Second Chance on the Shore

Book 1: Coastal Dreams

by Alexa Aston

Genres: Contemporary Romance; Small-town Romance; small town romance; Second Chance Romance; small town romance series; Alexa Aston; grieving hero; Coastal Dreams; Driftwood Bay

Synopsis

A broken heart. A second chance. A coastal town where love might be worth the risk.

Carson Andrews is still learning how to breathe again. Two years after his wife's murder, the single father pours everything he has into raising his spirited four-year-old daughter, Lily. When a new job brings them to Driftwood Bay as the town's head basketball coach—and soon after, its athletic director—Carson hopes the quiet rhythm of this Texas coastal town will give them both the fresh start they need.

Mila Perry is done with dating. A dedicated high school volleyball coach and the superintendent's daughter, she's content focusing on her career and her community. Love feels messy, complicated, and far too easy to lose. She never expects to be drawn to the reserved newcomer—or to the little girl who quickly captures her heart.

As Carson settles into Driftwood Bay, his connection with Mila deepens from friendship into something fragile and profound. Mila brings warmth and laughter back into Carson's life, forming a bond with Lily that feels both healing and terrifying. But their growing feelings come with real consequences. As athletic director, Carson is responsible for Mila's evaluations, forcing them to navigate professional boundaries just as their hearts become involved.

When an influential community member questions their relationship, pressure mounts. Fearing the fallout could threaten their careers—and Lily's sense of security—Mila suggests they step back before everything they've built is torn apart.

But some second chances are worth fighting for.

Can Carson and Mila overcome grief, expectations, and fear to create a family of their own—or will the past keep them from the future they both long for?

Meet the men and women of Driftwood Bay, a Texas coastal town where neighbors know your name and couples discover a second chance at life—and love. Warm, heartfelt, and emotionally grounded, Alexa Aston's Second Chance on the Shore opens the Coastal Dreams series with a tender story of grief, healing, and the courage it takes to love again. Perfect for readers who cherish small-town settings, found family, and romances that unfold with depth and hope.

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Release date: May 19, 2026

Publisher: Oliver Heber Books

Sample

PROLOGUE

Houston

 

Carson Andrews kissed his wife as he entered the kitchen, his morning jog behind him. He headed straight for his stainless steel water bottle, drinking its entire contents before coming up for air.

“I’ll get Lily up while you’re in the shower,” Angie said. “Once she’s dressed and fed, I’ll drop you off at school.”

He stole another quick kiss and left the kitchen, stripping off his T-shirt as he headed to their bedroom. Turning on the shower, he shed the rest of his clothes, putting them in the laundry basket in the closet, just as his wife had trained him to do. He stepped into the shower and adjusted the temperature before washing his hair and lathering his body. And the entire time, he couldn’t help but think just how good his life finally was.

It hadn’t always been that way. His parents and younger brother had died in a car accident when Carson was twelve. He hadn’t been with them because he was spending the night with a friend, and the guilt had about eaten him whole. His only living relative was his dad’s sister, Jayne, a maiden aunt who neither wanted to raise an almost-teenage boy nor spend any time with him. Carson had learned early that while he may have a roof over his head, he was definitely on his own. He’d dived into school, and basketball had become his refuge. His aunt had never come to a single game he played in, nor had she attended either his high school or college graduations. By the time his small wedding with Angie rolled around, he didn’t even bother sending her an invitation, knowing she wouldn’t RSVP, much less show up.

Surprisingly, Aunt Jayne had left him her house and everything inside it when she passed a year after his wedding. He and Angie had taken a few months to get the house into shape to sell. They sold most of the furniture, which had netted a tidy profit because almost everything was a valuable antique. They pulled up the carpets and had the floors re-sanded, making the wood gleam. After they painted the inside themselves and had a painting crew take care of the outside, they had put it on the market and sold it within four days. Taking the money from the sale of the house, they had bought a place of their own and owned it, free and clear, thankful they had no mortgage to pay.

