Dalton knew he had to share Samantha when Sage and Lydia banged on the door early Tuesday morning requiring proof of life. Lydia was heading back to Denver to continue her job search and wanted to say goodbye. She’d been tight-lipped about her prospects, which made him think they weren’t good.

It was Tuesday, which meant Dalton was cooking at the diner. As he flipped pancakes, he thought about the tiny little firecracker he’d loved on all weekend. Pulled in two different directions, he was in a quandary about telling Samantha about his past. They agreed to keep their secrets, but it weighed heavily on his mind. What she thought of him was important. Would the truth bother her? He didn’t want to spoil what they had. They connected on a deep level. After a week, they were finishing each other’s sentences. He’d never had that with anyone. Not even Casey, the woman he’d dated for two years.

Maisey walked through the swinging doors. “Your girlfriend is here with the gang.”

He liked the sound of Samantha being called his girlfriend. It was the furthest thing from the truth, but it warmed him through and through to consider the possibility.

“I wish.” He put Doc’s pancakes on the counter and brushed his hands on his apron. Making sure nothing would start on fire while he was gone, he left the kitchen behind him to get a kiss from his ‘girlfriend’.

She never ceased to take his breath away. Today, she was dressed in jeans and a black T-shirt that hung off one shoulder. On closer inspection, he realized it was his T-shirt, and that did something to him. Seeing her in his clothes made him want to stick out his chest and pound it.

He lengthened his stride to get to her faster. At the table, he ignored Sage and Katie and gave Samantha a kiss.

“I’d say get a room, but then we might not see you two for months.” Katie poked Dalton in the arm. Since she and Sage were on the same side of the booth, he slid in next to Samantha.

“You hungry, sweetheart?” She nodded. Lord knows she must be because they had burned enough calories.

Sage waved her hand in front of his face. “We’re here too.”

“I see ya.” He didn’t really, but he knew they were there. “What do you want?”

Katie let out a growl of frustration. “No sweetheart for us?”

He looked at Katie. “Bowie’s across the street for you.” His eyes went to Sage. “No idea where you’ve hidden Cannon.”

“How have you missed him? He’s like you, big as a tank. Not likely I can hide him anywhere. Today, he’s in our garage whittling.”

Katie jumped up and down in her seat. “I get all the ornaments. I’ll pay double.” She’d bought every ornament he’d put on consignment. By the time Christmas rolled around, she had the tree covered in whittled wood wildlife and angels.

Dalton turned to Samantha. “How about a waffle and bacon?” He cupped her face and ran his thumb across her cheek. “Or I can make that omelet you love.”

“Waffle, please.”

“Anything you want, baby.” He slid out of the booth but not before claiming another kiss. He turned to Sage and Katie. “Have you decided?”

“Waffles and bacon all the way around.” He was several steps away when he heard Katie declare, “That boy has it bad for you.”

He couldn’t argue an obvious truth. He was falling in love with Samantha White. He loved the feeling yet hated the situation because what they had could never be long-term. He had commitments and responsibilities in Aspen Cove, not to mention four more years of parole check-ins. She had a life outside the little cocoon she’d created here. A life without him.

With the waffles done and the bacon crisp, he placed a strawberry on the top of each except for Samantha’s. On hers, he made a smiley face out of several berries because that’s how he felt with her around. He had finally found happiness.

With a few more orders to fill, he flicked at the bell to alert his mom to an order up. When he was free again, he peeked out the swinging doors to find the table vacant and a feeling of emptiness echoed in his heart.

In his favorite booth in the corner sat Doc, reading his paper.

“You gonna stare at me or come and chat?” No one ever got anything past Doc. He was old, not blind, and he had a spooky sixth sense about these things. He knew more than Abby Garrett—and she knew everything.

“What’s up?” Adding “Doc” to the end of the sentence seemed cliché, so he let it end there.

“The population of Aspen Cove is up.” He chuckled. “Soon, we’ll be back to where we were twenty years ago.” He sat back and placed his hands on his belly. “Those were the days.”

“For some of you. Not so good for Mom and me.” Twenty years ago, his dad was still alive.

“It’s a good thing your old man died immediately because I’m not sure I would have tried to save the bastard.”

Dalton’s eyes grew large. He’d never heard Doc talk negatively about anyone. “Yes, you would have. That’s what you do.”

Doc pruned his lips and nodded. “You’re probably right, but I would have made sure his recovery was long and painful.”

“I never understood how some people could be so evil.”

“Like the man you hit?”

Dalton’s shoulders sagged. “You mean the man I killed.”

