Chapter 12
CHAPTER 12
J enna opened her door that evening, surprised to find Nash standing on the doorstep. He gave her a lopsided smile. “I just thought I’d drop by and check on you. Make sure you were doing okay.”
She eyed him. “You mean you wondered if I was staying off my ankle?”
“But you notice I didn’t ask.” He winked.
“I’m doing fine. Sure was quiet around here today without the workers or a certain contractor pestering me.” The corners of her mouth lifted as she tried to hide her smile.
“Bet it was. Did you enjoy the quiet?”
She shrugged. “Not so much. I’d gotten used to having people around.” Him around. She’d gotten used to having him around. But she didn’t say that.
“I know this is last minute, but would you like to go to a concert at the gazebo this evening? Starts in about an hour. Since the rain stopped this afternoon, it’s still on.”
His offer surprised her. “I… uh…”
“I should have probably called to ask you. Give you some advance notice.” His eyes reflected uncertainty.
Recovering from her fluster, she bantered back, “Mr. Carlisle, are you asking me on a date?”
“What if I am?” He raised an eyebrow playfully.
She pretended to consider it. “I guess I could pencil you into my very open evening calendar.”
“Great.” He broke into a wide smile.
She wasn’t one to usually do things spontaneously, but she couldn’t resist spending time with Nash. And was this a date? If a spontaneous one?
He led her out to his truck, and they drove to the town park with the gazebo. He came around and opened the door for her and she slid out, bumping into him as she lost her balance when she forgot to favor her bum ankle. “Oh, sorry.”
“Not a problem. I’ve got you.” Nash’s voice was warm and reassuring as his strong arm steadied her. “I won’t let you fall.”
She tried to ignore the small flutter in her chest as she stood there in his protective embrace. As she regained her balance, planting her good foot firmly on the paved path, Nash’s arm slipped away. A subtle sense of loss bubbled through her. Which was silly. He was still standing just a few feet from her.
“You all good now?” A faint smile played across his lips, and she felt her cheeks flush slightly under his gaze.
“All good.”
He reached into the back of the truck and retrieved a pair of well-used lawn chairs, their fabric faded from countless summers under the sun. “This way,” he said, nodding toward the gazebo. She followed him as he navigated through the crowd, his steps sure and steady. He glanced back every few moments, ensuring she was right beside him and managing well on her injured ankle. The gesture, small as it was, filled her with a warmth that had nothing to do with the warm evening air.
People greeted Nash and called out to him, looking at her curiously as they made their way through the crowd. He found a spot near the gazebo and set up their chairs with a practiced ease. She settled beside him and took in the lively scene. On the far side of the crowd, she spotted Beverly, Maxine, and Dale, laughing and chatting with friends. A few other faces looked familiar—the cashier from the grocery store, a couple from the diner—but most were still strangers.
“Quite a turnout,” she said as she turned to Nash.
“We do like our festivals and concerts. And it’s turned into a perfect night for it, now that the storm has passed.”
“Seems like everyone we passed knows you.”
“Pretty much.” He bumped his shoulder playfully against hers. “Don’t worry, soon they’ll all get to know you too.”
Maybe. But she couldn’t shake the nagging uncertainty that whispered in the back of her mind. Would she ever truly belong here, or would she forever feel like an outsider in this close-knit community?
A group of people talking behind them caught her attention. “Did you hear about the locket that they found at the theater? Wonder why it was hidden all these years?”
Another chimed in. “And that painting Beverly found. Sure are a lot of mysterious things happening.”
Jenna turned to Nash, her curiosity aroused. “I couldn’t help but overhear those people behind us talking about mysterious things popping up around town,” she whispered discreetly. “I was talking to Beverly, and she told me about the locket and the painting she found. Oh, and a letter Maxine found. That seems like a lot.”
“And your wooden box. Did you read any more letters?”
“I did. But I didn’t really learn much. Still don’t know who wrote them. But I showed the photo to Dale at Beverly’s suggestion. He’s going to do some digging around and see if he can find anything out by looking through the records and photos he has.”
