For the Longest Time Read Free Page A

I’d hoped he’d be gone by the time you got here. I’m sure that’s not the first person you wanted to see, but believe it or not, he
is
a good vet.”
    Sam shrugged, eyes still tracking the truck as it made the turn onto the Crescent. “No big deal. I grew up. I’m not going to go inside, lock myself in my room, and play “Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely” until your ears bleed. I promise.”
    That had her mother laughing as she led her back toward the house, giving her a squeeze that allowed Sam to push all of her embarrassment and confusion, old and new, into the back of her mind in favor of simply being grateful for the moment.
    â€œGood, or you’d be in the attic.” She paused, and Sam could feel her mother eyeing her. “Though I think you surprised him as much as he surprised you.”
    Sam smirked to hide her discomfort. Jake was the last thing she wanted to think about. “Yeah, my hair is actually a shade found in nature now. This town will never be the same.”
    â€œI liked it when it was purple,” her mother admitted.
    â€œI don’t know how I feel about matching the mailbox, but I’ll keep that in mind. Lavender’s in right now, you know.”
    Andi surprised her by stopping and hugging her tight. This time Sam slipped easily into the embrace, breathing in the light, herbal scent that would always be her mother’s.
    â€œI’m so glad you’re back, Sammy. I always understood why you needed to go, but this is where you belong. You’ll see.”
    Sam didn’t say a word. She just took in the comforting familiarity of the house, the meeting of sea and sky beyond, and tried to make herself believe it.

Chapter Two
    J ake propped his boots on the railing of his front porch and took a swig of his beer, enjoying a few minutes’ peace while he looked out at the deepening twilight. Tucker, the cattle dog crossed with God-knew-what he’d brought home two years ago, was flopped at his feet, panting happily. Tucker was living proof that there were benefits to bringing your work home with you.
    So was the pile of sleeping kittens in his laundry room. Well, until they woke up and started raising hell in there again. For a bunch of malnourished, flea-infested orphans, they’d perked up awfully quickly after a day of attention, medical and otherwise. Still, they were going to be plenty of work for a while yet. Feral kittens always were. And Sam’s little buddy didn’t like him nearly as well as the kitten liked her. Not that it was hard to understand the attraction.
    Samantha Henry.
Jake took another drink while he mulled what might have brought her back to the Cove. He hadn’t heard a word about it, and considering how many people he saw on a daily basis, he usually heard
everything
. He tried to remember the last time he’d seen Sam, thought it might have been nothing more than aglimpse of purple hair about six years ago when he’d been home on break. Even that brief sighting had piqued his interest with a strength that had surprised him—though it shouldn’t have. He’d never really gotten over that first bout of fascination with her. Of course, his younger self hadn’t been able to admit that’s what it was back then. Not to himself, and certainly not to anyone else.
    From the reception he’d gotten earlier, Sam remembered that as well as he did. She sure as hell hadn’t forgiven him for it. He tapped a finger against the side of the bottle he held, frustrated by the hold she’d had on his thoughts all afternoon. It had been ten years. Didn’t people get to be absolved of their teenage stupidity at some point?
    They ought to. Except . . . he remembered her face that day. And he knew that sometimes the answer was a resounding “no,” no matter how much time had passed.
    Jake flexed his foot to get the rocking chair moving a little as he