I think I can handle Mitch Brennan without his shirt on.

Famous.

Last.

Words.

Claire followed the path that ran the length of the Cape house lawn and disappeared into the woods. It was cool but not cold, the mid-September sun still able to lend warmth to the salty breeze coming in from the Atlantic.

As she stepped into the foliage, a hush fell like a gossamer veil all around her; muffling the cold, stark reality of every day. The woods on the cape were such a magical place that she could forget for a moment that sad things were even possible.

She loved to follow the path set up for trails and tours and collect herself. The first stop was a bench surrounded by hummingbird feeders and one of the many informative posts she had designed that now resided in different areas around the cape. It humbled her to be trusted to give an experience to visitors through her artwork that would stay with them even once they left.

Running her fingers along the words recessed in the plaque, she mirrored the action along her lips.

That kiss.

She couldn't get the thought of it out of her mind or the taste of him off her tongue. She could smell him and taste him and feel him like the kiss were but a moment ago. She never expected to be so strongly affected by someone's touch.

With a chuckle, she shook her head. Mortification didn’t even begin to explain how she felt when she’d kept laughing. If she was honest with herself, she wanted that kiss, but every time he dipped his head she remembered that the last man she had kissed was Jimmy and a weird, awkward hilarity rushed through her.

It was ridiculous and sad all at the same time, and she didn't know how to make it stop. But then when he stepped away and offered to forget the whole idea, an urgency—almost desperation—to move on swept through her.

And she'd thrown herself at him.

Her only saving grace was no one had witnessed the whole debacle, and for some reason, she trusted that Mitch would never tell a soul.

Moving along the trail, she took in the large knotted pines and moss-covered boulders. The hive just across the clearing produced a low buzz in the quiet. Ryker had once talked about how they would be settling in for the winter—much like most of Maine.

She gently slid her hand over the rock, loving the spongy velvet of Mother Nature’s green carpet against her palm. How many dreams were woven in this place? How many plans were made? How many hearts broken? There was no telling on a land that had been home to generations of families.

“There you are! Why are we meeting out here?” Blayne ducked through the trees from the yard, looking like a nineteen-twenties pin-up model with her black hair wrapped in a red polka-dot ribbon atop her head and her lips a matching shade. But there was no mistaking the Maine-girl deep inside with her L.L. Bean jacket and work boots. Ireland may have made her, but Maine raised her.

With a grin, Claire waved. “I wanted to pull together the rest of our plans for the Cape Van Buren Fall Art Festival. I have a few ideas for centerpieces using some of earth's gifts.” She picked up a pine cone, tossing it toward her friend. There was no way in hell she was admitting that she couldn't quite face Mitch this morning and hiding in the woods was better than risking a run-in at the house.

“Who else is joining us?” Blayne caught the pine cone, then studied it with intense curiosity. “I can work with this.”

Claire's heart raced in her chest as she answered. “Larkin, Maxine. The usual crew. And I may have invited the judge.”

“What? Are you crazy?” The look on Blayne's face would have been comical if Claire didn't understand her panic. Inviting the judge had been a risky move. Maxine was not one to be trifled with and, at the same time, never hesitated to share her opinion on anyone else's life, grandmothering anyone who stepped foot in Cape Van Buren.

Ever since the blow up before the gala earlier in the year, she and the judge had not spoken. But theirs was a love match too sweet to die forever. “You know we have to do something.” She stepped to Blayne’s side. “But what?”

Her friend cursed in Gaelic. “The judge called her out in front of everyone. You know Maxine.”

“I know. But...”

“But we both see that she’s miserable underneath her fake facade of a carefree lady out on the town. She misses the damn man just as much as he misses her.” Blayne played with the cuff on her jacket. “Does Larkin know?”

“No, I was afraid she would feel obligated to tell Maxine.”

“Smart girl,” Blayne said.

Claire stared at her. If she knew the truth, she’d never call her smart. “I kissed Mitch.” She blurted out the confession, then covered her mouth with her hand.

Her friend’s crystal-green eyes went wide, staring back as if Claire had a unicorn horn growing from her forehead.

Just then the judge tucked his head through the foliage path with a wary look. “This is all a little mysterious, Miss Adams.” Teddy Carter tugged at the hem of his jacket as he joined them. “What's this all about?”

Claire smiled, hoping it came across more welcoming than a warning to run and hide. “We’re finishing up the details for the fall art festival, and as the chairman of the events committee, we needed to get your final approval. I thought it was easiest if you just saw our plan.”

