Things We Never Said (Hart's Boardwalk 3)

The truth was they’d never left me.

Michael’s sudden appearance had merely woken them up.

My hands shook as silent, dry sobs wracked my body. I looked around my workshop, searching for relief, for something that would dull the pain. Shaking, I fumbled for my apron and pulled it on. Then I connected my phone to the speaker in my workshop, hit Spotify, and The Vaccines blasted into the room.

Sitting down at my bench, I stared at the silver-and-amethyst earrings I was in the middle of making. They were elongated silver cats with amethysts for eyes. Bending over, I worked, trying to drown out my thoughts.

I could hide from Michael until he left Hartwell. Simple.

His reappearance had been a shock.

Life had kicked me in the gut that day, but I knew I’d be okay as soon as he was gone.

After all, time and distance had worked before. They would work again.

Hartwell, Delaware

Present Day

A fire crackled in the fireplace in Emery’s bookstore, a delicious reprieve from the cold October day outside. By mid-October, the overcast days brought low temperatures to the boardwalk, and although we were open all year round, this was the beginning of our quiet season.

Thankfully, my shop brought in enough profit (as all of our businesses did) during the spring and summer to keep me going through the quiet season. I also made and sold my jewelry to boutiques around the country, so that supplemented my income. The good thing about the quiet season was more opportunities for my friends and me to grab coffees at Emery’s and catch up on our lives. The bookstore/coffeehouse was empty except for me, Emery, Bailey, and Jessica.

Jess checked her watch.

Emery put a plate of cookies on the table in front of us, the many silver bangles on her wrist jingling with the action, and then settled in the armchair closest to the fire.

“Got somewhere to be?” I asked Jess.

“Ach, it’s a habit.” She sighed. “I’m constantly checking my watch during the week. I forget this is Sunday and I don’t need to be at the practice.”

“Well, I’m glad you’re here,” I said. “I need someone else willing to mock Bailey about her engagement to the man she once referred to ‘as the devil himself.’ And Emery’s too sweet to mock.”

Emery glanced over the rim of her teacup, her stunning pale-blue eyes wide. “Not true,” she replied in her quiet voice. “I can mock as well as anyone. Only not about this.” She smiled at Bailey. “I think this is amazing.”

“Amazingly shocking,” I added. “It’s like Buffy hooking up with Spike. Unexpected but incredibly hot.”

Bailey quirked an eyebrow at me. “Hilarious.”

I shared a smirk with Jess. “I thought so.”

“All you’re doing is showing your age.”

“What? The age that is younger than you?”

Bailey fought a smile. “I don’t know why I put up with your smart mouth half the time.”

“Hey, Vaughn may be smokin’ hot, but we both know I’m your soul mate, Hartwell.”

“Oh, it all makes sense.” Jess grinned. “Dahlia’s afraid Vaughn will take her bestie away from her.”

“Not possible,” I said on a nonchalant exhale. “I’m prettier and wittier than Vaughn Tremaine. What I provide to Bailey’s life can’t be replicated or replaced.”

“He gives her multiple orgasms,” Emery said, grinning. “I think he wins.”

We were all shocked into silence by her comment before we promptly burst into laughter. It wasn’t that funny. But coming from Emery, it was hilarious. “Aw, man, Jess, you should never have introduced Bails to Emery. She’s ruining her.”

“In the best way possible,” Bailey argued.