Wes choked on the ice cream, the creamy vanilla flavor sticking to his throat. He coughed. “Nothing.” He coughed again. “What gives you the idea that something’s going on?” Marissa had no idea that he’d returned to the B&B the night before…or about the untimely kiss.

She shrugged casually, but her perceptive little nine-year-old gaze was daring him to bullshit her. “Just a vibe, I guess.”

Kids obviously noticed and saw more than adults gave them credit for. He wasn’t a great liar, and she was the last person on earth he’d want to deceive, but he actually didn’t know what was happening between him and Sarah.

“Well, we go way back,” he said carefully. “And I do like her…” More than he realized, maybe. The kiss suggested he more than liked her, but he couldn’t quite define his feelings. Suddenly he found her hot as hell. She was amazing with his daughter…

“I’ve always loved Dove’s Nest and felt sad when it closed, so I’m glad she’s making it better and reopening it. Do you think she might consider staying?” Marissa asked.

Obviously that’s what Marissa wanted. Wes didn’t hate the idea of Sarah staying in Blue Moon Bay, either, but she had her own life goals and a career she was working hard to advance in. Wes knew firsthand what it was like to have dreams derailed, so he didn’t think for a second that Sarah should stay. “I’m not sure,” he said honestly. “Hey, I know you really like her and like hanging out with her…”

“We have a lot in common,” she said.

He turned to face her, his own ice cream forgotten and dripping down his forearm. “Yeah, and that’s wonderful. I just don’t want you to be too disappointed when she goes back to L.A.”

Marissa licked her own dripping ice cream. “She said we’ll keep in touch.”

Would she want to keep in touch with him as well? Probably not after last night. And did he want to stay in touch? That part was still frustratingly unclear. He’d had the first kiss—best possible kiss—since Kelly, and it had definitely spurred something in him, but a long-distance relationship wouldn’t work when he had Marissa to consider.

“Hey, I have an idea—why don’t we bring something back for her?” Marissa said. “You know, as a thank-you for letting me work with her.”

“Sure,” he said. It was actually a good idea. It would also serve as an apology from him about the night before. “What were you thinking?”