Love Redone in Hidden Harbor (Island County Book 2)

by Karice Bolton

  It looked like I needed to complete two more spring arrangements to add to the orders being delivered this afternoon, and then I could sneak off to the book fest. I always looked forward to wandering the aisles. I loved discovering new authors. I never left empty-handed.

  I grabbed a few blocks of presoaked florist foam and trimmed the green foam to size for the first basket. I jammed in the green foam and nearly jogged to the cooler to grab the flowers. I picked a nice assortment of spring flowers—tulips included—and began slicing the ends off the stems before arranging the flowers in the foam.

  An email came over and I placed my knife down and went to take a peek. It was from Cole. He wondered if I was free tonight.

  Uh, yeah.

  I quickly typed back that I’d be at the house around five o’clock, and he responded just as quickly.

  Good. I’ll bring dinner.

  Cole’s return had already started turning my life upside down, and I loved to hate every single second of it. Part of me wanted to be angry at myself for letting him back in so easily, but the other part of me wondered why I hadn’t already crawled into bed with him.

  I finished up the arrangements and slid them into the cooler with a note to my delivery driver for the day. If no other orders came in, I just might take the rest of the Saturday off. Official shop hours were only ten until three on Saturdays, unless there was a school dance.

  Quickly scribbling some last minute instructions for one of the arrangements, I glanced around the shop and wondered if I should invite Cole to the book fest.

  Nah. I needed some alone time.

  Not that I didn’t already have plenty.

  Pickles slowly strutted from the back room and glanced at me briefly before taking a sip of water. Maybe Pickles needed a friend. Her gaze shot over to me, and she hissed. Realizing this cat was also psychic, I slowly backed out of the shop and locked up.

  Since the sun was shining, the book festival would be in the park across from the library, which was nice. That didn’t happen very often. I wandered down the sidewalk getting more and more excited as I went. I wanted to get a few mysteries and maybe some more paranormal. Who knew? The options were endless.

  I got to the first table, which turned out to be nonfiction historical. There were some interesting titles, but I kept browsing. I found several flower and herb books that I added to my stack and continued to make my way down the first aisle.

  I heard a ton of women laughing a couple aisles over and glanced in their direction. And there on crutches was Anthony, chatting it up with our librarians. I chuckled and began making my way over.

  “Hey, there she is. The woman of the hour,” Anthony said, balancing on his crutches.

  “Well, that’s frightening.”

  “How’s my Foxy Lady?” Carol and the other librarians giggled and wandered away. If he didn’t already have one broken leg I just might have side-swiped his crutches.

  “Foxy Lady is doing just fine. What are you doing here? Why aren’t you running around with your people?”

  “I get to see them plenty. Besides, Cole told me to meet him here.”

  “I didn’t know he was coming.”

  Anthony shrugged and adjusted his shirt that had started to bunch.

  “Hey, is it true about you not dating since Cole?” Anthony’s voice softened.

  I felt my cheeks flush and I glanced around.

  “Would it matter?”

  “No, I was only curious.”

  “Yeah. It’s true. I’m not proud of it, but yeah.”

  “It’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

  “I’m not ashamed. I merely wish I hadn’t allowed myself to get so lost in what could have been.”

  Anthony looked across the way, and I saw Cole walking slowly up the lawn. He was checking out some of the tables and making his way over.

  “My turn to ask you something.” I kept my eyes on Anthony as he brought his eyes back to mine.

  “Shoot.”

  “If I hadn’t been the florist, do you think Cole would still be engaged to Cynthia?”

  Anthony sucked on his lower lip as he thought about it.

  “No. I don’t. He knew he was making the biggest mistake of his life. He didn’t agree to get married on Fireweed for nothing. I think my brother had a plan….even if he didn’t know it.”

  I sighed.

  “You know this side of Cole you’re seeing?” Anthony continued.

  “What do you mean this side of Cole? This is the only side I’ve ever known.”

