Talbott’s Cove: A Small Town Romance Collection by Canterbary Kate

Author:Canterbary, Kate
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Vesper Press
Published: 2021-10-04T16:00:00+00:00

25

Glaze

v. To brush food with milk, egg, or sugar before baking in order to produce a shiny, golden finish.

Jackson

I hadn't expected to march through The Galley and claim Annette with the whole town watching us over their grilled swordfish, but Brooke was right. It was the best way to kill a whole lot of birds with one stone.

There was no credence to the suggestion Annette was the one doing the chasing, not when I made it clear to everyone watching she was mine.

There was no denying we had a history, one that transcended our roles of sheriff and bookseller.

There was no hiding the relief I felt when she climbed off that stool and I was certain everyone saw it on my face, too.

She'd played her part well with that flare of fire when I'd tried to relieve her of her bag. No one could argue there wasn't heat between us.

I knew Annette's family wouldn't be at The Galley but I also knew this would get back to them. And I wasn't done. No, we had another stop on our route before heading home.

"Jackson," Annette said slowly, glancing up at me, "can we talk now?"

I led her across the street, toward the alley behind her shop, and took her in my arms. I'd never believed the touch of another could soothe me down to my core but Annette, she was my balm.

"I missed you today," I whispered. "Yesterday, too. I don't want to miss you anymore."

She nodded, her head rubbing against my chest as she moved. "I missed you, too," she confessed. "But I have a lot of things to say and I think I should say them."

"Can you talk and pack at the same time?" I asked. "Because I meant it when I said I was taking you home now."

Annette stared at me for a moment, her wide, dark eyes blinking up at me as if I'd spoken another language and she needed time to translate. Eventually, she said, "I can't. I can't talk and pack, I have to say this now."

"Okay," I said. "Go ahead. I won't rush you."

She brought her hands to my chest, her gaze locked on the buttons running down my shirt. She bit her lip, hesitating before she spoke.

"I'm just learning how to do this. I'm—I'm going to make mistakes. I'm going to push you away because I don't know what to do with big feelings and big love but I want to get better at it. At this." She tapped her chest and then mine. "At us."

"I'm going to pull you right back," I said, scooping her up in my arms and backing her up against the building. I wanted her body pressed to mine but I also needed some help staying upright. "I'm going to want everything with you and you're going to have to tell me when to slow down. I can handle it, I swear. Just tell me what you need and promise you'll give me a chance to adjust."

"I love you," she whispered, a deep valley of awe in her words.

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