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The Widower's Second Chance
Jessica Keller


Learning To Love…AgainIdyllic Goose Harbor, Michigan, offers a fresh start for broken-hearted Paige Windom. In addition to securing a teaching job at the high school, she'll fulfill her dream of helping at-risk teens in a nearby inner-city mentoring program. But Caleb Beck, a handsome yet overprotective widower and the center's founder, doesn't want Paige anywhere near the place. He's afraid she'll get hurt–just like his late wife. Paige knows she can do a lot of good–for the kids and Caleb himself. If only she can show him how to let go of his fear, maybe they'll both find a way to reopen their wounded hearts.Goose Harbor: Love is in big supply on the shores of Lake Michigan.







Learning To Love…Again

Idyllic Goose Harbor, Michigan, offers a fresh start for broken-hearted Paige Windom. In addition to securing a teaching job at the high school, she’ll fulfill her dream of helping at-risk teens in a nearby inner-city mentoring program. But Caleb Beck, a handsome yet overprotective widower and the center’s founder, doesn’t want Paige anywhere near the place. He’s afraid she’ll get hurt—just like his late wife. Paige knows she can do a lot of good—for the kids and Caleb himself. If only she can show him how to let go of his fear, maybe they’ll both find a way to reopen their wounded hearts.

Goose Harbor: Love is in big supply on the shores of Lake Michigan.


Paige wondered what Caleb was thinking.

“After tonight,” he said, “after actually seeing this place…do you still want to be involved with the center?” He spoke so quietly, she had to lean even closer.

Did she? Paige bit her lip. “Yes. Of course.” If only to prove she could.

“But I don’t understand,” he said. “You’ve now—”

“You don’t just back down from something you’ve thought about for years.” Paige tried to keep the quiver out of her voice.

“It’s not safe, Paige. Don’t you see that?” He braced one hand on her car and one hand on his truck. “For instance, tonight—what if I hadn’t stayed and made sure you got to your car safely? This is a dangerous city.”

“So you keep saying.”

He shoved his hands into his pockets. “I’ll continue to remind you of that until you get it.”

Paige folded her arms, hiding her hands so he wouldn’t see that they were shaking.

Why couldn’t he understand?


JESSICA KELLER

A Starbucks drinker, avid reader and chocolate aficionado, Jessica writes both romance and young adult fiction. As a child, Jessica possessed the dangerous combination of too much energy coupled with an overactive imagination. This pairing led to more than seven broken bones, countless scars and even more story ideas. Jessica holds degrees in both communications and biblical studies. She lives in the Chicagoland suburbs with her amazing husband, beautiful daughter and two annoyingly outgoing cats. Jessica loves interacting with readers. Find all of her contact information at www.jessicakellerbooks.com (http://www.jessicakellerbooks.com).


The Widower’s Second Chance

Jessica Keller












www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)


He who was seated on the throne said,

I am making everything new.

Then he said, Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.

—Revelation 21:5


First and foremost, thank you and love to my husband and beautiful daughter, who overflow my heart with love, making it possible for me to have the energy and encouragement to keep writing. Also to the members of the BCGE who helped me brainstorm and add layers to both Caleb and Paige, the story wouldn’t have been written without you all. Many thanks to my parents, who are always happy and willing to watch my baby so I could write—you both believe in me, and that has made all the difference in my journey. Lastly to the lovely Lisa Marie, who has asked me for years when I’d start writing “those stories about the tourist town in Michigan” that I told her about back in our college days. For you, Lisa, Goose Harbor now lives.


Contents

Cover (#u253f263b-b2d9-5a4c-8c57-797faa68ecbc)

Back Cover Text (#u9cbeffc2-1530-5979-8486-673d50bf5f83)

Introduction (#u5806079d-bf5c-52e9-a423-296cf45bec4b)

About the Author (#uf1f2cd1d-90f6-5cc9-9d9b-9185af9fcb7c)

Title Page (#u2b21e9b9-27d9-54f1-9e78-1478fbf54d11)

Bible Verse (#ucc343c3c-a62d-57c4-a46a-857909af195b)

Dedication (#u446544e8-3b59-5510-810f-3d211871e303)

Chapter One (#ulink_1d400534-b47c-571f-87d4-da232c41a147)

Chapter Two (#ulink_dfb4f29d-525a-54e0-b1b8-cca92415ad79)

Chapter Three (#ulink_4838ba6b-86bd-5739-b249-be71e20179b3)

Chapter Four (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fifteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Sixteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Dear Reader (#litres_trial_promo)

Questions for Discussion (#litres_trial_promo)

Extract (#litres_trial_promo)

Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)


Chapter One (#ulink_b0d9a014-18ed-5d6a-afa6-15b40f704795)

That sure smelled like fire.

Caleb Beck backed out from his crouched position under the sink and laid down the wrench. Hopefully the patch on the pipe would work. “Mags! Are you cooking something?”

He clomped over to the industrial oven he’d installed at the bed-and-breakfast a few years ago. Cool to the touch. He peeked inside, just in case. Empty.

The inn had seven guest bedrooms, and four of the rooms had their own fireplaces. He sniffed the air and turned in a circle, his fingers looped on his tool belt. The smell didn’t come from upstairs. Out the window over the kitchen sink, Caleb spotted the inn’s owner, Maggie West, working in the garden. It would be just like his absentminded sister-in-law to not follow city code and burn something out in the yard.

He yanked open the back door. “Maggie. Are you burning something? Leaves, maybe?”

Maggie rolled her eyes at him, her hands on her hips and her curly brown hair puffing out in every angle imaginable. “Burning leaves at the end of summer? We have months yet for that. Don’t tell me you hit your head in there.”

Caleb growled. Should have known he wouldn’t get a straight answer out of her. Maggie had been stubborn since they were kids playing on the beaches of Lake Michigan together.

He let out a long breath. Be patient. “Well, something is burning, and if you’re just going to stand there...”

“It’s probably faulty work done by my handyman.” A laugh in her voice, she bent back down to tend to her garden.

“But I’m your handyman.”

“Like I said.”

He shoved through the back door and his eyes landed on the door that led to the basement. Of course. These old Victorians came complete with ancient and terrible wiring. Sure, the homes filled the tourist town of Goose Harbor with charm, but the laws against changing historical landmarks made it difficult to improve the buildings when safety came into play. Maggie might not take him seriously, but the whole place could go up in a heap of smoke if he didn’t act fast. Caleb hurtled down the stairs, taking them two at a time.

The sight that met him made him freeze for a moment.

A woman he’d never seen before hunched over a metal tub in the middle of the cold floor. Her blond hair splayed across her face and blocked him from seeing her expression. Pieces of paper fanned out in all directions around her.

He took a step forward. She didn’t look up. Caleb scooped up one of the papers. A letter.



Dear Paige...



Her shoulders trembled. “Never again.”

Paige tossed a stack of folded papers onto the small fire burning in the tub. Flames licked the edge of the bin as the paper started to curl and turn black. Next, she grabbed a mound of white fabric from beside her. If she tossed that wispy bunch of cloth into the small tub, the fire would get out of control. Not to mention smell awful.

He crossed to where she sat on the ground.

Almost in a daze, Paige lifted her arms, ready to stuff the white pile of fabric into the fire.

Caleb caught her wrists. “What are you, crazy? Don’t do that.” He tugged what now registered in his head as a dress out of her clutches.

Paige slammed her hands onto her hips. “Give that back.”

Caleb tossed it out of her reach. She moved to go after the dress, but he grabbed her slender shoulders, and she finally looked at him. When her crystal-blue eyes locked on his, something warm curled inside his chest. He knew enough about women to know only one thing could cause those huge raccoon marks on her face. She’d been crying. Not just crying—sobbing. But even the running mascara couldn’t mask her simple beauty. The splash of freckles across her cheeks, delicate nose and pursed lips as she exhaled...everything about her screamed protect me.

Had he ever been able to deny someone who needed help?

Caleb shook that thought away. He’d had the opportunity to protect more than one person he cared about and failed. Miserably. Never again.

He didn’t deserve another chance.

A thin breath rattled out of her, and she shrank away from him. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what I’m...I’m...” Paige looked like a scared animal begging a hunter not to shoot her.

“What were you doing?” Caleb kept his voice low and even.

“Can you please hand me my wedding dress?”

“Your...?” His eyes darted to the white pool of fabric he’d thrown to the corner of the basement. The girl was going to shove a wedding dress into the fire? What could have happened to her? “You can’t burn that in here. It’s not safe. Besides, a wedding dress is something to keep forever.”

“Forever. Ha. Forever doesn’t exist.” Paige ran the back of her hand under her eyes and pushed up to her feet. Brushing past him, she scooped up the dress. “I can do whatever I want with it.”

