Colette hurried back to her ranch, and after putting away her fishing tackle, she pulled on her heavy work boots and headed out to the pasture. She herded Blossom toward the barn, using a slender branch cut from one of her willow trees as a goad to keep her from turning back for another mouthful of tempting green grass. After that, she enticed Minnie to come to her with a handful of cracked corn, then returned her to her coop. She fed both animals and made sure the doors were securely latched, then hurried back to her house.

She hadn't been on a date in such a long time—she shivered slightly as that thought flitted through her mind. It was just a little too close for her comfort, touching on memories she only wanted to forget. Turning her thoughts away from the past and back into the present, she opened her closet and stood examining her wardrobe. Finally she set out a lightweight sleeveless chambray shirtdress with a brown leather belt, brown ankle boots, and a leather wrap bracelet with turquoise and agate beads. Then she went to shower.

As the hot water streamed over her, filling the tiny room with steam, she thought to herself that she was more nervous than she had expected she would be. What if Will somehow recognized her face? He was obviously from a wealthy family; it wasn't inconceivable that they might have acquaintances in common. She bit her lip and scrubbed a little harder. What if... what if he knew? She wasn't at all sure she was ready to start dating again yet, after all.

But she also knew she had to go through with it sooner or later, that dating again was a critical part of letting go of the past. And putting it off wasn't going to make it any easier.

She dried her hair and brushed it until it shone like brown silk, sparkling with gold where the sun had kissed it. Then she dabbed on a little of her favorite evening perfume and applied a little makeup—nothing heavy, just a touch of mascara and liner and some lipstick. After dressing and changing purses, she checked the clock—a quarter to seven. So she sat on her sofa and picked up the book she'd been reading.

A few minutes later, there was a knock on her door. She opened it, and Will was standing there smiling and holding a large bunch of fiery orange roses, deepening to crimson at the tips. "For you," he said, holding them out to her.

"Oh! Thank you," she exclaimed, taking them and breathing in their spicy-sweet fragrance. "They're beautiful. Please have a seat while I put these in some water."

He looked around as he took a seat on the small sofa. "What a charming cottage you have here."

She laughed as she reached up to a high shelf to grab a cobalt blue glass pitcher. "Translation: 'What a tiny house!'" Filling the vase with water and trimming the ends of the roses, she went on. "It's okay, I don't mind. It is tiny. But you should have seen it when I first arrived! No electricity, no plumbing, and positively on the verge of collapse. At least now it's livable." Arranging the stems artistically, she set the vase on her table and turned to smile at her guest. "I might add some rooms to it some day. But for now, it's big enough. I'm finding that living in such a small space forces me to consider carefully everything I brought with me or that I consider buying, and as a result, I'm doing without a lot of things that really weren't necessary in the first place."

"Ahh, yes, the economy of space. I have become well-acquainted with it myself, living on my yacht as I have for the past several months."

"Yes, I would think so. Though I believe you could easily fit two of my home inside your yacht!"

He laughed and rose. "Well, perhaps. Shall we be going?"

They ambled along the path into the village, chatting as they strolled. He asked her about her life in the islands, and she asked him about his travels. Before they knew it, they arrived at the diner. Inside, Will looked around uncertainly, so Colette led him to where Nick stood smiling at them behind the long counter. They placed their orders, then selected a quiet booth in a corner. Most of the dinner crowd had already finished and left, so the only other diners were a couple of tourists and Pierre, the gourmand, whose meals often lasted for hours since he savored every morsel as if it was his last.

"I had not expected the menu here to be so... well, varied. The term 'diner' is not one that I normally associate with haute cuisine," Will commented as they took their seats.

"Oh, yes, perhaps I should have warned you," Colette smiled up at him. "Nick's menus are far more sophisticated than typical diner fare. Really more intercontinental than conforming to any one cuisine. He changes it weekly, too, though the local's favorites are featured more often."

They had no sooner taken their seats when Nick hurried over with small bowls of creamy, herb-flecked avgolemono soup and a carafe of chilled chablis. Will poured a little of the pale wine into his glass and sampled it, then filled her glass and his. "Here's to a blossoming new friendship," he toasted her with a smile as he took a sip.

She laughed, and replied, "I'll drink to that!" before taking a sip. "So you've been sailing for how long now?"

"Just over a year, though of course I've spent a good deal of that time at various harbors around the world. Out of the past year, I'd say I've spent perhaps four months at sea."

"And what about your horse? Where do you keep him?"

"Arthur? I have a box stall below deck to transport him. Normally wherever I dock, there has been some manner of stable reasonably close by, and I'd board him there until I was ready to move on. However, there is no such facility here. Would you know of a place where I could keep him? We have been almost inseparable since his birth, but if there is not, I will be forced to choose between sending him home or leaving. I can't leave him on board for any extended time—it's not healthy for him. Yet I can hardly bear the thought of sending him away."

Colette thought for a moment as she sipped her wine. Nick returned with their salads and took away their empty dishes, and she poked at her salad as she thought. "I'm not aware of anyone who boards animals in that way. Mirabelle might, but I think she only has space for her own animals."

"That's a pity. I should very much like to stay for a while. I find these islands... enchanting," he said with a wistful smile.

