Page 39 of Against the Wind

“I see.”

Did she?

She crossed her arms. “For how long?”

“Few months, at least. Depends on what intel gets uncovered while I’m here.” I stepped closer, close enough to catch the faint scent of her shampoo. “Look, I won’t pretend the job isn’t what made this possible. But Gabi, you’re why I wanted it. I know I messed up before. Taking that Seattle position without even talking to you first? That was the stupidest thing I’ve ever done.”

Her expression softened slightly, but she didn’t uncross her arms.

“Despite what happened last night, I’m not asking to pick up where we left off. I haven’t earned that. But I’d like a chance to show you I’ve changed. That I understand now what I threw away. That I’ll do the work to find the balance between personaland professional.” I ran a hand through my hair. “Maybe we could start with coffee sometime? When things settle down?”

I held my breath, waiting for her answer.

The silence went on so long my heart started hammering against my ribs. Gabi’s dark eyes searched my face, and I forced myself to stay still under her scrutiny. To let her take whatever time she needed.

Finally, she uncrossed her arms. “You juggled me today. In the middle of all the post-hurricane chaos and your investigation and securing the scene, you still made time for me. You took me to help my friend. That means a lot to me.” A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. “So I think we can do better than coffee.”

My breath caught. I took a half step forward, drawn by that hint of a smile, by the warmth in her voice. Hope bloomed in my chest, but I tamped it down. I needed to be sure I understood exactly what she was saying.

“Better than coffee?” Despite the mule kick of my heart, I kept my voice carefully neutral, not wanting to assume.

Her slow smile pulled me in like gravity. “Much better than coffee,” she murmured, closing the last distance between us.

She flowed into my arms like she belonged there, like the past months of separation had never happened. My hands curved around her waist as her fingers curled into my shirt. Then her lips met mine, soft and warm and perfect.

She melted against me, and I sank into the taste of her. Into the flavor of forgiveness and promise and everything I’d been missing since I’d walked away. I pulled her closer, savoring the feel of her pressed against me, the way her hands slid up my chest to link behind my neck.

When we finally came up for air, I rested my forehead against hers, breathing in the moment. The weight that had been crushing my chest since Seattle lifted. My shoulders relaxed for what felt like the first time in months.

“I missed you,” I whispered against her hair. “Every single day.”

She hummed contentedly, fingers playing with the hair at the nape of my neck. “I missed you too. Even when I was mad at you.”

“I deserved your mad.”

“You did.” She pulled back enough to meet my eyes. “But you also earned this second chance. Just don’t mess it up.”

“Not a chance.” I traced my thumb along her jaw. “I learned my lesson the hard way. No more making life-changing decisions without talking to you first.”

“Speaking of...” She raised an eyebrow. “Where are you staying?”

“The firehouse, for now. But I’ll need to find something more permanent.” I gave her a hopeful look. “You wouldn’t happen to know of any apartments for rent?”

I hopeyou enjoyed your trip to Hatterwick Island! If this was your first visit, you should know that the series begins with a prequel novel, Smoke on the Water, that tells Caroline and Hoyt’s story. If you’re more interested in Willa and Sawyer and the events alluded to at the end here, check out their book Won’t Back Down.

You can get an extra glimpse of Gabi and Daniel’s happily ever after! Get the bonus epilogue straight to your inbox! Just sign up here: https://harperjacksonbooks.com/against-the-wind-be/

The series continues with Bree and Ford in All Along The Watchtower, releasing April 11, 2025!

For ten years, I've perfected the art of ignoring Ford Donoghue whenever he comes home on leave. You can't completely avoid anyone on Hatterwick Island, but I've made it work. Until his daughter shows up.

She's thirteen, scared, and looking for the father she's never met. And suddenly I'm the one making the call I swore I'd never make, pulling Ford away from his Navy post and into my carefully constructed life. But something about her story doesn't add up, and when a body washes up on our quiet beach, the whole island starts to unravel.

Now a teenage girl is counting on me, a murderer walks freely among us, and the only person I can trust is the former best friend who broke my heart a decade ago. And the people threatening everything I love? They're counting on the fact that Ford and I are too broken to work together.

They don't know how wrong they are.

In this small tourist town, old wounds run deep and deadly secrets hide in plain sight. And this time, running away isn't an option—for any of us.

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