Dalton wasn’t proud of the way he’d handled himself with Sierra. Things had been going better than he could’ve ever hoped, and then he panicked when she told him she needed time to sort through her feelings. And he’d pushed her away. In his defense, she’d leveled some pretty hard blows. He couldn’t believe she’d gotten pregnant and had a miscarriage. She’d gone through it all on her own because she couldn’t depend on him.

Now that he’d had time to think things through, he understood where Sierra was coming from. He’d been a wreck back then, always making empty promises that he’d quit drinking. Had he not joined the Marines and met Randal Murphy he probably would’ve ended up a drunk like his old man.

His dad died a couple of years ago from liver cancer brought on by the drinking. And while they had a form of a reconciliation, there was no way his dad could make up for all the damage he’d caused. Despite it all, Dalton still missed him. He was his dad, after all.

Dalton’s thoughts went back to Randal, his heart clutching the way it always did when he thought of his close friend, who’d been killed when a Harrier went down. They’d met during his first year of service. Randal was older than most Marines, in his early thirties. After Dalton realized Sierra had left him, he was in a dark place, had even contemplated suicide. While he didn’t know if he would’ve ever gone through with it, he was still headed down a destructive path—hanging out at bars, drinking himself into oblivion.

Randal had taken him under his wing and introduced him to religion. Prayer was what ultimately saved Dalton. With God’s help, he found the strength to overcome his addiction. Once Dalton got himself straightened out and off the booze, Randal taught him how to trade stocks, a skill that benefitted him to this day. Sierra would be shocked if she knew how much he was worth. He couldn’t help but smile a little at that.

He pulled into the circular driveway of the Compton’s large, colonial home and turned off the engine. There were already dozens of cars and people filing in through the front door. Dalton adjusted his necktie and checked his reflection in the mirror, smoothing a hand over his hair. He wasn’t looking forward to this party tonight. While he could hold his own in large social situations, they really weren’t his thing.

What he wanted most was to find Sierra and kiss her again. Then he’d apologize for his hasty reaction. Of course, it still bothered him that Sierra would actually consider going back to New York. His stomach knotted. Would he lose her all over again? He sucked in a breath, willing himself to focus on the positive as he got out of his Camaro. He drove it tonight because his truck was in the shop getting repaired.

Music floated on the evening air from the live band. The party was being held out back by the Olympic-sized pool and clubhouse. The scent of food teased his senses, but Dalton couldn’t distinguish the type of food. He knew whatever it was would be tasty because Janie’s restaurant was catering the party. A slight breeze ruffled his hair. Janie had a knack for obsessing over details and she freaked out when she learned there was a chance of rain in the forecast. Her fears were in vain because the weather was perfect.

He dreaded talking to Janie. He knew now that he couldn’t continue his relationship with her. Not when he was so over the moon for Sierra. Regardless of what happened between him and Sierra, it wouldn’t be fair to string Janie along.

He smiled and nodded at the familiar faces as he adjusted his sports coat and strode up the wide steps. Would Sierra be here tonight? He’d spoken to Bennie earlier in the day, and she assured him that Sierra was coming. But Dalton wasn’t certain. He was sure she was still furious at him.

He walked through the house and out the double French doors. The area was brimming with people holding drinks in their hands. A young server wearing a uniform approached, flashing a cheery smile. “Can I get you a drink, sir?”

“Yes, a club soda with lime please.”

She nodded. “I’ll be right back.”

It used to bother Dalton to be around alcohol, but now he didn’t think twice about it. Ironically, the only time he’d even thought about drinking the past few years was the day Sierra came back to town. Yep, she was his weakness, even greater than alcohol.

The server returned with the club soda. “Thanks,” he said, taking a sip. He scoured the crowd, searching for Sierra. Disappointment settled over him when he didn’t see her. But it was still early. He spotted Janie near the band, laughing and talking to a group of friends. When she saw him, she gave him a big smile and wave. Then she came over to him. “Hey, babe. You look fantastic.”

“Thanks. So do you.” It was true. By all definitions, she was stunning in her bright yellow dress that hugged her curves. She was great … for some other guy. She went to kiss him on the lips, he turned so that she got his cheek instead.

She gave him a funny look. “Everything okay?”

He forced a smile. “Great.”

She took his arm. “Come on. I wanna introduce you to a few people.”

He groaned inwardly. And so it began—the hour or so of polite conversation.

* * *

Sierra’s nerves were jumping like a squirrel on caffeine as she got out of the car and went around to the passenger side to help Bennie out. The last time she’d stepped foot in this house, she and Ivie Jane had been best friends. That was before she became the town pariah. The thought left a sour taste in her mouth. She held out her hand and helped Bennie to her feet. Bennie used the hood of the car for support while Sierra handed her the crutches. It took some effort for Bennie to get them under her arms balancing on one foot.

