Page 9 of Tides of Redemption
CHAPTER EIGHT
Caleb
After the gallery closed, I joined the last hour of the event at the bookstore. The reception and book-signing had transformed the store into something special—muted strains of a Herb Alpert melody played, track lighting softly highlighted Todd’s watercolors, and the rich smell of coffee mingled with the earthy scents of books and the subtle fragrance of flowers an author had brought for their table.
The last guests lingered by the door of Tides & Tales, their voices buzzing with satisfaction. Among the last few, I spotted Mason’s friends who had rallied to support him, the men familiar from my visits to the bookstore and coffee shop. Garrett stood near the entrance, alongside Landon from the boutique hotel, Declan from the diner, Miles, who managed the steakhouse, and even Callum, who’d left his busy Barnacle Brews bar to be here. I nodded to the little group before finding Mason and Todd.
“Thank you for this opportunity, Mason,” Todd said, shaking his hand enthusiastically. “Three originals sold in one night, and—what was it? A dozen prints?”
“Dozens,” Mason corrected, his eyes bright with the kind of joy I hadn’t seen since I returned. “Plus, stacks of books. Not bad for a Saturday night in Seacliff Cove.”
I hung back and watched him. He moved differently tonight—confident, animated, his hands punctuating every sentence. The cornflower blue sweater he wore made his brown eyes glint somehow, and when he laughed at something the local mystery author said, the sound traveled straight to my chest.
One by one, his friends, the authors, and Todd left, until Mason finally closed the door behind Todd and turned the lock. The sudden quiet felt intimate, the store now a private world just for us.
“That was…” He exhaled, running his fingers through his hair and leaving it charmingly disheveled. “That was incredible.”
“It was,” I agreed, then held out my hand. “Come with me.”
His eyebrows rose, but he took my hand. The touch sent electricity racing up my arm. I led him past thrillers, mysteries, and romance novels to the small break room in the back. Earlier, while he’d been busy ringing up sales, I’d stashed a bottle of champagne in the mini-fridge.
“What’s this?” he asked as I pulled it out.
“Celebration.” The cork came free with a satisfying pop, the sound echoing in the small room. I poured the light-gold liquid into two coffee mugs—the only glasses available. The effervescence tickled my nose, smelling of apples and possibilities.
“To Tides & Tales.” I raised my mug. “And its brilliant owner.”
His cheeks flushed as we clinked mugs. “To collaboration.”
The champagne was crisp and cold, the bubbles dancing on my tongue. I stepped closer to Mason. Close enough that I could feel the warmth radiating from him. He didn’t step back.
“Three original paintings and dozens of prints,” I said. “That’s significant income.”
“And the community exposure…” He smiled into his mug. “I had three people ask when the next event would be.”
“See? I told you it would work.”
His smile softened, and his eyes warmed. “Thank you for thinking of this. For bringing Todd to me.”
“It was selfish, really.” The champagne loosened my guard. “I wanted an excuse to work with you again.”
The words hung between us, honest and vulnerable. Mason’s eyes met mine, searching.
“We were good together, weren’t we?” he asked quietly. “Back then.”
My heart squeezed. “The best.”
“Then why…?” He set his mug down on the table, the question he’d been holding for eleven years finally surfacing. “Why did you cut me off completely? I told you to take the job, Caleb. I wanted you to follow your dreams. But I didn’t expect to never hear from you again.”
The pain in his voice made my chest ache. I’d rehearsed this explanation a thousand times, but now that the moment was here, the words stuck in my throat.
“I thought it would be easier,” I finally said, my voice low. “For both of us. To hear your voice over the phone but not be able to touch you, see you…it would have been torture.”
“So, you just…stopped.” The hurt was still fresh in his eyes.
“It was the biggest mistake of my life.” I set my own mug down. “I never meant to break your heart, Mason. But I broke mine, too.”
The glow from the lamplight caught the moisture in his eyes, and I had to stop myself from reaching out to wipe it away.
