Cheerful from caffeine and a good night’s sleep, Beckett breezed through the doorway into the section of his house that was dedicated to his law practice. Originally a parlor, the high-ceilinged room opened onto a glassed-in sun porch, making the entire space bright and comfortable.

Here he’d stripped the dark plaid wallpaper from the walls, but left the waist-high wainscoting. Built-ins flanked the double doors that opened into the library that he used as a conference room. On the back wall was a large stone fireplace.

His office was through a set of ornately carved pocket doors toward the front of the house, overlooking the porch and driveway.

Ellery’s desk faced the sun porch’s entrance. From there, she did her best to edit the never-ending stream of visitors. It was here that his worlds of politics and business intersected. Clients of his practice shared the sunny waiting space with town council members and residents with beefs or wildly inappropriate suggestions … sometimes both.

Beckett put Ellery’s pink kitten mug down on her desk. His paralegal swiveled in her chair, her desk phone cradled between ear and shoulder.

“Uh-huh. Sure Mrs. Parker. I’ll let him know as soon as he’s back in the office,” she said into the phone. “You, too. Bye now.”

Her painted black lips stretched into a grin. Her ebony hair hung in lazy, loose curls pinned back from her face. Tiny skull earrings danced at her lobes.

“Mrs. Parker is very interested in talking to you about redoing her will, which is code for talking you into dating her daughter.”

“Moon Beam?” Beckett winced. He had gone to school with Moon Beam Parker and had spent a very memorable portion of junior year with her, during which he lost his virginity to her in the backseat of his mother’s SUV. The relationship had fizzled — as so many high school romances in Blue Moon — when Moon Beam left for a yearlong stay on a commune in Vermont after her parents’ divorce.

“It seems Mrs. Parker became aware of the attention you’re getting since that article and wants to lock you down for Moon Beam.”

“Husband number three, am I?” Beckett said, dropping into one of the chairs in front of Ellery’s desk. He sipped his coffee. “What else is on the agenda, besides marrying me off?”

“First things first,” Ellery said. “Welcome back. You look tan and mostly happy.”

“I am tan and mostly happy.” He thought of his mother’s news and suppressed a frown.

“Good.” Ellery nodded briskly. “Here’s a copy of your calendar for this week. I tried to keep the appointments a little light so you don’t lose your post-island buzz.” She ran through some of the highlights of the coming week, pointing with black tipped nails. “You also have a Chamber event at noon today. Ribbon-cutting at the yoga studio.”

Beckett perked up. So he’d get to meet the beautiful and flexible yoga teacher today. That was a plus. The memory of her laughing in candlelight behind the glass of her studio tugged at him. All those red curls and that pale skin. There was something bewitching about her.

“Beckett?” Ellery was looking at him.

“What?”

“I asked if you met her yet?” Ellery asked, breaking through his thoughts.

He frowned. “No. I just got back last night,” he reminded her.

“She great. She’s amazing actually,” Ellery gushed. “She started teaching classes last week and I signed up for a monthly package after my first class. I think you’ll really like her. She’s a good fit.”

Before he could ask her what the limber, young yoga instructor would be a good fit for, they were interrupted by his nine o’clock, who was thirty-five minutes early.

And so it began.

Beckett worked his way through appointments, research, and paperwork right up until he had to leave for the ribbon cutting. He grabbed the ceremonial gold shears that Ellery held up for him and headed out the door.

“Don’t run with those,” she called after him.

There was already a crowd gathered around the front door of the studio. They were all familiar faces. Elvira Eustace, with her more salt than pepper ringlets, was chatting animatedly with Anthony Berkowicz, the skinny editor of The Monthly Moon, who was holding a digital camera bigger than he was.

Anthony’s mother, Rainbow, was impatiently staring at her watch while Mrs. McCafferty of the catchall general store McCaffertys talked her ear off.

The door to the yoga studio opened, and Rob from OJs by Julia stepped out carrying empty trays.

“Hey, Beckett,” Rob greeted him.

Beckett nodded at the trays. “Does Julia have you doing deliveries now?”

Rob grinned. “She and the baby are directing everyone from home for another few days. It was all I could get her to commit to before she comes back to work.”

“Three kids under five,” Beckett shook his head. “You two are super heroes.”

“Or insane,” Rob shrugged happily. “What’s new with you? How was your trip?”

Beckett’s response was cut off by town councilwoman Dr. Donna Delveccio. Donna’s entrepreneurial parents had raised three equally enterprising children. All told, the family owned and operated Blue Moon’s dry-cleaning business, medical supply store, and Delveccio Dental.

