Page 37 of Shades of You (Calypso Key #4)

Pedro was sprawled across the windowsill, his once tiny frame now spilling over the edges in a display of adolescent feline grace. I grinned at the sight, then my eyes were diverted to the framed photo hanging prominently on the wall. Evan and Hunter as kids, grinning with their arms casually looped around each other’s shoulders. He’d hung it the other night, mentioning that after keeping it for years, it was finally where it belonged. Hearing footsteps, I turned to see Hunter emerging from his bedroom in black jeans, which wasn’t unusual. But his royal-blue shirt most definitely was.

“Look at you, stepping out in something other than your signature black,” I teased, my gaze traveling appreciatively over the clean lines of his jeans and the way his shirt contrasted the ink on his upper arms and chest.

Hunter shot me that crooked smile that always made my stomach do somersaults. “Figured it was about time I stopped dressing like I was attending a perpetual funeral.” Closing the distance between us with a few easy strides, his arms circled my waist, pulling me close enough that I could count the different shades of brown weaving through his irises.

“You look…” His words trailed off as his warm lips found mine. The sensation was familiar now, yet every kiss felt like rediscovering a favorite book after a long time. “Delicious.”

“Thank you,” I murmured against his mouth, and a blush warmed my cheeks. The light green sundress I had chosen this morning fluttered around my legs as I stepped back reluctantly. Pedro hopped off the windowsill and sauntered over to meow at Hunter.

He frowned at the cat. “You better not be complaining about the new treats I bought you. I got three different kinds just to make sure you liked one of them.”

I couldn’t resist giggling. “So are you finally ready to admit Pedro has earned a permanent place in your heart?”

A rueful look crossed Hunter’s face as he met my eyes. “Guess it’s pointless to deny anymore, huh?”

“Very. Good thing you’ve got a big heart. Plenty of room in there.” I patted his chest with a solid thump, enjoying the hard muscle, then exhaled a sigh. “We should get going. I promise this will be nice and casual.”

“I keep telling myself if I can handle a cave full of Taliban, a gaggle of Coleridges shouldn’t be too much trouble.” Hunter released me but kept one hand entwined with mine as I burst into laughter.

“May I suggest that you not compare my family to the Taliban in their presence?”

He winked. “I was only kidding.”

In the end, we’d had to wait more than a day to arrange this get-together. A week had passed since he gave me that wonderful book, now in a place of honor in the bookcase in my apartment. Together, we descended the stairs and exited into the brightness of day. Hunter’s Range Rover sat like a sleek, mechanical beast, ready to carry us off to new territory—a casual lunch with my family. There was tightness in my stomach, but it was smaller than it had been half an hour ago. Lighter somehow, as if Hunter’s choice of attire signaled a shift in the universe.

Once inside the vehicle, I settled into the plush leather seat as Hunter took his place behind the wheel. The engine roared to life under his command. The drive to Siesta Sunset was a blur of anticipation and the occasional stolen glance. When we pulled into the parking lot, Hunter’s hand found mine, giving it an encouraging squeeze.

We made our way toward Tidal Hops, nestled among palm trees rustling in the gentle sea breeze. Hunter’s gaze swept over the pastel-colored buildings, the pool where several guests were enjoying a game of water polo, and the laughter of kids chasing each other on the beach.

“The place has a great vibe,” he commented, turning to me with a smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes.

I laughed, a little self-conscious as we continued next to the pool. Tall palms swayed above us. “Thanks, but we’re no Calypso Key. Our budget is… well, you know.”

“So what? The whole place is charming. It feels real, cozy, and approachable. You guys are doing an amazing job.”

Warmth spread through me at his words. We stepped inside Tidal Hops, and here I didn’t feel any misgivings about the Coleridge budget. Braden had done a fantastic job with his surfboards hung on the light turquoise walls and glass buoys hanging in nets from the ceiling.

Though I also couldn’t deny the soft tension hanging in the air. The kind that precedes any family gathering where everyone is trying just a bit too hard to get along.

