Page 59

"Hungry?"

"Yeah. But you don't have to⁠—"

"I already did," he says, getting to his feet and heading to the kitchen.

I nestle upright into the corner of the couch and take a long look around his house, liking the simple lines and decor. The navy couch is comfortable and flanked by two blue-and-white recliners. A round coffee table anchors the seating section, all atop a massive rug over pretty wood-plank floors.

A dining table and chairs are to the right of the kitchen, and the kitchen itself is a mix of navy cabinets, gorgeous white-, gray- and beige-toned stone countertop and stainless-steel appliances. The wall decor consists of a long, narrow framed-and-painted sunset of the Carolina Cove pier, a few smaller paintings of seascapes or pelicans or other islandy things and a TV across from the couch. Overall, the look is very clean and crisp and obviously easy to maintain due to the lack of clutter.

"What's wrong?" Sully asks.

"Nothing. Your home is beautiful."

He flashes a grin and cants his head slightly to one side as he studies me.

I fight the urge to squirm. Having Sully eye me so brazenly leaves me feeling all tingly.

"You thought it'd be a bachelor pad? Dirty clothes, dishes and the like?"

I wave a hand at the paintings. I recognize the name at the bottom right corner of them. "I guess I wasn't expecting the…elegance of it."

"Ah. I bought all of those before her name grew in popularity. I just liked them and the thought of helping a local artist."

"And she's gorgeous," I murmur, referring to Isabel Shipley. I've heard whispers of how she wound up married to billionaire Everett Drake, but I don’t know if they’re true. We don’t run in the same circles, though we often find ourselves at the same places, like the opening of Once Upon a Tide Bookstore and Itty-Bitty Bakery.

He grins again. "She is, but truthfully I just liked the paintings. When I was remodeling the house, I'd go to the farmer's market at the lake during the summer to get fresh produce and eggs. She'd be set up there. To have beach art in a beach house made sense, so I bought some of my favorites. Glad I did now because I'm sure her prices have gone up with her name recognition."

He sets a plate that looks like something out of a photo in front of me. My heart tugs because— "You did that for me?"

"I thought maybe if I tried to make it pretty, you'd eat more. You haven't had much since you've been in the hospital."

"It's sweet, Sully. Thank you." I try not to get hung up on the fact this man is going so far out of his way to make me feel at home and comfortable, fed, when my life is a mess. Things between us—whatever's between us because there is something—are fresh and new and terrifying.

One day at a time. Isn't that the saying? Or for now—one moment at a time. That's all anyone can do, right? "Did you like Isabel? Ever go out with her?"

Sully sits atop the coffee table and stares at me, a slow smile lighting up his face.

"I like you jealous."

"Not jealous, just curious," I counter. "I mean, Hollywood does have a reputation."

He frowns at the nickname and shakes his head.

"People like to gossip. Doesn't mean everything you hear is true."

"Yeah, well, you know my history now," I say, grumbling a bit. "What about yours?" I plop a grape into my mouth and chew.

Sully's expression softens. "You want to know anything about me, baby, just ask. I've had a few serious long-term girlfriends. No one that meant more to me, but it took time to figure that out. Never engaged or anything, though they dropped some hints. And there have been a few casual dates in between."

"What's a few?" Stop it, Vi! It's none of your business.

"I'm not a saint. But if you want the truth? There hasn't been anyone else since I met you."

I suck in a breath and blink, my body going tight. The pain caused by my tensing sharpens my senses, though. No one since meeting me?

A low exhale huffs out of him at my shock.

"Why do you think the guys give me such a hard time, sweetheart? I've never been some sappy romantic who believes in love at first sight, but what I feel for you is more than lust."