Angie had grown up in foster care, so they knew they were starting from scratch in building their family. Lily had come along twenty-two months ago and was the apple of their eyes. She had the blond, curly hair of her mother, as well as Angie’s clear, blue eyes. She ran more than she walked and jabbered constantly. He wasn’t as fully fluent in Lily-speak as Angie was, but Carson was starting to pick up more and more on what his daughter said. He and Angie were both ready to try number two. Maybe spring break would be a good time for them to start.

As he toweled off and dressed for the day, he was eager for his upcoming spring break to begin once school was out this afternoon, probably more so than the students he taught and coached. Basketball season was over, and the Andrews were headed to East Texas and the piney woods of Tyler State Park. He’d reserved a cabin through Wednesday at noon. That would give them the weekend, plus a few extra days to rent canoes on the lake, fish, and hike. Lily loved being outside, and they enjoyed pointing out various wildlife to her. Carson wanted to take her fishing, hoping to catch a few catfish or bass. Knowing his daughter’s tender heart, most likely he’d toss anything they hooked back into the lake.

He returned to the kitchen, seeing Lily in her high chair. Cheerios were her favorite food, and they were scattered about the tray. She also had slices of bananas and a yogurt for breakfast.

“How’s my favorite girl?” he asked, leaning down and kissing her cheek.

“More milk, Daddy,” she said, handing him her sippy cup.

Carson filled it and placed the lid atop it, giving it back to Lily.

“Kank oo.”

“You are welcome,” he replied, smoothing her hair.

Turning to Angie, he asked, “Do you have Binky’s things ready?”

The beagle heard his name and stood. He’d been sitting under Lily’s high chair, hoping for Cheerios to fall.

“Already put his bag in the car, along with his blanket and lovey. Diaper bag is there, too.”

Binky was the newest addition to their household. They had adopted him two weeks ago at a community fair. They would drop him off at the vet’s this morning since he’d just turned a year old. The adoption agency said that was when he should be neutered. Binky would stay at the adjacent kennel, recovering from his surgery until they returned Wednesday afternoon, getting rest and quiet.

“Finish up, baby girl,” Angie said. “It’s time to drop off Binky and Daddy.”

Carson wet a rag and cleaned Lily’s face and hands before taking her to the car and buckling her into her car seat. He got in the passenger seat as Angie opened the back door for Binky. The dog immediately jumped up and sat next to Lily, who began stroking his fur. He was glad they had decided to adopt the beagle. Already, the two were inseparable. Lily was also learning how to be gentle with Binky. Their daughter was the one who had named the dog Binky, after her pacifier. Angie had said they could get a dog if Lily would give up her binky. The toddler had tossed it aside the moment she’d laid eyes on the beagle and hadn’t asked for it once, not even at bedtime.

They reached the vet’s office, and Carson snapped on Binky’s leash and led him inside. He handed over the bag of Binky’s things, and the vet tech who took Binky in hand said they could call after three to see how the beagle was doing. He thanked the guy and kissed Binky’s head before returning to the car.

Usually, he drove himself to work, but he needed new brakes on his truck, something he’d deal with once they got back to Houston. Angie had offered to drop him off at school, and they would take her SUV to Tyler State Park. She’d taken the day off from the hospital in order to pack and run several errands, including picking up food and snacks for the cabin. Once she dropped him at school, she would take Lily to the daycare at the hospital so she could get more done. Lily was in a big “helping Mama” stage, and it took Angie three times as long to do anything if Lily assisted her.

She drove past the front of the high school and to the field house in back, where his office was located.

Carson leaned over and gave her a goodbye kiss. “Hope you get lots done. See you this afternoon.”

“I’ll pick up Lily first. When we get you, we can head straight out of Houston.”

Angie handed him his lunch, and he waved goodbye as she drove off.

