Chapter 22
Blake
It’s just after 7 p.m. and the last of the customers have gone—Yu Chen and my uncle left a little while ago, leaving only the faint hum of the refrigerator and the gentle clink of glassware as I put away the last of the glasses. Worry gnaws at me, the financial strain from the oil spill weighing on my mind.
Mom asked about the bar this morning, and I downplayed the impact, but things are much worse than I was expecting; I’m not sure we’ll be able to make the next mortgage repayment on the bar. I couldn’t bring myself to burden her with more worries, though, especially with everything else going on, Mama Charlotte still gone and not giving any indication about when she’ll be back.
Stacking the last glass on the shelf, the door opens, and Ethan walks in. He looks impossibly handsome, with that strong jaw and angular features that make him look perpetually intense, even when he’s having fun. His lean, athletic frame is outlined in the dim light, and just his presence makes my heart skip, my body responding instinctively, something golden spreading through me.
“Hey there, need any help finishing up?” His voice is a little rough, his storm-gray eyes fixed on me with a concentration that makes me feel seen and appreciated, like he really actually cares about me, about what I need.
I force a smile, trying to push away my worries. “I’m almost done here, but thanks.”
Ethan steps behind the bar, fingers spearing through my hair as he kisses me, then he grabs a cloth anyway, and starts wiping down the bar. We work side by side in silence, the heat between us settling deep in my core.
Within minutes, we’ve finished cleaning, and I lock the door, turning to face him. We kiss again, deeper this time, his hands skimming the length of my back, resting on my ass as he pulls me against him. When he lets me go, the look in his eyes makes it clear he’s fighting the urge to lead me back into the bar and take my clothes off, as our evenings so often end.
But then he seems to rein himself in: “Come on, princess. We’re going to be late.” He takes my hand, our fingers sliding together easily, the action so natural now.
“So, where are we going?” Curiosity bubbles up inside me.
Ethan grins, a glint in the gray of his eyes. “You’ll see. It’s a surprise.”
We walk to his pickup truck, and he opens the passenger door for me. I slide in, the leather seats cool against my skin, and he starts the engine, one hand resting possessively on my leg, giving it a squeeze, and soon we’re driving through the quiet streets of Harbor’s Edge, the familiar landmarks passing by in a blur.
The town feels different at the end of the day, the dusk shadows casting everything in a mysterious light. Glancing at him, I take in the way his hands grip the steering wheel, the confident set of his jaw, and the way the corners of his mouth twitch up. He heads just out of town and pulls up in front of a cozy, intimate French restaurant that I’ve loved for years. My moms used to take me here for my birthday when I was a teenager.
The lights coming from inside are warm and inviting, casting a glow that spills out onto the sidewalk. As we step out of the pickup, there’s a flutter of anticipation. This place holds so many memories, and tonight, it feels like the beginning of something new.
He leads me inside, and the ma?tre d’ greets us both with a nod. “Right this way, Mr. Carter.”
Ethan winks at me as we follow. “Reserved the best table in the house.”
We’re led to a table near a window with a view over the darkening Pine Barrens, glinting golden under the setting sun, away from the main dining area. It’s set with a beautiful arrangement of my favorite flowers—lilies and sunflowers, their sweet scent perfuming the air.
“How did you know these were my favorite flowers?” I’m genuinely curious and touched by the gesture.
Ethan pulls out my chair for me. “I have my ways. Tonight is all about you.”
Warmth spreads through my chest. “Do you have a secret dossier on me or something?”
“Maybe.” He sits down across from me, his broad shoulders leaning in. “Or maybe I just pay attention. Who knows?”
I shake my head, still smiling. “Well, thank you. You’ve certainly outdone yourself.”
He leans in further, hand reaching out to stroke my cheek with his roughened thumb. “You deserve it. Every bit of it.”
We’re handed menus, but I keep stealing glances at him. He’s more attentive and caring than any man I’ve ever been with, and probably the most ridiculously handsome guy I’ve ever dated. The usual voices in my head, the ones telling me to stand on my own two feet and not rely on anyone, are quiet whispers tonight. Being with him makes me feel so treasured, and a surprising thought hits me: maybe he really isn’t going anywhere.
“So, do I get to find out how you managed to pull off this amazing night?” I raise an eyebrow.
Ethan holds my gaze, mouth soft against his stubbled jaw. “I might have bribed a few people. Pulled some strings. Offered to tell your mom and Emmy embarrassing stories from high school.”
I giggle, rolling my eyes. “Oh, now I see. Blackmail and extortion. Very romantic.”
“Hey, whatever it takes.” His expression grows serious for a moment. “I just want to make you happy.”
My heart flutters again, and I reach across the table, taking his hand. “You’re doing a pretty good job so far, Mr. Boss Man.”
