Page 47 of Kraken Cove

He nods. “Now do you believe me? I’ve been waiting years. What’s a little longer when I’ve got you in my arms and I can tell you everything it means to me? It’s nothing. I’ll wait as long as it takes because the prize is worth it. You’re worth it, Mia. And when you’re ready, I’ll be here.”

Despite the fact that he’s wet and I’m now dry, I throw myself into his arms to hold him close. “You’re so amazing. Did I tell you that enough times?”

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That’s the way things go more or less for the next couple of weeks. Even though it’s beyond tempting every time we’re together, somehow Luke manages to keep to his resolve. I don’t know how. If it was up to me, I’d have given in days ago. But somehow I can’t bring myself to say the words he needs to hear. I just don’t feel ready to commit. Not after how badly I stuffed it up last time I did. Not when I know how much it means to Luke.

Luke gives the upstairs of the house a fresh coat of paint and installs new carpets. We replace the curtains with roller blinds and by the time we’re done, the upstairs looks amazing. There’s still a lot of work to be done downstairs, but that’s major work. It doesn’t seem like the time to begin that sort of thing when I still don’t know what I’m doing.

Then Luke gets a message from his brother reminding him about helping at The Snapper. I’m at a loose end, since Dad hasn’t sent me any new cases. I don’t have anything else to do. So I offer to help out.

When we arrive, Jack and Noah are already there. Mr and Mrs Wilson have already gone to Sydney since they’re staying a couple of nights after Luke insisted they take a holiday. As we walk in, Noah shoots a scowl my way and says to Luke under his breath, “What’s she doing here? Don’t you know she’s just going to fuck you off the second something better comes along?”

I can’t hear Luke’s reply, but I see the way colour rises up his neck and stains his cheeks. And no one could miss the way he shoves past Noah and starts picking up the rest of the furniture to toss outside with unnecessary force.

I hate how much this clearly gets to him. While Noah’s wrong to think I’d ever deliberately hurt Luke, the reality is I’m a mess right now. Even before I found out about Oliver cheating, I couldn’t get it together enough to do a simple task like choosing wedding stationery. And now, I have no idea what I’m doing.

Things with Luke feel amazing. I’m feeling better than I’ve felt in years. But what if I’m only thinking that because anyone feels better than Oliver right now?

No. I know that’s not true. Lukeisamazing. He’s kind and caring and protective, and so, so sexy. I stop myself from making a mental list of every single good quality. I came here to help, after all, not stand around all day.

There’s a huge skip in the carpark and I help carry the chairs outside so Luke, Noah and Jack can toss them in. Then theguys go back inside and get out the sledgehammers and start demolishing the kitschy bar. This isn’t something I feel qualified to help with, so while they’re at it, I walk through the space, trying to picture the layout once Luke is done. He’s described the finished restaurant to me. He’ll open up a cutout to the kitchen so people can see his brother cooking. Then pull out the old booths along the wall and open the space up for more tables. He’s going to put in more windows, so more tables can go around that side of the restaurant, allowing for the feeling of floating on the water, just like I noticed the other night when we approached along the pier.

He’s even chosen a colour scheme: A rich black-blue for the feature wall, with grey, black, and white finishes. There’s one thing he hasn’t considered, though. Art. An idea germinates and soon I’m restless. I wave to the boys and head down the street to the Coral Breeze Cafe to grab everyone a bacon and egg roll and a coffee and me a smoothie. When I return, they’re just finishing the demolition. Luke scrubs a hand across his forehead and gives me a grin. Even Noah and Jack are pleased to see me when they see I’m carrying the tray of coffee and the bag of food.

We sit outside on the deck, backs against the glass of the windows to eat. “You know, I was thinking,” I say as I pass Luke his roll, “you’re going to need something on the walls. To make the place come to life.”

Jack laughs around a big bite of egg and bacon. “Oh, look out. Don’t get him started on interior decorating. It’s his not so secret passion.”

I grin. “Oh, Luke has quite the eye. I know. But I was just thinking maybe I could make something. I mean if you’d likeme to. I could pull in some of the colours you use on the walls or the furnishings, and really make the place feel finished.”

Noah is leaning against the balustrade looking out at the inlet. He looks around as I finish speaking and my heart flutters against my collarbone. I’m sure he’s about to dismiss my offer. I didn’t even really think before I blurted it out. I was just trying to be helpful as much as I can.

Shockingly, his harsh expression softens a little. “What sort of art?”

I shrug. “I usually do portraits or landscapes with trees, but I’d like to try something a little abstract here. To go with the modern look you’re planning.”

His brows lift and a hint of a smile creeps across his lips. “You know what? I might just take you up on that offer.”

Luke chuckles. “You’d be an idiot not to, Noah. Do you know how much a piece that’d fit on that wall would cost you?”

“You’re not charging, right?” He narrows his eyes at me.

“Of course not! I’ve never sold any of my art. I’d just be doing it to help. You don’t have to hang it if it’s no good.”

After that, Noah comes and sits beside Luke against the glass and we all talk for a while. Noah talks about his menu plan and a couple of locals he wants to hire. Eventually, the boys get up and head inside and I head out to get the supplies I’ll need.

The two canvases I end up with are two by three metres. There’s nowhere inside my place suitable to paint anything this large. Instead, I set myself up in the garage, pulling an old pair of socks halfway up my legs and shivering a little inside Luke’s jumper in the cold.

The afternoon passes in a blur. When Luke’s truck pulls up on the driveway, I’m surprised. I pick up my phone and glance at the time. It’s five. No wonder I’m squinting at the canvas. The sun is setting and I’ve been so focused I didn’t notice.

Luke jumps down from the truck and walks over, whistling low when he comes around to look at what I’ve done.

“It’s not finished,” I tell him quickly. Over my rough sketchy lines, I do have a few layers of paint that don’t look like much yet, but eventually will look something like boats on dark water or stars in the night sky. It’s sort of both and neither. Designed to match the impression the water of the inlet gives off at night when you’re sitting in The Snapper looking out past the fairy lights.

He pulls me close and presses a kiss to the top of my hair. “Thank you for this. It doesn’t seem like it, but Noah’s super excited.”

“Really?” I turn in his arms, keeping my hands away from him since they have paint on them.

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