“Most likely. I’ve lived here my whole life, have a practice here and a lot of friends. I also have a cousin in Vermont who wants me to move up there but…”
“You’d be cold,” she finished.
“I think they call it skiing.”
She smiled, but her heart ached for him as she looked around, seeing his home—and him—in a different light.
“You did an amazing job.” She took in the quality of the finishings, the cozy breakfast nook, the shiplapped walls, the gleaming floor. “It’s just perfect.”
“Thanks.” He took a sip of tea. “What about you, Tessa? Who was the lucky guy who finally reeled in the most popular girl on the beach? If it was Eli, I guess I understand.”
She smiled at that, remembering she’d been frustrated by Dustin’s refusal to pay any attention to her except for goofing off as friends.
“I never married,” she said simply. “But Eli is just now embarking on a romance with my sister, Kate, so I guess what goes around really does come around.”
His eyes widened. “Man, there’s a lot to catch up on, so…” He picked up his phone as it chirped. “That’s my reminder that I have a six-thirty appointment with a client. I’m sorry, I should have shown you the house. But we have so much to talk about.”
“I totally understand.” She stood and reached for her bag. “I’m so sorry for barging in late to the open house. I’ll contact the Realtor and do this the official way, I promise.”
He tapped the phone as he stood. “Trust me, I wish I could cancel, but it’s too late. And you can come back anytime, Tessa, you don’t need an appointment. Can’t believe you want to leave a house on that beach, though.”
“I don’t want to leave the beach,” she said. “But I am ready to buy and, sadly, waterfront is?—”
He held up a hand. “Ridiculously expensive,” he finished for her. “I was hoping to snag a piece of paradise myself, but Lorna has brought me down to Earth with a thud.”
“I guess we’ll have to play the lottery and hope.”
Laughing, he walked with her back to the front door, bringing his phone. “You can call Lorna, but let me get your number so we can make plans. Even if you don’t want this house, I have to catch up with everyone.”
He tapped his phone and handed it to her to enter her number.
“Yes, you do. You definitely need to come and see us all. We should have a barbeque and get you to the house. They’re not going to believe I ran into you.” She typed in her number and looked up at him. “Oh. But can you keep a secret?”
“I’m a therapist,” he reminded her. “I keep secrets for a living.”
“Of course. Well, I don’t want them to know I’m looking at houses,” she said. “I think Vivien will put up a fight if I suggest I’m thinking about moving out.”
“You got it, Tessa.” He took the phone and made a face. “Vivien, huh? Has she forgiven me for breaking her boogie board?”
She laughed. “No. But she will.”
Instead of laughing, the spark died in his eyes a little and he looked down. “Kids do dumb things,” he said. “Those weren’t my, uh, glory days. I owe her an apology and a boogie board.”
“All is forgiven,” she assured him, reaching for the door. “I’ll text you with a date to come to the house.”
“I’d love that. And if you don’t, I’ll text you,” he said. “Or I’ll pretend it’s thirty years ago and stalk the beach on Gulf Shore Drive.”
She laughed. “Don’t get lost. It doesn’t look the same.”
He gestured to his face and silver beard. “Who does?”
With a light and friendly hug, she walked out, smiling to herself.
Dustin Mathers. Well, Dusty. A doctor, a widower, a repentant former wild child.
“There is a lot more to that man than meets the eye,” she mused, turning the ignition on.
And she couldn’t deny…she kind of wanted to know what it was. Funny—she’d totally forgotten about the house.
