"I don't think she likes toys. She's super smart. Like really, really smart even though she's the youngest one there."

  "A T-shirt it is." The little girl's image came to mind as she'd held her daddy's hand, and now that her red-rimmed eyes were explained, Carolina felt like the lowest of the low. Kids had a hard enough time being kids these days, and if Lucy was as smart as Samuel indicated, the girl probably struggled socially— which meant Carolina had added to the girl's issues.

  Shoot me now.

  "Poor thing. Honey, you make sure that little girl gets a T-shirt," the customer said, glaring at Carolina. "And a toy or two whether she plays with them or not."

  "Uh, yes, ma'am. Consider it done." The woman held Carolina's gaze for a long moment as though drilling home the fact she'd know whether or not Carolina followed through with the order before the woman nodded sharply and walked away. Thankfully the other customers went back to what they were doing as well.

  Carolina focused on her nephew. "Was it really that bad?"

  "Worse," he muttered. "For real. Aunt Caro, do I have to go back?"

  "Do you want to go to baseball camp?"

  His shoulders and head slumped even more.

  "Yeah."

  She lowered her elbows to the countertop again and buried her face into her palms with a groan. "Then I'm afraid we both have to go to school tomorrow."

  And I have to come up with one heck of a nice apology. Not only for little Lucy but her scary daddy as well.

  Chapter 5

  Silas spotted Carolina Cohen the moment he pulled into the parking spot outside of the school the following morning. It was hard not to notice her since she wore bright pink shorts that showcased her tanned legs and a white shirt that bared her shoulders and even more attention-grabbing skin. She topped that off with a floppy hat that said Hello Sunshine in pink sparkling letters on the wide brim.

  Frowning, he unbuckled his seat belt and cleared his mind of the chaos that awaited them before turning to look at Lucy. "Ready?"

  A small shrug was his answer.

  "Come on, you've got this. Show me some teeth." His daughter forced a fake smile and he chuckled at the fact she was missing a few pearly whites.

  He'd dropped her off at the babysitter's house after school yesterday and then picked her up after his workday had finally ended. They'd had dinner at the diner and taken a walk on the beach, and Lucy had found a few shells. Little by little, she'd recovered from the bad day. But today had started with another upset stomach, though she hadn't thrown up. Yet. "Today's gonna be great. Right?"

  No response.

  "Come on. Let's get you inside." He exited the truck and walked around to open her door. Lucy had already unbuckled and had her backpack in hand, waiting for him to help her down.

  "Um, hi there. You're Lucy, right?"

  Silas turned to find Carolina standing a few feet away, looking as nervous as his baby girl.

  "I'm Carolina," she said to Lucy. "I'm Samuel's aunt. He's in the summer program with you."

  Lucy stared at Carolina but didn't respond.

  Carolina glanced at him but her gaze quickly returned to Luce. Maybe because he silently warned her not to make an iffy day worse or, uglier still, turn into a repeat of yesterday.

  "So, here's the thing. I heard that I caused you to have a really bad day yesterday and I feel awful about that. I was running late for Sammy's school and late for work and… I'm sorry. I shouldn't have cut in front of you—your dad—like that because if I hadn't, you wouldn't have spilled your breakfast and been upset. I'm so sorry I ruined your morning and your shirt."

  Still no answer. Carolina glanced at him again, but he didn't cover Lucy's lack of response the way he normally would have. Instead, he stood silently and enjoyed watching Carolina squirm a bit.

  "Anyway, I brought you a present to say I'm sorry. I hope you'll forgive me, Lucy."

  Silas glanced from Carolina to Lucy and saw his daughter eyeing the bag. His baby girl did love presents. "What do you think, Luce?"

  A small nod was his answer, and he helped Lucy hop down from the lifted truck and watched as she accepted the gift, pulling out the contents.

  The bright pink shirt had Carolina Cove scrolled across the front in some sparkling print.

