Page 108 of Sunsets at the Beach House

“Periwinkle. The color.”

His eyes narrowed. “That’s green, right?”

She laughed. “No, it’s blue. Blue with a little bit of lavender in it.”

“If you say so.”

She shook her head. Men could be so funny without even trying sometimes. “Do any of your nice shirts have blue or purple in them?”

He nodded. “A couple with blue.”

“Pick one of them. And no sneakers.”

“I can do that.” He picked up his half of the sandwich.

“I have full faith in you.” She picked hers up, too.

As the sunset faded, soft, easy jazz began to fill the air as the band started up. It wasn’t so loud that they couldn’t talk, but they both went silent for a while as they listened and ate.

Ethan ate faster than she did, confirming just how hungry he’d been. He finished the last of his sub, then wiped his hands on a napkin. “Where are your mom and Miguel going after the wedding?”

“Puerto Rico, eventually, but they aren’t going on their honeymoon until after the salon gets open.”

He nodded. “But what about right after? Are they going to a nice hotel or anything? Or just one of the houses?”

Roxie hadn’t even thought about that. “I have no idea. But there are no plans for a hotel as far as I know. But really, they should have a special first night together.”

“You could always get them a room as a surprise.”

“That’s a great idea. Do you think I could still do it this late in the game?”

“Sure. There’s got to be a nice room somewhere in this town that’s available.”

She nodded and pulled out her phone. “Do you mind if I do some quick research?”

“Not at all.”

She brought up her browser. “I’m not sure where to start.” She looked at him again. “Who would have the nicest honeymoon suite, do you think?”

“I don’t know if it’s the nicest, but I bet it’s the classiest. Try the Hamilton Arms.”

“Of course,” Roxie said. “Perfect. In fact, I’m going out to the parking lot to call them and see if I can’t book the room right now.”

“Good idea. Take your credit card.”

She grabbed her purse. “Also a good idea. What would I do without you?”

He grinned. “Prepare to be even more impressed when you get back, because I’ll have dessert ready by then.”

Her mom had fallen asleep well before Jules, but Jules was too wound up to sleep. The lights were off, she had her earbuds in, and she was scrolling through the results that had come up when she’d searched Instagram with the “new country music” hashtag.

Still being awake didn’t mean she wasn’t tired. She was. But the day she’d had in the studio had filled her with the same kind of energy she often felt when on tour.

It was almost like having an electric current running through her, that kind of zippy, happy, alive feeling that came from a great crowd or an especially perfect set. Today’s studio session, even without Cash, had been electric in a lot of ways.

It had proven to her that getting the kind of sound she wanted was completely possible. Right here in Diamond Beach, too.

That was in big part due to Jesse and all of his help. She hoped the deal with Claire and the pies worked out. Dessert wasn’t Jules’s area of expertise by any means, but it seemed to her that serving that great pie at Jesse’s club would be a great way to get the bakery’s name out there.

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