just need a little time. I want to make sure that this is the right thing for both of us. Can't we just take things a little slower?”
He smiled slightly. "You know, my mother always said I was a little bit impulsive. I guess I just thought if we love each other now, might as well make the jump to marriage but I didn't think about your feelings. I just thought I was doing this grand romantic gesture, and you hurt my pride when you said no."
She laughed. "I appreciate the gesture, and I really do hope you'll make it again one day.”
"Well, if it's all the same to you, I think I'll wait a little while before I try that again."
Colleen reached across the table. “Forgive me?”
He smiled. “There’s nothing to forgive. Now, I’m starving. I haven’t had an appetite in days.”
Chapter Five
Dawson stood in front of his house, his arms crossed. “Do you think we're ready?"
"Well, I reckon we’re as close as we’re going to get," Lucy said with a laugh. She had been right beside him the whole time, through every renovation and menu revision. She would never admit it, as stubborn as she was, but she had enjoyed watching the transformation of Dawson’s home into The Inn At Seagrove.
He sometimes worried that her advanced age might cause her to retire when he decided to open the inn, but she’d jumped in head first right along with him.
"I sure hope we're ready. I've already got my first couple of reservations, and we open in two days."
"I know. And I’ll be cooking ahead just so we have plenty of food. Pancakes are going to be a hit!"
Lucy had been very proud of creating a new recipe for caramel pecan pancakes with peach flavored maple syrup. She was chomping at the bit to serve it to the first visitors. The whole menu, in fact, was a sight to behold. Dawson hadn't seen Lucy this excited since Burt Reynolds came to visit the town two decades ago. She said looking at him made her feel things that she couldn't say in polite conversation.
“Oh, Dawson, it's beautiful!" Julie said as she walked up beside him and Lucy. She had driven up without him even noticing she was there, his attention completely devoted to looking at the landscaping he had just completed in the yard.
“You like it?"
“It's stunning! I love the pansies you planted over there. That violet color is just gorgeous and really makes the front of the house pop.”
"I better get back inside before I burn those casseroles I put in the oven," Lucy said, rubbing Julie's arm before walking back in the house.
“Lucy got a snazzy new apron, I see,” Julie said with a laugh.
“I’m not sure who’s more excited, me or her,” Dawson said. “I wasn't sure if I could get this place ready on time, but I think we're going to get there. My first guest is arriving day after tomorrow."
"I know you're so excited! I'm thrilled for you, Dawson," she said, grabbing his hand as they both stood there staring at the inn.
“I have you to thank for it.”
Julie looked at him quizzically as he grabbed her other hand to face her. "Me? I haven't done anything."
"You've done a lot more than you realize. Encouraged me. Made me feel like I could really do this. And gave me the space to get it done without getting mad at me for not taking you out to fancy dinners. But, we're going to go to a fancy dinner to celebrate soon."
She smiled at him. “Dawson, if you’ll remember, I had a husband who took me to a lot of fancy dinners for a lot of years and you see how that ended up. I would much prefer sitting in that swing over there with you, having an evening cup of coffee and listening to the waves roll in behind us. That's my celebration. And now every day gets to be a celebration."
"I think that might be the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.” He smiled as he leaned down and softly kissed her.
"It's true. I never thought this would be my dream life, but it is. I thought all my hopes and dreams were wrapped up in some big house in the city with a bunch of friends who weren't really my friends. But this place has become a part of my soul, and I can't imagine ever leaving here. So, you have my help for