“It’s amazing, isn’t it?” Daniel asked.

  “I’m sorry?”

  “Oh, I didn’t get my whole thought out. My students tell me that’s such a bad habit of mine. I was referencing how large the county's law enforcement and judicial buildings are now compared to that.” He pulled into a parking spot and pointed at the small, historical buildings set to the side. The remnants of a small brick jail and the historic courthouse were situated in an area known as The Green.

  “You’re right,” she said, already looking at how the sun and clouds were positioned for various photographs.

  They climbed from the car and walked over to one of the buildings. She began by explaining the lighting and shadows of this time of day and how they affected the look of the buildings. She then moved into camera angles and the story that different photographs could tell, even of the same subject.

  Daniel was interested and plied her with excellent questions.

  Before she knew it, two hours had passed, and she had to admit she’d had a wonderful time.

  “Would you ever consider teaching a class?” he asked, turning his attention to her.

  “Photography class?” Her brows lifted in surprise.

  “Yes! I think you’d be amazing, and the college is always looking for someone to offer a class.” He winced, then shook his head. “I have no idea how much something like that would pay, and it might be on more of a photography club rather than an actual college class for credit. But if you’re interested, I can certainly find out more.”

  While her weddings and events photography were paying her bills, it would be nice to be paid to teach photography to help augment the lower income during winter since brides loved their spring, summer, and fall weddings.

  They walked back to the parking lot and stood at his car for a moment as they continued talking. She pulled out her camera bag and set it on the hood of his car, showing him a few of the more advanced filters and lenses she used.

  He joked, “So that would be for a close-up, especially if someone wanted to do something silly, right?”

  He struck a ridiculous pose, and she laughed as she snapped his picture. Then they stood close together as he peered down to look at the pictures on her camera screen. He was taller than she, although not as tall as Aaron. Hiding her grimace, she hated that she was still comparing other men to him.

  Not wanting their time to take an awkward turn, she turned to put her camera back in its bag. “I think that’ll do it for today’s lesson. I hope you learned something helpful.”

  “This was more than I could’ve hoped for, Belinda. I feel like I should pay for your time. I can’t believe you volunteered to do this for me.”

  “It’s fine although I would be interested in hearing more about possibly teaching a photography class or a club. Check it out, and you can let me know.”

  His smile was warm as he nodded. “Absolutely, I will.” He walked her around to the passenger door and opened it, allowing her to get seated and buckled before he shut it.

  Instead of pulling directly out of the parking lot, he detoured past the modern jail and the judicial building, driving right by the sheriff's department. She looked over as a group of men and women came out. She wanted to scan to see if Aaron was among them but refused to search. If he wasn’t there, it didn’t matter. And if he was, well… that also didn’t matter either.

  Daniel drove back to the bakery, and as she started to get out, he said, “I had a really nice time today.”

  She turned back and smiled. “Me, too.” He seemed to want to say something else but held back. She was afraid that he would ask her out, and she panicked. “Let me know about the classes if anything comes from that.” She climbed out of his car and waved.

  She unlocked the door leading to the apartments. Unsurprisingly, Bess popped her head out when Belinda reached the top of the stairs. Grinning, she followed her sister into her apartment, loving how it always smelled like sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and coffee. Grabbing a cookie and accepting the cup Bess handed her, they sat on the sofa.

  “He was cute.”

  Belinda choked on her sip of coffee, then glared at a smiling Bess. “I swear I think you say things just as I’m drinking to watch me sputter all over myself.”

  “Well, younger sisters have to get their jollies where they can,” Bess retorted. “But seriously, he was cute.”

  “True, but it wasn’t a date. And I was afraid he was going to ask for one when he dropped me off.”

  A crinkle formed between Bess’s brows. “And that would be bad because…”

  Belinda shrugged, then flopped her head back and stared at the ceiling. “I don’t know. It’s not bad. I just wonder if I even know how to judge who would be a good date and who wouldn’t.”

