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“You’re the easiest person in the world to take care of,” he told her. “And it’s my pleasure. We want you to be here.”
Her whole body felt light at his words. Even her leg with that damn cast on. When was the last time somebody said something like that to her? “I’m happy to be here, too.”
“Then let’s get you unpacked and settled in.” He led her over to the bed, helping her sit down on the edge, then he leaned her crutches against the wall. “I was thinking we should only put things in the top drawers of the dresser. That way you’ll be able to reach them while you’re supported on your crutches.”
“That sounds good.”
Ally watched as he unzipped her case, then pushed it across the mattress toward her. “Would you rather Riley helped you with this?” he asked her. “I can call her if it makes you more comfortable.”
“No, it’s good. Stay.” She reached for his wrist, curling her fingers around it without thinking. She wasn’t sure who was more surprised. She opened her lips, but she couldn’t think of a word to say. Nate was silent, too, unmoving, but he didn’t look angry at her touch. The shock on his face melted into something very different. Something that made his skin flush and his eyes narrow.
“Ally…”
He reached out with his free hand and traced a soft line from her cheekbone to her jaw. His eyes were dark as they stared intently into hers.
“Where are you guys?” Riley called from the hallway. Nate immediately pulled back. Ally barely had enough time to breathe in some much needed oxygen before Riley came into her room. She tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear, hoping to God she looked more composed than she felt, and turned to smile at the girl.
“Your dad was just helping me get unpacked.”
“You drew the short straw, huh?” Riley said. “Remember what I told you about his packing? He’s just as bad at unpacking, too. Look in his room if you don’t believe me. There’s still at least six sealed boxes in there.”
“Winter clothes,” he said, his voice rough. “I don’t think I need them right now.”
“Yeah, well.” Riley shrugged and walked over to the bed. “You want my help?” she asked Ally as she sat down next to her. “At least this way you might be able to find everything again.”
“I’ll… ah… leave you to it,” Nate said. He was hovering by the door, his hands stuffed in his pockets. “If your friends want to visit you here tomorrow, that’s fine. I’m planning on being at the shop for most of the morning. Riley’s coming with me.”
“I am?”
“Yeah. I’m a staff member short, thanks to you.” He was looking in their direction, but seemed to be avoiding Ally’s gaze. Maybe that was a good thing. She didn’t trust herself to keep a poker face. “You could probably both do with an early night. I know I could. I’m going to hit the sack.”
“Thanks for your help,” Ally said. “And for… everything, really.”
“Any time.” He gave a nod, hesitating for a second before he turned and walked out the door.
“Sorry about my dad,” Riley said. “He really needs to learn some people skills.”
Ally smiled at her, but inside she could still feel that aching hole. “Maybe we could all do with learning some of those,” she said.
Wasn’t that the truth? Because right now she had no idea how she was going to be able to stay here for two weeks without embarrassing herself one way or another.
12
“There you go.” Ember walked out of the house and set three coffee mugs down on the wooden table. “Three lattes, I think. Or at least that’s what the coffee machine said when I pressed the button.” She turned to Brooke who was
sitting on an Adirondack chair, facing out to the ocean. “Have you ever seen a machine like that before? I was almost too scared to touch it.”
Brooke grinned. “At least it’s not like the one at Ally’s coffee shop,” she said. “It looks like you need to have a pilot’s license to use it.”
“It’s not my shop,” Ally pointed out, swallowing hard. “Not any more.”
It was right after ten on Saturday morning, and the three of them were sitting on the deck outside Nate and Riley’s huge living room. The floor-to-ceiling glass doors had been pulled back so that the wooden floor of the interior flowed seamlessly onto the deck. There was a small, grassed area in front of the deck bordered by low-level shrubs which were in full bloom, the dark green of the leaves almost obscured by the pink-and-white petals. Beyond the shrubs were steps leading down to the sand. At this end of the beach – away from the bustling center of Angel Sands – there was nobody there.
It was the three of them and the ocean.
“God, it’s lovely here.” Ember sighed, looking out at the white-tipped waves. “Do you think if I kicked the wall hard enough your boss would let me stay here too?”
“Talking of lovely,” Brooke said. “I had a good talk with Nate on the phone the other day.” She raised her eyebrows. “He’s great. You lucked out getting him for a boss.”