“And here’s the man of the hour!” Harper, true to her word to welcome my love, approached with her usual vibrant energy. Her eyes glinted mischievously as she craned her head at Hunter. “You sure you’re not doubling as a lighthouse? Because you could guide ships to shore with that height!”

Hunter smiled, a faint blush creeping onto his cheeks. “Guess I’m just built for better views.”

Standing next to him, I studied this man who’d once been the town’s bad-boy mystery, now slightly shy in the face of a compliment. My heart felt too big to contain. Hunter had come so far from the shadows that once defined him. He stood tall in a world of color.

And it was completely, utterly adorable.

My brothers sat around a worn wooden table, and I was relieved to see alertness but no hard stares on any faces. We took our chairs with Ben sitting next to me, leaving Austin across from us. Our fishing guide, Austin’s gray eyes were watchful as he gave Hunter a nod. Catching my imploring eye, he smiled and smoothed his brown hair. “Welcome to Siesta Sunset.”

“Thanks,” Hunter said, shaking his hand. “This is a great bar.”

Braden, with his easy smile, placed a couple of large, steaming pizzas on the table, along with a pitcher of frothy beer. “Thanks! Sorry for the simple spread. Pizza’s just quick and easy when we’ve got to feed a crowd.”

“Hey, don’t apologize.” Hunter flashed an easy smile and showed no signs of nerves. “I’ve never been one to turn down pizza or beer.” He raised his slice in a salute as Braden took the seat next to Austin .

“Speaking of which,” Hunter commented after taking a long, evaluating taste of the golden liquid in his glass. “This beer is something else. Perfect amount of hops.”

Harper groaned. “Oh God. Please don’t compliment him! Braden never shuts up about beer.”

I laughed, relaxing at last as Braden merely gave Hunter a regal nod.

Eli, who’d been quiet until now, cleared his throat. “We’re all pretty protective of our sisters, and I’d be lying if I said I was happy when I heard you and Brenna were involved. All of us were. But a lot of time has passed since that poker game, and maybe Brenna’s right. Maybe it is time for a new beginning.” He lifted his glass high and smiled, lighting up the room. “To the official end of the Coleridge-Markham feud. And maybe the start of new friendships.” His sun-streaked, tousled hair matched his carefree disposition. Sometimes I envied Eli’s ability to get along with people.

“I will absolutely drink to that!” I said, winking at Hunter.

“Cheers,” the rest echoed as our glasses clinked in the middle of the table. The final tendril of residual tension I’d been carrying melted away like foam on the beach.

As we dug into our meal, I turned to Ben. “How’s work going?”

Ben sighed and set his pizza down on his plate. “I got laid off from the landscaping gig. Hank had to cut back and kept me on as long as he could. So now I’m turning over every stone for part-time work.”

I felt a pang of sympathy for him. Ben was trying so hard to find his footing, and life kept yanking the rug out from under him.

But before I could say anything, Hunter chimed in, “ I’ve been thinking about hiring someone to do on-call work at KeyMark Security. You interested?”

Ben’s eyebrows shot up, and he leaned in front of me to level a long stare at Hunter. “You’d give me a job?”

“It wouldn’t be full-time, but I could use someone reliable now and again. I think you’d be a good fit. You can handle yourself in a pinch, and you know the town better than most.”

Ben blinked, clearly working it out in his head. “That could work. I’d love a job without set hours so I could get caught up on projects around the resort.”

Hunter’s nod was measured, a quiet acknowledgment of the gravity of the moment. “I saw firsthand the good work you did at Calypso Key with that landscaping project. I’d be glad to have you on the team. Besides, I know what it’s like to start over.”

“Yeah, I guess you do.” Ben’s acceptance came with a hint of disbelief, as if he couldn’t quite grasp the truce forming before our eyes. Finally, Ben gave him a firm nod. “Okay. Thanks. Maybe it’s time a Coleridge and a Markham started working together.”

“More than time.” I smiled and caught Hunter’s eye, mouthing a silent thank you .

