• • •
The designs were coming to her fast and furiously now. Only they weren’t wedding gowns. Julianne gently swayed on a porch swing in the lush back garden of the Tide Me Over Inn sketching, of all things, baby clothes. Owen slept peacefully in his stroller, Sophie sitting Indian style on a blanket on the lawn next to him, sorting beads from a plastic container.
“Gwen Stefani designs baby clothes.” Sophie said around the string she held between her teeth. “And she’s cool. Besides, I’ll bet most of your former clients are having babies, and they’d probably buy anything you design. You should really try to market those.”
Julianne couldn’t help but smile at the young girl’s exuberance. The idea of creating an entire line of baby clothes had actually begun percolating in her head over the past few days, although she hadn’t given much thought to how “cool” her new venture might be. Unlike her elaborate, sophisticated bridal gowns, the baby clothes were bright, simple, and fun. Sebastian would have a fit because they screamed mass market, but Julianne wanted other mothers to be able to afford what she was creating. Not that she’d even mentioned the idea to her business manager. She hadn’t even told Will yet.
Glancing across the garden, she spied her husband chatting with Gavin and a few other men she’d seen around Chances Inlet these past few weeks. It was Memorial Day, and Patricia McAlister was hosting her annual picnic for the inn’s guests as well as her family and friends. After nearly four days of seclusion, Will and Julianne had ventured out into town again, this time as husband and wife in every sense. True, they hadn’t done much talking, at least not about anything involving their relationship. She still had no idea where their marriage would end up, but she felt a deeper connection to Will and a greater sense of optimism that things could work out eventually.
As if he sensed her watching him, Will looked over and their eyes met. Warmth pooled in her belly as her body registered the intense hunger in his eyes. He saluted her with his beer bottle before rejoining his conversation. Blushing, Julianne returned to her sketchpad, the lion on the onesie she drew grinning mischievously back at her as if he, too, could read her thoughts.
Could she share her ideas with Will? Julianne scrunched her eyes closed. She desperately wanted someone to share her life with. To share her dreams with. Nicky had been her imaginary partner for so many years. But now she wanted the real thing. She wanted Will. The problem was, she didn’t know if he wanted her. For anything more than sex, that is.
“Finished!” Sophie held up a beautiful lapis bracelet.
“Annabeth is going to have to change the sign on her shop to read ‘Antiques and Jewelry’ if you keep this pace up, Soph.”
The girl smiled. “This one isn’t for the shop. Mrs. McAlister commissioned it.”
“Ahh, cutting out the middleman already?”
Sophie’s face fell. “Ohmigosh! I didn’t mean to cut out Annabeth! Do you think she’ll care?”
Julianne doubted her mother-in-law would even notice, much less care. Annabeth’s attention was firmly fixed on Sophie’s father. She peered beyond the carriage house, down the lane, where the two had disappeared, hand in hand, nearly half an hour before. They’d gone to walk along the beach before dinner. Hank and Sophie were leaving tomorrow, and Julianne sincerely hoped this wouldn’t be the end of Annabeth and Hank’s blossoming relationship.
“Of course not,” she reassured Sophie. “I was just teasing. Annabeth will be thrilled you’re making something for her friend.”
“Oh, good, because I don’t want Annabeth to be mad at me. I really like her.” She looked at Julianne slyly. “Do you think she likes my dad?”
A pair of figures moved in the trees behind Sophie. Annabeth and Hank were locked in a serious kiss. Julianne bit back a laugh. “I think she might, actually.”
Will and Gavin made their way across the grass toward her. Uh-oh! If they come closer, her husband would have a perfect view of his mother and Hank. Will had been staring down the Blaze GM all afternoon, his caveman persona in full force.
Julianne leaped off the swing. “Would you mind watching Owen for a few minutes, Sophie? Will and I are just going to go for a quick walk.”
A quick walk in the opposite direction if she moved fast enough.
“Hi!” She tried to make it sound casual as she met them halfway.
“Hi yourself.” One of Will’s eyebrows inched up, as if he sensed she was up to something. “We were coming over to check on the baby.”
“He’s still sleeping.”