A Masterpiece Of Our Love (The Masterpiece Trilogy Book 1) Read Online Free Page B
Author: Nikki Lynn Barrett
doctors she'd seen dubbed her a lost cause. They'd claimed she wouldn't be normal again. Apparently, her grandparents took that to heart instead of seeking other opinions. Becca had other plans. She refused to give up. It took them years to leave her be when she finally pushed herself to walk again. The first time he convinced her to come visit the island with him, she was nearly eighteen. That year surprised him. Becca had been declared emancipated and she finally began opening herself up. She was like a flower that wouldn't fully bloom. Even now, Becca hid within the walls they had confined her in. With her revelation of this older man they wanted her to marry, Hunter knew things hadn't changed.
"You're the only one that says such things," she said softly, lowering her eyelids slightly. Moisture glistened on them when she met his stare once again.
Hunter reached for her, touching her shoulder lightly. "Well then everyone else is crazy! You have so much to offer. Why no one else sees that is beyond me." If I could find a way to show you, show the world... "Do you want breakfast?"
"That sounds like a great idea. Let me just gather everything together and take it back up to my room." She gestured at her makeshift work station.
"Did you bring all this down in one trip?" Hunter was careful not to sound alarmed. She already had enough people worrying over her. He didn't want to sound overbearing like her grandparents.
Locks of black curls swayed as she shook her head. "Took me two trips. I brought the chair out first. I knew no one would be out here, let alone mess with my things." She turned to take her canvas off the easel, then folded it down.
"What can I take for you?"
"You're welcome to carry the chair." Becca shot him one of her sweet grins.
Hunter took the chair and led the way back to Range's.
*****
An hour later, they both had eaten to their heart's content and left the outdoor cafe behind Range's. A gentle breeze swayed the trees. What a perfect summer day on the island. White puffy clouds lined the horizon over the water. The boardwalk was abuzz with tourists stopping at the tiny shops. Couples young and old walked hand in hand, laughing and enjoying the day.
Mount Desert Island and all the neighboring islands had grown recently. At least this place still carried the quiet, scenic environment Hunter craved throughout the year. This one was one of the closest to the tiny, deserted island where he and Becca had survived the five day ordeal after the crash. No one else understood why he continued to come back here. He didn't have the best explanation himself, but there had always been a pull. Memories consumed him each and every time. That accident changed his life. How could it not? They'd been the only survivors. And so young. He'd just turned twelve, and with Becca four years his junior, she'd been just a child. One that had to grow up very quickly after losing her entire immediate family and having to live with grandparents that she barely knew.
"I can never get enough of the view," Becca said from beside him. Hunter took her hand in his and grinned.
"I know. I've considered buying a summer house around here."
"Really?"
Hunter nodded. "Oh yeah. I haven't fully decided, but the thought has been rolling in my mind for a while." Maybe once he had custody of Sienna, he would. This would be the perfect place to spend summers. He'd be away from the chaotic big city life and from prying eyes. He'd built a good life, but sometimes he needed that space away from everything.
"Are you all right?" Becca squeezed his hand.
He must have spaced out. "Of course. Why do you ask?"
"You have this look." She made a deep scowl.
Hunter laughed. "That's not what I look like, is it? That was a pretty scary looking face."
She giggled. "Yes, seriously! Why do you think I asked! It was sudden, like you had a thought that really bothered you." The smile faded.
Oh, he had many thoughts that bothered him. He didn't want to drag
"You're the only one that says such things," she said softly, lowering her eyelids slightly. Moisture glistened on them when she met his stare once again.
Hunter reached for her, touching her shoulder lightly. "Well then everyone else is crazy! You have so much to offer. Why no one else sees that is beyond me." If I could find a way to show you, show the world... "Do you want breakfast?"
"That sounds like a great idea. Let me just gather everything together and take it back up to my room." She gestured at her makeshift work station.
"Did you bring all this down in one trip?" Hunter was careful not to sound alarmed. She already had enough people worrying over her. He didn't want to sound overbearing like her grandparents.
Locks of black curls swayed as she shook her head. "Took me two trips. I brought the chair out first. I knew no one would be out here, let alone mess with my things." She turned to take her canvas off the easel, then folded it down.
"What can I take for you?"
"You're welcome to carry the chair." Becca shot him one of her sweet grins.
Hunter took the chair and led the way back to Range's.
*****
An hour later, they both had eaten to their heart's content and left the outdoor cafe behind Range's. A gentle breeze swayed the trees. What a perfect summer day on the island. White puffy clouds lined the horizon over the water. The boardwalk was abuzz with tourists stopping at the tiny shops. Couples young and old walked hand in hand, laughing and enjoying the day.
Mount Desert Island and all the neighboring islands had grown recently. At least this place still carried the quiet, scenic environment Hunter craved throughout the year. This one was one of the closest to the tiny, deserted island where he and Becca had survived the five day ordeal after the crash. No one else understood why he continued to come back here. He didn't have the best explanation himself, but there had always been a pull. Memories consumed him each and every time. That accident changed his life. How could it not? They'd been the only survivors. And so young. He'd just turned twelve, and with Becca four years his junior, she'd been just a child. One that had to grow up very quickly after losing her entire immediate family and having to live with grandparents that she barely knew.
"I can never get enough of the view," Becca said from beside him. Hunter took her hand in his and grinned.
"I know. I've considered buying a summer house around here."
"Really?"
Hunter nodded. "Oh yeah. I haven't fully decided, but the thought has been rolling in my mind for a while." Maybe once he had custody of Sienna, he would. This would be the perfect place to spend summers. He'd be away from the chaotic big city life and from prying eyes. He'd built a good life, but sometimes he needed that space away from everything.
"Are you all right?" Becca squeezed his hand.
He must have spaced out. "Of course. Why do you ask?"
"You have this look." She made a deep scowl.
Hunter laughed. "That's not what I look like, is it? That was a pretty scary looking face."
She giggled. "Yes, seriously! Why do you think I asked! It was sudden, like you had a thought that really bothered you." The smile faded.
Oh, he had many thoughts that bothered him. He didn't want to drag
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