Page 72 of Distant Shores (Stapled Magnolias #2)

IRELAND

M y alarm buzzed again on the bedside table, and I snuggled closer to Adair. “Why?” I moaned.

Solid weight rolled on top of me, and I automatically wound my arms around him, sighing as he became the perfect blanket.

“Show me those eyes, Indigo Girl,” Adair rasped, his voice deep with sleep. His big, warm palms pushed my hair off my face before cradling my cheeks.

“Forecast?” I mumbled, nuzzling into his hands and ignoring his request.

He hummed, his chest vibrating against me before he slid up my body deliciously, reaching for his phone.

My feet flexed and then pointed as I reveled in everywhere we touched.

“Still just a tropical storm,” he murmured. “Looks like it might actually happen today.”

Today would mark our third—and final—attempt to do the ribbon cutting to open the greenhouse.

The first two times, we hadn’t even gotten the banner Liem designed put up or the red ribbon stretched across the entrance before a hurricane blew in from the Gulf and delayed it.

But today…

Today was the last chance that everyone could be here for it.

Adair seemed to follow the same train of thought, because he let out a deep sigh and kissed my cheek, my temple, and forehead before doing the same in reverse down the other side of my face.

I rubbed a soothing hand down his strong back and raked my left hand into his dark-brown waves, smiling at the weight of my ring. “She’s going to be okay,” I whispered. “And if not—” I cracked open an eye and smiled wryly at him. “—I’m sure you’ll find a book to help you guys through it.”

His eyes darkened as he smoothed his hand down my side, then my outer thigh, then gripped the back of my knee and hitched my leg around his waist.

“Think I can find one about what to do with a fiancée who teases me like that before the sun has even risen?” he asked, voice low, as he pressed his hardness against me.

“I have a few ideas, and I think—” He pushed against me again, momentarily stealing my words. “—you do too.” Throwing my head back, I slid my hands to his ass and urged him on.

One of our new nightly rituals, besides taking advantage of the oversized shower, was exchanging devices—my phone for Adair’s e-reader. He’d ask me questions about photos I’d taken that day, or sometimes he’d look over old ones, while I looked at his reading history and did the same.

Like his Jeep, his e-reader was old, but well cared for. I’d never forget the day I found all the parenting books he’d downloaded more than a decade ago, ranging from how to best deal with preteen mood swings to how to raise an independent but communicative teenaged girl.

It was as sweet as it was devastating.

The sound of a door slamming had us both freezing, straining our ears toward the rest of the house.

Delly wasn’t one to slam doors.

Probably thanks to Adair’s parenting books.

A few seconds later, a door slammed again from somewhere else in the house, followed by arguing voices.

Adair dropped his forehead to mine and let out a pathetic whimper. “Cole.”

My hands tightened on his firm ass, but it was more of a bitter goodbye than an urge to continue.

The way he pressed firmly into me one last time and then kissed me sweetly said the same.

A loud gasp sounded from the living room, followed by, “ It’s my birthday week, Apple Jack!”

I snorted, and Adair let out a long-suffering sigh. The sounds of Delly and Cole’s bickering were so familiar to me that it was almost a comfort.

“I guess he didn’t realize we were going to drive up and see him this weekend?” I murmured as Adair rolled off me.

“My fault for thinking surprising him was a good idea.” He put on his glasses, then kissed me one more time. “I’ll go deal with this. And make sure he doesn’t find the giant scissors.”

All I wanted to do was stay and wallow in his pine scent, but there was too much to work through, and staying still never helped me sort out my mind.

With a groan, I slid out of bed and fell right into a series of stretches, twirling my engagement ring as I went.

It looked like we maybe wouldn’t be taking that weekend trip to North Georgia this weekend for Cole’s birthday after all. Not if he was already here. I’d been psyching myself up for it, for being apart from Dad for a couple days, ever since Adair had mentioned it a few weeks ago.

I folded myself and touched my toes, stretching out the new aches and pains I’d developed from working on the greenhouse and dancing more, gaze catching on the empty cardboard boxes by the dresser.

So much change was coming, and maybe it was okay to be relieved that one more would be delayed.

Grace for all, but especially for you.

For me.

We’d also discussed visiting my old town to see my old dance studio where that sign Dad had made hung, but I’d ultimately vetoed it.

That was my past, and I saw no use in revisiting it. Not now.

Adair felt the same way about his parents. After explaining more of his childhood to me, I had to agree with not meeting them.

