Six Hours Away Read online

  “Let me make it,” he offered.

  “I’ll go grab a table. We can eat out on the deck. We might even have a pretty sunset now that the storm has passed,” Gary said.

  “Let me help you,” Mason offered, and he and Gary headed out.

  “You two go do whatever. I’ll get some food made. Will have to be sandwiches, but at least we’ll eat.” He shooed Lillian and Robin away.

  He went and took off two of the hurricane shutters and light poured into the kitchen. Much better. He looked around the kitchen with a critical eye. He loved this space. His space. Okay, technically it was Lillian’s kitchen, but it felt like his. Felt like home. And he was glad to be back in it. Alone. Working in it. He couldn’t wait for the inn to open, fill with people, and for life to get back to normal.

  He strode over to the fridge and pulled out food, ready to make a feast. Was everyone as starved as he was?

  Chapter 19

  Zoe looked around at her friends sitting at the table, enjoying the feast Jay had made. She looked down at her plate, piled with food. Couldn’t help it. Between the stress and the storm and every other excuse she could think of, she was famished and she’d freely admit it to anyone.

  Mason sat next to her, smiling at her occasionally in the midst of the friendly banter about the table. Lillian made plans for the cleanup and they all offered to help her tomorrow. Robin sat with Sunny on her lap, petting the purring kitten who seemed oblivious she’d survived a hurricane. Barney lazed on the deck, keeping an eye on them, while Lucky slept under the table.

  Mason squeezed her hand under the table, and she laced her fingers through his. She could almost believe that this was real life. That she lived back here on the island. That Mason was part of her life here. That…

  … that things weren’t going to dissolve into nothingness when she headed back home and Mason headed to Seattle.

  She pushed the thoughts away and concentrated on what Jay was saying as he stood. “Robin and I should go. Got to beat the curfew. We’ll head back to my house.”

  Robin looked at Jay with a questioning glance.

  “You’ll stay with me while the electricity is out?” Jay said it more as a question than a statement. “Won’t you?”

  “That’s probably a good idea. Even if the town will gossip.” Robin nodded slowly.

  “Pshaw. Since when do we let a little town gossip stop us from anything? Smart idea to stay with Jay for a bit while things settle down,” Lillian said. “You two head out and get back home before sunset. We’ll clear this all up.”

  “We’ll be back first thing in the morning.” Jay took Robin’s hand as she stood with Sunny tucked in her arms. They walked down the steps of the deck and disappeared around the corner.

  A small smile played across the corners of Lillian’s lips as she watched them leave. “About time they realized they love each other.”

  Zoe stared after where they’d disappeared. They really were a great couple. So in sync and it was obvious to everyone how in love they were. A tad bit of jealousy swept through her. She’d never had that with anyone. That complete connection.

  “You okay?” Mason interrupted her thoughts. “You look deep in thought.”

  “I’m… I’m fine.” But was she?

  She and Mason stayed with Lillian and Gary on the deck, watching the sunset. Soft colors painted the sky in delicate shades of yellow and pink, mocking the violent skies of earlier today.

  They all finally rose and carried the dishes back inside. “Gary and I have the dishes tonight. And Jay’s comment about Robin staying with him got me thinking. I think you two should move into the Grand Suite. It’s two bedrooms. I’d feel better if Zoe wasn’t in her room alone with no electricity. Does that work for you two?”

  “I… uh…” She turned to look at Mason.

  “I think that’s a great idea. We’ll collect our things and move.” Mason turned to her. “If that’s okay with you?”

  “Sure, that’s fine.” It was fine, wasn’t it? They could have a nice evening together. And she hadn’t exactly been thrilled about spending the night in the dark room all alone.

  “Let’s go to my office and I’ll grab you the key.”

  They headed to Lillian’s office and she flipped the light switch and laughed. “Oops, force of habit. I’ve got a flashlight lantern on the desk.” She crossed over and soon the room was softly illuminated by the light.