The evening unfolds like a dream. The food is exquisite, and I savor each bite of my coq au vin, the rich flavors bursting in my mouth. Across the table, Ethan watches me with a satisfied look, while the restaurant is warm and intimate, the gentle hum of conversations and the clinking of silverware in the background.
Just as I take another bite, a familiar, slightly grating voice reaches me. “Well, if it isn’t Blake and Ethan! Isn’t this a surprise?”
Dot McLellan, the town’s notorious gossip, has stopped by our table with a knowing smile. Her gray-streaked blond hair is pulled back into a tight bun, accentuated by dangly, colorful earrings that swing with every nod, and her big, busty chest is draped in one of her trademark bold, floral prints, matching the sweet scent of her perfume that has a tendency to linger long after she’s gone.
“Hi,” I reply, forcing a polite smile. “We’re just enjoying a nice dinner.”
Dot’s gaze flicks between Ethan and me. “Two of our most eligible young people, drawn together through true love and circumstances I’d love to know more about. I’m sure the whole town will be talking about this tomorrow! How did this get started?” She moves her finger back and forth between Ethan and me, just in case we didn’t know what she was talking about.
A twinge of anxiety hits me at Dot’s words. I’m not used to being the center of gossip, and I know she’ll be on the phone to her friends the minute she gets back to her table, reporting anything we say. The knot in my stomach tightens a little as I glance at Ethan, who seems unfazed.
“I’m sure the town has better things to talk about. How have you been? Fill me in.” He leans back in his seat, giving Dot a dazzling smile.
Even Dot’s not impervious to Ethan’s charms, but it isn’t enough to deter her. “I’m fine. But enough about me. Tell me, Mr. Carter, how did you land last year’s Miss Harbor’s Edge?” Her earrings make a soft clinking sound as she laughs.
I’m cringing inside. Patrick’s younger sister, Nora, roped me into entering the Miss Harbor’s Edge pageant last Christmas at the Founder’s Day Festival. Somehow, I won the thing.
Ethan shrugs, his expression calm and composed. “Clearly it was my good looks.”
“So, you two are dating?” Dot’s hungry eyes go wide.
“We’re just two old friends enjoying each other’s company.”
Dot’s eyes narrow slightly as she looks between us before deciding she’s not going to get anything of substance tonight. “Well, you two have a lovely evening.”
She heads back to her table, glancing once over her shoulder at us. When she turns away, Ethan reaches across the space between us, taking my hand in his. “Don’t let her bother you. She loves gossip more than anyone in this town, and that’s saying a lot.”
I nod, but the anxiety is still there. How do I explain it to Ethan? Being the subject of gossip feels a lot like being the difficult kid, the one that’s surrounded by trouble, that the caseworkers talk about in low voices, the one who gets moved to another placement. The one who can’t stand on her own two feet. The one people walk out on.
Part of me knows it’s irrational—it’s just Dot McLellan—but these reactions were hard-wired over years.
Ethan’s still looking at me, waiting.
“I just… I hate people talking about me.”
Ethan’s grip on my hand tightens, his expression becoming serious. “I don’t care what people think. Let them talk. What matters is how we feel about each other.” He pauses. A swallow moves down his throat. “I want to be with you. Really be with you.”
“What do you mean?”
“I want you to be mine. My girlfriend. A real relationship.”
He stares at me and my heart stutters, my thoughts racing. “I thought we were just taking things one day at a time. I really don’t have space in my life right now for a relationship. And what if things don’t work out? I don’t want to lose you as a friend. What if—”
Ethan interrupts gently. “What if they do work out? What if we make each other happier than we’ve ever been? I want to be everything for you. I want to support you, care for you.”
Unexpected tears prick at the corners of my eyes and I wipe them away roughly. I’ve been so afraid to let anyone in after losing Danny. Standing on my own two feet is infinitely safer. But the way Ethan’s looking at me sends everything around me spinning.
The butterflies in my stomach never seem to settle when I’m around him. It’s a sensation of being unbalanced, as if I’m standing on shaky ground that could give way at any moment. But the weirdest thing? Part of me is desperate for it to give way, desperate to fall.
I squeeze his hand, my voice soft. “I won’t lie… I’m falling for you. Despite everything else going on, despite my best intentions not to, I’m falling for you.”
“Then let’s give this thing between us a real shot. We’re in a relationship. No more holding back.”
A sense of peace settles over me despite the clamoring voices telling me to watch out, to be careful. “Okay. Let’s do this.”
Ethan leans in, brushing his tender finger over my lips, before raising his glass. “Here’s to us. To new beginnings.”
I raise my wine glass, too, clinking the edge against Ethan’s glass, trying to ignore the bubble of nerves racing through my chest.