“I don’t think we should get involved in this. At least not me. If you’re hatching some plan to switch her life around, I don’t want to know about it.” It felt like cheating to even be talking about this behind her back.
“Fair enough. Just thought I’d mention it to you and get your input. Here’s Arlo and Hilary. Let me go get them a drink.” He walked away, leaving Matt stunned.
If Matt could get Mia on the island permanently, he’d be over the moon. It’d give them a chance to see if there was something between them. Not that she’d said anything about it, but the signs were there—like the times when they came close to touching the same spot while they were cleaning and their eyes met. Or the times when they passed on the stairs and had to turn sideways to avoid knocking building supplies out of each other’s hands. Or the fish and chips down at the wharf. Or their kiss that night.
Oh, that kiss! That was the moment when he realized that she was the one for him. Sure it was early on and they didn’t know each other that well, but he could feel it—the connection between them and the promise of what could be. But she woke up the next day and acted as if it hadn’t happened. It was like he’d dreamed it. Had he overstepped the mark and pushed her to put words to something that only he felt?
If they were going to have any type of relationship, it had to be because Mia wanted to. Not because she was pushed out of her job and felt she had nowhere to go.
“What’s that frown for?” Arlo came out with a beer in each hand and handed him a bottle. “You look like someone just messed up your polished floors. Tracked mud all over the place after you finished playing Martha Stewart.”
“Shut up.”
Arlo held up his free hand. “Wow. Sorry, dude. What’s up your butt? The other day you were so much nicer to be around.”
“Don’t want to talk about it. Where’s Hilary?”
Arlo nodded toward the inside of the house. “Gone upstairs to check out the nursery. Seems your girlfriend is making friends and impressing everyone with her skills.”
“She’s not my girlfriend.” The words tasted bitter.
His brother looked down his nose at him. “Well, do something about it. If I can do it, so can you.” Arlo pulled up a chair and sat down.
He’d done well for himself.
“I’ve only just met her.”
Arlo spat out a laugh of disbelief. “Oh crap. Just listen to you, man. How long did I know Hil before she stayed the weekend?”
“Please. She had no choice after that big mutt of yours knocked her over.”
“Not exactly my point but feel free to keep denying what’s going on in that thick head of yours. Fact is, we hardly knew each other but we were clever enough to figure out something was there. Bear knocking her over just hurried that process along.”
Matt plonked himself down on the chair opposite and stared at Arlo. “She has a different life from me. Her business won’t work here like Hilary’s does. It’s a huge deal walking away from a company like hers and trying to run it from the island. It wouldn’t work and I can’t see her giving it all away for me. I don’t want to ask that of her.”
“Won’t or can’t?”
“Both. Can you imagine if she made the move and found she hated it here? How could I live with that? Nope. Not going to happen.”
Arlo shrugged and drank more beer.
“What are you two bitching about?” Drew walked out and handed them a tray of party snacks. “April said you have to eat while you drink. Her rules, not mine.” He sighed and shaded his face with his hand.
Another voice came from the front door. “Hello!”
“That’s Aggie and Liam. At last, someone sensible to talk to.” Drew hurried to the front door to greet his sister and his business partner, Liam Davidson.
“Are they going to tie the knot or keep living in sin?” Matt scowled as he watched his sister walk in, radiating happiness that seemed to grate on his nerves since his father had discussed the way Mia’s business worked.
“Like me, you mean? No idea. Don’t care and neither should you. Not our business.” Arlo stared him down.
“Never said I cared. I was just asking.”
Hilary came bounding down the steps with Mia in tow. Both women had smiles on their faces, which went a long way toward making Matt feel better. Guilt still niggled him for the secret his father had shared, but there wasn’t anything he could do about that now. Hilary pulled Mia outside to the deck.
“Arlo, Mia’s agreed to help me with the house.”
Arlo looked at her, frowned, and then looked at Matt.
Matt shrugged. “No idea.”
Mia grinned and Hilary groaned. “Arlo! Behave. You said I could redecorate. Mia’s going to help me. We were just upstairs in the nursery and you should see what she did with hardly anything at all. Moved a couple of pieces, swapped some stuff out of another room and wham! What a great space it is. So damn pretty it could be in a magazine shoot.”
The men shared another glance.
“Honestly, if it was your oyster beds, it would be a different story.” Hilary folded her arms and glared at Arlo.
He pointed a finger at her. “Don’t you go touching my shell fish. I draw the line at that, Hilary French. But have at it with the house all you want.”
She leaned into
