was pleasant enough. Looked around, bought a book.”
They arrived at his car just as she finished. The proverbial lump wedged in her throat while tears gathered behind her eyes.
“So why are you worried? It sounds uneventful. Is the landlord losing a ton of money?”
“No. My rent is right where it should be in this market. The building has been paid off for years.”
“Then what is it?” His words, kind and without judgment, brought a swell of emotion.
Jane looked away. “This wasn’t my choice, you know? I was going to do research and teach and discover amazing things. The store just happened. When my dad died, it became my responsibility. Now my whole life is here, and everything is changing. I’m probably worried about nothing, but what if—”
Danny didn’t respond. He just let her ramble, and Jane figured he was spooked now that he knew she was a breath away from falling apart over something hypothetical. The last thing she expected was for him to pull her into his arms and hold on.
“Come here.”
He didn’t offer platitudes or advice. He didn’t try to distract her. What Danny offered was compassion and understanding, and perhaps most importantly, he offered friendship. His body provided support, physically and emotionally, and a strength that Jane gave in to because it just felt good to be held. His chest was hard, his breathing steady and his arms gave her a sense of safety she only now realized she’d missed. Jane wasn’t a helpless woman. She was the one who people called on when they needed help, so having someone take care of her was as confusing as it was comforting.
She didn’t want to move, relishing the feel of him. How long had it been since she’d let someone else bear a bit of the load, even for a little while?
She was always the one who stayed strong, who figured things out. But this was different and Danny must have sensed that.
Taking a step back, Jane smiled up at him. His hair was lightly dusted with snow, and his mouth ticked up at the corners. In his eyes she saw the boy she knew and the man he had become. It was a contrast and a complement at the same time. For her part, Jane was just happy she had the chance to be with him again.
“Thank you. For dinner, and for listening to me. It was nice to be able to lean on somebody.”
His smile grew wider and he pressed the button on the key fob, letting her into the car. When he got in on the other side, he leaned over and without warning, kissed her gently on the cheek. It was a peck, nothing more, but the sweetness of it damn near made her cry.
“You were always the strong one, Janie. You listened to me for hours and hours, helped me find my voice, read my stories and you never judged me. You can lean on me anytime you want.”
Her heart swelled remembering how they were when they were together. There was always a feeling of well-being when she was with him. That hadn’t changed. But what about when he left? She didn’t say that to him, even though it hung over her like a dark cloud. Danny wasn’t back in Angel Harbor permanently. Jane appreciated his kindness more than she could articulate, but lean on him? Maybe she could in the short term, but Danny’s time here was finite, and the last thing she needed was for him to break her heart all over again.
Chapter Six
When he pulled up the driveway to his cottage, Dan saw a glow from the stone patio Mel and Peter had installed on the side of the house. Connected to the dining room by French doors, the crowning glory of the outdoor room was a huge river rock fireplace, surrounded by a collection of comfortable seating. The garden that encircled the whole yard had been replanted with yellow, orange, and red mums, which now had a very light glaze of snow from the flurries earlier. Dan’s house in Hawaii had a view of the Pacific, but the warmth of this backyard on a chilly fall night beat it hands down.
Tucked together under a plaid blanket on a double chaise were his sister and brother-in-law. They each had a steaming mug in their hands and were gazing quietly at the yellow-orange flames behind the mesh screen. He didn’t know if this was a romantic moment, or if they were