But what had really made his day was Bryce acknowledging their friendship. A friendship that had started close to twenty-five years ago. Of course, he’d told her that little white lie, agreeing there could never be anything but friendship between them. He intended to prove her wrong. She hadn’t wanted to be friends, either, and here they were. He wouldn’t rush her but would give her time to realize it for herself.

Because a delivery truck had been in Bryce’s yard when he’d arrived, he had parked on the street in front of her home. As he got closer to his SUV, although it had gotten dark, he noticed something was wrong. One of his tires appeared to be flat. He frowned as he squatted down and studied the tire. It had been slashed.

Standing, he glanced around. Although Catalina Cove had low crime, no doubt some teens had very little to do other than get into mischief. No need to make a big deal of it and he wouldn’t bother mentioning it to Sawyer. He glanced back at Bryce’s house and figured he could use what happened to his tire as an excuse to go back inside.

Releasing a deep sigh, he remembered his decision to be patient when it came to Bryce. Besides, hadn’t he suggested that she take a shower, drink a glass of wine and go to bed? The thought of her naked and taking a shower had a number of salacious scenarios running through his head. He recalled a time during their weekend hookups when they would shower together. Those memories suddenly had him feeling hot and aroused. That was the last thing he needed to remember right now.

Removing his jacket, he went to work changing his tire.

PART 2

The greatest healing therapy is friendship and love.

—Hubert H. Humphrey

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

“HOW ARE THINGS GOING, Bryce?”

Bryce looked into the man’s face and smiled. Vaughn Miller had been born in the cove and, like a number of others, when he’d left for college he hadn’t returned. She’d heard that five years ago he was accused of a white-collar crime for which he served time but had gotten released after a couple of years for good behavior.

Last year he had returned to the cove to live. Some locals were aware Vaughn had served time and there were some who weren’t aware of it. It honestly didn’t matter since Reid LaCroix, the wealthiest man in the cove, had trusted Vaughn enough to give him a job as part of his executive team. That hadn’t come as too much of a surprise since Reid’s deceased son, Julius, and Vaughn had been best friends while growing up and the two had graduated from Yale together. Everyone knew if Reid LaCroix liked you, then everyone else living in the cove liked you. Few people went against Reid.

“Things are pretty good. What about with you?” she asked, sipping her coffee.

“Same here. It’s a beautiful day and I think the weather is going to be perfect.”