Sydney curled her legs under her and turned so she could see Luke. His dark hair was as silky as she remembered, his skin brown from the sun, his hands strong and efficient. As she studied him, Sydney felt a subtle change taking place within her, a reawakening of sorts. She was suddenly more aware of the sizzle of food cooking on the grill, the scent of the sea and fresh-cut grass, the slight dampness in the warm air, the chill of the glass in her hand and the sharp sting of desire.

“What’re you thinking?” he asked.

“That this is nice, being here with you again.”

He reached across the gap between their chairs and took her hand. “It’s great to have you here.”

Once again, his touch set off a tingling reaction that had her full attention. “Are you happy with your life, Luke?” She wasn’t sure where the question came from, but she really wanted to know.

“I’m content.”

“Is that the same thing?”

Pondering his beer bottle, he shrugged. “I’m not unhappy.”

“Do you ever think about doing something else?”

“Not so much anymore.”

“You had so many things you wanted to do.”

“Life happens.”

Sydney knew his ailing mother had kept him on the island when he should’ve been leaving for college. “Are you ever bored?”

He released a short laugh. “Nope. There’s always something to do. We’re straight out at the marina in the summer. Last winter, Mac and I renovated a couple of kitchens and a bathroom. Keeping this place up takes some work. I stay plenty busy.”

“Would you ever consider living somewhere else?”

“Depends.”

“On?”

He glanced at her, his eyes dancing with mischief. “Who’s asking me to relocate.”

Chapter 6

As Sydney absorbed that statement, Luke got up to check the grill.

He moved the pouches around and then turned to her, leaning against the rail that surrounded the deck. “What’s with the twenty questions?”

“I’m sorry. I’m curious about your life.”

“No need to be sorry. Not much has changed. I’m still the same simple guy I always was. I don’t need a lot to be happy.”

She’d once loved that about him—desperately. He was unlike anyone else she’d ever met, and that was still true.

“What do you need?” he asked. “To be happy again?”

“I’m trying to figure that out.”

He returned to the other lounge and sat facing her. “I give you so much credit.”

“For what?” she asked, perplexed.

“Trying to figure it out. So many people who’d been through what you have would’ve given up.”

“I came close,” she confessed. “It was pretty rough for a long time after.”

“I can’t imagine. When I heard what’d happened, God, I just. . . I ached for you.”

The emotion behind his softly spoken words touched her deeply. “Thank you.”

“I didn’t mean to upset you.”