They finished her salad in contemplative silence, then she looked over at him. "I don't have a suitable place for a horse at this time. But I had intended to build a stable eventually. I suppose now is as good a time as any. Once it's built... I suppose you could board him on my ranch."

"Really? You would do that for me?" he exclaimed, genuinely surprised.

"Well, no, not exactly. As I said, it had been my intent all along. As for the timing... well, suffice it to say that I sympathize with you and your conflict."

"Then you have a horse as well? Do you enjoy riding?"

"I love to ride, but I haven't had a horse since I left my home years ago. I would like to remedy that situation, though."

"Years ago? Come now, surely that is an exaggeration. Surely you're no older than I?"

"I'm twenty-two. I left home when I was sixteen."

"Sixteen?" he repeated incredulously. "How did you manage on your own?"

She looked away. "I... I would really rather not talk about that period of my life. It's not a very happy one."

"My apologies," he murmured. "I didn't mean to pry."

"You couldn't have known," she said with a shrug.

An awkward silence began to settle over them, but thankfully Nick appeared as if on cue. He cleared their salad plates away, then returned with their entrees. "Let's see," he murmured in his quiet voice. "Colette, you had the pan-seared scallops, and for you, sir, the herb-roasted chicken au jus."

"Thank you, Nick. It looks delicious!" Colette exclaimed, and he smiled and left them to their meal.

As they enjoyed their meal, she asked, "So what is your family like? Do you have any brothers? Sisters?"

He shook his head. "No, I'm an only child. My parents are quite wealthy, but not particularly close or devoted to each other. They each have their own interests that they pursue. I often wondered how they ever managed to find the time to have me. I rarely saw them as I was growing up. Usually my father works very long hours or is travelling for business, and my mother is perpetually busy with her social obligations."

She looked at him in surprise. Her parents weren't exactly what she'd call devoted, either, but her mother had made it one of her priorities to be involved in her children's upbringing, and her father made an effort to be home at least for dinner as often as possible. Growing up alone like that sounded just so... sad.

"What about your family, if you don't mind my asking?" he was asking her, though, and she pushed those thoughts to the side for the moment.

"I'm the youngest of three," she replied. "I have a sister and a brother."

"That must be nice. Are the three of you close?"

She grimaced. "No. Not at all. My siblings get along well with each other, but I suppose I was kind of the black sheep of the family."

He looked slightly surprised, then grinned. "A rebel without a cause?"

"Oh, no—nothing like that, really. I mean, maybe in a sense. I just... didn't see eye to eye with them. My family is wealthy, and they're very prim and proper. And I... well, I guess I was just more independent. Which was why I left home at such a young age. My mother was livid."

He chuckled. "I can imagine. So you never finished even high school? I would never have guessed, speaking with you."

"I did finish, just not where she wanted me to go. And I took college courses as I was able, though I didn't finish a degree. Maybe someday. I do read quite a lot, though, and I read almost everything—nonfiction as well as fiction."

"Truly a self-made woman," he replied.

Again she winced slightly, then changed the subject. "And you? What did you do before you set sail on the high seas in search of adventure?"

"Hmmm, well, I attended university, of course, and earned a degree in business and economics. My father wished me to work with him, and indeed I gave it a try. I worked for him for two years, but that was as much as I could take. I suppose I'm just not cut out to be a businessman."

"Oh? What are you cut out to be, then?" she asked, looking amused.

"I haven't figured that out yet," he replied, then smiled. "But I'll be sure to let you know when I do."

After dinner, they decided to walk over to Haila's for coffee and dessert. They strolled along the beach, taking the longer route over to Sprout Island. When they reached the café, Haila greeted them with slight dismay. "I'm so sorry," she apologized profusely, "but all my baked goodies have sold out for the day."

"Oh," Colette said, crestfallen, and looked up at Will. "Just coffee, then?"

Haila pursed her lips, thinking, then clapped her hands. "I know! If you two just give me a few minutes, I think I can whip up a little something. I do so hate to disappoint you young 'uns!"

Will looked at her. "Shall we?"

"Yes, let's. While we wait, I'd like a cappuccino, please."

"Make that two," Will added, stepping up to the counter to pay.

She prepared their drinks, then got to work while they sat down and chatted. It was getting near to closing time, so they had the café all to themselves.

Soon they smelled a fragrant, spicy scent, and a few minutes later, Haila hurried over with two plates. "Here you are! An old favorite of mine: Crepes Normande. I hope you enjoy!" Then she bustled away to begin washing up, leaving them to enjoy their desserts.

Colette sniffed the spicy-sweet scent of caramel and cinnamon and apples, then took a small bite. "Mmm, it's delicious!" she proclaimed. "I love apples!"

They lingered over coffee and their dessert, and Will left an especially generous tip to thank Haila for her concern. Then he walked her home, slowly, taking the longest route possible. When they finally reached her door, he said, "I should very much like to see you again. May I?" When she nodded, after only the briefest of hesitations, he lifted her hand and kissed it, saying, "Then until next time. Sweet dreams, lovely Colette."

After she closed the door behind her, he turned and strolled back across the bridge, a pleased look on his face.