His day was busy. He worked on his athletic budget in his office before heading into the main building to teach his three World Geography classes. He would have preferred to teach history, since he had a passion for it, but when he’d been hired straight out of college, the geography slot had been the open one. By the time another US History vacancy had appeared in the department, Carson had already been teaching geography for two years and decided to pass on making a switch. He already had lesson plans and activities for geography, and he’d come to enjoy teaching freshmen, something many veteran teachers avoided doing.

He ate lunch with a few of the other coaches in the break room inside the field house. The soccer and baseball coaches wouldn’t really get a spring break since their teams had games scheduled. He was thankful to have some time away from Houston with his family. Basketball season always drained him, with long days and nights, plus weekend tournaments. He would recharge his batteries during his time off and enjoy spending time with his family. He hated shorting them, but that was the life of a coach during season.

Carson returned to working on his budget, which was due two days after he returned from spring break. He texted Angie twice, just checking in, but she didn’t reply to either text. He knew she was getting her hair cut and thought she might be in the chair and not able to reply to him.

He glanced at his watch and saw school let out in fifteen minutes. It would be a zoo in the parking lot, and he’d told Angie to park two blocks away to avoid the traffic. He decided to slip out now before the bell sounded and the chaos began. Knowing his wife, she would already be waiting for him.

Then the phone on his desk rang. Reluctantly, Carson answered it, not wanting to get tied up when he was ready to duck out the door. “Hello?”

“I need you to come to my office right away,” Joel Campbell said.

“Could we do this over the phone?” he asked, not wanting to leave the field house, cross the parking lot, and wind his way to the front office where the principal was. Even if Joel only spent two minutes with him, by the time he trekked back, school would be letting out.

“No. This needs to be in person, Carson.”

“Be right there.”

He hung up without protesting, wondering what his principal might want. Grabbing his cell, he texted Angie that he would be a few minutes late to the car because Joel needed to see him.

As he headed to see his boss, he worried that maybe Joel was firing him. That couldn’t be. Joel was easygoing, despite being the leader of a large, inner city high school campus. Besides, Carson’s varsity team had won district this year and made it to the second round of the playoffs. He wouldn’t be let go because of that. If anyone fired him, it would be the athletic director, but he’d given Carson no signs of trouble on the horizon.

“Stop worrying,” he said under his breath, passing noisy classrooms with teenagers ready to bolt for the door the moment the bell sounded.

He entered the secretary’s office and saw her frowning. Carson called her name and she looked up, clearly distracted. Even upset. A woman sat in one of the two chairs designated for visitors, and he wondered if she had anything to do with the situation.

Before he could ask her if things were all right, the secretary said, “Go right in, Carson.”

He did as instructed, tapping lightly on the closed door before entering. Joel was already rising to meet him. Carson spied another man also coming to his feet, dressed in a brown suit and having nondescript features.

“Close the door,” Joel instructed.

After doing so, he faced his principal. “What’s going on?”

“Have a seat, Carson,” Joel said, his voice strained.

A feeling of dread filled him. “No. I think I’ll stand.”

Looking pained, the principal said, “This is Detective Kazinski. If you’ll excuse me.”

Joel slipped from the office, leaving Carson alone with the stranger.

“What the hell is going on?” he demanded. Then fear filled him, and he anxiously asked, “Lily? Angie?”

“Your daughter is fine, Mr. Andrews,” the police detective assured him. “She’s with Child Protective Services, and you will be reunited with her soon.”

“What?” he exploded. “Why were they called in? My wife and I are excellent parents, Detective Kazinski. If someone’s filed a complaint against us, they’re just plain wrong. Yes, Lily has a bad bruise on her shin now. She fell. But she didn’t break anything. She’s never been mistreated. We love her.”

Sympathy filled the man’s face. “I’m sure you are a great dad, Mr. Andrews. I’m here to notify you of your wife’s passing.”

“Passing?” he croaked, a thousand thoughts swirling in his mind. “Wait. Angie is…dead?”

“I’m afraid so, Mr. Andrews.”

“No,” he said, shaking his head back and forth in disbelief. “No. She dropped me off at school this morning. She took Lily to daycare. We’re going to Tyler State Park for spring break. She’s waiting for me in the car.”

