Love Redone in Hidden Harbor (Island County Book 2)

by Karice Bolton

  A slight hint of a smile touched Cole’s lips and my stomach tightened. I thought Anthony held together well over the years, but Cole put his brother to shame. His fitted button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up grazed his chest, and the gray fabric tugged gently across his broad shoulders. I realized how dangerous this situation had become when my mind noticed things that my subconscious wouldn’t normally observe. His dark hair fell slightly over one brow, but it was his eyes that invited me into a memory I’d buried long ago. The intensity they’d always held came right back as he watched me carefully.

  “I didn’t know you worked here,” Cole said, taking a step forward. He shoved his hand deep into his pocket, stretching the dark chino fabric of his pants. Remembering all parts of Cole brought a blush to my cheeks, and I brought my gaze quickly back to his.

  I could do this.

  “I actually own the shop. I bought it from Lucy when she retired.” I tapped the counter to prove my point as if it needed proving.

  He took another step forward, and Sophie walked over to the consultation table to arrange my perfectly organized portfolio of wedding photos.

  A lot of help she’d become.

  “I had no idea.” His eyes took every inch of me in, making me wish I hadn’t stuck to my usual attire of jeans and a flannel shirt for this meeting. All I could do was pray for this session to be over. He was just another appointment on the calendar.

  “Why would you? You haven’t been back to Fireweed for how long?” I laughed nervously, waving my hand as if to dismiss the situation at hand.

  “Too long,” he breathed, and my heart skipped a beat.

  This wasn’t supposed to happen.

  “Where’s your fiancée?” I asked.

  “She went into the jeweler next door. A necklace in the window caught her eye, but I didn’t want to be late.”

  Cole had always been a beat before punctual, which explained why he was early. Why didn’t I remember that when it counted?

  I nodded and motioned for him to go over to the table where Sophie sat.

  “Would you like a latte or anything?” I asked, trying to keep my thoughts on track. I couldn’t let my emotions close in on me or they’d suffocate me.

  “I’m fine. It’s nice to see you,” he said, biting his lip.

  He didn’t budge, and he stood staring right at me, waiting for my reply.

  I honestly had no response so I glanced at my posse of one, who sat gawking at us both.

  So much for her help.

  I turned my attention back to Cole.

  “What’s your fiancée’s name?”

  “Cynthia. Listen, I’m not sure this is a good—” His eyes slipped to my mouth and right on cue, the chime echoed through the shop as the front door swung open.

  Whatever upheaval of emotions I’d been feeling were set straight the moment she walked in. She was gorgeous and she was his.

  “Hey, baby,” she nearly squealed, holding out her arms to hug him. I noticed her fingers firmly clutching a jewelry bag as he drew her into his embrace, and my insides nearly imploded when my eyes fell to her engagement ring. At least it wasn’t the same one.

  Cynthia’s willowy figure complimented the two-piece charcoal suit she wore, and her brown hair was styled into a shiny, sleek bob. Her bright red lipstick outlined her skinny lips, and I found myself tugging on my plaid flannel shirt.

  When she finally untangled herself from Cole, he took a step back and introduced me.

  “This is Natalie. She owns the shop.” His eyes locked on mine as I shook Cynthia’s hand, and I knew I’d never been mentioned.

  What had I expected? We’d been a small-town romance that exploded on impact with the outside world.

  Happened all the time.

  But why was he looking at me like this?

  Or was I imagining it?

  “I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I am,” Cynthia gushed, looking around the shop.

  The thought of her caring about their wedding flowers made me not hate her quite as much. There were a few different types of brides that entered through the door. The brides who were so deliriously in love, they levitated off the floor while picking their flowers. Then there were the brides who were secretly excited, but they wanted to play it cool around their fiancés. They were the ones who’d been quietly dreaming about their weddings since they were little girls but would never dare to admit it aloud—too much of a stigma in their circle. And finally there were the brides that literally didn’t care, which always made my job somewhat miserable. I was grateful Cynthia wasn’t one of those.

