A Haven on the Bay - Nicole Ellis Page 0,70

much with the rest of the property.”

Taylor looked at Meg and smiled. “Once the restoration is complete, it’s going to be perfect for a restaurant. Willa Bay won’t know what hit it.”

She shot him a look of gratitude. Unlike Theo, Taylor understood her vision for the barn and what it meant to her. Looking back, that should have been a clue that Theo wasn’t right for her. If he couldn’t be supportive of her dream, he couldn’t be supportive of her.

“You can’t divert some of the construction team to one of the cottages?” Cassie asked. “I mean, I don’t really know how it all works, but it can’t take up that many resources, right?”

Zoe frowned. “It’s more a matter of logistics. If we start on the cottages, we need to finish that project before moving on to the barn. I feel bad about it, but having Tia live in one of the cottages just isn’t going to work. I’ll help her figure out a long-term solution.”

But the work on the barn hadn’t started yet. Meg’s chest constricted as her thoughts collided against each other. Tia had been so kind to her at the Inn’s grand opening, comforting Meg as she panicked about how Davina’s recipes would be received. Now, the other woman had lost everything and was essentially homeless.

Meg inhaled deeply and slowly let out her breath. She felt Taylor’s eyes on her face even before she looked over at him. His gaze was heavy with compassion, seeming to know what she was going to do not long after she’d come to the realization herself.

Her words came out in a rush before she could change her mind. “I think we should postpone the barn renovation and work on the cottages first. Tia needs a place to live, and it just makes sense for her to live on the property since she’s there all the time anyway.”

“Are you serious?” Zoe’s eyes drilled into her. “You want to do the cottages first? Once we start on the project, we can’t change our minds.”

“I know.” Her stomach twisted at the thought of pushing the dream of having her own restaurant even further into the future.

Taylor reached across the table and squeezed Meg’s hand. “Are you sure this is what you want?” he asked softly.

She nodded. “I’m sure.”

Everything was happening so fast. Uncertainty built up in her chest and she fought to tamp it down. Like he understood the conflict running through her, Taylor didn’t let go of her. She stared at her hand in his and wondered if he could feel her trembling.

Cassie averted her eyes, but not before Meg caught the smirk on her face. Her friend had long proclaimed that Taylor had feelings for Meg. Meg had never believed her, but with the way he was looking at her now… He gave her a small smile of reassurance that made Meg’s heart pound. Had Cassie been right all along?

Zoe removed her phone from her purse and stood from the table. “I’ll let Shawn know we’ve had a change of plans.”

As she passed by, Taylor took his hand off of Meg’s. Immediately, she experienced a sense of loss that was greater than she’d felt on the last day she’d seen Theo. She casually pulled her hand back and busied herself with digging through her bag for an unknown object.

In the space of a few minutes, her life had spun around like a globe on its axis. She should have been deflated by the postponement of the barn remodel, but her nerves buzzed with the feelings Taylor’s touch had evoked, clouding her judgment.

As much as she wanted to help Tia, had she made the right decision? Should she run after Zoe and tell her not to call Shawn? Meg turned to look for Zoe. Her friend had just reached the door, her progress through the restaurant slowed by the lunch crowds. If Meg hurried, she could still catch Zoe before it was too late to change her mind.

18

Taylor

After they’d finished their lunch at Wedding Belles, Taylor said goodbye to Meg, Zoe, and Cassie and drove to the Willa Bay Lodge. So far, the day had been an emotional roller coaster. He’d gone to the taping of Coffee Talk Seattle to wish Meg well and let her know he planned to move back to San Diego, but now he wasn’t so sure of that plan.

From the moment he’d heard about the kitchen fire and Meg’s injuries, he’d known he was in love with her.