Page 23 of Art of Love

But that photo told a different story. Most men don’t keep a photo from a fling.

The song he had sung for Max and Juliette also told a different story. At first, anyone would believe the lyrics were for the happy couple. But she somehow knew they weren’t. He never mentioned her name, but Kara was the real inspiration for the romantic song.

Dylan bit her lip, her hand trembling slightly as she finally shut off the engine.

She had to be careful now. Smarter. She couldn’t afford any more mistakes.

Because something told her that Abe might be more involved in Kara’s death than he let on. And it made her sick to her stomach.

The next morning, she took a jog on the beach. She had her headphones in, listening to her favorite tunes as she sprinted up and down the stretch of sand.

Her mind kept circling back to the night before—the swing, the starlight, the way Abe had looked at her like she was the only person in the world who mattered. It annoyed her. Not just because she hadn’t found anything in his room, or because he’d nearly caught her sneaking away like a thief in the night, but because she felt something.

And one thing life had taught her was that feelings were dangerous.

She jogged until her legs burned and her lungs stung, only stopping once the sun rose high enough to kiss her skin with warmth. After a few stretches and a cool drink of water from the bottle she’d stashed in her trunk, she slipped a lightweight hoodie over her tank top and headed into town, hoping for a little caffeine and something sweet to go with the growing ache in her chest.

Sara’s Nook was already buzzing when she stepped inside. The smell of coffee and freshly baked scones hit her like a hug from an old friend. She made her way to the counter and was halfway through ordering her usual—black coffee and a lemon blueberry scone—when a familiar voice cut through the hum of conversation.

“Well, well. If it isn’t the fastest girl on the beach.”

Dylan turned and found herself staring up at Nate Elliott. He looked exactly the same as he had in high school, only broader in the shoulders and maybe a little more confident in his smile. His dark sandy hair was wind-tousled, and his gray T-shirt clung to a chest that definitely saw time in a gym.

She had seen him at the wedding but hadn’t talked to him. Not because he was one of the bad ones in town. He had just been too busy with his sister Juliette’s wedding.

“Nate,” she said, offering a polite smile. “You’re up early. After last night’s party, I would have thought you’d be MIA like most of the town is.”

He chuckled. “Naw, old habits from my track days have me up running almost every day.” He shrugged.

“I heard that you lived in the city?”

He grinned and held up a coffee cup. “I moved back a few weeks ago. I saw you running and tried catching you out on the sand, but you’re still as fast as you were in track.”

“And you’re still too slow,” she joked.

He nodded slightly. “Caffeine is survival.”

She chuckled and took a step to the side so he could place his order. “You just moved back from…”

“Portland. I moved back to help out with the family business. You know how it goes. Once you’re in, you’re in for life.”

“Yeah,” she murmured, eyes flicking out of the windows to the Brew-Ha-Ha book store, which sat down and across the street a little. “Small towns have a way of pulling you back.”

He leaned against the counter, giving her a once-over that was probably meant to be subtle but wasn’t. “So, you here to stay, or just visiting?”

“I’m… figuring that out.” She had decided to keep things vague with anyone who asked her.

He smiled, easy and warm. “Well, if you’re around for a while, maybe we could grab dinner. Catch up properly.”

It was a tempting offer. Nate had always been kind to her in school, never mocking her the way others had. And now he was single, good-looking, and clearly interested.

But even as she considered saying yes, her mind betrayed her. She pictured Abe’s eyes on hers, the way his voice had softened when he said her name, how close they’d come to something that almost felt like… more.

“I’ll think about it,” she said, taking her coffee from the barista with a grateful nod.

“Good,” Nate said, flashing her another charming grin. “I’ll hold you to that.” He took up his coffee cup, and as he turned to leave she found herself watching him walk away. Objectively, he checked all the boxes. And yet… the flutter in her chest that came when Abe so much as looked at her wasn’t there.

And that was more confusing than anything else.