Caleb tugged the dress away from her. “Not toss it in that fire. In fact—” He strode past her to the sink near the washer and dryer and filled a pitcher with water. Walking back to the small metal tub, he doused the fire inside. The flames hissed as they died.

“You had no right.” She crossed her arms over her chest and her foot tapped on the cement floor. Too bad the petite woman couldn’t have looked menacing if she tried.

“And you have no right trying to burn down Maggie’s inn.”

“I wasn’t going to—I promise I won’t put it in the fire.” She yanked a hair tie off her wrist and pulled her hair into a quick, messy bun. “It’s been a bad day.”

He took a step closer. Yes, this woman was beautiful. Of that there was no doubt. Despite her obvious grief and the spotty lighting in the basement, Paige’s features were stunning—legs a mile long and honey-colored hair a man couldn’t help but want to run his hands through. Her blue eyes were deep with locked secrets, kind of like an animal in a cage at the shelter—a little sad yet with the promise of hope. A dusting of freckles formed striking constellations on her cheeks. They were cute, making her seem approachable even in her present state of distress.

What was she doing here? “Who are you, anyway?”

She lifted her chin. “I live here.”

“Listen. I know everyone in this town and I have never seen you in my life. Who are you?”

Her lips quivered. “Can I just have the dress back? Please?”

“Not if you’re going to try to do something crazy with it again.” He moved his hands behind his back so she couldn’t make a grab at the fabric.

She balled her fists up at her sides. “I’m so tired of people telling me what I can and can’t do.” She marched toward him, bringing along a sweet, flowery smell that made him want to lean closer even with the blaze in her eyes.

Her pointer finger jabbed into his chest. “You can’t tell me what to do.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, but—”

“It’s just... I can’t believe—” She dissolved into a mess of tears and ragged breaths. Hands covering her face as her shoulders hunched, her knees began to buckle.

Caleb dropped the dress and caught her elbows before she hit the ground. She wasn’t even trying to stand anymore. He had to press her to his chest and wrap his arms around her just to keep her upright. Her head fit right into the place next to his heart. “Shh. Hey. You’re okay.”

Okay? Should he have said that? It’s not like he knew her problems. But no man in the world could handle a woman when she cried like that. He didn’t even know her and her tears were making his heart bunch into a knot.

He tightened his hold a bit. “Did someone harm you? Are you in any sort of danger?”

One of her fists pounded against his shoulder three times before her fingers worked open and bunched the fabric of his flannel shirtfront. “How could he? I was ready.... Life was set.... How could he?” She sniveled into his shirt right next to his heart.

“I’m sorry. Whatever happened, I’m sorry you had to go through it.” He rubbed a circle on her back.

Paige rested her forehead against his chest and took a few rattling breaths. He fought the foolish urge to bury his nose in her soft hair. Not counting his sister or Maggie, how long had it been since he held a woman in his arms? Two years.

The washing machine along the south wall clicked and started whirling. The tiny legs of the machine clattered against the cement with a high-pitched scratching sound. Maggie probably overfilled the thing, again.

The sound snapped the woman in his embrace back to attention.

Paige pushed out of his arms. “Oh. I’m so sorry. How stupid of me. You must think that I...”

He held up a hand. “You don’t have to explain.” He handed her the wedding dress.

“Thank you,” she mumbled.

Caleb glanced up at the ceiling as if he could find directions on how to deal with distraught women written up there. A stuffed snowman grinned back at him. Nothing but beams packed with Maggie’s decorations for all the different holidays.

He wouldn’t leave the woman alone in the basement in case she did something else irrational, but he could hold his tongue and give her a minute to collect herself. Besides, it’s not like he could help her if she asked. He’d never been able to help anyone before.

Not really.

* * *

Stop acting crazy.

Paige Windom took a long, deep breath. What a way to start life in a new town. Good thing Dad couldn’t see her now. Windoms don’t crack. At least, that was what he always said. Then again, he’d lost his right to speak into her life. Cheaters and liars don’t get to give advice.

Why wouldn’t this man leave her alone? Her pity party was supposed to be an invitation-only thing. Table for one.

She didn’t need a stranger seeing her in this state because this wasn’t her. She organized everything, made to-do lists and had every lesson plan she’d ever written in a color-coded binder. Not that she’d admit it to anyone, but she even kept an Excel spreadsheet of her wardrobe to help match outfits for work. But well-laid plans hadn’t led to dreams coming true. Not once. So maybe being rational wasn’t worth it.

She sank to her knees.

Her fingers traced over the beadwork on the dress in her hands. The perfect Pronovias gown—an A-line organza with a sweetheart neckline, complete with a cascade of ruffles. It had taken thirteen shopping trips to find the perfect dress. Thirteen. She should have known better.

She hadn’t cried when she discovered Bryan with another woman and hadn’t even shed a tear on the three-hour drive from Chicago to Goose Harbor. But for some reason, as she unpacked her bag in the little room on the back side of the inn, her body started to ache. It felt like a bad case of heartburn, but more painful. And no matter how tightly she pressed a pillow to herself, the hurt in the pit of her stomach remained.

Would she have to walk through the rest of life feeling numb?

Sure, she wanted independence, but no one told her how abandoned being free felt.

Floorboards above her creaked, and the sound drew her back to the present. A damp, mildew smell clung to the cracked cement along the walls of the basement. The other side of the room still boasted a dirt floor. Sunlight filtered in through the basement’s window wells.

The man in the basement with her worked his bearded jaw back and forth. Had she really just tossed herself into his arms? Quite the first impression. Paige felt her cheeks begin to burn. What must he think of her?

He hooked his hands on his tool belt. The man’s silhouette against the evening sunlight outlined broad shoulders as his flannel shirt molded over coiled biceps. When he held her, he’d smelled like a midnight rainstorm, fresh with a slight scent of pine trees. His athletic form made him look ready to build a house from scratch or chop down a tree. The man was all strength, but carried a gentle reassurance about his person all the same.

Regardless of his relaxed pose, he would be able to move quickly if she did something reckless with her dress again. Not that she planned to.

The man took a slow step closer and then knelt down in front of her. “Miss, are you all right?” His forehead creased. Only a foot or two away, she locked her gaze with his for the first time. His eyes were warm—the color of hot chocolate laced with cream.

Paige swallowed hard. “I’m okay.”

He raised a brow. “Are you sure? You could talk to me, if that would make things better. I’ll listen.” His voice was a balm. Strong and reassuring.

Stop. Stop analyzing him. She hadn’t come to Goose Harbor to check out the first man she bumped into. Not the first or the fifteenth.

“This isn’t how I usually am. You caught me at a bad time.” Paige rose from the floor, the dress clutched to her stomach. Maybe she’d sell the thing at a consignment shop in town. At least get some money out of it to help save toward a home of her own. Then strange men couldn’t wander downstairs and find her during an off moment, and she wouldn’t be able to embarrass herself again.

Although, the sooner she found a place of her own, the more the loneliness might seep in.

She set the dress on top of the washing machine. No need to bring it back to her bedroom. It would only serve as a reminder there.

The man got to his feet. “My name’s Caleb. I’m friends with Maggie. Do you want me to go get her?”

Paige shook her head.

Caleb looped his hands on his tool belt again as if they needed to do something tangible. “Is there something I can do to help you? Anything?”

“Just go.” Her voice cracked a little, even though she fought it.

“I’d feel better if I stayed here with you.”

“I’m sure you have better things to do.”

“Right now, making sure you’re safe is the most important thing on my list.”

Fine. She couldn’t make Caleb leave—not if he shared a friendship with the inn owner, but she could make him feel unwelcome. Make sure she was safe? Unless he was the town greeter or an undercover cop, she didn’t need him babysitting her.

Paige turned her back on him. A chill ran through her body. Why were basements so cold?

Caleb cleared his throat. “You’re pretty quiet for a girl.”

“For a girl, huh?” Paige fought back the first smile of the day as she turned to face him.

Like sunshine after a week of cloudy days, a full smile broke out across Caleb’s lips, lighting up every plane and angle of his face. “I have a sister.” His voice was bathed in tenderness. “She talks a mile a minute.”

So he loved his family, had a nice voice and knew how to comfort a girl in need. Paige needed to get away from him. Quick. She couldn’t afford to go soft on her vow against men so soon.

“I have to go. I’m sorry we had to meet like this.” Paige rushed to the stairs and grabbed the railing. She looked back at Caleb. He opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but didn’t.

Go, Paige. Just go. She’d gotten good at running away the past few months. At least, it was nice to think so. Without looking behind her again, she climbed the stairs and tried to forget the image of the concerned man in the basement with the gentle, chocolate eyes.

* * *

Caleb scrubbed his hand over the close-clipped hair on his chin. Women were confusing, plain and simple. At least the fire situation was under control. He grabbed the dress she’d left downstairs. Why had she made such a big deal of him giving it back to just leave it again?

