Sadie nodded, before turning to Renee and wiping her eyes. “We read a book about birds at the beach last night.”

Renee rubbed her back, not quite sure what to say except, “I’m so sorry, Sadie. That was all my fault.”

“What? No,” she said, shaking her head. “Of course it wasn’t. I’m his mother. I’m the one who is supposed to watch him, to…to…keep him safe no matter what.”

Sadie burst into fresh sobs and Renee felt her own eyes itch with tears.

Dr. Dan made a soothing sort of “shhh” sound before tousling Lincoln’s hair. “Sadie, this could have happened to anybody. I’m not a parent myself but as a pediatrician I can pretty much guarantee every parent has experienced this sort of scare. Right, Renee?”

Renee nodded earnestly, also taking note that this confirmed her suspicions that Dan did not have children. A small part of her had always worried he had kids and was simply an absent father who never spoke of them.

“Absolutely. Do you remember that scar Tansy has on her forearm?” she asked, to which Sadie nodded mutely. “Tansy got that when I stupidly had a pot of soup cooking on the front burner. She reached for it, and it spilled all over her little arm. I had to rush her to urgent care to be treated for a second-degree burn. I felt horrible.”

Sadie’s eyes widened slightly before she sniffed. “I’d better get on home. Thanks again, Dr. Hanlon. Talk to you later, Renee.”

As they walked away, Sadie could be heard muttering, “God. As if I could design a shop right now. What was I thinking?”

Renee turned toward the steely sea and offered a silent prayer of thanks that Lincoln was okay.

“Are you all right?” Dr. Dan asked, turning to face her fully. He didn’t look away. She wasn’t used to holding such intense eye contact and it hit her like a slug of whiskey, spreading low through her belly like a slow, deep burn.

She held up a still trembling hand and fought for a rueful smile. “Still rattled, to be honest. Guess I feel responsible for that scare.”

“Hey now,” his voice was calm and reasonable, “don’t beat yourself up. Nothing bad happened.”

“I was filling in Sadie about Essie’s pie shop idea.” Renee brushed the hair from her face as the wind picked up. “I guess we both got pretty excited.”

“That’s because it is exciting.” Dr. Dan crooked his mouth in the half smile she couldn’t get enough of, the one that revealed the secret dimple that hid in his left cheek.

She cleared her throat and forced herself to focus on something, anything, else. She settled for a jet high up in the sky, flitting between the clouds. “Sadie offered to design the space and then possibly manage the shop. We got carried away.” Renee peered up at Dr. Dan, towering over her. What would it feel like to reach up and wrap her arms around his neck? He had a delicious neck. One that begged to be licked.