Grace - Reflections of Love Book 6: Reflections of Love, #6

By Taya Rune

It was only ever supposed to be a place to escape for a while…until he turned up.

 

Life has been difficult of late and Grace has had enough. For the sake of her mental health, she decides to take time away from her life by returning to her favorite childhood destination.

 

The solitude of Grace's personal retreat is shattered when Cameron, a landscaper hired by her aunt, turns up and she has no choice but to grudgingly adjust to his intrusion in her world.

 

Grace has no intention of starting a holiday romance, but sometimes fate has other ideas.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Taya Rune
• Release date: Jul 14, 2022
• ISBN: 9781922604231

Book preview

image-placeholder

Chapter 1

Thank you, again, for the lift, Ben. Grace opened the truck’s door and grasped the handle of her hard-cased camera bag that sat on her lap, and then climbed out of the truck before turning to grab the few shopping bags that had been nestled under her legs. She dumped them all on the back step of the beach shack and came to take the biggest suitcase she owned—the one that the car mechanic was lugging up the gravel driveway. Here, let me. Grace held out her hand to take the handle, but he just snorted and continued toward the door.

I got it, he said. The burly mechanic, who she guessed was in his late twenties, leaned the suitcase against the worn weatherboard wall and wiped his brow. He dug around in his back pocket and pulled out a slightly dogeared business card. Here. Give me a call tomorrow around lunchtime. By then, I should have some idea what’s wrong with the old thing and how long it will take to repair.

Grace took the proffered card and watched as Ben got back in the tow truck and drove away with her old, well-loved VW beetle attached to the back. She had purchased it on a whim years prior, when her ex had promised that he would be able to restore it. He had been true to his word, and the plain tan color had been replaced with a soft mint green and he had made it a convertible. The boyfriend and the car had eventually moved past their use-by dates, but she had chosen to keep the car. Now it looked like Bessie the Beetle was on her last leg. Thankfully, Bessie had been gracious enough to stop working in a grocery store car park, and not in the middle of the road where she would block traffic.

Breaking down in a small community had been a blessing, as people very quickly offered the name of the local mechanic’s garage, who had their own tow truck. Ben had arrived, introduced himself, hooked up Bessie, offered her a lift after finding out where she was staying on the Island, and loaded her groceries and suitcase into the truck. It was handled with minimum fuss and Grace was grateful as she didn’t like to be noticed.

Grace absently pulled the scrunchie from her waist length, light brown hair and redid the messy bun she always wore, while she scanned the huge array of pot plants near the peeling blue front door. Many were wilting in the heat, and she vowed to give them water once she had her groceries away. Grace spotted the pot with the butterfly painted on the side and lifted it to discover the key underneath. She shook her head at the idea of leaving a key under a plant near her door at the inner-city apartment she lived in. After a little coaxing, the key turned in the lock and the door swung open. A musty smell greeted her, and Grace wondered how long it had been since the place had been used.

Picking up the camera case and few bags of food, Grace made her way to the kitchen and dumped them on the bench before going back, and with no one around to judge, grunted as she dragged her heavy suitcase up the few steps and inside. Leaving the suitcase in the center of the living area, Grace went back and closed the door before proceeding to open all the curtains and windows that had fly screens still intact. She pulled the heavy backed curtain aside to reveal what was usually a gorgeous view of the ocean, but now an overgrown hedge obscured much of the vista. Six large glass panels folded to one side and the tangy sea salt breeze filled the room, dispensing the musty smell. Grace took in several large gulps of the ocean air, hoping to recapture the carefree feelings of her youth, but it didn’t help. The heaviness still filled her chest.

The mobile vibrated in her back pocket and she fished it out, noting it was her uncle calling. Hey, Uncs, she answered.

Hello, did you make it okay? I was a bit worried about you as I hadn’t got your ‘I’m here’ text.

Sorry, just walked in. Poor Bessie died in the supermarket car park, which obviously put me behind schedule.

Oh, dear. Do you need me to do anything?

Thanks, but no. I have it covered. The Island mechanic, Ben, has taken her to his garage and was nice enough to give me a lift. Just hope he can get the old girl going again.

Talking about old things, how’s the shack? Still standing?" he joked.

Grace looked around the place and smiled; everything was dated and covered in a layer of dust. Spiders had taken up residence in several corners, but the place still held its beachside charm. The shack is just what I needed. I am so grateful you let me escape here.

I am glad someone is using it. Josie says it is too small for them.

Grace didn’t miss the slight disappointment in her uncle’s voice as he spoke about his own daughter. Josie had three children, each more spoiled than the next, and Grace was certain the three bedroom, one bathroom, and one main living area was far below her typical holiday standards. And heaven forbid that two of the children would have to share a room. I have always loved it here. I promise I won’t stay more than a year. It was her turn to joke.

Stay as long as you like, Gracie. His tone was serious.

They spoke for a few more minutes before she hung up.

Grace looked around and took stock. Aside from putting her food away and watering the sad pot plants out the front, everything else could wait. It didn’t take her long to unpack her supplies, and she was both surprised and grateful to find the fridge running and cold when she opened the door.

She found a large, rusted watering can by the back door and filled it, giving all the sad plants in the front a thorough watering. The backyard held no plants to water, just overgrown hedges and weed-filled yellowing grass. The sun still shone as early evening approached, but she knew better than to stay outside without mosquito repellent on. Digging out the roll on repellent and smothering herself in it made her feel more like she was away from her life than anything else had so far. Removing her runners and sliding on her flip flops and adding a quick dab of the repellent on her bare feet, she was ready to start her forced vacation.

Ignoring her negative thoughts, Grace poured herself a large glass of white wine and headed out the open expanse of doorway, into the overgrown yard and passed rusted, peeling patio furniture to the tall archway that was completely overgrown and barely recognizable. The sounds of the ocean greeted her as she stepped through the arch, as if it had somehow been keeping out the sound. Seagulls called their greeting,