Beauty And The Brooding Billionaire (South Shore Billionaires 2)

She gestured to the front door. “Do you want to sit outside? There’s more room.”

“Sure.”

The little porch gave a glimpse of the water, and as evening settled around them, they sat in the Adirondack chairs and let the soft sound of the waves soak in. He sipped his water; she savored the wine and let out a happy sigh. The sky turned shades of lilac, peach and pink, a natural palette that filled Jess’s soul with comfort.

“It’s beautiful tonight.”

“Yeah. There’s something about the ocean that just calms me and energizes me at the same time.”

He let out a long sigh. “It soothes. The sea just is. It crashes and rolls, it waves and breaks and chases the sand. Twice a day it moves in, then retreats, leaving treasures behind. When our world is small and filled with worries, the ocean is endless and constant.”

She shouldn’t have been surprised at his being poetic; he was a writer after all. But the description touched her just the same. “Is your world small and filled with worries, Bran?” She’d held her breath as he spoke, but now let it out slowly.

“Not as much as it used to be. The sea has worked its magic on me, too.”

“I’m glad.”

“And so have you.”

Her breath stopped. “Me?”

He looked over at her, his eyes black in the growing twilight. “Yes, you. I’m sorry for the way I acted that day.” She didn’t need to ask which day he meant. “I was feeling guilty, and mad at myself, and I took it out on you. You did nothing wrong, Jess.”

She held his gaze. “Neither did you, Bran. You just weren’t ready for it. But it wasn’t wrong.” She reached for his hand. “I might be overstepping here, so please don’t be angry when I say very bluntly that you are not married to her anymore.”

His throat bobbed as he swallowed, then he squeezed her fingers. “I know. But I’m in that spot where I feel as if moving on means I’m forgetting her.”

“You’ll never forget her. Allowing yourself to have a life and move on doesn’t mean forgetting.”

“In my head I know that. But that day, I reacted. I reacted when I kissed you and I reacted when I put you in your car to leave. It was wrong and I owe you an apology.”

“Accepted. And I’m thrilled you’re writing again.”

She thought he would pull his hand away, but he kept his fingers twined with hers and she tried not to think too much about it.

“Me, too. It’s slow going, but it’s a start. I haven’t said anything to anyone else, though. I don’t want to set up expectations.”

“Not even your agent

?”

“Not yet. I want to have a solid start before I talk to him about it. It’s early days. But one of the reasons I went to Halifax was to visit the archives and do a little digging.”

“And did you find out anything interesting?”

“Lots. Like rumors of U-boats off the coast in the forties. The presence of spies during the war. It’s feeding my muse, and she’s been hungry a long time.”

“Looks like this place is kind of key for both of us. Two lost souls, huh?”

“I’m not feeling so lost right now.”

His dark gaze had her insides fluttering again, so she got up and held out her hand. “Can I get you a refill?”

Slowly, ever so slowly, he pushed himself up from the chair. He was so tall, and in the dark, with his beard and hair, he looked intimidating and dangerous. But not truly dangerous...more enigmatic and sexy.

“I can get it.”

He took the glass and went inside while Jessica let out a long, slow breath. She was not immune to him in any way. She’d been prepared to be angry with him about the restoration. To let it be the thing that kept him at arm’s length. Instead, he’d stated his reasons and the distance evaporated. Every time she set up some sort of block, he knocked it down with ease.