  “You don’t have to figure out if… wait, what was his name?”

  Rolling her head to the side to glare again at Bess, she said, “Daniel. I told you that when I sent you his info in case I never came home. You should have memorized that so you could have called the police when they looked for my body.”

  “Oh God, don’t say that and stop being dramatic. Now, where was I? Oh, yeah. You don’t have to figure out whether Daniel is a good date. You can just go out for fun. Or for a good fuck.”

  Belinda snorted and set her coffee mug on the table. “That’s it. No more talking and drinking!” She stretched out her legs and nudged Bess with her foot. “Let’s face it, neither of us has been getting any action lately.”

  Bess’s lips pinched together tightly for a moment before she sighed and shook her head. “Do you think you’ll at least see Daniel in a professional capacity again?”

  Leaning forward with a grin, she said, “He brought up the possibility of me teaching a photography class at the community college or as a photography club. It might not pay much, but it would be fun.”

  Bess reached over and grabbed Belinda’s hand. “That sounds great! Well, then, good for him. I’ll give him my seal of approval just for that gesture!”

  Grabbing her mug back from the table, Belinda settled in as Bess turned on the TV. They began watching the latest reality dating show, laughing at the dating woes of others. It might not be exciting, but it was better than drowning in her own dating mistakes.

  13

  TWO MONTHS LATER

  Aaron had spent the winter months studying for his detective exam and passed it with flying colors. He was partnered with an older detective Roger for his initial assignments. Tonight, there would be a party celebrating him and two other deputies who passed their exams. It was also a goodbye party since the other two would leave North Heron County to accept positions elsewhere.

  He didn’t envy them, thrilled that Sheriff Colt Hudson had recognized that with family on the shore, Aaron would spend his career continuing to serve his county.

  As he drove to work, he impulsively pulled in and stopped outside Bess’s Bakery. He sat for a long moment in his car and stared at the storefront. He hadn’t been back in months. The last time he came, he spied a man escorting Belinda out. And then watched as they laughed and smiled together, climbing into the man’s car before driving off. He’d seen them one other time when he was helping out as a patrol deputy at one of Baytown's early spring events. They were walking around together, taking pictures, and seemed so at ease with each other that he felt sure they must be dating.

  Since then, he hadn’t been back to the bakery because seeing her reminded him of what seemed like his greatest mistake. After years of searching for something special, he realized he’d had it at his fingertips and let it slip away. Deciding that the coffee at the station would have to do, he pulled out of the parking lot and headed to work even though his stomach protested at the loss of his favorite coffee and pastry.

  After multiple beers and more congratulations than he could remember that evening, he felt mellow. The bar was filled with North Heron detectives and deputies, as well as many of the law enforcement friends he’d made over the years from the area. Almost all of them also belonged to the American Legion, so he recognized friends' faces everywhere he looked.

  After he accepted Hunter's handshake, he pulled Brad to the side. “I just wanted to make sure to thank you for all your help. The notes you gave me and the time you took to help me study are more appreciated than you can imagine.”

  Brad smiled and clapped him on the back. “No thanks needed. I knew you’d make a damn good detective, and I’m thrilled you’re sticking around.”

  With a dip of his chin, Brad headed to the bar, and Aaron moved on to talk to some of his friends with children who needed to leave early. Baytown Police Chief Mitch Evans and his officers, Grant Wilder, Lance Green, and Ginny McFarlane, walked over to congratulate him before they left. Hannah and Dylan Hunt, and Wyatt Newman, three other local small-town police chiefs, stopped with congratulations.

  Andy was there, along with a full force of members of the Virginia Marine Police, including Jose Martinez, Joseph Newman, Bryce Townsend, and Jared Dobson.

  The show of support overwhelmed Aaron. As the party was winding down, he wandered to the bar, spying a beautiful woman sitting alone. Feeling both encouraged by the alcohol and his earlier thoughts of Belinda and her new boyfriend, he settled onto the barstool next to her.

