Beauty And The Brooding Billionaire (South Shore Billionaires 2)

“Is that how it’s been for you?”

She nodded against his shoulder. “At first I started little random sketches. Then I thought I’d travel around and try to get back in the groove again. This past week, here? I finally feel energized and excited to work on something. And I know Ana would want me to.”

“What happened to her?”

Jessica paused, then sighed, a sorrowful sound that made him want to hug her back. “She had cancer. One day she was fine. The next day she had stage four pancreatic cancer. In less than three months she was gone.”

He could hear the grief in her voice, and he reached over and put his hand over hers. “I’m sorry.”

“Thank you.”

They sat, comfortable with quiet, for a few minutes. Then Jessica leaned away, taking her arms from around him, letting out a sigh. “It really is beautiful here. So wild and untamed.”

Gulls swooped overhead, and Bran let the sun soak into his skin as the dull roar of the ocean on the rocks below filled his ears. “It can be lonely,” he admitted. “And comforting at the same time.”

“I get that,” she agreed. She looked over at him. “You okay now?”

He nodded. “I am. Sorry I got all emotional.”

“You don’t have to apologize to me,” she replied. Then she smiled. “Though I do think this qualifies us as actual friends now.”

His gaze dropped to her lips. He shouldn’t be thinking it, but he wasn’t sure she was the kind of woman he could ever be just friends with. It was probably good she was just here for a short time.

“Friends,” he echoed. “You’re sure?”

“You brought me lunch. We shared stuff. Pretty sure that makes us friends.” She leaned back onto her arms. He smiled as he looked over at her. She was so artless. Now she was sunning herself like a lizard on a rock. He did like her. Very much.

“Well, then,” he answered, and adopted a similar posture.

They sat for several minutes, until the sun went under a cloud and the wind took on a chilly bite. “I should probably pack up for the day,” Jessica said on a sigh. “I’m going to lose the best light.”

“How much longer are you staying on the South Shore?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. A month? Two? Tori and Jeremy have said I can rent the boathouse for as long as I need. I’m going to start painting soon.”

There was a hesitation in her voice that told him maybe she wasn’t quite ready yet, but he wasn’t going to call her on it. As she said, it took baby steps. If she was finding joy, he was happy for her.

And maybe one day he’d find joy, too.

* * *

Jessica pressed the cell phone to her ear and let out a sigh. “I know, Jack. I know. It’s been a long time. But I don’t want this to be rushed. For God’s sake, I haven’t even started the actual paintings.”

His voice was sharp and clear. “Sure, but you’re excited. I can tell. And we can set up a showing now for fall. I just need the commitment from you.”

She pinched the top of her nose with two fingers. “That’s too fast. The fact that I’m even working again is a blessing. I don’t want to add the pressure of a show when I might only get one decent painting from this summer. I’m sorry Jack, but the answer’s no.”

He softened his voice. “Hey, I know you’re scared. Coming back is hard. The world just needs more Jessica Blundon art. You’re going to be back in Chicago by the fall, right?”

“I was planning on it. I can stay here for a few months, but I do have to go home sometime.”

“Then let me do some asking around. We might be able to work something really innovative without booking an actual show. An exclusive, a handful of paintings maybe. Tie it in with something else. Just say you’ll stay open to possibilities.”

She laughed a little. “I always stay open to possibilities. And you are too coercive for your own good, Jack.”

“Which is why I’m your best agent.” Affection and teasing came over the line, and she relaxed a bit. “I don’t want to stifle your creativity with pressure, but I also don’t want you to miss out on opportunities. I’ll be in touch.”

“All right.”