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The boy turned and yelled at the top of his lungs. “Larry—”

“Brandon, stop yelling. I said go tell him. Use your legs and walk over to him.” When the boy sent him a puzzled look, Paul said, “Go.” Once the boy walked away, Paul turned back to her. “If you’re willing, I’d like to talk to you some more. I’m sure you have questions.”

“I do. And I would like that very much.”

“Good.” When he smiled, it was filled with warmth. “I have to go back to work, but later we’ll talk. Okay?”

She nodded.

After he walked away, she turned to Shaun. “That was what you wanted to talk to me about, right?”

Shaun nodded. “After I saw him and his truck I put it together.”

“His truck?” She was confused.

Shaun nodded. “It says Peterson & Sons Landscaping.”

“Oh. I see.” She turned to watch Paul, his two sons, and the other two men as they worked on taking down the tree. “He seems nice, right?”

Shaun nodded. “I just met him, but he certainly seems to be genuine.”

“Then why do I feel like packing my things, jumping in my car, and heading back to California as quickly as I can?”

Shaun reached over and took her hand in his. His fingers threaded between hers. “It’s a lot to take in at once. Give yourself a break. You just need some time to let it sink in. Why don’t you go in the inn? There’s a hot pot of coffee. I have things under control out here.”

“How long do you think it’ll be until they have the tree down?”

“I’d say it’ll be a little while.”

“Okay. I’m going to grab that coffee, and then I’m grabbing a shower. Maybe then I’ll be able to deal with all of this.”

Shaun gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “Sounds like a plan.”

As she walked away, she kept glancing over her shoulder at Paul. If he was such a good guy, what had happened between him and her mother? Why would her mother keep him a secret?

He needed to do something.

But what?

Shaun couldn’t think of any way to make this moment any less shocking—any less emotional—any less painful for Leah. Maybe she just needed some time alone.

So, he stayed outside and watched as the men and boys worked to take down the dead tree. All in all, it only took them a few hours.

During that time We Fix It Auto towed away his SUV. They gave him absolutely no idea when the SUV would be repaired. All they said was “It depends.”

At lunchtime, everyone cleared out. Paul promised they’d be back that afternoon to hang the Christmas lights. Shaun thought about asking them to come back another day, but that wasn’t his decision to make, and when Leah nodded in agreement, he had to trust that she knew what was good for her.

While Leah went inside to figure out lunch, he took Mochi for a short walk. They were on their way back to the inn when his phone rang. Hoping it was the garage, he pulled it from his pocket.

A frown settled on his face when he saw his ex’s name on the screen. Why did she keep calling him? He should have blocked her like he’d been threatening to do.

Against his better judgment, he pressed the phone to his ear. Before he could get a word out, he heard, “Shaun, I’ve had an accident. I need you to come get me.”

“I can’t. My SUV is wrecked too. Call nine-one-one.”

“Shaun, please. You have to help me.” There was a little bit of a whine in her voice.

He knew that tone quite well. She’d used it every time they had a disagreement and she wanted to change his mind. It had worked more times than not, but that was in the past.