she whispered loudly.
Laura enjoyed walking around and meeting more people who knew Sawyer when he was a kid. Stories of football games and Homecoming parades and old girlfriends kept her entertained for hours with people she either didn’t know or barely knew. She felt at home in a place she’d never visited before a few weeks ago, and these people were already starting to feel like family.
“Are you bored yet?” Sawyer whispered to her as they swayed on the dance floor to The Way You Look Tonight. She felt so safe and comfortable in his arms, something she couldn’t recall ever feeling with Ted. He slow danced like a bird with a broken wing. And foot.
She looked up at him. “Not at all.”
“Good, because I might just stand here holding you in my arms until tomorrow morning, music or not.”
That sounded like perfection to her.
When the reunion was over and everyone else had left, Laura found herself still snuggled into Sawyer’s arms, sitting at the edge of the ocean, the tips of the waves lapping at their feet.
“We should probably go home soon,” Sawyer whispered. “We have to open in a few hours.” He didn’t move, and neither did she.
“I don’t want to leave. I think we should just stay here for a few more hours and let people get their own cupcakes.”
Sawyer laughed. “Sounds like a plan to me.”
Laura breathed in the salty ocean air. This place - and this man - were making her do things she would never normally do. For a moment, she tried to imagine who she was just a few weeks ago in Baltimore. Sad. Broken. Lonely. Working a job she hated. Missing her mother.
She didn’t even feel like the same person anymore.
“Sawyer?”
“Umhmm…” he mumbled against her ear.
“You said once that I need to have my own vision board.”
“I remember.”
“Well, I have something I want to do as my first thing on my vision board.”
“Oh yeah? And what is that?” he asked, curious as he pulled away and looked at her. She grinned.
“Well… have you ever… um… skinny dipped?” She could feel a blush spreading across her face and hoped the darkness would keep him from noticing.
Sawyer cleared his throat and laughed nervously. “Well, believe it or not, I haven’t. Lots of my friends did it when we were in school, but I never did.”
“Why?”
“I have no idea, honestly.”
“Well? Would you like to join me?” she asked, standing up and hoping that she wasn’t about to do this alone.
Sawyer stood. “Are you sure about this, Laura?”
“I’m sure. I want to have some experiences, Sawyer. My own experiences. I love my mother, but it’s time for me to live. And I don’t ever want to ride a roller coaster again.”
He took her hands in his and smiled. “Then I will come along for any experiences you invite me to. Especially ones that involve you without clothes on.”
Laura lightly slapped his shoulder. “You’re bad.”
“Um, I’m not the one who suggested skinny dipping in the ocean at midnight.”
Without a word, Laura summoned her courage and flung her dress over her head, running toward the water in her bra and panties. Sawyer followed quickly behind dropping articles of clothing as he went. Before they made it into the water, every piece of clothing they had between them was scattered around the beach, and Laura had never felt more alive.
After another long day at work, Laura sat in the chair by the bed with her journal in her lap. She smiled as she thought back over her days with Sawyer. He’d made her do things she would’ve never done on her own, but now everything in the world seemed possible to her.
But mostly she just reflected on the kissing. Yep. The kissing was the best part. And a few things that happened after the kissing… and after the skinny dipping.
“Laura?” Addy said from the other side of the door.
Laura stood and walked to the door. She opened it expecting to see Addy standing there in her bright pink pajamas, as she was usually wearing by this time of night. Instead, she saw Addy standing with someone else - Carrie.
“Oh my gosh! Carrie! What are you doing here?” Laura squealed as she pulled her friend into a tight embrace. “Oh, sorry, Addy. Is Anna Grace asleep?” Laura asked in a loud whisper.
“No, she’s spending the night with my mother while she’s in town, actually. You two have fun catching up. Clay and I are going for a late dinner at The Wharf,” she said. Laura then noticed she was wearing a tight black dress and heels.
Laura dragged Carrie into her room by her arm. She grabbed the suitcase from Carrie’s hand and slid it beside the bed.
“I can’t believe you’re standing here! I’ve missed you a ton!” She pulled Carrie into a breath-stopping hug again before finally letting her go.
Carrie grinned. “Well, I had to come see what this January Cove place was all about. And meet the infamous singing stud!”
