Out the back door, the shutters were laid out and the sander plugged in, waiting. After her visit with Auntie Wang the day before, they had all worked together to finish scrubbing them, loosening and removing years of grime. With all of them working together, laughing and talking story, it hadn’t even felt like work. Quinn had felt sorry when it was done, and they all retreated inside to get ready for bed. Liam was the last to leave after taking his time to inspect every shutter multiple times, insisting that Quinn keep him company.

When he couldn’t find any more spots to complain about, he had said his goodbyes, and Quinn waved, then slipped into the guesthouse and went to bed.

But the morning was beautiful, and she decided to enjoy the quiet for a bit after breakfast, settling into the chair on her small porch.

Liam chose that moment to come from around the side of the house, a bundle of extension cords in his hands and a huge smile across his face.

“Aloha kakahiaka,” he called out. “That means good morning, in case you aren’t up on your local Hawaiian phrases.”

He winked.

The wink threw her, and she forgot what she was going to say. “Are you always so cheerful?” she finally asked, crossing her arms.

“Pretty much,” he said. “Are you always so grumpy?”

“I’m not grumpy. It’s just early.” Maybe she was grumpy, but she wasn’t admitting to anything.

He paused, his smile disappearing for a second before he recovered and put it back in place. “Fair enough. Let’s get to work,” he said. “I don’t want to get behind on this project.”

“Agreed,” Quinn said, thinking of Ethan and his threats to come over and straighten everything out.

“But”—he looked back at her after picking up the sander—“Auntie Wang called me this morning and insisted I show you some of the island. She said you’re like a lost water nymph with no idea which way to go.”

He laughed quietly.

Quinn crossed her arms even tighter. “I’m not lost. And I’m definitely no water nymph.”

“Now, don’t go getting all flustered up. She means well, and, really, don’t you want to see some of Maui while you’re here?”

“I’ve seen some. I drove all over Lahaina the other afternoon, and I walked up and down Front Street.”

He rolled his eyes.

“Tourist stuff. What about the Road to Hana? Did you drive that?”

She shook her head. “The girl at the rental car place said that was the one destination I couldn’t take the car, and I’m not about to join a tour group.”

He came and stood in front of her.