She used to babysit his kid... then it was more, with him and his wife, until it all fell apart.
Years later, Dottie has custody of her niece Sara, and that is her number one priority. PLUS Sara is dating Axel's son.
Given everything Sara has been through, Dottie knows she can't get involved in anything else, her focus has to be on work, and Sara. Plus, given their history, she and Axel can never be anything more. It's too complicated.
But sometimes things are only as complicated as you make them.
This is a short story (16,000 words) follow-up to Maritime Ties: Sara