The morning was clear--no clouds in the sky and the early morning prevented even a ripple in the water of the harbor.

Regan was still re-playing the message in her email inbox.

Ms. Daniels –

We are excited to offer you the position of event manager at the Hunter Club resort…

Her dream job. Near home. Exclusive. Incredible clientele and huge funding to market and prepare the way she’d wanted since she knew this was her career path. She itched to get to work. To meet her team and start planning for the following spring and summer season. Planning the opening of what would be a five-star resort on one of the world’s most famous lakes.

Regan walked past the Harbor House to the large covered deck. Lara sat poking a spoon in a small cup of yogurt.

As busy as Lara had been helping her brother, and as much time as Regan and Kylee had spent exploring, the two hadn’t spoken much--something Regan would have been relieved for aside from her guilt.

“I can’t believe your time here is already over,” Lara said as she scooped out another large bite. “I feel bad I was so busy! I just only have another few days before I head home, and I wanted to help my brother for as long as I could.”

Regan sat. “We haven’t talked much since college.”

Most likely, Lara knew why. It’s not even that Regan blamed her...exactly.

More tapping of spoon against yogurt cup. “I know you were mad when I introduced them, but it was just that Matt was walking by, and I know him, and she was with me, and…”

“And you knew Matt and I were still dating,” Regan said. The thought of the situation made her feel more tired than anything else.

Lara shook her head. “I didn’t set them up, Regan. I just told Matt that she was my friend. That’s all.”

“Logically, I know,” Regan started.

“But you could tell he watched her from the start.” Lara sighed. “I don’t know if I saw the connection because you’d already told me that you and Matt had talked about some of the big growing up what-ifs, and if you two were really supposed to still be together, or if I noticed becauase it was that obvious.”

Regan let her eyes fall closed. “Maybe it’s just that he met her at a fragile time for us.”

“Without her, would you two still be together?” Lara asked.

No, no they wouldn’t. “We were headed apart. The timing was just rotten.” Because of the introduction of LaChelle, it had felt like Regan had been dumped by her first love for someone else.

“For what’s it’s worth.” Lara set down the cup. “I’ve felt terrible about it since they started dating. I hate that we don’t talk as much, and that there’s always this thing hanging over us when we do.”

Regan met her friend’s eyes. “I’ve missed you.”

“Me too.” Lara blinked a few times.

A pressure released from Regan’s past--some other random event she could let go of, or maybe just frustrated anger at Lara’s part in the situation.

Lara broke the silence. “My brother is crazy about you, you know.”

“He doesn’t know me. Not really.” Did he? He’d known the middle and high school her. He’d asked her a million questions about the person she’d become since then.

“He’d like the chance,” Lara said. “I don’t want to get in the middle of anything relationship related with you.”

The both laughed a little.

“But…” Lara continued, “know that there’s a place here for you. I don’t think anyone could match what you could do with this place.”

A small pang raced through Regan’s heart. Only two weeks here, but being able to give input on how to make this spot the magical place she knew it could be had been the highlight of what she’d done since college. “I’d love to see it through, but...I could consult a little?”

Lara released a humpf. “I looked up that place on Lake Michigan. You won’t have time for Paradise Island if you get that job.”

No, Lara was probably right. And there was no longer an “if”, the job was waiting for her, once she called them to say she’d accept. Which she would, of course. She’d aligned herself with all the right people to get to that kind of resort.

“Just keep in mind that working here gives you four months off a year, Regan. Four.” Lara smiled and stood. “I get it. I mean, you’d basically be moving in with a guy you just started dating, and working together. That’s asking a lot.”

A way lot. But the pros and cons of staying or going tipped back and forth in Regan’s mind. Being able to set up a place from the ground up--starting with a beautiful canvas and refining until it became something spectacular. Or, stepping into something newly refined, newly spectacular, and being close to her mom and sister.

But Colby.

Colby wasn’t the only man in the universe. Just the only one you care about…

Regan stood. “I should pack. We have to head out soon.”

“Well”--Lara pulled Regan into a hug--”just know you have a spot here until Colby finds someone else.”