Frantically, he pulled his cell from his pocket. Instead of texting, he called Angie. “Pick up. Pick up,” he urged, even as his stomach knotted painfully.

Kazinski reached and removed the phone from his hands, ending the call. “Please sit, Mr. Andrews.”

“I…can’t.” He swallowed hard, his brain still racing.

Somehow, the detective eased Carson into a chair and took one next to him.

“Mrs. Andrews was at a gas station a few blocks from here. A man carjacked her. Witnesses say she was shouting, running alongside the car as it sped away. Telling the man that her baby was in the car.” Kazinski paused. “He shot her and drove off.” Pausing, the detective added, “She died on the way to the hospital.”

“No,” he whispered. “No.”

Carson felt cold inside. Dead. Unfeeling. He couldn’t imagine his life without Angie’s laughter. Her teasing. Her lattice apple pies and pot roasts. Singing off key in the shower. Covering Lily’s face with kisses and tucking her into bed.

He met the detective’s gaze. “She’s really gone,” he said dully, reality setting in.

Kazinski nodded. “Yes, she is.”

“Lily?” he said suddenly.

“Apparently, your daughter was crying hysterically after hearing the gunshot. The carjacker stopped a few blocks from the gas station. A witness saw him trying to unbuckle her from the car seat. He couldn’t figure it out and got frustrated. Ran off. The witness crossed the street and found Lily inside the vehicle and called 911. That’s why she’s with Child Protective Services.”

“I need her. Now,” he said, an urgency rushing through him. It was as if he couldn’t believe his little girl might still be alive unless he held her in his arms.

“Let me run through a few things with you,” the detective said.

Carson tried to listen to what he had to say, but everything jumbled. It was as if the cop spoke Greek to him.

Kazinski handed over his card. “Here’s my number. I’ll be in touch with you. We’ve already caught the guy. He confessed right away. He’s being assigned an attorney. There’s the possibility of a trial.”

“And my wife?” he asked, feeling broken.

“A colleague of mine is waiting outside. She’s going to walk you through a few things. How to claim Mrs. Andrews’ body. How to get your car back.”

Carson felt as if he were underwater, drowning, no one rushing to save him. Numbly, he watched Detective Kazinski leave Joel’s office. He returned with the woman who’d been seated outside.

“May I offer you my condolences, Mr. Andrews?”

They kept calling him Mr. Andrews. He was Coach Andrews. No one ever addressed him as Mr. Andrews. He almost laughed, hysteria rising within him, thinking of something meaningless at such an awful time.

She introduced herself, but he didn’t care what her name was. He listened, trying to pay attention to what was being said.

“Here’s a packet with information you’ll find helpful,” she told him. “I’ve placed my card inside. If you have difficulty with anything, just give me a call, and I’ll help you cut through the red tape if I can.”

Carson couldn’t help but think of how much he had to do. Claim Angie’s body. Call a funeral home. Plan a service.

And try to wrap his head around living a life without his wife.

“I need to see my daughter,” he said firmly.

“She’s in a car outside,” Detective Kazinski assured him. “We can go see her now. Just try to stay composed, Mr. Andrews. She’s been through a lot. You don’t want to scare her.”

They left the office, and he saw Joel come to his feet, stepping toward him.

“Whatever you need, Carson. Just let me know. You don’t have to come back to school after spring break. Take all the time you need.”

“I’ll let you know,” he said stiffly.

The principal’s secretary looked up at him, tears in her eyes. “I’m sorry, Carson.”

“Thanks,” he whispered, knowing he would hear that over and over in the next days and weeks. But sorry didn’t mean anything.

The bell had obviously rung while he was inside Joel’s office, but he didn’t recall hearing it. A few scattered students were still in the halls, but most had vacated the building as quickly as possible. Same for the teachers.

He accompanied the police outside to a black sedan. The back door opened, and a woman climbed out.

