partial-wraparound porch and its white wicker furniture. Darcy’s first thought was that it looked inviting, homey and peaceful. A perfect place to take her long-overdue, four-week vacation. She hadn’t realized how much she needed to take a break until this moment. She sighed.
“Ready? Knowing Carol, she’ll be up waiting for you.” Nick assessed her.
And usually when someone did, it made Darcy uncomfortable, but she must be too tired to even feel that. “It’s eleven. A lot has happened today.”
“More than you bargained for, but I appreciate your help.”
“Anytime. I hope you’ll let me know what happens with Corey.”
“Yes, ma’am, just as soon as I know.” Nick tipped the brim of his cowboy hat and then climbed from his truck.
Darcy did the same and grabbed some of the luggage he’d put on the ground near the tailgate. When he hefted the two bigger suitcases as well as her duffel bag, he looked loaded down but strong enough to manage. Yesterday when she’d packed, she hadn’t known what she would do once she came to Haven, so she’d planned for everything she could think of. Now she realized it appeared she was moving in rather than staying for a short vacation.
Darcy started for the entrance to the inn with her hands full too. “When I was trying to figure out what to bring, I read that the weather here can be spring-like one day and full winter the next.”
“So you brought all your clothes?” He paused on the porch, the bright light allowing her a good look at Nick McGarrett.
He was mighty attractive. “No, I left more than half my wardrobe behind.”
“You’re kidding?”
“I’m afraid not. I like clothes but especially shoes. The duffel bag is full of them.”
He shook his head and moved toward the front door. “I own a pair of tennis shoes and dress boots as well as work ones. That’s all.”
Over six foot three, he commanded a confident presence. His chestnut-brown hair peeked out from under his cowboy hat. She would have been able to tell his build was muscular even if she hadn’t known one suitcase was full of books she’d wanted to read but had been too busy to this past year. The angular planes of his face complemented his firm mouth, but what drew her full attention were his piercing blue eyes, reminding her of the Gulf on a sunny day.
“Men don’t have all the choices women have,” she finally said when she realized she was staring at him and he’d noticed.
“Don’t see a need for so many choices. Makes getting dressed much easier.”
The heat of a blush flooded her face. She opened the door and stepped into the inn, the scent of lavender filling the air and welcoming her in from the cold. Ah, someone who understood the importance of essential oils. Already she was letting go of her stress.
Darcy scanned the large foyer, glimpsing into a dining room on one side and a large living room on the other. Antiques, such as a bookcase, desk and end tables, were sprinkled among the elegant but comfortable-looking couches and chairs. She took a step toward what must be the heart of the inn, enthralled by the beautifully carved mahogany coffee table between two cream-colored sofas.
A middle-aged woman with auburn hair pulled into a bun came from the back of the house. “You must be Darcy Hill. I’m so glad you’re here. I’m Carol Thornton, the owner of the Blue Bonnet Inn.” Her eyes crinkled at the corners when she smiled.
Darcy immediately felt at home. “Yes, I am. You have a beautiful place.”
“It’s been in my family for years.” Carol turned to Nick. “How’s Corey?”
“Safe and staying with Mrs. Scott, his neighbor. The sheriff arrested Ned.”
“It’s about time they did something about that man’s neglect and drinking. If I can help, let me know, Nick,” Carol said, then shifted her gaze back to Darcy. “I called Slim, and he has your car. He’ll look at it first thing in the morning.”
“That’ll be great. Nick told me I could walk to the garage.”
Carol waved her hand. “It’s only a few blocks away, but then a lot of places are here in Haven. If you need a ride, I can help or my husband, Clarence, can. Speaking of my husband, he fell asleep an hour ago. He’s been fighting a migraine all day. Will you please—”
“Say no more, Carol. Where do you want me to take these suitcases?” Nick, still loaded down with Darcy’s bags, walked to the staircase. “Then I need to leave. Tomorrow will be here soon enough.”
“The second room on the right. Thank you, Nick. I knew I could count on you.”
“And I can take care of these.” Darcy gestured to the few she’d set on the floor. Before Carol could say anything, Darcy picked up the bags and mounted the stairs behind Nick.
“Are you hungry?”
Darcy paused halfway up and looked down at Carol. “Starving.”
“When you’re settled, come down to the kitchen. I’ll fix you and Nick bowls of vegetable soup to tide you over until morning.”
“Thanks. It sounds delicious.” If she had the energy even to eat.
Darcy continued to trudge up the stairs, her body protesting with each step. When she reached the second floor, she noticed the door to the second room on the right was open. Nick came out of the entrance and retrieved two pieces of luggage from her.
“You look like you’re on your last leg.” He disappeared into her room.
How did he still have so much energy? She’d left hers back in Dry Gulch after getting Corey into Nick’s truck. Once they’d found the child, what she’d been functioning on drained from her quickly.
The second she moved into her suite all she wanted to do was go to sleep. Suddenly, not even food was enough to motivate her to go back downstairs.
“Will you please tell Carol that I’ve changed my mind? If I made it downstairs, I know I wouldn’t make it up here again. And I doubt she would want a guest sleeping on a couch in her living room.”
He stopped in front of her and removed the remaining bags from her grasp. His eyes locked with hers. “I know how you feel. I’ve been running on adrenaline the past few hours, and now I don’t have any left. I’ll tell her and let you know when I hear something about Corey.”
Fighting the urge to lose herself in his blue gaze, she was surprised she had the energy even to smile, but she managed somehow. She didn’t look away. “I appreciate that.”
For a long moment he remained in front of her. She couldn’t move. Nick attracted her. She didn’t know a lot about him personally, but she’d seen him in action tonight, trying to find a child. Too bad she wouldn’t be here more than three or four weeks before she returned to Alabama and her life there.
For the past two years, she’d been dating a guy who worked with her at the Legal Aid office in Mobile. They had so much in common—helping others, the same career—and she’d known him for years, but right before
