A Spot at Starlight Beach (Spotted Cottage #3)

Twenty

The last splashes of orange faded into the sunset. Liam returned to find Mackenzie and crew on the beach trying—and failing—to set up a bonfire.

“You’re welcome to stay,” Patty shouted as she set out marshmallows, chocolate bars, and graham crackers. Her golden retriever Derby stood a foot behind her, staring at the marshmallows. “You could use those big strong arms of yours to carry some firewood!”

“I think Liam’s done enough for us today,” Mackenzie said. She turned back to him. “I hope you’re not super tired.”

“Not at all. I made it to twenty-two houses, and fifteen people were willing to talk.” He held up a clear plastic bag with a chocolate chip cookie inside. “And one, as you know, tricked me with baked goods.”

Mackenzie laughed. She accepted the cookie and took a bite, the chocolate chunk snapping in her teeth. “I can see why you stayed so long. This is a good cookie.”

He liked seeing her in this light. She looked more relaxed with her family. Even their arguments were lighthearted, like the tone in her voice when she’d called him with the “Hello dear…”

How his heart had leapt at those words.

“I know it doesn’t seem like I did much today,” he said, “but the results were consistent. Every single person initially said they would vote yes on the initiative, but when I handed them the flyer and explained a few things, they changed their minds.”

Mackenzie finished off the rest of the cookie. “I guess that’s half good news.”

“It’s fully good news. One of the women I spoke to used to volunteer for local elections. She said we could send these flyers out as political mail if we work with the post office. I was thinking we could add a picture of Lottie, simplify some of the language, then send them out.”

“Yes, of course. Why didn’t I think of that?” She shook her head. “We’ll start with the islands, then make adjustments before we send them to every voter in the state of Washington.”

He nodded. “Right.”

“We can go to the post office tomorrow. I think we can find a printer to make sure the flyer is in color…”

Patty walked over, a stack of newspapers in her arms. “Excuse me, young lady. Tomorrow we’re meeting with Margie at Saltwater Cove,” she said. “Don’t you remember? You’re going over the details for the ball, and you’re bringing me with you. I have to return Margie’s cake box.”

Mackenzie groaned. “I forgot. Russell really needs to give me a raise or hire a real project manager.”

“I’ll go to the post office,” Liam said. “I don’t mind.”

She eyed him. “Are you sure?”

“Consider it done.”

She stepped back, looking at him. “Oh. Thanks, Liam.”

Eliza joined them, wiping her forehead and leaving a black smudge on her brow. “I’m done with fire management. We’re not having a fire. Everyone can go home and go to sleep.”

Liam smiled. “Mind if I try?”

She handed him a lighter and a roll of newspaper. “Knock yourself out.”

“You should tell Russell you’re moving into one of his spare bedrooms, Liam,” Patty said. “You deserve a raise, too! You shouldn’t be stuck on that faraway island.”

He squatted beside the fire pit. Bits of charred newspaper scattered as he picked up a log. “I like it on Stuart. I like the peace. Though the company is better here.”

“The boater bros kind of ruin the peace, don’t they?” Mackenzie asked, looking down on him with her arms crossed.

That wasn’t what he’d meant. He smiled at her. “A bit.”

Mackenzie laughed and he tore his eyes away, turning back to the fire. He shifted the logs into a standing teepee, tossing aside two waterlogged branches, and stuffed a bundle of newspaper inside.

With a snap of the lighter, the newspaper caught fire for a moment, then vanished in the wind. Liam lit it again and again, shielding the little flame with his hands, until it licked the nearest twigs, spreading steadily. Within a minute, the entire structure crackled, engulfed in flames.

He stood and Patty clapped him on the shoulder. “Is there anything you can’t do?”

“Oh, lots.” Liam looked up. “Like fly a plane.”

Joey, his mouth full of graham crackers, walked over. “That’s my cue.”

“Oh, hey man. I don’t mean to rush you.”

“No rush. I’m on track to eat all the chocolate before anyone can roast a marshmallow.”

“Cut that out!” Mackenzie barked. “You’re going to make the s’mores uneven!”

“There’s no such thing as uneven s’mores!” Eliza shouted, kneeling by the fire. “Leave Joey alone!”

“Children,” Patty said, “there are plenty of supplies for everyone.”

Joey laughed. “I’ll take you back. Follow me.”

Liam turned to follow Joey down the hill. Halfway there, Joey paused.

“Do you mind if I run to the house real quick? I need to grab something.”

“No problem.”

Joey walked on and Liam stood, hanging in the darkness, the smell of rich smoke riding the cool night air.

Darkness fell astonishingly quickly, surrounding him like a heavy blanket. He took a few steps back up the hill until he could see the warm glow of the flames.

Eliza knelt beside the fire, loading marshmallows onto a roasting fork. “You’re holding your fork too high, Aunt Addy,” she said, shaking her head. “You’re going to be here forever.”

Mackenzie walked over and thrust a roasting fork directly into the fire.

Flames danced around the edges before catching, turning it into a beacon. She waved it wildly above her head until the flames went out.

“That’s the wrong way to toast a marshmallow!” Eliza snapped. “It’ll end up cold at the center and burnt on the outside.”

Mackenzie stepped away, eyeing her blackened marshmallow. “I’ll just wait for you to make me one, then.”

Liam smiled to himself. He wouldn’t have expected Mackenzie to roast a marshmallow any other way.

Mackenzie dropped her fork on the ground and knelt next to Derby. His head was bowed, his mouth slightly open.

“Derby!” she hissed, prying his jaws open with both hands. Wet marshmallows fell out of his mouth. She gathered them and stood. “You are too old to be getting into stuff like this.”

He wagged his tail, head hanging low.

Liam stifled a laugh and Mackenzie looked up, catching him standing in the darkness.

She jumped. “Is everything okay?”

He sucked in a breath. “Oh, yes, sorry. Joey had to stop by the house, so I thought I’d keep warm here.”

“Do you want a s’more?” she asked, dumping the stolen marshmallows into the flames.

She looked so pretty, the flames dancing in her eyes. He didn’t want anything except to stay here for the rest of the night with her.

Except he couldn’t form the words. “No, but thanks. I’d better get going.”