Page 85 of One Southern Summer

Again, the voice of reason whispered for her to steer clear.

Avery jammed her phone into her handbag without responding to Trey. She’d give careful thought and pray a few times before she made any meeting arrangements with him. Even though he said he wanted to apologize, that wasn’t a conversation she felt equipped to handle yet.

Whoever had tagged her on social media would be just fine without her acknowledgment. Spending this summer in Camellia had taught her a few things. She’d learned to set boundaries. To trust the Lord had good plans for her, although that was often still a daily struggle. And she’d embraced the importance of being mindful of encounters that caused her pain. She wouldn’t let the negativity get to her today or dampen her enthusiasm for Wendy’s and Shayla’s success. The women at Imari’s Place had inspired her to grow. To believe in the possibility of second chances. She was still a work in progress, but she’d definitely learned that she didn’t need likes, comments or shares to determine her worth.

He had less than two hours to confess the whole sordid truth, apologize and plead for forgiveness.

The dock wobbled under Cole’s Top-Siders as he paced alongside Greer’s boat. This was a horrible idea. Overhead, birds soared in an indigo sky. Late afternoon sunshine warmed his skin through his linen shirt. Greer had helped him secure the canvas Bimini cover over the boat’s cockpit so they’d have plenty of shade during their ride. Maybe he should’ve opted for a quiet dinner at a secluded booth at the Italian restaurant downtown. Then if Avery got upset—whenshe got upset—all she had to do was walk out and get in her car.

Because he knew for certain his betrayal would deeply hurt her.

He should’ve told her about Maribelle’s donation that day they met in the coffee shop and she’d proposed developing an entire production line. Instead, he’d let his unrequited romantic interests drive his decisions. They’d blown past all professional boundaries with that kiss beside the pond.

And he had no one to blame but himself.

Cole climbed aboard then lifted the cushions on the boat’s bench seat up and double-checked the cooler. Cans of Avery’s favorite sparkling water greeted him. He made sure the plastic lid on the fruit and cheese plate he’d picked up from the deli hadn’t come undone. Satisfied, he hopped out of the boat and back on the dock. This was the only place he could think of that no one would be able to interrupt them. Sure, it might be a tense ride back after he confessed, but at least she’d have her family waiting inside, preparing for supper.

Avery emerged from the house. Every word he’d planned to speak vanished as he drank in her appearance. Her short-sleeved light pink dress complimented her curves, and the long flowy skirt swirled around her legs as she walked across the grass. Her wide smile captivated him. He stood rooted in place, spinning the boat’s key ring on his finger and grinning like he didn’t have a care in the world.

She paused in the grass, toed off her sandals then hurried toward him. His heart banged against his ribs. Avery picked up her pace then broke into a jog.

This. This right here is what you’ve dreamed of. And now she’s yours. So why mess it up?

He shunned that tempting thought then stretched his arms wide.

A peal of her infectious laughter filled the air as he swept her into his embrace then buried his face in her hair. “I missed you,” he murmured, drinking in her now-familiar vanilla fragrance.

“I missed you too.” She looped her arms around his neck, molding her body to his. The fabric of her dress was smooth beneath his hands as he held her close. She pulled back slightly, and her blue eyes surveyed his face before she pressed up on her toes and kissed him.

She tasted sweet and the tenderness in her touch was perfection. He mined deep for his last ounce of self-control and reluctantly pulled away. “I’d like nothing more than to stand here on this dock until supper and kiss you senseless,” he murmured, cupping her cheeks with his hands.

“Who’s stopping you?” she whispered, her voice breathy as she claimed his mouth again.

He groaned then brushed her lips with one more chaste kiss before he stepped back and clasped her hands in his. “Greer was kind enough to loan me his boat and babysit your kids—”

“So let’s go before they change their minds?”

“Exactly.”

Boy, this was not going to be easy.

“Thank you so much for doing this.” She held on to his hand as he helped her onboard. “I couldn’t wait for you to get home because I have so much to tell you.”

“Is that right?” He forced a smile. “That makes two of us, I suppose. You first.”

She smiled again and his heart rate rocketed into orbit. He released his grip on her hand and gestured toward the bench seat. “Would you like something to drink? Your mama and Greer were kind enough to stock the cooler for us.”

The sunlight streaming through the trees cast a glow around Avery’s platinum curls. She had never looked more beautiful. The realization nearly flattened him. Did he really have the nerve to tell her everything?

“Wow, you’ve thought of everything tonight, haven’t you?”

“I don’t know about everything.” He squeezed the words past his parched throat, grabbed a can of soda from the cooler and turned away.

“Want me to undo the cleat line?”

“Please.” He popped the tab on the can, took a long sip then set the soda in the cupholder. He wiped his clammy palms on his shorts then sat down in the captain’s chair. Avery untied the line and returned to the seat beside him, can of sparkling water in hand. He turned the key in the ignition and the motor rumbled to life.

“So where are we headed?”

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