  Anthony shook his head. “This side you’re seeing isn’t who he became, Natty. You’re bringing out the old Cole again. He’s excited about life, his future. He became a walking mummy over the last couple years, and once Cynthia came into his life, I swear to God he died a little inside.” Anthony smiled. “No joke.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “You saw Cynthia as his future, and he saw Cynthia as his way out. He could slink into an emotionless state where no one would notice, and he could silently resent a life he hated because he couldn’t have what he truly wanted.”

  Anthony’s words slipped their way into my mind, but I refused to believe it. The moment Cole came into my store, I saw the old Cole. I’ve never seen this other side Anthony’s talking about.

  “You don’t have to believe me. I’m just saying as his brother, this has been good for him”

  I nodded as Cole walked up behind Anthony and patted his shoulder.

  “Why the grim faces?” Cole asked, glancing over at me.

  “Oh, Anthony couldn’t find the romance section. He asked for my help.”

  “Erotica, actually.” Anthony wiggled his brows.

  Cole shook his head. “Nice try. So what were you two scheming.”

  “No scheming. More like catching up.”

  “Now that I believe,” Cole said, rocking back on his heels.

  “Well, I’m going to roam the aisles. I’ll see you tonight,” I told Cole, and I saw the familiar spark I’d always seen.

  Anthony had to be mistaken.

  “See ya later.” Cole kissed my cheek before taking off with his brother as I tried to churn Anthony’s words into something I understood. Why would a man give up? Why would Cole resign himself to a life he didn’t want?

  I wandered through the aisles and let my mind drift to my happy place. Before the afternoon was over, I had a stack of books so tall I had to have help walking them over to my shop. I should have brought my car.

  I checked on everything inside and looked at the delivery driver’s note. All deliveries went where they were supposed to, which was always a plus. I looked for Pickles and found her sleeping on my desk chair. She looked so sweet when she was sleeping.

  “Knock, knock,” Sophie called into the shop. “Guess what I got?”

  “What?” I called from the back room.

  “A promotion. Time to celebrate.”

  “Are you serious? Where at?”

  “Loxxy. I’m now assistant manager of hospitality.”

  “Wow. That is much overdue.” I hugged her, and she groaned once she spotted my stack of books.

  “If you’re spending that much time reading while Cole’s in town, tsk, tsk.” She grinned.

  “Very funny.”

  “So how about it? My treat, a night on the town? I say we even go over to Seattle.”

  I thought about my plans with Cole and a twinge of guilt surfaced. Sophie needed to be able to kick up her heels, and Cole, well, I didn’t know what to say.

  “What?” she asked.

  “Cole was bringing dinner over tonight, but this is far more important.”

  “Okay, girl. I’m really proud of your growth. Girl power and all, but no way, no how. You had plans with Cole first, and I will not become an enabler.”

  “An enabler?” I leaned on the counter.

  “Yeah. I want no part of it. If you screw this up with Cole, I want it to be all on you. I don’t want to be able to thi
nk about all the times I supplied you with an excuse to skip out on him. We’ll do a rain check.”

  “What if we all go to Seattle?”

  “I’m really not into being a third wheel, but thanks for the offer.”

  “Well, his brother would probably love to go out.”

  “Yeah. That’s exactly what I need for my ego is to be stuck with a rock star for a night. Love you dearly, but no.” She shook her head.

  “Speaking of, I asked Anthony if he thought Cole would still have been engaged to Cynthia had I not been the florist.”

  Sophie’s eyes locked on mine. “And?”

  “He said that he didn’t think they’d still be engaged.”

  “Really.”

  I nodded.

  “But why do you care one way or another?” she asked, lifting herself onto the workbench.

  “I honestly don’t know.”

  “Well, then it sounds like it was a great answer to a dumb question,” she chuckled.