Doc’s eyebrows lifted. They always seemed ready to take flight. “Now, son, I don’t see it that way.”

Dalton knew from experience that if Doc started with “Now, son”, he was in teaching mode. It was a good thing the diner had slowed down because Doc’s lessons rarely finished fast.

“It is what it is.”

Doc shook his head. “Things are seldom what they seem. That man killed himself. There are lowlifes, and—no offense to your mom—I’d have categorized Ben in that group when he was drinking. Not so much now. Andy Kranz was worse. He was a no life. That man was rancid hamburger meat. You did the world a favor by tossing out the trash. It’s a shame you had to do time, but I’m not sure it was a bad thing, either.”

“You think the time I did served me well?”

“I think it could have gone several ways. I think you spent a lot of time deciding the type of man you wanted to be. You got a degree in business management, which can’t hurt running Maisey’s. You grew up.”

“I also have a felony conviction and no real earning potential.”

“Should I get you a Kleenex? I’ve never known you to whine. Why now?”

The statement made him bristle because never once did Dalton take the time to have a pity party.

“You’re right. The problem is, I’ve never had to worry about it. Now that Samantha is in my life … it changes things.”

“She’s a keeper. She’s tough like you and knows life’s not fair. Does she have a problem with your record?” Doc looked at the empty booth where she’d once sat. “She didn’t look like she had a problem when you two were canoodling.”

“I haven’t told her. Do you think I should?”

“Can’t say. Only you know the answer to that question, but I’m sure it would be easier hearing the truth from the person who lived it.”

Doc pushed his legs to the edge of the bench and started a rocking motion that propelled him up and forward. His age was showing.

“Damn body won’t work like it used to.”

Dalton picked up the dirty dishes and walked behind Doc. “Good thing your mind’s sharp as a tack.”

“If my mind ever falters, kill me.” His eyes popped when he realized what he’d said.

“You’ll have to find someone else. I’m out of that business.”

Doc walked out. Dalton went back to the kitchen.

His mom leaned against the prep table eating a piece of apple pie.

“Samantha says she’ll be at the bakery when you get off.”

He looked at the clock and frowned. He still had two hours left on his shift. His disappointment must have been obvious. “Thanks, Mom.” He walked behind the burners to start his breakfast cleanup, but it was already done. “You cleaned my station?”

Maisey ignored his question. “You like her, don’t you?”

“More than I should.”

“I like her too. Go get her and have fun. Life’s way too short. I got this.”

Dalton was already untying his apron. “Are you sure?”

“The only one coming in is Abby, and she’ll want coffee and pie. Ben will be here, but he can help himself. He’s getting handy in the kitchen.”

“You replacing me?”

She walked up to him and kissed him on the cheek. “Not possible. Now go get your girl.”

He didn’t have to be told twice. He tossed his apron on the prep table and bolted for the front door.

He found Samantha sitting under the Wishing Wall, filling out notes. So immersed in her task, he went unnoticed until he kissed her cheek.

She looked up, startled. “You’re early.”

He sat in the chair across from her. “I couldn’t wait.”

“I’m glad.”

She had dozens of folded notes in front of her. Dalton wondered if they were her wishes.

“Can I grant any of those?”

Her lush lips broadened into a bright smile. She rummaged through the pile and pulled out one and handed it to him.

Across the center of the pink paper it read:

I wish for endless kisses from Dalton Black.

“Granted. You want to start those here and go back home?” It was funny how his place had become their home in days. It felt right.

She passed another note to him.

I wish Dalton would take me for a ride on his motorcycle.

“You’re easy.”

“Yes, but I’m not cheap.”

He looked over his shoulder. The day was perfect for a ride. “Let’s go. I’ll give you the ride of a lifetime.”

She gathered her notes and stuffed them inside her bag.

“I think you’ve given me one already. I’m interested in a simple trip around the lake with my body pressed to yours. Katie tells me there’s nothing like the wind in my hair and a Harley between my legs.”

“I used to think that was nirvana. That was before I met you and settled between your legs.”

“You’re such a flirt.” She walked to the door and opened and closed it several times. The bell rang a few times before Katie walked in from the storage room.

She came forward, patting Sahara on the back. “You leaving?”

Dalton’s heart stopped when she wrapped her arms around him and said, “My man’s taking me for a ride.”

Her man. If there were ever a chest-pounding moment, it was that second she claimed him.

“I like being your man.”

When they got to his cabin, he didn’t go inside because he knew once they were behind closed doors, the first kiss would lead to more, and they’d never leave. Samantha’s wish was to ride on the back of his Harley. That was easy to grant. When they got back, he’d work on the endless kisses.