Page 51 of Serenity at Seagrove
But Luna couldn't help thinking about how Archer had helped guide her through a golf swing, his breath warm against her ear, and how natural it had been to dance in his arms at the golf classic. He looked at her like she was the most precious thing in the world, something worth staying for—except she hadn't been.
"You at least need some air," Janine said later that afternoon. "Come watch the sunset with me at the lighthouse."
Luna shook her head. "I have client notes to finish."
"You know those notes can wait. You've been cooped up in here for days, drowning yourself in work. Come on, Luna. Just come with me."
Luna finally looked up, and Janine's face was filled with concern.
"Fine," she conceded, "but just for a little while. I really do have these notes."
The walk to the lighthouse was quiet, the early evening air heavy with salt and jasmine.
"I'm sure those kids miss their golf lessons," Janine said as they started to climb the lighthouse steps.
"I'm sure Oakland Hills will have plenty of young students eager to learn from him."
"Luna—"
"Please," Luna interrupted. "I can't talk about him. Not yet."
They reached the top of the lighthouse as the sun began its descent. Luna moved to the railing, letting the wind whip her long hair around her face.
"I need to check on Madison," Janine said suddenly. "William just texted. She's running a fever again."
Luna nodded, not turning around. "Go on, I'll be fine here."
She heard Janine's footsteps fade down the stairs, leaving her alone with the sunset and her thoughts. She closed her eyes, listening to the endless rhythm of the ocean. Right now, peace felt very far away.
She heard footsteps on the stairs behind her and turned, thinking Janine had come right back, but instead, she met Emma, who took care of the lighthouse and lived on-site. She was very nice and had invited Luna to have lunch one day. Luna was grateful to be meeting new people and to maybe have some distractions in the coming days.
Emma headed back down, and Luna decided to stay a few more minutes until the sun was almost gone before walking home.
Luna closed her eyes again and allowed the sea breeze to blow her hair. This was usually something that calmed her, but right now she couldn't seem to find that peace within herself. All she could think about was watching Archer load up his truck and leave. Had everything meant nothing to him? Did he think that he meant nothing to her? It was all so jumbled up in her brain.
She heard footsteps behind her yet again and thought,Who in the world would be coming up to the lighthouse at this hour when the sun was almost gone?Maybe Emma was coming back because she felt bad for her being alone, but what she really wanted was to be alone.
"I've been looking for you."
Luna's heart felt like it stopped in her chest. She thought she'd imagined his voice for a moment, another trick of grief and exhaustion, but when she turned, Archer was standing there, real and solid.
“Archer. I thought you were in California," she managed to choke out.
"I never left." He took a step closer. "I could never do that."
"But I saw you—your truck, the boxes?—"
"I moved into my own place in town, a cottage near the golf course." His eyes held hers. "I'm staying, Luna. I turned down Oakland Hills days ago."
She gripped the railing behind her. "But why?"
"Because everything I need is here. Everything I want is here.” He took another step closer. "The kids, the community, the chance to continue teaching the game I love in a way that matters. But most of all—you."
She felt tears burning her eyes. "I pushed you away."
"You tried," he said, slightly smiling. "But I learned something from all those breathing exercises you forced me to learn. Sometimes the hardest thing to do is also the most important."
"And what's that?"
