Beginning Again: Book 1 in the Second Chances series (Crimson Romance) by Peggy Bird

“Sorry. Got some other stuff on my mind.”
    “Is there anything I can help with?”
    His expression turned sad. “No, no. It’s fine. Just a business deal.” He held her close. “But you don’t deserve a distant lover. I’ll work on being better.” He took her hand and they returned to pick up the blankets and picnic basket.
    It wasn’t exactly the free and open communication she’d hoped for, but at least he was back with her. For the moment.
    As they slid down the dune towards the heavily wooded campgrounds, Liz asked, “Are we staying overnight in the tent?” She hoped the answer would be no, but was willing to be a good sport if that’s what he wanted to do.
    He smiled. “What would you do if I said yes, sweetheart?”
    “I’d be gracious and acquiescent. And probably not like it very much.”
    “That’s what I thought. You didn’t strike me as the camping type. The tent was just so we could get a site and maybe a temporary place for us if the beach didn’t work out. I made another reservation down the road at a motel with spa suites and a good restaurant close by.”
    “Are you planning on checking off all five of those things in two days?”
    “I’d only planned two. But maybe we can get to four if I can find a nice forest on the way back tomorrow.”
    “When did you say you were going back to the Wallowas?” She shook her head. “if I have any chance of surviving to get my gallery open, it better be soon.”
    After checking “hot tub” off Liz’s five places they went to dinner at the four-star restaurant across the street from their motel, where they had another long evening of engaging conversation. Aside from finding him an adventurous — to understate the obvious — bed, bath, and beyond partner, she was learning to appreciate other aspects of Collins. He was, of course, interested in her work and loved discussing art. But he also had an interest in almost everything else — movies, theater, sports, politics, international issues.
    He talked warmly of his family and was interested in hearing about hers. The only blank space in his conversation was his life as an attorney in L.A. He wouldn’t talk about it. He dismissed it as over and done with, not worth mentioning. She couldn’t help wondering if it was connected with his distracting business but she was afraid to ask, afraid to take the chance she’d drive him away with her curiosity.
    She couldn’t remember when she’d met someone she enjoyed being with as much as she enjoyed him. His sense of humor meshed with hers. They had similar tastes in restaurants, wine, and food. He was interested in everyone from the sommelier in the white-tablecloth restaurant to the ranger at the state park. He loved her music, thought she had a great eye for design and paintings (although he told her, with a smirk, she needed to brush up on the three-dimensional arts), and shared her love of spy movies and thrillers.
    He was, in short, so damned perfect she was afraid if she wasn’t careful she could fall for him. She didn’t know which was worse, the idea that she might begin to love him or that she could lose him.
    The morning after their beach adventure they slept in. Then they grabbed coffee and scones at a nearby bakery before taking the long way home, back up the coast to Astoria before heading east to Portland.
    Jamie was still at the gallery when they arrived. After Liz inspected the new inventory and billing systems he’d finished, as well as the updated Facebook page and their new Twitter account, Jamie showed Collins his proposed template for the sculptor’s website. They got into such a detailed discussion that Liz left them to it and went upstairs. A half-hour later she heard the gallery door close and Collins’s footsteps on her stairs.
    • • •
    Before he left the next morning, Collins promised to send images of the work he’d be bringing her and to call her as soon as he got home. Although she held him for a long