the hot pizza and set it on the stovetop.
“While our dinner cools, how about a drink?” He powered off the oven and dropped the oven mitt. “Which of those options did you buy for yourself?”
“Salty Dog’s summer shandy.”
“Wise choice.” He grabbed two bottles from the fridge, popped the tops, and poured them into glasses. After they’d each taken a long draw, he grasped her hand and they walked into the living room. The decor was manly yet warm and inviting, like Brady himself. His deep-brown leather couch sat in front of a large, round ottoman stacked with a few books. A TV dominated one wall of the room, and a gas fireplace served as the focal point for another.
He eased into the corner of the couch, fatigue outlining his features.
“You had a long day,” she said, picking up one of the novels. “We could’ve rescheduled.”
“Hell, no. How are you? Tough day slinging coffee beans?”
“Oh, brutal.” She set aside the novel. “Your job’s hard.”
“Sometimes.” He didn’t elaborate, and she guessed he didn’t want to discuss whatever—or whomever—he’d encountered on his shift.
“Were you a barista before you came to the Cove?” he asked, smoothly changing the subject.
“Nope. Jo took a chance on me. I have that business degree I mentioned, but…ah, I haven’t worked outside the home for the last five years or so.” She offered a tight smile. “Neil, my ex, didn’t want me to work. It took me too long to realize he was manipulative. He had a way of making his ideas seem like mine.”
“What a fucking dick.” Brady’s good humor was gone. His attractive face hardened.
“Pretty much.”
He reached for her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Sorry you had to go through that, Bean. You shook him off completely? He doesn’t have any contact with you?”
“No. I moved out one day while he was at work. My parents came to help just in case… Well, I wasn’t sure how he’d react. Turned out he didn’t react much. He told me he was sorry things didn’t work out, and then he shook my hand. Six years, and he shook my hand like I was a business acquaintance.” That part made her nauseous. “That was, I don’t know, maybe ten weeks ago? I haven’t heard from him since. I saw a photo of him online with a woman on his arm, so I don’t think my leaving shattered him. I don’t want him back, but it hurts to know I meant so little to him.”
She paused when she realized that Brady had asked a simple question about where she used to work and she’d spilled her guts.
“Ignore me. I didn’t mean to say all that.” She moved to pull her hand from his, but he kept hold of her.
“Don’t be embarrassed. What you told me makes him look bad, not you. He didn’t know how to treat a woman so that she blooms in his presence instead of withers. You—look at you—” Brady studied her earnestly. “Elliott, you’ve already bloomed. You came to the Cove and exploded.”
Flattered, she ducked her head. “Lou said something similar. I remember when I was strong.”
Silence invaded the room. She let it for a moment before turning the tables on him.
“What’s your story? Nice guy, skills in the bedroom, handsome cop in a wealthy tourist town. Where’s your wife and kids?”
“You think I’m nice?” He winced.
“Well, you’re no Neil,” she teased.
“No, honey. I’m definitely not Neil. You summed up a few of the reasons why I don’t have a wife and kids. Cop. Wealthy tourist town.”
“Lou hinted that you’re not a long-term guy.”
“Is that why you’re here?” He didn’t break eye contact. And like she was being interrogated, she answered honestly.
“It didn’t hurt your chances.”
He took her beer glass, set it next to his, and slapped his thighs. “Come here.”
“On your lap?”
“Yeah.” That grin would be the death of her, but oh, what a way to go. “Make out with me.”
“You’re crazy.” She shook her head with zero conviction.
“Come on.” He slapped his thighs again.
She straddled his lap, settling over him. They fit together. Her open thighs against his strong ones, her breasts brushing his chest. Even their mouths lined up perfectly, without their noses getting in the way.
He wrapped his palms around her hips. “Whatever shit you went through in Michigan is in the past, Elliott. He swept her hair away from her face. “You’re here now. Evergreen Cove is a fresh start for a lot of us.”
A fresh start.
She’d considered Evergreen Cove more