Page 34 of Where the Waves Kiss the Shore
Kasia turned her face to Tierney. “I love it. It’s perfect, thank you.”
Her nose was red and her eyes shone, but she looked as gorgeous as ever. Tierney wished she could kiss her, but that would be a very bad idea. Kasia’s pleasure at what she’d done with the rooms filled her with warmth. That would have to do. “This is your home now, as long as you want it to be.”
Kasia pulled back and sniffed again. “But only while the hotel remains open. I want to do everything I can to make surethe Waterside continues, but I don’t think it can without some investment. Please be honest with me about how likely that is.”
Tierney used the arm of the chair to haul herself up. “If we can finish off the proposal we started and it isn’t too ambitious, I think Dad may invest for the longer term. We’d need to be prepared to move on the work to be ready for next season though.”
She left out the part about her dad not being sure if he wanted to keep the Waterside. Kasia didn’t need to be worrying about that.
Kasia jumped up from the armchair, suddenly all smiles. “We have to get moving then. More Christmas visitors will be arriving next week. It’s going to be a busy time. But after that, will you still be here to help? We could start with getting quotes for the roof repairs.”
Kasia’s expression was so sincere, Tierney couldn’t help but feel pulled into her need to make the hotel work. “I’ll stay until we get this sorted, I promise.”
“Thank you, Tierney.”
When Kasia wrapped her arms around her, she tensed for a moment, then relaxed into the embrace. It felt good to be trusted, but could she live up to expectations? Could she and Kasia find a way to keep the hotel open and gain her dad’s confidence to make it sustainable for the future? She hoped so, trying to push away her dad’s voice in her head telling her she never saw anything through.
SEVENTEEN
Kasia caughtthe towel Joey threw and rubbed herself vigorously to get the blood moving. The water temperature was so low now they had dipped for just a few minutes. She was trying to tell Joey through chattering teeth about Tierney’s attempts to help at the hotel. When Katy, her teenage seasonal housekeeping assistant, had called to say she wasn’t coming back from college for the Christmas break, Tierney had been quick to step up and offer to cover the work.
“She’s really trying. Now I’ve taught her how to make a bed properly, she’s been hard at it. I’m grateful for the help. Katy gave me almost no notice.”
“Her mum and dad are fuming. She’s met a boy and is going to his parents for the holidays. Young love and all that.” Joey pulled on thick socks, slid their feet into a heavy pair of boots and stood. “Did Tierney talk about when she was back home?”
Kasia frowned and thought for a moment, trying to recall any conversations that had included detail of Tierney’s stay in Boston. “I don’t think so. Aside from work, she only really talks about the birds she wants to go and photograph in her free time.” She pulled a sweater over her head. “Which is surprising.”
“She’s not mentioned Megan or moaned about her dad?”
“Now I think about it, not a thing.”
Joey gunned the engine and steered them out into the bay. “I think something big happened back home, but she won’t talk to me.”
“Also highly unusual. She does love to complain.” She felt a little guilty when Joey frowned at her. “I just mean she’s quite vocal about things that bother her. So maybe this is something different.”
“Will you talk to her?”
Kasia thought she’d misheard over the sound of the engine. “What?”
Joey turned from the wheel. “Will you ask her if she wants to talk about it?”
“Me?If she won’t talk to her lifelong friend, she’s not going to open up to me. Things might be a little easier, but we haven’t exactly built a trusting relationship.”
“Then maybe this is the time to start. Please try. You don’t know her family. It might be easier for her to tell you about what’s going on.”
Kasia looked out at the harbor coming into view and the glass-fronted hotel dominating the hill behind, and the need to stay here burned once again in her chest. If getting to know Tierney Walsh a little better made that more likely, she had to try.
“Okay, if I can get back from shopping early tomorrow, we should have a couple of hours free. I’ll ask her to come out looking for curlews or something.”
“Get the early ferry to the shops, and I’ll run you back as soon as you’re ready. That’ll give you more time.” Joey smiled widely.
She was pleased Joey was happy, but the idea of spending time alone with Tierney away from the bustle of the hotel felt strange and a little too intimate. There had been a few times lately when she’d been close to Tierney and a buzz of attractionhad run through her…more of a throb, if she was honest. She wasn’t sure if Tierney felt it too, but even if she did, Kasia wasn’t going there again. It was too messy.
“Hey,need help putting the shopping away?” Tierney hovered at the door to the kitchen like an enthusiastic puppy.
Her desire to help was refreshing, but Kasia needed to know where to find items when she needed them. It was easier to do it herself than show Tierney where every item went. “Did you service rooms three and eight?”
“Yep, the O’Donnells wanted new towels, so I’ve sorted that, and done all the other items on the list.”
