Abby’s heart pounded as she nodded. She walked over to the book she’d looked through earlier when she’d been seeking something safe. At the time, another design had called to her, but she’d dismissed it as too much. “This one,” she said when she found it. “On my ankle.” The dark purple morning glory came with a winding vine that would curl twice around the back of her leg.

Duke came over to look at what she’d chosen. “That’ll take a couple of hours.”

“I’ve got the time if you do,” she said, feeling defiant and elated.

“Right this way, madam.”

Abby all but skipped to the chair, delighted with herself and her decision to do something unexpected. “Do you mind if I make a few calls while you’re working?”

“As long as you hold still, have at it.”

She pulled a notebook from her purse and prepared to spend the time reconnecting with the former suppliers she’d worked with at Abby’s Attic. Laura had given her carte blanche to set up the gift shop at the Sand & Surf any way she saw fit, and it was time to get to work.

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Three hours later, Abby emerged from the tattoo parlor, sore but still elated. Because of the location, this one had hurt a lot more than the other one, but she had no regrets. It was gorgeous! Purple was her favorite color, and the flower had come out magnificently.

She checked the messages on her phone—again. She’d expected to hear from Adam by now, but he hadn’t called or texted. The sun had set during her hours in the chair, and the first stars twinkled in the night sky. Without much thought to her destination, she walked in the opposite direction of the hotel, drawn to the beach where placid water rolled gently onto the sand.

Abby kicked off her shoes and waded into the water, gasping at the first contact of cool water on inflamed skin. Her mother had always extolled the healing properties of salt water, so Abby kept her lower leg in the water. A half-moon sat just above the horizon, where the hulking outline of a ship was visible in the waning daylight.

The beach was completely deserted. Anywhere else, Abby might feel anxious about being there alone. But this was Gansett Island, and she’d never felt anything but safe here. That sense of safety sparked a reckless desire for yet another new experience. She waited until twilight faded and darkness set in before she walked up to the cooling sand and tucked her phone into her purse and set it on her sandals.

Before she could lose her nerve, she quickly added her denim jacket, T-shirt and jeans to the growing pile. Down to her new underwear, she hesitated. That was close enough, right?