Alex smiled and kissed her again before he settled on the pillow next to hers. “Are you sure it’s okay if I stay? You won’t get in lighthouse-keeper trouble or anything?”

“It’s fine,” she said with a chuckle.

“I should go home, but my brother is there, and I’m so damned comfortable here.”

“Relax and get some sleep while you can.”

He brought their joined hands to his chest, where Jenny could feel the strong, steady beat of his heart. Long after he fell asleep, she was awake thinking about how much she liked him and how strangely connected she felt to him despite her plans to keep her emotional distance from a man who’d initially seemed all wrong for her.

The more time she spent with him, the more she began to suspect he could actually be all right for her.

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Evan and Owen played the last notes of “Ring of Fire,” played in homage to the heat, and stepped back from the microphones to guzzle the bottled water they’d been drinking all night.

Grace was glad to see Evan taking his own advice about hydrating between beers.

“Damn, it’s a hot one on Gansett,” Owen said to cheers from the crowd. “We’ve got a special treat for you tonight. As you know, my buddy Evan is the owner of the new Island Breeze recording studio right here on Gansett. He’s recorded the first single on the Island Breeze label, and he’s going to debut it here tonight. How lucky are we?”

More cheers from the crowd at the Tiki Bar.

“Oh and Grace,” Owen said, “you’re going to want to come up here, if you would.”

It took a second for Owen’s request to sink in. She glanced left at Laura and right at Stephanie.

“Go,” Steph said, giving her a push. “He’s waiting for you.”

Evan nodded at her, gesturing for her to come to him.

Grace’s heart beat hard and fast as she stood and walked on wobbly legs to the stage.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Owen said, “let’s have a round of applause for Evan’s fiancée, Grace Ryan.”

The hooting and hollering from the table full of friends and family as well as everyone else in the bar had Grace burning with embarrassment. She hated being the center of attention, which her fiancé certainly knew.

Owen took her hand and helped her up the stairs.

“I’ll get you for this,” she said under her breath.

“He made me do it,” Owen said as he went down the stairs, leaving Grace alone on stage with Evan.

“Isn’t she gorgeous?” Evan asked, setting off another round of cheers and whistles.

“You’re a dead man,” she hissed at him.

As if he didn’t have a care in the world, Evan tossed his head back and laughed. “Have a seat in my office, baby.”