  She swung her head around and looked at him, her gaze moving over him and her smile widening. “I’ve seen you around this evening. It seems like you’re one of the honored guests of the party.”

  “I just got a promotion, so my friends were helping me celebrate.”

  “I couldn’t help but hear some of the toasts. You’re now a detective?”

  “Yes, ma’am. I’m a detective in North Heron County.”

  “Please don’t call me ma’am.” She laughed. “That makes me sound so old.” She turned more to face him fully and offered her hand. “I’m Cilla. Cilla Henderson.”

  “I’m Aaron Bergstrom. It’s nice to meet you.” Her shake was gentle, and her smile was welcoming. “Cilla? That’s an interesting name.”

  “Oh, there’s a history behind that name,” she said, tilting her head to the side. “I’d love to have dinner with you sometime if you’re unattached. I’ll be sure to tell you the story about my name.”

  “Do you live around here?”

  “No,” she said, shaking her head. “I live in Norfolk, but a friend of mine told me about the Eastern Shore, and I’ve been coming here on weekends just to relax.”

  “It’s a great place to relax. It’s not exactly on the map if you're looking for nightlife. But if you want to unwind, there’s no better place, in my opinion.”

  She leaned closer and whispered, “If you ever want to show me a good place for dinner, I’d say yes.”

  She was forward, but that didn’t put him off. Instead, it was as though a beautiful woman had simply dropped into his lap. They continued flirting, and by the time he left, he had her number and a dinner date for the following evening.

  A Month Later (June)

  Aaron escorted Cilla into the Sunset Restaurant in Baytown, the scent of the briny bay mingling with the aromas of fine cuisine. For the past month, Cilla came every weekend, seeing him each time. While they had a good time together, he’d already realized that the something special he’d shared with Belinda wasn’t found in his relationship with Cilla. She had been pushing to stay at his place, but he’d managed to keep her at arm’s length. They had dinner and good conversations, but not sex. He still had thoughts of Belinda on his mind and wasn’t yet ready to make that deep of a commitment to Cilla.

  Not wanting to act precipitously, they’d continued to date. She had made it plain that she saw a future with him. He just couldn’t say the same about her, no matter how much he tried to pretend that feelings might eventually develop.

  As they settled into their booth, he smiled at the breathtaking sunset view over the sparkling water. The bay had always managed to calm his soul, and he could understand why Andy chose his police career out on the water.

  Aaron loved this restaurant and wished he’d brought Belinda here when they had gone out to eat. Inwardly wincing, he knew he needed to stop comparing everything to her. Turning to refocus on Cilla, his gaze snagged on the woman who truly filled his mind. She was walking toward him as if summoned by the depths of his longing.

  Belinda wore a light purple flowing dress that skimmed her ankles and made her eyes appear more violet than blue. His mouth was suddenly dry, as every nerve tingled with anticipation.

  “Hello, Aaron,” she greeted, her melodic voice softly wrapping around him as it always had. “I thought that was you.”

  His gaze flickered around, searching for signs of her companion. Instead, his gaze landed on another table where Bess sat, her glare pinned on him, burning with intensity. His mouth was now filled with cotton.

  Clearing his throat, he smiled. “Hello, Belinda. It’s nice to see you.”

  “I heard you made detective. That’s wonderful. I wanted to offer my congratulations.”

  “Thank you⁠—”

  Cilla scooted closer to him in the circular booth, her hand landing possessively on his arm. “Hello,” she interrupted. Her gaze on Belinda was filled with jealous venom.

  “Hello,” Belinda replied warmly.

  “Well, it was nice of you to stop by to congratulate my boyfriend, but we’re about to have dinner.”

  Aaron blinked, his jaw clenched with indignation at Cilla’s rude pronouncement. His chest swelled with anger. “Cilla—” he began, but Belinda offered a graceful exit.

