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“If you do, that will hurt my feelings.”

Asher lifted his hands, then dropped them back at his sides. “Okay, Hetty. You win. I don’t want to hurt your feelings.”

Gran shot him a victorious grin.

Sadie turned away and lowered her voice for her grandmother’s ears only. “Gran, you manipulator, you.”

Gran winked at her. “I told you Asher was a good man.”

Yes, she was learning that.

Asher shoved the envelope in his back pocket. “I’ll get this paint cleaned up. Let me know if there’s anything else you need done.”

Gran eyed him, looked at Sadie, then tapped her chin. “Come to think of it, my bedroom closet door keeps getting stuck. I have to yank on it to get it open at times.”

Sadie’s eyes narrowed. “Gran, it was fine yesterday when I put away your laundry.”

Gran shrugged. “Maybe it’s temperamental.”

The closet door wasn’t the only thing…

“Sure thing, Hetty. I’ll take a look. It may need rehung.”

Shooting him what looked like another triumphant grin, Gran turned and headed for the front door.

Sadie grabbed it and held it while Gran made her way back into the house. Sadie followed her inside.

“Gran, what are you doing?”

Gran paused and looked at Sadie over her shoulder. “Walking to the kitchen.”

“That’s not what I meant, and you know it.” Sadie jerked a thumb over her shoulder. “There’s nothing wrong with your closet door.”

“Oh, love, I know that.” Gran pressed a hand against Sadie’s cheek.

“Then why did you ask him to look at it?”

“That wasn’t about me.” Gran chuckled and shook her head. “I’ve seen the way Asher looks at you. Wouldn’t hurt to have him around a bit.”

Sadie followed Gran into the kitchen. “That’s ridiculous. We barely tolerate each other.”

Again, memories from the walk the other night and being together at the bakery rolled into her head.

His closeness. The easy way she could talk to him. His quickness in helping Gran.

Resting a hip against the counter, Sadie crossed her arms over her chest and blinked away the rogue thoughts. “He’s not my type, remember? He doesn’t open up, and I’m done with secrets.”

“He will.” Gran smeared honey butter on a slice of bread and handed it to her. “When the time is right.”

She took the still-warm bread and tore off a corner. “Yeah, well, I may not be here when that happens. I need to find a job, remember? I can’t stay on island forever.”

“Love, you can stay here as long as you like.” Gran lowered herself in a chair, trying not to wince. “In fact, I quite like the company. This place gets too quiet for one person. Start your own copywriting business until you can find your dream job.”

“My heart’s not really in copywriting these days.” Sadie opened the fridge and reached for the milk. She moved to the cupboard and pulled out two glasses. “But it does pay more than my non-existent songwriting career.”

“Don’t give up hope on that.”

Sadie set one of the glasses in front of Gran and gave her a slice of bread. Then she pulled out a chair across from her. “It’s not the same without Lauren. We were going to do it together.”