“Wait until you hear what happened with Hannah.” Lily grinned.

“Does it have to do with the bakery?” Josie asked. “Because I’ve been giving the situation some thought.”

Lily shook her head, all the while Hannah glared at her friend as her face once more grew warm. “It’s way better.”

“Better than the bakery?” Josie asked.

Lily grinned and nodded.

Hannah couldn’t take this agonizing build up any longer. It was best to just get it out in the open. She waved at Josie to lean in close and then she whispered, “Lily thinks Ethan asked me out.”

“Oh!” Josie’s eyes filled with excitement. “That’s awesome. Wait. Why did you say she thinks? And why are we whispering?”

“Because I don’t need the gossips to get wind of this and make a thing of it. As for Ethan, well, we have plans to go to an estate sale this weekend on the mainland. But it is all business,” Hannah said firmly. “Nothing more.”

Josie looked confused. “Why does Lily think it’s a date.”

“Because he said, ‘It’s a date.’” Lily smiled triumphantly.

Josie’s lips formed an O.

“It’s a figure of speech,” Hannah insisted. “Besides, don’t we have more important matters to discuss?”

“I agree with Lily,” Josie said. “Men don’t say date unless they mean it.”

Hannah remained quiet and eventually the conversation shifted to the preparations for the wedding shower. All the while Hannah’s thoughts circled around both Lily and Josie’s assessment that Ethan had asked her out. That wasn’t what she wanted to hear. Or was it? She was so conflicted.

Before opening his eyes the next day, Ethan stretched. When he lowered his hand, his fingers brushed over soft fur. His eyes sprang open and he turned his head to find Peaches’s face right next to his.

“Morning, Peaches.”

He ran his hand over the pup’s head and down her back. He was rewarded with a swipe of her tongue over his cheek. Ethan sat up and slung his legs over the edge of the bed. His fingers raked through his hair. It was good to have his own place. Well, technically it wasn’t his place. It was only temporary.

Buzz. Buzz.

He wondered who that could be first thing in the morning. He grabbed his phone from the bedside table. The number wasn’t one he recognized. Still, it could be something about his aunt.

He pressed the phone to his ear. “Hello.”

“Mr. Walker, it’s Chief Campbell. How are you?”

“Uh, good.” He didn’t recall giving him his number.

“You sound a little confused. If you’re wondering how I got your number, it wasn’t hard.”

“Let me guess, you were talking to my aunt.”

“As a matter of fact, I was. When I mentioned that I needed to speak to you, she readily gave me your number. I hope that’s not a problem.”

“No. Not at all. What did you need?”

“I was hoping you could stop by the fire station this morning.”