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My focus turned to the waves crashing against the surf, the salty spray dampening my face even from our distance. “I can't see him with my mom. He's so together and she was so flighty.”
“Opposites attract or so I've heard.”
I should be freaking out. It was more than likely that my biological father set this whole thing up, a man who had kept his distance from me all of my life. I was definitely conflicted, but I wasn't freaking out. And as much as I liked Logan, the real reason I was so centered was because Bastian was here. Now, more than ever, I was so glad he had come with me to Harrington.
“I'm glad you're here.”
He dropped a kiss on my head in reply.
“What's Broderick's house like?”
“It's a beauty of a place. It needs a lot of work. Much of the original woodwork can't be restored, so it'll have to be custom-made, but the walnut floors, after a sanding and polyurethane, are going to be incredible.”
He was so animated; it warmed my heart to see him doing what he loved to do. “What are you working on?”I asked.
“I'm designing the specs for the custom work, the mantel, newel post, banister, balustrades and the crown moldings.”
Wonderment, I was sure, filled my expression, because though I knew what it was Bastian wanted to do with his life, I hadn't really appreciated what “restoring”entailed until I looked it up. It wasn't just building, but designing using engineering. It boggled my mind that even though he hadn't started his undergraduate work, Bastian knew what he was doing. I knew he was smart but I suspected he was more than smart, brilliant was a good word.
“What are you thinking Lark?”
“It sounds like you are doing exactly what you were hoping to do this summer.”
“It really is and if I had known about this job first, I would have fought to get on the crew. Broderick isn't just restoring, he's trying to do so in the most eco-friendly way. It'll cost more in the end, but it's going to be one hell of a place.”
“I guess you're locked into the job in Concord though, huh?”
“Yeah, I could stay. Broderick has already said as much, but I don't want to burn bridges.”
“So you're still leaving in a few days.”I felt him watching me but I couldn't look up at him without tears running down my cheeks. I wanted him to stay, especially now that he was doing exactly what he had hoped to be doing, but I knew I wasn't being fair. Three months wasn't all that long.
“Lark?”
“I'm just going to miss you so much.” I wiped at my eyes and he responded by pulling me close.
“Lark?”
“I know.” My hands moved under his shirt so I could touch his warm, hard skin as I pressed my face into his chest.
“Please don't cry.”
“I'm not crying. My eyes are leaking.”
His chuckle rumbled in his chest. I kissed him right on the spot where my name rested over his heart.
“Lark?”
“I'm okay. I'll be busy learning from a master and if I work fifteen-hour days and sleep for nine, I won't have time to miss you. And if I keep telling myself that maybe I'll begin to believe it.”
He reached for my face.“It's less than a four-hour drive from here to Concord. I've worked it out so that I can work Monday through Thursday, freeing up Fridays to give us three-day weekends.”
“Really?”
“Yes, there's no way I'm staying gonefor three months.”
I threw my arms around him and squeezed him hard.“You are brilliant. Have I ever told you that you are brilliant?”
He chuckled as he hugged me back.
