He scratched his head while he considered the question. “There are a lot of boutique hotels in the area, but someone like that, who’s hoping to grab something quick and leave, would probably go for the obvious.”

Aiyana spoke up. “The Mission Inn.”

Eli nodded. “That’s what I think, too.”

“You’re talking about that Spanish-style hotel in the heart of town,” Tia said, seeking confirmation. She’d seen it while driving around earlier.

Eli gave her a skeptical look. “Yes, but don’t tell me you’re going to go looking for him.”

“No. I don’t have the nerve. Not yet. And I’m not sure he’s the guy I’d approach even if I was ready to expose my new face to the world. I just wanted to know where he is...in case, I guess.”

“In case...”

“In case she decides to beat him at his own game,” Aiyana supplied.

“Got it.” He stepped aside so that Tia could get out but stopped her at the last moment. “Hey, are you heading back to Maxi’s?”

She didn’t want to. The guesthouse suddenly seemed lonely and depressing. But she couldn’t think of anywhere else in town that would be safe. And it was almost time to feed Kiki. “I am.”

“Great. I have something for Seth. I was going to take it to him, but he said he was going to see Shiloh’s parents.”

“They live in the area?” Tia asked.

“They do,” he said. “So...would you mind taking it to him for me?”

“Oh! And the cookies!” Aiyana exclaimed. “I almost forgot.”

Tia didn’t know if she’d be seeing much of Seth. He might be eager to avoid her in future. No more meals. No more exercise. No more advice. But if he was going to be out of the house tonight, she’d just leave whatever his family had for him on the kitchen table.

“I’d be happy to,” she said, and Aiyana hurried to put a plate together while Eli went out to his truck and brought back a small statue of a mother and baby.

“I accidentally knocked this off the table the other day and cracked it,” he said ruefully. “I’m hoping Seth can fix it so that I don’t have to tell Cora.”

Tia immediately recognized the artist but asked anyway. “Seth made this?”

“He did. It was a gift for Cora when our first baby was born.”

As modern as the rest of Seth’s work, the small statue represented a mother cradling her baby. Although both faces were featureless and the entire statue was made of a smooth white substance, the simplicity of the piece made it understated yet powerful. “It’s beautiful,” Tia said and couldn’t escape the thought that the love and protection Seth had managed to depict so well was probably something he’d always envied.