  "I guessed at your size but I think it'll fit fine. Oh, and there's a book—it's a little old for you but Sammy said… Well, he seemed to think you'd like it. And there's a stuffie. Sammy also mentioned you liked seahorses."

  "I love them," Lucy stated emphatically, speaking for the first time. "Did you know there are over fifty seahorse species?"

  A huff left Carolina, sounding like a mix of part laugh and part shock and awe. But Lucy surprised people like that. His little girl was a brainiac.

  "I did not know that."

  "They're also the size of an M&M when they're babies."

  "Lucy wants to be a marine biologist when she grows up," he said simply. "Luce, what do you say to Ms. Cohen?"

  "Thank you."

  "Oh, hon, you're very welcome. And I really am sorry for causing you to have a bad day at school."

  Lucy nodded, but at the mention of school, she eyed the building like it was a sea monster about to gobble her up.

  "Let me have those and I'll put them in the truck for you to look at when I pick you up this afternoon," he said to his daughter.

  "Can I keep the book to look at during group time?"

  "You wouldn't rather talk to the other kids?"

  "No."

  He held back a heavy sigh. "Sure, keep it. But don't pull it out unless the teacher says it's okay," he stated needlessly. Lucy wasn't a rule breaker. He'd actually like it if she was able to loosen up a bit and rebel—then again, he'd probably rethink that statement in a few short years.

  Lucy handed the shirt and stuffed animal over but tucked the book under one arm, then surprised him yet again by awkwardly stepping forward and giving Carolina an impromptu hug. "I forgive you."

  "Oh! Oh, honey, you're so sweet. Thank you. You have a good day today, okay?"

  "Luce, you should get inside so you're not late."

  As quickly as the hug began, it ended and off Lucy went, slowly moving toward the entrance.

  Carolina watched Lucy enter the building but then turned to face him again. Silas put the gift items in the truck before gently slamming the door. "Thanks for the presents."

  "Wait—"

  He hesitated along the length of the large truck bed.

  "I said I was sorry."

  "I heard."

  "But… you're still angry. Your nostrils are flaring."

  "It's called breathing."

  "Angry breathing."

  "Look—"

  "Carolina," she said, tilting her head. "We met yesterday, remember, Silas?"

  He narrowed his gaze on her because of her tone and the way she'd said his name. "How could I forget?"

  "See? You are angry. I'm sorry. Okay? Really, sincerely sorry. For all of it. For cutting you off and for Lucy's bad day and… thinking you'd stalked me and followed me home. My brain can be a crazy place sometimes when I'm stressing. If you think it's bad outside, you should try being in here," she said, tapping her temple with a pink-tipped finger.

  He crossed his arms over his chest and tilted his head to one side. "Fine. Apology really, sincerely accepted. I have to get to work. Unless you have a present for me?"

  She laughed softly and nodded her head. "Actually…"

  "What? Seriously?"

  "Yeah. After the day I caused you, it's the least I could do," she said as dug into the oversized bag hanging from her shoulder and pulled out a blue T-shirt.

  "I figured wrapping it might be… too much," she said, holding it out to him. "But I heard how you gave her your shirt yesterday and that's why you—"

  "Had on a dirty one?" He shrugged and accepted the gift. "Yeah."

  "And Lucy's shirt was inside out because…?"

  "No visible brands or logos are allowed on clothing."

  Once again, she shook her head, regret marking her beautiful features.

  "The new PC rules. That's right."

  She rolled her baby blues and Silas found himself holding back a smile.

  "I really caused you problems yesterday and that in no way makes up for them, but maybe you can leave it in the truck as a backup and… forgive me, too?"

  He was able to laugh about it now that it was over. "The crew arrived when Bobby was there, so he had to fill them in. They got quite the kick out of the story."

  "Oh, boy," she said, wincing. "Lucy's mom probably wasn't amused either, was she?"

  "She's not around, so no worries there. The guys might say something if you see them, though."

  "Oh, great. Another Carolina adventure story to live down."

  "Another?"

  "Oh, no. If you haven't heard any of them, I'm certainly not telling you. Forget I mentioned it."

