Page 25 of The Cottage on Pelican Bay

She jerked her head around and smiled. “Good morning, Saint.”

He loved hearing her say his name. “Did you plan to wake me up?”

She shook her head, making a mass of hair spread around her shoulders. He could recall exactly when he’d set it free and had run his fingers through the glossy tresses. “I figured you would eventually wake up on your own. Besides, you looked good sleeping in my bed.”

He wondered if she knew that sounded pretty much like an invitation for another time. But then hadn’t she practically insinuated that at breakfast yesterday morning? “Thanks.” He took a sip of his coffee, tempted to say he would love to see how she looked in his bed one of these mornings.

Instead, he asked, “What are you painting?”

She smiled at him. “Come see.”

In his bare feet he crossed the room to stand beside her and gaze at the picture. “That’s one of your shops?”

“No,” she answered. “On my walk to the Witherspoon Café yesterday morning I passed this storefront. It was vacant and for sale. My mind suddenly envisioned how it would look if I were to turn it into one of my boutiques.”

He lifted a brow. “I didn’t know you were entertaining the idea of opening a shop here.”

“I’m not. I just saw it vacant, and my mind went to work.”

“Well, you did a great job. You’re a gifted artist, Zara.”

“No, I’m not.”

“Yes, you are. I pass by that vacant storefront all the time and never envisioned it looking like this. You’ve painted it to look like a shop that would be in Paris somewhere.”

“That’s the way I imagined it.”

Saint studied the painting again. She had used radiant colors, and the flowers in the box looked real. Just knowing she had painted this from an image derived from her thoughts was both impressive and amazing.

And it had him thinking.

“Are you sure you don’t want to consider purchasing it?”

She tilted her head to look at him. “Purchasing what?”

“That vacant storefront.” He figured the thought must have crossed her mind.

She shook her head. “I’m not interested.”

“Why not?”

She shrugged. “Why would I be?”

“Long-term investment. You would qualify for Reid’s low-interest loan if you decide to go that route. I personally think it would be a good move with the interest rates as low as they are. For you it would be a win-win situation.”

She continued to paint, and he had a feeling she would give his suggestion some thought, although she hadn’t said that she would. He’d discovered Zara was a good businesswoman, and he appreciated that whenever he gave her advice, she listened. On that note, he decided to give her more to think about. “I think it would make good business sense to place another boutique in this area instead of everything being in the New England area.”

She set aside her paintbrush and turned to him. “I have a boutique in New York.”

“Yes, and that, too, was a great business move. Why did you do it?” He knew his question would get her to thinking.

“It was time I branched out into an area other than New England. That also gave me an opportunity to diversify. In addition to my fashion designs, that particular boutique also sells shoes and handbags.”

“I see.” He did and had a feeling she eventually would, too.

When she remained silent, he then said, “Then you can make that dream you’ve put to canvas a reality, Zara.”

She frowned. “This is not a dream, Saint. Catalina Cove stopped being my home a long time ago.”

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