“So, Smokey the Bear, what was it? Or like I suspected, was it all in your head?” Maggie’s voice made him jump.

He turned to face her. “Do you have a new girl working here?”

She wiped the dirt from gardening on her ripped jeans. “I never did fill the cleaning position.” Maggie leaned her hip against the basement wall. “But do you mean Paige? I’m letting her stay here for Principal Timmons until the tourists clear out and she can rent something more permanent in town. Let’s see, she’s about this tall. Pretty little blonde thing.”

“Principal Timmons?”

“Yes. Paige is the new English teacher.” Maggie smiled.

The three English teachers’ rooms were across the hall from where he taught science at the high school. So he’d be seeing a lot more of Paige.

“This is hers.” He pressed the wedding dress into Maggie’s hands. “But don’t give it back to her if she’s just going to try to light it on fire again.”

“On fire?” Maggie’s eyes grew big.

“Told you I smelled something.”

Maggie hugged the dress to her chest. “That poor woman.”

“That poor woman could have set your livelihood ablaze. Are you sure she’s safe? You know, right in the head? I’d hate to see you in trouble.” Caleb squeezed Maggie’s shoulder.

“She’s safe. I promise.”

He searched her face. “You’re the only sister-in-law I have.” He offered a small smile.

Maggie brushed his hand away. “I keep telling you—you don’t have to waste your life away worrying about little old me.”

Right. She knew too well. The last time he worried about someone it had caused Maggie a lot of heartache, too.

Even though her words sliced, he shrugged. “Other than Shelby, who else do I have to worry about?”

“Caleb.” She reached a hand toward him but let it drop to her side. “I didn’t mean to—”

No more pity. He couldn’t stand another person’s concerned eyes on him. That was the problem with a small town—everyone knew what had happened to his wife and treated him differently because of it.

“Sink’s fixed.” He plodded up the steps. “See you later.”

He didn’t bother gathering his tools from Maggie’s kitchen. She’d probably call him tomorrow with something else to patch at the inn. Not that he minded.

His sister, Shelby, might be waiting dinner on him at home. He checked his phone. No texts from her yet. He still had time.

Maybe he’d go shoot hoops at the school first.

* * *

Paige scoured mascara off her face so hard she left a red patch of skin.

What must Caleb think of her? Hopefully she’d never have to run into him again. If it came up in conversation she’d ask Maggie not to hire the same handyman next time or at least have Maggie warn her before she had him come for a job again. Facing him after she tossed herself into his arms would be nothing short of mortifying.

Okay. Let’s face it. She probably would see him again. Hadn’t he said he was friends with Maggie? More reason to find an apartment or home to rent somewhere else in town and soon as she could. That would be her first goal.

Paige let out a long breath of air.

Running away had never sounded like a good idea. But what else could she have done?

She sank onto the edge of the bed. This room was the size of Paige’s closet at her parents’ home, but in the same manner as the rest of the bed-and-breakfast, it was decorated like a charming English cottage. Good thing Principal Timmons had taken it upon himself to set up this living situation for her when he hired her last minute. And the owner, Maggie West, seemed nice enough. Although perhaps a little rough around the edges.

New starts were supposed to be exciting, right?

So why this heavy, hopeless feeling gnawing in the pit of her stomach?

Paige could hear Maggie in the kitchen, clanking spoons against bowls as she did prep work for tomorrow’s breakfast. What to do? Paige didn’t know anyone in the town of Goose Harbor, but going to bed before the sun went down seemed a little too desperate.

No, she needed to do something to clear her mind. Without wasting another minute, she snagged her gym shoes out of the closet and tugged them on. Paige wouldn’t go for a jog tonight, but she could scope out a trail to run for the next time she needed escape.

Maggie cleared her throat when Paige entered the kitchen.

“Are you okay, sweetie?” She wiped her hands on her green-checkered apron and gave Paige a sad smile.

“I’m guessing Caleb told you about my episode downstairs. I’m so sorry. That’s not like me. I promise I won’t act like that again.”

“Don’t even think about it. Believe me—men have done a number on my head one too many times to count. I guess that’s why I’m resigned to spinsterhood.” Maggie winked at her.

“Hardly. You’re what, my age?”

“I think a couple years older. Thirty-four, but let’s not go shouting that from the rooftops. You’re going to be okay, you know that, right?” Maggie grasped Paige’s hand, leaving some flour on her fingers.

“Sure. That’s why I’m here. Time for something new.” Paige tried to infuse life into her voice. She did like learning new things, and with her upbringing, she had so much to learn. But right now, it was the circumstances behind the uprooting of her life that dampened everything.

Maggie went back to punching a wad of dough on the counter. “I hung your dress up downstairs.”

“Thanks.” Paige touched her fingers to the couple of hair ties she always stored on her wrist. “Do you need help preparing anything? I don’t know a lot about cooking, but I’m willing to learn.”

“No need. I’m almost done for tonight. But I appreciate the offer.” Maggie rubbed the back of her hand on her forehead, leaving more flour.

“Well, if you ever need me to, I do know one recipe for scones that I could make some time. It’s about the only thing I know how to do in the kitchen.” Paige laid her hand on the doorknob that led to the public section of the inn.

“I’ll probably take you up on that at some point.”

“Anytime. I’m going to go out for a little while.” Paige walked through the door that led to the hotel portion of the bed-and-breakfast.

The common dining area boasted a large crystal chandelier that Maggie had told her was original to the mansion. The front parlor was rich with Persian carpets, flowered wallpaper, a grand piano and a stone fireplace surrounded by antique furniture. A towering grandfather clock ticked off the seconds as she passed by the grand, deep maroon carpeted staircase.

A bell tinkled as she pushed open the front door. She walked quickly down the sidewalk, passing her Mazda and the sign proclaiming: West Oaks Inn Bed-and-Breakfast.

Paige glanced over her shoulder at the Victorian mansion. Built in the Queen Anne style, sage clapboard gave way to pink-painted details and intricately carved wooden embellishments. Giant oak trees formed a line of soldiers up the driveway, protecting and shadowing the property. Cinderella might as well live there.

Too bad glass-slipper dreams only came true in storybooks.

Paige swung her arms, making herself walk faster.

Smaller homes on wide yards dotted the outskirts of the town. Even the most insignificant house here had more personality than any house found in the Chicago suburbs she had grown up in. Each one seemed to have a story—with a hundred years of history to be told.

Maybe this new start in Goose Harbor was all she needed. A fresh start. A new home.

No, not home. Nothing could ever feel like home again.

Leaving Illinois and all the dreams she’d clutched since childhood hadn’t been easy. But staying meant seeing him—being reminded of him. Staying hadn’t been a viable option.

At the bend in the road, the canopy of trees broke and the residential properties became closer together. Fresh Lake Michigan air mingled with the smell of someone barbecuing. Like giant sleeping bears, sand dunes hulked on both sides of the road. The anchoring trees grew through the shifting soil and hooded the road, only allowing slivers of sunlight to skip across her face when she turned onto Lake Front Drive.

A large town square made up the bustling portion of Goose Harbor. In the middle of the square was a large grassy area complete with a red band shell, a few park benches, a white gazebo and a small rose garden. A short distance from the square lay Ring Beach—named for the almost perfect half circle of soft sand that lined the shorefront. The calm, shallow waters at Ring Beach drew thousands of visitors to Goose Harbor every summer.

On the road, traffic slowed to a halt as a crop of buildings came into view. End-of-the-summer vacationers crowded the brick sidewalks that made up the downtown portion of Goose Harbor, clogging the roadways as they filtered between the homemade fudge shops, art galleries, unique mom-and-pop stores, ice-cream parlors and quaint restaurants built on stilts over the pier section of the waterfront. Women in high heels clip-clopped out of the way of darting children as old men sat watching the world go by from wooden benches lining the dock. White masts bobbed in the marina.

No wonder Goose Harbor had been voted one of the top five places to vacation in the Midwest.

Paige veered away from the cute downtown. Something told her to go to the beach, watch the waves roll in and pray. But there was no point. God didn’t want to hear about her minuscule troubles. After all, He had wars and starving children to worry about. His time should be spent on situations that actually mattered to the world, not her. No, she didn’t need to bother Him with her little issues.

Besides, when was the last time something she prayed for actually happened?

She followed the path that led to the high school. She stood in the parking lot, hands on her hips, and scanned the building. A group of people tossed a basketball around on the far outdoor court. A couple clad in neon spandex ran together around the track.

She could do this.

Sure, all her other teaching experience had been at inner-city schools in Chicago, but students in a tourist town couldn’t be that different, not really. If she’d learned something while teaching it was that all teens needed one thing—someone to let them know that their life mattered and they had worth, as is.

