“I expected to see you pulling up on your new motorized scooter,” Dallas called out to Davis as he loaded some lumber into his truck.

“We donated it to the Belle Society so they could do with it what they see fit,” Davis corrected. “I hope I’m many years off from needing one of those.”

“How many hours did you guys dance last night?” Dallas asked, gesturing for Davis to help while they talked. “That whole pile of wood needs to get in the bed of this truck.”

“I came to thank you for the two-hundred-dollar donation and see how the cabin repair was going, not help you load wood. And we danced for six hours. That’s about two hours longer than everyone else.”

“Seemed like she was hard to let go of,” Dallas said, tossing Davis a pair of work gloves from his pocket.

“She was and is,” Davis admitted. “But she’s a runner. I don’t think Indigo Bay is big enough for a woman like that. Coming from New York City, I know she’s running from something, but it’ll eventually work itself out. When she doesn’t need a place to hide anymore, I doubt she’ll stay here.”

“No word on what had her running in the first place? Don’t you find it weird that she hasn’t told you why she got in her car without her cell phone or purse and just started driving south?”

“She’s a tough nut to crack,” Davis sighed. “I’m trying not to push it. She’ll tell me when she’s ready, I’m sure.”

“I can send my crew over to that cabin today if you want. They can probably have it patched and cleaned by tonight.” Dallas stacked the wood up in the back of the truck and searched around for the straps to tie it down.

“No,” Davis said, too quickly to sound natural. “I mean, you don’t have to rush over there on my account. Things are all right where she is. I have space in the house. Plus she already has a recipe she wants to cook tonight. I’d hate to mess up her plans.”

“Right,” Dallas said, looking wholly unconvinced. “I’ll give my crew something else to do this week and send them over next week.”

“Sure,” Davis agreed. “That’ll work out well. You doing anything tonight?”

“I’m stopping by the café to help my mom work on one of the stoves that’s acting up. Then I’m free.”

“Why don’t you come by for dinner,” Davis croaked out awkwardly. “You haven’t been to my place to eat in a while.”

“I’ve never been to your house for dinner,” Dallas corrected with a laugh. “I don’t think you’ve been to your house for dinner either.”

“I’m trying to change that. Elaine is something else. I really like her, and I’m hoping the more she gets to know people around here, the more she’ll think about Indigo Bay as the place she could settle down. So come by at six, and see if your mom wants to join us.”

“All right,” Dallas said, skeptically. “I hope you know what you’re doing with this girl. Aren’t there any women in Indigo Bay you could go out with? I know Lucille has a list a mile long of local prospects. I don’t want to see you getting torn up again if she leaves.”

“If she leaves, she leaves,” Davis lied as he helped tighten the strap over the lumber. “But I’m gonna give her some reasons to stay.”

“If dinner with me is your big plan, I’m not feeling very confident for you.”

“It’s just one piece of it,” Davis corrected. “I’m going to take her to all the best places in town.”

“So that’ll take about an hour, then what?”

“You know damn well this place is something special. I don’t see you pulling up stakes and trying to leave. Indigo Bay has a little bit of magic in it. I just have to make sure she sees it.”

Dallas hummed thoughtfully. “Take her to the old lighthouse,” he offered. “I’ve got a telescope you can borrow. There’s going to be a meteor shower tomorrow night. If the skies are clear, it’ll be quite the show. It’s roped off though, so you’ll be breaking and entering.”

“Exciting,” Davis said, rolling his eyes. “If the cops come by, we’ll make a run for it.”

“Do you ever think of going to New York?” Dallas asked, swinging the door to his truck open but hesitating before getting in. “There’s a big world outside of this place. If your plan fails, don’t act like there’s nothing else you could do.”

“Do you need help unloading this on the other end?” Davis asked, clearing his throat uncomfortably. “I have another hour before I have to meet a client down by the pier to work on his boat.”

“Sure,” Dallas agreed gratefully. “We can swing by my cabin and grab the telescope.”

“I didn’t realize you were into astronomy,” Davis laughed, hopping in the passenger seat of the truck.

“I bought it for the cabins. It’s a nice feature for renters.” He put the truck in gear and backed out quickly. “And maybe a little bit as a plan to impress the ladies.”

“A failed plan?” Davis asked, looking worried.

“Yep, but it wasn’t the telescope that failed me. Just point that thing at the sky tomorrow night, and if you really think Indigo Bay is the magic you need, it’ll work.”

“Try to look presentable for dinner tonight,” Davis cut in. “Maybe ditch the sweaty shirt and dirty boots before you come over.”

“You don’t want me looking too good,” Dallas said, kicking up some dirt as they headed out onto the main road. “She might take a shining to me.”

“I doubt it,” Davis challenged. “She’s a classy woman. She has good taste.”