Chapter 23 #3
I wish it was true, he thought, repressing a sigh. But it’s not, and I know Audrey wouldn’t want people to start speculating, not now while she’s still trying to decide when she’ll be willing to try dating—and that could be years from now.
“No, I think we’d better just have me in the picture,” Evan said, smiling politely. “I don’t want to bother Audrey. Besides, it fits, doesn’t it? Coral Sand’s grumpy mayor should get his own picture all by his lonesome.”
Elaine tutted at his joke and shook her head. “You’re not really all that grumpy, you know,” she said. “But all right. Why don’t you stand over there and strike some kind of dramatic pose? Look out across the water and think proudly of the town you shepherd.”
He smiled and obeyed—for the most part. After he’d turned out toward the ocean, he didn’t think about Coral Sands.
He thought about Audrey, wondering if she would want to wait years before being willing to date again.
He wondered if he would wait that long for her, and he had to force himself to hold still instead of turning toward the crowd and looking for her.
I think I would wait, he thought. I think I’ll plan on waiting for her. I’ve never met anyone who challenges me and inspires me the way she does. I really think there’s something special between us, and I don’t want to pass by the opportunity to explore it.
“There, that looks great,” Michelle said proudly, looking down at the picture she’d just taken. “Very brooding. You look like a sea captain.”
Evan smiled. “Thanks, Michelle.”
After another half an hour, more and more attendees began to disperse, headed back to their homes.
The deck, which had been blessed with balmy weather for the greater part of the evening, was starting to grow chilly.
Evan watched the guests hug and congratulate Elaine, Michelle and Audrey warmly, and he felt a surge of happiness.
He was glad that the Sutton women were receiving so much support already, and he felt sure that they would continue to be supported by the people of Coral Sands.
I think this went very well, he thought, feeling deeply content. I suppose now that the whole thing’s winding down, it’s time for me to head home also.
He felt a tug of disappointment at the thought. He didn’t want to leave the warmly lit, animated party and go back to his dark and empty house.
His eyes scanned the crowd for Audrey. She hadn’t come to speak with him a second time that night, although he’d been hoping that she would.
He hadn’t wanted to crowd her or talk to her too much, and he’d left the ball in her court, so to speak.
He located her a moment later. She was standing in a corner, talking animatedly to a couple of women who he recognized as two of Coral Sands’ librarians.
He swallowed, telling himself that if she’d wanted to talk with him again, she would have done so already.
He took a deep breath, deciding that it was time for him to head home.
He’d already spoken to everyone he knew there, and he was losing the social energy needed to strike up a conversation with a stranger.
He started quietly toward the door, choosing to make an Irish goodbye. Just before he passed through the doorway, however, he heard someone call his name.
“Evan!”
He turned, and his stomach did a somersault when he saw that Audrey was hurrying toward him. Her curly auburn hair was being blown to the side by the wind, and she looked so lovely in her elegant dress that his heart caught in his throat.
“Hi, Audrey,” he said, his voice dropping lower in an effort to keep it steady. He felt tongue-tied and breathless around her, the way he’d felt around girls when he was a kid.
“Hi.” She smiled at him. For a second, he couldn’t read her energy.
She seemed happy and nervous at the same time.
She clasped and unclasped her hands a few times in quick, bird-like movements.
“Could I talk to you for a second?” She gestured to a small table for two that was placed nearby.
No one was standing or sitting near it, so it offered a fair amount of privacy.
“Certainly,” he said, clearing his throat.
They walked over to the little table together and sat down. Audrey smiled at him shyly, and he swallowed, wondering what she was thinking. He knew she was about to tell him, but the suspense was making his blood rush faster. She clasped her hands together again, setting them down on the table.
“I’ve been doing a lot of thinking,” she said, taking a deep breath. “And I got some advice from people who I respect a great deal. And I do think there’s something between us that…” She laughed breathlessly. “Well, what I’m trying to say is that I want to give this thing between us a chance.”
Evan listened to her words, holding as still as stone. He was waiting for the other shoe to drop, wondering when she was going to tell him the bad part of her decision.
“Just like I’m giving this new and pretty wild business venture a chance, I want to give us a chance. I’ve decided that I want to take a leap of faith and try to get to know you better. I think we should start dating—if that’s still what you want.”
Evan felt as though he couldn’t move for another few seconds.
His heart thumped in his chest, and a slow smile spread across his face.
He wished they were alone together so that he could take her in his arms and kiss her.
Instead, he reached his hand across the table and took one of hers, squeezing it gently. “I can’t wait.”
“Audrey!” Elaine was standing on the opposite side of the deck, looking around for her daughter and calling her name.
“I’d better go over there,” Audrey said, standing up. “But I’ll talk to you later?”
“Yes. Talk to you later.” Evan smiled.
She smiled back at him with a warmth in her eyes that made his heart soar. Dazed, he sat at the table for a few more minutes, feeling as though he might be dreaming. Audrey Lowe was going to start dating him. It hadn’t taken years at all.
Although he himself was nervous about dating again after his divorce, Evan felt a sense of certainty as he watched Audrey walk away.
If she was willing to take a risk after such terrible heartache, it meant that whatever spark that was happening between them was real and worth fighting for.
He felt that way as well, determined to surmount the obstacles and forge a path forward.
Deep in his chest, an excitement grew that was stronger than anything he’d felt in a long time.