Dan pressed his lips to the small spot between her cheek and her ear, a lingering kiss that fell somewhere between innocent and insinuating. “I brought plenty of plywood and caulk. Let’s seal your windows. We should take down the front porch swing, too.”

“Good idea.” She gave her best game face though inside, she was terrified. What if she lost the cottage? Seashell Lane had been her home for forever. This was where she and Russell had taken Tansy home from the hospital. It was where she and her daughter watched Nora Ephron movies every Friday night, chowing through bowls of popcorn. It was where Tansy had tramped up the front steps, her face aglow as she held up the crisp manila envelope from USC. It was where she and Sadie had dreamed up Hester’s.

She couldn’t imagine living anyplace else.

She took a deep breath. “So, where should we begin?” Instinctively, she added, “Would you like a glass of iced tea?”

“Maybe a rain check.” Dan laughed. “Literally. How about you just stick Moe inside and help me hold up these boards as I go?”

Thankfully, he had brought along his drill, which made the process move much faster. She focused on the tasks at hand, while covertly watching the muscles in Dr. Dan’s forearms flex and relax as he held up the planks of wood and drilled them into her house. She admired the concentration in his eyes, the determination across his face.

He might break her heart, it was true, but that risk was worth taking. A good man like this was worth risking everything for.

“Dan,” she began, her voice shaking, “I—”

“Renee! Dr. Hanlon!” Sadie called, bursting from her own front door and running toward them. She had Lincoln wrapped in her arms and was breathing hard. “I’m so relieved to see you guys.”

“Are you okay?” Renee knotted her brows. Sadie was white as a ghost. She thought of the baby. “Take a few deep breaths. What’s happening?”

Sadie breathed in and out, before stammering. “I can’t get a hold of Ethan. I…I don’t know what to do. He’s in Boston. I’m so worried about him, and now I’m afraid for our house. I went out in the garage and faced the spiders and got the flashlights, but there aren’t enough batteries and the windows aren’t covered and—”

“Have you tried calling his work?” Renee interrupted.

Dan stopped his drilling, recognizing the hysteria in Sadie’s voice.

“I haven’t,” she murmured. “I’m afraid of sounding dramatic. Am I being dramatic? I mean, this storm is all probably a bunch of hoopla, right?”

“Actually no,” Renee said softly. “It sounds like this storm is most definitely going to be a big deal.”

“Dr. Han-don? No shot today!” Lincoln shook his head emphatically. It was utterly adorable, and made all three adults give a small smile.