Page 10 of Serenity at Seagrove
Luna looked out over the ocean, thinking about the upcoming opening, about SuAnn's determination to make everything special, and about Archer's guarded vulnerability. Maybe this was what she needed—not just for Serenity, but for herself too.
"Now," Janine said, "let's plan this yoga demonstration, because if I know my mama, half the town's going to be here. We want to show them just how magical this place can be."
Luna nodded, reaching for her own mat. They started working through the poses, the ocean breeze carrying the scent of salt and possibility.
CHAPTER4
Archer stood in front of the mirror at the inn and adjusted the collar of his button-down pale pink shirt. The invitation to Serenity's opening celebration sat on the dresser, its elegant script glaring at him from a few feet away. Julie had hand-delivered it yesterday, giving him a look that showed no argument was necessary about his attendance.
"Well, you clean up nice," Dawson said from the doorway. "Although you might want to do something about that scowl. It's a party, not a funeral."
"Remind me again why I have to go to this thing?" Archer grumbled, running a hand through his hair.
"Because my wife asked you to. And when she asks you to do something, you just do it. It's also the polite thing to do. And maybe, just maybe, it won't kill you to be a part of this community again. You did grow up here, after all."
Archer turned to face him. "I saw Luna on the beach the other morning."
"Oh?" Dawson's expression remained carefully neutral, but Archer could definitely see the interest in his eyes.
"She was different, I guess, than I expected." Archer picked up the invitation and ran his thumb over the embossed lettering. "She didn't try to push anything on me. We just talked about breathing, of all things."
"Imagine that," Dawson said dryly. "A therapist and wellness expert talking about breathing? That's revolutionary stuff."
"You're real funny," Archer said. "I just don't know what I'm supposed to do at this thing."
Dawson put his hands on Archer's shoulders. "You show up, be pleasant, eat some of SuAnn's food. It's really not that complicated, man."
It sure felt complicated. Everything he did felt complicated these days.
"Look," Dawson said, leaning against the doorframe. "I know this isn't easy for you. Being back here, seeing everybody, watching them walk on eggshells around you, which I'm not going to do, by the way."
"They don't all walk on eggshells," Archer muttered, thinking of Dixie's direct stares and SuAnn's not-so-subtle comments whenever he stopped by Hotcakes.
"True, but some of them just hit you over the head with their concern, and they mean well. This is a celebration for Luna and the community. It's about welcoming someone new, someone who might actually be good for this town."
Archer thought about Luna at the beach and the quiet strength in her voice when she talked about breathing. There had been no judgment there, no pressure. She was just making an observation, but it was still an invitation he wasn't ready to accept.
"Julie says she's different," Archer said, adjusting his cuffs. "Says she's not just another outsider trying to come in and change Seagrove."
"And what do you think about that?"
Archer met Dawson's eyes in the mirror. "I think maybe she understands more than I gave her credit for at first."
A knowing smile spread across Dawson's face. "Well, would you look at that? The mighty Archer Hawk admitting he might have been wrong about something."
"Don't push it," Archer warned. "Let's just get this over with."
As they headed downstairs, Julie was waiting in the foyer, looking elegant in a flowy sundress. She gave Archer an approving nod.
"You look nice. Very ungrumpy."
"Thanks, I think," Archer said.
The sun was starting to set as they made their way toward Serenity, painting the sky in shades of pink and gold. Archer could see the glow of fairy lights in the distance strung along the yoga deck and hear the soft murmur of voices carried by the ocean breeze. He took a deep breath, remembering Luna's words about breathing being the bravest thing sometimes. It made him feel a little better.
Maybe she had a point after all.
* * *
