The pause that followed tightened his chest and made his throat ache. It wasn’t possible the feelings were one-sided. Not after that kiss. But she still had reservations. Were they enough to make her call it quits before they’d even begun?

Her lashes swept down. “I’m afraid, Aiden.”

If she only knew. He hadn’t forgotten that constant low hum of fear he’d experienced when he’d been in love with her the first time. It was still there, running in the background like an obnoxious computer program.

A rueful chuckle slipped out of him. “You don’t think I’m afraid too? But you know what I decided? I’m even more afraid of losing this—of losing you.”

Slowly, the worry fled from her eyes, and her lips turned up at the corners.

He couldn’t stop his own from doing the same. Couldn’t stop the floating sensation as the weight lifted from his body. He settled his forehead against hers. “Does that little smile mean I can kiss you again?”

She didn’t answer. Didn’t wait for him. She just lifted her face and pressed her soft lips to his.

chapter thirty-one

They didn’t get home until after midnight. So many things were spinning through Sophie’s head—the shop and her new relationship with Aiden—that she feared she’d lay in bed fretting half the night. But she fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

She didn’t wake up until her alarm chimed at six o’clock. It was still dark outside, the sun only beginning to creep over the horizon. She thought of last night as she headed toward the shower. A smile curved her lips as she remembered the sweet way Aiden had held her hand. The tender way he looked at her. She still saw the boy he used to be in those looks, but she also saw the man he’d become. Just thinking of all he’d done for her this week made her eager to see him this morning.

As she rushed through her shower, worry bubbled up inside. Had his declaration last night just been an impulse? She hoped not. She was at peace with the decision to see where their relationship led. And after the internal fight she’d been putting up since seeing him at the Dock House, this surprised her.

The smell of brewing coffee quickened her steps. She opened the sliding door to let Pippa out. The dog was good about staying nearby, mainly because she was afraid of the sea oats that lined the yard.

“Good morning.” Aiden was seated at the kitchen bar, reading the newspaper and sipping from what had become his favorite mug.

“Morning.”