Return to Me (Blue Harbor Book 5) by Olivia Miles (most popular ebook readers .TXT) 📕

spoon, and Kyle watched as the color rose in her cheeks. He’d upset her. And that wasn’t his intention.

Truth be told, he didn’t know what his intention was. Or why he’d thought this was a good idea. He only knew that signing some papers, now, when she’d only just returned, was a worse one.

“Let’s go for a walk,” he suggested, nudging his chin toward the door.

Brooke shook her head. “Uh-uh. You asked me to meet you for ice cream, and here I am.” She took a huge bite, causing her cheeks to bulge.

He narrowed his eyes. “Is this one of those ice-cream eating contests that they sometimes have at the local festivals?” he asked with a little laugh, but then it hit him. She was trying to speed things up. To get away. Again.

And that hurt. More than it probably should.

*

Eventually, Kyle managed to convince her to take a walk. Or rather, circumstances convinced her, when Chrissy Roberts walked into the parlor, and Brooke very much doubted that in the time she’d been away Chrissy had changed her ways. She’d always been a gossip, ever since she was editor of the school newspaper and added a “happenings” column to the front page. There was no telling what she’d have to say if she spotted Brooke and Kyle sitting at the corner table, enjoying an ice cream on a warm Friday evening. Probably more than Jackie had said, that was a given.

Really, what had she expected? She was back in Blue Harbor, and even though she and Kyle were long over, here at least, they would always be connected.

They managed to slip away unnoticed, or so Brooke hoped. Still, it took some dodging and hiding behind some of the taller members of the community who were waiting in line, studying the menu on the board, unaware that they were being used as human shields.

Both Brooke and Kyle were laughing by the time they hit the sidewalk. The release of nervous energy felt good.

“The last thing I needed was another round of interrogation,” Brooke said, shaking her head.

“You mean you don’t like everyone knowing if you have kids and why you don’t, and if you’re going to get married again, or if you’re still married?” Kyle’s grin was wry and against her better judgment, she felt a kinship with him.

“Some things never change,” Brooke said.

“No, some things don’t.” Kyle was giving her a funny look, and she wished she could polish off the ice cream, but Kyle had bought the largest size and she was already getting full, and besides, she still hadn’t gotten to the point of the night. At least, not her point of it.

“Some things do, though,” she said airily, trying to look the other way. They were heading down Main Street now, toward the town square, and she wasn’t sure whether she hoped to see one of her friends or family members or be spared. What was worse? Explaining what was going on when she didn’t even know herself and couldn’t exactly admit the truth, or being alone with Kyle again?

She didn’t like being alone with him. Didn’t like the way her stomach pulled when she met his eye. The way her heart tugged when she caught his grin.

That it felt good to share a laugh. That maybe that wasn’t all that felt good.

“I mean, I’m not the same person I was six years ago,” she said firmly. Time had passed. They’d moved on. At least she had.

Whereas Kyle…He was exactly where he’d always been.

“In what ways?” he asked as they neared a bench and sat down. It was the same bench they’d always sat on when they came to this park, and she told herself that it was because it was the only one currently unoccupied. Strange coincidence, nothing more. Just life reminding her of a different time. A different path, perhaps.

“Well, I’ve learned that I can do things on my own.” When she caught the injury in his eyes, she added, “Without my family helping me. I mean, I appreciate their help, and I’m happy to be back here with them, but it was important for me to learn to stand on my own.”

He nodded thoughtfully. “Enough to open your own successful business.”

“We’ll see about that.” She stirred her melting ice cream, hating the doubt that had crept into her voice. She was excited about her shop, about the prospect of full creative control, but she still couldn’t shake her final experience in New York.

She forced a smile as she scooped more ice cream into her mouth. As expected, Kyle was frowning a little. She didn’t need him of all people to see her waver.

“Once the loan comes through I’ll really be able to do what I want with the business,” she said firmly, getting back on track. She thought of her business plan, her checklist. If she could stick to it, she’d be okay. She’d be safe.

“And what is that exactly?”

She supposed there was no secret to hold onto, and she was happy to keep the topic neutral. “Fabric is expensive, especially for wedding gowns, and a lot of material is usually used. Then there are the bridal shows I’d like to be a part of, and advertising isn’t free either. I’ll need to hire an assistant if I ever want to take a day off without closing the store.”

He gave a little smile. “You always dreamed big.”

“Is there any other way?” She held his gaze for a moment, feeling her stomach flutter, and then looked away. She realized that her hands were shaking.

“Those are big plans, but it sounds like you know what you want.” He nodded slowly. “It would be a large loan, I assume.”

“One that would be difficult to qualify for given your position,” she said delicately. She hated talking about