Anyway, she’d relocated to Goose Harbor to volunteer at Sarah’s Home—a nonprofit organization that helped at-risk youth. Over the past few years, Dad had donated to Sarah’s Home because his college roommate, Mr. Timmons, was the head of the board. Dad might have used the place as a tax shelter, but Paige looked forward to the quarterly newsletter from Sarah’s Home.

No one knew, but those newsletters had shaped her desire to work with inner-city students. She’d wanted to be a teacher since grade school, but only after poring over the updates and the Sarah’s Home website had a passion sparked inside of her for at-risk youths.

After catching Bryan tangled up with a leggy redhead, Paige knew she needed to leave Chicago. All her friends were Bryan’s friends. Her dreams near her childhood stomping ground were all too linked with the boy she’d known since junior high school.

No, leaving had been her only option.

Sarah’s Home popped into her head immediately—her safe place. Now she could be a part of the nonprofit that had already shaped her life so much. In the midst of her trial, she could turn things around for the good and give back.

Yes, the chance to help at Sarah’s Home had been the main draw to this area; finding a teaching job at the nearby high school had been a nice bonus. Her dad’s friendship with Principal Timmons hadn’t hurt, either. Timmons had been urging her to apply to his school ever since she graduated and was only too happy to call her when a last-minute position opened.

Who knew? Maybe in a few weeks she’d have a bunch of friends here...maybe that would be her in the middle of a neighborhood game of pickup.

Paige took a couple of steps forward, squinting to watch the basketball game. It looked like a bunch of teens, probably her future students. Maybe they were members of the high school’s team getting in a practice before school started at the end of the week. A couple of elementary-school kids sat on the sidelines.

The tallest guy called for a break and walked over to where the children sat. The two boys hopped up when he offered them the basketball. The man motioned for them to follow him to the basket, where he took turns lifting both of them up to dunk the ball.

From a distance, she couldn’t make out how old the man was, but his gesture warmed her heart and made her long for the family she dreamed of but wouldn’t have. Perhaps those were the coach’s sons. Either way, in her experience it was a rare trait in a man to choose to play with kids when he could be standing courtside joking with the older students.

When they called game again, Paige crept a bit closer. She took a seat on a wooden bench near the court.

The tallest man dribbled the ball, skirted past his opponent and sank the ball into the net with a swoosh. Caught up in the moment, Paige clapped.

The player turned around and locked gazes with her. Recognition hit her in the stomach like a punch.

Caleb.

She shot to her feet, spun around and picked her way across the field in the opposite direction.

So much for her hopes of never seeing him again.


Chapter Two (#ulink_c7158998-802d-5a91-84fa-9fc36bbcd752)

“Can we not talk about this right now?” Caleb dropped his voice and glanced around the Cherry Top Café to see if anyone was listening to him and Maggie. Burgers sizzled on the big grill in back and a grease tang hung thick in the air. A busboy clanked dirty dishes together as he cleared a nearby table. Tucked a block away from the popular town square, Cherry Top didn’t rank high on the must-hit tourist list, but that’s why Caleb ate there.

Maggie shoved the coleslaw around on her plate with her fork. “I’m not dropping this. Hear me out. It’s like your life is on hold. You’ve mourned long enough. I hope you know that.”

Mourned long enough? Impossible.

Caleb grabbed the saltshaker and slid it between both of his hands. “Seriously, Mags, leave it alone.”

“I can’t. You know, it’s hard for me, too, but I can’t keep digging in my heels hoping she’ll come walking into the inn again, either. Because she’s not going to.”

“Do you honestly think you’ve moved on?”

Maggie pursed her lips and looked outside.

A fly skittered against the windowpane near Caleb’s elbow, buzzing wildly in its attempt to break through the glass and get back out in the fresh air. Maggie grabbed the menu and banged the heavy papers against the window, ending the fly’s struggle for good.

She exhaled a long breath. “Besides, you’re the only family around that I have left to bug, so you have to indulge my meddling whims.”

“Not on this.” He shoved his plate toward the center of the table and tossed his napkin on top.

Maggie reached across the table and laid her hand over his. “You’re still young and have so much of your life left. My sister would have wanted you happy. You know that, don’t you?”

He snaked his hand from hers and dropped it in his lap under the table. “I am happy.” Sometimes. Like during the school year with students filing into his science classroom, or at the church’s summer camp when the teens talked at the end of the session around the fire pit about how much they had learned and grown that week.

Maggie offered a sad smile. “Well, Caleb Beck, you could have fooled me.”

Caleb leaned forward and lowered his voice. “If you wanted to talk about this we could have done it at the inn instead of out in public.”

People stared at him enough. Poor Caleb. He didn’t need to add this conversation to the list of reasons to pity him. Gossip had a tendency to spread like lice in Goose Harbor, especially among the year-round residents. He didn’t need anyone overhearing Maggie and thinking he couldn’t hack it as a teacher or youth-group volunteer, or continue on at Sarah’s Home. He was so tired of being treated like he was broken.

The high school’s soccer coach, a heavyset man in his mid-forties, walked past their table and waved his spoon at Caleb. What was the man’s name? Caleb offered a polite smile back.

Maggie tugged the giant clip out of the back of her hair, rearranged it a little and pinned up her hair again. Only, she missed a chunk of unruly curls, making it look like a crazy peacock feather coming out of the side of her head. “It’s not like I planned to dive into all this, but I felt like I needed to tell you that I’m okay with you dating again. In case you were worried about that. If you find the chance to have love again, you should. Okay? That’s all I’m going to say about it. Promise.”

He kept his eyes trained out the window at the tourists strolling toward the dock. “Thank you.”

The waiter dropped off their check, and Caleb had the man stay while he pulled out the correct change and enough for a tip. “Just keep everything.”

Maggie crossed her arms and leaned back in her seat. “You don’t have to pay for me all the time.”

“Besides my sister, who else am I spending my money on these days?” Caleb leaned a little to put his wallet into his back pocket.

“How’s your sister doing?”

Scared. Lonely. Worried. He shrugged. “Shelby’s the same as always, I guess.”

“Okay, I know I said I wouldn’t bring it up again, and after this I won’t.” Maggie splayed her hands onto the table. “But there’s this girl in my Bible-study group at church. She’s cute and she really loves the Lord. I think you two would—”

“Leave it alone, Mags. Just let it be.” Caleb worked his jaw back and forth.

The image of the lake outside the window suddenly blurred. “I’m not going to date her.” He blinked a couple of times. “I have no intention of dating again. Ever. Got it?” He snatched his baseball hat off the table and jammed it onto his head. “I need to get home. I have to be at work early tomorrow.”

Maggie gave a small nod and clutched her purse as she scooted out from the bench seat. Caleb handed over her coat without a word. On his way past the front desk he took a handful of waxy mints from the large bowl by the register and tossed them all into his mouth. They tasted like medicine-flavored chalk—a fitting end to the day.

He held open the door for Maggie. “I’ll stop by on Saturday to fix the drainpipe.”

She nodded and clicked the button to make her car chirp. Good thing she knew better than to offer him a ride home. A man needed space for his mind away from everyone crawling over every inch of his hometown.

At least he did.

Caleb shoved his hands in his pockets and took the long route. Frogs croaked in the nearby stream, signaling the end of another summer evening. Near the residential section of the lakefront, a fishy smell hung in the air—which meant a fish fry at Cherry Top next Friday.

A car full of teens flashed their headlights at him and pulled alongside the gravel on the road. They blasted the horn, all waving, as the car came to a stop.

“Mr. Beck!” One of the girls hung out the back window. “I have you for second period.”

He smiled and waved. “Only three more days until classes start. What are you guys up to tonight?”

Please don’t say a party. The town had seen a recent uptick in teen mischief down at the beaches at night. Lots of empty beer bottles and spent fire pits most mornings made Caleb worried for their safety. If only the town provided other outlets for the students during the summer. Most of their parents were too busy running shops in town to keep a good eye on their kids.

“Oh, you know. Same old.” The girl rolled her eyes. “Is it true we dissect cats in your class? Because if so, I might have to transfer out.” She pulled a face like she was gagging.

Caleb shook his head. “We stopped using cats years ago. It’s all on a computer now.”

“Good, because that’s sick. Not to mention, ethically wrong.” She smacked the boy in the car next to her in the shoulder. “You liar!”

“You guys be smart tonight.” Caleb made his way back to the sidewalk.

“Of course, Mr. Beck!” A couple of the teens laughed. The car peeled away and sped down the street.

Another car full of teenagers honked and waved at him as he walked home. He kept his hands in his pockets and gave them a nod. Hopefully he could at least plaster on a smile for them when classes started later in the week.