  He fisted the shirt in his hand and crossed his arms over his chest. Oh, he'd find out. Fair was fair, after all. "Fine. Apology accepted. But I'm not giving up on hearing those stories. You've intrigued me now."

  She regarded him with a half smile, and the last of his irritation faded. Carolina Cohen was a beautiful woman, and despite his anger with her yesterday, today was a new day.

  "Okay, well, I guess I'll… see you back at the house then?"

  "You're not working today?"

  "Later. Is it okay that I'll be at the house?"

  "Yeah, that's fine. It'll be noisy, though."

  "The noise can't be worse than sitting in London's apartment feeling the floor shake every time her coffee grinders kick in down below."

  "Wait," he said, his brain finally clicking and putting the pieces together. "Your sisters' names are Holland and London?" He'd talked to Holland yesterday before his walk-thru at the house, but somehow in his preoccupation with Luce and the job itself, their names had slipped by him.

  "And Ireland and France—Frankie. We were all named after where we were conceived."

  "So why Carolina? Why not… America?"

  Her laugh surrounded him and lit up her face beneath the floppy hat.

  "That's another long story." She turned on her heel and walked away, and he couldn't help but notice the sway of her hips. "Maybe sometime I'll tell you."

  Silas watched her go, deciding that was yet another story he couldn't wait to hear.

  Chapter 6

  Silas entered McMurphy Construction that afternoon on his way to pick up Lucy from school and made his way past the unoccupied desks of the secretary and accounts department to the owner's office. "Jake? You in there?"

  "Hey, buddy. Come on in."

  Silas pushed the partially open door and saw his friend sitting behind his desk and computer. "You wanted to see me?"

  "Yeah. Got you a present," Jake McMurphy said, pointing to something behind Silas. "Thought that might help you out while driving your truck."

  Silas figured something was up by the snigger of laughter Jake let loose and turned to find a handwritten sign on a magnetic board that read: I'M NOT A CRAZED PERV—McMurphy Construction. "Funny."

  Jake completely lost it and laughed until tears leaked from his eyes. "Carolina called the cops on you? Seriously?"

  Silas ignored the sign and the laughter he heard outside the door because of Jake's booming voice and moved to sit in the chair opposite the desk. "You know her?"

  "Everybody on the island knows the Cohens. Those girls have been the talk of Carolina Cove ever since the family took over the pier house years ago after her daddy retired from the military. All the local mamas want their sons to marry them."

  Silas slouched down in the worn leather chair. He had a few minutes before he had to get Lucy and drop her off at Jake's house for his teenage daughter, Mak, to watch until closing time.

  "I'm just glad it was Bobby that she flagged down and not one of the rookies out to prove himself. Otherwise I could've been facedown on the asphalt." His words sent Jake into another round of laughter while Silas watched and shook his head. "You can stop that anytime."

  "Can't. Oh, geez. I just pictured you getting cuffed."

  Silas glared.

  "Okay, okay. I'll stop," Jake said, struggling to make it happen. "But you gotta admit it's funny."

  "You called me in here to laugh at me almost getting arrested?"

  "No. Actually… it's about Mak."

  "What about her? Is she sick?"

  "No. No. She's going to talk to you when you drop Lucy off today, but I wanted to give you a heads-up because she's so nervous about it."

  A knot formed in his gut and he had a feeling he knew what was coming. "She's not going to babysit Lucy anymore, is she?"

  "Afraid not. She made it into that music program in California, after all."

  "I thought that wasn't a thing anymore."

  "So did she, but it turns out her acceptance got lost in cyberspace. She just found out she got in. She leaves in a few days. We're going to celebrate on the North End Saturday. I hope you'll bring Lucy and hang out."

  Silas grimaced at the news. A few days to find a reliable, trustworthy babysitter? "I'm happy for her. I know she really wanted to get in. That's great."

  "I guess. Can't say I like the idea of her so far away with the state of the world today, but the program is a solid one. She'll be in good hands. I hate it for you and Lucy, though. Mak feels really bad since she told you she'd be available all summer when she thought she hadn't been accepted."

