“It really does. I’m happy Sarah decided to renovate,” he said. He wasn’t sure if Sarah had told her friends about them yet. They hadn’t really defined or labeled what was going on between them, but he knew he wanted a real relationship, and he sensed she did as well.

“Where’s Marissa?” she asked.

“Girl Guides camp,” he said. “Just dropped her off.” He was still concerned about her mood at drop-off, but he was desperate to trust her. If she said she was okay being there, he’d try not to let it worry him that week. It was only five days, and he was looking forward to the alone time with Sarah before she headed back to the city.

“I hear she and Sarah really hit it off?” Whitney asked, a grin on her face. One that said she suspected Marissa wasn’t the only one.

“Yes. Fast friends.” He sighed. “She’ll miss her once she heads back to L.A.”

Whitney eyed him. “Yeah…I suspect we all will.” She snapped several more photos and shook her head. “After all this time and money, I just hope Sarah’s efforts work to preserve the place.”

Wes frowned. “Why wouldn’t they? I’m sure someone will be interested in buying it.”

Whitney tucked her cell phone into her dress pocket. “I’m not worried she’ll be able to sell it; I’m just not sure the new owner will have the same attachment to it.”

Wes’s gut tightened. It was true. Dove’s Nest meant a lot to the residents of Blue Moon Bay, but an outside investor might not care. “Have you expressed your concerns to Sarah?”

“No. I don’t want her to feel pressured into not selling. She’s gone above and beyond to give the inn a fighting chance against a big chain, but I know she wouldn’t be happy staying here and keeping it just to save it.” She checked her watch.

He couldn’t expect that of Sarah, either, and he didn’t.

“Anyway, I have to run. Let Sarah know I’ll call her later,” Whitney said with a wave as she headed toward her yellow convertible.

Wes stared at the inn a minute longer before heading inside. Sarah descended the stairs, hearing him enter, and she immediately hurried toward him. “How did drop-off go?”

“Good,” he said. He wouldn’t worry her over his own uneasiness. His hands cupped her face, and he pulled her into him. “I’ve been waiting all day to do this,” he said, his mouth crushing hers.

Her hands slid beneath his T-shirt and roamed over his abs and pectoral muscles, her fingers tickling his ribs. Her tongue explored his mouth, and her breathing was labored when she pulled back. “It was so hard not to do that with Marissa around.”