“Relax man.” Greg smiled. “I was just giving you a hard time.”

Ethan breathed easier. “You had me there.”

“It’s my day off, so I figured I’d check in with the chief and see what needed to be done around here.”

“Your day off and all you can find to do is come here?” But then again, who was he to complain? When he was in New York, he spent most of his time at the fire station unless there was a building project that could use his help.

Greg turned his attention to Peaches, who was sitting next to Ethan. Greg fussed over the dog and she happily lapped it up. He straightened. “What can I say, I like it around here. The guys are the best and I know this is getting to be a lot for the chief.”

“So you’re planning to become the next chief?”

Greg held up his hands. “Not me. No way. I don’t mind the work, but I don’t want to do the paperwork and let’s not mention dealing with the mayor.” He shook his head. “I wouldn’t be good in that position. But I know the chief is hoping to find someone to fill his boots so he can retire.”

“Well, he’s lucky to have you around to help him out.”

“So what are you up to? How’s your aunt doing?”

And so Ethan filled him in on what was going on with the bakery and his aunt’s condition. It felt good to have another guy to hang out with and shoot the breeze. That was one thing he missed about Brooklyn was his friends at the firehouse.

Not that he didn’t enjoy talking with Hannah. Perhaps the problem was that he enjoyed talking to her a little too much. And then what would happen when his time was up on the island? He didn’t want to set either of them up to be hurt.

Maybe what he needed to do was put some distance between them. After all, he was hired to do a job. It didn’t mean they had to spend a lot of time together. He would treat her just like any other client.

“Ethan?” Greg sent him a strange look.

“What did you say?”

“I was asking if you need any help at the bakery.”

He could use some help if he was going to meet Hannah’s deadline, but he didn’t feel right about imposing on their new friendship. “Thanks. But I’m good right now.”

“We should hang out sometime. Do you watch hockey?”

“I do.”

They named their favorite teams. They moved on to comparing their favorite players and finally the teams’ records.

Ethan shook his head. “I guess we’ll find out whose team is better when they play each other.”

“You’re on. Well, let me know if you need help at the bakery.” He sounded as though he meant it.

“I will. I should get to work. I’ll be seeing you.”

As he made his way back to the bakery, he couldn’t help but notice how quickly he was being drawn into this tight-knit community. He hadn’t meant for that to happen and yet it had.