“The swelling’s gone down and it’s not as painful, so I only use them to walk long distances—though I’m definitely favoring my good foot.”

“As you probably should. In fact, an ankle brace would be a good idea, especially since you’re quite active right now. You don’t want to reinjure it. How’s the pain—are you still on prescription meds?”

Sophie smiled. He was in full doctor mode now. “It’s much better. I’m taking ibuprofen as needed.”

He made a few other suggestions about caring for her ankle over the next few weeks. But when he began detailing specific exercises, her mind wandered. She looked out the window and caught sight of Aiden and his girlfriend down the beach, standing close. The moonlight glimmered on the woman’s white shirt, and the wind whipped her long hair.

Sophie’s heart wrenched. Even in the dim light she’d noticed the woman’s beauty and lithe figure. What a nice-looking couple they made. Being a pilot, Tiffany no doubt had an adventurous spirit like Aiden too. They had so much in common. And soon he’d be going home to her.

“Sophie?” Joshua said.

She turned from the window. What was she doing, longing for someone she couldn’t have while she ignored a perfectly nice—and interested—man?

“I’m sorry. I missed that last thing you said.”

“I was asking if you needed help setting up your shop. I know we don’t know each other very well yet, but I’m off on Sunday, and I have a strong back if you could use an extra set of hands.”

She warmed at his offer. “That’s so nice of you. But my carpenter will be installing the bookcases all weekend. There’ll be so many people in the shop, we’ll be tripping over each other.”

And she couldn’t imagine Aiden, Joshua, and her tucked into her small office, working together amid stacks of boxes and books.

“Well, if things change, just let me know.”

“I will. We got the floor finished today, and we’ll be pricing books tomorrow.”

“That sounds like a good plan for your ankle. Maybe you can elevate it while you work.”

“You’re a regular mother hen.”

He groaned. “Not what I was going for at all.”

“No? Then maybe you should stop being so helpful.”

“That settles it. I’m taking off my doctor’s hat—metaphorically speaking. Tell me how your grandma’s doing. Have you heard from her this week?”

“Oh, for certain. Barely a day goes by that I don’t hear from her.”

“Now, why does that sound so ominous?”

“Possibly because the woman is an opinionated nag.”

He chuckled. “Since her opinion of me is favorable, I don’t mind at all.”

“She’s called me every single day since my injury to hound me about staying off it.”

“Sounds quite reasonable to me.”