Davis stared up at the ceiling as ribbons of sunlight cut through his blinds and fought to light his tiny room. Damn that beautiful woman. Damn her tears. Damn the rain. He’d had years perfecting the art of being alone. He’d learned exactly how many times you had to break plans before the invitations stopped coming. He could dodge the prospect of a blind date like a pro. But tonight he blew it. The second he pulled Elaine into his arms he knew something had shifted. A door he’d locked and barricaded years ago had been kicked wide open, and Elaine was walking right in.

His best bet this morning would be a well drafted note pinned to the fridge and a quick exit before she woke up. But first he’d need a shower because he’d be useless all day if the smell of her shampoo wasn’t washed off his neck.

Elaine had such a rough night he thought she’d be sleeping in. So after his shower he hustled down the stairs and searched his desk for a piece of paper to leave her a note.

“You have no food here.” Her tiny voice filled his ears, and he spun around too quickly, trying unsuccessfully to look natural. “Sorry, did I scare you?” she asked, looking apologetic.

“No,” he lied. “I just figured you’d be sleeping in. Sorry though, you’re right, I don’t have any food.”

“What do you eat usually?” she asked, and he noticed a fidgetiness to her this morning. She’d gotten herself ready and looked far more put together, but something was still off.

“I grab coffee at Caroline’s before I start work. I never order it, but she always puts a muffin or something in a bag for me. It’s been going on that way for years.”

“What do you do for work?”

“I’m a boat mechanic,” Davis answered, making his way to the kitchen as she followed behind, clearing her throat nervously. “Do you have a lot more questions for me because, even though I might have seemed like it last night, I’m not really a chatty guy? Especially in the morning.”

“Just one question,” she said, backing up a few steps and nibbling on her lip nervously. “Whose clothes are these, and why do you have them?” She held the hem of the soft pink and blue plaid button-up shirt away from her skin as if it might be toxic. “Dead wife killed tragically and your broken heart hasn’t allowed you to part with her things? Maybe it belongs to victims of your homicidal rampages as a serial killer?”

“I’m a little bothered that you put the clothes on while thinking those things might be possibilities.” He tucked his wallet into his pocket and grabbed his keys from the hook. Everything was exactly where he left it the night before. Just like always.

“In my defense”—she grinned widely—“this is really soft cotton.” She ran her hand over the sleeve of the shirt and shrugged. “Whoever your murder victims were, they had wonderful taste.”

“Those are my sister’s things. She left them behind when she moved to Portland. I talked to her yesterday morning, and she was alive and well.”

“Maybe she wouldn’t want me wearing her stuff. She could want it back.” The humor left Elaine’s eyes and worry returned.

“Those were the clothes she wore four babies ago. I’m pretty sure when I offered to send them to her she told me to burn anything under a size six. You’re welcome to whatever’s in there.”

“I won’t need much else past today. I have a plan. A thirty-day plan.” She seemed to have calmed a bit, finding out she wasn’t wearing the cast-off clothes of dead people.

“Thirty days?” He snickered. “I can’t figure out if you’re spontaneous or a planner.”

“Usually I plan,” she replied brightly, looking ready to give a presentation. “I’ve had a ten-year plan since I was ten years old. I’m taking a break from that. I did a lot of logistical thinking this morning. Realistically my bank is not going to send me new credit cards if I can’t prove I am who I am, or where I am. My purse is locked up in my office at work in New York.”

“Why not have someone ship it to you?” Davis asked, still trying to piece everything together. What makes a woman like this run away with nothing and no plan?

“I’d prefer not to do that. And I don’t need to. All I need is enough money to eat and pay for a place to live for the next thirty days. I’ll get a job that can guarantee that. If you can agree to a few terms.”

“Terms?” Davis asked, scanning her face as if she might break out into a laugh any moment. But she never faltered. She might as well be a bank employee explaining a transaction to him at this point.

“Yes. It’s a lot to ask, but I need you to make a hundred-dollar investment in my plan. In two weeks I can pay you back with interest. Also could you reach out to Dallas and see if he’d be willing to let me stay in a cabin for a week or so before I can pay him?” Her face was tight with seriousness, and he felt bad for the smirk he couldn’t hold in.

