Page 25 of Summer with a Brother's Best Friend
“A challenge you’ve met head-on and exceeded the expectations put forth. I didn’t offer you the job because your father and I have a standing golf date or because your brother always makes sure he’s available for demonstrations or assemblies in the district.”
I blow out a breath and stare out the window over his shoulder as I let his words sink in. This is what I’ve wanted.
What I’vealwayswanted—to be seen and valued for what I bring to the table. And now that I’m here, it’s more difficult to accept than I imagined.
“You can have more time if you need to think about it,” Mr. Gomes says carefully as if he’s worried I might bolt at any second. But I shake my head because he’s wrong.
“I’d very much like to accept the position.”
Mr. Gomes’s smile is immediate as it stretches across his face, and I can’t help but do the same as I feel the invisible weight lift from my shoulders. The last thing I ever wanted to do was end up back in Love Beach with a million “I told you sos” and disapproving stares.
But I guess I also forgot all the magic I’d found here too. I’d missed the sand and the ocean and being wrapped up in Isaac’s arms every night.
I missed him.
And honestly, I could go anywhere for a job, but I want a life too, and the only one I want to live it with is Isaac.
“You had me sweatin’ bullets, and I was born and raised in South Carolina, Miss Baylor.” He winks and I chuckle as he stands. “Let’s show you to your classroom and then we can swing back here and grab your paperwork.”
“That sounds perfect.”
18
REECE
I’m practically vibrating with excitement as I park in front of Love Beach Brews and climb out. Today has been surreal, and I can’t wait to tell Isaac my news. Climbing out, I stop short when I see he’s talking to a woman just inside. Her long, black ponytail swings back and forth as she nods along to something he said.
His posture istense,and he rubs the back of his neck with his hand before nodding a final time and watching her turn and leave. She doesn’t see me as she pushes out the door and walks straight to her car, phone in hand.
I don’t like it.
And I like it less when I burst into the bar, startling Isaac who had still been staring at the woman with the raven hair.
“Who the hell was that, Isaac?”
His gaze snaps to me and he swallows hard. “Saige.”
“Saige Reiser?”
“Yeah,” he says, somehow defeated and also resolved.
“What was she doing here?”
“She’s a real estate agent.”
“You buying something?” I ask with my hands on my hips, suddenly defensive as the adrenaline rush from earlier takes a nose dive.
“Possibly. But probably selling.”
“Selling what?” I ask, dropping my hands as I follow his gaze around the bar.
Isaac takes a breath and then reaches for me, pulling me against him. “Saige is going to look at places out by you in North Carolina and see if there’s an opportunity for me to open another location while keeping this one up and running, but I may need to sell.”
“What?” I gasp, rearing back to look him in the eyes. “But you love this place and Jimmy Buffet and Love Beach and that wine from the Book & Barrel and?—”
“And none of that matters if I’m not with you, Reece. The last seven years have felt like an eternity and then you came home and it’s been everything I could ever dream of, and so nothing else matters. Not the bar or this town or your brother. I gave you up for him once. I won’t do it again.”
Tears prick the back of my eyes as I push up onto tiptoes to wrap my arms around his neck. “But you don’t have to.”