* * *

Paige glanced at the missed calls on her phone—three from Mom, but no voice mail. Mom probably wanted to see how she liked Goose Harbor, right? That, or she had news about the house. Right before Paige left home, her parents informed her they were planning to downsize and travel more. Not that she’d tell them, but Paige hoped her childhood home didn’t sell quickly. It would be nice to have somewhere familiar to return to if the situation in Goose Harbor didn’t work out after the first year.

She pictured her mother, already put together for the day and decked out in her usual pearls and heels.

The phone vibrated again.

“Morning, Mom, you’re up early. You caught me trying to get ready for my first day of work.” Paige looked between the two outfits she’d laid out on her bed.

“I wish you would reconsider leaving Chicago.”

Paige closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Not this again. Please. I don’t want to have this conversation right now.”

“You were so happy here. The plan had always been for you to stay close by. I can’t imagine you living somewhere else.”

“Plans change, Mom.” Paige yanked a hair tie from her wrist and worked it around in her hand.

“They don’t have to.”

Paige sank into the wicker chair beside her bed. “They did. You’ll see. This is for the better. Anyway, I like it here.”

Mom sighed. “I always took you for more of a fighter, Paige. Someone who would stand her ground. Stay and tackle things.”

“You know, sometimes leaving is fighting. Standing up for myself meant getting away, don’t you see that? It would have been easier to stay there, living with you and Dad, letting you guys take care of everything for me, and carrying on with my life. Leaving was harder, Mom. Much harder.” She started to pull her hair into a bun and froze. Leave it down. She wanted to wear it down for work today.

“If you ask me, I think you’re making too big of a deal about everything.”

“Too big of a deal?” Paige hated the tremble in her voice.

“Calling off a wedding that cost your father and me so much money without trying to fix your problems with Bryan, first? That’s overreacting at its best.”

Except that she’d been able to get most of the money back. All but the security fees.

“I don’t think sleeping with some woman a month before his wedding is a problem that we could have just fixed.” Just saying the words made the back of Paige’s eyes throb again. Don’t cry. No more tears because of Bryan. He didn’t deserve them.

Mom sighed. “I don’t know what to tell you, honey. From time to time, men make mistakes—”

Don’t say it.

“Like Dad?” The back of Paige’s eyes burned the second the words left her mouth. She shouldn’t have said that. She had promised her mom she wouldn’t bring it up again. “I’m sorry.” Paige waited. “Are you still here?”

“I’m not trying to butt into your life.” Mom’s voice took on a flat tone. “But you need to think through all your options with a rational mind. All those childhood books and movies, well, they lied, sweetheart. There is no one true love. There is no perfect match. There are just people, and you make it work because you made a promise to.” Her mother’s voice took on a stern, almost scolding tone.

Paige’s stomach churned.

“Even with his unfortunate mistake, Bryan is still a good catch. That boy is going to be something big someday, and I don’t want you to regret anything down the road. Believe me, I know all the feelings you have right now and how difficult it is.” She stopped, but started again when Paige didn’t jump in to fill the silence. “What sort of men are you bound to meet in who-knows-where Michigan? I’m sure there won’t be a senator’s son chasing you there.”

“Maybe I’m not looking for a man.” Prepared for a verbal assault, Paige gripped the armrest of the wicker chair.

“At your age, you should.”

Paige rested her forehead in her free hand. “I’m sorry about all the money you guys lost.”

“I know, honey. It’s just a shame what a waste it all turned out to be. Bryan really is a nice boy.”

She needed to change the subject. Talking about anything else was better than this. “So have you guys decided if you’re going to put the house on the market?”

“The for-sale sign is already in the yard.”

“So fast?”

“Yes. The first open house is this weekend.”

After hanging up, Paige shoved the conversation to the back of her mind. Bryan couldn’t ruin today. From time to time, men make mistakes.

Mistakes and choices were two very different things.

She pulled on jeans and a loose knit shirt. From the paperwork she’d received it looked like they’d be in and out of training for most of the day, but maybe she’d be able to stay late and start putting together her classroom. If so, that would be dusty work that included a lot of time organizing books on the floor. Jeans wouldn’t impress her coworkers, but they were the best option.

She’d walk to work as long as the weather stayed nice. Doing so didn’t leave her a lot of time for breakfast this morning, but it would help her save money to put into her dream-house account. Living with Maggie so far seemed fun, but Paige needed to prove to herself that she could make it without depending on anyone else.

The mouthwatering smell of baked cinnamon and frying bacon propelled her out of her bedroom. Grabbing her bag, Paige rushed out to the kitchen.

Flour and eggshells covered the large island in the center of the kitchen, and Maggie whirled around, grabbing muffins and restarting the coffee machine. She wore her curly hair clipped back.

An elderly woman teetered by the sink, loading dishes into the washer. Her nylons wrinkled around her ankles like elephant skin, and her flowered dress would make a queen bee envious. A silver waterfall of hair dived down her back.

Maggie noticed Paige and smiled. “Sorry about the mess. Breakfast is the busiest time around here. Every room is booked today with people trying to take in the last of the summer.”

“Right.” Paige laughed. “I forgot the whole breakfast part of a bed-and-breakfast.”

“I’ll see you after school.” Maggie backed through the set of doors that led to the hotel portion of the inn.

The old woman dried her shaky hands off on a kitchen towel. “You must be the pretty new schoolteacher that Magpie told me about. You’re going to be the one teaching Shakespeare and those sorts of books, right?”

“Yes, I’m Paige.” She extended her hand.

“Ida Ashby. I live right next door, and you’re welcome to pop by any old time.”

“Thanks. I better head out to the school. I don’t want to be late on my first day.” With the kitchen looking like a Tasmanian devil had spun through it on a tirade, skipping breakfast sounded like the best option.

“Wait one moment, dear, and I’ll walk halfway there with you.”

“Mrs. Ashby, there’s no need to—”

“And it’s just plain Ida, if you don’t mind.” Ida pulled her coat down from a peg by the back door, scooped up a bundle of flowers from the counter and motioned for Paige to leave with her.

Paige took a deep breath and followed after. The sound of Lake Michigan lapping against the shore worked the tightness from her muscles. She batted away the earlier conversation with her mother. Today she’d focus on new beginnings.

Ida looped her arm through Paige’s. The skin on her hands was thin and delicate like the finest tissue paper. “I like to come help Maggie sometimes in the morning when I’m feeling up to it. The poor dear is always taking on too much alone. I’m glad she has you for companionship, at least for a little spell.”

“Have you lived next door a long time?” Paige matched her longer strides with Ida’s shorter, slower pace.

Good thing she’d skipped eating at the inn. If Ida changed her mind and decided on walking the whole way to school, Paige might end up very late.

“Oh. Long enough. I came to Goose Harbor with my husband many years ago.” Ida unwound her arm from Paige’s and stopped as they approached a small bridge.

A metal railing bordered the sidewalk to protect people from falling off into the stream below. Water churned over rocks and surged down a path that led to a mill. The wheel of the mill slapped the water in a steady rhythm. Below the mill, the water pooled, creating a large pond where ducks squawked at each other and sunned themselves on the muddy shore.

Ida shuffled to the edge of the metal fencing. “Here’s the place. It’s kind of you to be company for me on my errand today.”

Errand?

Paige hooked her hand on the strap of her messenger bag and took a step backward. “Actually, I need to make sure I get to the school on time.”

“It’ll only take a moment.” Ida tugged a dead bouquet from the railing and handed it to Paige.

The dried buds crinkled in her hands. Paige peeked at her watch. Fifteen minutes until she needed to check in at the gymnasium.

Ida worked the fresh bouquet into the place where the decaying one had been. Her fingers shook, making her miss the metal rings a couple of times. “I leave new flowers here every week for my Henry.” Ida pressed her palms to her lips and kissed them. Then she fanned out her hands in a gesture that sent the kiss down the river. “He fell right here. We were on a morning walk and his heart failed him exactly where you’re standing.” Her voice grew softer with each word.

Paige cupped Ida’s hands. “I’m so sorry for your loss.”

“Oh, it’s been years now.” Ida let out a long breath. “But I still miss Henry every single day. That’s how it is with true love, you know? It doesn’t go away just because the person does. Your heart just keeps right on waiting for them.”

If true love existed, maybe Ida was the only one to have found it. Because Paige sure hadn’t. And neither had her mother. Men like Henry no longer existed.

“I’m sure Henry was an amazing man.” Paige offered a reassuring squeeze.

“He served as mayor to this town for thirty-six years. A very good man. I know some people think I’m silly for leaving flowers here every week. Thank you for being kind to a crazy old lady.” Ida’s eyes filled with tears.

“No, thank you for letting me come along.” Paige bit her lip. She’d be late to work, but seeing Ida like this tore at the raw place in her heart where Paige stored her own hurt and pain. What would it be like to love someone like Ida loved her Henry? “Are you going to be all right? I feel bad leaving you here like this.”

