Page 77 of Happy Harbor
She chuckled. “Do you remember how gruff I was when I first got here?”
“You mean how gruff you still are sometimes?”
“Well, back in Atlanta, I was worse than that. I got fired from my job because I wasn’t good at working with a team. I could be a bit rude, and I only liked working alone.”
“Why are you telling me all this?”
“Because you might think I’m this beautiful woman—which is hysterical to me—but I’m really just a difficult person.”
He sighed. “Our past doesn’t have to be our future, Josie. I don’t judge people on who they used to be.”
“There’s also the saying that if somebody does something one time, they’ll probably do it again. Like cheaters. I could never date a cheater again.”
“Well, I can agree with you there. I’ve never understood people who cheat. Just break up if you don’t wanna be with somebody anymore. I’ve been cheated on more times than I can count.”
Now it was her turn to stare at him with her mouth open. “Women have cheated on you? Are they nuts?”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“You look like a cover model for some Southern men’s magazine.”
“So we have concluded that we are both immensely attractive people. At least we can agree on something,” he said, laughing. “I’m just saying that you deserve a man who loves you, whether or not you’re being ornery. A real man won’t leave when things get tough.”
“I don’t know what to make of you.”
“What do you mean?”
“There’s this part of me that really wants to dislike you.”
“Why would you want to dislike me?”
“Because I like you too much. I thought it was just friendship, but then I get these feelings...”
He turned sideways on the step, facing her. “Tell me more about those feelings.”
“Absolutely not.” She turned and faced him, their knees touching.
“Why are you so scared?”
“Every person in my life, except for my grandmother and my daughter, turned out not to be who I thought they were. My life has been one trauma after another. So, I guess I guard my heart a little too closely.”
“Can’t you see how I feel about you?”
“Feelings are fleeting. They aren’t real.”
He leaned back against the railing. “Okay, so what is real? The fact that I worked all night to make sure the apartment was ready for you to rent? The fact that I come into the restaurant all the time just so I can look at you? Or what about the fact that I have single-handedly planned an entire fundraising event to pay off that debt just so there’s no chance of you leaving town?”
“I am appreciative of everything you’ve done?—”
“I don’t want you to appreciate it. I want you to see that you’re worth it. That just because everybody else has let you down in your life doesn’t mean that I will.”
“What are you saying?”
Without warning or preparation, he leaned forward, his mouth as close to hers as a person’s could get without touching. She could feel the breath of each word he spoke.
“I’m saying that I’m not going anywhere. You need stability in this storm? I’m it. I’ve waited my whole life for a woman like you, Josie Campbell, and I’ll win your heart one way or the other.” As he went to stand up, his top lip brushed against hers for just a second, and then he was gone, walking toward the guest cottage. She had never felt like chasing someone so much in her life.
CHAPTERSEVENTEEN
