“Don’t tell me you picked this idea from my book as well,” I say.

“Actually, I did. You said you have a thing for sunrises. And it’s something I picked up from my book too. I know you missed a sunrise, which would’ve been very special for you.”

Don’t bring that up now. Don’t. Don’t pop the bubble and ruin the magic.

“I wanted to give you another one in return.”

He didn’t ruin the magic. He just created it and if I was a different kind of woman, I would kiss him right now. But being as I am, all I can do is stare into his eyes and together we stare at the most beautiful sunrise I’ve ever seen. I’m overwhelmed by all these feelings, the beauty of this moment, and the big heart of this man. A man who, I’m discovering day by day and hour by hour is so different from what I thought he was.

I’m quiet on our way back; just have a lot on my mind. Not sure if he feels it or our quiet times align, but Ethan doesn’t force a conversation. Back at the cottage, he parks the car and tells me he’s not coming straight to Café Azure because he has some things to take care of first.

“Thank you,” I say. “This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

“It was a first for me, too. Just thought we’d try it together.”

What and how he’s saying it makes my heart grow and grow, like it’s about to explode. I wish I could react differently, but this is what it has to be under these particular circumstances.

He tilts his head. “How are we on the hate front?”

“On the wha—”

And then I remember. “Same-o, same-o. Nice try with the cute sunrise though.”

He chuckles, I smile and thank him again, turn around and leave. I leave this man standing there, a man I’m painfully attracted to, both physically and mentally, and a man I connect to on all possible and impossible levels. But I leave him like that and I’m incapable of saying what I wish I could, because somewhere there’s this other man I’ve been looking for. A man I’ve never seen, I’ve never held hands with, kissed, laughed with, watched a sunrise or sunset with. Alisa is right; I have a talent for complicating my life like it’s nobody’s business.

Seventy-One

I get to Café Azure a little before lunch, and the moment I see Celine, I can tell she’s wound up and can barely contain her nerves. And it’s not the customers or anything to do with the café. I know she’s looking forward to her date with Aaron, but she’s also afraid of how things might turn out. Plus, it’s been a while since they’ve spent any time together. I would be a total wreck.

“Everything will be fine tonight,” I reassure her. “You’ll see. It’s going to work out.”