On the way to Jenny’s, he took hold of Erin’s hand and brought it to his lips. “What’re you doing on New Year’s Eve?”

“I figured we’d hang out and watch the ball drop before you have to go back to Florida.”

“How about coming with me to my friend’s wedding?”

“Are you even invited?”

“Ha! Of course I am. This is Gansett. Everyone is invited. I have a great group of people I hang out with in Florida, but the people here, especially the McCarthys, they’re my closest friends.”

“I can see why. I love the people here. At first, when Jenny asked me about applying for the lighthouse job, I thought no way. I could never stand to be marooned on an island all year. But she encouraged me to come see for myself, and after one weekend here, I was packing my bags.”

“I hate leaving in October, but there’s nothing much for me to do here all winter. Well, there hasn’t been in the past, but now there’s this gorgeous lighthouse keeper who makes me want to rethink my plans for the rest of the winter.”

“Don’t tease me.”

“I’m not.” He looked over in time to see her brows furrow and her lips purse. “I’d much rather be here with you than down there without you. Have you given any more thought to coming with me?”

“Oh. You still want me to?”

“Erin,” he said, laughing, “yes, I want you to. Haven’t I spent days showing you how badly I want you?”

“Yes, but… I… I don’t know about Florida. I have a commitment here and a contract with the town and… I just don’t know.”

“None of that sounds insurmountable if you want to come, but I won’t push you if it’s not what you want.” He felt oddly disappointed by her noncommittal attitude. After the last few blissful nights in her bed, he was fully committed to her and them and seeing what might come next. Not knowing where he stood with her was making him crazy, but he was trying to give her space she seemed to need to come around in her own time.

But what if she didn’t come around? What if this was nothing more than a holiday fling to her when he was getting in deeper by the minute? That would suck. He was damned if he did and damned if he didn’t.

He drove into the driveway at Martinez Lawn and Garden and went around the retail store to hang a left toward Jenny and Alex’s house. Other cars were in the driveway when they arrived. He parked in the road so they could leave when they needed to and shut off the engine.

“Slim.”

“Yeah?”