Again, her head and heart warred with the idea of being part of Paradise Island. Being part of Colby and Regan. Being close to home. Getting the job she’d been desperate to win for months.

“Thanks again, Lara.” Regan stepped back and started for her cabin.

“Hope to see you soon!” Lara called, and Regan answered with a forced smile.

Her insides swirled. Her thoughts swirled. People didn’t just walk away from dream jobs to live in paradise, did they?

Regan’s heart still felt torn and mashed within her as she packed her things for home. Lara had been right—one small bag with a dress for the wedding, shorts, and a few swimsuits. At the moment, her hometown was fifteen degrees. Fifteen degrees after a solid eighty to eight-four every day.

“I’m so happy you got the job,” Kylee said.

“Yeah,” was all she could say in response.

“I miss Trevor,” Kylee said. “I mean, I’m sad to leave the island, but I miss my husband.”

There was no way to answer without Regan’s confused emotions muddling everything up. She’d gotten the job. She’d known this trip was temporary. What was her problem? She balled up her last swimsuit and tucked it in the bag. You could stay.

“You’re gonna miss Colby,” Kylee said. “He’s…”

“Amazing,” Regan agreed.

As promised, he hadn’t brought up their short time together even once. A part of her, the selfish part again, wanted him to beg her to stay. Plead with her to remain with him, even though she couldn’t. But each day that they’d played together on the island, he’d kept his word to not ask.

Two knocks at the door were followed by Colby’s voice. “I can drive you to Nassau whenever you’re ready to go.”

“Just a minute!” Regan’s voice screeched a bit over the emotion lodged in her throat.

Kylee rested an arm around her friend. “I’ll be honest. You do not seem okay.”

“Probably just PMS or something, or maybe your pregnancy hormones are contagious.”

Kylee snorted. “Let’s all hope that pregnancy isn’t contagious.”

“Amen.”

Regan pushed open the door to see Colby—a faint smile on his face. “You ready?”

Not really, but also, yes, definitely. “Sure.”

He took their bags and they followed him to his boat. His usually chipper conversation was noticeably absent.

“So, you have a few new workers coming next week, right?” Regan asked. They’d done as much planning as exploring, and she couldn’t wait to see the pictures he sent as he continued to turn his island into something even more spectacular than it already was.

“I do.” He held out his hand to help them both onto his boat.

Kylee tapped a few things on her phone, probably love messages to the husband who had to be missing her.

As Colby started toward Nassau, once again standing to drive his boat, Regan wanted to wrap her arms around him from behind and bury her face in his back. Wanted to promise that she’d come back soon, wanted him to promise that he’d make it to Chicago as often as possible.

But who wanted a relationship like that? She wanted one like Kylee and Trevor—where two weeks felt like an eternity. She never would have thought that her best friend’s little brother would capture her so fully.

The marina near Nassau came up far too soon. The boat was tied up too soon. Their ride to the airport sat waiting. Curse modern technology making it so easy for her to leave.

Kylee hugged Colby. “I can’t thank you enough. It was so generous of you to feed us and house us, and I feel refreshed and wonderful and thank you.”

As good friends do, Kylee jumped in their cab and waited for Regan to say goodbye.

A tear slipped down her cheek and Colby brushed it away. Her arms slipped around his neck and again, her mouth found his. His fingers pressed against her lower back, bringing them together.

“I’m going to miss you,” he whispered. “The offer is always open to you, Regan.”

She rested her cheek against his. “What if you find someone else?” And she meant it in far too many ways to keep her heart safe.

“No one is as good as you,” he whispered back. “Safe travels.”

Regan took his face in her hands, begging her mind to memorize every worry line in his forehead, the curve of his lips, the feel of his unshaven face.

He bent forward and touched their noses for a moment before his lips lightly brushed hers. “Bye Regan. Give your family a hug from me.”

She wanted to answer, but her throat had swollen too large for words.

Why did her heart have to be so completely idiotic?

