Page 21 of Seaside Cowboy's Second Chance

Skylar drew a deep breath and turned away. When she turned back, her expression was unreadable again. “I’m fine.”

She kept secrets from him. Way more than he’d realized. Disappointment shouldn’t have ripped through him, but it did before he let compassion overtake it.

“If you’d like to leave—”

“I’m perfectly fine.” Her lips straightened in a smile as she answered her grandmother, but it wobbled. “Let’s find you the perfect wedding invitations.”

“Sure, Little Miss.” The woman’s pale eyes narrowed on Skylar. Then she refocused and pointed at the cards she wanted to see.

What was going on?

An alarm sounded in his head. Why did the painting affect her so badly? Yes, it was a dangerous place many locals avoided even on good days, much more during a storm at night. But she was familiar with it. They’d been there before in his more daring days. Though, of course, they didn’t step close to the edge.

Why would it cause such a strong reaction now? Was it because her father had disappeared on a stormy night? Dallas had never understood why the man had ventured out to the ocean in such weather. It was common sense to stay ashore, but as a sailor, he especially should’ve known better.

Mrs. Rafferty didn’t deliberate for long. She chose a wedding invitation with a romantic couple on the beach, the girl dressed in an unembellished white sleeveless dress, her long hair and veil floating in the breeze. She walked on the sand barefoot, holding hands with a similarly barefoot guy in a tuxedo. The man turned to gaze at his bride, so Dallas couldn’t see his face, but the girl’s face showed so much joy.

It was one of Skylar’s designs and what he’d imagined their wedding would look like. They both had. His rib cage contracted.

Skylar opened her mouth as if to protest. Then her lips thinned, and she didn’t say anything. But the sadness in her eyes spoke for her, glossing them like seafoam coating ocean waters.

“Great choice. Uncle says it’s our most popular design for wedding invitations and anniversary cards.” Kai looked from Dallas to Skylar and back as he input the order. At least, he didn’t ask if they’d reconciled.

Dallas was often grateful for air-conditioning, but he was even more grateful for sunshine and its tender rays on his skin—almost like her fingers—when he opened the stationery store’s door for her and her grandmother, then stepped outside after them. The sky was clear and the brightest shade of blue without a single cloud. All the foggy clouds were inside his head now, and he couldn’t untangle his feelings toward her. It wasn’t love any longer, couldn’t be, but there was regret, longing, resentment, disappointment, and so many others he wasn’t sure how to name. And yes, deep inside, there was still a bit of affection. After all, she’d been the center of his world for most of his life, his sun and his moon, and all the stars in the sky they used to count while lying on the sand.

Pay attention!

He scanned his surroundings.

The place seemed peaceful and quiet with only cries of seagulls in the distance and an occasional whir of a motor interrupting it. Her narrowed gaze moved around as if she didn’t trust the peacefulness.

In their childhood, she’d often been the one to cheer him up, especially when his father became abusive again. Thanks to her, he didn’t wince anymore at the memories of shouts and shattered dishes.

Whatever their past was, the desire to cheer her up and return the favor stirred in him. He opened the front passenger door for Mrs. Rafferty after Skylar had clicked on the fob. “If you’ve worked up some appetite while shopping, I’d be glad to take you lovely ladies out for lunch. And you could use it to discuss what menu you’d like at the wedding.”

Mrs. Rafferty paused before climbing inside. “You two youngsters go ahead, but please, drop me off at home first.”

Skylar frowned, giving him a stab of disappointment. Did she dislike the idea of having lunch with him that much? “Are you feeling unwell, Grandma?”

Ah. Of course, Skylar worried about her grandmother, hence the frown. The world didn’t revolve around him.

“I’m good, missy. Don’t get so fussy.” Mrs. Rafferty slipped inside the car as Skylar helped her. “I just want to get some rest. I hope you don’t mind. But please go ahead. How about Bay and Basin? Bring me back a few samples, too. That would be helpful. Your aunt already agreed to cater the wedding.”

Mrs. Rafferty had been to all the local restaurants many times, especially the one belonging to a family member, so she knew the menus by heart. Though Skylar’s mother had cut all connections with them after abandoning her husband and her child, Mrs. Rafferty didn’t hold a grudge against her daughter-in-law’s family. But a part of him was glad she’d encouraged Skylar to go with him. And not only because another part of him missed the times spent with her.

She turned to him, her eyes pensive. “Is Bay and Basin still pet friendly?”

He breathed out. “Yes, the patio side. And we can look at the ocean or walk to it later.” He nearly added “Like old times,” but he managed to stop himself.

She walked around the sedan to the driver’s side. “Do you mind if we pick up Breeze and take her with us?”

He opened the door for her. “Sure. Go ahead.”

He liked the newly adopted stray, and he also appreciated how the dog could alert them if something went wrong. Hopefully.

The inner alarm sounded again. Was it safe for Skylar to have lunch out in the open? But he was walking on shifting sands as it was, so he didn’t bring it up. Rather, he resolved to be more alert to his surroundings.

And to be honest, he didn’t like to be inside closed-in spaces, even when those spaces weren’t that small. His scream rang in his ears, the little fists hitting the heavy door with no results...Trapped.

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