While they’d planned the bookshop to the smallest detail, they hadn’t talked much about Sophie’s new digs. But, she realized suddenly, her mom hadn’t really cared so much about the paint colors, the layout of the store, or even the children’s area, complete with its story-hour nook.

She’d only wanted Sophie to be excited about her future—a future without her. Her mother had wanted Sophie to find joy despite her absence.

Her eyes stung at the revelation. The hope of owning a bookshop had carried Sophie through the dark days after her mother’s death. It gave her something to look forward to. Something to live for.

“Thank you, Mom,” she whispered. “Your plan worked beautifully.”

But now the shop was finished, and Sophie had to find joy in the day-to-day. She had no doubt that a life revolving around books would allow her to do just that, despite the heartache of losing Aiden.

She nearly reached for her phone but stopped herself. There was no text awaiting her—she would’ve felt it come in. No amount of compulsive checking would change that fact.

She looked into her mother’s smiling brown eyes, her chest tightening painfully. “I’ve lost him again, Mama. And this time you’re not here to help me through it.”

Last time there’d been so many distractions: her father’s desertion, her mother’s illness, her siblings’ care. Darkness surrounded her. Aiden’s abandonment was just one more thing to deal with. She could hardly separate one loss from another.

This time she was surrounded by wonderful things: her new bookshop, her new apartment, her new friends. The only negative was Aiden’s absence, and the weight of that loss was overwhelming.

God, help me. I have so much to be grateful for, but I miss him so much. I wanted to build a life with him, and now he’s gone, and the hole he left seems impossible to fill.

A knock sounded on the door downstairs, breaking her train of thought. Her family must’ve forgotten something. She set down the photo and rose to her feet.

When she reached the main level she didn’t flip on the bright lights. Her burning eyes would give her away, and she didn’t want her family worrying. Anyway, the boardwalk lights filtered through the front windows, guiding her way through the maze of shelves and tables.

A tall, male figure was silhouetted on the other side of the door; Seth must’ve forgotten one of his tools.

She pulled open the door, and her lungs emptied at the sight.

“Aiden.” Moonlight shone on his face, highlighting the features she loved so much. The deep-set eyes, the prominent cheekbones, those sensual lips curved in a hopeful arc. Was he really here, standing on her doorstep?

“What are you doing here?”

His smile slipped, uncertainty flickering across his features.