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I didn’t know what I wanted the answer to be. Some of my wariness had faded, watching him flow through poses this morning. He was still too perceptive. But his earnestness was appealing. There was a solidness to Drew that was reassuring. Maybe it was the frowns. Trusting men who smiled was no longer my strong suit. But Drew’s grouchy little brow furrows sent an unwilling flutter through my belly. And for the first time I wondered—what would it be like to let someone see behind the lies? What if, instead of turning away, he offered to help?

“Only if I’m doing it right.”

My pulse stuttered. I held his gaze, not letting the urge to smile betray me. “I’m not sure how swoony I find stealing coffee.”

“Meaning I need to steal something bigger to win you over?”

I rolled my eyes. What was it with men and size?

“I never took you as someone who embraced the criminal element, Mr. Search and Rescue.” That was part of his appeal. Drew seemed steady. Safe. But was a man ever really safe?

His dark eyes turned serious. “I know you’re teasing, but it’s less about that. Harbor Brews is as much mine as Island Salt is Zach’s. I’ve pitched in at the counter more than once.”

I tried to imagine him taking coffee orders. Drew was downright verbose with me this morning. Usually, he was gruff to the point of basic hand gestures. I’d only heard his voice once or twice before our hiking misadventure. It was difficult to reconcile the reclusive farmer with the dutiful brother who’d fake friendly to run the coffeehouse. But maybe duty was the key.

“I’ll do anything for the people I care about. I know where the line is. And I know who I’ll cross it for.”

His words echoed my thoughts eerily. They also brought up past regrets. Past mistakes. I’d crossed a line. An unforgivable one.

“Anyone who asks you to violate your principles isn’t showing you the same regard you show them.”

He seemed to be considering my words, rolling them around. He drew out the moment, sipping on his coffee.

“Honey, the whole point is you won’t need to ask.” His voice was throaty, his brown eyes soft.

Drew’s words felt eerily like a promise. I shifted in my seat, taking a large gulp of my coffee for strength. Something about his claim made me want to confess what had brought me to the island.

He exuded strength. Purpose. Stability. Things I craved like candy. But was I drawn to the man or what he represented? It wouldn’t be fair to cling to him like a barnacle if, at the end of the day, I was using him. I’d been used, and he deserved better than that. Better than my craptastic past landing in his present.

“What did you think of your first yoga class?” I moved to a safer topic.

He gave me a boyish grin that stretched his cheeks. His dark beard bracketed the smile, making his teeth blinding white in contrast. Damn it, even his smiles looked trustworthy.

“Surprisingly peaceful. Not sure why, but I expected more impossible feats of flexibility that would make me feel foolish. I’ve gotta admit, I feel good. Downright limber.”

“I’m glad.”

“But I might have to book with one of your other instructors in the future.”

“Why’s that?”

“You’re a beautiful woman. Distracting as hell. If I’m going to focus on the four corners of my mat and my own body and breath, it’ll be a thousand times easier without you in the room.”

I balled up my napkin and pelted him with it. Better than admitting I mixed up my right and left sides with him in class. He shrugged and held up his hands in surrender.

“Why did you have to make it weird? Bad news for you, my other instructor is drop-dead gorgeous.”

He ran a hand through his hair, giving me a shame-faced grin. “Not a problem, because she won’t be you.”

It was possibly the most awkward compliment of my life.

“I don’t even know what to do with that,” I admitted.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything. I didn’t mean to make it awkward. Sometimes I’m a little too honest, which is why I don’t tend to talk much.”

The honesty comment stung. I hadn’t even been truthful about my name. While it might be easy to trust him with my secrets, he didn’t deserve my mess. Even though part of me was aching to unburden myself, it wouldn’t be fair to him.

Disappointment curdled my stomach, turning the coffee into a bitter stew. Wanting happiness and deserving it weren’t the same thing. I couldn’t drop my problems at Drew’s door. Couldn’t pretend they didn’t lurk like a monster in the closet, ready to snatch at my ankles if I drifted too close. Drew wasn’t part of my past. It was best to keep it that way. Which meant keeping him out of my present too.