AllFreeNovel
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It looked like home.
He shouldn’t have thought that. Barrett sucked in a hard breath and reached for his glass. The deep sweetness chased by the tang of oak barrel and time curled on his tongue. “Holy shit.”
“I thought you might appreciate it.”
“I really do.” He raised his glass. “Cheers.”
Ambrose got to his feet, to his glass. “Cheers.” He took a sip, eyes steady on Barrett. “And thank you again. I uh…probably owe an explanation.”
“Nah. This winter…shit.” He huffed as he stirred, filled with the need to look away. “Did Brad ever tell you I was friends with the guy who lived in your cabin before?”
“A little. Just mentioned his name and that he had passed.” Ambrose didn’t hesitate or hang on that word.Passed. It still bore weight but he didn’t let it drag either of them down. “I can’t imagine that was easy.”
“Wasn’t. Perry and I were good buddies for about five years. He was older than me, a loner too.” Barrett had to chuckle. “First time I met him, he was also on the docks but fishing instead of playing guitar. He reminded me a bit of my boss, Jacques. Eternal bachelors, outdoorsy, always in the mud or snow or the lake.” He moved one saucepan to the warmer and pulled another one over. The garlic and onions had gone translucent and he didn’t want to overcook them. “So we fished and talked and then one day he brought over a book.”
“Novel?”
Barrett shook his head. “It’s over there. Far left bookcase, top shelf. Little green leather thing with a ribbon marker.”
Ambrose got to his feet and was immediately followed by Dandelion. When he turned around at the sound of paws, he laughed and patted her head. “I went fifteen feet, you goof.”
Damn. There went his traitorous heart again, watching Dandi with Ambrose. She liked people in general but every time Ambrose was in her vicinity, she became his shadow. The only other person she did that with was him.
He liked Ambrose. And it would be nice to have a friend. Every other little thought was discarded ribbon from a well-received gift. Just something to cast aside for now, pick up later and dump in the trash. Maybe reuse it if the time and purpose was right.
“May I?”
“Yeah, bring it over here though. I haven’t looked through it in a while.”
Ambrose came to stand at Barrett’s right, his gaze flitting over the stove full of bubbling sauces. “You didn’t have to do all this.”
Without thinking, he bumped his shoulder into Ambrose’s. “It’s not a worry. I wanted to.” He froze then sighed. “Shit, sorry. I’m a touchy guy, I shouldn’t have done that.”
“You’re fine.” A finely boned hand landed on his shoulder and squeezed, then retreated. “I don’t mind it from you. You’ve saved my ass twice and seen me not at my best. A few friendly bumps are all right.”
Ambrose flipped open the book and Barrett watched, transfixed, as those long fingers traced over the first few sketches. “Gorgeous.”
“Yeah. Perry was talented. I kept telling him he should publish it.”
Silence gathered around them as Ambrose leafed through page after page of charcoal sketches and soft watercolors. Leaves, berries, flowers, mushrooms, and all manner of local flora came to life once more, each one gracing pages that had been lovingly worked on. His heart did that funny little flip when Ambrose lingered over a soft gold daffodil and the light periwinkle of foxgloves.
“If you ever want to publish it, I know a few indie places that might be interested. There’s one in particular that is always looking for artwork for coffee table books and reference guides.”
His heart really wasn’t going to let up tonight, was it? Thinking of Perry’s artwork proudly displayed on glossy pages and sitting on someone else’s table, in someone else’s house, made him suck in a breath. “I can’t ask that of you.”
“I offered.” Ambrose smiled. “And I mean it. These are really, really beautiful. Do you have any more?”
“Tons. Boxes of ’em. Mostly loose leaf notebooks.”
That smile turned into a frown. “His family didn’t want them?”
The little knot that was always present when he talked about Perry clenched; a fist in his lungs, like a punch. A direct hit. “No family, really. He’s got a sister on the other side of the country but they were estranged. His parents are long gone.”
“Lifelong bachelor.” Ambrose shook his head, his mouth a tight line. “You took care of him, didn’t you?”
Fuck, his throat was so tight he could barely swallow. “My nature, I guess. Tends to get me in trouble.”
The way Ambrose slid next to him was almost imperceptible, it was so fluid. And the arm that wrapped around his shoulders was heavy, but honest. Comforting. “You’re a kind man, Barrett.”