  Zoe noticed a frown on Lil’s face. “Everything okay?”

  “Yes… I just…” Lillian slowly looked around the room. “It must be just the flashlight. Something feels off.” She shook her head and reached into the drawer. “Here’s a key that will work on the suite. It’s at the other end of the hall from where your rooms are. If you look in the storage room, there’s a cart you can use to move your things.”

  “Thanks so much for this.” Mason took the key.

  “I should be thanking you two for all the help you’ve given me with the inn.” Lillian walked out of the office and handed the flashlight to Mason. “Now you two go on and have yourself a nice night.”

  Zoe was suddenly tired and ready to settle in for the evening. They headed to the lobby while Lillian disappeared back toward the kitchen.

  Mason shone the light across the main room. Darkened corners lurked around them from the shuttered windows.

  “I’ll have to help Dad take down the shutters tomorrow. Still looks like a horror movie set in here tonight.”

  Mason threaded an arm around her as they walked through the lobby and up the stairs. He got the cart and they piled their things on it before they headed to the new suite.

  She stepped inside as he held up the light. “Oh… it’s so nice.” The sitting area had a couch and two chairs and a painting of a walkway to the beach. There was a kitchenette in one corner. Two doors, one on each side of the room, led to the two bedrooms.

  “I’m going to see if I can open up the covering on the French doors to the balcony.” Mason opened the door and wrestled with the hurricane covering until the night sky finally was visible. He swung them wide, letting in the fresh night air.

  “That’s so much better. I hate the closed-up rooms in a hurricane.”

  He turned to her with an impish grin. “I don’t know. I had a pretty good time in that closed-up storage room.”

  The heat of a blush crossed her face. “Okay, that one closed-up room wasn’t so bad.”

  “I brought the red wine I had in my other room. Want some?”

  “That sounds nice.”

  “At least it doesn’t need ice and doesn’t need to be chilled.”

  “Truth.” She wandered over to the couch and watched while he poured the wine and lit a couple of candles. He set the candles on the coffee table, then went to rescue the wine. The candles sent dancing, flickering shadows against the wall.

  He settled next to her and handed her a glass. “To surviving my first hurricane.”

  She gently touched her glass to his. “To surviving yet another hurricane.”

  “I have to say, I’m not a huge fan of them.” He smiled wryly.

  “I guess you kind of get used to them. The first few we had when Noah and I first moved here? Those sent me into a tizzy. But then finally it just becomes a way of life. An annoying one, but it’s just life down here.”

  “When did you move here?”

  “I was fairly young. Noah and I vacationed here and loved it. We needed a change. So he left everything behind to move me here.” She shrugged. “He’s given up so much for me. He left everything behind in Boston when he heard my parents died. Moved to Philadelphia. Poor guy trying to figure out how to raise a heartbroken little girl. But we figured it out eventually. He’s… well, he’s wonderful. I’m lucky he’d give up so much for me.”

  “I’m sorry about your parents.” He reached over and took her hand.

  She stared down at their entwined fingers for a moment, then back to his face. The face that held a sympathetic look
in his eyes. “Thanks. It was hard. Still is sometimes. There are just some things a girl wants to share with her mother. But Noah did everything possible to make sure I had everything I needed. And I loved growing up here.” She took a sip of her wine. “How about you? Have you always lived in Seattle?”

  “I have. I like it there. Mostly. Traffic is crazy and the cost of living is ridiculous and keeps climbing.”

  “Does your mom live there, too?”

  “When she’s not off traveling somewhere for work. My folks were both workaholics. I think that was the demise of their marriage. They both put more effort into their jobs than their relationship.” He looked at her. “You were very lucky to have Noah. Someone so interested in your life and taking care of you. I… well, I didn’t have that. I was an inconvenience to Mom, and Dad was… well, clueless when it comes to kids and didn’t try to fix that fact. But Dad and I have a pretty good relationship now. We’ve worked things out.”

