The second his fingers closed around them, tiny zings of awareness shot up her arms. Ridiculous, really. Entirely inconvenient. And impossible to ignore.
“I’ll help you rebuild Teacups,” Rad promised.
Margo could not help smiling at that, even through the ache sitting in her chest.
“Thank you,” she said softly. “Thank you for taking me there.”
“You’re welcome.” His thumbs brushed lightly against the backs of her hands. “Now get some sleep. I’ll check in with you in the morning.”
Her heart gave a hopeful, foolish little leap. “I will.”
Then he did something that sent her pulse into complete disarray.
He leaned in and kissed her cheek.
It was only a soft brush of warmth, but Margo felt it everywhere.
“Good night, Margo,” Rad said quietly. Then he pulled back just enough to hold her gaze. “And for the record, what you said earlier about me coming to find you.” His voice dropped lower. “I’ll always come find you.”
She stared at him, suddenly unable to summon a single useful word.
Rad gave her hands one gentle squeeze, then released them.
“Lock up behind you,” Rad reminded her. “And call any time if something worries you.”
All she could do was nod.
Then he turned and walked away, leaving her standing there with her heart hammering wildly against her ribs.
She had not felt like this about anyone in ten years, not since Travis and not since the fire that had taken her fiancé and his captain and left her with grief so deep she had believed nothing warm would ever grow through it again.
Yet here she was, watching Rad Dillinger walk back toward June’s car as if he had quietly stepped into a space she had thought would remain empty forever.
Margo let herself inside, locked the door, then checked the windows and locks more than once before finally making herself stop.
After a hot shower and a small meal she barely tasted, Margo changed into pajamas and climbed into bed. The sheets smelled fresh. The room was quiet. Her body was exhausted.
This time, sleep came easier.
As she drifted off, the last image in her mind was not smoke or fire or ruined walls.
It was Rad.
Her white knight, walking through the dark to find her.
2
RAD
Rad stopped himself at the corner of the inn.
Every instinct in him wanted to turn around and look back at Margo’s cottage one more time, just to make sure she was all right. Just to see whether she was still standing in the doorway with that soft, stunned look on her face, the one she had worn after he kissed her cheek and told her he would always come find her.
Rad forced himself to start walking again.
The night air was warm and heavy, scented faintly with salt and damp wood and the lingering trace of smoke that still seemed to hang over half the town these days. Sandpiper Shores looked peaceful from the outside. Porch lights glowed softly. A dog barked somewhere in the distance, then quieted. The harbor water moved with that steady hush that usually made a man think of rest.
Tonight, it only made Rad more aware of how alert he still was.
