But Noah knew me. He could practically read my mind, and I could read his. We weren’t going to have a summer romance. At the end of the day, I’d be coming back here, and he had a child and a full life in Stoningham, and if we broke each other’s hearts again, it would be unbearable.

For just this day, we’d be friends again, like we’d been before we ever started dating, when just being together and talking was as uncomplicated and easy and as natural as breathing. For this day, I’d pretend not to be in love with him, because there was simply nowhere to go with that without leading to hurt. I’d cut off my hand before I hurt Noah Sebastian Pelletier again.

We ended up eating dinner at a little Italian restaurant and drove home late. I fell asleep at some point and woke up as we pulled off the highway to Stoningham.

“Sorry,” I said.

“No need to be sorry.”

“This was a great day.”

“It was.”

I guess the chatty part of it had ended, though. Noah didn’t say anything else as we drove through town, past the now-closed shops and restaurants. I thought about asking him to drop me off at my parents’ so I could check on my dad, but it was almost eleven.

Pepper had been returned, and as soon as we pulled into my driveway, I heard her happy barking. Noah got out, too, and a warm tingle began low in my stomach, spreading to my arms and legs.

If he kissed me, if he wanted to stay, I’d be helpless to say no, given the lust factor, the love, the everything he was.

He walked me up to the porch. “How’s the roof?” he asked.

“Still leaking in a hard rain.”

“I’ll try to come over one day this week. There’s a storm due about Wednesday.”

“That’s okay. I’ll get to it.”

“Why does the image of you on a ladder make me think of ambulances? Save your mother the worry. Let me do it.”

Pepper was going crazy inside, so I opened the door and let her out. She waggled at me, licking my hands, and I bent down to pet her. She repeated the action on Noah with a little leg hump attempt. Like owner, like dog. “Off you go, girl,” he said, sending her down the steps with a gentle shove.

“Want . . . coffee? Or water? I have water.”