Summer on Lovers' Island (Jewell Cove 3)

“Honestly?” She reached out and kept the side from hitting the dock. “Yes and no. Josh, this afternoon was—”

“Awesome.”

“Well, yes.” She smiled a little. “But now that we’re back—”

“Awkward.”

“Potentially.”

He tied up the boat, got out, and offered her a hand up. She took it, liking the feeling of his fingers around hers a little too much. She hopped up on the wharf and noticed how it felt very different beneath her feet. Solid, but like she was still moving.

“Know what was great about today?” Josh asked, going back into the boat for her bag. He looked up at her and grinned. “You stopped thinking so much.”

“Occupational hazard.”

He laughed, and her insides got all warm. “Don’t I know it,” he responded. “The thing is … I don’t think we have to decide everything right at this moment. We can just figure it out as we go along.”

She took the bag from his hand. “See, I’m not as good at that with my professional life. Winging it, that is.”

Josh’s gaze touched hers. “You really are a study in contradictions, you know that? The first day I saw you at the office, you struck me as so uptight and … well … snobby. But I think now that’s your business face. Am I right?”

She shrugged. “You might be.”

“And which version of Lizzie do you like most?”

It was an impossible question to answer. There was a level of expectation associated with her job. Maybe more so because she was Russ Howard’s daughter. Plus she was a bit of a perfectionist. Scratch that. A lot of a perfectionist. It was hard to let go of the idea that she didn’t actually have to be top-of-the-heap.

And yet today, wandering Lovers’ Island with Josh … It had been simple. Lovely. Liberating.

He stood close, close enough that he could have taken her hand if he’d wanted to, but he didn’t. Probably because they’d both agreed that they wouldn’t. “I know what it’s like to have to be two different people.” His voice was rough, honest. “I’ve done that every single day since I came back home. Today I got to be myself. Even if nothing else happens, Lizzie, I want to thank you for that.”

Her throat tightened at the plain honesty in his voice. “For me, too, Josh,” she whispered. “I’ve been so wound up with my family situation and my leave of absence, I forgot what it was like to just let loose for a few hours. I’m glad you invited

me. Glad we…” She couldn’t look up at him. “Just glad. I had a good time.”

“Next time we’ll make sure you don’t get sick,” he said, stepping back. And she finally lifted her eyes.

There was humor in his, and acceptance, and affection. And God, he had no idea how much she liked seeing it there. He probably didn’t realize that other than Charlie, he was the first and only person to see the real Lizzie in the last few years. And that included Ian.

“Next time?”

And a different light blazed in Josh’s eyes. “Oh, I think so. Don’t you?”

She wanted to say no, almost as badly as she wanted to say yes. The truth was somewhere in the middle, and she knew he was right. They were going to have to feel their way through this. Carefully.

“We’ll see, won’t we?” she answered.

“You’re catching on.” He winked. “You’re good to get home now? I’ve got to get these fish out of the live well and get them cleaned up.”

“Oh, right.” This really was the end of the day, then. “Josh?”

“Yeah?”

“Thank you. I needed a day away more than you know.”

“Oh,” he replied, giving a half nod. “I know. Believe me.”

He hopped back aboard and untied the rope. “See you around, Dr. Howard.”