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Beside The Boardas a surf shop, an Italian restaurant called Antonio’s, and then the largest building on the boardwalk It stood out fros around it with its stern, clean lines of ashed walls and lots of glass There was no neon sign for this building Huge gold metal letters three stories up spelled out its name—Paradise Sands Hotel

Michael looked up at the huge building He’d had dinner in the five-star hotel with Kiersten, and its interior was as modern as its exterior It was more masculine on the outside, however, than it was on the inside and somehow added a quality to the boards that weirdly worked At least Michael thought it did

At the end of the boards, Michael had noted the traditional, earthy-looking bar called Cooper’s He and Kiersten had drinks there their first night in Hartwell, and it was his kind of place Low-key and unpretentious Next to the bar, a little farther down the boards, was the site of his infamous run-in with Dahlia last summer Emery’s Bookstore and Coffee House Michael couldn’t re Dahlia McGuire for the first time in nine years

Distracted Michael had walked back to Main Street, bought necessities like coffee, milk, and bread from Lanson’s Grocery, and took a walk farther down the street to Hartwell City Hall The attractive sandstone building housed the sheriff’s department at its rear After he’d returned to his car, Michael hadn’t gone directly ho he could have done years ago but hadn’t Deciding not to regret that or he’d never move on, Michael checked the DMV database for Dahlia’s current address

He’d already put the address into his GPS, and it took hi seven minutes from his new place) to a shway that led directly to Main Street Dahlia was a fifteen-s seemed isolated There ell h, surrounded by neat lawns and trees that offered sohway

However, Michael hadn’t liked how far out of town she was He did like how close she was to his condo, though

As he’d sat outside her building, Michael had realized his behavior was al So he’d left andDahlia once he had a speech ready

Of course, he mused now as he walked toward the sheriff’s department entrance, that had all been blown to hell This toas smaller than he’d realized because it was clear someone had mentioned his arrival to Dahlia

He’d parked his car at the station that rab a coffee before his shift when his cell rang An unknown number Then he’d heard Dahlia’s voice in his ear and as he walked, heart pounding, listening to her demand where he was, he saw her

Standing outside Lanson’s in a blue wool coat with her back to him He didn’t need to see her face to knoas her Michael would recognize Dahlia from a mile away

It would be hard to take it sloith her Especially when she looked at hi hi tools No woman had ever looked at Michael the way Dahlia did Like he was the sun,in between

So she wouldn’t admit to

With a heavy exhale, Michael strode into the station, coffee-less and prepared to accept the mulch usually provided in a police station instead The ave him a broad smile as he walked in

“Morning, Detective,” she called brightly

Bridget Her naet”