  "I understand. It'll all work out."

  "Ann and I will get the word out. I'm sure we'll find a good fit for Lucy for a couple of weeks."

  "Thanks. Being so new to the island, we're still getting to know people. I'm not sure who to ask."

  "God knows I can't lose you because of childcare. If nothing else, maybe she could go to a program off island?"

  "Maybe." But he hated that idea. Jake didn't want his teenage daughter going to California, but the fact of the matter was, he didn't want Lucy going off island. Summer traffic meant more accidents than the norm as tourists rushed to and from their summer vacation spot, and with one road on and off the island, he didn't want to be stuck in traffic while Lucy waited and fought off a panic attack when he wasn't there on time.

  Maybe he babied her, but given all the kid had been through with her mom leaving and then losing everything after the hurricane, he felt some allowances had to be made until Lucy got her feet under her again and felt more secure.

  "You know, another solution would be for you to find a wife."

  Silas met the man's gaze, yanked from his thoughts by the words. "What?"

  "Come on, man. Don't let one bad woman taint your view of all of them. Take Carolina, for instance—"

  "You're insane—she's insane."

  "Nah, she's a good girl. A little high-strung is all. And why not her? Crazed perv comment aside, she's nice, beautiful, comes from a good family. You could do worse."

  She was those things. But first impressions being what they were, she was also impulsive, unfiltered, and a whirlwind of chaos. "How about you stick to construction?"

  "Silas, you haven't dated anyone since I've known you."

  "I've gone on a couple of dates."

  "With women who sat there and sexted other men."

  "I shouldn't have told you that."

  "But you did. And I'm talking about serious dating. Not that online hookup stuff people are doing."

  "Being a single parent—"

  "Isn't easy. But look at this thing with Lucy. If you had a mate, there would be two of you to share the load and figure this out. What are you waiting for?"

  "Did you suddenly become a matchmaker or something? I'm fine."

  "Maybe, but if it's this hard now, when Lucy is young, think of how hard it's going to be when she's a teenager. Girls need a woman's touch. Trust me on that. Daddy's girls tend to rule daddies whereas a woman sees through the tears and drama and brings some reasoning to the mix."

  "Did you just admit Ann is smarter than you?"

  Jake immediately looked aggrieved. "Now don't go spreading rumors like that. There's not a doubt in my mind that she is, but I'll deny it to my grave."

  Silas stood. "I have to pick up Luce."

  "We're meant to be married, buddy. Like the good book says, it helps to have a mate by your side when you need a hand up. Hey, you forgot your sign! You might need it if you run into Carolina!"

  Chapter 7

  Several days later, Carolina awoke to thuds and hammering on the roof. Crud. The crew had arrived to work. And on one of her rare days off, no less.

  She rolled over and out of bed, dragging her sleepy self into the bathroom. After a quick shower, she'd dressed and was downstairs chugging coffee when someone knocked on the door. She didn't bother calling out, but before she got to the door to answer, a key unlocked the lock and she came face-to-face with Silas Fletcher. "Breaking and entering now?"

  Silas looked surprised to find her there but held up the key. "I have permission. Your car isn't downstairs. I thought everyone was gone."

  Carolina realized Silas wasn't alone. "Hi, Lucy. Why aren't you in school?"

  Silas shot her a questioning stare. "It's closed today due to a power outage on those blocks. Shouldn't you know that?"

  "Uh-oh. Did I lose Sammy again?" she asked, making a face as she moved over to the cabinet where she'd left her phone overnight to charge, praying all the way that she hadn't slept through a call from Samuel, the school, or her sisters about the change in schedule.

  She ran her finger over the screen and punched in her code to unlock the phone, sagging against the counter in relief she hoped she disguised by acting casual. "London dropped Sammy off at the garage this morning after finding out about the closure, so he's helping Frankie change the oil in Pearl. Shew. He's not lost."

 

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