“You’re funny,” Laura said, a sly smile spreading across her face. Then it turned into a full grin as she sat down on the edge of the bed.
“Oh man, something happened! Did you do the deed with the sexy country guy already?” Carrie asked, plopping down on the bed next to her.
“Of course not! You know I’m not that kind of woman!”
“Sexual? I would certainly hope you’re that type of woman,” Carrie said with a laugh.
“We just met each other, Carrie. I’m not ready for that yet. But, yes, something did happen.” She was swooning like a lovesick schoolgirl.
“What? Give me the info, girlfriend!”
Laura spent the next few minutes recounting the whole day at the amusement park and on the motorcycle while Carrie sat with her mouth hanging open.
“So he took you on a rollercoaster - something I’ve been trying to do since we were in middle school - and on a motorcycle? And he got you to drive it?”
“Yep. Can you believe that?”
“No. No, I cannot.”
“And then, we kissed.”
“Like a little peck or like an R-rated movie?”
“R-rated movie, for sure. It was… magical,” Laura said, her face turning all shades of red as she closed her eyes and sighed. “And then there was last night.”
“Last night?”
“He took me to his high school reunion. We kissed and we danced and we snuggled on the beach after everyone left. And then I asked him to do something with me.”
“What? Don’t leave me hanging!”
“I asked him to skinny dip.”
“You did not!”
“I did too! And it was amazing, Carrie. Skin on skin at midnight in the ocean. I can’t even describe how I felt out there. He’s so kind and gorgeous and strong.”
“You’re not even the same person,” Carrie said, eying her friend carefully. Laura opened her eyes to find Carrie smiling proudly.
“Of course I am!”
“No. I meant that in a good way, Laura,” she said softly. “This guy has done what I could never do. He’s brought the old Laura back, but an even better version. Somehow, he’s made you believe in yourself again. I saw Sweetcakes when I was being dropped off. It looks amazing!”
Laura knew she was right. In the short time she’d known Sawyer, he’d changed her world. Changed how she felt about herself and what she could accomplish. Made her smile again - a lot.
“I can’t wait to meet him,” Carrie said.
“Me either! You’re going to love him.”
“The question is - do you?”
Laura stared at her friend. It was impossible to love someone she’d just met. Wasn’t it?
Chapter 12
Sawyer leaned back on h
is sofa and took a deep breath. Today had to be the day. He couldn’t keep doing this, keeping up the charade that he was some down on his luck, struggling musician. If Laura even watched a TV entertainment show, she’d find out. If the wrong social media story passed on her newsfeed, she’d know. And he had to be the one to tell her.
Two nights ago, as he held her in his arms on the beach, he knew. She was the one. The only one. There was no going back. Swimming in the ocean naked with this amazing woman had been the highlight of his life.
He’d changed. She’d changed. And somehow they had become perfect for each other in the process.
The ringing of his phone knocked him out of his deep thoughts. “Hello?”
“Man, you’re hard to get a hold of lately!” his former agent, Dan, said.
“I’ve been busy. What do you want?” Sawyer closed his eyes, ready for the onslaught that was sure to come since he hadn’t returned to Nashville yet.
“I’ve got some good news, Sawyer. You know how they say when God closes a door, he opens a window. Well, you’ve got a big huge window open for you!”
“Dan, have you been drinking? What the heck are you even talking about?”
“Barnwell called. He wants to sign you to his label and immediately drop an album. They even want a U.S. tour planned, and maybe an international one if that one goes well.”
“I told you I’m done.”
“Don’t be a fool, Sawyer. Barnwell will produce the music you want. Think of all the years you put into this! Nobody walks away from something like this. You’ll be kicking yourself when you’re eighty.”
For a moment, Sawyer daydreamed about sitting with Laura in rocking chairs on the front porch of their own beach house, each of them in their eighties. He couldn’t imagine regretting anything.
“No. I’m happy here, Dan. I got my life back. I met someone…”
“Oh Good Lord! This is about a woman? I can get you another woman in Nashville who will suit you just as good!”
“Goodbye, Dan.” Sawyer ended the call before his anger got the best of him. No woman would suit him like Laura, and he had to tell her the truth. Today.
