Page 38 of Where the Waves Kiss the Shore
After ordering drinks, Kasia turned. “I heard what you said to them.” Her eyes sparkled. “Good for you. You’ve been stuck in the middle of their silly sibling rivalries for too long. It’s great to see you stand up for yourself.”
People jostled around them at the bar and pushed them so close Tierney felt Kasia’s breath on her cheek. She turned and briefly allowed herself to imagine what it would be like to kiss her. But that wasn’t going to happen, even if Kasia didn’t completely despise her now. What they both needed was to work together, safeguarding the future of the hotel and Kasia’s job. She wasn’t going to mess it up by giving in to her growing attraction.
Tierney turned away to look for their drinks. When she turned back, Kasia was still watching her. She laughed. “It felt good. I always imagined if I was mouthy with my uncles, I’d get told off. Turns out I grew into an adult. Or a semblance of one, anyway.”
The drinks arrived, and she passed two to Kasia, who raised her glass. “To being a grown up!”
Tierney giggled and shared the toast. When Kasia turned away, she quickly downed the extra glass of water she’d ordered. Whatever happened, she didn’t want to make a fool of herself again. She followed her as she wound her way through the revelers. Each time Kasia was stopped and greeted by the many people she knew, Tierney wondered when she’d stopped just lusting after her and had started to admire her as a person. If they had met in a different scenario, would they have stood a chance as lovers? Or were they just too different to make it work?
NINETEEN
Christmas Daydawned bright but blustery. As she cleaned up after breakfast, Kasia looked out the kitchen window to see Tierney coming down the lane while fighting to control an armful of gift bags acting like sails in the wind. Kasia was struck by how endearing she looked and ran out into the car park to help.
“Shit, I didn’t think about the wind when I left the cottage.” Tierney handed over the largest bag. “Merry Christmas.”
“Let’s get you and everything inside in one piece before we begin the gift-giving.” Kasia chuckled and bundled Tierney through the doors, then quickly closed them.
Tierney leaned against the closed door and breathed a long sigh. She’d replaced her usual green beanie with a Santa hat that the wind had blown askew. The bobble hung down over one eye. Kasia’s fingers itched to move it and straighten Tierney’s windblown curls. She clenched her fist and moved out of Tierney’s personal space.I really need to curb these impulses to touch her all the time.
Tierney’s beaming smile faded a little. “You okay? Have the guests been hard work?”
Kasia straightened the frown her inappropriate thoughts had produced and smiled back. “No, they’ve been lovely. Most of them have gone for a Christmas morning walk to blow off the cobwebs.”
“They’ll blow off more than cobwebs out there.” Tierney shrugged off her coat and straightened the hat so the bobble hung down her back. “I’m guessing you warned them to stay away from the cliff path.”
“I did.” Kasia tipped her chin toward the harbor where a handful of well wrapped-up people were making their way across the stony shore. “Most of them opted to stay close.” She led the way into the dining room. “I saved you some bacon, and I’ll make fresh eggs now. Come and sit down. Joey will be here soon.” A sharp pull on her arm made her turn back to Tierney.
“Hey, I came here to spend time with you and Joey, not to be waited on. Sit down, and I’ll get food. Have you eaten?”
Kasia shook her head. She usually ate before she served breakfast, but as it was Christmas, she’d allowed herself to sleep a little later. The smell of food had been driving her crazy all morning.
Tierney pushed her into a seat at a table by the window. “Give me ten minutes. You want coffee?”
“Always. Thank you.” Once Tierney disappeared through the kitchen doors, Kasia took a deep breath, allowing her body to relax. It had been a long time since anyone other than Joey had prepared a meal for her, and it had certainly never happened here, in her workplace.
She watched the distant figures on the shore for a few minutes until the crunch of tires on gravel announced Joey’s arrival. She met them at the door and was wrapped in warm arms.
“Merry Christmas. It’s a wild one out there.”
She allowed herself an extra few moments in Joey’s embrace, enjoying the connection. She should’ve hugged Tierney when she’d arrived, but she hadn’t trusted herself. She had to keep those walls in place. Tierney was revealing herself to be much more caring and considerate than Kasia could ever have imagined, but she was a temporary resident. One day she’d leave; Kasia couldn’t afford to rely on her.
Joey held her at arm’s length. “Everything okay?”
She laughed lightly. “Of course. Tierney is cooking us breakfast.”
“And you’re worried the hotel will burn down with us inside?” Joey’s blue eyes twinkled.
She took Joey’s hand and led them to the dining room. “I was thinking we need to tease Tierney less about being useless. She’s really making a difference here now, and it must be tiring to constantly be told you’re incompetent.”
Joey’s lips twitched as they sat down opposite. “Understood.” They opened their mouth to say more, but Tierney returned to the room, carrying dishes of steaming food.
“Great timing, Joey. I assumed you’d be hungry.” She placed plates in front of them and returned to the kitchen, then she emerged with a jug of coffee. “Eat up before it gets cold.”
“You guessed right.” Joey tucked in with gusto. “This is delicious, thank you,” they mumbled around a mouthful of food.
“Kasia did most of it. I just finished off.” Tierney poured coffee into a mug and handed it to Kasia with a wink.
Kasia ignored the tingle of something inside. “What you do with these eggs is amazing. I’m never this ambitious.”
