Page 5 of Shades of You

The Coleridges and Markhams had been at odds for over a century—ever since a Markham had won Calypso Key from our ancestor in a high-stakes poker game. The Coleridges had once owned most of Dove Key in addition to Calypso Key, but our holdings had whittled away over the decades. Sold off in the name of making ends meet, while the Markhams and their resort had thrived.

Decades of resentment and animosity had been passed down too.

“Stella reaching out… that’s not nothing,” Ben conceded, his gaze meeting mine. “But it’ll take a hell of a lot more than that for me to ever trust one of those vipers.”

“Well, with that attitude, no wonder!” The news I’d just heard about Hunter entered my mind, but I stayed silent. Ben would not be pleased to hear the errant Markham had returned. Then again, all I had was a rumor. Michelle hadn’t actually laid eyes on Hunter, had she?

Ben’s skepticism was as clear as the glass chimes hanging above the bookstore’s entrance. His deep sigh held a heaviness that spoke of endless worries. “Look”—he rubbed the back of his neck—“I appreciate Stella’s apology. But words won’t change what people think of me overnight.”

It pained me to see him like this—tired lines etching his face, the harsh judgment of our small community dimming the spark in his blue eyes. Ben was working two jobs. In addition to working full time with a local landscapingcompany, he worked on his off hours around the resort. Doing whatever needed to be done, and fixing the million things that seemed in need of constant repair.

“Ben, you’re turning things around, really putting your heart into Siesta Sunset. People will see that.” I smiled, trying to infuse some hope into the conversation.

When our father had deserted our mother—and the whole rest of the family—ten years ago, Ben had reacted by sowing a very large can of wild oats. But as the years wore on and our mother struggled to pick up the pieces, she leaned more and more on her eldest child. Ben. Though he never complained, I knew the mantle of leadership had been a heavy one to bear.

“Maybe,” he said with a shrug. “But it feels like for every step forward, there’s someone waiting to push me two steps back.”

“Give it time,” I said gently, reaching across to squeeze his hand. “You’re more than your past. Slowly but surely, everyone else will see that too.”

Before he could respond, the cheerful ring of the door chime signaled a new customer. A woman with sunburned skin and an adventurous glint in her eye wandered in, her gaze immediately drawn to the travel section. I gave Ben’s hand a final reassuring pat before moving toward the newcomer, who had tourist written all over her. In no time, I had the perfect book selected for her, a guide to the Keys full of out-of-the-way haunts just waiting to be discovered that a local author had written. As I rang up her purchase, a pang of longing hit me. Exploring new places, seeking adventure—Hunter and I used to dream about that when we were kids, tucked away in the corners of the local library.

“Enjoy your adventure,” I told the woman, handing herthe bagged book. As she walked out, she left a trail of excitement behind her.

My brother smiled faintly at our exchange as he rose from his chair. “You’ve got a gift, Bren. Always have.”

“Thanks.” The boards squeaked reassuringly as I crossed the worn wooden floor. “Just doing what I love.”

He nodded, and though his shoulders still bore that heavy weight, there was a slight lift in his posture. “I better get back to the resort. I need to repair a railing on the dock.”

“Get some rest, okay? And remember, you’re not alone in this.”

“Thanks. I know,” he said, though we both knew it was a promise stretched thin by circumstance.

Alone again among the bookshelves, I roamed between the stacks. My fingertips grazed the spines of countless stories until my eyes landed on a contemporary romance and I pulled it out for a closer look.

“That’s the one.” The glossy cover flaunted two celebrities locked in a clinch that promised both passion and secrets. Perfect for next month’s book club selection. I returned to my computer and ordered twenty copies.

Bookstore in Paradise had always been a place where different worlds collided and harmonized with the scent of aged paper and scented candles. Yet, even in this tranquil setting, thoughts of Hunter stirred my calm waters. His possible return to Dove Key was like a rogue wave, unexpected and potentially tumultuous. As kids, a friendship between a Coleridge and a Markham had raised eyebrows. But as adults? It would be even more complicated.

If the rumors about him are true, I doubt he’s picked up a book in years. I’m probably the last person he’s interested in seeing.

I shook my head, dispelling any thoughts that threatenedto dampen my spirits. Our monthly Sips and Pages book club was a testament to how family divides could be bridged. April Markham, with her infectious laughter, and Liv Jacobson, who was Evan Markham’s fiancée, had become unlikely allies over the past couple of years. Then more, friends. They were proof that the past didn’t have to dictate the future.

They had been there to console me after a recent breakup. Worse—it had been a second breakup. I’d given Knox Crandall another chance, but our relationship hadn’t been any more fulfilling the second time, at least for me. He tried so hard to do the right thing, but trouble seemed to follow him everywhere. And when I’d been despondent, my two friends had come over, bearing Liv’s exceptional coffee and donuts—sugary circles of comfort that made the heartache more bearable. Their kindness meant everything. It was high time the rest of our two rival keys caught up with us, recognizing that feuds belonged in history books, not in the heart of our community.

My phone buzzed from within the pocket of my apron. I hesitated, my hand hovering over the fabric. When I finally pulled it out, Knox’s name flashed on the screen, another message to add to last night’s that I hadn’t answered.

Knox: Can we talk? Please?

Memories ebbed and flowed. Knox, with his easy grin and artfully disheveled brown hair, always looking like he’d stepped off a postcard for Dove Key. But I was done with him and his late nights at the bar. Too bad he wasn’t. A soft sigh escaped my lips as I locked my phone and straightened the throw pillows on the chairs Ben and I had used, thoughit wasn’t my ex-boyfriend who drifted into my thoughts. It was Hunter. The sweet bookworm whose shy smiles could light up the darkest corners.

“Who are you now, Hunter Markham?”

The question lingered in the air, unanswered. My curiosity was piqued, yet it was tempered with caution. Everyone knew Hunter had joined the Marines after Evan’s accident, but no one knew exactly what he’d done. Rumors swirled about his appearance, his actions, and none of them were good. People change, after all, and I couldn’t help but wonder if time and trials had rewritten the boy who once spoke in quotes and dreams.

Dove Key was a small town. The chances were good that if Hunter had moved back, our paths would cross at some point.

Chapter Three

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