“But you can’t quit. The bakery will never be finished in time. And the festival—the town is counting on us.” Her rushed words practically ran together. “If this is about the kiss, we can pretend it never happened. We can—”

“Relax. I’m not leaving the island.”

“You’re not?”

He shook his head. “And I am finishing the work on the bakery.”

“Then I’m confused.”

“So am I.” Earlier she’d acted like being around him was torture, but now she acted as though she didn’t want to distance herself.

“Maybe we should start over.” She set aside her sandwich.

“Start what over?”

“Us.” She held out her hand to him. When he didn’t move, she said, “Go ahead. Shake my hand.” When he did, she continued. “Hi. I’m Hannah.”

Her hand was small compared to his. He enjoyed the softness of her touch. A tingling started in his fingertips before rushing up his arm and settling in his chest with a warm sensation.

“Go ahead,” she prompted. “It’s your turn.”

“Are you serious?” When she nodded enthusiastically, he laughed. “Hi. I’m Ethan.”

She withdrew her hand. “See that wasn’t so hard.”

“Now what?”

She shrugged. “Why don’t you tell me about where you live?”

“You don’t want to hear about that.” His life was pretty boring except for his job. And he knew that was a sore subject for her.

Still, she’d asked about where he lived. He told her about his apartment and how he lived ten minutes from his parents. She genuinely sounded interested. Wanting to keep the easy dialogue going, he told her about a bit of his childhood.

All the while he was careful to keep the conversation away from the fire department. And so when Hannah broached the subject, it caught him off guard.

“They must be anxious to have you back at the fire department,” she said casually.

“I suppose.”

“You don’t sound anxious to go back.”

He drew up a knee and rested his arm on it. If she was trying hard to have a meaningful conversation, he would do his part. “Honestly, I wonder if I’ll ever be up for another fire call.”

She arched a fine brow. “Does this have something to do with why you’ve been in Bluestar for so long?”

He nodded. “I had an on-the-job incident before I came to Bluestar.” Now what had he gone and said that for? “I…I just needed some time away.”

“I had a feeling it was something like that. If you don’t want to talk about it that’s okay.”

He toyed with the straw in his drink. “For a long time, you would have been right.”

“And now?”

“Now the memories don’t have as much power over me. I’m even sleeping better.”

“Bluestar is known for its curing ways.”

He nodded. “If you could bottle it, you’d make a fortune. I don’t feel like the same man who left New York.”

“It must have been bad.”

“It was.” He paused, waiting for himself to shut down as he had in the past, but he didn’t feel that cold wall of separation close in around him.