Chapter 1
“Good.” His voice carried something different this morning, something that made her look up despite herself. “Sophie’s right. Whether you’re ready or not, you’re part of this community.”
Before she could parse what that meant—if it meant anything at all—Danny rushed through the door, baby spit-up on his shoulder and exhaustion written in every line of his face.
“Sorry I’m late,” he called out. “The baby was up all night, and then she decided to redecorate my shirt right as I was leaving.”
“The joys of parenthood,” Ralph said, already launching into a story about his youngest grandkid’s soccer game.
Aidan lingered for a moment longer, and Dylan felt the weight of his attention like sunshine—warm, dangerous, impossible to ignore.
“Great job on the Barracuda,” he said.
She watched him go, watched him stop to joke with Ralph, to admire Danny’s latest baby pictures, to check the schedule in his office.
He moved through the garage like he moved through life—confident, comfortable, completely unaware that he was slowly breaking her heart just by existing in the same space.