“So this decision to stay had nothing to do with me? With us?”

Her heart pounded. Was he saying there was still a chance for them?

Just days before, he was willing to let her go. She refused to let her guard down so quickly this time, but she couldn’t lie to him. “It wasn’t not because of you…of us,” she said quietly, glancing at the piece of wood in her hands.

He took several strides toward her, and his chest rose and fell as he took several deep breaths. “I was wrong, Sarah. About everything. You were right about Marissa needing freedom and space to be who she is…and about me needing to let go of the past and tradition and embrace the new.”

She shook her head. “I understood you being angry about the app. I should have been more careful—”

“Parents learn as we go. We all make mistakes along the way, but what you did for Marissa this summer…” He paused, emotion written all over his handsome face. “What you did for me with the website—I can’t thank you enough.”

“That was all Marissa,” she said. “She’s so incredible. The before and after pictures, the quotes from locals, and creating the website design…all her.” Man, she missed the little girl as much as she’d been missing Wes.

“She is incredible,” he said. “And so are you. I’ve always thought so, and these last few weeks, my feelings for you, my attraction—has only grown.”

He paused, and she held her breath. She felt the same way, but doubt and fear held her back from saying anything. She’d put herself out there too many times already. Maybe he still wasn’t ready…

“Sarah, I’m sorry.” He stepped closer. “And I’m hoping you’ll give me one last chance to prove to you how I feel about you. This is what I want. Sarah, I want you here with us.” He took her hands in his and pulled her toward him, his gaze locked on hers.

She stepped into his arms, desperate to believe that this was the right decision for all of them. That everything was going to work out. She was in love with him, and she loved Marissa, and she wanted this new start. Blue Moon Bay was her home and she wanted to be here. With them.

He touched her cheek, then cupped her face in his hands as she stared up at him. “I love you, Sarah. I’m in love with you,” he said.

The words were everything she’d been wanting to hear. “It’s only ever been you for me, Wes.”

His gaze burned into hers with a look she’d never seen before—desire, affection, attraction. No sign of hesitation or uncertainty.

She swallowed hard.