Ida pulled a handkerchief from her purse and dabbed at her eyes. “Don’t worry about me. People see tears and get all flustered and want them to stop. But know what I say? It’s okay to mourn the life you thought you were going to have. You can’t heal if you don’t allow yourself that much.”

“As long as you’re sure you’re okay.”

Ida smiled, revealing a smudge of red lipstick on her front tooth. “Now, you better skedaddle on down to the school, and I’ll go on back and help Maggie clean up. If I made you late, just tell them you were humoring Ida and everyone will understand.”

Paige jogged into the parking lot with two minutes to spare. She joined the line of teachers near the end of the gymnasium.

A woman with spiked black hair, who looked about her age turned around and offered a smile. “I’m Bree. You must be the new English teacher.”

Maybe she looked as out of place as she felt.

Paige clutched the strap on her bag. “Am I the only new person this year?”

“Yes, and it’s been the talk among the teachers for the past week.”

They arrived at the temporary desk set up near the front of the large room. Portable tables and chairs arranged in four rows occupied most of the space in the gym. Paige and Bree each gathered a training manual and a teacher binder.

“Want to sit with me?” Bree snagged a table two rows back, near the edge.

“Definitely. I don’t like feeling like the only one here no one knows.”

“You’ll be fine.” Bree opened her binder. “I hope you slept well because these teacher-institute days are boring, but you probably know that from your last position.”

The principal strolled up to the microphone near the front of the gym. “This is your warning. We’ll start reviewing safety protocol in five minutes, so if you want to grab a bagel or coffee, I’d do so now.” In jeans and a hooded sweatshirt bearing the school’s name and a roaring panther on his chest, the man didn’t look his age.

Paige leaned closer to Bree. “In Chicago, I sat through a training with five times as many teachers crammed into a smaller room with no air-conditioning.”

Bree scrunched her forehead. “Well, that explains it. We knew whoever got hired must have amazing experience.” She jutted her thumb to indicate a woman seated in the back row. “Steer clear of Amy Lambert, okay? She works as a part-time aide and applied for your position. To say she was angry about getting passed over for the job would be an understatement.”

Paige peeked over her shoulder at Amy. The woman’s head was bent down as she read something on the table in front of her. Her brown roots showed along the part of her bleached blond hair. She wore a deep purple suit, which made her the best dressed person in the room.

A couple of teachers shuffled by with plates full of fruit and Danishes.

Paige pressed her hand over her stomach when it grumbled. “I think I’m going to go grab a bagel. Do you want anything?”

Bree yawned. “A cup of coffee would be great.”

When Paige made it to the back of the room she found a couple of onion bagels and a pile of energy bars. The bars looked like freebies that had spent the better part of a year stuffed in the back of someone’s filing cabinet. An onion bagel would have to do. Next, she made her way to the coffee machine.

“If everyone could please take your seats I would like to begin.” Principal Timmons’s voice boomed over the loudspeaker.

Paige snatched her plate and Bree’s cup of coffee and whirled around to rush back to her table.

Instead she smacked into the man standing behind her. Caleb. Of course.

Coffee splattered across his shirt and ran down her arms. Caleb yelped and all the papers he’d been holding fluttered to the ground.

The foam cup hit the floor with a loud, hollow thunk.

Was everyone staring at them? Klutz. That would be the first impression she made to all her coworkers.

Paige rapid-fire blinked. “I didn’t know you worked here.”

“So you pour coffee on me?” Caleb laughed.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” Paige grabbed a wad of napkins and dabbed at his soaked oxford shirt.

Caleb caught her hand and held it. “Hey, I’m kidding. The coffee’s not even hot.”

“Still. Your shirt is ruined. Coffee doesn’t come out easy.”

“It’s fine.” His hand over hers was warm in a comforting way. She finally met his inviting chocolate gaze and he winked at her. A girl could get used to those eyes...lost even.

Except, Paige had promised herself she wouldn’t let another man into her life.

Breaking eye contact, Paige tugged her hand away from his and took a step backward.

She needed to be careful around Caleb. Much more careful.


Chapter Three (#ulink_ad5f0236-e0a9-5978-ad98-15e7b2d1f24a)

“Careful.” Caleb reached for Paige as she skittered backward into the table.

Her blundering caused a landslide of power bars to fall in a crescendo of crinkling plastic onto the gym floor. Her bagel bounced off the toe of his boot. He grabbed her arm before she toppled over, as well.

Coffee dripped down his side, and the front of his button-down was wet enough to wring out. Good thing the pot of coffee had been sitting out for so long that the liquid wasn’t hot enough to burn him. Or Paige for that matter.

“I’m such a klutz.” The woman turned toward him again. Paige froze when her crystal-blue eyes locked with his. She frowned, drawing his gaze to her lips. They had something shimmery on them that made them inviting.

He shook that thought away.

“We’ll have to stop running into each other like this.” He let go of her wrist.

She glanced over her shoulder and he followed her gaze. The entire room had gone quiet. All the teachers turned in their seats and stared at them. Some of them smirked and whispered to each other. There were gossips in the crowd and people who liked to cause trouble for fun. Most of them had grown up in Goose Harbor. While tourists were welcome with open arms in the shopping district, the locals weren’t always as cordial with newcomers when it came to the other aspects of town.

Something inside told him to step in front of the new teacher and block her from their scrutiny. Shield her from pain like he’d done for his wife, Sarah, and sister, Shelby.

Although a lot of good that had done them.

Principal Timmons cleared his throat over the microphone. “Caleb, I see you’ve met our new English teacher, Miss Paige Windom. She’ll be teaching freshman English and will also teach some of the senior level classes in our advanced-placement track.” Timmons pulled a stool over the floor, the metal legs clanking. “Everyone—Paige comes to us from the big city of Chicago, and I’m confident she’ll be an asset to our school.”

The woman’s cheeks turned a candy-apple red as the principal continued to talk.

Caleb reached around Paige and placed a fresh bagel on a paper plate and held it out to her.

“Peace offering?” he whispered.

“Shouldn’t I be the one making amends?” She worked her bottom lip between her teeth. “Are you sure the coffee didn’t hurt you?”

Caleb shook his head. “I was the one in your way.” He leaned closer. “I didn’t like this shirt anyway.”

Paige tilted her head. “Really? I thought you looked nice.” Then she eyed her shoes, as if they were suddenly the most fascinating things in the world. “I mean—dressed up.”

A chuckle rumbled in his chest before he had a chance to rein it in. “You know, if we don’t sit down they’ll never stop staring.”

“Right.” She spun around, but then turned back and touched his forearm before he could leave. “Would you be willing to do me a favor?”

Goose bumps raced up his arm. Probably just a reaction to the cold coffee on his skin.

“Sure.” Caleb crossed his arms.

Principal Timmons tapped his mic. “Does this thing work?”

“Please.” She studied her shoes again. “Don’t tell anyone about the other day.” Paige worked the bagel around and around in her hand.

“Of course not.”

She gave a quick nod and scurried to her seat beside Bree. Caleb leaned against the back wall of the gym.

The principal ran through the safety protocol for inclement weather, but Caleb couldn’t focus on anything Timmons said. Instead, he watched the back of Paige’s blond head. What sort of secrets was she sharing with Bree? Nothing to do with a wedding dress—no, that secret was between him and Paige.

What had happened to her?

Not that it mattered.

Because he didn’t care.

Not a bit.

* * *

Considering the talk with Mom and spilling coffee on Caleb, the day hadn’t started out well, but the second half proved better than any dream Paige could have had. She sat on the floor of her classroom with classic novels fanned out in a circle around her. She ran her fingers over a book that held a collection of poems by Robert Frost as she tried to decide which one to read to start the first day of classes.

Air whispered through the leaves on the tree outside the windows. Her classroom faced east, which meant she didn’t have a coveted view of Lake Michigan. On the plus side, the room would be splashed with sunlight for the better part of most days.

“Hi there.” A voice in her doorway startled her. A man wearing too-short shorts and a whistle around his neck leaned against her doorjamb. Everything about him screamed gym teacher. “I’m Lenny. Didn’t get to introduce myself after the session this morning. Sure wish I had.”

“Nice to meet you.” She smiled but kept her hands on the pile of books. Maybe he’d get the hint that she wanted to put together her room and not chat. She was basically finished for the day, but Lenny didn’t need to know that.

Lenny sauntered into the room and propped his foot on the closest chair. “Timmons said you’re from Chicago. Do you live close to the park with that big metal bean? You know, down by the lake in the Lap of Chicago.”

“The Loop?”

“Yeah. You from there? The Loop?”