  “The sooner I get this checked off on the list, the better. There are so many things on my to-do list,” Cynthia sighed, taking a look around the shop. “Don’t get me wrong. I like flowers. It’s just not my thing to sit and daydream about something that will only last for a few hours.”

  And I was wrong. She was one of those.

  “Flowers are more than that,” Cole said, glancing at me. “They’ll be in all the photos and they add the most to the entire wedding. They are one of the few things that adds character and color.”

  His words swam through my veins, carrying with them a wave of unexpected emotions. It almost felt like we were back in school, and he was sticking up for me to the mean girls.

  Cynthia shrugged. “I know, but you should be thrilled I’m more happy with being married than getting married.”

  There was an awkward tension in the air, and I felt Cole’s gaze float back to me.

  “I can only imagine how it must feel,” I said, leading Cynthia over to where Sophie sat. “Finding the man of your dreams isn’t life’s easiest challenge.”

  “I had to kiss a lot of frogs,” Cynthia laughed, and I felt Cole’s gaze on me.

  What did he want me from me?

  Was he pleading with me to not to say anything or was there something more behind his gaze?

  “Well, at least one of them turned into your prince.” My hands trembled as I attempted to push the photo album toward her. To hide the wreck I’d become, I slipped my hands behind me. “Would you like a red-velvet mocha or anything?”

  I’d added an espresso stand to my floral shop, and it had provided an additional source of income, and now, the perfect distraction to calm my nerves. If only someone would take me up on my offer.

  “That would be wonderful. I just won’t eat anything for the rest of the day,” she laughed.

  “The bride-to-be diet,” Sophie chuckled.

  “My life diet,” Cynthia informed her as I walked over to the espresso bar. “Food and I don’t get along so I try to avoid it all together.”

  My eyes shot to Cole’s. When we were in college, he’d always made fun of the girls who wouldn’t eat on dates, and now, he was about to marry a woman who simply didn’t eat?

  Classic.

  I squirted two pumps of syrup into the mug, poured in the steamed milk, and added the espresso. My hands had stopped trembling and I was ready for whatever faced me.

  “So will this be a day or an evening wedding?” I asked, delivering her latte and taking a seat.

  Cynthia squeezed Cole’s hand and glanced at him.

  “A sunset wedding,” Cole answered.

  “And your venue?”

  “Cole’s parents have a home on the bluff. It is gorgeous,” Cynthia informed me as if I didn’t know. “I’d love it to be our second home someday.”

  I grimaced. Was she already planning the deaths of Mr. and Mrs. Hill so she could vacation here?

  “The view will be sensational for our guests,” Cynthia continued. ”That’s why I’m not too concerned about the flowers.”

  The words stung as she began flipping through the pages of photographs.

  And this message on how to make a person feel small was brought to you by Cynthia. I pushed the feelings aside and forged ahead. After all, I was a professional.

  “Oooh, this would be amazing. Wouldn’t it, hun?” She tapped a page that
had one of my favorite arrangements displayed on an oval table.

  I glanced up and noticed Cole’s eyes were on me, not the page.

  “Very elegant,” I agreed. “Do you like the softer colors in that arrangement? What in particular draws you in?”

  I stayed focused on the bride.

  “I love the peach and ivory and that soft green. What are those berries?” she asked, spinning her engagement ring around her finger.

  “Those are hypericum berries. They add a graceful touch to the bouquet.”

  “I absolutely have to have those. Could we add a sprig to his boutonniere too?”

  Her words were like a slow leak of carbon monoxide. I wouldn’t know the damage until it was too late, but the mild nausea had already set in.

  “Absolutely.” My voice caught in my throat so I scribbled more notes in my notebook to catch a break.

  Cole Hill was just another groom.

  “Will both the ceremony and reception be outdoors?” Sophie asked, sensing my struggle to formulate much of anything. She handed the bride and groom a form to fill out, which I’d also managed to forget.

  “I want it outside completely, but Cole says it rains all the time, and we have to be prepared for the reception to be covered.”