“An investment? I think I can manage that. I’m sure Dallas would be happy to put you up in one of his older cabins. It’s nothing fancy,”

“That’s fine,” she said, cutting him off. “I don’t need much. This is a reset. I’m just taking the next thirty days to get myself straight.”

“That’s good,” Davis nodded, still fighting the urge to laugh. “Mrs. Donavan needs help at her floral shop. Her daughter left for college, and she’s short-handed now. She has a wedding at the end of the week. I bet if I put in a good word for you, she’d ask you to work today.”

“Perfect,” Elaine sang happily as she spun her hair into a ponytail. “I could do well there.”

“You have experience as a florist?” he asked, continuing to knock on the truth door and hoping she accidently opened it.

“I have seen flowers before,” she edged out, finally breaking into a grin herself. “But I’m a quick learner. See everything is coming together.”

“Help yourself to more of the clothes in there.” He pulled out his wallet from his back pocket and fished out some cash. “Here’s my investment in your reboot.”

“Reset,” she corrected, taking the money and tucking it into her pocket. “That’s exactly what I need.”

“Because of what happened,” he said causally, tiding up a few things on the counter.

“Nice try,” she replied pointing a scolding finger at him. “There’s nothing there to talk about. I do want to thank you for all you’ve done, but now I’m ready to get back to being independent.”

“Because depending on people is a bad thing?” he asked, adding another leading question to the pile.

“It’s dangerous,” she said, using her palms to press the invisible wrinkles out of her cotton shirt. “I prefer to take care of myself.”

Davis nodded his agreement but couldn’t help but add his two cents, “After I lent you some money and clothes, helped you find a place to stay, and found you a job?”

“Yes”—she chuckled—“but then that’s it.”

“Come on, I’ll give you a ride to Mrs. Donavan’s. Then I’ll get your car fueled up and brought into town today,” he said, pulling on his baseball hat.

“Then that’s it,” she said through her coy smile. “Then I’ll be fine.”

“Right,” he sighed as he headed out the door. “You will be fine, Elaine.”

“And your investment will be worth it. I’ll make sure this is all worth your while,” she added, her cheeks growing a little pinker. His intention wasn’t to make her feel bad. He had no problem helping her out. But he had to admit the blush in her cheeks only made her more attractive.

“It’s not a problem,” he said, turning on her suddenly and looking her square in the eyes. “I’m giving you a hard time. It’s no trouble at all. Everyone needs a reset now and then. I can respect that.”

“How about you?” she asked as he opened her door and she climbed into the passenger side of his truck. The only woman who’d been in that spot in the last four years was old Widow Marcelo, who’d needed to get her dogs to the vet in a hurry. Elaine looked lightyears better with the early morning light shining on her blonde hair. “Do you ever need a reset?” she pressed.

“Me?” he grunted, sliding into the driver’s side. “No. I’m a simple guy. I wake up. Go to work. Eat. Tinker around on my own boat. Go to bed. Not much there that needs fixing.”

“We’d have to agree to disagree on that. There’s way more to life than just that. I find it hard to believe a man like you in a place like this doesn’t have girls falling all over him. It must be a full time job trying to stay single.”

“It’s a burden, but I manage.” He chuckled. “But you, there must be a man up in New York wondering where you went. Aren’t you worried there’ll be an all-points bulletin going out for you soon? I’m only asking because if you’re in my truck when they find you, I don’t want to go down for kidnapping.”

“Trust me, you’re safe. No one is wondering where I am. Which makes this little vacation perfect. I’m beholden to no one. Well, except you because I owe you a hundred dollars now.”

“What happens after thirty days?” Davis asked, fixing his eyes on the road and trying not to look overly interested in her response.

“It doesn’t work that way,” she explained, as though this were some tried and true method of living. “I’ll know in thirty days what I should do. I know it’ll all work out fine. That little breakdown last night. That’s not me. I can get through this.”

“Well,” he said, throwing her a sideways glance, “I certainly wouldn’t bet against you.”