  “Of course. I’m so sorry to have interrupted you. Have a nice evening.” Belinda cast another soft smile his way, but he observed a flash of pain in her eyes.

  Before he had a chance to finish the admonishment on his lips, Belinda turned and walked away. Bess stood and threw another glare his way before the two sisters walked out of the restaurant together.

  He sucked in a ragged breath and let it out slowly, not wanting to cause a scene in public. Turning to Cilla, he leveled a glare directly at her and said, “You were rude. And the next time we run into a friend of mine, I won’t tolerate that.”

  Cilla offered a dismissive snort. “And then what? Come on, Aaron. Can you honestly say that you’d be fine running into a male friend of mine? Wondering if they had been a previous boyfriend?”

  For a fleeting moment, he paused, his thoughts drifting to the hypothetical scenario presented before him. And at that moment, he realized he’d be okay. He felt no jealousy toward anyone from Cilla’s past. The arrival of their server abruptly halted the conversation, and the subject was dropped. The tension lingered between them, and while they engaged in small talk, the dinner was ruined for him.

  For the next couple of weekends, he managed to avoid Cilla when he had cases to work on, and she had a previous commitment. He wondered if absence would make the heart grow fonder, but in her case, he only felt relief. When they met again, it was with the knowledge that she was not even close to being the one for him.

  Now, Aaron, parked outside his dad’s house, then rubbed his hand over his face. He was tired—a different kind of tired than he’d felt before.

  In the Navy, he’d worked long hours and understood fatigue. As a deputy, he’d seen his share of tragedy when working car accidents, domestic disputes, and rival gangs encroaching on the Eastern Shore. However, one thing he was learning about being a detective was that the cases stayed with him long after he tried to close his eyes and sleep.

  Aaron and Roger had been working with a woman who called in a domestic dispute two weeks ago. And even though there was physical evidence, she refused to press charges against her husband. And today, they had to deal with her brutal death at her husband’s hand.

  A tap on his window startled him, and he looked up to see Ivy’s concerned expression aimed at him.

  “Hey, Aaron. Are you okay?”

  He nodded as she stepped back, threw open his door, and offered her a hug and kiss on the cheek. “Yeah, just a little tired.” It was their family’s Fourth of July get-together. Ivy and Andy had gone to the Baytown Fourth of July parade earlier, but Aaron was still finishing his report at the station. Now, it was time to kick back with some good barbecue and beer.

  As Ivy walked into the house, he could hear Sally excitedly greeting her. Andy walked up beside him and looked around. “Where’s Cilla?”

  He started to lie to his brother, saying that Cilla had other commitments, but he wasn’t about to start lying to Andy. “She’s not coming because I didn’t invite her.” He steeled himself for his brother's comments.

  Andy just stared at him for a moment, then clapped him on the shoulder. “I’m sorry.”

  Surprised, he asked, “What specifically are you sorry about?”

  Andy’s face was filled with hound dog expression. “I’m sorry. I know you didn’t invite her because you’re not feeling it with her. And I’m sorry because I know you’ve worked to get over Belinda and thought that maybe Cilla was it.”

  He should’ve known his brother would nail the situation right on the head. He nodded and agreed. “You’re right. Cilla is a beautiful woman and could be funny as hell. My red flag went up when she became very serious about us after our first weekend together. Since then, there’s been a possessiveness about her that made me a little hesitant. I never mentioned that we had a family picnic planned today, and that made me analyze why I didn’t. I really thought about it last night and decided that after the picnic today, I’m going to drive to Norfolk this evening and break things off.”

  When Andy didn’t respond, Aaron lifted a brow. “What? No quip about how I can only seem to date someone for a short period of time?”

  Andy’s face hardened. “Bro, if you think I’m going to make a smart comment at a time when I can see you’re struggling, you don’t know me at all.”