Page 79 of Rebuilding Friendship Inn

She hadn’t asked him any of those questions, and he hadn’t brought them up either. They walked together almost every morning, and he held her hand as they traversed the sand. He took her to breakfast, lunch, or dinner, and she sure enjoyed kissing him goodnight or goodbye for the day.

It was nice to have someone to talk to who was relatively drama-free, as her lunch with Robin, Jean, and Lena had been filled with tension. Since then, she’d heard nothing from Robin—or Clara. Or anyone.

School had started again. Routines had settled over Five Island Cove. New classes, new teachers, new patterns of behavior. The beaches still filled in the afternoons, but only with locals. The construction on new buildings and restaurants continued, but Kristen and Theo didn’t have to fight the crowds to try them.

“I thought we were going to dinner,” she said.

“We are.” He threw her a playful look. “After the surprise.” He took her down the sidewalks in their fifty-five-plus community, clearing leading her toward his place.

She didn’t ask him any more questions, and he opened his condo door without a key. Kristen heard the mewing immediately, and her gaze flew to him. “Theo,” she said, really drawing out his name with plenty of warning. “What’s going on?”

“My friend’s daughter’s cat had kittens.” He left the front door open and moved over to a cardboard box that rested next to the dining room table.

He lifted a pure gray kitten, save for a white patch in a triangular patch between its eyes, from the box. He smiled at it and stroked it with two fingers. “Isn’t she so cute?”

She so was. “You’re going to raise a kitten?”

“No.” He grinned at her. “I got her for you.”

Kristen’s eyes rounded. “You got her for me?”

“Michelle is willing to raise it and keep it until she’s a little older,” Theo said. “Then you can have her.”

Kristen moved over to him and took the adorable kitten from him. She snuggled right into her chest, and Kristen ducked her head and smiled at the feline. “Oh, I love her.”

“So do you want her?” Theo asked.

Kristen looked up, her eyes looking deeply into Theo’s. He wore happiness and hope there, and Kristen felt herself doing something she thought would not happen for her again—she was falling for him. Falling in love.

“Yes,” she whispered. “Thank you so much.” She cradled the kitten close and tipped her head back so she could kiss Theo. He lowered his head and met her mouth.

The kiss was sweet and tender, yet said so much. Passion infused the action too, and Kristen only pulled away because her kitten mewled at her to do so.

“Sorry, baby,” she said to the kitten. She put her back into the box, which had a small blanket and a couple of plastic rings. The kitten cried again, but without her in her arms, Kristen could kiss Theo properly.

So she did.

ChapterTwenty-Seven

“Parker,” Kelli called up the stairs. “Come on. Your father’s on the computer.” She turned away from the view looking up to the landing and went back into the kitchen.

Julian waited on the screen, looking down at his phone. Parker’s footsteps landed overhead, and Kelli’s stomach twisted and flipped.

Her son had flown home alone a couple of weeks ago, and Kelli had cried and cried when he’d been escorted past security to her and Shad. Some of that came from her increased hormones due to her pregnancy, and some of it came from the sheer love she had for her son.

“Come on.” She waved him forward as he finally came into the kitchen.

“I’m coming,” Parker said, his voice halfway tainted with teenage attitude. She threw him a sharp look, and he deflated as he slid onto the barstool beside her.

The past couple of weeks hadn’t been easy in her house, as Parker had moved into junior high, and his summer in New Jersey had only seemed to fuel his attitude.

Kelli had had to remind him who she was, and that as his mother,shewas in charge around their house. He would show her respect, and if he couldn’t, there would be consequences.

She’d grounded him for the first time in his life, and it had been torture for her too, to not be able to take Parker to Jean’s for a welcome-home lunch the woman had planned specifically for him.

She’d done it a few days later, and Kelli had threatened Parker to within inches of his life that he better not treat Jean with a single ounce of attitude, or Kelli wouldnevertake him to the lighthouse again.

Jean had reported that he’d been great, and Kelli hadn’t questioned her or Parker further.

---