Rising to his feet, Hunter smoothed my hair with one large hand as he topped off my glass. Then he filled everyone else’s, emptying the pitcher. “If we’re celebrating, we can’t do it with empty glasses. To the Coleridges!”

Laughing, we all clinked mugs once more. He asked Austin about fishing, and they discussed the merits of wahoo versus dorado. Eli got into the conversation, chiding them for catching fish instead of enjoying them underwater. It was an old argument between Eli and Austin, and the exchange made me smile .

I caught Harper staring at me, pride all over her face. She leaned around Ben to murmur, “I’m proud of you. Look at what you’ve accomplished here. And I admit I was wrong. Hunter’s got a pretty good personality. I like him.”

Hunter burst into laughter at something Braden said, and I studied his handsome face. This was yet another side of him, another shade. My brothers had been reserved to start, but he’d managed to put them at ease and find common topics of conversation. And that shouldn’t be surprising, should it? Hunter had spent the better part of a decade as part of a tightly knit team. He was highly experienced at meshing with others and reading the room. I hadn’t given him enough credit.

I stared around the table at the people I loved best in the world, wondering why on earth I’d been so nervous about this.

After lunch, Hunter and I strolled along the salt-and-pepper beach, the grains soft and warm under our bare feet.

“What a cool beach,” he said, kicking the sand with one foot. “Even the dark grains are soft.”

I nodded as I swung our joined hands. “The dark sand is from worn-down rocks. They’re old enough that they’re the same consistency as the white grains. I’ve always thought the beach was one of the prettiest parts of the resort.”

He winked at me. “Not even close. That honor belongs to you.”

I nudged his shoulder and we continued until we reached a secluded spot at the beach’s end. The sound of waves gently lapping against the shore filled the space around us.

“Thank you for reaching out to my brother,” I said, turning to him. The warm breeze played with strands of my hair.

Hunter shrugged before stuffing his hands in his pockets. “Ben deserves a shot. Besides, someone taught me all about second chances.”

I smiled. “And you’ve done so much with yours. I’m proud of you, Hunter.”

He glanced away, focusing on the horizon where sea met sky in a perfect line. “You gave me courage all those years—made me hope that one day I’d be able to see beyond the shadows.”

“Well, maybe I played a part, even if I didn’t know it,” I teased, my fingers tracing the lines of tension that had eased from his face over time. His admission that I was his lost love still floored me, and I vowed to make sure he knew how special he was. “But you did the work, and don’t forget that. You’re the one who fought through the darkness.”

“Maybe. But you gave me the light to look for.”

As our lips met, the depth of our kiss mirrored the vibrant colors of the ocean before us. It was a kiss of unity, of shared promises and intertwined destinies.

A kiss that whispered forever without a single word.

He reached out to smooth my hair, his expression growing thoughtful. “Who would’ve thought? Brenna Coleridge and Hunter Markham, the stars of our very own love story.”

“More like the bad boy redeemed and the bookshop owner with a penchant for happy endings,” I quipped as the warm water washed over our feet .

“Sounds like a romance novel. Think your Sips and Books club would approve?”

“Only if it’s steamy enough,” I shot back and we both laughed, the sound mingling with the gentle rush of palm fronds above.

Our laughter faded to contented silence, and I marveled at how natural it felt to be here with him—love and the steady determination to better himself had softened the bad boy’s hard edges.

“Thank you,” Hunter said suddenly, his voice low and full of emotion. “For believing in me when I couldn’t. And for giving me the prod to act when I needed to.”

“You’ve always been worth believing in,” I said softly and lifted my gaze to meet his.

He smiled, the kind that came from deep within, and it made my heart soar. I rested against his broad chest as he wrapped both arms around me. Tall and solid, Hunter was a presence to lean on. And I gave him something too. A sort of mirror, a way to see other sides of himself. We were each a half, and together we were whole. After over a decade apart, each chasing our own dreams and facing our own trials, we found exactly what we’d been looking for in each other.

And it was perfect.