“I don’t want you staying on your own at Avril Island. Not until the police know for sure who was roaming around last night. Even if it is just some stupid kids, I’d feel better knowing you were here and not there alone while I’m away.”

For a split second I think about being brave and asserting my right to stay wherever I please, but I also like having Ezra’s excuse to not be brave and stay here for a night with Wi-Fi, a TV, a shower, and some human population around.

“Okay,” I say, working hard to make my compliance sound reluctant. “If it will make you feel better, I’ll stay.”

He leans over and kisses me. “Good. I’m glad that’s settled. Now, how would my beautiful guest enjoy breakfast in bed?”

“She’d love it.” He turns to go, but I reach out and grab the bottom of his T-shirt to keep him there. “Since you brought up the topic of guests.”

“Yes?” he says, eyeing me suspiciously.

“Why was it that me slipping into bed beside you last night didn’t seem to surprise you? Do you often get middle-of-the-night female guests?”

He throws his head back and laughs. “I’d like to say I do, but no, you’re my first one.”

“But you weren’t surprised?”

“June, I was exhausted. I’d worked all day in the sun; then I spent hours getting my mom settled down after the neighbor found her out on the street. I was fast asleep when you arrived. I knew it was you and figured you’d just decided that you didn’t want to be alone after the dead birds so came here. I didn’t feel the need to wake up and have a full conversation with you about it.” He waits for an answer, but I just stare back at him, assessing the believability of his reasoning. “Okay?” he says firmly.

“Okay,” I say back.

I’m not sure why I’m so suspicious when it comes to him. Especially when there isn’t even an ex-girlfriend I know of or any sign of another woman. In fact, there doesn’t even seem to be much of a dating history. Maybe that’s the problem. I know Ezra so well and so little at the same time. There’s a thirty-year gap in our history, and other than what he voluntarily tells me, I don’t know much.

What I do know is that he’s gorgeous, kind, considerate, successful, funny, and smart but has never been married and has never spoken of a long-term relationship. He bends down and kisses me gently on the lips before leaving the room to make me breakfast. I slide back down under the duvet, wondering why such a catch of a man has, as far as I can tell, remained uncaught.