Page 28 of Summer Fling (The Kingston Brothers #5)

Elena frowned. "What does he want to buy?"

Ivy lowered her voice. "The developer is a family of brothers, and they are interested in shops, restaurants, and hotels. It sounds like they could buy up a lot of buildings and really change the landscape of the island."

Daria's eyes widened. "I don't like the sound of that. Our building is still for sale after the last contract fell through."

"You've been grandfathered in on the lease, haven't you?" Elena asked.

Daria chewed her lip. "I'm not sure how that works if the building is sold."

My mind was still on the art classes though.

I'd need to see about getting easels that would be easy to transport if I was teaching at various places.

Then I'd need art supplies, paint, brushes.

Was this a business? Did I need to keep track of expenses or file for a business designation?

I wondered if Dalton knew anything about this stuff.

"I don't want things to change around here. I like our small island," Nora said.

"Me too," Elena added.

"We don't know that they're going to come in and change everything," Ivy said carefully.

"You know that's how it is. An outsider buying up properties is never a good thing," Daria said. Her tone had a bite to it.

"It'll be okay. You're not going to lose your business," Elena said, reaching across the table to cover Daria's hand.

"I don't know what I'd do if I was forced to close. I can't afford to move to another building. The rents are astronomically high." Her eyes were shiny.

"I can't imagine that would happen. The island council wants to keep the legacy businesses running," Ivy reassured her.

"Maybe they'll go somewhere else and find another island to buy up," Daria said hopefully.

"They haven't bought anything yet. You know how these things are. They can take years, and sometimes nothing comes from it," Ivy said gently.

Daria blew out a breath. "You're right. I remember something similar happening when my grandmother ran the store. She worried for nothing."

Conversation turned to other things going on around the island, but my mind was occupied with everything I needed to do if I wanted to host art classes soon. I barely drank anything, so I was fine to drive home once the girls made moves to depart.

I texted Dalton to let him know I was leaving, and the light was shining on the porch when I parked. Dalton opened the door for me when I stepped on the porch.

He grinned when he saw me, and I walked into his arms.

"How was your night?"

I looked up at him, content to be with him. "It was good. Thanks for making me go."

He smiled. "I told you they were great."

"Hazel talked me into offering art classes at the library," I said, still feeling a little surprised by her enthusiasm.

Dalton closed the door behind me, drawing me outside to our spot. "Isn't that what you wanted?"

I sat on the couch next to him. "I wasn't prepared to do it so soon. I don't have any supplies. I'd need portable easels, paints, brushes, sponges."

He held up his hands. "Slow down. We'll figure it out."

I loved that he said we. This was something I should be doing, but I was grateful for any help I could get. Then I panicked. "I don't have a big enough car to transport a bunch of easels."

"You can use my truck. I'll help you move everything."

"You shouldn't have to do things for me."

"Blake. Let me help you with this. You have a problem, and I can fix it. Why wouldn't I?"

I looked at his face. He wanted to help me. "You're right. I'm being ridiculous. I'll need to get supplies." My heart rate picked up. "But what if no one signs up?"

"I'm positive that won't be the case," Dalton said confidently.

I wiped my hands on my skirt. "This is the right thing to do. It will force me to figure out what I want to do with my life."

"There's no rush. Just because society says you have to go to school in a certain order doesn't mean your life has to be linear."

"It's hard not to do the things I've always been expected to do." My parents didn't understand why I'd stepped away from the doctorate program.

"You already paused your program. You might as well go all in."

I knew he was right. That I was worried about doing something new. That's all this was. It wasn't a larger, looming decision about our relationship that had me panicking. "I'm going to focus on making this the best art class the island has ever seen."

"I don't know how many art classes have been offered for kids. They're usually for adults."

"It's an underserved market then." That would be even better. "Ivy said she's always looking for mommy-and-me classes."

"And you don't have to stop there. You could do a teen class too. I think Hayden is into art."

"I was thinking about having a reset kind of class for teens in high school. It's something I thought of when I had a few teen clients. I enjoyed working with them."

"The possibilities are endless, and I'm confident you'll come up with a ton of cool class ideas that will appeal to a variety of kids."

"You don't think the island is too small to support something like this?"

"Hazel's after-school program has a wait list, and I don't think this is going to help that situation."

"You're sweet."

"I'm confident in your abilities. Once those kids meet you, they're going to love you."

My face heated. "Kids do tend to like me."

"How could they not? You're kind and engaging. You care about them. Nannying isn't just a job to you."

I blew out a breath. "I guess I'm going to do this."

He shifted on the cushion, taking my hands in his. "Was there ever any doubt?"

I laughed. "There was definitely a little panic."

"You've got this. You're going to be amazing." His voice was firm.

I squeezed his hands. "Thanks for supporting me and introducing me to a great group of friends."

He shook his head. "You were already friends with them. Ivy adores you."

I rolled my eyes. "She's my boss."

He arched a brow. "Am I your boss?"

I laughed. "Technically."

"You know you're not supposed to sleep with your boss," he teased, and it was the lightness I needed.

"I just can't help myself," I sassed as I kissed him. My dream was coming true sooner than I ever thought it could. I was teaching an art class at the library. I'd have a guaranteed interest in the program, different from if I'd advertised on my own. This could work.

It was something I was passionate about. Something I loved to do. My heart lifted as he carried me to his room, closing and locking the door.

"I missed you," he said.

His scruff chafed the skin on my jaw as he kissed my neck.

"I missed you too."

"Not as much as I did," he practically growled as he pushed up my shirt and kissed my stomach.

"You're saying I should go out more often?" I teased, my fingers playing with the strands of his hair.

He glanced up at me, his expression serious. "You can go out whenever you want. I just want you to come home to me."

Then he cupped my breasts, the desire shooting through my body, making me forget about our conversation and lose my train of thought.

He pushed my shirt over my breasts and pulled down the cups so that he could suck on my nipples. I arched against him, needing friction, but he held himself away from me.

He kissed down my stomach, pulling my skirt and panties over my hips and off. I lifted up to get rid of my shirt and bra, and then he settled between my legs.

When his tongue hit my clit, I realized that I was happy here with him, his daughter down the hall. I had a new group of friends, and I was teaching art. Everything was coming together.