  I glanced up and nodded.

  “That’s true. The rain has a nasty habit of showing up unexpectedly,” I told her. “Especially in April.”

  “Well, I guess it’s better to be prepared,” she huffed.

  “We can have a large white tent set up.” I reached for the book and flipped a few pages. “We have these crystal chandeliers that we can hang from the ceiling inside.”

  “I love that idea. I also want twigs,” she continued.

  I noticed Cole’s silence and looked over at him. He was staring at absolutely nothing on the floor and my insides twisted.

  What was he thinking?

  “Curly willow is a wonderful addition to arrangements and it looks great painted,” I said, writing her request down.

  Cole’s knee bumped into mine, and I gasped as a shot of electricity ran up my thigh.

  Sophie’s stare hardened as she jumped up. “I’ll get some water. Are your allergies acting up again?”

  “Thank you,” I said.

  A piercing cry came from the back storage room, and I jumped up from the table. Pickles needed me.

  “What is that?” Cole asked, standing up to follow.

  “Pickles.” I dashed through the store to the back room and flipped on the light to see Pickles stretching on the concrete floor.

  She was completely fine.

  Traitor.

  She was luring her true love into her lair.

  Cole came up behind me, breathing hard. He rested his hand on my shoulder as he stared at his gift on the floor. The innocent touch nearly unhinged me as my skin tingled under his fingertips.

  I was so not over him.

  “You still have her?” he asked, catching his breath.

  “Cat’s live a long time, especially this one.” I kneeled down to get away from his touch and reached for Pickles. Without warning, she flashed her fangs and lunged at my hand. I whipped my hand back before her teeth sank in, but it left me falling backward. Cole caught me before I hit the floor but the damage had been done. Feeling his strong grip lodged my mind into reverse, remembering things that shouldn’t be remembered.

  “So you two know each other?” Cynthia asked, coming up behind us.

  “We three know each other,” Sophie said, walking into the back room. “We went to school together.”

  I had no idea how Cynthia was going to take the news so when she bent down and picked up Pickles, I knew not to be surprised by any of the events that were about to unfold.

  “What a pretty little kitty,” she said, nuzzling Pickles’ nose.

  Get her, Pickles.

  Sophie started laughing, and I shook my head as Pickles purred and stretched into Cynthia’s arms.

  Figured.

  “I’ve never heard her purr before,” Sophie said, as Cynthia stroked Pickles’ back.

  “It’s a union made in heaven,” I muttered.

  Cynthia’s phone rang, and she dumped Pickles back onto the ground, but Pickles refused to leave her side.

  “Oh, I’ve got to get this. It’s the caterer.” She answered her phone by yelling hello into the receiver, and she walked out of the back room with Pickles right on her heels. Sophie followed the two, leaving Cole and I alone.

  “So the rumors were true?” he asked.

  I stiffened. What rumors. That I was single? That I hadn’t dated? Oh, how I wished I’d kept my mouth shut when I left the cooler.

  “Rumors?” I crossed my arms in front of me, preparing for the worst. I wondered who the island snitch might be.

  “About the cat. I heard she didn’t care for you.”

  I calmed slightly but then prickled at his accusation.

  “We’ve come to a mutual understanding about life,” I informed him.

  “I see that.”

  “Did you by chance add one to your registry?” I asked.

  “A cat? No.”

  “That’s too bad. You should think about it.”

  Cole smiled and it was about the undoing of me. He stood feet away from me, but the heat rolling off him fried every nerve I had.

  “Well, the caterer wants to know if we could come in early this afternoon, and I told him that would be fine,” Cynthia said, coming back into the room, “because I think we should all do dinner. I would love to find out more about Cole growing up, and then we won’t be rushed to finish up the details for the wedding.”

  I glanced at Cole, hoping he’d object.

