Page 67 of Starlight Bay

“You too,” I said, infusing my voice with warmth to compensate for my inner thoughts. Clearly, I’d been jaded by the city. “I need to get a gift for Nick’s parents. Any recommendations?”

“Let me think.” Willow chewed on her lip, her eyes scanning the store. “Mrs. Milton is a fan of the beach and of course,football. I think I can pull something together for you. C’mon.” She linked arms with me, pulling me away from Nick towards a large candle display.

“I’ll just look around up here. You two have fun.” Nick waved at me as Willow dragged me down the aisle.

“So, how long have you two been dating? You live in Boston, right? I always knew Nick would make it. He’s so great—cute, charming, talented.” Willow’s big blue eyes glazed over as she waxed poetic about Nick.

“Um, a while,” I said, purposefully vague. “Do you know each other from school?”

She nodded. “Yep. All the way back to grade school. His brother, Nate, too. Smell this.” Willow thrust a turquoise three-wick soy candle under my nose and I sniffed.

“Nice. Clean, beachy. That works.”

“Perfect. Next, I’m thinking some cute hand towels for the guest bath.” She crossed to the next aisle, combing through the towel selection. “I’m liking these for Mrs. Milton.” She held up a set of crisp white towels embroidered with a fancy goldM.“Classic and elegant, just like her.”

“Great.”

“How about these lotions,” she thrust two bottles—one navy and one white—at me and kept moving, “and this bath bomb. Customers LOVE this.” She palmed the swirly blue-and-white ball. “It fizzes in the water and is infused with essential oils. So great for your skin.”

I nodded. “Wonderful. Do you have any special teas? I need something for his gran as well.”

“Yes! I’ll go put this together in a basket for you while you browse the teas. Two aisles over.” She motioned to the right with her blonde head, then spun towards the counter with our selections.

I made my way over to the tea aisle, bending over to get a good look at the assortment. They had the standard stuff: mint, Earl Grey, lemon verbena, but also some more interesting combos like Sugar Cookie and Spicy Christmas.

“Hey you.” Nick’s deep voice rumbled behind me, sending a shiver of excitement rippling down my spine.Damn it.Then his hand grazed my ass as he closed the distance between us, pressing his taut body up against me, and my disloyal muscles went weak.Double damn it.

“Hey,” I said in my breeziest voice, straightening up but not daring to turn around. “Just picking out some teas for your gran.”

“She’ll like that,” he murmured near my ear, his large hand resting on my hip. My breath caught in my throat as his clean, familiar scent engulfed me, all my nerve endings on fire. This was absolute torture.

I’d seriously underestimated my feelings for this man.

“You think?” I practically whispered to the row of teas in front of me.

“She’ll love it.” His breath ruffled my hair and goosebumps rose on my skin.

“Sydney, what do you think about this?” Willow rounded the corner, stopping short when she saw Nick. “Oh, sorry.” She blushed, a deep crimson staining her ivory cheeks. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“It’s fine,” I said, waving my hand and stepping away from Nick. “And I love it. Great, thanks. So here are the teas,” I thrust them at her. “Maybe throw in some cookies or something?”

“I can do that.” Willow took the teas and moved out of the row just as quickly as she’d come.

“That was awkward,” I mouthed to Nick. He chuckled as I folded my arms across my chest. “And what if she leaks this to someone?”

Nick rolled his eyes. “To who, Syd? Willow’s my friend, she wouldn’t do that.”

I took a deep breath, raising a brow at him.

“I’ll ask her to keep it on the DL, okay?”

“Yes. Good. Thank you.” I nodded, pushing my paranoia away. “What? Why are you looking at me like that?”

Nick grinned. “I forgot how cute you are when you’re worried.”

I punched him in the arm. “Great, thanks a lot.”

I pivoted and headed towards the counter to pay.

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