With the wind in their sails, they sped across the water to Fisherman’s Creek, past rocky outcrops, nesting birds and seal colonies, finally returning to the island as the sun set.

Ryan pulled his hat low over his eyes as they approached the harbor. “So, what did you think of her?”

“She should come with a warning. Marry this woman and your investments could go down as well as up.”

“I was talking about Emily.”

“Oh,” Alec shrugged. “She looked tense. Jumpy. And she has a kid. Kids mean responsibility. Never mess with a single mother. There is never any question of a casual relationship. They’re testing you out to see if you’re marriage material.”

Ryan decided not to disclose Lizzy’s parentage. Not because he didn’t trust Alec, but because he respected Emily too much to reveal her secrets. “Did you notice she sat with her back to the water?”

“She had no choice. You picked a table that wasn’t big enough for five. I notice you squashed yourself next to her.”

“She picked the same seat the day before, and the table was plenty big enough.”

“What are you saying? That she doesn’t like water?”

“I don’t know what I’m saying, but there’s something there.” Ryan gauged the distance and guided the yacht skillfully against the dock.

“You’re showing a lot of interest in her.”

“Just being supportive. That’s what we islanders do.”

“How supportive? Are you planning on tucking her in and kissing her good-night?”

Ryan thought about it. “I might, except I have a feeling I wouldn’t be welcome.”

“Women always welcome you.”

“I think there’s more to her than meets the eye.”

“There’s more to every woman than meets the eye.” Alec sprang off the boat. “That’s the problem.”

* * *

Responsibility shared the bed with her and kept her awake.

She’d locked the doors and checked the windows, but still the endless possibility for risk swirled through Emily’s brain, tormenting her. Next to her, Lizzy slept deeply, curled under the pretty patchwork quilt, her arms clutching the bear.

It was a sight to soften the hardest heart, except that Emily had locked hers away years before and had no idea how to access it. And she didn’t want to.

Numb, she closed her eyes and rolled over, but still sleep stayed just out of her reach.

She thought about Ryan, about the way his fingers had felt brushing over hers, the way he’d looked at her with that intense focus that caused the world around them to melt away. Her relationship with Neil had been comfortable and nonthreatening. He’d done nothing to disturb her equilibrium or threaten her sense of safety.

Ryan did both. He made her feel things she’d never felt before. But she had no intention of allowing herself to explore those feelings in greater depth.

She knew she had issues with attachment, and she was perfectly fine with that.

For all his sophisticated charm, Ryan Cooper represented danger. The kind of danger she was keen to avoid.