“Louisa, I’ll walk you out.” The voice from behind her was like a sound from heaven, as once again Cody Boggs swooped in to save her. She didn’t even have to turn around to know it was him, strong and protective, like a guardian angel.

Normally her independent nature would’ve bucked at the idea of a man protecting her, but she couldn’t help it—it made her insides tingle. Had he been watching out for her this whole time?

“Nice to meet you, Charlie,” she said.

Charlie winked at her.

Louisa turned and found Cody standing there, waiting for her to pass but glaring at Charlie. She walked past him, and he followed her out of the room.

“For the record, winking at a woman is not cute. It’s creepy.” She laughed.

Cody didn’t.

They were outside now, and Louisa realized she still didn’t know where Alyssa had gotten off to.

“Do you want to tell me how great I did on my presentation?” She smiled.

He raised an eyebrow.

“Come on, don’t pretend you don’t think this is all going to be awesome.”

“It was fine, Louisa. I’ll see you later.”

“Would it kill you to smile once in a while?”

“Have a good day.” He turned then as if to end the conversation and disappear all at once.

“Okay, bye,” she said with only a slight edge of sarcasm playing in her tone.

Ally came out of the station, passing him as he went back in. “What was that about?”

Louisa slung her bag across her body. “Cody being Cody, I guess.”

“Cody being hot?” Ally waggled her eyebrows.

Louisa hopped on her Vespa and strapped the helmet on. “Cody being grumpy.”

“Like I said.”

Louisa groaned. “He can’t stand me. He’ll never forgive me, and having to work with him on this project is pretty much my worst nightmare.”

Ally squeezed her arm. “Give him some time.”

“It’s been twelve years.”

“Right, but you haven’t been in each other’s lives since then. Give him some time now to figure out how he feels.”

“Oh, I know how he feels. That’s the problem.”

“Okay, so we could quit,” she said.

“I never quit,” Louisa said.

“Then figure out how to deal with him.” Ally pulled her hand away. “I’ll see you back at the office a little later.”

“Fine,” she murmured.

She started the Vespa, checked that her bag was secure, and sighed. “Figure out how to deal with him.”

It seemed like it should be easy, but she knew better. Ever since he saved her life, the man had turned her insides out, and she wasn’t sure how to right herself.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CODY DIDN’T NEED OR WANT A LOT OF TIME OFF. Time off in Nantucket meant time to think, and thinking was about the last thing he wanted to do.