“Mr. Andrews?”

“Yes.”

She smiled brightly. “Lily is such a love.”

He had no time for niceties. Carson got into the backseat, finding his daughter in a car seat. Her eyes were swollen from crying. She clung to Ralph Rabbit, a stuffed animal that was her most treasured possession. It had been the only thing Angie had from her childhood, and she had passed it down to their daughter.

“Hi, sweetheart.”

“Mama? Where’s Mama? Loud noise, Daddy. Hurt my ears.”

“I know, sweetie. I know. We’re going to go home now.”

Carson glanced up, seeing the woman who’d exited the car standing nearby.

“We need a ride home. I don’t have my car here at school.”

All he could think of was if only Angie hadn’t taken him to work today. If she hadn’t stopped for gas in this dicey neighborhood. If she’d taken Lily straight to daycare in her car and let him drop off Binky at the vet’s.

But all the what-ifs in the world would never change the one, final truth.

Angie was dead. She was never coming home again.

Buckling his seatbelt, he closed the car door as the woman climbed behind the wheel. Carson gave her their address and sighed, his eyes filling with tears. He placed a hand on Lily’s plump thigh, the one Angie would put her lips to and blow against it, making a god-awful noise that never failed to make their daughter laugh.

He leaned down and did so now, his heart shattering as he heard Lily’s joyful giggle at the sound. He would have to be strong. Protect Lily. Be both mother and father to this precious child.

“Daddy sad?” she asked, cocking her head as she studied him.

“Daddy is sad,” he agreed. “But Lily makes me very, very happy.”

Carson clung to his sanity now—and the hope that his little girl might be the shining light in the darkness which now surrounded him.

 

 

CHAPTER 1

Driftwood Bay, Texas—Two years later…

 

Mila Perry was done with dating.

Especially when it came to coaches.

“Thanks anyway,” she told her sister-in-law. “I’m just not going to date for a while.” She grinned. “Maybe forever.”

Cecily shook her head. “You don’t mean that, Mila. And I know you want kids. You’re so good with Bobby and Gina.”

Cecily referred to her two children with Michael. Cecily was more sister than sister-in-law to Mila, especially since she and Mila’s brother had been dating since sophomore year of high school.

“I have plenty of kids at school. Being around hormonal teenagers makes me question if I ever really do want to have kids of my own.”

Both women laughed, and Mila added, “Seriously, Cecily. I haven’t had great luck in the dating department. You and Michael are lucky to be high school sweethearts. You married and have two gorgeous kids. You’re so happy that if I didn’t love you as much as I did, I would be insanely jealous of you.”

She had dated a guy seriously for two years when she first got out of college and landed a volleyball coaching job in San Antonio. Mark had been the whole package. Smart. Funny. Handsome. But just as every other coach, he wanted to move up in the ranks. Middle school coaches maneuvered to land a job in high school. Assistant coaches dreamed of becoming head coaches and running their own programs. Mark had been an assistant football coach at a San Antonio high school which had a terrific football program, winning district championships and regularly making it deep into the playoffs. The head coach was constantly having to replace members of his staff because other districts throughout Texas plucked from his staff on a regular basis, offering them positions as offensive or defensive coordinators or even head coaching slots.

That’s where Mark was now, in a small town about thirty miles north of Dallas, in charge of his own program. It had broken Mila’s heart when they parted, but Mark wasn’t ready to put a ring on her finger. Even she knew it would be foolish to try and follow him to a new district, especially since the district which had hired him already had a volleyball coach. She wasn’t willing to give up coaching the sport she loved to coach something different, much less be stuck in a school district she didn’t want to be in if she and Mark didn’t move forward in their relationship.

When the opportunity came, she left her assistant coaching position for a head job here in Driftwood Bay. Of course, she had thought she would never return to her small hometown on the Texas coast, especially because her dad was now the superintendent of the school district. Still, when the chance presented itself, with her former volleyball coach asking Mila to interview for the position she was retiring from, Coach had said Mila’s four years of seasoning at a large San Antonio high school, along with her years of playing volleyball through the college level at Texas State in San Marcos, made Mila more than qualified.