“Are you sure this is a good idea? I don’t want you to fall and break your neck. Maybe we should just go back home.” Coming back here, being around all these people from her youth, wasn’t sitting well. She could always talk to Dalton another time.

“I’ll be fine.” Bennie smiled reassuringly. “I’m a lot tougher than I look.”

“Yeah, I know. You’re a tough old bird. But don’t get overconfident.” She looked down at the uneven cobblestones. “Especially around these.”

“I’ve got it.”

Sierra stayed close to Bennie, ready to catch her at any second should she trip.

Once inside on a smooth surface, it was easier for Bennie to walk. As soon as they stepped through the doors leading to outside, Sierra searched for an empty table. “Over there.” She pointed as they made their way over to it. She pulled out a chair and helped Bennie get seated.

Sierra was relieved when Bennie got situated and propped her crutches against the table. A grin tugged at her lips. “You’re a lot of work,” she teased.

Bennie laughed. “That’s what they tell me.” Her breathing was labored from the exertion, and she wiped her forehead. Then she fluffed her hair and straightened her glasses. “Now,” she sighed, settling into the chair.

Sierra was about to sit down, but Bennie made a shooing motion. “You need to go mingle.” Bennie grinned like a Cheshire cat. “Go find your man.”

Nervous butterflies thrummed in Sierra’s stomach. Dalton was here with Ivie Jane. She couldn’t just burst in between them and say pick me. She chuckled inwardly at the thought. That would give the good townsfolk of Sugar Pines something to talk about.

Someone touched her arm. For one wild second, Sierra thought it was Dalton but was surprised to see Boyd Compton standing before her. He was the picture of refinement with his graying temples and patrician features.

“Good evening,” he said, offering a formal bow.

“Hello. Happy birthday,” Sierra blurted.

“Thank you.” He acknowledged Bennie with a nod, which she returned with a regal nod of her own. If Sierra didn’t know better, she’d think Bennie was a queen nodding to her subject. Sierra bit back a smile. Bennie really was a great actress.

Boyd rocked on his heels and cleared his throat. “Might I have a word with you?”

Her throat tightened. “Uh, yeah. Sure.” She glanced at Bennie who looked as surprised as she. Boyd directed her over to a private area beside a row of tall hedges.

Sierra’s mind whirled. What in the world could the man want to tell her? Even when she and Ivie Jane were friends he’d been aloof, only marginally polite. She’d always thought of him as a stuffed shirt.

“There’s no easy way to say this,” he said stiffly.

Was he going to warn her to stay away from Dalton?

“Young lady, I owe you an apology.”

Her jaw dropped. “Excuse me?”

A twinge of pain touched his dark eyes. “When Loretta was killed in the accident, I was a broken man.”

A shudder went through Sierra, making her knees go weak. Was he really bringing up her mother’s car wreck?

The corners of his jaw twitched, and Sierra could tell it was an effort to get out whatever it was he was trying to say. “I was so consumed with grief that I only thought of myself and Ivie Jane.” His voice caught as he looked at her, remorse simmering in his eyes. “I should’ve stopped to realize that we weren’t the only ones who lost a loved one that day.”

Without warning, tears rushed to her eyes as she blinked.

“I can’t imagine how hard it must’ve been for you. Not only to lose your mother, but to have Ivie Jane and your friends turn against you.”

“Yes, it was,” Sierra said quietly. For so long she’d carried the guilt of what her mother had done, even though she had no control over it.

“I’m sorry,” he said gruffly.

Sierra couldn’t stop the tears from spilling over her cheeks. An unexpected warmth flowed into her, like the sun giving light to a cloudy day. She smiled at Boyd. “Thank you. I know it wasn’t easy for you to tell me that.”

He nodded and glanced around like he didn’t know what else to say. “Well, have a good evening.”

“You too.”

He turned on his heel and strode back to the crowd.

When she returned to the table, Bennie lifted an eyebrow. “What did he want?”

“I think in his own way, he was apologizing for allowing Ivie Jane and her buddies to oust me.”

She grunted. “About time. That’s what he should’ve done years ago instead of showing up at the door with a wad of cash to send you to Camp Wallakee. The old fart wanted to ease his conscience.”

Sierra’s eyes bulged. “What? Boyd paid for that? You told me you’d put aside extra money from your music lessons to pay for it.”

Bennie’s mouth formed an O. “Did I say that?”

“Yes, you did.” The situation struck Sierra as funny as a laugh rumbled in her throat. “Bennie, Bennie. What am I gonna do with you?”

“Well, if you haven’t figured it out by now, you probably never will,” she responded tartly.

“True,” Sierra agreed.

“Sierra.”

She turned toward the high-pitched voice and saw Dalton’s assistant, Phyllis Watson and Eddie Whitehead standing beside the food table. Phyllis’s hand flapped back and forth as she waved wildly. “Come over here.”