Miami airport was as flashy and mall-like as it had been two weeks ago. Regan stretched her arms overhead, her heart still aching from the man she’d left behind.

“One flight to home,” Kylee said. “Although, I suspect you’re feeling a bit torn right now.”

“So much.” Her eyes welled up with tears.

Kylee’s small fingers grasped Regan’s bicep. “I know your family, Regan. If you think for one moment that they would be upset with you for moving so you could follow what you need…you’re crazy.”

“It’s not just that.” It’s that they needed her.

The first boarding call for their flight home sounded over the intercom.

No more bare feet. No more swimming in the ocean. No more Colby. No more chances to help imagine a family resort from the ground up.

“The world can turn without you, Regan,” Kylee said softly. “Your family is okay without you. They’re not in a different dimension or locked in the past…they’re accessible. Shoot, Colby could probably make your family your very own app to stay in touch.”

A laugh escaped Regan’s lips as tears rolled down her face.

“Your sister’s doing great. Your mom’s been home from the hospital for days…”

All things Regan knew.

“You won’t know what could happen with you two if you don’t try,” Kylee said softly. “I’m not an invalid. I can do the last flight on my own.”

“What,” Regan laughed the word. “You want me to turn back now?”

Kylee nodded. “I think you want to turn back now, and if your dream job isn’t enough to make you squeal in excitement to get back home, then maybe that’s not where you belong.”

Maybe that’s not where she belonged. Really? After all the time in college spent so close to home?

“Your stuff is already in boxes, Regan,” Kylee pointed out. “And I’m pretty sure you have everything you’d need down here anyway.”

She sort of did. But smart, rational people didn’t do insanely impetuous things! They just didn’t. “There’s no rush. I have bills, and…”

“Bills can be forwarded and paid online,” Kylee said. “And I’m happy to go to your parents’ house and pack you a box.”

“I’ll need more than one box!” Regan protested. She was considering moving.

Kylee shook her head. “You need a couple swimsuits, and that tiny kitchen the cabin could only hold a couple of pots. You can get those in Nassau.”

How could she even respond? Her muddied thoughts were beginning to filter.

“This is an amazing opportunity. You’re not across the universe or in another dimension…And he said he’ll go home for storm season.”

There were so few things she’d actually need on the island, and it was spring, so she’d be headed home for hurricane season anyway. “What is my life if my movements are dictated by tropical storms?”

More sorting of her thoughts. Both Colby and Lara had promised she’d have a place on Paradise Island.

“I’m afraid that if you go home, you’ll talk yourself out of this.” Kylee grabbed her arm. “You’ve been smart and dutiful and good your whole life, Regan. You might make magic if you stop thinking so much and just jump.”

“Or I could crash at the bottom.” She stared into her friend’s eyes for a moment.

Kylee’s mouth quirked up. “You? Impossible.”

Regan would be trading out the kind of job that would keep her close to home and give her a chance at some luxury for her family in the form of short trips out of the city, but here… “They could visit.”

A laugh bubbled out of Kylee’s mouth as her smile widened. “They’d love it.”

“I can’t…” But even as she said the words, what if she could? What if she went back and worked out some kind of deal with Colby for her own lodging and could oversee the transformation of an entire island? He had the funds, and she knew how to get something like this started. “It would be the biggest project of my life.”

“You’ll be amazing,” Kylee whispered before giving Regan’s arm another squeeze.

Regan pulled out her phone with shaking fingers.

Regan: Mom? How are you? Okay? I’m thinking of extending… Extending felt so much easier than staying.

Mom: Of course I’m fine. I’m a grown woman, as are you, sweetie. Please don’t come back until you’re ready. You’ve needed a real break for a long time.

Leave it to her mom to get to the heart of things. Maybe Regan had needed a break for a long time.

Regan: Sydney?

Mom: Doing better than she has in years. I bet she’d be happy to visit whenever you’re ready for her.

A chin rested on Regan’s shoulder. Kylee sighed. “See? Even your mom thinks it’s time you do something crazy.”

And this was...crazy. But the warring in her heart was starting to lean toward an island she’d love to call home.