“Dale is kind of our unofficial historical society here on Magnolia Key.” Nash laughed. “If anyone can help shed some light on this mystery, it’s Dale. The man knows everything about this island’s past.”
The music started, and the chattering crowd quieted down. An assortment of local acts took to the stage. A barbershop quartet charmed with their harmonies, their voices blending like the perfect glass of sweet iced tea. A high school boy strummed his guitar, pouring his heart into every note. An older woman stood alone in the spotlight, her rich alto tones washing over the enraptured audience as she sang a haunting ballad of love and loss.
As the final notes of the concert faded into the night, they rose from their seats and gathered their chairs. Nash slung the straps over his broad shoulder and gently took her elbow, his touch warm and reassuring. “It’s getting a bit dark out here. Don’t want you falling.”
Back at his truck, Nash, ever the gentleman, helped her climb into the passenger seat. The ride back to her cottage was filled with comfortable silence and the soft hum of the engine. When they arrived, he swiftly jumped out and hurried around to open the door for her. She slid out, this time managing to maintain her balance and avoid crashing into him. Which was either good… or bad. Wouldn’t have hurt anything to feel his arms around her again.
She chased the thought away and cleared her throat. “Would you like to come in? I had just opened a bottle of red wine when you showed up earlier this evening. Would you like to have a glass with me?”
“Don’t mind if I do.”
They went inside and he followed her to the kitchen.
She poured two glasses of the dark red wine, the liquid swirling gracefully in the glass as she handed him one. “Want to head out to the deck? It’s such a beautiful night.”
They walked outside and settled onto the wooden glider. He stretched out his long legs while she propped her bad ankle up on an ottoman. He smiled approvingly.
“Looks like we missed the sunset,” she said as she glanced out at the horizon where the last traces of vibrant oranges and pinks were fading into the inky depths of the evening sky.
“We did. But there will be plenty more. Magnolia Key is known for spectacular sunsets.” He nodded and took a sip of his wine, visibly relaxing.
She took a sip of her wine and turned to him. “So, how was your work day? Did you get a lot done?”
“We did. Installed some cabinets in a house where the owners basically gutted the place and they’re having us redo it.”
“I hope working on my cottage isn’t delaying your job for them.”
“Naw, we’re good. They won’t be back to the island for months, so I have time. We should be back here to work first thing in the morning.”
That pleased her. One day of quiet had been enough. Though isn’t that why she’d moved here to Magnolia? For the slower life and the peace and quiet? And yet, when Nash wasn’t here, the cottage didn’t feel quite right.
As she sipped her wine, savoring the rich, fruity notes, her gaze wandered to Nash’s strong, capable fingers wrapped around his glass. A flutter of something unfamiliar stirred within, her heart suddenly pounding. Their eyes met, and in that moment, she saw a depth of emotion mirrored in his intense blue stare that both thrilled and terrified her. She set her glass down with a start.
Was she falling for this man? The exact thing she’d told her sister she was not doing? That he was simply the contractor she’d hired. Her thoughts tumbled around in her mind.
“You okay?” His eyes filled with concern. “You look… worried? Confused?”
She swallowed hard, her throat suddenly dry. “No, I’m fine.” But even as the words left her lips, she knew they sounded hollow.
“You sure?” he murmured, his thumb slowly tracing the curve of her jawline. “You feel it too, don’t you?”
She didn’t even try to pretend she didn’t know what he was talking about. “I feel it,” she whispered.
A slight smile tilted his lips. “Ah, good. I was hoping it wasn’t just me.” He pushed back a lock of her hair, his fingers trailing across her flushed cheek.
“You know what I want?” He cocked an eyebrow.
“What?” She held her breath.
“I would very much like to kiss you.”
Her heart raced as Nash’s words hung in the air between them. Had he really just asked to kiss her? She held her breath, scarcely daring to believe it. When he leaned in and his lips met hers, a spark of electricity shot through her. Her hand, with a mind of its own, found its way to the nape of his neck as she melted into his embrace. He deepened the kiss and all rational thought fluttered away, disappearing into the night sky.
