It’s been well over a year since I felt even the slightest inkling of attraction to a man. The moment I set my eyes on Chase Henson, everything changed. Tall and muscular with tattoos covering his arms, he’s a tall drink of water that I don’t need but desperately want to sip. His well-structured face didn’t help my case. The strong jaw, full lips that promise to give the best kisses, and deep, hazel eyes were enough on their own to make me have dirty thoughts.

But there was something else about him, something I could relate to but couldn’t exactly put my finger on. Maybe it was the way he said he was trying to find a place that felt like home. Things changed this past year, and while I love Summer Hill like an old friend, the sense that I belong has vanished like whispers in the wind.

I press the unlock button on Lisa’s key fob, then remember the battery has been dead in this thing for the last six months. It’s turned into a bit of a running joke between us since she complains about it all the time but has yet to put in a new battery.

The sounds of the bar echo behind me, getting louder for a few seconds as the door opens before becoming muffled again as the doors swing closed.

“I knew you lied.”

The gruff voice makes me jump and I drop the keys. I whirl around and see the guy from the bar taking fast and unsteady steps toward me.

“You don’t have a boyfriend. Why you gotta be like that?”

“I’m not being like anything. Leave me alone.”

“That guy with the tattoos isn’t your boyfriend.”

“It doesn’t matter what he is to me.” I push my shoulders back, trying to stand my ground. If I look him in the eye and don’t show my fear, he’ll back off, right? Or does that only work with bears? Shit. “I’m not interested, so go away.”

“You like bad boys? I can do you one better and be a real bad man.”

I roll my eyes and shake my head. “Does that line ever work?” I swallow, take a deep breath, and mentally debate kicking him in the balls or the stomach.

He advances, taking another drag of his cigarette, exhaling the smoke in my face. “What do you say, little lady? Want to get out of here?”

“Hey!” A loud, male voice reverberates off the parked cars surrounding me.

The drunk guy quickly turns, wobbles, and falls on his ass. I look past him and see Chase rushing out.

“Are you okay?” he asks me, gravel crunching under his feet.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” My heart is in my throat, but I really am fine.

“Did he hurt you?”

“No, just annoyed me.”

The drunk guy gets to his feet and looks at Chase, sizing him up. Realizing he’d lose that fight, he shakes his head and says he’s getting out of here. Chase takes his arm and guides him to his truck, pushes him in the driver’s seat and closes the door.

“He really shouldn’t be driving,” I say slowly, not taking my eyes off the truck.

Chase holds up a set of keys. “He won’t be.”

“You picked his pocket?”

“It’s one of my many talents. He’ll be passed out in a few minutes. Sleeping it off is the best thing for him.”

“Good thinking.” I readjust the strap of my purse and bend over to pick up the keys.

“Are you sure you’re all right?” Chase asks again.

“Yes. I had it handled.”

A smile plays on his lips like he doesn’t believe me. “Sure.”

I cock an eyebrow. “You think I can’t handle myself?”

He holds up his hands innocently. “Oh, I think you can. In fact, I bet you’re great at handling yourself.”

I purse my lips. Is that supposed to be a sexual innuendo? And more importantly…do I want it to be?

I do. I think I really do.

“Sorry then,” he goes on. “But from where I was standing, you looked a little, well, frozen.”

“I was debating how to take him down without dropping my food,” I tell him and then realize how ridiculous that sounds. We both laugh, and I shake my head. “But thanks. It was very chivalrous of you.”

He takes a tentative step forward and shrugs. “Dealing with that guy isn’t like slaying a dragon or anything.”

The soft and haunting hoots of an owl come from the trees surrounding the parking lot. Chase turns, staring into the woods before he moves his gaze to the sky above us.

“I forgot how much I missed the stars,” he says softly, almost as if it’s a confession instead of a conversation. “Until I saw them again.”

My heart is beating fast again. “I guess you don’t see them well in the city.”

“Not at all. The stars over that island in Scotland were the brightest I’ve ever seen. And when the sea is still, you can’t tell where the water ends and the sky begins. You really do feel like you’re the only person left in the world.”

“Is that a scary feeling?”

He moves his eyes to me and shakes his head. “I don’t know. I’m used to being alone.” Then he blinks and looks away, almost as if he’s embarrassed by what he just said.

“It sounds amazing. Were you there with someone?” I cringe at my words. Can I be any more obvious? The fact that I want to flirt with him sends a jolt through me, followed by a heavy crash of guilt. It’s like I’m betraying Jake. Besides, I have nothing to give Chase. My heart is sitting in a shattered heap inside my cold, dark chest. I worked so hard to feel nothing that I’ve permanently broken myself. I don’t think I’m capable of feeling anymore.

“No. I was there to steal a boat.”

I blink, unsure if he’s trying to be funny or not. He looks serious and doesn’t offer a smile or a laugh to let me know he’s joking. I tighten my grip on the bag of carry-out, and the paper crunches under my fingers.

“Thanks again, Chase,” I say. “Have a good night.”

He looks right into my eyes again, and for a moment, I don’t want to go. “You too, Sierra.”

* * *

“Gran,” I begin, setting my tea down. The delicate cup clinks against the saucer, and I carefully turn it, lining up the flowers on the cup with the matching ones on the saucer. It’s Sunday evening, and I’m sitting on the large covered porch sipping tea with my grandmother until dinner is ready. I don’t like tea, but I like talking with Gran. A true southern woman, my Gran is well-mannered and well-versed in Summer Hill’s latest gossip. “Did you know that Josh Henson has a brother, Chase?”

“Chase Henson. I haven’t heard that name in years,” she says, adding another sugar cube to her tea before gently stirring it with a porcelain spoon.

“So you know him?”

“I know of him,” she says and gracefully lifts her tea. “Why do you ask, dear?”

“I met him the other night at The Mill House.”

She tries to hide her smile behind her teacup. “You went to a bar?”

“Yeah, for Lisa’s birthday.”

“Good for you, honey.” She lifts an eyebrow. “I take it that’s the reason Lisa is late for dinner.”

“What do you know about Chase?” I ask, bypassing saying anything about Lisa. She’s not here yet because she and Rob had another fight Friday night, broke up, then got back together this morning. They’re busy making up.

“If you recall, Josh and Chase’s father was a truck driver.”

“I remember,” I say, though I can’t remember the last time I saw Mr. Henson. He bordered between the town drunk and the town outsider. He was a big burly man, and Lisa and I always found him scary when we were children.

“Apparently he couldn’t handle the long trips away from his wife, if you know what I mean.”

“I don’t—oh. He had an affair.”

Gran nods and takes another drink of tea.

“So Chase…he’s Josh’s half-brother. That explains why I’d never seen him before. I wonder why he’s here now.”

“His father passed last week. I assume he came for the funeral.”

“Oh my God.” My eyes go wide and I suck in a quick breath. “I had no idea. Josh and Chase both seemed so…so…normal.”

“I don’t think either boy was particularly close with their father, and he’d been sick for years, not that it makes it any easier.”

“Right.” I reach for my teacup, feeling horrible. If I see Chase again, I’ll tell him I’m sorry for his loss. That I know how losing a loved one feels like you’ve been ripped in two and stitched up with a rusty needle, pieces hanging together by weak threads, ready to rip apart and tear open at any second.

If I see him again.