Summer of Us (Blue Harbor Book 9) by Olivia Miles

Author:Olivia Miles [Miles, Olivia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Rosewood Press
Published: 2022-05-09T18:30:00+00:00

Ryan watched from across the deck as Heidi did what she did best. She laughed at Cole’s jokes, she leaned in to hear what Maddie had to say, she changed the music when the songs got stale, and she served her dinner with a flourish.

Ryan didn’t have the heart to tell her that she’d forgotten the garlic, or that the onions were burnt, and the chicken was overcooked. Neither did anyone else. And really, no one cared.

Dusk had settled in and the strings of lights and glow from the candles gave a festive feeling to the otherwise simple space. Conversation and laughter seemed to echo against the chirping of crickets, something that he hadn’t experienced in his own home since he’d come back to Blue Harbor, and even then, his life in Cleveland had been quiet. His girlfriend of four years had been like him, preferring to keep their dinners to the two of them, a few times a year maybe adding another couple to the mix. The conversation was polite and easy, and at the time it had seemed like enough,

Now, Ryan wondered how long it had been since he’d ever let himself laugh like this. Let himself sit back and have an extra glass of wine, and not care if his food was overdone and underseasoned.

“I’m just glad that we weren’t too late,” Maddie said. She gave Ryan a disapproving look, but there was a shine to her eyes. “Cole tells me you’re a real workhorse.”

Ryan took the joke and held up a hand by a way of apology. “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want the renovation done yesterday, but Cole and his team are ahead of schedule.”

Maddie looked at her boyfriend with pride. “Well, you won’t find a better contractor around. You’ve seen what he’s done at the bakery.”

Ryan had, and it was the reason he’d hired the man. They hadn’t been friends back in school—Cole had been a troubled kid, and he’d gotten into trouble too—but time had minimized their differences. They weren’t the same people they’d been back then.

He glanced at Heidi. Maybe she wasn’t the same either. Or maybe, she was exactly who she’d always been and he’d misjudged her.

He caught Cole’s humble grin across the table. Misjudged a lot of people.

“Well, we’ll all have to come in once it’s finished and celebrate you both,” Jenna said. “And you, too, Kyle.”

“Oh, no,” Kyle said, holding up his hands. “My days at the pub are over. It’s all in Ryan’s hands now.”

Across the table, he grinned, but Ryan struggled to swallow his chicken, and not just because it was chewy.

“This is delicious,” Bella said and raised a glass. “To the hostess.”

Heidi’s cheeks turned pink from across the table, but it was clear that she was pleased. “I can’t take all the credit. Ryan taught me this recipe.”

Oh, jeez. This was one recipe he’d rather not take credit for, but still, he shared a smile across the table and held up a hand. “I’m just a guest tonight.

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