“There is no us.” She fought the temptation to slide her arms around his neck and bring her mouth to his. “I love living here. I never thought I’d feel this way about living on a small island surrounded by water, but I do. I know we can’t stay in this cottage forever, but whatever we do, I don’t want to leave the island. I want us to stay. I want to build a life here. I don’t want things to feel awkward between us.” She stared up at him, rocked by the emotion in his eyes.

“So, you’re ending this because of Lizzy. What about you?”

What about her? Despite having protected herself fiercely, she’d managed to fall in love twice. First with Lizzy and then with him.

Being with him had taught her she still had the ability to love deeply, but now she had to learn to switch it off again.

“I won’t compromise Lizzy’s happiness for sex. Even clothes-ripping, mind-blowing, wild animal sex.”

“That’s what it was to you?”

“Of course.”

For a moment she thought he was going to say something else, but then he stepped back, his face expressionless.

“In that case there’s nothing more to say. Call me if you need anything. Puffin Island is a small community. We look out for each other.”

Because she didn’t trust herself not to cave in and chase after him, she turned away, watching the last drips of sunlight bathe the garden, listening to his footsteps as he walked to the door.

As it closed behind him, she flinched. And remembered exactly why she’d spent all those years making sure she didn’t love.

Chapter Seventeen

Seventeen

“There’s not enough storage space.” Ryan slammed one door shut and dragged open another. “Murph Compton should be shot. He expects everyone to live in a damn rabbit warren, so that he can live in a mansion.”

“You’re describing my future home,” his grandmother said mildly, “and the storage space is perfect for my needs, providing you don’t break the doors before I move in.”

Ryan strode moodily across the small sunny kitchen and opened another door. What the hell had Emily meant when she’d said he’d confused Lizzy? “The contents of one of your kitchen cupboards would fill this whole place.”

“I’ve been clearing out. It’s called downsizing.”

“There’s no room for a toaster on that counter.”

“I didn’t realize you had such an emotional connection with my toaster, but if its welfare is that important to you, then, please, consider it a gift.” Agnes sighed. “What’s wrong, Ryan?”