Chapter 19
Tori headed straight to The Bike Shop. Miss Eleanor was right. She needed to try and work things out with Gavin. She’d had no idea of his past run-ins with the media. But it still stung a bit that he’d accused her of doing the interview for her own personal gain. That simply was not true.
The door was propped open to the shop, and she stepped inside tentatively, taking a moment to let her eyes adjust to the dimmer lighting. Gavin crouched in the far corner, focused intently on a bike he was working on. She took a deep, steadying breath and crossed the concrete floor.
“Hey,” she said softly when she reached him.
His head jerked up, his eyes widening in surprise. He grabbed a rag, wiped the grease from his hand, and stood to face her. “Didn’t expect to see you here. Are you having problems with your bike?”
“No, it’s not the bike.” She wiped her palms on her thighs. “I… I wanted to talk to you. Apologize.”
He cocked one eyebrow.
“I didn’t really give you a chance when you came to apologize to me. I just sent you away. I’m really, really sorry.” She met his gaze, hoping he could see the sincerity in her eyes.
He eyed her closely, a frown wrinkling his forehead. “What changed?”
Honesty was the best way, she reminded herself. “I heard about what happened with the lighthouse restoration. How your words were twisted in that article and a lot of the town turned against you.”
His eyes narrowed. “Who told you about that?”
“Miss Eleanor and Beverly. But don’t be mad at them. I’m glad I know. I understand better why you didn’t want to talk to Felicity. You had no reason to trust her.”
“I don’t trust her or any reporter,” he said emphatically.
“Oh, I think she’s a nice woman. I’m hoping she’ll do a good job on her article. We can use the publicity.”
He looked doubtful. “But I am sorry, though, that I accused you of wanting attention. I realize you were doing it for the theater.”
“I was hurt, I admit. I just couldn’t believe you’d think that about me after all the time we spent together.” She had trusted him, considered him a friend. But his accusation hurt.
“I know. I was wrong. I’m sorry.” He apologized again.
“I’m sorry, too. So, will you accept my apology?” She looked at him imploringly, wanting nothing more than to get back on good footing with him. She’d come to realize his friendship meant a lot to her.
“I accept.” He started to reach out for her hand, then pulled back, grinning. “But I guess you don’t want to shake on it. Not with this greasy hand.”
A smile slipped across her lips. “Probably not. So we’re all good now?”
“We are.” His words were firm and full of assurance.
The last of her doubt and her hurt faded away. Relief surged through her. “That’s great. So… are you going to start coming by the theater again? I’ve missed you.”
“Ah, you have projects for me, do you?” His teasing smile made her grin again.
“I might have a few.” She looked around the shop. “But if you’re busy with The Bike Shop, I understand.”
“I’ve got plenty of time. Jonny can run the shop.”
“The rehearsals start this week. I can’t wait to see if this all comes together like I planned.”
“I’m sure it will. I have faith in you.”
His words made her heart soar.
“Let me get cleaned up, and I’ll meet you over at the theater in a bit.”
“That would be nice.” It would be great. Fabulous, actually. A smile etched its way onto her face, and she wasn’t sure when it might go away. She turned and walked out into the warm sunshine.
With each pedal of her bike, her spirits rose. Gavin was back working on the theater and the opening. And they were back to being friends. All was right with her world.
She slowed her speed for a moment and frowned, her eyebrows knitting together. She probably should have been honest with Gavin and told him about her past as a Broadway actress. But they had just made a tenuous connection again, and she didn’t want to do anything to jeopardize that. Plenty of time to tell him after the opening. She would tell him everything then, she silently promised herself.
Gavin scrubbed the grease from his hands and went by his home to change into a clean shirt. A lightness hovered over him now that he and Tori were speaking again. If she had given him a chance, he would have told her himself about the lighthouse restoration article. He shook his head ruefully. No, in all honesty, he probably wouldn’t have. It wasn’t something he ever talked about. Just like the media and Anna. Some things were better left unsaid and buried in the past.
He’d been mad when Tori had just sent him away, but he realized he’d hurt her feelings when he rushed to judge her.
Being friends with a woman like Tori was complicated. But hopefully, they were back on track.
He walked over to the theater and climbed the front steps lined with glass cases with posters proclaiming the grand opening. As he entered the lobby, excitement thrummed through him to be involved with the opening once again.
He found Tori in her office. “I’m here.”
She looked up, and her eyes twinkled with welcome. “Great.” She stood, picked up her notebook, and walked over to him. “Let’s get started.”
Her notebook. He’d missed that. The way she organized everything.
“Let’s start.” He stepped aside to let her through the doorway. As she brushed past him, it felt like all the air was sucked out of him. What was that all about?
