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florists.”
    He grinned at the way she was able to push away her fear and soldier on. “Bad Bean Baja Grill it is! They make the best mahimahi tacos on the planet.”
    â€œAnd their Baja salad has jicama in it. I love it.”
    They walked toward the street, and he found himself taking her hand. She didn’t pull away but, instead, curled her fingers around his in a companionable way as if they’d done it a million times. Once they were seated side by side in a booth inside the brightly decorated restaurant, he smoothed the card again and looked it over.
    Her shoulder brushed his. “The guy made it himself out of card stock.”
    â€œYeah.” He studied the bold lettering. “Clearly a man’s handwriting.”
    â€œSomething about it seems familiar. When I get back to the inn, I think I’ll go over the guest registry and see if anyone’s signature looks like this guy’s lettering.”
    â€œGood idea. And I’ll hang on to this for evidence.”
    The server took their orders and brought their drinks, iced tea for both of them. “I thought you wanted coffee,” he said when the server departed.
    She wrinkled her nose. “Not restaurant coffee, coffee shop coffee. I’m picky.”
    â€œI used to be, before I worked in law enforcement. Now I’ll even take day-old coffee if I have to.”
    She shuddered. “You’re my hero.”
    He plucked her hand off the table. “I’d like to be.” Staring into her blue eyes, he felt something shift between them. Awareness sparked in her eyes, but she didn’t look away. Since she probably wasn’t going to answer his statement, he felt the need to fill the silence somehow and cleared his throat.
    â€œI’m going to court you, Delilah. That’s an old-fashioned word, but I’m an old-fashioned guy. If nothing else, this situation you’ve found yourself in has shown me clearly I have feelings for you. Feelings I’ve buried for the past couple of years, but I won’t do it anymore. You can tell me to go away if you want, but I’ll keep knocking on your door until you give us a chance.”
    She caught her breath, and her fingers tightened on his. “What if one of us gets hurt?”
    He put on his best Westley impression. “ ‘Life is pain, Highness. Anyone who says differently is selling something.’”
    She burst into a giggle and covered her mouth. “Mr. He-Man Sheriff has watched The Princess Bride ? Color me shocked.”
    Tom shrugged. “I have a sister, and she forced it on me.”
    â€œI like a guy who listens to his sister.”
    She still hadn’t taken her hand away from his, and he took hope from that.

S IX
    â€œI’ M GOI NG TO COURT YOU .”
    As Delilah browsed through Island Books and picked out Christmas gifts for the people she cared about, she kept catching sight of Tom’s dark head over the top of a bookshelf. Had he really meant it? It had taken real courage to just up and declare himself to her that way, and she didn’t know what to make of it.
    With her purchases bagged while he browsed the children’s books to find something for Libby and Alec’s son, Noah, she settled onto a love seat to wait for him.
    â€œDelilah Carter, I never expected to see you here.”
    That energetic voice could only belong to Pearl Chilton, Hope Island’s postmistress. She was Libby and Vanessa’s aunt, and Delilah adored her, along with everyone else in town. Barely topping five feet and nearly as round as she was tall, Pearl was past retirement age, but it would take an act of God to get her out of the run-down post office. Her green eyes were inquisitive as she tugged her purse strap over her shoulder.
    Delilah put her bags onto the floor to make room for Pearl. “Just doing some Christmas shopping, same as you.”
    Pearl sank onto the cushion beside Delilah. “Is Libby around