Page 49 of A Lot Like Love (Blue Moon Bay 1)

Her breath caught in her chest and she just mumbled somethingshedidn’t even understand.

Yeah, things were totally going to go back to normal between them.

Lia glanced back and forth between them as though she caught a vibe of her own, then turned her attention to Marissa. “Hey, what do you say we head down to the beach while your dad works?”

“Yes…I mean, can I, Dad?”

“Of course. Thanks, Lia.” He glanced at her. “Hey, why not invite Sarah to join you?”

Was he trying to get rid of her? She wasn’t going to intrude on Lia and Marissa’s time together, but she would grant him time to work alone. She needed an escape as well.

“Actually, I’m about to head out,” she said. She was now, anyway.

Lia tapped his shoulder as she passed, following the little girl outside. “I’ll bring her to your place later and we’ll catch up tonight, Wes.”

As they left, Wes turned to Sarah and cleared his throat. “So, other than the remaining decks…the last thing we need to finish is the staircase leading to the cellar. I want to refinish the concrete to prevent chipping. My crew is busy and I don’t want to forget about it, so I thought I’d just do it myself.”

“Great—thank you.”

His gaze locked with hers, lasting a few seconds too long. The silence echoed around them a little too loud, and there was an odd energy circling her that she’d be a fool to read too much into. But her pulse raced, and when his gaze lowered to her mouth, she knew he had to be thinking about their kiss, too.

He glanced out the window toward Lia and Marissa, breaking the moment, and she remembered to breathe.

“Anyway, I should get going,” she said quickly.

“Yeah, I should get to work.”

Heading outside, she took a deep breath of fresh air as she headed toward her rental. There was one place in Blue Moon Bay that always cheered her up, and if no one needed her at the inn that day, that’s where she was headed.

…

Using a chisel and wire brush, Wes removed the loose concrete on the winding stairs leading down into the wine cellar. Sweat pooled on his lower back in the heat of the dimly lit stairwell. It was actually kinda creepy being there alone, so he picked up his pace as he applied the concrete re-surfacer to the top of each stair.

Seeing Sarah that morning hadn’t provided any of the clarity he’d been hoping for. Over the last few days, he’d had time to digest and process what had happened, and he’d thought things would be fine. It was just one impulsive kiss. It didn’t have to mean anything. People had casual hookups all the time…

Unfortunately, the moment he’d seen her that morning, there was no way he could write off the kiss or the attraction between them as casual. It was anything but.

She’d looked so beautiful in a long, flowy sundress that hugged her waist and displayed the swell of her breasts so perfectly. Her dark hair in a high ponytail, no makeup on, it had taken all his strength not to take a chance on a do-over on that kiss.

And the look of jealousy on her face when she’d watched their interaction with Lia had made him want to reassure her that she was just as important to them. It had also told him how deep his feelings were. It was more than just physical attraction for both of them.

But where did they go from here? If she did want to explore things, was he ready for that?

Chapter Sixteen

It had been years since Sarah walked the beach on this side of the bay. The scenic drive along the coast of town was breathtaking, and it was exhilarating to cruise along the twisty coastal road, feeling the warm breeze through the open windows, the sun breaking through the disappearing clouds. Pulling into a lot a block away from the beach, she parked the car, grabbed her purse, and headed down the boarded walkway.

Along the busy boardwalk, clothing and jewelry stores had tables of merchandise set up outside, sale signs broadcasting amazing deals for the beautiful handcrafted pieces. Long, flowy bohemian skirts caught her attention, and she stopped to admire them. Soft fabrics of various shades for deals she’d only find here in Blue Moon Bay. In L.A., the prices would be double.

Life here was wonderful. The ocean, the weather, the slower pace, all these amazing local shops and restaurants…

A street musician played a beat on bongo drums in the distance and up ahead, a local artist drew a family caricature sketch for a group of tourists. Sarah stopped to watch, then reluctantly moved on.

Seeing Harrison’s Blown Glass hut, she entered through the already open door. Lack of air-conditioning in the space made it stifling with the variety of heating machinery generating warmth throughout the store. Just a light breeze from a floor fan in the corner blew her sundress around her ankles and offered any form of relief from the heat. Sarah removed her light sweater and wrapped it around her waist.

It was definitely one of the oldest and smallest shops along the boardwalk. Wooden exposed beams in the ceiling and unfinished shelves along the walls gave the place a rustic, beachside appeal. The smell of paint mixed with a slight wood-burning scent left no question that the art was created on-site.

She slid her sunglasses to the top of her head as she scanned the dozens of differently shaped bulbs hanging from the ceiling, like the one Wes and Marissa had given her. Round, teardrop, oval…some with a delicate point at the bottom. All shapes and variety of color blends, picking up the sunlight through the window and casting a warm glow across the wooden floor.

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