If for Any Reason (Nantucket Love Story #1) - Courtney Walsh Page 0,93
their bodies, she realized she didn’t want to miss out on another single minute of his life.
But as soon as the thought entered her mind, she pulled her hand back and turned away. This was the exact way hearts were injured. Fantasy had never gotten anyone anywhere. And just because Hollis felt protective of her, that didn’t mean he wouldn’t hurt her.
“I should head to bed,” she said. “Long day tomorrow.”
“Right.” Hollis clapped his hands together and pulled his baseball hat down a little tighter on his head. “I’ll see you bright and early. I think they’re laying the flagstone tomorrow. Thought I’d see if I could help.”
She smiled. Jack almost never let Hollis help anymore because Emily told him not to. She wasn’t going to let Hollis do the work without getting paid—and she knew he’d never accept payment. Plus, he needed to spend his days with Jolie. “See you tomorrow.”
“Night, Emily.” He brushed past her, and she instinctively turned toward him on his way out the door, leaving her alone as the words I can do hard things floated through her subconscious, as if somehow her brain knew putting thoughts of Hollis out of her mind was going to be a challenge.
And unfortunately, she wasn’t sure she was up for it.
CHAPTER 33
EMILY SET HER ALARM EARLY, wanting to be downstairs before her grandma and Jack and his crew.
But the night didn’t go as planned. She’d lain in bed thinking about Hollis and his catastrophically kissable lips for far longer than she wanted to admit and sleep hadn’t met her until somewhere around 2 a.m.
It wasn’t only Hollis that kept her awake. It was knowing her grandmother was there. It was suddenly doubting every decision she’d made from paint colors to tiles to knocking out the kitchen wall. It was feeling like a liar for not being straight with her about the play and her money.
And it was the lips.
As a result, she slept right through her alarm and now found herself rushing to shower, dress, and get downstairs to make coffee before Grandma woke up.
But as soon as she exited the bathroom, she saw Grandma’s bedroom door was open, the paint swatches Jack had taped to the wall gone.
She reached the end of the stairway just as Jack’s pickup truck pulled into the driveway. How was she going to get her grandmother out of their hair for the day?
She stifled a groan. What if her grandmother stayed the rest of the summer?
“Grandma?”
She walked through the house, the smell of coffee tattling on her grandmother’s presence but doing nothing to lead Emily to her.
“Grandma?” She stood in the center of the empty kitchen, silently praying Jack could pick up the pace and put the house back together even more quickly now that Eliza Ackerman had descended upon them.
“Why are you shouting?” Grandma’s voice came from outside.
Emily walked out to the still-torn-up patio and found her grandmother sitting in one of the chairs, holding a newspaper and a cup of coffee.
“Sorry,” Emily said. “I didn’t know where you were.” Emily took a seat next to her.
“There’s coffee,” Grandma said, then added dryly, “In the living room.”
Emily heard the words as they were intended—a dig. “I know it looks like a mess right now, but trust me, it’s going to look amazing when we’re all done.”
Grandma raised a brow but didn’t respond.
“I didn’t know you were coming,” Emily said. “You didn’t mention it the other day.”
“I thought I’d surprise you.” The older woman stared out across the backyard, which also looked like a bit of a disaster now that Emily considered it.
“Things are busy here,” Emily said. “I’ve been helping with the house and—”
“Spending time with that McGuire boy,” Grandma cut in.
“I was going to say working down at the arts center,” Emily said, ignoring her grandmother’s condescending tone.
Grandma looked at her. “The arts center?”
Emily nodded. “I’m directing the children’s production.”
Grandma’s eyebrows rainbowed over surprised eyes. “You’re directing it?”
Emily thought she heard pride in her grandma’s voice. Was it possible she was finally making a decision the older woman approved of?
“How did that happen?” Grandma asked.
“It’s a long story,” Emily said.
“Do you have somewhere to be?”
“No . . . well, yes, actually. The first rehearsal is today.”
“Emily!” Jolie’s sweet voice preceded her sweet face into the backyard. She came around the side of the house carrying a Nantucket Bake Shop box, Tilly close on her heels. “Emily! I can’t wait for rehearsal! I’ve got the best song in the whole show.”