Page 44 of Harbor Lights (Inishderry Island Romances #3)

THIRTY

“Hey, sleepyhead, I need to get moving.”

Shiv blinked and gathered her bearings. She was in her own bed in the cabin with an empty space next to her. She grumbled and sat up, scratching her head.

“What time is it?”

Con sat at the foot of the bed, pulling on her boots, fully dressed if looking a little tousled. “Just after seven. I need to get the early ferry. Surgery at nine.”

Shiv leaned back on her hands and arched her body to stretch out the last of the tiredness.

“Can you not do that, please?” Con had frozen in her activity at the end of the bed and her eyes were wide. “Or at least cover yourself up. It was hard enough getting out of your bed as it was.”

Shiv grinned, but resisted the urge to tease. She already felt guilty Con was the one who had to rush back to the mainland for work.

She pulled a sheet up to her chin. “Better?”

“Marginally.” Con straightened her clothes, then leaned on the end of the bed. “This probably isn’t the time to start this conversation, but it’s not long until you’ll need to leave the cabin. I’d like you to consider moving in with me.”

Shiv didn’t hide her raised eyebrows. She’d been blissfully happy these last few weeks, but she hadn’t thought too much about what it would look like in the long term. More importantly, though, was Con really ready for this move?

“I know it’s early days,” Con said, as if she’d read Shiv’s mind.

“And it’s not Inishderry. But Portrinn is very close.

I could buy a small boat, so you wouldn’t have to rely on the ferry, or poor Joey…

” The confidence had left Con’s tone as she trailed off.

She fussed with her coat buttons while Shiv considered her response.

Finally, Shiv pushed off the bed. “Thank you.” She wrapped her arms tight around Con, slipping them inside her coat.

“I do need to think more about the future, and I want it to be with you. It would make it very official, though. With the community. Are you ready for that?”

Con kissed the top of her head. “For the first time in my life, I couldn’t care less what anyone thinks. I trust you with my heart and that’s what counts.”

She gently pushed away Shiv’s arms and held her back. “Now please remove your naked self from my body, or I’ll be late for Bridie Dwyer’s arthritic hip.”

Shiv laughed. “Away you go, then. Sounds unmissable.” She stood on tiptoes and placed a kiss on Con’s lips, but Con pulled her closer.

“Will I see you tonight?”

“You bet. I’m helping Joey grade some oysters, then I said I’ll go with them on their deliveries. They’ll drop me off on the way back. Will I bring food?”

“No need. I’ll get a stew in the slow cooker before work.” Con turned for the door. “Gotta go, or I’ll need to sprint down the hill.”

They’d both gotten better at cooking in recent weeks, and Marianne had been sending them recipes to try.

Con clearly got more satisfaction out of cooking than Shiv, and she said she enjoyed it as an end to her working day.

Shiv was happy with that outcome. Left to herself, she would still chew on a meal replacement bar, but Con’s dishes were becoming hard to resist, and she was finding the fit of her jeans a little more snug.

She held the door for Con and got a last kiss before she strode away down the rocky track.

Shiv had never missed a person the way she missed Con when they were apart.

She’d never even known it was possible to feel this way.

But she liked it. After making love, she had no desire to get out of the bed and go find her own place to sleep.

Curled in Con’s arms was where she wanted to drift into dreams.

Jesus, but I’m getting soft in my old age.

But she didn’t mind. While this couple thing was all new ground for her, she’d settled into it. She couldn’t—didn’t want to—imagine her life without Con in it now.

She showered and dressed, still revisiting the night they’d just had. Every night they spent together, which was most nights, was memorable. Shiv had discovered a whole new world she hadn’t known existed, of loving and being loved.

Hammering at the door made her start. Visitors at the cabin were rare.

Joey stood on the doorstep, a wide, white grin splitting their broad face. “I was dropping Mari to the ferry, and I saw Con getting onboard looking a little rumpled, but with a big smile. Figured you might appreciate a ride across the island. In case you’re a little… tired.”

Shiv rolled her eyes, still a little embarrassed at how enthusiastic their friends were about seeing Con and her together. “I’m okay, thanks. Well rested.” She grabbed her old coat and elbowed Joey on her way past. “But as you’re here, you can take me to work.”

She loved the variety of work she now got pulled into. There was more than enough work for someone who could turn their hand to most things, and she had a waiting list for electrical jobs.

She was always happy, though, to put everything aside whenever Joey needed help.

Today, they’d be hand-cleaning and sorting oysters ready to be sold.

