Page 34 of When Summer Returns

Jessie considered the question, looking around at the vibrant space filled with laughter and light. “Like coming home,” she admitted. “Even with all the ghosts.”

“Islands are good for ghost-wrangling,” Maggie said with a knowing smile. “Nowhere to run, so you have to face them eventually.”

“Is that why you’re here? Ghost-wrangling?”

“My ghosts are more of the career burnout, bad relationship variety,” Maggie said. “Nothing as dramatic as childhood sweethearts and mysterious disappearances.”

“Who told you?—”

“Hon, everyone told me. I’m pretty sure the pelicans were gossiping about it yesterday at the marina.”

Before Jessie could respond, a ripple of tension passed through the restaurant, subtle but unmistakable. She turned to see Reece entering, his uniform exchanged for dark jeans and a simple button-down that did nothing to diminish his authoritative presence. His gaze swept the room, landing first on Luke—a brief exchange of nods passing between them—before settling on their table.

Beside her, Maggie stiffened almost imperceptibly. “Oh look,” she murmured. “The sheriff’s here.”

Jessie bit back a smile at the doctor’s dry tone. “He looks off duty to me.”

“Sheriff Wells is never off duty,” Maggie replied, though she straightened her posture as he approached, one hand unconsciously smoothing her hair. “The man probably wears his badge in the shower.”

“Ladies.” Reece’s deep voice carried notes of both authority and warmth. “Mind if I join you? Luke mentioned you were trying Mateo’s paella tonight. Wouldn’t want you to face that challenge alone.”

“Is it dangerous?” Jessie asked, gesturing for him to take the third chair at their table.

“Only if Dr. Winters has to remove it from somewhere unfortunate later,” Reece said with a ghost of a smile. “Though I hear she’s excellent with delicate extractions.”

“Only when my patients don’t make me want to add to their injuries,” Maggie replied sweetly.

“Doc.” Reece nodded as he settled into the chair, his movements economical and controlled.

“Sheriff.” Her response was cool, but Jessie caught the flicker of awareness in her eyes—a recognition that had nothing to do with professional courtesy and everything to do with the man himself. “Are we being raided or is this a social call?”

“Can’t it be both?” Reece signaled to Miguel for a drink.

“Multitasking. Impressive for a man.”

“I contain multitudes.”

“Mostly ego, from what I’ve seen.”

Luke joined them briefly between his rounds of the restaurant, pulling up a chair for a few minutes of easy conversation before being called away to handle a minor crisis in the kitchen. Each time he returned, Jessie felt the subtle shift in the atmosphere—the four of them creating a particular dynamic that felt both new and somehow inevitable, as if the island itself had orchestrated their convergence.

“So,” Reece said during one such lull, his gaze fixing on Jessie with unexpected intensity. “How long are you planning to stay on the island this time?”

The question landed with the weight of fifteen years of history. Maggie glanced between them, sensing the undercurrents but not fully understanding their significance.

“I haven’t decided,” Jessie replied carefully. “I have responsibilities back in Savannah that need to be addressed. But I’m not in a hurry to leave.”

“Translation: ‘I’m keeping my options open in case this place drives me crazy again,’” Maggie offered.

“More like, ‘I’m waiting to see if certain people make it worth staying,’” Reece countered, his dark eyes knowing.

“Could we maybe not translate me while I’m sitting right here?” Jessie asked.

Something in Reece’s expression shifted, a shadow of old memories crossing his features. “That’s good to hear. The island could use more people who understand what makes it special.”

The simple statement held layers of meaning that washed over Jessie like the tide—acknowledgment of her connection to Seeker’s Island, recognition of her right to return, and perhaps something like apology for whatever role he’d played in her long absence.

Before she could formulate a response, Luke rejoined them, his hand coming to rest lightly on the back of Jessie’s chair. The gesture was casual but unmistakably possessive, a subtle claim that didn’t go unnoticed by either Reece or Maggie.

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