  “I’m glad.” Mason and Gary did seem like they were close now. Not as close as she was with Noah, but still, close.

  Mason shrugged. “Don’t see Mom much, so that much hasn’t changed. I think some people just weren’t meant to be parents.” He gave her a little smile. “But I turned out okay.”

  “So, after being raised like that, do you want to have kids? You know, someday?” Why was she asking him that? It wasn’t any of her business. But she knew that she wanted kids. Lots of them. She’d always wanted a brother or sister when she was growing up.

  “I don’t know. Maybe. Not sure what kind of parent I’d be. Didn’t have the best role models. But I have learned from my folks. I don’t let my job consume my life.” He laughed. “I try at least.”

  And she didn’t want to ask the next question, but she did anyway. “You probably have to get back to Seattle soon, don’t you? I mean we don’t even have cell service for you to call your work, and the electric is out so no wi-fi service.”

  “Yes, I have to figure that out. I’m hoping for at least cell service tomorrow. Or maybe get over to the mainland if they have service there.”

  “If they get the ferry going tomorrow. I bet they will. We’ll need supplies delivered here for repairs.”

  He looked at her, searching her face. “But I’ll tell you one thing, Zoe. I’m going to miss you when I head back home.”

  Her heart flipped and she steadied her wine glass, concentrating on the rim of the glass like it was the most interesting thing in the world. She was going to miss him, too. They’d been wrapped up in this strange world the last few days. Weeks, actually. Ever since he’d come to town for Lillian and Gary’s wedding. Then all the hurricane prep and waiting out the storm.

  Soon they’d both be going back to real life. Soon.

  But for now? For now, she wasn’t going to think about that. She’d just enjoy the time she had left with him.

  Sometimes a person who seemed so right came into your life at the wrong time. Or in the wrong place.

  He tilted her face up and kissed her gently, then pulled back. “Will you miss me?”

  She reached out and touched the light shadow of whiskers on his face. “I will miss you. I’ve had a really good time getting to know you.”

  “And I’ve had a good time getting to know you, too. Bet I’d get to know you better if I kissed you again.”

  “I bet you would.” She grinned as he leaned over and settled his lips on hers.

  Chapter 20

  The next morning Zoe awoke and stretched out her arms. She hauled herself up in bed, confused for a moment until she remembered she was in the suite at the inn. She could hear Mason rummaging around in the main room.

  She jumped out of bed and hurried to get dressed, deciding her hair was hopeless and pulling it back as best she could. She went out into the main room and a sudden shyness slipped over her. It felt so strangely intimate to be here with Mason, alone in the suite.

  He turned to her and gave her a wide smile. “Morning, sleepyhead.”

  “I guess I was tired.” She rarely slept this late. It was almost nine.

  “Guess what. I’ve got good news.”

  “What’s that?”

  He walked over to the door and flipped a light switch. “Electricity came on.”

  “That was quick.”

  “Well, at least it’s on here at the inn. And… I’ve got a little surprise for you.”

  “You do?”

  He laughed and headed to the kitchenette. “Coffee.”

  She crossed over and gratefully took the mug from him. “That’s fabulous. Couldn’t ask for a better surprise.”

  “And what would you say if I said I had cinnamon rolls, too?”

  “I’d say you were my hero.” She grinned at him.

  “Ha, then I’m your hero.” He pulled two rolls out of the small microwave. “Jay had made these and gave me some when I went downstairs looking for coffee. I have to say, he looked quite pleased with himself puttering around that kitchen.”

  “So, maybe Jay’s my hero.” She smothered a smile.

  “Ouch, you crush me.” His eyes twinkled and he clutched at his heart.

  “Okay, you can both be my hero.”

  “I guess I can share the title.” He winked. “Oh, and why don’t you charge your phone, then it will be ready if the cell service comes back?”

  He was so practical. How could he have practical thoughts like that? All she wanted to think about was… his lips. How his shirt stretched across his broad shoulders. How… Nope, she was going to be practical, too. She hurried to her room, grabbed her charger, and plugged in her phone.