It was a laborious job, but the time went quickly in Joey’s easy company, and her sense of achievement was great when the bags were loaded into the truck for delivery.

She slid onto the bench seat of the cab, and they pulled away slowly down the narrow track.

“What are you doing at the weekend?”

“Mari’s away, so it’s just me and Denny. We’ll probably go on a rock pool safari, if the weather isn’t too bad.”

“All weekend? Can’t you get out for a swim or anything?”

Shiv was a little frustrated. Since she’d been on the island, there had always been something going on among her friends, whether it was dinner at someone’s house, an event at the Waterside, or just a cold-water dip off the quay.

But it was Friday, and she hadn’t been able to tie down any of her friends to a single activity over the weekend.

Even Con had been strangely vague about what she had planned.

“Dunno. I guess it depends if Aoife invites Denny over. Can I let you know?”

“Yeah, I guess.” Shiv mulled it over as they drove across the island, but she couldn’t put her finger on what had changed. Perhaps she’d overestimated island life, and she was in for a dull few months before the buzz of the summer kicked in.

* * *

The buzz of an alarm filtered through Shiv’s dreams, and she stirred as the arms that enclosed her moved away. She let out a complaining moan.

“I’m sorry, darlin’, that’s my alarm.”

“But it’s Saturday.” She snuggled in tighter, preventing Con from getting out of bed.

Con relaxed for a moment and hugged her back. “I want to stay, but I’ve got to go.”

“Where? It’s the weekend. You didn’t tell me you had plans.” She sat up as her annoyance at the uncertainty of the weekend resurfaced.

Con slipped out of the bed and made a beeline for the bathroom.

“I’ve got an appointment. I must’ve forgotten to mention it.”

She left the door ajar.

“The weather’s looking good. I thought we could go for a beach walk.” Shiv wasn’t giving up without a fight.

Con’s head appeared around the door. “I’ll be back after lunch, and I’ll be all yours for the afternoon.” She started to brush her teeth, abandoning the conversation.

Shiv tried to subdue her petulance. She hadn’t been out on the kayak for a couple of weeks due to high winds. Maybe she should get out on her own for a couple of hours. Perhaps that was what was wrong. She’d become too dependent on the company of others.

Getting up, she made coffee. When she returned with two mugs, Con was pulling on her clothes, hair still wet from the shower.

“Ah, thank you.” She took the mug and sipped. “You make the best coffee.”

Shiv sat back in the bed with her mug while Con finished getting dressed. She pulled on a sweater Shiv loved: fine cashmere in a forest green. Then she fixed her hair in the mirror.

“Do I look okay?” Con held out her arms.

“Perfect. Should I be worried?”

Con chuckled. “Just need to make a good impression.”

She leaned in for a kiss. “Please stay. I’ll be back in a couple of hours, and if you were still in my bed I could rejoin you.” She waggled her eyebrows.

Shiv scoffed. “I’m not going to waste the day. Granddad has sent all the equipment for the hot tub he wants me to build at the back of the cabin, so I may as well get on with it.”

“Do you have to do that today?”

“I haven’t decided yet. I’m gonna go for a paddle first.”

“Please be careful.” Con added some cologne and reached for the door. “I’ll come find you, then. When I’m back.”

“If you want.” Shiv shrugged as Con left.

The day dragged more than she’d expected.

Her trip around the little bay gave her some peace, and she followed it with some sprints up and down the rocky path to the beach.

The exertion and concentration on where she placed her feet stopped the voice in her head from wondering if everyone on the island was bored with her company.

When the rain started to fall, she jogged back to the cabin, sweaty and tired. She couldn’t be bothered with starting on the hot tub today. Perhaps she’d just curl up on the bed with a book after her shower.

She’d been luxuriating under the stream of hot water for far too long when she heard a banging on the front door. Not expecting anyone, she didn’t rush out to answer.

“Siobhán, it’s me. Are you in?”

Despite her grumpiness with Con, Shiv was still pleased to hear her voice. “In the shower. Put the kettle on.”

The bathroom door opened.

“Hey, it’s steamy in here. How long have you been in there?” Con leaned back against the sink, took off her glasses, and wiped them on the tail of her shirt.

“Don’t I get any privacy in my own bathroom?” She reluctantly rinsed and prepared to get out.

“Nope.”

When she opened the shower door, Con was holding out a towel. She allowed herself to be wrapped in it.

Con’s grin was wide. “I would’ve joined you, but we’ve got somewhere to be.”