“I brought you coffee,” Ally said, sliding a cup into Autumn’s hands. “I thought you might need it.”
Autumn took a sip, letting the liquid warm her from the inside out. “God, that’s good.”
“I have funnel cake, too.” Ally grinned and passed her a bag. “You deserve a treat after all you’ve done. I’ve never seen the pier looking so good. Have you seen all the people down there waiting for it to open? There are hundreds of them.”
“Thank god.” Autumn felt her lungs expand. “I was worried nobody would turn up.”
“It’s all anybody’s been talking about in the coffee shop. I can’t believe you managed to get such amazing bands to play for free. And these fairground rides are fantastic. They make me feel like I’m a kid again. I can’t wait to ride them later.” Ally glanced at Autumn from the corner of her eye. “Speaking of riding, how are things with you and Griff?”
Autumn choked on her coffee, narrowly avoiding getting it on her pale blue summer dress. “Um…”
“Oh god, I’m sorry.” Ally grabbed her cup and gave her a napkin, which Autumn used to wipe the coffee bubbles from her nose. “I was just kidding. Kinda. Though I notice he keeps looking over at you.”
Autumn’s eyes were immediately drawn to the stage, where Griff was finishing setting up the last speaker. Sure enough, his eyes caught hers, and she felt a jolt of electricity rush through her.
“Things are good,” she murmured, swallowing hard when he gave her one of those smiles. The one that promised all sorts of bad things as soon as they were alone together.
“It’s so nice to see him happy. And to see you smiling, too. I remember when you walked into my coffee shop the first time. You looked a bit dazed and confused. I wasn’t sure you’d stay for long.”
“I was dazed,” Autumn admitted. “I felt like I was out of control, and life was just dragging me where it wanted.”
“And now?”
“And now I’ve decided to let life do what it will, and enjoy the ride.” She winked at Ally, who laughed out loud.
“Well I hope you stay. It’s nice to have you around.”
“It’s nice to be here. And you’ve all been so welcoming and supportive. You have such a lovely community here.”
“Made all the better by you working hard on the pier. It’s been neglected for so long. It’s wonderful to see it coming back to its former glory.” Ally
hugged her. “I’d better go back to the kiosk, but let’s talk later. Maybe we can have a glass of champagne when it’s all over.”
“Champagne sounds good.” It really did. For the first time in forever, she felt like she had something to celebrate.
25
The first Paxton’s Pier charity day opened at one p.m. sharp, with Frank Megassey making a speech on behalf of the Angel Sands Animal Shelter, followed by Autumn welcoming everybody and telling them how excited she was to be there.
Griff hung back with his friends, but his eyes didn’t leave her face once as she spoke. “This pier isn’t just about the ironworks or the wooden slats,” she said, leaning toward the mic so everybody could hear her. “It’s about Angel Sands’ history. Our community. And more than anything, it’s about the future. I can’t wait to welcome you back here again and again, so you can explore all the wonderful things the pier has to offer. And now, without further ado, please come in and enjoy the day. And don’t forget to spend lots of money. It’s all for a wonderful cause.”
“She’s good,” Jackson said, leaning against the rail with a beer in his hand. Along with Lucas and Breck, he’d been helping Griff set up the stage and the audio system. “You’re batting way above your average there, my friend.”
“Don’t I know it,” Griff murmured.
“Yeah, we all end up there eventually,” Lucas said, flashing his friend a smile. “It keeps us on our toes, knowing we’re the lucky ones. Makes us treat them like the goddesses they are.”
“If you say so.” Jackson took another mouthful of beer. “But I’m thinking that Griff needs to watch out. She’s not just gorgeous, but she’s rich enough to buy this pier. And you only have to look around to see what a great business woman she is. Did you hear that old man Delmonico has agreed to donate a percentage of his profits to charity today? That’s unheard of.”
“I think I hear a little jealousy in there,” Breck joined in, giving Jackson a grin. “Didn’t you have your eye on her when she first arrived in town?”
“Yeah, but I backed down when Griff made it clear he was interested. Even if it took him forever to admit it.”
“So what’s the plan?” Lucas asked. “Is she going to stay in town? When she first arrived, she was talking about hiring a manager once she’d made all the changes she wanted.”
“I don’t know,” Griff admitted.
“What do you mean you don’t know?” Jackson frowned. “Have you not talked about it? You guys are serious, right? Every time I see you, you’re either with her or going to meet her. This is more than the fling you talked about.”