Page 9 of Island Homecoming

Focus on the good stuff, she coached herself, admiring the beauty of the cloudless bright blue sky and the invigorating scent of fresh cut grass as the landscaping crew worked around the building.

She’d tried to talk Chief Caldwell out of issuing her the weapon, but he refused to make an exception, citing her safety as well as that of the rest of the team. No room for argument on that point, so she’d accepted the situation. Just because she had the gun didn’t mean she had to use it.

She would, obviously, but if the situation wrapped as quickly and quietly as the chief hoped, the nerves she felt wouldn’t be tested.

At her car, she fumbled her keys, paying no attention to her surroundings.

“Jessica Keller?”

Looking up, she did a double take as she recognized the man standing in front of her. “Nash?” She fought twin urges to throw herself into his arms and pretend she didn’t see him. Two equally bad options. “Um, hi.”

He tipped his hat back and pulled off his gloves. “What are you doing here?”

She couldn’t see his eyes, hidden by dark sunglasses, but his mouth was set in a stern line. For some reason that irritated her. She had as much right to be in Brookwell as he did. Well, almost. “I could ask you the same thing.”

His brows snapped together. “It sure as hell isn’t community service.”

And this was why she should’ve pretended to be deaf and blind. The risk of running into him was why she didn’t come home often. Or at all. Water didn’t exactly flowunderthe bridge for the two of them. It sort of puddled on the top and made for a slippery mess. So many emotions. Too much history. And nothing she could change.

“I own the business now. Took over the contract to maintain these grounds. As we’ve done for decades.”

She hadn’t even paid attention to the logo on the trucks full of landscaping gear or the team wearing matching t-shirts. “That’s great, Nash,” she gushed. His expression didn’t change. He looked downright unhappy. “Isn’t it great?”

Back in high school, he hadn’t been completely sure about taking over his father’s business. But he loved the outdoors, and he had a green thumb, not to mention an eye for creating beautiful spaces.

“Yeah, it’s great,” he said.

His frown eased away. Removing his sunglasses, he hooked them into his shirt collar. Those green eyes scorched her. Way back when, she’d been certain that gaze held all the wisdom of the world.

“What brings you here, Jess?”

“Aside from my parents?”

He tipped his head toward the building behind her. “You’re not at home, are you?”

With a sigh, she pressed the button and opened her trunk to stow the gun, lockbox, and uniform shirts. “I’m headed that way.” She closed the trunk and leaned against the car. “I’ll be here for a while.”

His gaze narrowed. “You finally joined the island police? Last I heard you were killing it in Key West.”

She winced at his choice of words, a ball of regret tightening between her shoulder blades. “Temporary assignment. Just helping out the chief.” Hopefully helping herself too, but he didn’t need to know those details.

He nodded. “The drug seizure, right?” He raised his hands. “Don’t go pointing the finger at me. I’ve got a rock-solid alibi.”

The familiar pulse of guilt rolled through her. She had pointed the finger at him long ago, over something stupid, although it felt monumental to her at the time. “I am sorry.” Not that she expected him to believe her.

“For?” He tilted his head, studying her.

Somehow, she managed not to squirm. Only one option would ease the guilt that dogged her every time she thought of home. “All of it, Nash. I’m sorry.”

Sorry for every mistake she’d made as an idealistic teenager when she’d thought he’d been taking too many risks with the wrong friends. Risks she’d worried would blow back on her by association, making it impossible to reach the dreams that would get her out of Brookwell.

“I’m sorry for implicating you,” she said. “And for never apologizing properly.”

“Not sure you would’ve ever apologized if I wasn’t right here in your way.”

“I’m not proud of it, but you’re right.” She’d deliberately avoided him on her previous visits and usually asked her parents to come to Key West.

At her admission, his eyebrows shot toward his hairline.

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