“Oh, no,” Bennie said dryly. “That motor-mouth’ll monopolize you all night if you let her.”

Sierra laughed. “Yeah, probably. I guess I’d better go say hello.”

“Careful,” Bennie warned. “Whatever you say can and will be used against you and then spread all over Sugar Pines.”

Sierra chuckled, knowing Bennie was right. She smoothed down her dress and pasted on her best debutante smile.

“Hey,” Phyllis chirped, giving her a tight hug. She looked Sierra up and down. “Wow! That’s some dress.” She nudged Eddie. “Doesn’t she look pretty?”

“Yeah,” he said dutifully.

Sierra looked down at her emerald dress, the same one she and Juliette had picked out from the boutique the day she thought Parker would propose. “Thanks,” she smiled.

“How ya doin,’ Sierra?” Eddie drawled, using his two front teeth to lob off the top section of the chicken on a skewer.

“Good, Eddie. How are you?”

He shook his head. A smile eased over his lips as he talked with his mouth full. “Still sorry I had to give such a pretty little thing like you a ticket.”

Phyllis’s face scrunched as she hit his arm. “I’m right here, Bozo.”

His eyes bugged, and for a second it looked like he might be choking. He let out a forceful cough. “You’re the one who said she was pretty. I was just going along with it.”

“Well, okay, if that’s all it is,” Phyllis said stiffly, adjusting her dress. Eddie put an arm around Phyllis, winking at Sierra.

“My woman here gets a little jealous, because she loves me so much.”

Sierra laughed. “I can see that.”

“Yeah, I do love ya. But that still doesn’t mean I don’t wanna wring your skinny neck sometimes.” Phyllis smiled brightly at Sierra. “Did I tell you we’re engaged?” She held up her finger and wiggled it, just as she’d done the first day Sierra got to town.

“Yes, you told me.”

Phyllis made a face. “Oh, yeah. That’s right. I forgot.”

It was then that Sierra realized Dalton was striding towards them. There was something so magnetic about his presence that she couldn’t take her eyes off him. Her heart started racing. He wore a blue tie, matching sports coat, and khaki pants. His hair was messy, a strand hanging over one eye, giving him a bad-boy look. As unobtrusively as she could, she sucked in a breath, trying to appear somewhat composed.

“Hey, Sie,” he drawled, a slow smile flowing over his lips.

“Hey.” A heat wave blasted over her, and she knew her face was blaring like a sunburn. She probably should’ve acted more put out since he’d ignored her all week, but all she could think about was that he was here … talking to her! Boyd apologizing, Dalton here, the music flowing, the twinkling white lights. She was starting to feel like she was in a fairy tale.

Dalton’s eyes moved over her like a caress. “You look incredible,” he murmured. He touched her arm, leaning in to give her a kiss on the cheek. Her skin tingled wildly under his touch, and she caught the spice of his cologne mingled with his scent—fresh and masculine like the ocean that had been their playground. The past and present melded together into a powerful punch. She caught the longing in his eyes, knew the same vibe was reflecting off her. Then there was a whisper of something as ageless as the velvety sky above them.

Dalton belonged to her, as she did to him. And wherever he was … that’s where her home would be.

“Hey, old man,” Eddie said. “Looking good.” He gnawed off another piece of chicken.

“Thanks,” Dalton uttered, not taking his eyes off Sierra. “We need to talk.”

“Yes,” she said simply.

Ivie Jane’s ultra-cheery voice over the microphone broke the spell. “Ladies and gentlemen, thanks so much for coming out tonight to celebrate Daddy’s birthday.”

Sierra jumped slightly turning toward the stage. She glanced at Dalton whose features tightened.

Ivie motioned at Boyd who was standing near the stage. “Give it up, folks, for my wonderful daddy who turned sixty-four today.”

Boyd smiled and waved at the crowd. He seemed uncomfortable with the attention, but was gracious about it.

“Now, I’ve got a surprise for you,” Ivie Jane said, her voice juicy. “My boyfriend Dalton Chandler’s going to perform a song for you.”

The crowd went wild.

For an instant, Sierra felt like she’d been slapped. She’d gotten so caught up in her own head about Dalton that she forgot for a moment that he was Ivie Jane’s boyfriend. She looked at Dalton who had a thunderous look on his face. It was obvious the announcement came as a surprise.

“Dalton, come on up here,” Ivie Jane said.

Dalton’s eyes connected with Sierra’s. “I still wanna have that talk.”

“Yeah,” she said dully. “Better go on up. You’re being summoned by your girlfriend.” She didn’t try to hide the bite in her voice. She realized with a jolt that Phyllis was watching her, an amused expression on her face.

Sierra forced a smile. “It was great seeing you both. Excuse me.” She hurried back to Bennie’s table. The last thing she wanted was for Phyllis to be standing there assessing her like some science project while Dalton sang.