Page 19 (1/2)

"Thanks for co up your resulanced across at her aunt, as sitting with her best handbag on her lap in the passenger seat

"Spending theout job history and qualifications" Everything that reht I’d love That I will never again see the man I stupidly fell in love with

Taryn switched off the ignition, opened her door and got her thoughts on track "I’ot interested in nautical thee I’m over polished oak and tapestry upholstery When I saw that flyer earlier this week, the stock and colors leaped out and grabbed me"

Taryn checked out the run of storefronts, which paralleled a busyher eyes froentle saltwater breeze Sydney was interlaced with so , all that clear blue water stretching out toward the "great beyond" ht in her chest

Each day she told herself to focus on toood, the world was her oyster She could pursue her drea; she still believed Hot Spots would appeal to a wide audience On the other hand, just because she’d worked in TV all her adult life didn’t mean she wouldn’t enjoy a different vocation A job that would suit her a hundred times more, maybe

In a place that didn’t re lot, Vi exa to this, the store’s way down the other end I only want a quick look, first up No deposits until I’ve chewed over all the options"

They were passing a cafe, its display cabinet filled with rows of scru cakes Taryn wasn’t surprised when Vi’s step slowed and she asked, "Want to stop for a coffee before tackling the shops?"

"Sure I "

"And that torte is calling o on ahead for a preli nice and I’ll meet you back here in ten"

"Take your time"

Taryn headed for an outside table while Vi, in her deni the menu, Taryn passed on her orders to a waitress: latte and torte for Vi, fresh seasonal berries with a Muscat cream and a flat white for her As she sat back and drank in a view craain, and of how close she’d co hiht of the way he’d held her that rainy day at her door - the deter kiss - she suffered the saht in her advice? If she hadn’t pushed Cole away that final tiain At soe Cole must realize he couldn’t battle everyone’s storms all of the time Couldn’t he cut himself some slack?

Didn’t he want his own life?

But as Roe its spots Cole blustered around, letting all and sundry kno indispensible he was The kicker was, as far as she was concerned, he was special Incredibly so

No one else would ever make her pulse race the way he did When they made love, everyshe felttheir aht on that quiet moonlit beach, she simply couldn’t see it

Guess there was the possibility she would never fall in love again Hadn’t that been true for Vi? Soiven away once With only passersby and squawking gulls for coh life alonewith no partner, no children

No faazed blindly at her sandals and forced herself to be positive Common sense said she’d feel so ain in six If only she could stop thinking about hoonderful hisover hers How alive she’d been when they’d laughed together and had opened up It had felt soreal

A flower blew under the next table - a large red bloom that looked , Taryn focused on the petals, the soft scarlet plains Was everything today meant to remind her of Cole?

About to lean over and collect that flower, Taryn tipped back as cake and berries arrived But when the plates slid onto the tabletop, she noticed the hands that served her were nized those hands, the bronzed corded forearms Oh, God, she knew that watch

Frole But it couldn’t be This had to be her i had short-circuited her brain But then that voice resonated out, drifting like a elcome veil over her senses and denial was si else I can do for you?"

As time seemed to slow, Taryn clamped shut her eyes In a heartbeat, the island and those bittersweetpain penetrated her ribs Hoould she everup like this?

When she opened her eyes, that floas sitting on the table in front of her as if placed there byit close was overwhelers itched to stroke the velvet petals, place theainst her cheek and wish them all back to that time

Instead, she pushed her back into the chair and bit down as a man rounded the table When their eyes an to prickle with heat, just like the tips of her breasts In casual white trousers, rubber-soled shoes and a black short-sleeved shirt, Cole gazed down at her as his dark hair rippled in a stiffening breeze

"Nice view," he said

She crossed her ar for my aunt She’ll be back any moment"

He nodded as if it were of little consequence "You’re looking well"

Taryn didn’t feel well, but she noticed that his eyes were clearer than the last time they’d spokenthe last ties underneath had faded, too The strong angle of his jaas clean-shaven and his expression reflected a completely relaxed air she hadn’t seen since their time in the Pacific Just how had he co her cake when surely he had business to sort?

As if reading her ht a boat"

She’d bite "Plan to do so around the harbor?"

"Actually, I was planning to set sail for far deeper waters"

"Such as?"

"Ulani"

Taryn blinked Her Hot Spots destination?

"Why there?"

"I have a yearning to see if those turtles hatched and broke out on their own Must be hell sharing that kind of space with so s"

She looked at him sideways Really? "What happened to all your responsibilities? Has your dad’s assailant been caught?"

"Not yet, but I have every faith in Brandon"

"You’re not worried soone?"

"I’ll worry But no an says she wants to come out"

Taryn started "You talked to your sister?"

He grinned "It was really good to catch up"

"And what’s happening with Tate?"

"He’s safe and well All set to fly over to stay with Dex I’ll stay and keep hi about Disneyland"

"But what about your work commitments? The way you spoke, your LA section’s a hairbreadth away froed his ear, "I ive Dextheir best in hard ti it "What brought you to that conclusion?"

"A great big dose of ’appreciate what you have because it could be gone toize You were right I’d already e it But I should have taken a chance I should have taken a chance on, and believed in, a lot of things"

When his gaze intensified, Taryn’s stoainst the spot, she switched the focus back onto Cole and this left-field decision to sail off into the sunset

"And your football contract?" she asked That was supposed to be critical

"I finally told Finlay he could janed the next day We’re set there for the next five years"

Taryn was slowly shaking her head Cole alking away, just like that? It couldn’t be true

"But you have the everyday running of the place So iven a perh experience in the role I’’s CEO"

Now Taryn was holding her brow She was happy for Roman but she felt positively dizzy at the news "I can’t believe that you’rethat you’ll - "

"Leave on a long overdue vacation" Looking so tall and co, he cocked his head toward the berths "Come and take a look at my baby"

For aa joke "You’ve been brainwashed Or you fell and hit your head"

"I haven’t thought this clearly in years Coo inside Just ad to that flower, Taryn felt her thoughts begin to spin Cole seeht Theso laid-back before her noas the same man she’d fallen for on that island The person she’d been so drawn to Was drawn to still