Once in a Lifetime(91)

“I think there are three apartments in total,” she said inanely, not sure what he disapproved of exactly—the idea of her living so close, or that she was rambling. The rambling, she couldn’t help. It was another nervous tic, like the humming.



Without another word, Sexy Grumpy Surfer walked back inside, proving her point about the personality. Heading directly for the electrical outlet, he plugged his planer back in.

“Nice talking to you,” she said, unable to resist.

He glanced back at her, and though his green-grey eyes narrowed, there was a very slightly amused quirk of his lips that told her he was indeed in on the joke.

So at least he knew that he was an abrupt ass.

“I take it you haven’t seen it yet,” he said.

“The loft?” she asked. “No. Why? Is it that bad?”

“Depends on how long you’re staying. More than five minutes?”

She laughed. “I don’t actually know. Lucky Harbor is filler for me at the moment.”

He stared at her, then something changed in his face. His expression softened, turning his features from hard and ungiving to—wow—open and almost friendly-but-not-quite friendly.

It was nearly enough to distract her from what he’d implied about the building she’d rented in.

He’d flicked the planer on again, and the music, too, bending over the hull of the boat and going back to work.

So much for the wow factor. But hey, she’d certainly been invisible before. In fact she was real good at invisible. And if that thought caused a little pang of loneliness inside her still-hurting heart, she shoved it deep and ignored it, because she knew better.

Leaving the warehouse, she turned right.

To her new place.

To a new beginning.