Page 54 of Meet Me at Sunset Cove

A sheepish smile tugged at Hunter’s lips. “I made it,” he said, running a hand over the back of his neck.

Daisy’s jaw dropped. “You made this?”

Hunter nodded, feeling a warmth spread through his chest at her reaction. “Um, yeah.”

“Stop. You didn’t tell me you could do this.”

“You didn’t ask.”

“Well, that’s ridiculous. What other extremely helpful talents are you hiding from me, Hunter Barrett?”

Hunter chuckled. “Just that one.”

Daisy stared at him, her eyes bright, her lips parted in a growing smile.

His chest tightened and Hunter dropped his gaze, feeling the sudden need to fill the charged silence between them. “I…um…I was actually planning to be a carpenter. Before I joined the family business. It’s kind of a family specialty.” He ran a hand over the back of his neck. “Half the houses on the island have some sort of Barrett woodwork. It was just this thing we did when we completed a project. A little something to keep us on the island.”

Daisy turned back to the banister, crouching again to trace the pattern along the edges. “It’s incredible, Hunter.” Then, she looked up at him, her eyes shining with something that tugged at Hunter’s heart. “I want to see Barrett pieces all over this house when we’re through.”

All over this house.The implication in her words was not lost on him. It would take a lot longer than a few months to renovate this whole house…

Talk to her. What’s the worst that could happen?

Hunter swallowed hard, the words on the tip of his tongue.Would you stay? If I asked.

Daisy glanced up again as if just remembering something. “Don’t you have work today?”

He blinked, the fog in his mind clearing. “Yeah. Yes.” He stepped back, shoving his hands into his pockets, sawdust and all. “I just wanted to be here when you saw it.”

Her lips pressed together, hiding that beautiful smile, and his stomach flipped.

“Okay. See you tonight.”

He wasn’t ready for the worst that could happen.

No, he’d keep pretending.

As long as it kept her around.

ChapterEleven

It really was perfect.

Daisy slouched back against the wall, staring again at the finished staircase. Her hands wrapped around a warm cup of caramel apple macchiato as she planned out her next steps.

The projects Hunter had agreed to were nearly done. The porch was finished, and the exterior had a fresh coat of paint, giving the house some much-needed curb appeal. The foyer had new wallpaper, refinished floors and stairs, and a piece of signature Barrett woodworking for the banister.

All they needed now was updated lighting, and then it would be ready for staging.

Daisy glanced around the house. There was still so much she wanted to do.

Her eye caught on the gaping hole above the sunroom door. The walls had been cleaned, the floor refinished, but Daisy hadn’t asked again to work on that room. Not after Hunter had told her what it meant to him.

But that transom…

She wondered.

Daisy set down her coffee cup and pushed to her feet before making her way toward the back of the house. She stepped into the old kitchen, pausing on her search to admire the potential of the space.

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