“Let’s get this show on the road, Beckett,” she said, rubbing her hands together. “There’s a mini turkey club in there with my name on it and I’ve got a cavity filling at one.”

“Do we have a yoga studio owner somewhere around here?” Beckett asked, scanning the crowd.

Dr. Donna shrugged. “Maybe she’s inside?”

“I’ll see if I can find her and get you your turkey club,” he told her. “Why don’t you organize everyone and I’ll be right back?”

He made a move toward the studio’s glass door and turned back. “What’s her name?” he asked Donna.

“Gianna Decker.”

Beckett entered the studio, noting that the painting supplies from last night had been cleaned up. A long buffet table, laden with sandwiches, snacks, and mini smoothies, was set up in front of the windows.

At the back of the room, the door to a second, smaller studio was open. It was empty. But down the narrow hallway he noticed one of the restroom doors was closed. She must be in there. He decided to give her another minute or two when he heard the doorknob rattle.

“Is anyone out there?” called a muffled voice.

He hurried down the hall and arrived at the door in time to hear her groan.

“Seriously? Of all days,” the voice said woefully. The handle jiggled again, harder this time. A swift thump replaced the jiggling. “I really don’t like you right now, door!”

Beckett knocked and heard the yelp on the other side of the wood. “Are you stuck?” he asked.

“Oh my God! Yes, please help. The lock must be broken and I have to get outside. Everyone’s waiting.”

Beckett tried the handle on his side. “Definitely stuck,” he assessed.

“Gee, you think?” she asked dryly.

“Doors don’t block sarcasm,” he reminded her.

“Right. Sorry. I’m just flustered. Can you get me out of here?”

“No. I think you have to stay in there forever.”

“Doors don’t block sarcasm, you know.”

Beckett laughed. “Sorry. Couldn’t help it. I can get you out.” He reached into his pocket and grabbed the ever-present multi-tool his father had given him. “I’m going to take the screws out of the handle on this side, okay?”

“Oh, good. I was afraid you were going to kick the door down.”

“We’ll save that as a last resort,” he promised.

Beckett made quick work of the screws and popped the handle off of his side. He heard the thunk of the interior handle hitting the floor. With his index finger, he pushed the striker release and the door swung open.

She was sitting on the vanity, her bare feet dangling, peeking through the folds of her long skirt. The grin she gave him lit up the bathroom like fireworks in the night sky. Sliding off the countertop, she launched herself into his arms. He caught her purely on instinct and his eyes widened as her full, soft lips landed on his.

There was nothing carnal about the kiss, he thought as she pulled back and slid to the floor. But it still affected him.

“Do you always kiss complete strangers?” he demanded gruffly.

Her wide green eyes sparkled. “I do when they rescue me from considerable amounts of embarrassment and life in restroom prison. I was just debating whether or not the hand soap in here was edible.”

She looked like a fairy. Delicate and small, her ivory skin was dotted with a smattering of freckles. She wore her long red hair loose, cascading down her back. Her snug long sleeve shirt showed off a compact, curvy body.

“Now if you’ll excuse me. I need to go cut a ribbon,” she announced, patting his arm as she stepped around him.

“You can’t get started without me,” he said, following her down the hall and into the studio.

She whirled around, her skirt billowing around her legs. “Don’t tell me,” she said, raising an eyebrow. “Beckett Pierce.”

“At your service, it appears,” he said, with a mock bow.

“Well, isn’t that interesting?” She smiled again, looking him over from head to toe. “Very interesting.” Gianna turned her back on him again and slipped out the front door leaving him frowning after her.

Back outside, Beckett found that Donna had organized everyone into the appropriate positions and the ceremonial tie-dye ribbon was stretched taut in front of the door.

Elvira handed the comically large scissors to him.

Beckett beckoned for Gianna to join him behind the ribbon. “Ready?”

“Let’s do this,” she grinned.

“On behalf of all of Blue Moon, I’d like to welcome Gianna Decker to our community,” Beckett announced to the crowd. “I’m sure she will be an excellent addition to our town as both a business owner and neighbor.”

The small crowd applauded enthusiastically and Gianna waved.

Beckett held up the scissors to the ribbon and captured her hand with his free one. “Together?”

She looked up at him, their gazes locked. He swore he saw a lifetime in those eyes before she winked. And together they snipped through the thick, colorful ribbon.