Quinn really did want to see more of the real Maui, but something about being so close to Liam in his vehicle—she wasn’t even sure what kind—it just made her hesitate.

“That settles it,” he said. “If we get done sanding today, tomorrow morning, bright and early, we hit the Road to Hana. The countertops are delayed again, so I’ve got my painting crew coming. They can handle it. I told Pali he was in charge, and that made him happy.”

She started to ask for a rain check, and he put his hand up.

“Do you want to call Auntie Wang and tell her you refuse to see her island?”

She sighed. Going up against him didn’t faze her, but the thought of arguing with the persuasive woman was a bit frightening. And she did want to see some of Maui. She’d promised herself before she got there that she was going to be brave and do things. So far that was a major fail.

Except for the water.

She’d gotten into the ocean and had survived. There was that.

And she’d had a magical moment with a sea turtle. How many people could claim that?

“Fine,” she said. “But I don’t want to stay gone long. I’m waiting on Auntie Wang to follow up on something. If she emails me again, I want to be close.”

He raised his eyebrows. “Sounds important. Want to tell me more?”

“Not yet,” Quinn said. “I don’t want to jinx it. I don’t even want to think about it right now.”

“Then follow me. I have just the something that will keep your thoughts at bay. You are about to find out why men love power tools so much.”

By evening, they were done with the shutters, and Quinn was freshly showered and sitting on her bed, staring at her computer screen. She’d begged off from dinner. She needed some space. Things were beginning to feel too comfortable. She reminded herself that she was still the one who was going to be putting the family out, though it seemed figuring it all out kept eluding them each day.

The clock read six thirty. That meant it was after midnight on the East Coast. Still, she needed to talk to Ethan. She wanted to feel that connection again. To remember that she had another life that needed her back.

She picked up the phone and scrolled to his name, hesitating for a moment before hitting the “Call” button. She leaned back on the pillows, telling herself to relax, this was the man she loved.

One ring, then two.

She didn’t even know what she was going to say to him.

Did he miss her at all? Would he be mad at her for waking him?

Third ring.

If he didn’t pick up now, it would go to voice mail, and she’d hang up.

It clicked.