“No. Actually, I’m from the suburbs. It’s easier to say Chicago though because everyone knows where that is. And that’s where I taught, so a part of my heart does live there I guess.”

He leaned his hands on his knee. “I have a picture of myself by that bean on my desk in my office. You should come see it. Afterward we could grab something to eat if you want.”

Paige glanced down at her hands. “I...um...”

Bree’s loud cough as she entered Paige’s classroom saved her from answering. “Leave her alone, man. She just got into town.”

Lenny glared at Bree as he left the room. He gave Paige one last smile. “If you still want to see that picture or go to dinner, you know where the gym is. I’ll be testing out the weight room for the next hour or so.”

Bree doubled over in laughter. “Promise me you won’t fall for Lenny the Leech. Anyone but him, okay?”

“Is he always like that?” Paige fought a smile as she loaded books into her canvas bag to take home.

“Oh, sometimes he’s much worse.”

“I’ll keep my radar up.” She winked.

“Good, because there are a lot of cute, single guys in town. I wouldn’t want you to judge all of Goose Harbor’s bachelors based on Lenny.”

“As far as I’m concerned, they can all be like him.” Paige slung the canvas bag over her shoulder. The strap cut into her arm right away. Too many books, but she couldn’t think of one she didn’t want to bring home to help plan lessons. With her parents gone so often, books became the one, steadfast friend in her childhood.

“I promise they’re not.”

“It doesn’t matter. Believe me, dating is the last thing on my list.” Paige crossed to the windows she opened earlier to let in the late-summer breeze. She closed and locked each of them. “Actually, it’s not even on my list.”

“Is there someone back home?”

There should be. The familiar ache pushed its way into Paige’s heart. “There’s no one.”

“Well, if you reconsider, I’ll be your wingman...girl...you know what I’m saying.”

“How about you tell me what’s important about working here instead. You know, the unwritten rules.” She walked into the hallway with Bree and closed her classroom door.

“Gotcha.” Bree shoved a stick of gum into her mouth. “The parents here are really busy. Like—leave their home at five in the morning and get home at eight at night—busy. Most of them run shops in town and things like that to cater to the tourists so they expect us to keep their kids occupied. After-school activities are a big deal around here, especially now since there’s been some rumors of mischief at the beaches in the evenings.”

“Mischief?” Paige paused.

Bree stopped walking, too. “Spent bonfires. Empty beer bottles. The normal teenage stuff. Anyway, the PTA tends to turn on the teachers who aren’t super involved if you know what I mean.” She nodded to a couple of teachers who passed them as they made their way to the main entrance.

Paige stopped to reposition her bags. “What club are you in charge of?”

“Moi?” Bree laid her hand over her heart. “I run show choir.” She sang the last part.

“Can’t help you there. I know dogs that howl better than I sing.” Paige shrugged.

“Well, try to think of something.”

“I played volleyball all during college. I could probably coach.”

Bree shook her head. “You won’t believe it, but Amy’s the head volleyball coach and I’m guessing you don’t want to be her assistant.”

Paige shrugged. “I don’t even know her. For all I know she’s nice and we could be friends.”

“Keep dreaming. See you tomorrow.” Bree waved, headed out to the bike rack and dumped her belongings into the basket attached to her eye-piercing yellow bike.

Paige balanced her teaching binder in one hand and her messenger bag and canvas sack full of books in the other. She’d work up a sweat on the trek home. At least she’d worn comfortable shoes. If she finished all her work early, she’d reward herself with a trip down to the beach. Her toes were itching to feel the sand.

Principal Timmons came running down the front steps after her, waving his arms like a bird learning to fly. “Miss Windom!” The principal wiped his forehead with the back of his sleeve. “I keep forgetting I’m not as young as I used to be.”

“Mr. Timmons.” Paige smiled at her father’s old college roommate. The man had spent a couple of evenings every year around the Windoms’ dinner table, but he was her boss now. She had to think of him that way. “I didn’t get to thank you yet for hiring me.”

“There’s no need. You know I’ve wanted to offer you a position here ever since your dad told me you’d received your teaching degree. I’m just happy I had a job opening when you were ready to make the move.” He wheezed out the words. “Now, if you have a second, would you mind coming back with me to my office? It’ll only take a moment.”

“Is something wrong?” Paige tensed.

“Not at all. I just need to go over something with you. Right this way.”

Paige followed the principal down a hallway of dark blue lockers and through the door labeled Administration.

What could he want? Maybe there were still some papers to sign.

“Go ahead and take a seat in my office.” Timmons held open the door.

She took a deep breath and turned the corner, but then stopped dead in her tracks. Caleb sat in one of the two chairs situated in front of the principal’s desk. What was he doing there? Caleb had changed out of the shirt she’d spilled coffee on. Now he wore a deep maroon T-shirt that complemented his dark complexion, trim beard and mocha-colored hair. He looked more approachable, like that handyman from the other day.

His eyes narrowed a fraction in her direction.

Scratch approachable. He looked downright stern. Like a man about to give a kid detention for daring to text during class.

A surge of ice ran through Paige’s veins as a realization hit her. Had Caleb told Timmons about her breakdown yesterday? She had no other connection to him, save being a teacher. So why would they both be called to the principal’s office? For all she knew Caleb could be in cahoots with Amy, the woman who wanted Paige’s position. Really, why else would he be here? English and science were on different ends of the spectrum.... They didn’t even teach the same grade. It had to be another reason.

Suppose he told Principal Timmons he saw her sobbing over her breakup, what would that mean? She couldn’t lose her job for that sort of thing. Maybe get ordered to see the school counselor, but not lose her position. She couldn’t. Not after upending her life to be here. After everything her father had done for him, how could Timmons listen to Caleb over her?

Her nails bit into her palms.

Why had she even trusted that he wouldn’t tell? She knew better. If the past couple of years had taught her one thing it was that men lied. Dad. Bryan. Tommy. And Jay. All men.

It didn’t matter.

She blinked back tears and ground her teeth together to keep from saying something she’d regret.

Principal Timmons dropped down into his swivel chair. “Go ahead and sit down, Paige. Caleb doesn’t bite all that often.” He chuckled over his own joke.

Paige set her bags on the ground and pressed her hands together. “I can explain.”

Caleb scratched his chin. “I sure hope so, because I’d like to know what I did to get called to the principal’s office so early in the year. Last year, when I helped with the senior prank, I understood, but—”

“Wait.” She glanced back and forth between the two men, her gaze finally landing on Caleb. “You don’t know why we’re here?”

“No. Do you?”

“Then you didn’t...?” He didn’t tell. Her hands relaxed at her sides. The muscles in her shoulders eased. She crossed the room and took the chair beside Caleb.

Timmons rested his forearms on his desk. He looked from Caleb to Paige, then back to Caleb...then grinned and winked at Paige. “You both know that aside from my position at the school, I’m also the head of the board at Sarah’s Home.”

Paige nodded, but in her peripheral vision she caught Caleb brace his hands on the armrest of his chair and sit up a little straighter.

Principal Timmons continued, “So I’m speaking to you both from that capacity and not as your boss. In the past month—”

Caleb cleared his throat. “Sorry to interrupt, but if this is about Sarah’s Home, why is Paige here?”

Timmons let out a long breath. “Because Paige is going to start working alongside you at Sarah’s Home.”

Her head jerked up. Alongside? As in, Caleb helped at the nonprofit, too?

“No.” Caleb’s knuckles went white. “No women from Goose Harbor. Not anymore. That’s my rule. It’s not negotiable. You know that.”

His rule? Who was he to make a statement like that? Unless he was on the board, it didn’t matter what he thought or said. Wait—was Caleb a board member?

She held her breath to keep from saying something she shouldn’t.

First her father, then with Bryan—why did men think they could lay down some law that all the women in their lives had to follow? No one was going to control her again. No way. Not anymore. Forget watching her words.

Paige turned in her chair to face Caleb. “Well, great. I’m not from Goose Harbor so that works out just fine.”

Caleb worked his jaw back and forth. “Same difference.”

Timmons leaned forward in his chair. “Unfortunately, that’s not the way Sarah set things up, and you of all people know that. The board holds power for all decisions. Especially when it comes to accepting volunteers.”

“I get a say. Sarah’s Home wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for my wife.” Caleb popped to his feet.

Wife? Paige tried to keep up with their conversation. Caleb was married? She glanced at his hand. No ring. But not all guys wore one.

Timmons lifted his hands and made a motion for Caleb to take his seat again. “Settle down, son. That’s why I called you both in. I didn’t want to spring anything on you. We need to talk about this.”

“There’s nothing to talk about.” Caleb shook his head. His eyes fixed on Timmons. Clearly, Paige wasn’t a part of the conversation any longer. “Can’t you see how dangerous that would be? You were there at the meeting with the police chief. Crime against women like Paige has gone up in Brookside. Even more in the last two years. The gangs are looking for people like her. And I’m taking a guess that she’s not certified in self-defense. It’s not safe. End of discussion.” He crossed the room and yanked the door open.

