Page 20 of Her Maine Risk

“Ash is really happy you’re here, Mel. I hope our little town will be able to keep you.”

“It’s exactly what I need. I can already feel myself relaxing. I hope Pine Cove will want to keep me.”

“Let me know if you need anything, okay?”

“I will. Thanks, Ryan.”

Nodding, he turns and walks over to Ash, circling her waist from behind and kissing the side of her neck as she helps set the table. It’s an act I’m sure he’s done countless times, just a habit, but it’s so intimate and shows how comfortable and at ease they are with one another.

Following Ryan, I walk into the kitchen and over to the breakfast nook table that’s set against the back wall where a large window looks out to the backyard and lake like the living room.

“Thanks for having me over. You didn’t have to make a special dinner for me or anything like this.”

“Uh, what do you mean? Of course we did. Just be quiet and drink your wine,” Ally orders before going to help Jake carry the dishes over.

“Now, this is Jake’s famous mac and cheese. He really won me over that night he made it. He found my weakness for cheesy deliciousness and exploited it to get me to like him.”

“You know you more than liked me at that point.” He smiles, kissing her cheek. “And I won you over the moment I–”

“Okay, yeah, they get the picture, Jake.” Ally laughs. “No need to finish that sentence. So, let’s eat!”

Laughing, we all dig in. And oh my cheesy goodness, if he wasn’t already with my best friend, I’d have fallen a little in love with him in this moment because of it, too.

After a few glasses of wine, a stomach full of mac and cheese, and a sore throat from laughing so hard, Ally takes me back to the cottage and promises another good night tomorrow at The Rusty Anchor.

And while I’m looking forward to a girl’s night, I’m more looking forward to seeinghim. I wonder what he’ll say when I tell him I’ll be here to stay.

Should I even tell him?

It’s not like we’re anything to each other…

But there’s something about him. Something that’s hard for me to resist. He’s exactly the kind of man I’ve been avoiding my entire life because I know he’ll bring me nothing but heartbreak. But I also know he’ll give me exactly what I need. Until he’s done with me, that is. And then he’ll leave me for the next shiny thing that catches his eye.

His beautiful eyes.

Shaking my head free of Alex, I climb into bed, too tired to change out of my clothes, wash my face, or brush my teeth. I just need sleep.

But when I close my eyes and drift off, it’s his jeweled eyes that stare back at me behind my lids, pulling me into them, making me wish he was here right now.

Chapter 5

Waking up the next morning, I have a slight headache from the four glasses of wine I had at Ally’s last night. Thank goodness I stopped at that, though, because if I had any more, I would have been spilling all of my secrets and passing out on the car ride home, needing to be carried inside.

Sliding out of bed, my feet hit the cold hardwood floors, and I wince, wishing I hadn’t kicked my socks off sometime in the middle of the night.

Searching through my pile of bags, I find the one that has my toiletries in it, and I pull them out before making my way down the hall to the bathroom. A nice hot shower is definitely needed after my long day yesterday.

The water hits my back, and my muscles start to relax. I start to relax. I’m too used to being in a constant state of go, go, go, and my muscles have been in knots for so long, I don’t even know what it feels like to be truly relaxed anymore.

After my shower, I dress in dark blue jeans, a thin, light blue sweater, and brown knee-high boots. I leave my hair to air dry for now, and make a pot of coffee, taking my mug out back.

Walking down the porch steps, I make my way across the lawn to the water’s edge, where the wind whips my hair around my face, and the cool breeze blows through my sweater, making me shiver.

Taking a seat in one of the white Adirondack chairs, I squint, looking out across the ocean. The morning sun glistens off the surface, shining brightly in my eyes. I love this. Sitting here, right now, I know that this is where I’m meant to be.

In this little coastal town in Maine, I’ve found my peace.

Taking a deep breath in, I let the salty sea air cleanse my body of everything I used to be, and let it revitalize my soul.

---