Heather Burch - One Lavender Ribbon

“Do you live in Naples?” he called out.

She paused, her fingers gripping the railing, and glanced back at him. “Bonita Springs.”

“Why’d you go to the Naples branch to open your savings account?”

Her grip tightened on the railing. Well, best to stop this whole flirting thing right here and now. “Why?” she repeated.

“I’m just curious.” His brows quirked, and she noticed a tiny dimple on one side of his face.

“You’ll think I’m crazy.”

His eyes widened. He probably already thought she was crazy.

Adrienne pulled in a breath and let the wind have its way, leaning into the gusts instead of fighting them. “I don’t know the area very well. I hardly know anyone who lives here except my next-door neighbor who owns a coffee shop in Bonita, and a guy who helped me move in. Oh, and a myriad of subcontractors that I call when I get myself in over my head. You know what? That’s too much info. I went to the bank in Naples to expand my world.” She threw her hands up and waited for him to suggest calling the white coats.

Will Bryant ran his tongue over his teeth and gave a quick nod. “Makes sense.”

“Okay, so nice to meet you—What did you say?”

He shrugged. “You’re new to the area. Makes perfect sense. It’s your bank. You need to take ownership. Feel at home at both branches.”

She blinked. Wow, she didn’t fully understand her logic, but he seemed to. Or maybe he was making fun of her. She watched him with suspicious eyes for a long moment.

“I guess I’ll see you at the bank sometime?”

She waited a bit before nodding, but he didn’t burst out in laughter, so Adrienne let some of the tension in her muscles drain. She took one last look at him, then turned and started toward her car. She didn’t look up, but she was pretty certain he still stood there staring at her.

Adrienne gripped the steering wheel and scolded herself. Why hadn’t she just called and saved herself from this whole thing? Then again, Will couldn’t know how pathetic she was, right? Right. There was no one to judge her. No one knew why she’d really come. That solidified just how alone she was.

Movement in an upstairs window drew her attention.

She saw a hand tilt the curtain. A shadow, a silhouette of someone watched her from the darkened room. Slowly, the fingers released, and the curtain fell into place.

Adrienne turned her attention back to the car and tapped her thumb on the steering wheel. “You’ll see me again, Will Bryant.”

Will ran up the stairs and got back on his rowing machine, his mind on the woman who’d just left. He remembered seeing her at the bank in all her tanned glory, long dark hair floating down her shoulders and back. Up close, she was even more stunning, with giant coffee-colored eyes. He blew through his workout, thinking about those eyes and wondering what made them so sad. Like she carried the weight of the world on her narrow shoulders, and the load was getting heavy.

He shouldn’t have let her leave his house so quickly. She’d pretty much thrown him the proverbial bone . I’m new in town. Don’t really know anyone. Man, he was dense when it came to women. It hadn’t even occurred to him that that might have been an invitation, until she was gone.

Will didn’t hear Pops, so he peeked out his upstairs bedroom window, knowing what he’d find. The backyard was too slick for Pops to walk down to the boat, but he had a feeling that’s exactly what Pops was doing. Before he could get the window open and call for him, he heard the boat motor come to life. Will shook his head and returned to the rowing machine. An extra-long workout couldn’t hurt. After all, it was Saturday.

Thirty minutes later he heard the boat return. He moved to the window and peeled back the shade. The bright Florida sunshine streamed in as his eyes drifted to the canal that began where his backyard ended. A perfect morning. The kind Pops couldn’t resist.

Using a hand towel, he dabbed at the sweat he’d accumulated and rubbed menthol cream into his knees. I shouldn’t have to do this yet. I’m only thirty .

Below, his grandfather tied up the boat at the pier’s edge.

Strips of liquefied gold bobbed across the beckoning cobalt water. The thirty-two-foot cuddy cabin bounced in the gentle movement as its own wake caught up to the fiberglass hull and lapped at its sides.

Will shook his head at his grandfather’s antics—the way Pops hurried toward the house, all the while glancing around like a teenager creeping in from a forbidden date. Pops fumbled to get the boat key in his pocket, but stopped halfway across the lawn. His gaze traveled the distance from the yard to the second story. The older man forced a smile to hide the guilt.

Will crossed his arms accusingly.

William Senior shrugged and headed to the back door. Although he pushed a hand against his knee, Pops’s leg remained stiff with each step. Will knew he’d grown so accustomed to the old injury, the gentle climb through grass and sand was nothing more than a Sunday stroll.

But not for Will. Every time his grandfather negotiated a climb, it reminded him of all the pain the old man had lived through. Pain that the pretty brunette who’d knocked on his door wanted to bring to the forefront of Pops’s mind.

If it were up to Will, his grandfather would only trek on safe, level concrete. But Pops was a stubborn man. Kind, but stubborn. He didn’t seem to realize that an eighty-year-old body couldn’t do everything it once had. And early morning boat trips alone topped the list.

Will showered and headed down to the kitchen.

“Morning,” Pops said as Will descended the stairs. The morning paper lay at Will’s spot.

“Morning, Pops.” Will perused the headlines while his grandfather placed a plate of scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast on the table, next to the paper.

Obviously anxious to avoid the conversation sure to ensue, Pops tapped his finger on the newsprint. “There’s a lot going on in town this weekend.” He rolled up the sleeves of his gray flannel shirt, arthritic fingers fumbling to make the folds smooth. He vanished from the doorway and reappeared with a stepladder.

“Yeah?” Will shook pepper over the eggs and took a bite. “Like what?” But he knew where this conversation was headed. He watched Pops maneuver the ladder under the kitchen light.

“Out at the Animal Sanctuary, they’re having a hike.”

Will grunted.

“You might like it. You used to hike all the time.”

That was before grandma died and I brought you here, Will thought. “Nah, I’m not really in the mood for a hike today.”

“It’s to raise money for the new shelters.” Pops produced a lightbulb from the cupboard.

“It’s hot.” Will nodded toward the wall thermometer in the kitchen window. “But we can send them a donation to help out, if you’d like.” When silence followed, he glanced up at Pops. “Or were you thinking of adopting a pet?”

Pops seemed to consider the suggestion, eyebrows riding high on his forehead. He moved back to the sink. “Would you like one?”

Will wasn’t interested in dealing with dog or cat hair or the endless responsibility of caring for an animal. But if it would make Pops happy, he’d do it. “If you do.”

Pops rubbed a hand over his chin.

Will attempted to embrace the idea. “It might be cool to have a dog to take out on the boat with us. And he could keep you company while I’m at work.”

Pops nodded. “And dig up my garden and eat our shoes.”

Will chuckled. “I think only puppies do that.”

They both exhaled and discharged the idea as quickly as they’d welcomed it.