My future was here. With Adair. And Dad and Pops. Jillie and Rachel. With Ari, Liem, Cody and even Vinh and Bree, who I was forming a slow friendship with as we—along with Ari—discussed plans for our fledgling nonprofit.

My place was with the people who I now knew, without a doubt, would never cast me or Dad aside.

After one final stretch, I went into the bathroom and dressed in my crop top and dance skirt. While other parts of the day were uncertain, my ballroom class was a guarantee.

I had three classes per week, thanks to the gala.

A knock came at the door, and my heart skipped. I tossed my brush onto the vanity, rushed out the door, and followed Adair’s pine scent all the way to the kitchen table, where a fresh cappuccino decorated with a foam flower waited for me.

Adair smiled at me from the stove, where he was working on breakfast, and I returned it. Jillie and Rachel had gotten him an espresso machine for his birthday all those weeks ago, and it pleased him to no end to try to make new latte art each morning.

Cole and Delly walked into the little dining area from who knew where, Delly dressed in her scrubs and Cole, remarkably, looking like he hadn’t driven practically overnight to get here so early.

He pulled me into a quick side hug and then sauntered into the kitchen, falling into conversation with Adair.

Delly plopped down in her usual chair, and I sat beside her, eyeing her over my steaming cappuccino.

“Last day,” I said, opening the door for her. Today was Delly’s last day of work. She was going back to Georgia this weekend, with her next semester of college starting next week.

“Last day,” she said, pulling her hair into a ponytail and glancing at me out of the corner of her eye.

“I can’t believe it.” She sank deeper into her chair, her ponytail swinging behind her as she angled her face toward me.

“So much for that summer romance.” Her eyes flicked to my left hand, cradling the cappuccino mug, and her lips tipped up. “I still can’t believe that, either.”

I smiled at my future sister-in-law. “Same.”

Adair put steaming plates of breakfast in front of us, then kissed my hair. I closed my eyes against the contact and Delly sighed dramatically beside me, mumbling something indiscernible under her breath.

Still so grumpy in the morning.

Cole brought his and Adair’s plates, and we all had breakfast together, every attempt at conversation dying quickly. The weight of the day, of the future, too thick for casual conversation to grow wings.

Adair excused himself to get ready, and I watched him go. It was impossible not to. His steps were sure now, with only the faintest hint of uneven stride at the end of a long day.

When he reemerged in his dark-green scrubs, I had to hold back my sigh of appreciation.

His hazel eyes caught mine, and just like that, worries about the day ahead disappeared, nothing but foam dissipating on the shore.

After hammering in one last nail, I climbed down from the ladder and into Adair’s embrace.

“Wow,” Liem said from beside me, and Ari clutched her chest, eyes swimming with emotion.

I looked away quickly, leaning back against Adair’s chest.

“Looks great, Indigo,” he murmured into my ear. “I especially love the neon pink.”

My eyes shot to the vinyl banner which I knew Liem had designed in tasteful, warm tones that reminded me of a sunset, and Adair laughed behind me.

I smiled wryly as I glanced back at him, and his eyes were shining with mirth and love.

It was exactly what I’d needed to gather the courage to look up and read the words.

Gil’s Greenhouse

I brushed my hand over the worn leather of Gil’s tool belt, remembering his serious, light blue gaze, his muttered instructions and quiet nature, then took out my phone and took a picture of the banner .

Glancing at Liem, I smiled softly when our eyes met and nodded at him.

Miss Lenny eyed the sky suspiciously. “Let’s get this show on the road. I woke with an extra ache in my bones this morning. One that shouldn’t have been there, mind you.”

Delly stood beside us, more subdued than I’d ever seen her. Bree and Vinh weren’t here today, but they had been for the first two attempts, along with Liem and Vinh’s parents, who I’d enjoyed meeting.

Ari stepped up to the ribbon that was pulled taut across the entrance of the greenhouse, which was already full of seedlings. Just as the first boom of thunder rolled across the sky, she cut the ribbon.

Director Links stepped up beside Ari for a photo op and an interview with the local news station. I caught Ari’s eyes, raising my eyebrows in silent question, and she gave me a small nod.

She was okay, and that was that.

The crowd of onlookers broke away, all going different directions, and Adair and I fell into step with Cody and Liem, who were heading toward the lot.

“Are you guys sticking around, or will you try to get back home before the storm?” Adair asked.

Cody and Liem shared a look before Cody said, “Staying here for the night, yeah?”