A year ago, Seamus had been a happy single guy. In fact, they’d bonded over beers at the Beachcomber, toasting to their freedom. And now he was married and an instant father to two boys. Life was funny that way. Better him than me, Slim thought as he took a hairpin curve and slammed on his brakes when he saw a woman in the road.

What the hell? He shifted the truck into park, turned on his hazard lights, released his seat belt and got out to investigate.

“Who’s there?” she asked warily, standing outside the glow of his headlights.

“Slim Jackson.”

“Oh, Slim, thank goodness it’s you. It’s me, Erin, from the lighthouse.”

They’d met over the summer at a gathering at the Tiki Bar. Her shoulder-length light brown hair framed her pretty face as she looked at him with sparkling brown eyes. “What the devil are you doing out here in the dark of night?”

“I was riding my bike home from town when I got a flat tire. I was walking the bike home when I stepped into a hole and sprained my ankle. At least I hope it’s only sprained. I can’t tell.”

“How long have you been out here?”

“More than an hour now, and you’re the first one to come along.”

“You could’ve called for help.”

“My phone died about five minutes after my tire went flat. It’s been a series of unfortunate events.”

“I guess so. How can I help?”

“Would you mind giving me and my bike a ride to the lighthouse?”

“Of course. No problem. Are you okay to stand without the bike to lean on?”

“I can hop.”

“Stay right there. I’ll grab the bike and then come back for you.” He waited for her to get her balance and then stashed the bike in the back of his truck before returning quickly to her side. “Hang on to me.”

She put an arm around his waist, and he put one around her shoulders. Working together, they shuffled over to his truck. Placing his hands on her hips, he easily lifted her into the passenger side of his truck.

“This is way above and beyond the call of duty,” she said with a wry smile when he had her settled. “You’re going to throw your back out hauling me around.”

“Nah, you’re light as air.”

She snorted with laughter. “Sure, I am.”

He took a closer look at her ankle, which was hugely swollen and beginning to bruise. “How’s the pain?”

“It doesn’t feel great, but I’m very thankful that I don’t have to hobble home.”

The lighthouse was only a mile away, but that would’ve been a long mile on a badly sprained ankle. It took a few minutes to drive there, and when they arrived, he noticed the gate was locked. “Do you have the key?”