“Good, because if you’d said no, I’d call you a damn liar.Is he single?”
“I think so, but whatever might have happened between us was a long time ago.I have no idea if he feels anything for me at all anymore—and even if he did,” she continued when Bronwyn opened her mouth to interject something, “I just got out of a disappointing long-term relationship.I wouldn’t risk getting involved with him as a rebound.”He meant too much to her for that.
“No offense, Will, but that’s straight up bullshit.”
Willow shot her a shocked look.“Wow, tell me how you really feel.”
“I wouldn’t be a true friend if I didn’t.And what I saw on that beach tells me there’s no way he would be a rebound.Not unless you wouldn’t let him be more.”
Ouch.A bit harsh, but fair.“Okay, well, I’m over here in the middle of getting my life sorted out, so...I’m not ready for anything yet.”
“Fair enough.But I get the sense he’s the kind of guy who would wait for you to be.”
The thought of Tripp waiting for her all this time twisted something deep inside her.He was so quiet and self-contained.Kept his feelings and his pain to himself, and these last few years he’d purposely isolated himself from the rest of the world.
“Okay, change of subject then.Your new sheriff is freaking hot.I can’t believe you never told me about him.”
Willow laughed.“I’m sure I did at some point.And I also detected someothersparks happening on the beach,” she added with a knowing smirk.
Bronwyn grinned.“I wouldn’t say no to sparking with him.Too bad I’m leaving tomorrow.”
“You’re welcome back anytime.And trust me, you made quite an impression on him.”
“You think?”
“Oh yeah.He was hanging on your every word.”
“Well, that’s refreshing.Is he single?Because I don’t want to have the hots for a married man.”She made a face.
“He’s divorced.Two years ago, I think.”
“Oh.Baggage?Damaged?”
“Not really.They didn’t have kids, so that made it easier to split and move on.He doesn’t seem bitter about it or anything.”
“That’s good.So.I’ve only been on the island two hours, I’ve already met the hot sheriff, and we’ve identified and found some human skeletal remains.What’s on the agenda for the rest of the day?”
“Anything’s possible,” she said with a smile.She loved Bronwyn’s sense of humor and how easy she was to be around.“Who knows what we’ll get up to?Maybe a hike in the woods behind my place and a glass of wine on the porch after.”
“I’m down.”
“Here we are, home sweet home,” Willow said with pride a few minutes later when she pulled into her driveway.
“Oh, it’s adorable.Wait, is someone on your?—”
A short figure in floral overalls walked around the far corner of the wraparound porch.“That’s Mae.”
“Your grandma’s neighbor?”
“My neighbor now.”What had she been up to in the hours Willow had been gone?Mae could get more done in that time than anyone else Willow knew.“Come on, I’ll introduce you.”
Mae walked down the front steps to meet them, shading her eyes against the sun.“Welcome.You must be Bronwyn.I’ve heard so much about you.”
Bronwyn climbed out of the car to shake hands with her.“Same, nice to meet you.”
“So, what have you two been up to so far?”Mae asked, walking around to the trunk and taking out Bronwyn’s suitcase before she could.
“We found some bones,” Bronwyn said.
