This man, who had secured her house without being asked. Who had called a lawyer for her at nearly eleven at night. Who was planning to protect her tomorrow. Who sat on her daughter’s bedroom floor letting girls paint his nails in sparkly colors because it made them happy.
This man. She was falling for him. Had maybe already fallen.
Christopher looked up and caught her watching from the doorway. Their eyes met across the small room, and something passed between them. Recognition of what was building. Understanding that neither of them had expected this. Promise of something neither was quite ready to name.
He smiled. It was a small, soft smile meant just for her, and Isabella felt her heart do that lurching thing again.
And she knew with absolute certainty that everything had changed. Not just tonight. Everything. Her careful, controlled, safe life where she let no one in, trusted no one, needed no one. All of it was crumbling around her like sand castles at high tide.
And the terrifying part? She wasn’t sure she wanted to stop it.
“Mom!” Maddy’s voice broke the moment, her face bright with excitement. “Come, let us paint your nails too!”
Isabella laughed, the sound shaky but real. “I don’t want to stop Christopher from getting his manicure.”
But Christopher patted the floor beside him, that soft smile still playing at his lips. “There’s plenty of room and nail polish to go around.” His voice was warm. Inviting.
The girls chorused their agreement. “Come on, Mom!” Maddy pleaded.
“Please!” Trinity added, bouncing slightly.
And Isabella found herself moving forward without consciously deciding to. She sat down on the floor beside Christopher, close enough that their shoulders brushed. The contact sent warmth spreading through her chest that had nothing to do with the temperature in the room.
Maddy grabbed another bottle of nail polish with triumph written all over her face. Trinity giggled, already reaching for another color.
And for the first time in twelve years, Isabella relaxed. She let herself just be in the moment. Having fun.Laughing with her daughter and her daughter’s best friend. Sitting close to this man who made her feel things she’d been sure she’d never feel again.
Not worried about tomorrow. Not scared of what Todd might do. Not thinking about threats or stalkers or the precarious balance she’d been maintaining for so long.
Just here. Now. With bright nail polish and sparkly clips and pure, simple joy filling her daughter’s bedroom.
Tomorrow could wait.
10
HOLLY
The early morning air was cool and crisp as Holly’s feet hit the weathered boardwalk in a steady rhythm. Beside her, Jack matched her pace easily, his longer stride adjusted to keep them running side by side. Duke bounded ahead of them, his golden coat catching the first rays of sunlight as he raced toward something only he could see, then circled back with obvious joy.
This had become their routine over the past five days. Something easy and comfortable that had developed naturally. Morning runs followed by breakfast before they dove into the renovation work that filled their days.
Holly found herself looking forward to these mornings more than she probably should.
Their relationship had developed without labels or official dates. Just moments that built on each other. Jack standingclose as he showed her woodworking techniques, his voice low and patient as he explained the grain of different woods. His arms wrapping around her from behind to help her get the sanding angle right, his hands guiding hers with a gentleness that made her breath catch. Lingering touches that lasted a heartbeat longer than necessary. Easy conversations that ranged from trivial to profound.
And the goodnight kisses on the cheek that had started casually but now lasted a moment longer each night, both of them lingering in that space between friendship and something more. Then the casual “see you tomorrow morning for our run?” that had become their way of saying goodnight without really saying goodbye.
It was unspoken but real. And Holly found herself both terrified and exhilarated by it.
Jack broke the comfortable silence between them as they rounded the curve where the boardwalk met the beach access. “I haven’t asked yet, but it’s been a day and I have to know.” He glanced at her, his expression open and curious. “What’s it like having Gabe home?”
The question was simple, but the weight behind it made Holly’s chest tighten with emotion.
How could she put into words the joy of having her son home? Of watching him with Trinity, seeing them together after months of separation. Of hearing his laugh echo through the inn’s hallways. Of knowing that when she went to sleep at night, he was just down the hall instead of halfwayaround the world in some dangerous place she couldn’t even picture.
But then the fear flooded in, cold and sharp. The boot. That medical boot on his foot that she’d pretended not to see at first, as if ignoring it would make the injury less real.
Until Christopher had told her what really happened.
