My cheeks heated. I recognized him from around town. He’d offered to help me carry things to my boat once or twice, but we’d never officially met. “Comes with the job, I guess.”

“It was pretty adorable.”

I shifted on my feet. The man was handsome, but flirting wasn’t something I’d had a whole lot of experience with. In high school, the boys had mostly given me a wide berth, knowing what had happened to me. People whispered, but they didn’t engage. “Chickens are pretty cute. I have to get these up to the main house. Hope you have a good day.”

“Sam,” he said before I could leave. “That’s my name.”

I gave him a smile, but it wavered slightly. I was unused to such focused attention. “Nice to meet you, Sam. I really do—”

“What do you say to dinner on Shelter this Friday? I tried asking around about you but couldn’t find out much. You don’t have a boyfriend, do you?”

I froze. He’d asked around about me? Questions would only stoke any curiosities about the woman who stayed on this island alone nine months out of the year. That could lead to searching. Someone finding out who I was. No one on Anchor or Shelter even knew my last name. Well, no one but Caelyn. I hoped that would be enough to protect me. I met Sam’s stare. “I’m sorry, but I don’t have time.”

He opened his mouth to say something else, but Hunter appeared. “Sam. There’s more lumber to unload. We need your help.”

Sam shot me a grin and headed back to the job site. “You got it, boss man.”

Hunter focused his attention on me, his gaze scanning me from head to toe. Not in any sort of lascivious way, but as if he were checking for unease. “He bothering you?”

I adjusted the hold on my basket. “No, he was just making polite conversation.” The guy didn’t deserve to be chewed out by his boss for asking me out. I was sure my awkwardness would keep him from inquiring again.

“Glad to hear it. How are things with your new boss?”

Unnerving was the word that immediately popped into my mind. Not in a bad way, but in a dangerous one. Brody had me wanting to say all sorts of things that were far too risky for me. “Good. He’s kind and fair. Can’t ask for much more.”

Hunter glanced up at the main house. “Seems like a solid guy. Glad you landed a good one.”

The way he said it made Brody sound more like a boyfriend than a boss, and my cheeks heated. “Me, too.”

“You guys should come into town and hang out. You know Caelyn and the crew would always love to have you over for family dinner.”