“This is beautiful. It’s a perfect place to spend New Year’s Eve.” Maggie admired the view of the ocean from the window of the house in Candle Beach that her in-laws had rented for a few days.

Barbara Price joined her at the window. “I know. I can’t believe it was available on last-minute notice.”

“Thanks again for coming. After Alex disappeared, it totally wiped me out. It means a lot to me that you and John came up to Candle Beach to spend time with us. I know you hadn’t planned to make the trip.”

Her mother-in-law put an arm around her waist. “No problem. We both had vacation days to use and it was about time we came up here to visit you instead of you visiting us.” She gestured around the house. “Besides, who could say no to this?”

Maggie smiled. They’d rented one of the most beautiful vacation houses in Candle Beach. The two-story house was right on the cliff overlooking the ocean and was walking distance to town. The owners had decorated it in a fashion straight out of Coastal Living, with turquoise walls and comfortable beige and white furniture. She’d have to keep Alex away from the couches when he was eating, but it was worth it to get to experience the luxurious surroundings.

“Thanks for hosting New Year’s Eve too. I know my parents were excited to be invited to a party here.”

“Of course. It all came together so nicely. I’m glad to see your parents again. It’s been a while.”

“And most importantly, I needed a place to sleep,” Jake joked as he came up behind them. “Maude gave my room away and I’m homeless now until I leave for my Border Patrol job.”

Maggie’s stomach twisted at the mention of his new job, but she tried to push it away. It wasn’t really her business what he did, as long as it didn’t adversely affect Alex.

“Well, we wouldn’t want that.” She tried to keep her tone light. “Can I interest anyone in a hors d’oeuvre?” She motioned to the trays of mini pizzas and salmon bites she and Barbara had prepared earlier.

“Yum.” Jake popped one in his mouth and smiled at her. She felt her face flush and turned around. She knew he was trying to keep the situation light. After he’d come back when Alex disappeared, they’d decided the best thing for Alex was for them to remain friends. But she found it hard to do that when every bone in her body screamed for them to be more than friends. What was it about him that got to her so strongly?

“Mom!” Alex tugged on her shirt. “Both grandpas and I are going to play Candyland. Do you want to play too?”

She glanced at Jake again and then said, “Sure. I’ll be there in a minute.”

She managed to avoid Jake until late in the evening. Her dad and father-in-law were passed out on the couch and Alex had sandwiched himself in between them, engrossed in some cartoon on the television. The older women chatted companionably, passing the time until midnight.

Maggie stepped outside onto the wraparound deck and leaned against the railing. The weather was unseasonably warm and she wore only a light jacket. Below the house, the waves pounded on the beach, the roaring of the waves soothing her senses. It had been a busy year. Both her friends had fallen in love over the last year or so, and she had too. At least she’d thought she had. Even though she and Jake weren’t meant as a couple, she hoped they eventually could find their way as friends.

The sliding glass door closed behind her and Jake joined her on the deck. She tried it out. “Hello, friend.”

He winced and took a deep breath. Then he put his palms on the railing and straightened out his arms, as if gaining strength, and looked directly into her eyes.

“Maggie. I don’t want to be friends with you.”

She stepped back and stared at him. “But that’s what we discussed. For Alex’s sake, we need to stay friends.”

“I want to give us another chance.” He ran his hand through his hair. “Honestly, I’m not quite sure why you broke up with me in the first place. You said it was because of Brian, but you’d told me you were over him. Which is it? If you aren’t over him, that’s fine. I understand. But I need to know the truth.”

He wanted to know the truth? Was he happy being in a sham relationship with her? He was taking the whole promise to his brother thing a little too far. Well, he wanted the truth. She took a deep breath and let the words spill out.

“The truth is that I went over to your room at the B&B on Christmas afternoon. I’d realized how silly I’d been acting and I wanted to tell you I was ready for something serious with you.”

“I never saw you there.” He stepped closer to her and reached his arm out.

“Yeah, because I overheard you telling your mom about the promise you’d made to Brian to take care of Alex and me.” A wave of embarrassment flowed over her. She’d come so close that day to telling him she loved him. Now, being honest felt like the right thing to do, but it still stung.

“Oh.” He dug his hands into his pockets and stared out at the inky black waves.

“Look, I appreciate what you’re doing, trying to make good on your promise, but I don’t need your pity. Alex and I are doing fine on our own.” She looked at him defiantly. “We don’t need you to swoop in and save us.”

He held up his hands. “Maggie, you’ve got it all wrong.” She gave him a pointed look and he hesitated. “Well, maybe that was partially it in the beginning. Mom said you had a lot going on and I thought I could help out with Alex and maybe get to know the both of you a little better. But I never expected to fall in love with you.”

She searched his face. “You fell in love with me? It wasn’t all some misguided sense of loyalty to Brian?”

“No, of course not. Did you really think that?” He sighed. “From the moment I came back to Candle Beach, I haven’t been able to get you out of my mind. I want to be a part of your life—and Alex’s too, of course.” He reached for her again. This time, she allowed him to pull her close to his chest.

Every sense in her body was on high alert. She was so close she could smell his aftershave mingling with the salt air and feel his heart pounding under his thin cotton shirt. She wrapped her arms around his neck and looked into his eyes. “I’d like that.”

He bent down and kissed her, long and sweet. She closed her eyes and allowed the kiss to deepen. Having Alex disappear had been the most terrifying thing she’d ever gone through, but in his own way, he’d brought Jake back to them. If Jake hadn’t turned around to come back and help look for Alex, she doubted they’d ever have cleared up the misunderstanding.

He pulled apart from her, breaking their embrace. Feeling puzzled, she looked into his eyes, which twinkled with mirth.

“I think we have an audience.” He pointed to the sliding glass door behind them. Both sets of parents were watching them with huge smiles on their faces. Alex gave Jake a thumbs-up.

She blushed furiously, but Jake returned Alex’s thumbs-up and waggled his eyebrows at her.

“Should we go back in?” He held his hand out to her. She took it, squeezing it tightly. She never wanted to let it go.

They walked to the door, their family parting to allow them entrance.

Her father-in-law clapped Jake on the shoulder. “It’s about time, son.”

Her mother clutched her arm. “I’m so happy for you,” she whispered. “We really like him.”

Maggie did too.