Free A Home by the Sea by Christina Skye Page A

might actually be making some progress.”
    Grace couldn’t help smiling as Noah reached behind her and turned up her collar. Snow drifted down and swirled around them and somehow the normal, average night felt a little magical.
    â€œCould be,” she whispered.

CHAPTER SEVEN
    W ITHOUT A WORD Noah took her hand and tugged her down the street. He stopped at a window filled with cupcakes, pastry, ice cream and brightly colored gelato. Grace was mortified when her stomach growled loudly. “Here? For dessert? But I haven’t eaten dinner yet.”
    â€œTonight, why not live dangerously? Have dessert first. I take you for a pistachio with chocolate sprinkles kind of girl.” One eyebrow rose. “Am I right?”
    It ruffled Grace’s feathers that he had pegged her perfectly. “Why?”
    â€œPistachios because they are rich but subtle and have an unusual color. Chocolate—well, because you’re alive and it’s there.”
    She couldn’t let him be smug. “Maybe. But not tonight. I’ll try cappuccino fudge raisin. Or maybe a lemon gelato.”
    â€œSounds tempting.” Noah frowned as she shivered. “Is it too cold out here?”
    â€œNo. I love this. I’ve missed snow. Come to think of it, I really miss the water, too.” She felt a little tug at her heart, remembering foggy dawns gatheringdriftwood with her grandmother and sunset campfires roasting marshmallows on the beach. Growing up in Oregon, there were things she had hated about Summer Island. But now, as an adult, Grace saw just how special her childhood had been, perched on a quiet island beside the ocean. Not that it was perfect. Not given the mother who usually had no clue that Grace existed, drifting from bar to bar in an alcoholic haze.
    But Grace had found a home on Summer Island and an extended family of close-knit friends there. Grace wouldn’t trade that childhood for any other. Suddenly, she missed it all, missed it so fiercely that longing backed up in her throat until she couldn’t breathe.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?”
    â€œI was just thinking about the town in Oregon where I grew up. It’s nothing like Washington. It’s very small and everybody knows everyone else’s business. But the sun burns over the water every afternoon and at dawn the fog creeps in with a gray hush off the ocean…?.” She shook her head, sighing. “I just realized how much I miss it.”
    â€œHow long since you’ve been back to visit?”
    Frowning, Grace replayed her hectic schedule of the past twelve months. “Over a year. I didn’t even realize it.” She ran a hand through her hair. “I’ve seen my grandfather during that time, of course. We try to meet up every six months, sometimes in Portland or maybe Seattle or San Francisco. He adoresSan Francisco. And it’s important for him to get away from his work. He never wants to take time off, but running an animal shelter—doing it with very little money and a mostly volunteer staff—can be draining. Someone has to keep an eye on him. I need to go home before long and do just that.”
    She made a promise to herself. After she finished in Chicago, she had workshops scheduled in Portland. Then she would drive to Summer Island before leaving for Paris.
    She shivered, feeling a sense of premonition. Life had taught her it was a bad idea to take anything for granted.
    â€œYou’re freezing.” Noah pulled her scarf up higher at her neck.
    Grace felt the warmth of his hands wrap around her, as real and substantial as he was. “A little.”
    â€œLet’s go get that ice cream.”
    â€œNot yet.” She turned, studying the lines of his face. “I have a confession to make. I wasn’t entirely honest earlier. Since that night at your house, I’ve been thinking about my future. About a serious relationship. But…I don’t want to mess up again,