Ethan made her happy—most of the time. She’d been impressed with his earlier apology. As her thoughts rewound in time back to the way he’d looked at her—like she was the most beautiful woman in the world—her heart beat faster. No one had ever made her feel that way before. But where did they go from here?

It was a good evening.

Not as good as spending it with Hannah, but it wasn’t bad at all.

Ethan lounged back on the couch in Greg’s living room. A hockey game played on the big screen television. And a big red and white pizza box sat on the coffee table.

It was nice to hang out with a friend. He might not have known Greg for years but they had an easy rapport—as though they’d always known each other.

“You know,” Greg said, “if you were planning to hang around the island for a while, I could use some help remodeling the kitchen.”

“You think?”

“You can’t open the fridge and the dishwasher at the same time. And some of the cabinet doors are coming off the hinges.”

“I’d like to help but as soon as the bakery is completed. I’ve got to get back to work.”

“I’m just saying I’ve seen what you’ve done at the bakery, and I’m not rich or anything but I could pay you something.”

The thing was that the idea of starting over as a contractor was tempting. His mind already conjured up a new layout that would make the kitchen a lot more functional. But the logical part of his brain said that stepping out on his own without benefits was a risky proposition—not to mention how disappointed his father would be in him.

“I’ll keep it in mind.” Ethan finished off a third slice of pizza. “This is good.”

“You mean you’ve been here all of this time and haven’t tried the Pizza Pie?”

“Is that the little shop on the edge of town?” When Greg nodded, Ethan said, “Hannah got us a veggie pizza from there.”

“They make the best food in all of Bluestar.” Greg lounged back in his recliner.

“I don’t know about that. The Lighthouse is good.”

“But I’m talking pizza. Theirs is the best pizza on the island. Probably the best in all of Boston. If you don’t believe me, ask your girlfriend.”

Immediately Hannah’s image came to mind. He dismissed it. “I don’t have a girlfriend.”

“That’s not what I hear.”

Ethan wasn’t one to listen to gossip, but if it involved him and Hannah, perhaps he should know what rumors were circulating around town.

He swallowed hard. “What have you heard?”

“That you and Hannah had a date in Boston. And that you’re permanently moving to Bluestar.”

Wow! How do these things get started? He had one guess: Agnes Dewey. He’d only had to meet that woman once to know what she was like.

“It’s not true.” Ethan forced himself to lean back on the couch and not let the unfounded rumors get to him.