“Maybe he realized he was a jerk and wanted to make up for it.”

“Why wouldn’t he leave a note? Should I go by the shop and pay him back, or at least thank him?”

“You could do that, or you can kill two birds with one stone. You want to stop thinking about him, right?”

“Kind of. He has red flags written all over him.”

“And she waffles.” Marly giggled. “You could pay him with sexual favors and screw him out of your system.”

“That’s like asking for trouble.” His voice trampled through her mind. Careful, Blue Eyes. You don’t want to get yourself in trouble, and on its heels, her response Maybe I like trouble. Her stomach flip-flopped at the prospect of getting into that kind of trouble with Tobias.

“Then leave it. Don’t go see him, and forget about him. A gorgeous man fixing your vehicle and dropping it off is not a bad problem to have.”

“Wait, I just remembered I can’t go see him. He’s not working today.”

“Problem solved. Out of sight, out of mind. Let’s meet for breakfast and go shopping for something cute to wear tonight. Maybe you’ll get lucky and meet a hot guy at the fireworks who’ll make you forget all about your moody mechanic.”

Tobias had been out of sight since yesterday evening and he was still on Madigan’s mind despite the red flags, which made her feel like that naive college girl lusting after someone she shouldn’t. That was a sobering reality. She wasn’t about to let another man steal one more second of her sanity.

“You know what? I don’t need to meet another guy to forget Tobias. I just fell off the never-again wagon for a little while. But I’m back in control. Consider him forgotten.”

AFTER A DAY of shopping and trying to convince herself that she wasn’t still thinking about Tobias, Madigan met her family and friends at the beach just down the road from the Salty Hog. They’d been going there to watch the fireworks instead of the more popular beaches where locals and tourists went to celebrate since she was a kid. But over the years, more people had discovered their secret, and tonight there were dozens of people there. Giggles and shouts rang out, competing with the sounds of waves crashing against the shore, as families sat on blankets and chairs, children darted across the sand waving miniature flags, and couples strolled by the water’s edge. Teenagers gathered in groups down the beach, too cool to throw Frisbees and footballs, while twentysomethings sat around bonfires drinking and talking loudly.