  “I guess so.” I let a few seconds of silence pass. “Do you think it’s possible that someone could be resigned to living a life that isn’t their own or maybe that they don’t even want but accept?”

  Sophie’s brows shot up. “Seriously? You have to ask that?”

  I shrugged, not understanding why when it came to Cole, I refused to accept that he could be conflicted with the same life issues as half the planet. Maybe it was because to me Cole could do no wrong. He’d only ever shown me the side of him I see now. I couldn’t fathom him putting himself in a situation he didn’t want to be in.

  He was stronger than that. Always had been.

  But then again, I hadn’t known him for the last eight years.

  “Well, I’m going to go see if one of my other friends wants to hang out.”

  I glared at her.

  “What? You do know I have other friends, right?”

  I tossed a spool of ribbon at her, and she knocked it out of the way.

  “See ya around and don’t do anything to screw up tonight.”

  “You think I could?”

  She walked over to the door and yanked on the handle.

  “Let’s put it this way. If anything like ex-fiancées comes up and he asks if you want the clean or messy version, choose clean.”

  I rolled my eyes and watched her happily march out of my store. Would I be content with the clean version? This was the problem of being me. I always wanted details.

  Cole knew every dream I’d ever held close. He knew what I wanted for my future. He understood the pain when my grandma passed away, and he held the tissue while I gave our high school commencement speech because he knew I was also saying goodbye to the island and the people I loved.

  The love I had for Cole Hill lingered and to get a taste of it so many years later warped my sanity.

  Literally.

  It took me twenty minutes to choose an outfit, and after talking myself out of several bad choices, I finally came up with a pair of leggings and an oversized black lace top with a matching black bra. It wasn’t my normal lounging outfit, but this wasn’t a normal friends-in night.

  The doorbell rang and I glanced at my clock. Cole was early.

  I ran to the bathroom, gargled, spit and ran to the front door to see Nick standing on the front step.

  “Wow. That is not how you usually spend our friends night in, but I’m all game for changing it up.” Nick walked in with a bottle of champagne, and I shook my head.

  “What are you talking about?” I followed him into the kitchen.

  I’d finally convinced Cole that Nick wasn’t that type of friend, but I really didn’t feel like rocking the boat and having them both hash it out in my living room.

  “I thought we had plans tonight.” Nick’s gave me the once over and smiled as he put the bottle in the fridge.

  I looked at him, horrified as I racked my brain. Had I completely lost it since Cole came to town? I remembered nothing about tonight.

  “Natty, I’m totally kidding. Sophie told me about tonight and I thought you’d like a bottle of the good stuff. And I wanted to tell you that no matter what happens, you’re the most brilliant and kind woman I’ve ever met. Your beauty radiates to everyone around you.” Nick glanced at the clock and back at me. “Cole is a lucky man and don’t forget that for one second.”

  “Thank you, Nick.” I gave him a quick hug and heard Cole clear his throat. Nick dropped his arms and took a step back.

  My eyes flashed to Cole’s, but I didn’t see anything other than respect filling them.

  “Nick’s completely right.” Cole smiled and nodded at Nick, taking a few steps into the kitchen with bags in each hand.

  “Here, let me help,” I said, my heart still pounding as I tried to think about everything Nick had said.

  “I brought over a bottle of champagne for Natty,” Nick said, sliding by me.

  “And thank you for that,” I told Nick.

  “Off to meet Andrea,” Nick hollered on his way out of the room.

  “You’re kidding.”

  “Yes, I’m kidding,” Nick muttered as he let himself out.

  “Who is Andrea?” Cole asked, sliding paper plates onto the counter.

  “It’s a girl he met on a hookup site, but then he started—” I stopped myself, totally forgetting that Cynthia had been on the same site.

  “I mean it’s some dating site that he was using and…”

  “Natty, I know about Cynthia.”

  I let out a big sigh, and it felt like the weight of the world had been lifted.

