“Old Harry. He’s a mine of information. What did you get?”
Mia pulled open the bag and showed him.
“Ah, I have some from that author in the front living room if you love it and want more. Help yourself.” He moved past her into the kitchen and Mia followed. “Do you want some iced tea? I’m taking a break from cleaning the attic and could use a cold drink.”
“Sure, if it’s no problem. I don’t want to make work for you.” She followed him into the kitchen, put down her bag and took a seat at the island.
“You’re a guest here. I’m supposed to look after you.” He took a jug from the fridge and moved toward her.
“Yes, but bed and breakfast isn’t all day, every day. At least that’s my impression of the style of accommodation you offer.” Anyone would think she hated the kind of attention he offered. He did it for anyone that came and stayed at his house. Was it him she didn’t like? Matt couldn’t tell.
“Humor me, please.” Matt took two tall glasses from the hutch and filled them. “I suggest you go and get a comfy chair outside and I’ll bring out a tray.”
She looked like she was going to protest but without saying a word, Mia gave in. Matt watched her walk away, wondering how he was going to get through to her that this was how he treated everyone who came through his door.
He took a tray from the cupboard under the counter and a pretty plate from the hutch. From the shelf above the kitchen counter, Matt pulled down a container and selected a few oatmeal and raisin cookies and added them to the plate. This was only a small part of what he did for his guests—all of them. Not just the ones with legs that never ended and gorgeous hair that glowed different shades of blonde depending on when the sun hit it. Hopefully she would take it as such and stop protesting so much.
Mia was stretched out on one of the cane lounges with her feet up when Matt walked out onto the front porch. He put the tray down on a small table close by and pulled up a stool for himself. She glanced at the cookies and raised an eyebrow before she took one. Matt watched her bite into it, waiting for her reaction. She closed her eyes and moaned in delight.
“Good?”
Mia turned to him. “Are you kidding? These are so good. And I’m betting you made them, right?”
Matt shrugged. “Yeah.”
“You’re perfect for this job.”
“I like to think so.” He took a cookie for himself and took a bite, chewing while he watched the waves roll into the small bay around from the wharf.
“You’re very lucky you figured out your calling when you did. So many people go through life never knowing where their talents lie. They go from job to job wondering why they’re never content.”
Matt jammed the rest of the cookie into his mouth before he asked her the obvious question. “Do you still like doing what you do?”
* * *
A moment of panic hit her. What a silly thing to ask. Mia breathed low and even, wondering how to answer him. Did she still enjoy what she did? Or was it more that she was used to it and didn’t know anything else?
“I guess so. It’s all I’ve ever done.” She reached for her glass of tea to cover her confusion. He’d thrown her off with his question.
“Might be a good time to decide if you want a change then. What a perfect opportunity to try something new.”
She stared at him, shocked. “Why would I want to change? I didn’t even want this holiday.”
“I understand that, and believe me, I don’t want you to close the company because I love your products. I was just thinking about how much fun it is to try new things and wondered if you’d be up for it. Maybe explore a different side of the business.”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know. It was merely a thought spoken out loud. A holiday can give you time to think.”
“I didn’t want a holiday.” And she didn’t have time to think about doing anything else. Her current job took all of her energy.
“But you’ll feel better for it, I’m sure. Rejuvenated and raring to go when you get back.”
Would she feel rejuvenated or would she be stressed because she’d have so much work to catch up on? Her lips thinned as she thought.
“Sorry if I spoke out of turn.” Matt looked so contrite that Mia regretted her outburst.
“No, I’m sorry. I don’t mean to bite your head off when you were being so nice to me. I’m not usually so bitchy. This has been a bit hard to take, to be honest.” She chewed on her bottom lip, her books forgotten.
He stared at her for a moment and Mia started to feel embarrassed.
“I’ll make you a deal. You relax today. Read one of your books, look out over the ocean and unwind, and tomorrow I’ll take you out and show you some of the island. We can even drop in and see my brother’s fish farm and pick up something fresh for dinner.” He grimaced. “That’s if you want to, of course. No pressure.”
“I think I’d love that. Thank you so much for thinking of it. I doubt I’ll be able to park myself out here every day for a month.” She gave an exaggerated shudder. “Maybe every other day, but I don’t like to push my luck by thinking it’s going to work with me doing nothing every day.”
Matt laughed and she stared at his face. She hadn’t noticed that his eyes were dark brown or that he had reddish tints in his beard that caught the sun. Nor that his hair was pulled back with a leather strip. Or that his words were often punctuated with his hands. His fingernails were squarer than any she’d
