“Oh, I love that store. Max and Malena used to drag me in there at least once every summer.”

“Grant and Abby were together forever, sort of on-again off-again recently. I never heard what happened, but something went bad last summer when he was here for Mac’s wedding. Next we heard, she was dating the new doctor.”

“LA is a long way from Gansett Island.”

“So is Boston,” he said.

Sydney looked over at him. “Not that far.”

“All depends on your perspective.”

“Maddie asked me to help with the baby’s nursery.”

“You feel up to doing that?”

“It’ll be fun. Maddie knows decorating is one of my hobbies. In fact, before the accident, I’d been thinking about leaving teaching to give it a whirl full time.”

“Is it something you might still want to do?”

“Maybe. I’m told I have a knack for it.”

“I should hire you to update my place. I haven’t touched a thing since my mother died.”

“No, really?” she said, smiling.

He laughed at the face she made at him. “You’re itching to get your hands on it, aren’t you?”

“I always thought you could better highlight the amazing views.”

“That’s a very diplomatic way of saying it needs everything—furniture, paint, updated appliances, new bathroom.”

Syd fanned herself and shivered dramatically. “Don’t toy with me this way.”

Luke pulled up to the house and killed the engine. “That’s all it takes to make you hot? Clearly, I’ve been going about this all wrong.”

“Going about what?”

He leaned over to plant a kiss on her neck. “Convincing you to stay here with me permanently.”

“Luke, I—”

Cupping her face, he turned her to receive his kiss.

Her hand pressing on his chest brought him back to his senses.

“Is that what you want? For me to stay here permanently?”

“Of course it is, but only if it’s what you want, too.”

“I’m not. . . I can’t. . .”

“You’re not ready to decide anything yet.”

“No,” she said.

“That’s okay. We don’t have to worry about any of that now.” He kissed her again. “In the meantime, knock yourself out here and at Maddie’s.”

“You have no idea what you’re saying.”

Laughing again, he said, “Yes, I do.”

“No, you don’t. Seth used to go ballistic when he’d come home to a whole new living room.” She glanced at him, pained. “Sorry. I don’t know where that came from.”

“It came from your life, and you don’t need to apologize or feel like you can’t mention his name around me.”

Sydney placed her hands on his face and drew him into another kiss that had them both breathing hard by the time they came up for air.