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“Just let things happen naturally. I’m not asking you to throw yourself at him or fall in love with him immediately. Go with the flow. See what happens. Maybe you’re a match, maybe you’re not. Just let go of that darned control you’re so proud of.”

“Kira?”

“Yeah?”

“I think I like him more than I ever loved Blu. It took meeting someone else to make me realize we weren’t a perfect match. I mean, we would’ve worked if we’d married. We had a lot of love for each other. It’s just…now I realize how much we were missing. Does that make sense?”

“It does.”

“Slade makes me feel things I’ve never felt before. Ever in my life. It scares the heck out of me. I didn’t come here to fall in love with another man.”

“Day at a time, Marin. Take it slow. Just be open to the possibilities.”

I nod. “Okay.”

“Besides, Blu’s my cousin, and I like Slade better too. That man makes me feel things I’ve never felt before. I adore my husband, but I’m tingling in places I didn’t know could tingle.”

Here we go again. I knew she couldn’t be serious for long.

“Please stop with the jokes. You’re weirding me out.”

“Who’s joking?” she mumbles, as we approach Slade and Morgan.

They’re sitting in the sand, building a sort-of sandcastle with their hands. I swear, he’s perfect.

“Hello, ladies.” Slade smiles. “Hope you enjoyed some much-needed girl time.”

I believe Kira is just as taken by the magnetism of Slade’s smile as I am because she sways a bit.

“We did,” Kira answers. “Thanks for watching over my daughter. I appreciate it.”

When it comes down to it, Kira isn’t flirty at all with Slade. She’s all talk—and completely loyal to her husband. Even if she is tingling in places I don’t want to know about.

“No problem. She’s a cutie.” Slade picks Morgan up and gets to his feet with a fluidity few can pull off. Morgan reaches for Kira as though she just realized she wasn’t in her mother’s arms.

“Pleasure meeting you, Kira. It’s nice to meet Marin’s best friend. I need to get back. Work’s calling my name.” Slade turns his attention to me. “Join us for dinner tonight, Marin?”

Kira elbows me, forcing me to find my voice. “Okay. I’d love to. Thank you.”

Slade grants me a nod. “You bet.”

“I have to leave early. I won’t be able to join you for dinner,” Kira informs Slade.

“He knows that,” I say under my breath. “I already told him. He wasn’t inviting you.” Another ventriloquist moment.

“I think he meant to,” Kira says, a smile pasted on her face.

A look of confusion passes over Slade’s features. “Okay. Enjoy your afternoon, ladies.” He turns to leave.

We watch Slade walk all the way to Sheridan House. We both sigh when he’s out of sight.

“That’s called a date, Marin. AnI’m moving really slow because this girl justhad her heart broken, but she’s free nowdate.”

“A date? I don’t know. I’m upside-down and sideways. I don’t know what I’m doing or where I’m going or which way is up.”

Kira faces me, pointing toward the sky. “Up. Good now?”

I shake my head. It’s not that simple. Is it? “C’mon. Let’s take Morgan to the boardwalk. She’ll love the merry-go-round.”

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