Page 46 of Making Waves

Jack grinned, liking his plan more and more by the minute. He would do what he should have done three days ago. Tell Alicia that he didn’t just want to buy the damn inn for her. He wanted to be a part of the future she was building.

He just prayed it wasn’t too late.

* * *

Adjusting the “Closed” sign on the front door of the inn on her way outside, Alicia took a cup of tea onto one of the wide, crooked porches that needed refurbishing. She’d spent the last days roaming all over the property, taking an inventory with the help of a home inspector to catalog the work that needed attention.

After Jack had left, she’d found a copy of his list of projected repairs and costs in her inbox. No note. No personal message. Just an orderly review that was more thorough than what she’d paid a professional for the day before. But wasn’t that just like Jack? Smart. Efficient. Well suited to take charge and be a leader.

As she settled into a porch swing hung from sturdy rafters that hadn’t shifted with the rest of the structure, Alicia wrapped her hands tighter around her mug in the cool night air, wondering how she’d repay Jack. Regardless of how she felt about what he’d done, she needed to send him some kind of business plan and a payment schedule. Too bad the renovations on the old sea captain’s home turned inn didn’t feel as exciting without him in her life to share it.

Somewhere nearby, a neighbor must have lit a bonfire since the fragrant musk of burning fruitwood hung sweet in the air. Still, it couldn’t mask the scent of the ocean, a salty briny smell that made her think of Jack and their time on the boat. Other times, on other boats back when they’d dated four years ago. He was such a part of her best memories.

Lifting her tea to her lips, she drank the blackberry-sage brew from a local tea shop. The flavorful drink didn’t soothe her one bit. Her heart ached without Jack. The hollow pit in her chest reminded her that she should have fought harder for him. Should have yelled at him and argued with him about ditching her again. Maybe it would have been an exercise in embarrassment and futility. But then again, maybe not. They’d argued plenty of times over far less important things. Why not fight for each other? For something that mattered? She’d never really stood up to her father and she hadn’t truly stood up to Jack, either. She’d just let them walk away. She’d let the relationships fade because it was easier than a deeper confrontation that might have yielded results.

Why had she let her issues with her dad get in the way of how she felt about Jack? Jack was so much more open-hearted than her father, which made it all the more tragic that she let her problems with her dad shut down her relationship to a great guy. Not a perfect guy, but a damn amazing one all the same.

She had half a mind to march into the Murphy house and issue a challenge to his face. Winner take all. The stakes were a real relationship. Maybe she could suggest a windsurfing contest. She’d have to beat him at windsurfing. After all, she taught the sport.

Alicia was so swept up in her visions of outdoing Jack and winning back a chance with him that she hadn’t realized someone approached the inn until she heard boot steps on the planked porch.

“Hello?” She jumped off the swing, sloshing her tea on the painted floor as she hurried to peer around the corner of the wraparound porch where it extended along the west side of the inn.

Who would show up here so late? Someone seeking a room at the inn? Edging around a plant stand with a pot of heirloom tomatoes, she nearly slammed into the unexpected guest.

“Jack?”

Stunned to see him, she scrambled back, righting herself against a heavy support post.

Eyes adjusting to the darker side of the building, she took in the familiar lines of his face. The softly worn leather jacket with his jeans.

“Hello, Alicia.” His voice hummed through her like someone had started an engine inside her.

“What are you doing here?” She thought about her chaotic thoughts just moments before, risking all for a chance to be with him. Could she be so brazen? Put her heart on the line for a third time? But then, maybe she hadn’t put anything on the line those other times.

Maybe she needed to risk everything so there would be absolutely no regrets. No room for self-doubt about how she’d failed with him.

“I came back to tell you a few things I left out the last time we spoke.”

“Did you drive up?” She arched up on her toes to see past him to the parking area in front.

“I flew, actually. Although I did rent a car after I got to the airport. When I realized how much I needed to see you, I didn’t want to wait an extra minute.” He gestured toward the porch swing still swaying from when she’d jumped out of it at his arrival. “Do you mind if we have a seat?”

He needed to see her? She realized she trembled all over. Her nerves made her jittery inside and out. It occurred to her he’d never sought her out before. Not for his own sake. The first time he’d kissed her and asked her out, it had been the result of a dare from his older brother. Then, when they’d gotten together on the boat, it had been pure coincidence. Or maybe some romantic machinations on Keith’s part. But either way, Jack hadn’t been looking for her.

Alicia wanted to see what he had to say for himself when left to his own designs.

“I might be too nervous to sit.” Setting her mug on the porch rail, she nodded toward the beach. “Let’s walk down by the water instead.”

The clean, crisp late summer air would help steady her. The sound of the water rolling gently along the shore always soothed her. Besides, maybe it would help to be on more neutral ground than on the porch of the house they’d already fought about.

He followed her down to the water. Out from under the canopy of pine trees, the night turned brighter. The full, white face of the moon reflected on the water in a long, liquid stream.

“I wasn’t using my head when I bought the bed and breakfast,” he started.

Her feet halted in the damp sand as her heart sank. “You want me to repay the loan already?”

“No.” He shook his head and she could see the strain in his gaze as he searched for words. “Not at all. Wow, I’m not cut out for this.”

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