  As I was about to decline, I got interrupted by the front door chime and in walked Nick, grinning. Of course, he wouldn’t miss this appointment for the world. I made my way back to the front of the shop and eyed him to stay quiet, but his grin only deepened as he took a look at Cynthia. She was the exact opposite of what any of us probably imagined for Cole, but obviously we didn’t know the man Cole had become.

  “Hey, Nick,” I said, waving. He walked over and gave me a quick hug before glancing at Cole and Cynthia again.

  “Hey, Cole. Nice to see you,” Nick said, nodding. Nick was a year younger than us, but our school had been so small everyone knew everyone. “What a small world.”

  “Hi, Nick.” Cole turned his attention back to Cynthia. “I think you’re absolutely right. Let’s not rush through it. The flowers are the most important part of the entire wedding.”

  “And you can catch up on life.” Cynthia beamed, her eyes landing on Nick. I saw a flash of intrigue run through her eyes, which puzzled me. “How fun would that be for you guys? A mini-reunion.”

  “Oh, I don’t know,” I said, shaking my head. “I’m sure you guys had other plans. We can finish up through email or I’m free tomorrow afternoon. I don’t want to intrude.”

  Cole’s jaw tightened as he watched Nick slip his hand onto my shoulder and squeeze.

  “We can make time. And Cole’s right. Flowers are important. That’s what will be in the photos for years to come. Not the food,” Cynthia continued, eyeing Nick.

  “Well, okay. Nick, are you free?”

  “Absolutely. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” Nick fully draped his arm around my shoulders and Cynthia’s smile widened.

  I glanced at Sophie.

  “I actually can’t make it. My shift starts soon, but you four have fun catching up.”

  “Are you sure?” Cynthia asked.

  Sophie nodded. “Maybe another time.”

  “Well, hopefully these two can give me enough dirt on Cole to last a lifetime,” Cynthia laughed, glancing at Nick and me. “So how long has it been since you’ve seen one another?”

  “Eight years,” Cole answered, his gaze focusing on mine. “Eight long years.”

  “It clearly tore you apart,” Sophie said softly, reaching for my hand.

  “
You can tell? Do you think they saw it?” I whispered.

  “There’s no way Cynthia saw the meltdown you almost had, but I have no idea about Cole. He might have. He’s impossible to read. Well, not completely impossible.” She flicked an odd look to Nick.

  “What do you mean?” I pulled a chair closer to Sophie.

  “Nothing.”

  I glanced at Nick, who shrugged his shoulders.

  “Come on. What is it you want to say about him?”

  She twisted her lips and let out a sigh.

  “He certainly didn’t like seeing Nick get so close.”

  “Oh, please.” I rolled my eyes.

  Nick stayed silent.

  “I doubt he cared.” I pressed my lips together. What if he did anyway? Why would he? It didn’t matter. Cole was getting married in a couple months.

  To keep myself busy, I hopped up and began placing the arrangements into the cooler for the next morning. It was late afternoon, and no more wire orders had come in for the day so I thought it was safe to clean up. And at the moment, any task was a welcome distraction.

  “Well, I’m just gonna say it. I can’t believe that’s who Cole is marrying. She is the exact opposite of anything I would’ve guessed,” Sophie said, helping to organize the carnations by color.

  “What do you think she does for a living?” I opened the cooler door and slid the buckets inside.

  “If that’s her idea of an outfit for a day off, I have no idea. Maybe she’s an executive,” Sophie offered.

  “Or maybe she’s an attorney.” I shoved a bucket of ferns inside next.

  “Why not just look her up?” Nick finally asked.

  “I don’t want to feel like I’m stalking her or him.” I shook my head.

  “And you think mindless hypothesizing is any better?” His brow arched.

  “If we weren’t going out to dinner with them tonight, I might just do it. But with my luck, whatever I find out about her might slip out during conversation and then they’d know I did my research. No way. No how.”

  “The marriage isn’t going to last,” Nick said, out of nowhere.

  I spun around and my eyes locked on him.

  “What do you mean by that?” I crossed my arms.

  “She’s not faithful.” His mouth parted to say more, but he quickly shut it.