She had interviewed with Jon Earl Horton, the district’s head football coach and athletic director, and was offered the job on the spot. True, there was likely talk somewhere in town of nepotism and her not earning the job but being given the vacant position because of who her dad was, but Mila hoped she had squelched that with three winning seasons under her belt, the most recent one culminating in a district championship.

This past school year, she had dipped her toe into the dating pool again, the first time she had gone out with anyone since she’d returned to Driftwood Bay, accepting a date with the Pirates’ head basketball coach. Sam was a true competitor who hated losing and also fun to be around. She enjoyed going to his games and watching him coach from the stands. They had dated for six months—and then Sam got the call to interview for a new position in a district two division levels larger than Driftwood Bay. He was out the door so fast that he barely had time to say goodbye to Mila.

That had been a month ago, causing her to swear off men.

“I know you were upset when Sam took the new job,” Cecily began. “It doesn’t mean you have to give up on dating, though. And Chris is a really great guy. Plus, he’s not going anywhere. He’s happy at the hospital.”

Chris was the nurse Cecily was trying to convince Mila to go out with. Her sister-in-law drove twenty miles each way to work at a hospital in Corpus Christi. While twenty miles didn’t seem all that far, it was enough of a distance to give Mila second—and third—thoughts about going out with Chris, much less beginning a relationship with him.

“I think you have a lot in common. He’s athletic. Plays on the hospital’s coed softball team. He likes all kinds of sports. Is big into music. One very early marriage behind him which didn’t last but a year. No kids.” Cecily paused. “Plus, he’s really cute. But don’t tell Michael I said that.”

Mila shook her head. “Despite your glowing review of Chris, I’m going to pass. Nurse my heart and try to put the pieces back together again. That means no dating for a while. Give me until November, after volleyball season ends, then I’ll think about it.”

Cecily sighed. “I get where you’re coming from, Mila. It was rough when Michael and I broke up for that six months when I was in nursing school. The long distance relationship was hard to manage, especially with as much as I needed to study, coupled with his firefighter’s schedule. We got through it, though. You shouldn’t let being burned twice keep you from going out.”

“I appreciate your support, Cec. You know that. Maybe I’ll feel differently in six months, and you and Michael can double date with Chris and me. For now, though? I’m going to revel in being single again. It’s summer. I have a couple of weeks off before I need to run my camp and think about lesson plans and volleyball again. I plan to enjoy having some time to myself, and I don’t mind taking Bobby and Gina off your hands some. I can come and stay here for a weekend. They’ll be near all their toys, and you and Michael could do a little getaway.”

“We just may take you up on that,” her sister-in-law said eagerly. “Let me see what Michael’s shifts look like for the month of June. I can always have someone cover one of mine.”

She finished her coffee and set down the mug. “It was good visiting. I’ve got to swing by the ad building and school now. Text me if you can work out a getaway.”

“Will do.”

Mila went to her Jeep and drove the short distance to the school administration building, which conveniently sat directly across from the high school. She was looking for a new volleyball and track coach for the middle school program and hoped she would be able to find one quickly so she could enjoy the next couple of weeks. When she left admin, she would go across the street and speak with Jon Earl about interviewing three candidates she liked.

She dropped off a flash drive of curriculum she had been working on the past few days for US History, updating it to match some changes the state had recently made. The secretary thanked her and said she would print out copies for Pamela, the director of Social Studies and ELA, to review. Then Pamela walked by, a stack of folders in her hands.

“Have a few minutes to talk?” she asked.

“Sure.”

Mila followed Pamela into her office. They talked for half an hour about those changes, as well as debriefing about the past school year. Mila had always received excellent feedback from both her evaluator at the high school, as well as Pamela, and the older woman liked to bounce ideas off Mila, especially where change was concerned.

