Page 61 of Shades of You

“Exactly. And don’t worry about meeting my family. I’llbe right there by your side.” Hunter sealed his declaration with a kiss, and I lost myself in the delicious slide of his mouth on mine, the soft rasp of his beard against my skin.

Even as desire coursed through my veins, unease lingered in the back of my mind. Given how my family had reacted—especially Harper, normally the reasonable, supportive one—how would Hunter’s siblings feel about seeing us as a couple? Could the Markham-Coleridge feud truly be laid to rest, or were we fooling ourselves by thinking we could overcome generations of resentment?

One bridge at a time.

For now, I’d focus on making a good impression, on proving that Hunter and I belonged together no matter what. If only I could silence the small, insistent voice in my head warning me that we were sailing into dangerous waters. And that maybe neither of us would make it back to shore unscathed.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Brenna

The black Range Rover’stires crunched against sun-bleached sand as we pulled into the Calypso Key parking lot. After exiting the SUV, Hunter’s fingers laced through mine. His thumb traced soothing circles on my skin as if he sensed my nervousness about facing a boat full of Markhams. I squeezed his hand, trying to absorb his steadiness as we stepped onto a cement path that wound through manicured foliage.

Glancing around the quiet, serene resort, I tried to deny the sensation of being in enemy territory. I was thirty-one years old, and this was the first time I had set foot on the fabled resort grounds. In school, Hunter and I had always met on neutral ground. But no booby traps snapped on my Coleridge ankles or bound my Coleridge wrists. Calypso Key Resort was decidedly upscale and beautifully modern, and I could hardly keep from staring at the line of beautiful white cottages lining the white-sand beach, swaying palm trees watching over them. The setting was magnificent.

As we approached the canal where several boats were tied up, a tall figure Hunter had already told me about waved to us from the dock. Aiden was Stella’s boyfriend and our captain for the afternoon. The sun glinted off his golden hair and his easy smile helped me relax a notch.

“Welcome aboardCatch of the Day,” Aiden called out as he ushered us toward a beautiful sailboat, well over thirty feet long, with a grand sweep of his arm. Teak decking contrasted a white hull, all of it polished and shipshape.

“Thank you,” I said with a smile. Then I shaded my eyes with my hand to scan the vessel. “She’s absolutely stunning.”

“Thanks!” Aiden grinned like a proud father. “I lived on her before moving into the cottage with Stella. Still love taking her out any chance I get. So thanks for giving me the excuse. We’ve got perfect weather for a sunset cruise.”

He helped me step aboard while Hunter hopped lithely aboard behind me. Hunter’s hand found my elbow, guiding me toward a loose circle of canvas camp chairs that had been arranged on the deck. The chairs were painted in bright hues, standing out vividly against the varnished teak flooring. They were positioned to provide an unobstructed view of what I knew would be a breathtaking sunset. And people whose faces I knew well occupied nearly all of them, though I’d hardly exchanged a friendly word with many of them. The butterflies in my stomach doubled their activity.

Stella was already settled into one of these vibrant seats, her toned physique relaxing with her long legs crossed. I hadn’t seen her since that embarrassing meeting when she’d found me staying with Hunter, and her dark brown eyes were calculating as I approached. But she greeted me with a smile that eased the tight knot in my stomach slightly. Evanstood alone near the stern, his face slightly guarded and neutral.

As I sat next to Stella, with Hunter on my other side, she leaned forward. “Dad and Nona are staying ashore today. But on behalf of the younger generation, welcome aboard.”

“Thanks for having me,” I said and was glad my voice was steady.

“I apologize if Aiden talked your ear off about the boat already. I never thought I’d be competing with a sailboat.” Stella’s words were dry, but her fond glance at Aiden, who was untying us, let me know she was joking.

A wave of relief washed over me as my gaze landed on two familiar faces among this sea of Markhams. April and Liv, though April was a Markham now, and Liv was close to becoming one. April sat next to Gabe, who gave me a nod but kept his face completely unreadable. His expression quickly softened when he turned to his wife and brushed her hair back from her face. Liv perched next to April, and her bright smile was like coming home after a long journey. Seeing her and April here reminded me that I wasn’t alone amidst this crowd. I had allies here too.

As the shore retreated, I let out a breath, savoring the salty tang in the air and the soft lap of waves against the hull. Aiden and Stella made quick work of unfurling the sails. So far so good, and no blood had been spilled yet. Rising from his chair, Hunter lifted the lid of a large cooler and extracted two bottles, then popped the caps off with practiced ease.

“Beer o’clock,” he said with a wink, passing me one.

I took a long pull, the crisp, cold liquid sliding down my throat. It tasted like summer and fresh starts. Hunter clinked his bottle to mine before settling beside me onceagain, our knees brushing. Tension unwound from between my shoulder blades as I leaned back, unable to resist the wind in my hair and the man at my side as we chased the sinking sun.

Stella returned to her seat and leaned closer to me, her long, dark ponytail whipping in the breeze. Her brown eyes held a tentative warmth as she scooted to the edge of the chair. “I wanted to apologize for being such a bitch when I saw you at Hunter’s place. It caught me off guard, and I lashed out.”

“No worries,” I replied, giving her a small smile. “I get it. It’s a lot to process for all of us.” Stella’s apology meant more to me than she probably realized. It signified yet another small bridge being built between our families. And a friendlier start to the cruise than I’d dared hope for.

Stella tucked a flyaway strand of hair behind her ear. “So you’ve had no word from your ex? You’re confident he’s out of the picture?”

I blinked, the concern in her voice surprising me, but warming to her. “Oh, yeah. I haven’t heard from him in a long time now.”

Stella’s gaze turned sympathetic. “Breakups are tough.”

“Yeah. I’m lucky to have Hunter to lean on. He made sure I stayed safe until he was convinced Knox had left town. I’m just focusing on myself and the bookshop now.”

“You two will have to come to Orchid sometime. I’ll make sure your meals are on the house.”

I laughed and said I’d love to. As she moved off to stand beside Aiden at the console, I released a shaky breath. Stella fitted herself against Aiden’s side as he guided the boat through the calm water, one hand on the wheel. He planted a kiss against her head, which brought my smile back.

As the boat glided over the gentle waves, Hunter’swarmth seeped into my side. His protective presence grounded me in this sea of Markhams. The tension I had carried like an anchor began to loosen its grip, and a sense of acceptance and maybe even a hint of hope replaced it.

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