Her plate was already full, but in addition to her babysitting duties—and planning a masterclass festival that could be the last hope for many of the town’s merchants who were as much at risk from the area wildfires as the flora, fauna, and man-made structures in their direct paths—maybe in the coming weeks she could also help the novice father and reluctant daughter bridge the yawning gap between them.

No pressure there.

She rolled her eyes as she slid behind the wheel and twisted the key in the ignition.

With prayer and hard work, it was possible she’d succeed at both.

But if she’d overextended, she could be setting herself up for an epic fail that would have long-lasting repercussions not only for Jack and Hannah but for the entire town.

22

Coming home to find Christi in his apartment at eleven thirty at night was going to be dangerous.

Jack swung the Jeep into his parking spot, shut off the engine, and stared at the light spilling through the living room window in his unit—which was always dark . . . and safe . . . when he returned from an evening shift.

Not tonight.

Not with Christi inside.

Not after what had happened in this parking lot on Tuesday.

He massaged the bridge of his nose and rolled down his window. Filled his lungs with the salt-laced air. Exhaled.

Hiring Christi may have been a mistake. Yes, he’d been desperate to find childcare, but using that as an excuse to tap her for the nanny job was disingenuous.

The truth was, her plight had touched him, and he’d wanted to relieve her burden—especially after the tale of woe she’d told him that had cinched the loan.

Meaning he was now more susceptible than ever to the charms of the woman he’d once loved who, based on the evidence, appeared to have reinvented herself into a new and much-improved version.

So being with her in the house at this late hour wasn’t wise. Despite his daughter’s proximity, Hannah would be asleep—giving him every opportunity to pick up where he’d left off Tuesday night if he wanted to.

And heaven help him, he did. Even if it was too soon. Even if the possibility of making another mistake scared him senseless. Even if he was wary of the green light his usually trustworthy instincts were giving him.

Thank goodness Christi had had the wisdom—and fortitude—to back off from their almost-kiss.

But would she again?

And if she didn’t, would he once more find the temptation to taste her lips too strong to ignore?

No way to know.

So he’d go with the game plan he’d developed tonight during his patrol rounds—ask Christi to brief him on her hours with Hannah, thank her, and show her to the door. Fast.

If he stuck with that strategy, nothing inappropriate could happen.