“I’ll look over your updates and see if anything needs to be tweaked,” the director said. “I doubt it because you’re so efficient in everything you do, Mila. If you ever want to get out of coaching, I think you’d make a fine administrator.”

“Actually, I’ve been giving that some thought, Pamela,” she admitted. “You’re the first person I’m sharing this with. While coaching is in my blood, the hours can be insane. I’m thinking about applying to Texas A&M in Corpus and starting on my masters in educational administration. I can do the entire coursework online, which really appeals to me because of my hectic schedule. It would certainly give me options regarding my career.”

 She hesitated. “Please keep this between us. If Dad got wind of this, he’d be all over it, pushing me to go into admin.”

Pamela smiled. “Bill Perry would love to have you in the district as an administrator, but I’ll definitely keep quiet about it. Let me know if you need a rec for the program. You know I’m happy to write a glowing letter for you.”

“I appreciate you saying that. I’ll be looking at everything in-depth, now that school is out. I’ll get back to you if I need a rec letter. Thanks.”

Mila told Pamela goodbye and glanced at her watch. Jon Earl would have left school by now for lunch, so she thought she might stop by her dad’s office and see if he wanted to grab lunch on the square with her. Then she could talk to Jon Earl about the open position.

She went down the long corridor and stopped at the desk outside his office, greeting Sandy, his longtime secretary, who kept her dad in line and on top of things. He had inherited Sandy when he took the principal’s job at the middle school and had asked her to go with him when he moved up to serve in the same position at Driftwood Bay High School. Sandy had accompanied him again when Dad came to the ad building, working his way up to being the district’s superintendent. Like Cecily, Sandy was family to Mila.

“Hey, girl,” Sandy greeted, sympathy in her eyes. “I hear things went south, with Sam leaving.”

She nodded. “We’d only been going out for six months. It wasn’t that serious,” she said, trying to convince herself as much as Sandy.

“You know, I have a cousin who just recently divorced. He lives in Rockport.” Sandy smiled hopefully.

Mila laughed. “Thanks—but no thanks. I’m going to enjoy the single life for a while. Is Dad available for lunch?”

Sandy consulted the desk calendar. “He will be as soon as he finishes up with the new basketball coach.”

“He’s already hired one?”

Sandy nodded. “He’s coming from Houston. Jon Earl really likes this guy. I’m not sure why a coach would take a step back from a big school to here, but your daddy said he’ll be a great addition to the district.”

Before Mila could ask anything else about the new coach taking Sam’s place, the door opened. She saw her dad standing there, offering his hand.

“We’re glad to have you as a Driftwood Bay Pirate, Carson. I’ll have HR print out the paperwork. If you can come back around one or later, everything will be ready for you to sign.”

“Thank you for this opportunity, Dr. Perry,” the new hire said, shaking her dad’s hand.

Mila studied his profile for a moment, drawn in by how hot the new coach was. Like take-your-breath-away hot. She silently reminded herself not to look for a wedding ring on his finger, however. She was done with dating for now.

Both men turned, and Dad lit up, smiling at her.

“Why, here’s the first teacher and coach that I can introduce you to who’s on staff at the high school. Carson Andrews, meet my daughter, Mila. She coaches volleyball and teaches US history. Carson is going to replace not only Sam, but he’ll also take on the AD duties from Jon Earl.”

Surprise rippled through her. “Jon Earl is leaving?”

“No,” Dad said. “He said he misses the classroom. He’s going to be teaching government to seniors this coming year, as well as continuing as the Pirates’ head football coach.”

She turned to the new guy now and offered her hand. “It’s nice to have you on board, Carson. I’d love to bend your ear since I was on my way to see Jon Earl. We need a new volleyball and track coach at the middle school. The current one has decided to stay home once she gives birth to her third kid in July.”

“I’d be happy to talk it over with you, Mila.”

“Why don’t I give you a tour of the high school and athletic facilities while you’re waiting for HR to finish up things on their end? We could also grab a bite to eat on the square if you’re hungry.”

