Bayview General Store sat in the middle of the block, its wooden sign weathered but freshly painted. Emily took a breath before pushing through the door, triggering a cheerful bell.
The interior was packed with everything from fishing supplies to gourmet food items, organized in a way that suggested decades of evolution rather than any particular plan. An older woman behind the counter looked up with a welcoming smile.
“Good morning. You must be the woman staying at the lighthouse.”
She blinked, caught off guard by the immediate recognition. “I am. How did you know?”
“Small town, honey. Word travels fast when Winnie gets a new tenant.” The woman’s smile widened, and she winked.“And Winnie called to say you might be stopping by and to help you get stocked up. I’m Sally Morris, by the way. My family has run this store for years. If you need anything, you just ask.”
Word travels fast.She managed a smile. Wonderful. By tomorrow, they’d probably know her shoe size and her credit score. Maybe they could skip ahead to the part where they ran her out of town and save everyone some time.
“Thank you. I’m Emily.” She left off her last name, hoping to maintain at least a shred of anonymity.
“Welcome to Starlight Shores. The lighthouse and its cottages are a special place. You picked a good spot to land.”
She nodded, unsure how to respond to that. She grabbed a basket and started gathering supplies, acutely aware of Sally’s friendly gaze following her progress through the store. Two other customers, both older women, studied her with undisguised curiosity.
She pretended not to notice and focused intently on comparing the prices of pasta sauce. She’d known a small town would mean less privacy, but she hadn’t expected to become a topic of conversation quite so quickly.
She paid for her purchases, enduring Sally’s cheerful chatter about an upcoming festival and how Emily simply must attend. Outside, she loaded her bags into the car and stood for a moment, debating whether to head straight back to the cottage or push through her discomfort and explore a bit more.
Coffee. She needed coffee.
Winnie had mentioned Harbor Brew. The coffee shop was easy to spot a block down, its large windows offering views of the harbor. Emily left her groceries in the car and slowly walked toward it.
Just coffee. She was just getting coffee.
Harbor Brew’s interior matched the rest of the town with its nautical decor and exposed brick walls. The scent of fresh-brewed coffee and baked goods made her stomach growl. A handful of customers occupied tables near the windows, and a short line had formed at the counter.
She joined the line and studied the menu board while she tried not to notice the curious glances from other patrons. She was definitely the new person in town, marked as clearly as if she wore a sign.
“Morning, Grant.” A woman greeted the man ahead of Emily with easy familiarity. “The usual?”
“Please. And one of those cranberry scones, if you have any left.”
Her attention snapped to the man in front of her. He was tall, probably a few inches over six feet, with dark hair touched with silver at the temples. He wore shorts and a blue button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up, revealing tanned forearms. There was something solid and capable about him, and he stood with easy confidence in a space he clearly knew well.
He turned slightly as he reached for his wallet, and their eyes met.
The impact was immediate and unexpected. His eyes were a deep blue-gray, intelligent and assessing. For a moment, something flickered between them. Recognition? Attraction?
Then his expression shifted, a subtle closing off that she recognized all too well. His gaze sharpened with what looked like wariness, maybe even suspicion.He knew who she was. Somehow, he knew.
Or there was always the possibility she was imagining it…
“Here you go, Grant.” The woman—Jan, if her name tag wasn’t lying—handed him his coffee and scone.
“Thanks, Jan.” He nodded politely to Emily, a gesture of acknowledgment that felt more like dismissal, and headed for the door.
She watched him leave, her heart still racing. Whatever warmth she’d glimpsed in that first moment had vanished, replaced by the cool distance of someone who’d already decided what to think of her.
Well, at least he was efficient about it. He’d managed it in under five seconds. That had to be some kind of record.
“What can I get you?” Jan’s friendly voice pulled Emily back to the present.
“Large coffee, black, please. And… one of those cranberry scones?”
“You’re in luck. I’ve got one cranberry scone left.” Jan reached for a bag. “You visiting for a bit?”