Teddy raised his brows. “Surely you could have just brought me samples to the courthouse. I'm a busy man, young lady.”

Didn't she know it. It took five different excuses to get the judge to meet her out there in the first place. If they didn't get him and Maxine talking again, they would lose their chance to bring them back together forever.

“I understand, Judge Carter, and I appreciate you stepping out. But as you can imagine, I didn't want to start collecting any materials unless you approved. No reason to disturb the cape if we don't have your okay to do so.”

He nodded, considering the view around him. “Such a beautiful place out here. I can't tell you how happy I was when Larkin talked Ryker into conserving this beautiful place and turning it all into a community center.”

“Sure.” A voice interrupted from the path, and he swung around.

Maxine walked up with Larkin by her side. “I imagine in mixed company you'd like to take credit for it all, too. Throw your weight around a little bit, Mr. Judge-on-the-town.”

“Now, Maxine...” Claire said softly.

“Did you do this?” Maxine threw daggers with a bulls-eye precision and jerked her thumb toward the man who broke her heart.

“We need to get past this, Maxine. I know you've been miserable.”

Maxine straightened her shoulders with her lips set in a very thin line.

Blayne whispered under her breath. “You did not just admit she’s miserable in front of the judge. You aren't getting any moonshine for the rest of your life.”

Claire elbowed her in the side. “Look, today's meeting is about the fall art festival, not whatever is going on between you two,” Claire said with determination. She hoped her matter-of-fact, logical declaration would make them both look past her manipulation. “Anyway, the reason I had you guys come out here is I think this would be a perfect spot for the festival this year.

The judge shook his head. “We've always done it at the Fountain of Youth.

Claire nodded. “We have, but the wind tends to pick up as we get into September and this area is more protected. It's calmer here, slightly warmer. All the trees block the sea breeze. This would be a perfect place, and we could play off the magic in here starting with a really cool archway at the path opening. Kind of transporting the visitors into a world of magic.

“We could have Ryker sell some of the Cape honey over by the bees, which would also serve to protect that area. There is a small clearing with a hole in the tree canopy that offers a lot of light to display different vendors’ art.”

Blayne piped up. “I know that Ryker and Jamie had a great climbing tree. We could see if the local climbing chapter would want to set up bungees and have an activity area for the kids.”

“That's a great idea,” Larkin said softly. “I know Archer would have loved something like that.”

Maxine nodded, pretending not to glance at Teddy every five seconds. Claire’s heart squeezed with love for the woman. Deep down, she was like the rest of them. Falling in love, but afraid of getting hurt.

At least Larkin and Blayne, she quickly amended.

Teddy looked around, nodding. “I like where you're going with this. But we’d have some liability issues.”

“That could be sorted out with liability waivers that everyone signs upon entering.” Blayne offered. “We could even have a spot online to make it easy from the beginning.”

Claire imagined it all coming together, and her heart swelled in her chest, but she wasn’t a dummy. She had to find a foolproof way to make sure Maxine forgave her for meddling. “I thought it could be fun to do kind of a mock kissing booth. Everyone could pay to give Maxine a kiss on the cheek in hopes of a sip of her moonshine.”

The judge grumbled. “Maxine and her moonshine.”

“Yeah,” Larkin said. “But it is the finest kind.”

“Well, I know I love that idea.” Maxine challenged, eyeing the judge with a cold, hard stare.

Blayne wiggled her brows. “Now that Claire’s inspired by kissing Mitch, of course, there must be a kissing booth.”

Claire wanted to kick her traitorous friend in the shin, but it would be too obvious. “This has nothing to do with Mitch.”

The judge raised a brow. “Mitch Brennan? I have to say I'm surprised. Do you really think that's a good idea, Claire? You’ve had a rough time with it, and well, I love the boy, but...”

The judge's tone came across in a fatherly way, but she found it offensive nonetheless. Raising her hand, she stopped him. “Mitch is a lot more than he puts on. He’s responsible, he cares. He actually views the world and the Cape in a very different way than you give him credit for. He wants to make a difference. If any of you would let him, he would.”

She didn’t know that her voice was rising until she quit talking, but she felt the rush of anger heating her cheeks. “Anyway,” she went on, ignoring all the stares, “I thought the money raised could go to a monthly drawing where we treat a couple around town to a date night out. We could get sponsors from the different restaurants to help with special deals and discounts. But I think it would be a cool way for the Cape Center to encourage the marriages of Cape Van Buren to continue to grow stronger.”

