Read Online Tidal Patterns (Golden Shores Book 1) by Rachelle Paige - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Rachelle Paige
Ads: Link
she loved and a dear friend who had become her family.
“Don’t give up honey, we’ll figure it out. Come home. Maybe we can at least go out for drown-your-troubles ice cream.”
“That sounds like the best idea I’ve heard in a long time. I’ll see you soon.”
“You are confident, you are creative, and you are capable,” she whispered, reminding herself as she stretched out onto her back.
The first time she’d seen the office, she’d been thrown off by the couch against the wall. But her predecessor had assured her it would come in handy, and it had. Between her own late nights spent at the office and the cozy, relaxing atmosphere she provided for her brides, the couch turned the office into a comfortable shelter.
Her nose tickled and her eyes welled up. She couldn’t cry; she’d used up every last tear she had six months before at her parents’ funeral. She refused to feel sorry for herself. When she’d endured that day, it had come with the understanding that no matter what else happened or whatever came next there could never be a terrible day in her life again. No, she needed to be resourceful and start thinking about what her next steps were.
Maybe she’d been knocked down, but she hadn’t been knocked out. She’d figure out something, she had no other choice.
* * * * *
Mark got up from his desk chair and crossed his office to look out his window. Staring at a computer screen all morning, analyzing the legalese and trying to decipher all of its meanings and interpretations, made him want to rip his hair out. He’d never gone to law school; that had been Phil’s thing. After spending most of the past few years looking over contracts, however, he could litigate with the best of them.
Eager to give his eyes a break from the tiny print, he watched a heron take flight and soar through the sky. And then she barreled towards her cottage at top speed. Had an emergency arisen? Why was she here on her day off?
Grabbing the stress ball out of the top drawer of his desk, he squeezed it hard and returned to stare out the window. How did I remember that? And why? Griping the ball until it had completely compressed didn’t ease the tension or shake the sense of foreboding at her sudden appearance.
Glancing at the clock on the wall next to the door, he was surprised that it was nearly time for lunch. He needed a break from his endeavors anyways. Maybe he’d go over and ask her to join him for a sandwich.
Walking out of his office without even bothering to turn off his monitor or lock the door behind him, he smirked to himself as he followed her path. The overcast sky overhead illuminated all of the green surrounding him; it made him feel like he was in an old movie that had been retouched to be shown in full color. He whistled as he approached the tabby path leading up to the cottage’s door. Asking her to lunch felt right. He’d given himself enough of a pep talk the night before that it would be okay to take a chance. I think she’ll say yes. And even if she doesn’t, it’s just lunch. It’s not a big deal .
He knocked.
“Yeah?” came the response, directly on the other side.
“Lizzie? It’s Mark. Can I come in?”
He heard shuffling and the door opened.
“Hi Mark, come on in.”
The friendliness of her greeting didn’t reach her eyes, he noticed. For once, the brown didn’t sparkle and her eyes looked weary and faded. He puzzled over that as he followed her over to her desk. She parked herself behind the desk but with no chair for him, he clasped his hands behind his back and stood before her. He shifted his weight.
From his position, he towered over her. Not that she seemed to notice.
“Be with you in a minute. I just need to finish this email.” Her fingers flew across the keyboard in angry, short pecks. Whatever she was typing, she was intent. He watched her for several seconds until, perhaps feeling his gaze, she turned back to look at him.
“How can I help you?” she
“Don’t give up honey, we’ll figure it out. Come home. Maybe we can at least go out for drown-your-troubles ice cream.”
“That sounds like the best idea I’ve heard in a long time. I’ll see you soon.”
“You are confident, you are creative, and you are capable,” she whispered, reminding herself as she stretched out onto her back.
The first time she’d seen the office, she’d been thrown off by the couch against the wall. But her predecessor had assured her it would come in handy, and it had. Between her own late nights spent at the office and the cozy, relaxing atmosphere she provided for her brides, the couch turned the office into a comfortable shelter.
Her nose tickled and her eyes welled up. She couldn’t cry; she’d used up every last tear she had six months before at her parents’ funeral. She refused to feel sorry for herself. When she’d endured that day, it had come with the understanding that no matter what else happened or whatever came next there could never be a terrible day in her life again. No, she needed to be resourceful and start thinking about what her next steps were.
Maybe she’d been knocked down, but she hadn’t been knocked out. She’d figure out something, she had no other choice.
* * * * *
Mark got up from his desk chair and crossed his office to look out his window. Staring at a computer screen all morning, analyzing the legalese and trying to decipher all of its meanings and interpretations, made him want to rip his hair out. He’d never gone to law school; that had been Phil’s thing. After spending most of the past few years looking over contracts, however, he could litigate with the best of them.
Eager to give his eyes a break from the tiny print, he watched a heron take flight and soar through the sky. And then she barreled towards her cottage at top speed. Had an emergency arisen? Why was she here on her day off?
Grabbing the stress ball out of the top drawer of his desk, he squeezed it hard and returned to stare out the window. How did I remember that? And why? Griping the ball until it had completely compressed didn’t ease the tension or shake the sense of foreboding at her sudden appearance.
Glancing at the clock on the wall next to the door, he was surprised that it was nearly time for lunch. He needed a break from his endeavors anyways. Maybe he’d go over and ask her to join him for a sandwich.
Walking out of his office without even bothering to turn off his monitor or lock the door behind him, he smirked to himself as he followed her path. The overcast sky overhead illuminated all of the green surrounding him; it made him feel like he was in an old movie that had been retouched to be shown in full color. He whistled as he approached the tabby path leading up to the cottage’s door. Asking her to lunch felt right. He’d given himself enough of a pep talk the night before that it would be okay to take a chance. I think she’ll say yes. And even if she doesn’t, it’s just lunch. It’s not a big deal .
He knocked.
“Yeah?” came the response, directly on the other side.
“Lizzie? It’s Mark. Can I come in?”
He heard shuffling and the door opened.
“Hi Mark, come on in.”
The friendliness of her greeting didn’t reach her eyes, he noticed. For once, the brown didn’t sparkle and her eyes looked weary and faded. He puzzled over that as he followed her over to her desk. She parked herself behind the desk but with no chair for him, he clasped his hands behind his back and stood before her. He shifted his weight.
From his position, he towered over her. Not that she seemed to notice.
“Be with you in a minute. I just need to finish this email.” Her fingers flew across the keyboard in angry, short pecks. Whatever she was typing, she was intent. He watched her for several seconds until, perhaps feeling his gaze, she turned back to look at him.
“How can I help you?” she
Similar Books
