“You can stay here while you need to,” he said. “It really doesn’t disturb me.”

“You said something about a team, a trainer...”

“My coach will be here in a week—there’s plenty of space for her without disrupting you. We’ll be all about business and training. After a week of that, I’m going with my trainer and part of her team to Lake Tahoe where I’ll train for a week at altitude before the race. I’ll be back immediately following the race. By myself.”

“But if I’m still here, where...?”

“There is a guest room beside my room and one downstairs. I have my equipment and an office downstairs. I don’t need the loft. We could disturb you but you couldn’t possibly disturb us.”

“Hopefully this small space in town will work out,” she said.

Charlie, no longer concerned about waking Blake, came pounding down the stairs, jumping the last four and landing with a loud thud. “Ready?” he asked his mother.

Blake smiled at him. She wondered if Blake had any idea how good-looking he was, even with a banged-up face.

“Ready,” she said. “Let’s go.”

* * *

The woman has no idea how exquisite she is, Blake thought. He was used to women who knew how beautiful they were, knew how powerful they were.

Lin Su was proud, gentle, as strong as steel, as soft as a cloud, stubborn as an ox. He’d seen her care for Winnie with tender strength. It was true Winnie wasn’t a large woman, but she was slightly bigger than Lin Su, yet the nurse handled her as if she were weightless. She could be firm with Charlie, and with himself for that matter. Yet he’d seen in her a sweet kindness unlike anything he’d known. And she was breathtaking to look at.

Their rapport was a little edgy, stumbling along, looking for a way to become friends. He could tell they had a great deal in common and maybe that was why they didn’t quite trust each other yet. But even though they weren’t exactly friends, or maybe they were very cautious friends, he was impossibly attracted to her.

Alone in his house, he laughed out loud. He couldn’t have conjured up a more complicated scenario—she worked next door, she had a boatload of secrets she guarded with a kind of stoic tenacity, she didn’t trust him because it looked to her—looked to a lot of people—as though he had it easy. On top of all that, she had a fourteen-year-old son who had health issues and regarded Blake as his champion—a boy who wanted an active and adventurous life despite his limitations. Blake thought Charlie was right to want that. He also thought it was possible. He, with no parenting experience whatsoever, thought Lin Su was too protective. He thought Lin Su would keep Charlie from growing and testing his limits in an effort to keep him safe—polar opposite of what Blake believed was in Charlie’s best interest. That alone would pit Lin Su against him. And, in a way, him against her.

He was pretty sure they’d never work out the kind of easy, affectionate relationship he’d like. He was convinced the passion he fantasized about was out of the question. He just hoped they wouldn’t kill each other and bang up Charlie in the process of discovering what kind of relationship they’d have.

He took his swim—an hour. He showered and cleaned up and it was still early. He could’ve gone for a run, but he passed. Instead, he walked next door. Mikhail appeared to be out on the deck so he went by way of the beach stairs. Might as well get it over with—he couldn’t hide out for a week while his face healed.

He clomped up the beach stairs to find Mikhail sitting at the table playing solitaire. The old Russian looked his way, did not say anything, but lifted one bushy eyebrow. Blake went to the table and sat down.

“I see you’ve taken up hockey,” Mikhail said.

“Fell off the bike,” Blake said.

Mikhail grunted. “Bah. Your jig is up. The little one told us what happened.”

“Charlie?”

“Lin Su. She said she wouldn’t want Winnie to have a fright. So, you lost your cool, is that it?”

He gave his head a tilt. “That’s pretty much it. You should’ve seen what those fools did to the trailer. I’m sure they turned it upside down looking for jewelry or money, none of which the girl had. They left her in a mess.”

“And you avenged her,” Mikhail said. “A knight.”

Oh, boy, that was the last thing he needed her to think, that he’d be hanging close to protect her, take care of her. He had a hard enough time taking care of himself. On the outside his life looked very well ordered and carefully planned, but right beneath the surface things were a mess. Always had been, always would be. It was a constant balancing act.

“Where is everyone?” Blake asked.

“Her Majesty had the physical therapy this morning so she’s having a rest. The little one is in town with Grace, looking at the apartment on top of the shop. Maybe it solves the trailer problem, eh?”

“That’s the place she’s looking at?” Blake asked. “That’s good! That’s perfect!” And Grace would be sure it was affordable for Lin Su. “Is it a nice place?” he asked.

“Small but good.”

He laughed. “She doesn’t take up much space.”

* * *

Lin Su drove to the flower shop even though she would have preferred a nice long walk. She didn’t want to leave Winnie for too long in case she needed something. She hadn’t been in the shop before—of course, having no need for floral arrangements—and the moment she stepped inside she regretted that. It was charming yet sophisticated, reflecting Grace.

Grace peeked out of the workroom, her green florist apron stretched over her growing belly. “You’re early.”

“I hope I’m not interrupting anything important,” Lin Su said. “Winnie was tired after her therapy. Mikhail is sitting watch.”

“I’m up to my elbows in flowers so why don’t you just take the key and go upstairs. Look around. You’ll see I left a lot behind when I moved out—Winnie’s kitchen is much better stocked so whatever is in my little kitchen can be used or packed up and stored. There are extra linens, too. It’s tiny, Lin Su. But the sofa pulls out.” Grace handed her a key. “I’m afraid the back stairs is the only entrance but at least there’s parking. And I’d be happy to give you a flower shop key so you can go through the shop if you want to enter from the front of the building.”

“Thank you. I’ll only be a minute.”

Lin Su let herself into the loft and just stood inside the door for a moment. It was, as she expected, beautiful. Yes, it was very small, but not much smaller than the trailer, which she had hated so much. Yet this space was furnished richly. There was a dark wood wall unit of cupboards and shelves that held a large flat-screen TV. The sectional was soft leather, the two accent tables were dark wood. No cheap blinds in Grace’s loft—the only window had custom wooden shutters. The little kitchen was perfectly functional—small refrigerator, two-burner stove top, microwave, sink and a table that could seat two comfortably. There was no oven.

The loft was long, divided in two. One half was the small kitchen and living room. An arch separated it from the other half, which was a bedroom and bath. Between the sections was a closet on one side and a little stacked washer and dryer plus utility closet for the vacuum cleaner, ironing board and other supplies.