  They went outside and sat at a small table he’d moved back out to the balcony. She relished the fresh air and sunshine.

  They bantered back and forth like old friends. Or like… a real couple. Or something. But all the while, the nagging reality that he’d be leaving soon hovered over her. Tapping her on the shoulder. Taunting her with don’t-get-to-used-to-this thoughts.

  “I’m going to help Dad take down the hurricane shutters and tackle cleaning up the property.”

  He interrupted her thoughts. Her crazy thoughts.

  “I’ll see what Lillian wants me to do.” She heard her phone ding. “Oh, service must be back.” She jumped up and went to look at her phone. A text from Noah, checking on her. She quickly texted him back that she was fine and she’d see him later today.

  She went back out to the balcony and sat back down. A young woman walked on the beach with two young kids running in circles around her. The skies were clear and bright blue, but a wind blew the palm trees in a slow, swaying dance.

  “It really is nice here on the island.” Mason leaned back, his cinnamon roll finished, and sipped his coffee as he, too, watched the woman and children on the beach below them.

  “It is. I love it here.” She hadn’t realized how much she missed the island. Missed living here. The island felt like… home.

  Mason set down his mug and sighed. “I really should go find Dad and get to work.”

  “I’ll go find Lillian.”

  And their quiet morning together ended with the unasked and unanswered question hanging between them. Was this the last morning they’d have like this?

  “I want to run over and check on Etta this morning.” Lillian put her coffee cup in the sink at The Nest.

  “How about I get things going on taking down the hurricane shutters and setting things back in order?” Gary gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.

  “I won’t be long. I just worry about her after her fall. I think I’ll take some food over to her, too. That way she can stay off her feet a bit more.”

  “That sounds like a good idea.”

  Lillian headed to the kitchen and found Jay already there, cooking. That didn’t surprise her. Once she’d found out the electricity was back on, she knew he’d be here cooking and baking.

  “Morning, Jay. Good to see you back here where you belong.”

  He turned and grinned. “
Cinnamon rolls over there. And I made up some more sandwiches to feed whoever is hungry. Got more bread baking now, too.”

  “I’m going to take a basket of food over to Etta.”

  “Here I’ll make you one. You sit and have a cup of coffee.”

  One more cup wouldn’t hurt her, right? She settled on a stool with her coffee and Jay rustled around, filling up a basket overflowing with food.

  Robin came into the kitchen. “Computers are up, but the internet is down.”

  “Might take a while for it to come back.”

  “I already had a few phone calls about reservations.”

  “Let’s see what all gets done today, and see about the bridge. If it’s going to be ferry service only for a while we’ll have to tell our guests to expect that. Then we’ll make a decision on reopening.” Lillian stood and took the basket from Jay. “Thanks for this. I won’t be long. Gary is starting on taking down the shutters.”

  “I’ll be out to help him as soon as this last batch of bread is done.”

  She hurried out of the kitchen and out into the sunshine, walking over to Etta’s. People were busy in their yards clearing up the mess. A business on Main Street was tarping over a window that must have gotten broken. She hurried down the street until she got to Etta’s.

  She knocked on the door and called through the screened door. “It’s Lillian.”

  “Come in,” Etta called from inside.

  She went in and found Etta sitting on the couch with her leg propped up. Lillian held up the basket.

  “I come bearing gifts. Lots of food from Jay.”

  “That was so sweet. Dr. Harden told me to try and stay off my leg as much as possible for a few days. I really want to get to the historical society and see how it fared. And clean up the mess I made when the bookcase crashed.”

  “You need to let us help you. Don’t go there alone. Promise me, you’ll call when you’re ready to go, and we’ll go with you.”

  “I don’t want to be a bother.”

  “It’s no bother. None at all.” Lillian set the basket on the table beside Etta. “Is there anything you need? Anything at all?”