He finally pulled back and touched her cheek again. “That was nice,” he murmured, his voice low and intimate.
She could only nod, her mind still reeling from the intensity of the moment. She had never felt this way before, and the realization that she was falling for this man—her contractor, no less—left her both exhilarated and terrified.
Nash’s gaze held hers, and she saw the same mix of emotions reflected in his eyes. “You intrigue me, Jenna,” he said, his fingers tracing the outline of her face. “Everything about you – the way you work so hard, your love for this old cottage, and your determination to restore it.” He paused, his expression softening. “And…” He let out a long breath and leaned back slightly. “I’m sorry. This is too much, too fast, isn’t it?”
Was it? Too much? Too fast?
“I don’t want to scare you off.” He searched her face.
“I don’t scare easily,” she managed to say.
His face lit up with an impish grin. “Well, okay then. Wanna try another kiss?”
“I sure do.” She smiled up at him and he kissed her again.
He pulled her close, his arm draped around her shoulder like it belonged there. In that moment, the universe seemed to pause, leaving only the two of them wrapped together in their own little world. They remained like that for a long time, talking, kissing, laughing.
He finally looked at his watch. “I should go. It’s after midnight.”
“Do you turn back into a pumpkin at midnight?” she teased.
“I turn into a tired worker if I don’t get my beauty sleep.” He grinned, then stood and reached down a hand to help her to her feet.
She led him to the door, savoring their last few moments together. He kissed her one more time, wrapping her close in a hug before letting her go. “Good night,” he said, with one last brush of his thumb along her jawline. He turned and trotted down the steps, waving once as he climbed into his truck.
She stood in the doorway long after he pulled away. She hugged her arms around herself, acutely missing his presence. This was not the night she’d been expecting. This was so, so much more.
Nash pulled his truck into his drive and turned off the motor. Yet he sat there, not moving, his mind reeling from the unexpected turn the night had taken. He ran his fingers through his hair, shoving it back, as the events of the night played over and over in his mind.
Jenna had been such a welcome surprise in his life, entering it when he least expected it. He hadn’t been looking for anyone special, content with his daily routine and the familiarity of his life. But then, seemingly out of nowhere, she was just here, a light that swept through his world.
Her teasing and laughter never failed to bring a smile to his face, lighting up even the most ordinary moments. And when she looked at him with those mesmerizing chestnut-brown eyes, he swore she made it hard to breathe.
He shook his head. Here he was, acting like an infatuated schoolboy.
But sitting in the darkness of his truck, he marveled at the unexpected path his life had taken since Jenna’s arrival. She had a way of making even the simplest things feel extraordinary, her presence alone enough to brighten his days and fill his thoughts.
As he finally stepped out of the vehicle and made his way toward his house, Nash knew that tonight was a turning point. What had started as a casual friendship had become something more, something that made his heart race and his mind wander to possibilities he hadn’t dared to consider for a long time. And for once, he welcomed the change with open arms.
In Jenna, he found a woman who was unapologetically herself, without any pretenses or hidden agendas. Her authenticity drew him in, made him feel at ease in her presence. Her determination was a trait he admired, as it showed her strong sense of self and unfaltering commitment to her goals.
And she’d been honest and open with him. She’d admitted she’d come here for a fresh start, even if he wasn’t exactly sure why she needed that new beginning. She’d been honest about how much money she wanted to spend on the house and she’d stuck with that budget. It was refreshing to have that, honestly. He respected her for that.
His last relationship, Rhonda, had been a mess of lies—and wow, had that woman known how to spend money. Her money. His money. And Rhonda was always hiding something from him. Right up until the end—two years into the relationship—when he discovered she’d been hiding the fact she was dating someone else.
But with Jenna, he felt like what he saw in her was the real deal. She wasn’t hiding anything. She was just herself with him. And he liked that. She was determined… okay, almost to the point of stubborn… but she knew what she wanted. He liked that too.
What didn’t he like about the woman?
Not one single thing, as far as he could tell.