Page 22 of Hibiscus Heights (Crown Island #4)

D eb set out along the beach, and Duke trotted beside her. With deliberation, she steered away from the Majestic Hotel and its complications. The tide was low, exposing a wide stretch of packed sand perfect for running.

“Come on, Duke,” she called, picking up her pace. She was eager to burn off the stress of the past few days.

Despite her best intentions, she’d spent a restless night, her dreams filled with memories of a younger Grant, and the love they’d shared.

Those images juxtaposed with the present—Mason and Teddy’s hopeful faces, Matteo’s easy invitations, and Grant’s complicated reemergence.

Pushing harder, her legs burned. Breathe in, breathe out. Life had a rhythm.

Duke raced ahead as the beach curved toward a series of rock formations marking the boundary of a small cove. Few tourists ventured this far from the main beach, which was why Deb had chosen this route.

Only Kaito’s Rockin’ Roll restaurant loomed ahead. Most people drove there and parked.

As she rounded the bend, memories surged to mind. She and Grant walking this stretch of beach, hands clasped, talking about dreams for their future. His arm wrapped around her shoulders, watching a sunset from those very rocks. The nervous flutter the first time he’d kissed her.

Deb shook her head and blinked again.

Duke circled back, whining when he saw her heated face.

She slowed, catching her breath. “I’m okay, boy.”

Moments later, she stopped. With her hands on her hips, she stared out at the ocean, chastising herself again. This was ridiculous. She was a grown woman with a successful career and a full life. She never let men encroach on her head space. Why was she letting old feelings with Grant resurface?

Nothing would come of them.

But they never really went away , a quiet voice in her mind answered.

She scrubbed her hands over her inflamed cheeks. Whatever she might have imagined years ago wasn’t to be, then or now. Because a relationship took two people, and one had already proven himself adept at fleeing the scene.

Deb whistled to Duke to resume her run.

A few minutes later, from the corner of her eye, she caught sight of three figures. One waved his arms and called out.

Her heart lurched as she recognized Mason’s voice. Slowing again, she saw him waving with Teddy beside him. And there, just behind them, stood Grant, watching her.

They were leaving Kaito’s, of all places.

Duke barked at the sight of the boys and bounded toward them before Deb could stop him.

“Duke!” Teddy cried with delight as her dog yelped, tail wagging with wild abandon.

There was no avoiding them now. Catching her breath, Deb strolled to where they stood despite her discomfort.

“Dad took us for sushi and rolls,” Teddy said. “It was great.”

Mason knelt to hug Duke. “We’re walking back to the hotel.”

Grant came up behind them, looking at Deb with interest. “How’s your run?”

“Always feels good when you finish.” Deb was acutely aware of how she must look. Hot and sweaty, dressed in running shorts and a faded tank top.

“It’s great that you’re still running.”

His voice carried a smoky warmth that made her pulse quicken, just as it always had.

“I’m hardly ancient. Did you stop?”

He shrugged. “A few years ago.”

Instantly, Deb wondered if Grant and his wife ran together before she died.

An awkward silence fell between them, filled only by the sound of waves and the boy’s chatter with Duke.

Mason looked up. “Can he come back to the hotel so we can get the frisbee? He likes that a lot.”

Deb knew he did, but she couldn’t prolong this interaction. “I’m afraid not.”

Teddy’s face lit up with an idea. “Can we walk Duke for you sometime?”

Before Deb could respond, Mason picked up a piece of driftwood and hurled it down the beach. Duke immediately gave chase, barking joyfully. The boys exchanged a glance, then took off after the dog, leaving Deb and Grant standing alone.

The deliberateness of their actions wasn’t lost on Deb. She whistled for Duke to return, but the boys were all over him now. Although her dog wriggled to break free, he finally succumbed to the fun.

Grant chuckled. “They’re not subtle, are they?”

His laugh triggered another cascade of memories in her. “About as subtle as a tsunami.”

“I’m sorry about their efforts.”

“It’s kind of sweet.” Deb ran her hands over her hair, tucking windblown strands under her bandana headband. As she did, she caught his gaze lingering on her legs.

Grant turned to her. “Look, I know things are awkward between us. Would you have dinner with me tomorrow? Just the two of us, so we can put the past to rest and act normally.”

The directness of his question caught her off guard. “Why do you think we need to do that?”

“I’d like for us to start over.” His voice had dropped a note and sounded more intimate.

“What do you mean by that?”

When he reached for her hand, the unexpected contact sent a jolt through her.

His eyes were bright with emotion. “Something is drawing us all together. You, me, the boys. I can’t be the only one who feels it.”

Grant’s hand blazed in hers, sending her heart racing as if she was still running.

“Tell me you don’t feel anything, and I’ll back off.”

“Grant, I…” Suddenly, her throat closed, and she couldn’t get words out.

“Have dinner with me. No pressure, no expectations. Just old friends. My mother has bought a beach house here, so we’re staying for the rest of the summer. Don’t make it awkward, at least not for the boys.”

His request was reasonable. “Nothing fancy.”

Grant’s smile was immediate. “I would have suggested dinner at the Majestic, but with my family there, it might get crowded.”

“Cuppa Jo’s will be better,” Deb said.

Before they could confirm a time, a shriek rang out from down the beach. They whipped around to see Teddy on the ground, crying and holding his foot. Duke was licking his face.

“Oh, my gosh,” Grant cried. He dropped Deb’s hand and sprinted toward his son.

Deb raced right beside him.

Grant skidded to a stop beside Teddy, who clutched his foot, rocking with pain. Tears streamed down his face, and blood seeped from beneath his fingers.

Mason looked up, his eyes grave with concern. “He slipped on the wet rocks.”

“Let me see, little guy.” Grant moved Teddy’s hands away. An open cut sliced across the boy’s heel.

Deb leaned in to inspect the injury. “That might need stitches. We need to stop the bleeding.”

Quickly, she untied her bandana and wrapped it around Teddy’s heel to cover the wound and stem the flow of blood.

Grant cradled the boy. “Thanks, that was smart thinking.”

Duke whined, drawing her attention to the rock.

“What do you have there?” Deb stooped beside him. She spied a broken bottle that had washed up onto the shore and wedged by a rock. “Good boy.” She plucked it from the crevice so it wouldn’t harm another person.

Grant hugged Teddy close. “Where’s the nearest emergency clinic?”

“It’s farther down the island. But we’re near Beach View Lane. April’s mother was an emergency room nurse. She can assess the severity.” Deb smoothed a hand over Teddy’s hot forehead, wishing she could alleviate his pain.

“I remember,” Grant said quietly.

Teddy clutched Deb’s hand, his fingers feeling so small in her palm. “Don’t leave,” he pleaded, his face streaked with tears and sand.

“I won’t.” Deb’s heart clenched at his distress. She pulled her phone from her armband and called. April answered on the first ring, and Deb explained the situation.

When she hung up, she smiled at Teddy. “We’re in luck. Let’s go.”

Grant scooped Teddy into his arms.

With Grant carrying Teddy and Mason staying close to his brother’s side, they made their way off the beach toward the neighborhood street. Duke trotted beside Grant as if to look out for the boy.

“It’s not far,” Deb said, still holding Teddy’s hand. “Ella Raines was the best nurse on the island for decades. She’ll know what to do.”