A Spot at Starlight Beach (Spotted Cottage #3)

Thirty-six

Leave it to Liam to move to Hawaii during peak tourist season. Outside of his hut, there was an endless stream of couples holding hands on the beach, weddings at sunset, and family photo shoots.

It wasn’t technically a hut, but it felt more adventurous to refer to it that way, not as a damp studio apartment with stained carpets and an army of cockroaches.

He’d applied to the job on a whim. Free housing and a low stress job as a zipline instructor? What could be better?

Liam was a fool – an overly sentimental fool who now grumbled at the sight of the mountains rising into the mist, the golden beaches, the overabundance of waterfalls, and the sparkling turquoise waters.

Every bit of paradise reminded him of her. Every serene scene reminded him Mackenzie wasn’t here.

Liam lasted a week and a half. He walked into his boss’s office at the end of the day and handed him the keys. “I’m sorry. I can’t do this.”

The kid peered up from his visor. “Did you forget to secure someone to the line?”

“No, nothing like that. I just have to go.” Liam shrugged. “It’s not personal. Actually, it’s extremely personal.”

He waved a hand. “Sure, whatever. I’ll need you out of the room by the end of the week.”

“I’ll be gone.”

Being alone in a beautiful place normally set him straight, but now, it felt like he’d never be righted again. Maybe it was time to go home. Do a full reset. Let his mum cook for him as she was always threatening to do.

“Hey,” his boss called out. “Someone was looking for you.”

Liam stopped. “Yeah?”

“I told them to wait on the beach, but there’s a wedding, so I don’t know where they went.”

“What did they want?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“Who was it?”

He put his sunglasses back over his eyes and leaned back in his chair. “Not sure.”

Liam gritted his teeth. “Thanks for that.”

He walked out of the office and into the sand. Palm trees curved to the sea and cabanas stood as the only refuge from the sun.

The wedding was well underway, vows being exchanged. He took off his sandals, the sand burning his feet, and walked on.

“Liam!”

He turned, looking for the voice, scanning the groups huddled on towels.

When he saw her, the sand beneath him shifted.

Mackenzie pulled off her large black sunglasses, a straw hat sitting atop her head. “Hey!”

He put an arm up to wave at her. “Hi.”

Mackenzie jogged over. “I can’t believe I found you.”

“ I can’t believe you found me.” He stopped a few feet short of her. “I think I’m having heatstroke.”

She laughed and reached into the bag on her shoulder. “Do you need some water?”

“No, but thank you.”

He didn’t want water. He wanted to put his arms around her. He wanted to pick her up and spin her around and yell, “You’re here! You’re here!”

She cocked her head to the side. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I – uh. You look great.”

“Thanks.” She smiled and looked down. “I saw your video. About Lottie.”

“Oh. Did you like it?”

“Liam, it’s incredible. I loved it. You’re an amazing storyteller.”

“Well, it’s Lottie’s story. Not mine.” He stared at her. Were those freckles on her cheeks? As if she couldn’t get any prettier…

She took a step forward. “No, I mean you put together incredible stories. I watched all your films, Liam. I’m sorry it took me so long. You’re truly brilliant.”

He flashed a brief half-smile. “That film was my last. It was for Lottie. I’m done with it all.”

“Just for Lottie,” she repeated, nodding. “That’s going to make this awkward.”

“What is?” Her eyes were so beautiful in the sunlight. There were hints of gold and green in the cool gray.

“I did something, and you have to promise not to be mad at me. At least think about what I did and know it came from a good place.”

His heart thundered in his chest. He’d promise anything to her now. “All right.”

“So, I watched your films and they were incredible. I thought you were short-changing yourself by not doing anything with them. I talked to Russell about getting you discovered –”

Liam laughed. “I don’t think it’s that simple.”

“It isn’t.” Mackenzie smiled, rolling her eyes. “But he agreed. He thought you were insanely talented and that was why he hired you. He said the best way to get your name out there was to submit your work to film festivals.”

“Yes, I’m sure it is.” He softened his voice. She was trying. He appreciated that, and he didn’t want the smile to leave her face. “Though I doubt they’ll be clamoring for anything I’ve done.”

“No?” She bit her lip and sucked in a breath. “Because Dime was accepted at Telluride and LA Film Fest.”

His mouth popped open. “Are you joking?”

She shook her head, her hair flying back and forth. “No. I’m not. Are you angry?”

“Not angry. I might die of shock, but I’m not angry.”

She grinned. “I thought this could be the start of something for you, Liam. It’s a small gesture, but I wanted to find a way to repay you for all the help you gave me…and Lottie.”

“That’s quite a big gesture, in fact.”

“Well…” She took a step closer. “Sometimes we need big gestures when ‘I’m sorry’ won’t cut it. Or when we’re not good at apologizing.”

A smile danced on her lips.

“What do you have to apologize for?” he asked.

“For being the worst. For not seeing you when you were right in front of me. For ever believing a word that came out of Cameron’s mouth.”

Liam leaned in “So he’s not your…”

“No. He’s not anything.”

He couldn’t keep the smile off his face. “Does that mean you’re single?”

Mackenzie laughed. “Single and jobless, yes. A real catch.”

“You are a catch, Mackenzie.” He let out a breath. “You inspired me. Everything I did for Lottie – it was because of you. Most people are only in it for themselves, but not you.”

“I know. I’m nuts.”

“Mad as a chair,” he said, nodding.

She burst into laughter. “Please tell me there’s a ‘but.’”

He took both her hands in his. “I thought you were too good to be true. It took me a while to admit you were real. To admit I’m crazy about you.”

“Good.” She puffed out her cheeks. “Because I’d feel pretty silly coming all the way here, only to leave empty-handed.”

“Empty-handed? Do you mean I can come back with you?”

“You have no choice. We have a lot of work left to do, and I need you to be stateside. Plus, you need to prepare. Telluride is in a few weeks, and I’m not going to push you one way or the other, but –”

“Would you mind being my date?” He squinted. “Unless you’re busy.”

She looked up for a moment and shrugged. “Sure. I guess I could fit that in.”

He pulled her in, kissing her fiercely, the palm trees bowing above them.