Page 83 of Shades of You

Ben blinked, clearly working it out in his head. “That could work. I’d love a job without set hours so I could get caught up on projects around the resort.”

Hunter’s nod was measured, a quiet acknowledgment of the gravity of the moment. “I saw firsthand the good work you did at Calypso Key with that landscaping project. I’d be glad to have you on the team. Besides, I know what it’s like to start over.”

“Yeah, I guess you do.” Ben’s acceptance came with a hint of disbelief, as if he couldn’t quite grasp the truce forming before our eyes. Finally, Ben gave him a firm nod. “Okay. Thanks. Maybe it’s time a Coleridge and a Markham started working together.”

“More than time.” I smiled and caught Hunter’s eye, mouthing a silentthank you.

Rising to his feet, Hunter smoothed my hair with one large hand as he topped off my glass. Then he filled everyone else’s, emptying the pitcher. “If we’re celebrating, we can’t do it with empty glasses. To the Coleridges!”

Laughing, we all clinked mugs once more. He asked Austin about fishing, and they discussed the merits of wahoo versus dorado. Eli got into the conversation, chiding them for catching fish instead of enjoying them underwater. It was an old argument between Eli and Austin, and the exchange made me smile.

I caught Harper staring at me, pride all over her face. She leaned around Ben to murmur, “I’m proud of you. Look at what you’ve accomplished here. And I admit I was wrong. Hunter’s got a pretty good personality. I like him.”

Hunter burst into laughter at something Braden said, and I studied his handsome face. This was yet another side of him, another shade. My brothers had been reserved to start, but he’d managed to put them at ease and find common topics of conversation. And that shouldn’t be surprising, should it? Hunter had spent the better part of a decade as part of a tightly knit team. He was highly experienced at meshing with others and reading the room. I hadn’t given him enough credit.

I stared around the table at the people I loved best in the world, wondering why on earth I’d been so nervous about this.

After lunch,Hunter and I strolled along the salt-and-pepper beach, the grains soft and warm under our bare feet.

“What a cool beach,” he said, kicking the sand with one foot. “Even the dark grains are soft.”

I nodded as I swung our joined hands. “The dark sand is from worn-down rocks. They’re old enough that they’re the same consistency as the white grains. I’ve always thought the beach was one of the prettiest parts of the resort.”

He winked at me. “Not even close. That honor belongs to you.”

I nudged his shoulder and we continued until we reached a secluded spot at the beach’s end. The sound ofwaves gently lapping against the shore filled the space around us.

“Thank you for reaching out to my brother,” I said, turning to him. The warm breeze played with strands of my hair.

Hunter shrugged before stuffing his hands in his pockets. “Ben deserves a shot. Besides, someone taught me all about second chances.”

I smiled. “And you’ve done so much with yours. I’m proud of you, Hunter.”

He glanced away, focusing on the horizon where sea met sky in a perfect line. “You gave me courage all those years—made me hope that one day I’d be able to see beyond the shadows.”

“Well, maybe I played a part, even if I didn’t know it,” I teased, my fingers tracing the lines of tension that had eased from his face over time. His admission thatIwas his lost love still floored me, and I vowed to make sure he knew how special he was. “But you did the work, and don’t forget that. You’re the one who fought through the darkness.”

“Maybe. But you gave me the light to look for.”

As our lips met, the depth of our kiss mirrored the vibrant colors of the ocean before us. It was a kiss of unity, of shared promises and intertwined destinies.

A kiss that whispered forever without a single word.

He reached out to smooth my hair, his expression growing thoughtful. “Who would’ve thought? Brenna Coleridge and Hunter Markham, the stars of our very own love story.”

“More like the bad boy redeemed and the bookshop owner with a penchant for happy endings,” I quipped as the warm water washed over our feet.

“Sounds like a romance novel. Think your Sips and Books club would approve?”

“Only if it’s steamy enough,” I shot back and we both laughed, the sound mingling with the gentle rush of palm fronds above.

Our laughter faded to contented silence, and I marveled at how natural it felt to be here with him—love and the steady determination to better himself had softened the bad boy’s hard edges.

“Thank you,” Hunter said suddenly, his voice low and full of emotion. “For believing in me when I couldn’t. And for giving me the prod to act when I needed to.”

“You’ve always been worth believing in,” I said softly and lifted my gaze to meet his.

He smiled, the kind that came from deep within, and it made my heart soar. I rested against his broad chest as he wrapped both arms around me. Tall and solid, Hunter was a presence to lean on. And I gave him something too. A sort of mirror, a way to see other sides of himself. We were each a half, and together we were whole. After over a decade apart, each chasing our own dreams and facing our own trials, we found exactly what we’d been looking for in each other.

---