Where the Heart Is

Chapter 34

CHAPTER

34

Unlike many of Tally Bay’s inhabitants, Adelaide didn’t fit into the cliche of an artist. She didn’t smoke or ingest weed to spark creativity, she didn’t join in their sound circles, and she didn’t only paint when the urge hit.

She believed picking up a paintbrush daily honed her craft. Even the odd day when she couldn’t express herself, she still painted something, anything. Which meant she’d never gone this long without painting, and it made her feel out of sorts.

Her excuse and she was sticking to it.

Of course her restless night and constant edginess this morning had nothing to do with Jack’s demeanour over dinner at the pub last night, or that kiss on the back of her hand. Nothing at all. It had been Jack play-acting for the gossips who’d watched them keenly throughout dinner.

But no matter how many times she dismissed that kiss as meaningless, she couldn’t stop thinking about it. Or the way it made her feel.

Since when did a harmless kiss on the back of her hand jolt her libido? So she did the one thing guaranteed to snap her out of daydreaming about her ex.

She called Raven.

Perching on a log, she tapped the icon on her mobile and it barely rang before his face popped up on her screen.

‘Hey, beautiful, it’s good to hear from you. How’s things?’

The familiarity of Raven’s smile, the creases fanning from the corners of his brown eyes, the wisps of grey hair escaping from his ponytail, should’ve comforted Adelaide. They didn’t, and she knew her accelerated heartbeat had more to do with how she’d have to fake it for him rather than the low-key attraction they shared.

‘Good. Though my granddaughter’s wedding didn’t go ahead.’

His smile faded. ‘Is everything okay?’

‘Yeah. Long story. I’ll tell you when I get back.’

‘And when’s that going to be?’ Raven wiggled his bushy eyebrows. ‘I’m missing my favourite gal.’

Raven said that to every woman over the age of eighteen who entered the juice bar. An outrageous flirt, he made her laugh most days, and she knew that was a major attraction after the fraught silences of her marriage. Their occasional coupling suited her. Scratching a physical itch and keeping the doubt demons at bay, the ones that whispered in her ear she was lonely and selling herself short.

‘Probably another two weeks. I’m enjoying catching up with Mila and I think she needs me right now.’

‘Gotcha.’ He winked and peered closer at the screen. ‘I must say, that country air suits you. You’re glowing.’

Adelaide blushed, wondering if her glow had more to do with Jack’s attention last night than the air.

‘You’re gorgeous, woman,’ he said, his grin salacious. ‘Get back here ASAP, so I can prove in the best possible way how much I’ve missed you, okay?’

Usually, Raven’s overt antics entertained. Today, he came across as sleazy.

‘I’ll let you know when I’m back,’ she said, ignoring his blown kiss and ending the call.

So much for a distraction. She thought seeing Raven’s handsome face, hearing his voice with the faint Irish lilt, would take her mind off her wayward thoughts about Jack. Turns out, not so much. In fact, she couldn’t help but compare the two men. How easy things had been between her and Jack last night despite their tough history, how he’d made her feel relaxed, whereas Raven’s interest came across as slimy rather than funny as she usually found it.

She knew no good could come of acknowledging her growing attraction to Jack, which is why she’d embarked on this long walk at the crack of dawn. But not even a two-hour round trip had helped, and as she stood and dusted off her butt before striding towards the final bend, she knew she might have to leave sooner rather than later. Once her car had been repaired, she’d see if the lawyer had any cancellations, so she could finalise what needed to be done and head off.

As the cottage came into view, an unexpected peace descended over her. She shouldn’t be getting too comfortable but in a short space of time, the cosy bungalow had become a refuge. It probably had to do with the sandstone walls she’d coveted forever, and the feel of the place … She really hoped she wasn’t getting too attached because of the man who lived a hundred metres away.

Sighing, she opened the door, and stopped. Her mouth hung open as she saw what someone—had to be Jack—had propped by the window flooded with morning light.

A wooden easel with a blank canvas, and a caddy filled with brushes and tubes of paint.

How on earth … Why … Then she remembered mentioning to him yesterday how much she missed painting. It had been a throwaway comment, something she’d thought he hadn’t paid any attention to. Why would he, when he hadn’t taken any interest in her painting in the past?

But to find this …

Overwhelmed by emotions she had no hope of interpreting, Adelaide burst into tears. Loud, racking sobs that had snot streaming out of her nose and made her chest ache.

She couldn’t believe he’d done this.

The man she’d hurt, the man she’d abandoned, the man who should hate her, had given her this thoughtful gift.

When her tears petered out, she cleaned herself up in the bathroom and made a beeline for Jack’s cottage. Nerves made her stomach churn as she knocked on the back door, though what she had to be nervous about she had no idea. Jack had done something incredibly thoughtful so she’d thank him, then go explore those paints. Nothing grounded her like staring at a blank canvas and imagining it come to life, and she couldn’t think of anything else she needed more right now.

Jack didn’t answer so she knocked again, louder this time, and when he finally opened the door, wearing a towel and a bashful smile, she did an impulsive, crazy thing she knew she’d regret.

She flung herself into his arms and kissed him.