Page 14 of Sweet Passions at Bayside
“Dean would never hurt me.” Emery sat down at the table and speared a pancake from the platter Desiree set before her. “You sure you don’t mind, big guy? It’s actually perfect, considering I canwalkthere,” she teased. “But I have to warn you, I’m not the neatest person, and I stink at cooking, but I’ll—”
“Keep her out of your kitchen,” Desiree warned. “I’ve seen her cook. Not only will your kitchen never recover, but neither will your stomach.”
“Truth,” Emery said, and ate another forkful of pancake.
“I don’t need you to cook or clean. Just stay out of my gardens and we’ll be fine.” Dean glared out the window over the sink at Violet’s cottage, looking like he was strategizing World War III.
“Okay, thanks. I’ll get my stuff after breakfast,” she said.
“I’llget your stuff and take it to my place while you eat,” Dean said. “I’m working in the hospital gardens today. I’ll make you a key while I’m out and text you when I get back.”
Before she could say a word, he stormed out the door.
“That’s a man on a mission,” Desiree said as she sat down beside Rick.
“I thought I left my overprotective older brothers back in Oak Falls.” She looked at Drake and Rick and said, “What is it about me that makes guys want to build a fortress and lock me away? I’m tough. I can handle myself. I don’t take grief from anyone, and there’s no guy on earth who’s going to get anything I don’t want to give. You’d think after knowing me for all this time Dean would know that.”
The two men shared a serious glance she couldn’t read.
“He just doesn’t want you to get hurt,” Drake said.
“Well, we had a blast yesterday. So, whatever his reasons, I’m glad he’ll put up with me for a few days. And I’m sure Vi will appreciate her privacy.” She stabbed a piece of pancake with her fork and pointed it at Rick. “These are good, but do you think you can up your game a bit? I’d really love some of Desiree’s cranberry bliss crepes.”
“Oh, man,” Rick said.
Everyone laughed, and Emery said, “Maybe the naked stranger can give you some tips.”
WHILE DESIREE MADE breakfast for the customers staying at the inn, which she always offered their first morning but didn’t provide on a daily basis, Emery pulled out her phone to text Dean. She found a reply to the message she’d sent him earlier about being a secret dirty dancer, and read it on her way through the house to see her new studio.
You never told me you were a naked man magnet.
She smiled as she typed a reply.I’m a woman of many talents. Thanks for letting me stay at your place. Going to check out my new studios. See you tonight, Patrick Swayze.
Her phone vibrated a minute later with his response.Forgot to tell you. I have one rule. No overnight guests.
She gasped. Did he really think she’d do that? She zipped off a smart-alec reply.Wait, let me rethink this…
She pictured his overprotective scowl and decided he was being too nice to torture, and sent another text.I’m KIDDING!
A few seconds later a picture of his scowling face appeared on her screen, and she smiled. She really loved their banter. Why couldn’t the guys she went out with be that easy and fun? Another text bubble popped up with the message,Serena has a key to my place in the office. Use that if you need to get in before I get home.
Feeling good about staying with him, she replied—10-4, big guy—and slipped her phone into the pocket of her cutoffs as she headed into her new studio.
The open, airy space was exactly as she’d envisioned. Worn hardwood floors led to two sets of oversized French doors that opened directly to a patio. She threw open the doors, inhaling the salty sea air, and stepped outside. The inn sat up high on a dune, giving her a gorgeous view of the sandy beach and Cape Cod Bay. In the distance, two sailboats made their way out to sea. Sounds of a young family down on the beach, gentle waves lapping at the shore, and a new life embraced her. She still couldn’t believe she’d packed up her belongings and moved away. This was her new home—not for a vacation, not for the summer, but for the foreseeable future. Tears stung her eyes, but they weren’t tears of sadness. They were tears of joy, tears of hope—and okay, maybe a few were for moving so far away from her family, but wasn’t that to be expected?
She’d surprised herself when she’d started thinking about moving away from the only home she’d ever known. But with her best friend embarking on a wonderful new life, the voids in her life had magnified. Not only did she miss Desiree, but her friendships with Violet and Serena had quickly morphed into a sisterhood as strong as any she’d had back home. But it was Dean who had helped her make the final decision to try to make arealgo of it in Wellfleet, permanently rather than just for the summer, as she’d originally planned. He pushed her to see things differently and said things that made her introspective. Even now she found herself wondering what it was about the guy at the bar that made her accept his invitation to go out with him. She’d never picked apart things like that before getting to know Dean.
“What do you think?”
Emery started at the sound of Desiree’s voice, taking a moment to push her thoughts away before facing her friend. Cosmos darted over, and she knelt to love him up.
“It’s gorgeous. I can’t tell you how much it means to me that you’re letting me try to get this business off the ground here with you guys.”
Cosmos trotted into the grass tethered by his long leash.
“Are you kidding? I’m thrilled!” Desiree joined her in the sun. “I feel like my sister has come home.”
“Home.Do you know how weird and wonderful that sounds?”