“How can I pass up a guided tour and lunch with an insider?” Carson teased, his espresso eyes twinkling with mischief. “Dr. Perry said he grew up in Driftwood Bay and raised his family here. You’ll know everything about everyone, I suppose, seeing this is a small town.”

“Have you ever lived in a small town?” she asked.

“No. All I know about a small town is what I learned streaming that old TV show Friday Night Lights.”

His answer caused her to laugh out loud.

“There are some similarities between it and Driftwood Bay. That town was centered around oil, though. A lot of the Bay’s businesses deal with tourism and having the sea out our back door.”

She glanced to her father. “Carson is in good hands, Dad. I’ll have him back here to sign his life away in a couple of hours.”

Mila left the building with the new coach, saying, “Let’s do the tour first and get it out of the way. Then lunch won’t be so crowded.”

They crossed the street, and Mila showed him the front office, which also housed administrators and counselors. She walked him through the various hallways, pointing out the auditorium, teachers’ lounge, gym, and copy room.

“There’s a copier in the field house, so you’ll use that one. Let’s go out there now.”

They cut through the cafeteria and went out the back doors, crossing the teacher parking lot and entering the field house. Inside, she showed him the copy machine, break room, and conference room before stopping by Jon Earl’s office. It was empty, as she’d suspected.

“Jon Earl is at lunch now. He likes to meet his wife at the diner on the square every weekday at noon. Hillary hates to cook, so they get a good meal in them mid-day and then have sandwiches or salad at dinner. Hillary’s also a realtor. She can help you find somewhere to live. Do you have a family?”

Although Mila had not noticed a wedding ring on Carson’s finger, there was always the possibility that he was married and chose not to wear one. Or he could be divorced. He looked to be in his early thirties and had that basketball, lean yet muscular build on what she guessed was his six-four frame.

“Thanks for the tip. I’ll contact you after I finish up the paperwork with HR. I have a daughter who’s four. Her name is Lily.”

Carson didn’t mention his wife, and she didn’t want things to be awkward by bringing one up, especially if he were divorced.

Then he volunteered, “I’m a widower. I lost my wife two years ago. While I enjoyed the school where I coached and taught, everything everywhere reminded me of Angie. I decided Lily and I needed to get a fresh start. That’s why we’re coming to Driftwood Bay, along with Binky, our three-year-old beagle.”

“I’m sorry to hear about your wife. Lily is such a beautiful name,” she said. “I’m sure you’ll both love it in the Bay. Will you be looking for an apartment or house?”

“I would prefer a house, especially having a dog. I’d like Lily to have a backyard to play in. She’s a little shy.”

“My brother has two kids. Bobby is four-and-a-half, and Gina is three. Maybe Lily could come and play with them sometime.”

“I’ll have to figure out a lot of things,” he said. “Thanks for that offer. I’ll need to put her in preschool. Maybe you can suggest one. I also need to find someone who can sit with her nights and weekends when I’ve got games and tournaments.”

“I can help you find someone,” Mila volunteered, surprised that she was so willing to become this involved with someone she’d just met. But she felt some pull to Carson, not only a physical attraction, but something stronger. He seemed to be a decent guy who’d been dealt a difficult hand. After all, she was a Driftwood Bay native, and she could help him settle in with a few tips.

“That’s kind of you. It’s been hard, being a mom and dad to Lily. To be honest, I’m as scared as I ever have been, leaping into the abyss here. A new job. A new town. No back-up system. It’s a lot to take on, along with the AD position, something I’ve never done before. While becoming the AD means more money, I know I’ve got a big learning curve ahead of me.”

“You’re going to do fine, Carson. One thing you’ll learn about living in a small town is that people stick together. People are willing to offer a helping hand. The coaching staff at the high school is tight. It doesn’t matter which sport you coach, everyone is friends and supports one another.”

He looked at her, those warm, brown eyes causing her heart to speed up. “Thanks for being the first friend I’ve made in Driftwood Bay, Mila.”