Page 24 of Island Whispers

“I’ve had—” She stopped, likely realizing why he wanted her to tag along. “Oh, sure.” She pushed a vase of flowers into his hands. “You can help carry.”

Each of them loaded with flowers, they walked through the house. Celeste’s private quarters were a suite just off the kitchen, making it convenient for her as well as her guests. On the other side of the central foyer was a welcome desk, the dining room, and an area with three different conversation areas and floor to ceiling windows that showed the cove to perfection.

“You must not have any trouble staying booked,” Boone observed.

She grinned. “So far, so good.” She showed off three of the four suites they kept for guests. “My sisters and I weren’t sure about this change at first. But our mom loved it out here and we have so many fond memories of our summers in this house. It’s too much for us to keep up by ourselves. The B&B gives us a way to stay close to what makes the place special.”

“And create special memories for your guests,” he said.

“Exactly.” Celeste beamed at him as if he deserved an award for understanding. “The whole venture has given me some ups and downs.” She took a big breath. “But overall, I think we’re all happy we took the leap.”

“Can Boone and I walk down to the cove before we go?” Nina asked.

“Absolutely,” Celeste said. “Take your time.” She gave Nina a hug, thanked Boone for keeping her friend safe, and then returned to the kitchen.

They were down at the water’s edge when Boone turned to Nina. “When did you tell her I was your bodyguard?”

“I didn’t.” Nina shrugged a shoulder. “Island grapevine at work.”

Huh. “She genuinely cares for you.”

Nina’s brow flexed down over her straight nose. “I should hope so, we’re friends.”

“You make it sound like gossip is always a bad thing.”

“For me it feels that way.” The breeze off the water teased her hair, some strands blowing across her face. She gathered it up and twisted it back in some speedy move. “But it isn’t always. I suppose there must be instances when the grapevine is used for good.”

He chuckled and glanced back at the house. “It’s a gorgeous building from any angle.”

She followed his gaze. “Her dad’s an architect. Or was.”

Turning back toward the water he marveled. The place had to be worth a fortune. “Well, I hope they succeed.”

“Me too.” Nina smiled, tilting her face up to the sky. “The forward momentum and positive energy of running the Hideaway has helped Celeste. For the longest time there was a pall over the whole place.”

“Not easy being a caregiver,” he murmured. “We did our share of that when my grandfather’s health declined. He came to live with us for a few years when I was a kid.”

“Are your parents alive?”

“No,” he replied. Talking about his mom and dad didn’t hurt so much anymore. He’d accepted that he’d always miss them, but he valued the solid foundation they’d given him and his older sister. “They died about ten years ago. They were caught up in a big accident on the interstate. It was a massive shock for my sister and me, but the older I get, the happier I am that they were together when it happened.”

She rested her hand on his arm. “I’m sorry.”

He looked down, getting lost for a moment in her big brown eyes and the sweet gentleness of her touch. Her hands were strong from her work, and yet still so delicate. “Thanks.” He cleared his throat. “We should probably head out if we want to enjoy any part of the drive in the daylight.”

The timing was perfect, the light going soft and painting the trees in sunset gold as he drove up to Georgetown. As they left Brookwell, Nina relaxed mile by mile. He couldn’t help wondering why.

“If you don’t like the island, why do you stay?” he asked.

“I love the island,” she replied instantly. “It’s home, but that’s not the whole of it. Having a business and a voice in the community makes me feel good. I like making a difference with my neighbors and friends as well as the tourists that visit.”

That was more than he’d expected and he was glad she was in the mood to share. But suddenly, he didn’t want to talk about waking up alone. He wanted to hear what she wanted to share. With a little prompting, he got her to tell him some stories about her brother and growing up within a family-run business that was so visible on the island.

She shared funny moments as well as crappy ones, including being bullied in fourth grade for having dirty fingernails. He wanted to find that kid and haul him up by his ear until he apologized to Nina. Not just impossible, but also a gross overreaction to what she was telling him. He locked down the urges before he wrecked the evening.

In Georgetown, they walked along the Harborwalk, chatting about nothing in particular. It was fabulous. When they found a restaurant with live music, they immediately went in. The menu wasn’t nearly as important to them as the sound.

He couldn’t recall connecting with anyone else the way he did with her. Never so easily. They enjoyed the music and the food—barbecue—but it was her company that mattered most to him. He kept bracing for her to call him out for trying to be romantic, but her eyes sparkled and she was so animated he had to assume she was enjoying herself. While part of him wished there was room to dance, it was probably better if they didn’t.

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