Page 18 of Widow’s Walk

As her sister’s little family walked off through the pines to the shore path leading to their home, Amy got the sinking feeling that even with her friends’ and family’s support, she’d just stepped onto a very precarious path. One that could either save the mansion and her dream or destroy everything, just as she’d done before.

The night air was cool and crisp. The earlier warmth of the day lingered only in the scent of salt and grass. Amy shuffled along the gravel path in her flip-flops, Ollie trotting ahead, his tail wagging as he sniffed at every tuft of grass. She hadn’t bothered to put on a robe for this impromptu walk before bed. She figured she wouldn’t run into anyone at this hour. Her cotton pajama pants swished softly with each step, topped with a soft t-shirt that had shrunk but was still a favorite. It was the kind of outfit that whispered of comfort and solitude.

The walk was meant to clear her head after the barbecue. The evening had been pleasant enough, but Sully’s revelation on her behalf had left her simmering. Sure, she’d planned on asking her family for advice on the ghost hunter situation, but she’d been carefully trying to gauge their reactions before telling them in her own time. But Sully had blown it wide open, laying it bare in front of everyone.

She turned the corner near the old carriage barn, pausing when she noticed a light spilling through the window. Sully’s truck was still parked outside, its dark silhouette unmistakable in the moonlight. Amy frowned. It was late—why was he still here?

Ollie barked once, startling her before he darted toward the barn. “Ollie, wait!” she hissed, jogging after him. She reached the open door of the barn just as Sully emerged from behind a stack of lumber, a hammer in his hand and a tired look on his face.

“What are you doing here?” Amy demanded, her voice sharper than she intended. “It’s almost midnight.”

Sully raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by her tone. “Working,” he said simply. He set the hammer down on a nearby workbench. “Some of us don’t have the luxury of calling it a night.”

Amy crossed her arms, her frustration bubbling over. “Thanks for airing out my dirty laundry for me. They’re my family, Sully. Telling them about Dead Reckoning wasn’t your call to make.” Her tone was stinging, but that helpless, exposed feeling of her old inadequacies flared hot.

Sully turned to her fully, leaning against the workbench with his arms crossed. “You mean the part where your sister suggested I cough up my DNA to a sketchy website who’ll sell my identity to the highest bidder? What was that, Amy? Some kind of setup?”

Amy’s mouth fell open, indignation flaring in her chest. Sully could irritate her so easily, more than anyone she’d ever met. He always braced himself like he was defending himself in a courtroom for every little flaw. “It wasn’t a setup! I didn’t even know Kaitlin was going to say all that. She was just making a connection.”

“Right,” Sully said, his voice dripping with skepticism. “Because nothing says casual conversation like DNA testing against a bunch of old bones.”

At first it sounded as though he meant it as a joke, maybe, but the tightness around his eyes gave him away. The man could swing a hammer through a brick wall, but questions about heritage and bloodlines made him flinch? What was going on with this man?

“It’s not like that!” Amy insisted, her hands flying up in frustration. “And you know it. I was trying to ease into the idea, not drop it in their laps like a sloppy joe. They’re part of the foundation backing this renovation. I wanted to discuss it with them professionally.”

Sully’s jaw tightened, and he pushed off the workbench, closing the space between them slightly. “You could’ve talked to me first,” he said, his voice low but intense. “Instead, I’m just some pawn in your little plan.”

He was actually hurt about being blindsided? She blinked.

Unable to stop herself, she stepped forward, and her anger matched his. “You didn’t exactly give me a chance, did you? You couldn’t wait to throw the ghost hunters in my face. Like you wanted to embarrass me!”

“Oh, come on,” Sully shot back, his voice rising. “You’re the one who’s inviting a circus into this place, Amy. Do you even care what that’s going to do to my crew? To my business? Are you even sure you can do this whole project?”

“That’s not fair!” Amy shouted, her hands flying out in exasperation.

The edge of her hand caught on a jagged piece of wood sticking out from the workbench, and she yelped as a sharp pain shot through her palm. “Ow, damn it!”

Sully’s frustration immediately gave way to concern. “What happened?”

Amy held up her hand, wincing as she saw a huge splinter lodged deep in her palm. A thin line of blood welled around it. “Great,” she muttered, her voice trembled slightly. “Just perfect.”

“Let me see,” Sully said softly. He stepped closer, and reached for her hand.

“I can handle it. Kelsey’s a nurse practitioner,” Amy said stubbornly. She tried to pull back, but Sully’s grip was firm.

“Stop being difficult.” He guided her to a nearby stool. “You’re bleeding, and you don’t need to wake Kelsey for this.”

Amy sat reluctantly, her heart pounded as Sully knelt in front of her. His calloused fingers gently turned her hand over. He grabbed a first-aid kit from a toolbox and extracted the tweezers. His movements were steady and gentle despite the tension that burned between them a mere thirty seconds prior.

“This might sting,” he murmured, glancing up at her briefly. Their eyes met, and Amy felt her breath catch. There was no anger in his gaze now, only quiet focus.

She bit her lip as Sully gently worked the splinter free. When it was out, he produced gauze and wrapped it around her hand, his fingers pressed down lightly to stop the bleeding. “There,” he said quietly. “All done.”

Amy watched as he tied the makeshift bandage. His hands were rough and strong, but the care he took with her made her chest ache. Then, to her surprise, he bent his head and brushed his lips lightly over the bandage, as if sealing the wound with a kiss. “There, all better.”

The gesture was so unexpected, so tender, that Amy couldn’t move. Her pulse raced as Sully looked up at her. His face was closer than it had ever been. For a moment, neither of them spoke. The air between them felt thick and electric, and before she could think better of it, Amy leaned forward.

Their lips met in a kiss that was soft, tentative.