practically. And she did enjoy his company, although she wasn’t ready to admit that to anyone, either. She’d just have to ignore any vibes that she might imagine.
“You know, I’m only going into the café in the morning for a few hours,” Emily started. “Wanna...join me? Meet the fellas? Have some eggs Benedict, perhaps, under the wind chimes with the South Carolina surf crashing just steps away—”
“Sure,” Reagan agreed. “I’d love to.”
“Really?” Emily started. “Yes! That’s phenomenal!” She leaped from her seat, gave her another big-sister hug and hurried off. “See you in the morning, Rea. Be ready by eight!” Her voice faded to the back of the house.
Reagan sat for a few more minutes, finding a fork and consuming the entire piece of wedding cake. All while her thoughts flew around the rowboat ride with Eric, and the words he’d said to her. Just two small words.
See me.
He’d never know just how much they’d struck her.
After a quick shower, Reagan braided her wet hair, made her way to her bedroom and crawled beneath the covers. After a few moments, she kicked them off, her arm draped over her forehead. Maybe she would give painting another try. Maybe just one picture. A small one. Just to see how it turned out.
As her eyes drifted shut, her mind still whirled with memories of the night’s events. Not huge events, but glitches in time that were, for whatever reason, sticking to her brain. The way Eric smelled. The feel of his hands as they settled over hers and lifted to his cheeks. The funny things he’d said. The whole throwing-her-over-his-shoulder bit.
The way her heart had stopped for a split second when she’d slid past him in the doorway.
Flinging herself onto her side, Reagan knew she’d need to banish most of those thoughts from her mind. It’d do her no good in the end, and she knew it. Her focus needed to remain on getting up and on her feet. Somehow, managing some sort of extra income perhaps. And eventually—hopefully, soon—getting her own place. She didn’t want to be the third wheel with newlyweds, that was for damn sure, despite how much Emily and even Matt had insisted she stay.
Not if she could possibly help it.
Finally, with the sound of Eric’s raspy chuckle stuck in her ears, she drifted off to sleep.
By the time her alarm went off the next morning, Reagan had convinced herself that she’d allowed the moments with Eric the night before to make her think crazy thoughts. Make her believe things that actually weren’t there.
Like, say, attraction. The desire to kiss him. And the tingling that tickled her skin. No, she had been overwhelmed with the realization that she needed to get herself on track. And she had Eric to thank for that.
Nothing more.
Quickly brushing her teeth, then her hair, and pulling it into a fresh ponytail, Reagan’s fingers glided over her selections in the closet and chose a sleeveless sundress. She honestly had no idea what color it was, and figured it would certainly match a pair of white sandals. Shouldering her purse, she opened the door and stepped out into the hallway and nearly collided with her sister.
“Oh! You look adorable! Let me grab my bag and we’ll be on our way,” Emily said cheerfully.
Reagan stepped outside onto the veranda, and the heavy late-August morning seemed to cling to every inch of her skin. She’d been in scorching-hot weather, but there was nothing quite like a Southern coastal barrier island dog day to suck the air out of your lungs.
“Jesus Lord, it’s muggy out here!” Emily said, locking the door and jogging down the steps. “Ready?”
“Yep,” Reagan said, and in moments they were making their way through Cassabaw’s small community, heading to the Windchimer Café.
“I’m so happy you’re with me this morning,” Em said beside her. “The day is beautiful. Not a single cloud in the sky,” she continued.
“Feels like it,” Reagan said with a grin. “I think I
“You know, I’m only going into the café in the morning for a few hours,” Emily started. “Wanna...join me? Meet the fellas? Have some eggs Benedict, perhaps, under the wind chimes with the South Carolina surf crashing just steps away—”
“Sure,” Reagan agreed. “I’d love to.”
“Really?” Emily started. “Yes! That’s phenomenal!” She leaped from her seat, gave her another big-sister hug and hurried off. “See you in the morning, Rea. Be ready by eight!” Her voice faded to the back of the house.
Reagan sat for a few more minutes, finding a fork and consuming the entire piece of wedding cake. All while her thoughts flew around the rowboat ride with Eric, and the words he’d said to her. Just two small words.
See me.
He’d never know just how much they’d struck her.
After a quick shower, Reagan braided her wet hair, made her way to her bedroom and crawled beneath the covers. After a few moments, she kicked them off, her arm draped over her forehead. Maybe she would give painting another try. Maybe just one picture. A small one. Just to see how it turned out.
As her eyes drifted shut, her mind still whirled with memories of the night’s events. Not huge events, but glitches in time that were, for whatever reason, sticking to her brain. The way Eric smelled. The feel of his hands as they settled over hers and lifted to his cheeks. The funny things he’d said. The whole throwing-her-over-his-shoulder bit.
The way her heart had stopped for a split second when she’d slid past him in the doorway.
Flinging herself onto her side, Reagan knew she’d need to banish most of those thoughts from her mind. It’d do her no good in the end, and she knew it. Her focus needed to remain on getting up and on her feet. Somehow, managing some sort of extra income perhaps. And eventually—hopefully, soon—getting her own place. She didn’t want to be the third wheel with newlyweds, that was for damn sure, despite how much Emily and even Matt had insisted she stay.
Not if she could possibly help it.
Finally, with the sound of Eric’s raspy chuckle stuck in her ears, she drifted off to sleep.
By the time her alarm went off the next morning, Reagan had convinced herself that she’d allowed the moments with Eric the night before to make her think crazy thoughts. Make her believe things that actually weren’t there.
Like, say, attraction. The desire to kiss him. And the tingling that tickled her skin. No, she had been overwhelmed with the realization that she needed to get herself on track. And she had Eric to thank for that.
Nothing more.
Quickly brushing her teeth, then her hair, and pulling it into a fresh ponytail, Reagan’s fingers glided over her selections in the closet and chose a sleeveless sundress. She honestly had no idea what color it was, and figured it would certainly match a pair of white sandals. Shouldering her purse, she opened the door and stepped out into the hallway and nearly collided with her sister.
“Oh! You look adorable! Let me grab my bag and we’ll be on our way,” Emily said cheerfully.
Reagan stepped outside onto the veranda, and the heavy late-August morning seemed to cling to every inch of her skin. She’d been in scorching-hot weather, but there was nothing quite like a Southern coastal barrier island dog day to suck the air out of your lungs.
“Jesus Lord, it’s muggy out here!” Emily said, locking the door and jogging down the steps. “Ready?”
“Yep,” Reagan said, and in moments they were making their way through Cassabaw’s small community, heading to the Windchimer Café.
“I’m so happy you’re with me this morning,” Em said beside her. “The day is beautiful. Not a single cloud in the sky,” she continued.
“Feels like it,” Reagan said with a grin. “I think I
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