“Caleb,” Timmons called after him.

But Caleb walked out the door. It slammed against the frame.

Paige ran the tips of her fingers back and forth over the cheap, woven fabric on the armrest. Her heart pounded, clattering against her rib cage like a runaway train. She tried to control her breathing. Settle down.

Now what? She ran her fingers over the hair ties on her wrist.

Sarah’s Home held a special place in her heart. A place no one—not even grumpy Caleb Beck—could take away.

Timmons sighed, bringing Paige back into the present conversation. “Don’t worry. Caleb will come around.”

“I hope so.” Paige reached for her bags. “He...he can’t keep me out, can he?”

“No. Like I said, the board holds the power.”

She relaxed a bit. “What was it about Sarah’s Home you wanted to see me about?”

“I was going to share that in the past month we’ve experienced an influx of teen girls coming to Sarah’s Home. Caleb already knows that, but I planned to build a case so he would understand how important it is for you to join the team. This was all. I wanted Caleb and you to meet before you showed up at Sarah’s Home. Offer him a chance to process. It just wouldn’t have been fair to spring this on him in front of other people. You saw how he reacted. Unfortunately, we’ve let him have more control over decisions at Sarah’s Home than we should have. After Sarah died, I guess the board didn’t have the heart to say no to Caleb.”

Paige looked down at the ground, studying the purple-specked carpeting. “So he was married to Sarah—the founder?” She’d read about Sarah’s death in the newsletter a few years ago. But the section had been brief. No details. Just that the brave young woman had been killed while doing the thing she loved. A picture. A date for the funeral. No more information was ever released.

“Yes.”

“And she died?”

Timmons frowned. “I’m afraid so. The whole town of Goose Harbor loved Sarah. A woman like her is impossible to replace.”

Paige’s stomach corkscrewed. “That’s so sad.”

Now Caleb’s sudden gloom made sense. He seemed too young to be a widower. She’d never lost anyone close—well, not to death at least—so she couldn’t identify with him, but her heart ached for him all the same. Behind his deep mocha eyes, Caleb hid pain—the loss of an irreplaceable woman. She’d remember that next time they talked.

“Very sad indeed, but the board still shouldn’t have let him have his way in everything. I’m warning you from the beginning, he may have a very rough time with this transition. Having you at Sarah’s Home will be hard on him. Don’t hear me wrong. Caleb’s a good man, and he does what he thinks is best—safest—for everyone.” The principal straightened a pile on his desk. “Now here’s a valid question. Are you afraid to be in Brookside after what he said?”

“No disrespect to Caleb, but I taught gang members in my classes in Chicago.” Paige shrugged. “It’s something you get used to. As weird as that sounds. We evacuated the school at least once a month for a bomb threat or something along those lines. It wasn’t so fun when you had to rush out of the school in the middle of winter, but we managed.”

“I figured as much. Between you and me, the place could use the infusion of some new blood. Now, there is one other thing I want to discuss with you if you have another moment.” Timmons opened a manila file on his desk. “You played volleyball in college, right?”

“All four years.” Paige tried to smile, but her mind was still on Sarah’s Home. With Caleb against the idea, hopefully he wouldn’t make her time there uncomfortable.

“Would you be willing to sit in on tryouts this year? We had some troubles last year...accusations of unfair selections. I’d like the decision to be made by more than just the coach.”

Who Bree had told her happened to be Amy. Great. But after what Bree said about teachers needing to be involved, she couldn’t say no to her first chance. And it was only tryouts, not a commitment to coaching all season.

Paige chose her words carefully. “I guess I wouldn’t mind helping, but I don’t want to step on any more toes than I feel like I already have. Are you sure my help would be well received?”

“Show up at the gym tomorrow afternoon, and leave the coach to me. It’ll all be fine.”

Famous last words.

Her bags felt heavier than before as she left the office. She came to Goose Harbor to get away from drama, yet it seemed like she’d just found more. Paige shuffled out of the office, suddenly not looking forward to lugging all her bags home anymore.

Caleb leaned on the lockers across from the main office, his hands jammed in his pockets. Paige kept her head down and walked in the opposite direction from him.

“Wait up.” He caught up to her in two strides. “Look, I’m sorry for how I sounded in there. I shouldn’t have gotten worked up. Can we talk about this a little more?”

The canvas bag bit into her shoulder, and she switched it to the other arm. “Not if you’re just going to tell me no again.”

“Let me drive you back to Maggie’s.”

“What?”

“A ride. To the inn. You have a lot of bags.” He rubbed the back of his neck.

She glanced out the front doors. Wind still tickled the trees. Even still, the temperature outside had climbed all day. She’d already considered digging out her bathing suit and heading to the beach later. A ride might not be such a bad idea.

And she and Caleb worked together—she’d have to talk to him again at some point. Might as well get over the awkwardness now while she had the chance.

“Know what? It’s hot. I’ll take you up on the offer.”

He eased both bags from her hands. “I’m parked at the far end of the lot. How about I bring these out to my truck while you wait here? I’ll pull up to the front circle.” He turned to leave before Paige had a chance to reconsider.

She stood in the lobby and watched him make his way to a large green pickup parked at the back of the lot. Almost everyone had left for the day. The empty school smelled like a mixture of musty old books and industrial strength pine cleaner. Paige pinched the bridge of her nose, fighting the headaches that always plagued her from allergies this time of year.

The woman Bree had pointed out as Amy clipped down the hall toward her on three-inch heels. Her lips were a glossy just-bit-into-a-pomegranate red. A stylish belt with a bejeweled buckle accentuated the woman’s trim midsection, and with her blouse unbuttoned at least one button too many, her knotted string of black pearls laid in just the right place to draw even more male attention—as if a woman that stunning needed it.

“You won’t last.” Amy stopped a few feet away. She crossed her arms over her chest.

“Excuse me?” Paige straightened her spine.

Now probably wasn’t the best time to tell Amy she’d be at the volleyball tryouts.

“They haven’t been able to keep anyone in that position for years.” Amy took a step closer as she eyed Paige from head to toe and found her lacking. The woman towered over her.

Paige focused on the plaque fixed to the wall behind Amy’s head. Her father had told her once that fondness might not be within her control, but kindness always was. Be kind.

“Thanks for the heads-up.” She forced a smile.

“Tell me you’ve at least taught before.”

Paige forced her shoulders and hands to relax, a trick she’d learned over the years from her lawyer father—a master of hiding emotions. Don’t let anyone know they’ve ruffled your feathers. “Yes. Three years in Chicago.”

Amy laughed and splayed her hand across her ample bosom. “Goose Harbor is completely different than a big city. You won’t last. Not with the people in this town and not with that attitude.”

Attitude?

Caleb honked the horn of his pickup from the circle drive.

Paige jumped. “I have to go.”

Amy trailed her down the front steps. “You’re with Caleb?”

Whatever that meant.

“Yes.” Paige sidestepped Amy to get to the passenger door.

“But—”

She yanked the handle. “Sorry, I really have to leave.”

Paige climbed into the cab and buckled her seat belt. She pulled down the visor on the mirror and pretended to check for something in her eye to avoid Caleb’s gaze.

Making Amy think she and Caleb were an item probably wasn’t her best idea. Besides, why would a guy as handsome as Caleb want to be with someone like Paige? She blinked at her reflection in the mirror: small nose, a dash of brown-sugar freckles on pale cheeks, scrawny arms and drab blond hair—nothing to write home about. Especially not for a guy who looked like he could be one of those rugged hosts on a home-improvement television show.

Not that she cared what Caleb or Amy thought of her. She didn’t. Just let her volunteer at Sarah’s Home—that’s all she wanted from him.

* * *

Amy sauntered around the front of Caleb’s truck. Not now.

He sent Paige a look he hoped told her he was sorry for the delay Amy would, no doubt, cause.

Amy motioned for him to roll down his window. When he did, she leaned on his door and then reached into the car to smooth her hand over an imaginary wrinkle on the sleeve of his shirt. “Running away so quick? Silly man. I didn’t get to talk to you today.”

Caleb curled his hands around the leather wheel. “You know how it is. The first day is always a whirlwind.”

She rested her chin in the palm of her hand and lowered her eyelids halfway when she talked. “We’ll have to find some time this week to catch up. Maybe lunch. Or dinner. Or both could be arranged. I could cook for you at my apartment.” She played with her necklace.

“We’ll see. Have a nice night.” Caleb popped the gear out of Park.

Amy crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes when Caleb started to pull away. She shot a mean look at the woman in his passenger seat. Maybe Paige didn’t notice.




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