  “You do?” I was sure my eyes were as wide as saucers, but the amount of relief that was flooding through me was no joke. I’d been so worried I’d somehow spill the beans and hurt him even more.

  “Yeah. I’m surprised you do though.” Cole began pulling out Chinese takeout and my heart swelled.

  “Nick said he didn’t like Cynthia so he started snooping.”

  Cole’s grin widened. “Nick’s not a bad guy at all, is he?”

  “Nope. Just a friend.”

  “I can see that. I only wish I’d seen that eight years ago.”

  “They say distance makes the heart grow fonder…” I opened up a container of chow mein. “Or was it time that makes the heart grow fonder? I guess both work.”

  I felt Cole’s gaze on me and I looked up slowly.

  “You look incredible,” Cole said, taking a few steps toward me.

  “I thought I should try something other than sweaters and flannels.”

  “Well, you always look amazing to me,” he murmured.

  I put down the fried rice container and took the last step we needed.

  “I could say the same about you.”

  Cole circled his arms around my waist and stood with me. He didn’t try to kiss me, he just held me, his eyes fastened on mine.

  “My brother said you haven’t been with anyone since…” He bit his lip but didn’t say anymore. His expression said it all.

  “He doesn’t let any grass grow under his feet.” I smiled.

  “Is it true?” His gaze never wavered.

  I nodded.

  “But as I’ve mentioned before I have a really stellar imagination.”

  “As do I.”

  “Are you hungry?” I asked.

  He shook his head.

  “Me neither.” I took a step back and opened a drawer, his arms only loosening slightly around my waist. I grabbed the bottle opener and dangled it in front of him. “Do you mind grabbing the champagne flutes behind you?”

  “Not at all.” But rather than do as I asked, he took the opener away from me and set it on the counter. Cupping his hands around my face, he brought his lips to mine, and electricity shot through me as his mouth opened against mine. His kiss started slow but deepened with every passing second. I was reckless with longing, throwing my worries aside as he pushed me onto the counter, his hands running underneath my lace top. So much had changed over the years, but certain things stay
ed the same. He knew what I liked, what made me melt into him.

  Sitting on the counter, he bumped my legs apart, standing in between my knees as I linked my arms around his shoulder. He looked into my eyes and heat pooled in my stomach as I harnessed the emotions running through me. Lifting the lace slowly, his gaze stayed on mine as I licked my lips, hoping this was only the beginning as he looped his arms around my waist and brought me forward.

  I eased my fingers through his hair, guiding his lips to my stomach, his kisses singeing my bare skin and sending jolts of ecstasy through me. A soft moan left my lips as he parted his mouth and began running his tongue along my skin.

  To say I’d forgotten how good it felt to be held by a man would be a vast understatement. My body wanted to fall into him. I turned into an unstable mess as his fingers hooked into my pants, and he began working them down.

  I giggled as the tips of his fingers slid across my hipbones before he slid me forward on the counter. I shook my leggings off the rest of the way, and he lifted me off the granite. I quickly wrapped my legs around Cole as he carried me out of the kitchen. I buried my face into the crook of his neck and took in a deep breath realizing what I’d been missing for all these years.

  Even more than I imagined.

  He carried me into my bedroom and set me on the bed, shoving my top and bra over my head in a tangled mess. Neither of us cared. We only wanted each other. I nearly tore his shirt off as he climbed on the bed. Hovering over me, I circled my arms around his waist and brought him on top of me. Feeling the crush of him made me feel safe and like this was where we belonged.

  Cole brought his mouth to mine. The coolness of his lips mixed with the warmth of my tongue. A complex wave of emotions traveled through me as I thought how close we were. Everything I thought I felt for this man hadn’t even touched the tip of what I was about to experience tonight.

  I felt his arousal on top of me, and heat swam through my body. I kissed him back as if I’d never experienced him before, mirroring his motions as his kisses searched for something I was finally ready to give. My hands slid down his back as he began working kisses down my jaw.