But she was nervous about these feelings, and for good reason. She’d been in a very similar position before, thinking herself to be in love with the doctor she’d worked with. She’d thought he was everything she’d ever wanted, then she came awake one day and realized she’d been kidding herself. Ted hadn’t been the man she thought he was at all.

What could Scott need her for? Love, for one thing—that was obvious. He’d love her every day if she didn’t hold him off a little. Did he need a dirt-cheap PA to help him get his clinic functional and successful? He did need a babysitter—desperately! Gabriella would be leaving soon. It didn’t help that she wanted to be needed for these things. But what if it wasn’t as good as it seemed? What if it fell apart? It would break her heart to pieces because her instincts said she’d found the man she’d been waiting for all her life.

“You’re thinking too hard,” a voice said, jolting her out of her contemplation. She snapped out of it and saw Devon standing next to her.

“What makes you say that?” she asked.

“You’ve almost gone cross-eyed you’re staring so hard at Scott. I’ve known him a year now, Peyton. He’s exactly what he appears to be. Believe me, I’m in a position to be very suspicious of men who seem perfect and are hiding something. Scott is the real deal. You don’t have to be nervous about liking him.”

“What makes you think I like him in any particular way?” she asked.

Devon laughed. “You look at him like you’re trying to look into him. Relax. He’s okay. Want a hot dog or hamburger? People are eating.”

“Great, I’m starving!” she said, happy for the distraction.

She wanted to spend a little time in the hayloft. She wanted to fall into this man and stay in his arms for life, and it scared the hell out of her. She was not at all afraid of holding him and loving him tonight.... She was afraid of finding herself trying to hold it together in two or three years.

Peyton got a plate and visited with Carrie for a while. Carrie sat with Gina and Mac at one of the new picnic tables Cooper had brought to the beach, and for the first time in a long time her leg wasn’t elevated. “How’s the knee these days?” Peyton asked.

“Excellent. I’ve been careful the last few weeks, not standing for such long hours. All thanks to my daughter, granddaughter and Rawley. They helped me with the cooking and baking. I only lost one catering job and the dinner meals for only a week or so. I think I’m going to be fine.”

“I think the next time, you’re going to have surgery,” Peyton said. “Have you been thinking about that?”

“Thinking and researching. I’m determined to come to some kind of conclusion before the next time my knee gives out. I’m going to be ready before that happens!”

“Good for you,” Peyton said. And right then, Rawley delivered Carrie a plate holding a hamburger, deviled eggs and an ear of corn. Buttered. “It seems Rawley takes very good care of you,” Peyton observed.

“He’s an old friend,” Carrie said. “I never asked him for his help, but he’s been wonderful lately.”

“Mom made sure he had food at his house after his father died, and he’s been indebted ever since,” Gina said. “Rawley doesn’t have much to say, but he’s a good old guy. Good to have him watching over us all.”

“That’s nothing to complain about,” Peyton said, giving Carrie’s hand a pat.

She moved on to where Cooper and Sarah were sitting with the baby in the stroller beside them. And right next to the stroller, Ham towered, watching closely. When Peyton approached with her plate of food, Cooper jumped up and flipped open an extra canvas beach chair for her. “Thanks,” she said, taking the seat. “How’s the baby doing?”

“She’s very loud,” Sarah said with a laugh. “I’m afraid Ham is going to wig out any day now.”

“He looks so calm,” Peyton said.

“When she’s quiet, he’s quiet. When she starts screeching, he runs in circles and moans until she’s quiet again. Then he lays his big muzzle as close to her as he can get, usually on my lap. He’s adorable. I don’t think even I love Summer as much as Ham does.”

“Maybe when she wakes up, he’ll let me hold her,” Peyton said, taking a bite of her hot dog.

“He’s very generous,” Sarah said. “He doesn’t care who holds her as long as she’s being comforted and stops crying.”

“And, are you ready to give Landon over to the Ducks?” she asked.

“Not really, but he’s ready to go. Everything is going to change around here,” Sarah said. “See those kids over on that blanket? Landon’s leaving, and Eve will be looking for ways to earn gas money so she can visit him and go to the games. I doubt Landon will be around much during football season, and when he is around, I bet he’s with Eve. Frank, the tall dark-haired kid? He’s going to Princeton—but every college wanted him. I hear he’s brilliant. I bet anything Ashley follows him eventually. She’s wild about him. We’re going to have to hire some help for the bar. Cooper and I can’t run it without Landon and also go to his games. Plus, Summer needs parents who don’t work twelve hours a day, seven days a week, and Rawley can’t do everything. Cooper wants to pour two more foundations along the hillside. He likes the building more than anything.”

“Spec houses,” Cooper said around a mouthful of hot dog. “I want to build and sell a couple of spec houses. Need to get that foundation poured and the houses framed before the wet and cold settles in.” Then he grinned and added, “You should see what me in a tool belt does to Sarah!”

“He’s dreaming,” Sarah said.

“And it’s a great dream,” he said with a laugh. “You should join me, honey!”

“So, Peyton, rumor is you’re seeing Scott these days,” Sarah said.

“I see him all the time,” she said. “We work together.”

Sarah tilted her head and gave Peyton a sly smile.

“Okay, we’ve gone out a few times. It’s not serious,” she was quick to inform them. “I have a job offer in Seattle that I’m considering.”

“Oh, I hope it turns out to be a lousy offer! Not that I don’t wish you the best, but we’d love to keep you here. You fit in, you know?”

“This is a nice place to fit in to,” she agreed.

Cooper lifted his empty plate and said, “I’m getting seconds. Want anything, babe?”

“Deviled eggs!” Sarah said.

When he was out of earshot, Peyton said, “You used to fly for the Coast Guard. What made you decide to give it all up for this little town?”

“Besides this little town?” she returned with a laugh. Sarah nodded toward Cooper. “Look at him. I held him off as long as I could, but Cooper is the best man in the world. He loves my little brother as much as I do. He’d go anywhere for me, even if it meant leaving what he loves. And besides, he’s right about the tool belt. Don’t tell him I said that—he’s a little arrogant.”

The baby started to stir, and sure enough, Ham was upright, watching. “My turn,” Peyton said, putting her empty plate on the sand and scooping up the baby. She jiggled the fussiness out of her, and little Summer snuggled in, quieting at once, mollified. Ham sat again, at peace.