“Because you are an established introvert. You already told me that.”
He smiled, apparently unoffended by her teasing. “What else can I do?”
“I will probably save the rest inside for tomorrow.”
“What else?” he pressed.
“I have a sink full of dirty dishes but I’m not sure I’m up to washing them.”
“Fine. Sit down and I’ll do it. I don’t know you as well as I would like, Rosie, but I suspect you’re not someone who usually leaves a task undone. I think you’ll feel much better if we finish tonight so you don’t have to face it in the morning.”
What did he mean, he didn’t know her as well as he would like? Did hewantto know her better?
Either way, she could not deny he was right. She probably would have ended up washing the dishes herself and then spending all night drying and putting them away. Two handsdefinitely were better than one, and she was foolish to reject his help.
“Thank you. I appreciate that. We could at least start a load of dishes in the dishwasher, and then I can take care of the rest.”
He nodded, and together they walked into the kitchen, with Dottie following close behind. Inside, the dog immediately went to her bed, curled up and fell asleep.
Rosie loved her kitchen, which she considered the heart of her home. During the day, soft, natural light streamed through the large window above the sink, offering a glimpse of the ocean beyond. The walls, painted a soothing seafoam green, complemented the weathered white cabinets that lined the room.
The well-loved wooden table that occupied the center of the space bore the marks of countless family meals and friendly gatherings. Mismatched chairs surrounded it, each with its own character and story. Open shelves displayed an eclectic collection of beach-themed mugs and plates, interspersed with jars of sea glass and shells collected over the years.
Of course, the kitchen she had dreamed about for Stormhaven would have been spectacular. She had envisioned soaring ceilings, natural light, perhaps a skylight, and two huge islands with storage underneath.
That dream was gone. His own plans for the kitchen were still lovely but not quite as extravagant as her own had been.
By the time they organized the dishes, loading what they could in the dishwasher and clearing out the sink, she had decided they might as well do all of them.
“Do you want to wash or dry?” she asked.
“I don’t know where anything goes in your house. I’ll wash, you dry.”
She handed him a dishcloth, and Andrew went to work.
She was fiercely aware of him. He smelled delicious, male and clean and outdoorsy, and she wanted to lean her head against his shoulder, close her eyes and simply inhale.
“Thank you for pitching in,” she said instead as she dried one of her favorite serving bowls. “You’re absolutely right. I’m not very good at leaving things undone. How did you know?”
“Lucky guess,” he said, his shoulder brushing against hers.
Oh, this was incredibly seductive, standing here beside him in her quiet house, even doing a mundane task like washing dishes.
“I had a minute to talk to Emma tonight about the bookstore. She’s excited about making some changes,” he said.
“She’s really taken charge. I’m thrilled. I hope that means she and Olive will stick around longer.”
“She’s only here temporarily?”
She looked toward the stairs but heard nothing. No footsteps, no water running. She suspected Emma might have fallen asleep in Olive’s room while reading to her. It wouldn’t be the first time that had happened.
“I asked her to come back to Wood Briar to help me run the bookstore while my mom is laid up with her broken ankle. But I’m hoping Emma loves it so much, she decides to stay. It’s so lovely having my daughter and granddaughter here.”
“Where were they living before?”
“Las Vegas,” she said.
“Oh, wow. That must have been tough on you.”