a perfect match as Kendall had ever witnessed.
Kendall probably should have reassured him with platitudes and words of encouragement, but neither were her style. Besides, she and Matt knew, better than most, that life was completely unpredictable. Luck and hope had nothing to do with an outcome. It could turn—and devastate—on a dime.
Instead, she cast a forlorn look back into the diner. “I really need to talk to Gil. Any idea where he might be?”
“He and Jake are scouting out locations for the new community and teen center. They could be anywhere. What’s going on?” Matt leaned against the lamppost as if he had all the time in the world.
She appreciated his friendship more than she could say. And he’d slipped right into Butterfly Harbor as if he belonged here—which, after more than three years, he did. The big, burly soldier she’d served with hadn’t brought the darkness home with him, despite the war taking his leg. Sure, he’d had his struggles, but he’d set his mind and gotten what he wanted. Now he was married to one of the nicest—too nice, sometimes—women Kendall had ever met and had adopted a teenage foster kid who was making a name for himself around town as an up-and-coming handyman. She’d even hired Kyle to help out on some of the bigger jobs she’d had with the lighthouse. Life was sweet for Matt Knight. One of the few things that did her heart good.
“Kendall, what’s wrong?” Matt asked again when it was clear she’d gotten lost in thought.
The last thing she wanted was Matt getting involved in her problems. Again. He’d spent most of the last few years looking after her in one way or another. She’d finally gotten on her own two feet, and no way was she turning back now. “You know anything about Gil hiring some guy to write a book?”
“Um, yeah. Something MacBride. Photojournalist from back east. Went to college with Gil, I think. He was looking for a change, and the town council wants to produce a travel book for visitors. Can’t promote the gorgeous place too much, right?”
“Yeah, right.” Kendall winced. Darn it. Not that she expected to hear different. Keeping herself as far away from the town hubbub as possible meant being out of the loop. “The guy’s early, it seems. He’s staying at the carriage house.”
“Up where you are?” Matt’s eyebrows went up. “That going to be a problem? I thought you were living in the keeper’s house.”
“I am. And he is.” Her hands came out of her pockets and started flailing about the way they always did when she was on edge. “It’s just... I’m used to being alone. I like being alone. I need to be.”
“I know you like it, but whether it’s what you need?” Matt shrugged. “Not going to agree with you there. What’s the matter with the guy? Is he a creep? Need me to give him a talking-to?”
Kendall rolled her eyes. “Like I couldn’t handle a creep. And no, I don’t need you to give him a talking-to. I need him to...leave.” Even as she said the words, she spotted two figures—a larger man and smaller girl—riding toward them on bikes. “I can’t believe this. Is he following me? Does he have radar?”
“He’s here? MacBride?” Matt spun around before Kendall could stop him.
“Don’t stare. Oh, shoot, Matt. Behave yourself.”
Matt looked at her over his shoulder, an odd expression blanketing his dark-haired features. “What’s this all about? You’re almost flustered. You don’t fluster.”
“No, I don’t,” Kendall snapped. “But what I don’t need is someone getting in my way up there. I work alone. It’s just how I do things. Can you just help me find Gil so I can explain... Hello.” She locked her lips into a tight line as Hunter MacBride pulled his bike to a stop beside Matt.
Kendall’s heart hammered against her chest as she did everything she could to avoid looking at Phoebe. Phoebe in her little jeans and jacket and cute little shoes and big brown eyes...
“Hello, neighbor.” Hunter unhooked his helmet and draped the band over his handlebars. “Fancy seeing you here. Phoebe and I are dying for some home cooking. Aren’t we, kiddo?” He reached back as Phoebe climbed off her bike and pushed it next to his. “Hi, there.” Hunter turned that million-watt smile on Matt and offered his hand. “Hunter MacBride. You’d be the sheriff?”
“Heaven forbid.” Matt actually shuddered and returned the greeting. “Deputy Matt Knight. Kendall and I go way back. She was just telling me about you.”
“Was she?” Hunter grinned.
Kendall’s stomach did a double tuck drop to her feet. She’d been so distracted by Phoebe earlier she hadn’t registered just how good-looking the man was. Not Hollywood handsome, but head-turning nonetheless. Dark brown hair, amber-specked brown eyes and a dimple in his chin that made her fingers itch to check how deep it went.
He was taller than she was, almost as tall as Matt, and his chest and shoulders were broad enough that she didn’t think Phoebe would feel anything other than safe and protected.
Phoebe. Kendall shifted uneasy eyes to the little girl, who was peeking out from behind her uncle, staring wide-eyed and cautiously at Matt.
“This is Phoebe,” Hunter introduced Matt to his niece. “I’m guessing you’re one of our go-to people if we’re ever in trouble.”
“Absolutely. Nice to meet you, Phoebe. Are you going to be here long?” He glanced at Kendall with an all-too-knowing smile on his face. Kendall recognized that expression. It was one he’d learned from his wife, who had developed a propensity for matchmaking now that she was submerged in happily-ever-after.
“A few months,” Hunter told him. “Depends how long it takes me to write the book on this place. Here, you need help with that?” He reached down and unhooked Phoebe’s helmet.
Kendall kept her eyes pinned on Matt as the little girl pulled her head free and shook out her curls.
Matt’s jaw locked, and Kendall ducked her head. But not before he saw the sorrow she was unable to hide. It was then she knew she wasn’t imagining things. He saw what she did.
Panic and dread piled like rocks in her chest. How was she going to survive this, them, for months?
“Well, aren’t you pretty,” Matt said after he cleared his throat. “I, um, need to get back to the station, but feel free to drop by anytime. I’m sure you’ll have plenty of questions about...”
“I have to go.” Kendall spun on her heel and headed away from them. It didn’t matter which direction she went. She didn’t care. She just needed to get away. From the man who made her think of the future that would never be hers.
“HOW BIG ARE your milkshakes?” Hunter asked the attentive, sandy-blond-headed waitress once they were seated at a booth. Phoebe had barely glanced at the menu before she’d scrambled onto her knees and looked over the back of the booth to where a group of kids had gathered at the end of the counter.
“Quite big. Big enough to split.” Their server, who wore a pink T-shirt, inclined her head toward Phoebe. The woman’s long ponytail fell over her shoulder as she flipped her pen in her hand, making the small diamond solitaire wedding set twinkle on her finger. “Or I can whip up a mini one just for her.”
Phoebe turned a big-eyed grin back at him, then up at their server.
“Would you like your own shake, sweetie?”
Phoebe nodded.
“Got it. So that’s two burgers, one mini. And two milkshakes. One mini.” She pointed to Phoebe. “Side order of onion rings and...a green salad.” She ticked off the items on her pad. “That do it?”
“And coffee, thanks.”