Ignoring it, he followed her down the hallway. They spent the day working through her list. Getting things ready. Double-checking the sound system and the lights. Finally, she collapsed on a front-row seat. “I’m beat.”
“Bit tired myself.” He lowered himself to sit next to her. Their arms brushed against each other on the armrest. He stared down at them for a moment, then looked up at her. “I think we’re ready for the rehearsals though, don’t you?”
“I hope so.”
“How about I walk you home?”
“I’ve got my bike.”
“Okay, how about I walk you home and we walk your bike with us?” He grinned at her.
They locked up the theater and headed outside. He took the bike and rolled it beside them as they walked. When they got to her apartment, he couldn’t help but recall how it had felt to carry her up the stairs in his arms. He could almost feel her there.
He dismissed the thought as she opened the door. “You want to come in and have a drink?”
“Sure would.” He stepped inside, glad to have a chance to spend more time with her. He’d missed her these last days. Missed her smile. Missed teasing her. Missed… well, everything about her.
They took a couple of beers and went out on her balcony, settling onto a pair of comfortable chairs.
“It was nice being back at the theater,” he said.
She turned to him and smiled. “It was nice having you back.”
His heartbeat quickened at her smile and he had to keep from dropping his mouth open in surprise. Was he falling for this woman? He’d sworn off women after the whole Anna episode.
But Tori was so different than Anna. She didn’t seek out the spotlight. She was just a normal person, like him. He tried to sort out his feelings as they sat and chatted about the grand opening. Her eyes sparkled when she talked about it, full of excitement.
“You’ve done a remarkable job with all of this. I don’t know how you figured out so much about booking in a traveling troupe of actors, and so much about lighting and everything, but I’m impressed.”
A look of momentary something crossed her face before she smiled gently. “I’m just glad it’s all working out.”
He rose. “I should go. I still need to run by the shop and see if Jonny got that bike I was working on finished.”
She stood. “I didn’t mean to monopolize your time.”
“Oh, you didn’t. Not at all. I enjoyed working at the theater… and this nice break this evening.”
They headed inside, and she walked him to the door. They stood there facing each other, and he had the strongest urge to… kiss her. He blinked twice, surprised by the thought. Kiss her?
He cleared his throat. “I… I was wondering if you’d…” Get your words out, man. “Would you like to go out to dinner with me? Like a… date?”
Her eyes widened in surprise. “A date?” It was barely a whisper.
“Yes.” He nodded, holding his breath, waiting for her answer.
“You think that’s a good idea since we’re working together again?”
He chewed his lip. He hadn’t considered that. “Yes, I think it would be okay. Don’t you? We seem to be getting along fine now. And… I’d like to take you out.”
She stared at him for a moment, and he swore her gaze dropped to his lips before meeting his eyes again. “Okay, that sounds nice.”
“Tomorrow night work?”
She nodded.
“I’ll pick you up here at six.”
“Okay.”
“But I’ll be by the theater tomorrow too. Don’t worry.” He turned and hurried down the stairs, wondering what he’d done. He’d asked Tori out on a date. How long had it been since he’d gone on a date? Had he made the right decision to ask her out? She was right, they were co-workers. But soon the opening would be over and he wouldn’t have an excuse to see her so often.
Unless, of course, they were dating.
Tori closed the door softly behind Gavin and leaned against it. Gavin had asked her on a date. A date.
Was that a good idea? They had just sorted things out so they could work together. But, the thing was, she would like to date him. Even if it might not be the smartest idea.
Even as her practical side listed off all the reasons they shouldn’t date, her heart stubbornly resisted.
The man fascinated her. She loved being around him. Talking to him. Even listening to his many opinions. Okay, maybe some of his opinions. But he had learned to listen to her counterpoints, and that was a step in the right direction. A sign they’d both grown and learned from each other.
Firmly listening to her heart, she decided to take this chance. A chance to see where things would lead them.
She wandered out onto the balcony and sat down, staring across the shimmering turquoise water. The sun painted the sky with fiery tones of orange and yellow. She took a deep breath of the salty air, feeling the tension in her shoulders fade. As the sun glided below the horizon, she let her regrets about her past and her fears slip away with it.
So much had changed since she’d come to Magnolia Key. After her disastrous and unexpected last night on the stage, she’d needed a place to escape. A place where no one knew her. She was starting to believe she could put her whole past behind her here in Magnolia.
Working with the theater fed her soul. Gave her purpose. If she couldn’t be on stage anymore, at least she could provide the stage for other actors. While her life used to be firmly entrenched in the spotlight, now all she craved was for the Magnolia Theater to be a success.
A gentle breeze blew her hair, and she swept it out of her eyes, watching the waves roll constantly to shore in a slow, soothing motion.
She finally had found peace here on Magnolia Key. A peace that she’d thought she’d lost forever.