Maxine smiled. “Now that is a lovely idea. You have to admit it, Teddy.”

Teddy looked at Maxine like a parched man faced with the ocean. Everything he could ever want but completely unattainable. “Listen, Maxine...I really feel like we need to talk.”

She waved her hands. “Is this meeting over Claire? I have to get back to work, and Mitch was looking for you.”

Claire's heart squeezed at the forlorn look on Judge Teddy's face.

“Yes. I just wanted you guys to really see my vision.”

The judge nodded. “I really do like it.”

“Well, if that's all,” Maxine said as she made her way toward the opening in the trees. “Teddy,” she called over her shoulder, “meet me at the Flat Iron Saturday morning. Eight sharp. Don't be late.” And then she was gone.

Ignoring the looks that Blayne and Larkin exchanged, Claire busied herself by collecting a few more pine cones. They were going to have a lot of questions about that kiss later. Maybe if she could just prevent them from getting her alone.

Gah! When did she become such a coward?

They all watched the judge’s expression. “Are you okay?” Blayne asked.

“Are you kidding? I'm better than ever, ladies. That is one date I will not be late to.” He disappeared through the brush.

Larkin and Blayne turned to Claire. She threw her hands up with a grin. “I know you both have questions, but I have too much work to do.”

“You kissed Mitch?” Larkin asked her eyes wide with surprise.

“I don’t know that I’d call it a kiss. More like a debacle if I’m honest, followed by a head dive driven by total desperation.” She paced, shoving her hands in her front jean pockets. “I was having a hard time getting past the fact that I haven't kissed anyone since Jimmy. It was supposed to be kind of like ripping the Band-Aid off.”

Blayne rubbed her hands together. “The hell it was. That was nothing more than lifting the edge. If you wanna rip the real Band-Aid off, then Mitch is the man for the job. Word around town proves that he knows what he’s doing.”

Claire's jaw dropped. “I am not going to have sex with Mitch.”

She definitely wanted to have sex with Mitch.

What the hell is wrong with me?!

Larkin tapped her chin. “Why not? You’re single, he’s single. You two are friends. And he is sexy as hell. Sometimes that's the perfect person.”

“The perfect person for what?” Claire asked.

“Look, you're afraid to jump into a relationship that might hurt you, and you’ve always said that Mitch's not the kind of man you would ever date, so who would be safer than him?”

Claire nodded, understanding her friend’s point, but unable to make her vocal chords work in the face of such an idea. She had said that, but the truth of the matter was she’d been seeing Mitch in a much different light lately.

Her friends tucked an arm through each of hers at the elbow as they walked back towards the Cape house lawn. “I say go for it,” Larkin said. “Burn off some steam, clear your mind, then maybe you'll be ready to let go of Jimmy once and for all and open yourself up to a new relationship.”

And there it was. The cold fingers of fear, sliding up her spine. Even the thought of loving and losing made her break out into a cold sweat. “You guys know if I start dating again it's just a date, just companionship. I'm not looking for anything long-term.”

“But I don't understand.” Blayne slowed, turning to face her.

“Are you kidding me? It’s pretty straightforward. I am not ever going to put myself through that again. A relationship? A commitment? They imply getting married and having a family. No way, no how.”

Larkin rubbed her arm. “I always thought you’d be an amazing mother. I see you with Max, I see you with the children in town.”

Claire stopped in her tracks. Memories floating at the edge of her conscience. “You both need to stop.” Their words hurt more than they'd ever know. Jimmy's smile, his laugh, the sound of her baby’s beating heart, all melded together in a cacophony of yesterdays in her head.

She’d never move in the direction her friends had taken, but maybe she at least needed to distance herself from the shadow of the life she’d never had. At least where companionship was concerned.

“Maybe you guys are right. Mitch would be a great distraction, a great way to jump back in.” She swallowed past the lump in her throat and stretched her lips into a makeshift grin.

Blayne laughed. “And we all know you're safe from falling in love with Mitch.”

“Isn't that the truth,” she said lightly despite the thought of his grin when he’d handed her the cinnamon stick pastry, and his bewilderment when he’d found the vibrator in her kitchen, and the genuine look of purpose when he’d talked about wanting to help the community.

Every moment made her question everything she thought she knew about Cape Van Buren’s playboy.