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His arms wrapped around her. “Well, I was there, and she still fell. Do you blame me for her accident?”

She lifted her face. He looked at her with a softened, almost pleading, expression. More than anything she wanted to blame someone, but Asher was right. She lowered her chin and shook her head. “No. It wasn’t your fault.”

“Mind if we get that printed on a T-shirt for the next time you disagree with me?”

She laughed and punched him playfully in the side. “You know there will be a next time.”

Asher grabbed her hand and rubbed his thumb over her knuckles. “I’m looking forward to it.”

His voice, low and husky, melted over her. He locked her in a stare, and she didn’t want to look away. His calming presence did much to settle the rising anxiety in her chest.

She’d been so wrong about Asher Quinn. He wasn’t the jerk she’d first met. He truly cared. The way he helped Gran was evidence of that.

“Thank you. For everything. Helping Gran. Calling me.”

He touched her chin. “Hey, what are friends for?”

She looked at him again. “Is that what we are? Friends?”

“I’d like to think so. I know we got off on the wrong foot somehow, but I’m an okay guy. Most of the time.” He shot her a wink that caused her heart to stutter.

Without taking the time to weigh out the consequences, Sadie wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her cheek against his chest. “I think you’re more than okay.”

The sliding doors to the island emergency department opened, and Sadie jumped. Realizing she was still wrapped in Asher’s arms, she stepped back, needing the distance to find some sort of coherent thought.

Being near Asher was dangerous. She could find herself falling for him. Or at the very least try to get him to open up and share some of those secrets he was keeping. Maybe they could be real friends, someone she could count on.

Clearing her throat, she eyed the bike again. “Let’s walk to Martha’s. I’ll come back tomorrow and get Gran’s bike.”

Ten minutes later, they stepped inside the restaurant. Pendant lights hanging from the ceiling cast a peaceful glow over the woodwork. They found a booth near the back and settled in with menus.

Even though Sadie wasn’t hungry, she scanned the lists of sandwiches and salads, deciding on a strawberry salad with grilled chicken. Maybe if she picked at a few berries, then Asher wouldn’t fuss about her needing to eat something.

She closed the menu and left it on the end of the table. “At the medical center, you mentioned you and Gran were talking about your grandparents running the carriage tours.”

Asher closed his menu and set it on top of hers. Then he pulled out his phone, scrolled down the screen, found the picture he’d taken of Hetty’s wedding photo, then turned it to Sadie. “Yes, she showed me a picture of my grandfather’s carriage on her wedding day.”

Sadie took the phone, her fingers brushing his. “I remember this picture from Gran’s wedding album. She looked so gorgeous. When I was little, I said I wanted to wear her wedding dress and have a carriage ride after my ceremony. But that’s not going to happen now.” She handed the device back to him.

“Why not?”

“Because I won’t be getting married.”

“How do you know that?”

“Well, for one thing, most men are liars and can’t be trusted.” Her words came out a little sharper and louder than she’d expected. Several heads turned toward them.

Sadie slid lower in the booth. Before she could apologize for her tone, their server Vera Graves, former Sunday school teacher at the Little Stone Bible Church, appeared with their drinks. She wore a black Martha’s on Main T-shirt tucked into her jeans. Her dark hair streaked with gray had been pulled back into a low bun at the base of her neck. Wire-rimmed glasses sat low on the bridge of her nose.

She set a glass in front of Sadie. “Good to see you, hon. How’s your grandma doing?”

Not ready to share about Gran’s recent fall until she had more information, Sadie smiled at her. “Getting better every day.”

Or at least, she hoped today’s fall didn’t set Gran back in her progress.

“Glad to hear it. Let her know we’re praying for her.” Vera set a cup in front of Asher and filled it from the pot on her tray.

“Thanks, Vera. She’ll appreciate that.”