First Time in Forever (Puffin Island 1)

Emily picked up her coffee, pulled out one of the pretty blue kitchen chairs and sat down. Through the open door she could see Lizzy throwing the ball over and over again while the dog bounded after it, tail wagging. “The first time I met Kathleen, I couldn’t believe she was real. I’d never met anyone like her. She was so kind and genuine and interested. She never expected anyone to conform. She truly valued individuality.”

“Yes. She was a special woman with a gift for reading people.”

“I barely spoke on my first visit.” Emily took a sip of coffee. “I was overwhelmed by everything. The exchange of ideas. Laughter. It was alien to me because my home life was nothing like that.”

If he was wondering how her home life was, he kept the questions to himself. “You came often?”

“Every summer. I had nowhere else to go, and Skylar would do just about anything to avoid going home, so Brittany invited us here.”

“It wasn’t enough to be together at college?”

Emily finished her coffee and put the cup down. “When Brittany invited me into her room on that first day, I wondered how on earth I’d survive living next to someone as volatile as her. Skylar arrived a couple of minutes later, dropped off by the family chauffeur rather than her parents because they thought she was throwing away her life studying art when she could have been a lawyer. I took one look at her clothes and assumed we’d have nothing in common. I admired her dress, trying to be polite, and she told me she’d made it herself for less than ten dollars. Then Brittany took a call from her lawyer about her divorce while we sat open-mouthed. I assume you know all about that as you’re friends?”

He didn’t look at her. “Yeah, I know.”

“She was a mess, but in a way it broke the ice. Right from the start there were no barriers. We talked until we couldn’t keep our eyes open. At the beginning, all we had in common was that we’d been let down by the people closest to us. Maybe it was a sense of isolation that brought us together. I don’t know, but we understood each other. Our friendship grew from there.”

“I can’t believe our visits didn’t overlap.”

“Maybe we didn’t notice each other.” Her heart thudded uncomfortably as his gaze locked on hers.

“I would have noticed you.”

“Ryan—”

“I would have noticed you.” His voice was soft, his eyes fixed on her face with such unwavering attention that she felt something uncurl deep inside her.

Most people looked at another person and saw the surface. Ryan ignored the surface and looked deeper, as if he’d learned that the face someone presented to the world had no more substance than a picture.

He hadn’t touched her, and yet her skin tingled and her body heated.

The tense, delicious silence was broken by Lizzy, who came back into the kitchen, the dog at her ankles. “Can she stay with us?”

With visible effort Ryan transferred his gaze from Emily to the child.

“I have to take her back to my grandmother, but I’ll bring her to see you again soon.” He leaned forward and picked up the final bag. “I’ve brought you some things to keep you busy.” He pulled out a bucket and spade in bright sparkly pink. “You are living next to one of the best beaches on the island. You’re going to want to make the most of that.”

And just like that, the mood was shattered.

Emily stared at the bucket, numb, while Lizzy reached for it.

“Emily doesn’t like the beach.”

Pulling herself together, Emily stood up. “We’ve been busy, that’s all. Maybe in a few days.”

“I could go by myself.”

“No. You mustn’t go near the water.” The words came out in a rush and she saw Ryan’s eyes narrow. “I— We— Let’s take a few more days to settle in and then we’ll see. The bucket is a thoughtful gift, Ryan. And the hat was a great idea.”

What wasn’t a great idea was a trip to the beach.

She knew she wasn’t ready for that.

She wasn’t sure she ever would be.

*

SKYLAR ARRIVED LATE Friday afternoon, bringing an explosion of color and city sophistication to their peaceful existence. “I’ve brought provisions.” She winked at Emily, delved into the bag and pulled out a parcel that she handed to the child.