“You’re going to love the Willow Harbor Inn,” I said as we walked back toward the town square. “The owners are gnomes, and they live for this bed and breakfast. Coraleigh’s family has been running it for just about forever, from what I’m told. Nearly a hundred years. It’s very eclectic, but it’s comfortable and affordable. You’ll love it.”

“Gnomes? It sounds like this town is full of interesting characters,” she said, smiling. “In Vegas, it’s a constant stream of people coming and going, never staying long enough to really get to know anyone else. At least that’s the way it is on the Strip. I’m sure it’s different in the neighborhoods and stuff, but in the thick of the Strip area, it’s almost nothing but tourists and hustlers.”

“I imagine it gets pretty lonely living in a place like that,” I said, wondering what her life must have been like. I still couldn’t believe she’d survived so much.

“Extremely,” she said, sadness thick in her tone. “I got to know some of the people who worked in housekeeping and a few of the dealers at the tables, but it never lasted long before Dominic put an end to it. He didn’t want anyone getting too close to me.”

“I’m glad you got free of him, then,” I said as we paused in front of the Willow Harbor Inn. “And I’m glad you found your way here, even if these few days are all the time we have together. Eva, I can’t remember having such a good time with anyone as I’ve had today with you.”

Her eyes widened and then she looked away, fidgeting with the sleeves of my jacket. She was nervous, and so was I. I had never wanted to kiss someone so much in my life.

“Can I come by tomorrow and pick you up for the festival?” I asked. “I have some work to do in the morning, but I could be here around six. Things will just be getting started in the square around then, anyway.”

“That would be great,” she said. She was avoiding my eyes, but I wanted to look at her. I wanted her to know my feelings were real.

Heart racing, I stepped closer and placed my hand under her chin.

She turned to look into my eyes, and her lips opened slightly. Her chest rose and fell with each quickened breath. I wanted to let her know that I could see how strong she was from the moment I first met her.

I wanted to tell her I would die before I let anything happen to her.

I wanted to tell her I was falling for her.

“Eva, I—”

“Don’t say anything,” she said, breathless. “Just kiss me.”

I didn’t hesitate. I pulled her body against mine and claimed her lips, pouring everything I’d been feeling for her and everything I’d been wanting to say into this one wordless connection that meant everything.

Her fingers dug into my arms, pulling me even closer as her lips parted against mine and our kiss deepened.

For the first time since I’d opened the door of her car to look into her emerald eyes, I understood why I had been so drawn to her. There was something more going on than just two strangers meeting by chance.

I wasn’t sure if it was the whisper of the branches of the town willow or just a whisper somewhere deep inside my heart, but I knew in that moment we were somehow destined to find each other.

I had grown up around magic my entire life, both at home in the sea and here in Willow Harbor, but I had never known such magic until the moment her lips touched mine. I had never even known this type of magic existed, but I knew I did not want to let her go.

Eva gently pushed me away and stepped back. She ran a hand through her auburn hair and then brought a finger to her lips.

There were tears in her eyes.

“What was that?” she asked. “Tell me I wasn’t the only one who felt it.”

“You weren’t,” I said, hardly able to find my voice. Her kiss had rocked me to my core, and all I wanted was more of her.

I reached for her again, but she shook her head and held up her hand.

“I’m sorry, I have to go,” she said.

She slipped my jacket off and handed it to me, and before I could say a word in protest, she had gone up the steps and disappeared into the Inn.

Shocked and confused, I wanted to follow her, but I knew the sitting room would be full of people. The Finnygoods always had friends over playing cards or singing songs at the piano. No doubt they would all be drinking wine and sharing stories.

And most of the people who hung out in the parlor here were terrible gossips. If I ran in there after her now, word about our kiss would travel back to Selena faster than a fire through a bookstore.

Why had she left like that? What had I done wrong?

She said she’d felt it, too. Didn’t that mean something?

I couldn’t have just found my true soul mate after all this time—after everything I’d been through—only to have her run away without a second glance.

Dammit, I had never been more confused or frustrated in my life. I paced outside the Inn for a long time, but once I was sure she wasn’t coming back, I reluctantly slung my jacket over my shoulder and walked back to Drifter’s alone.