Page 52 of Devlin

That was a loaded question. "Probably not long enough," he admitted.

Fiona gave him a soft smile. "Well, you might have to do something about that, Devlin. You're not getting any younger."

He laughed. "You did not just say that, Nana."

"Well, it's true. So, what are you going to do?"

"Nothing. Hannah lives in Austin, Texas. She's only staying in town long enough to sail with her father and try to beat me in the race."

"They're racingagainst you? Oh, my. Your father will not like that."

"I'm trying to use it as incentive to get Dad to race with me."

"That's an excellent plan. And it sounds to me like you have at least another week to convince Hannah to extend her stay."

"You mean uproot her entire life? It's not going to happen."

"It could happen. You know what I've always admired about you, Devlin?When you see what you want, you go after it. You can be relentless."

"I didn't say I wanted Hannah. I barely know her."

"But you know she's special. You should find out if there's something there that you want to fight for. The worst thing you can have in life is regret for missing an opportunity. I don't want you to regret anything. In the meantime, try the olive sandwich; it'samazing."

"Olive sandwich, huh?" He was happy with the change of subject but not so excited about the mini-sandwich his grandmother was offering him.

"It's a tapenade. You'll love it. Have I ever steered you wrong?"

He laughed. "I guess you haven't."

"Then eat. Hannah is not going anywhere—at least not yet."

Hannah tried really hard not to turn her head, but out of the corner of her eye she could still see Devlin. She couldn't believe he was here. She'd been avoiding the docks and the Yacht Club for the last few days, so she wouldn't run into him, but she'd thought tea at the Bickmore was safe. But no, there he was, looking so handsome and sexy with his brown hairfalling over his eyebrows and his expressive brown eyes that revealed far more than he probably knew. And to make him even more endearing, he was having tea with his grandmother.How sweet was that?

She picked up her cup and sipped her tea, focusing on Jessica and Caroline, who had been talking wedding dresses for the last ten minutes.

"I'm sorry," Caroline said suddenly, givingher an apologetic look. "This has to be boring for you, Hannah. I was just so excited to find the dress I wanted right here in town, at the only bridal boutique within a hundred miles. It was shocking. I thought for sure I'd have to go down to Boston or New York."

"It was meant to be."

"I think it was," Caroline agreed. "I've been feeling that way about a lot of things lately. It'slike the universe is giving me sign after sign that I'm on the right path. Planning this wedding has been surprisingly easy."

"I don't think that’s the universe," Jessica said dryly. "I've been helping."

"Oh, I know, but I was walking out of the bakery and saw the perfect dress in the window display. And then I crossed the street to put money in my meter, and I saw a flyer in thetravel agency for a resort in Antigua, where I have always wanted to go, and they were featuring a honeymoon package for 50 percent off. How big a coincidence is that? What do you think, Hannah? Do you believe in signs? Or in fate?"

"Not really. I think we make our own destiny."

"I agree," Jessica said. "We all choose the lives we want to live. And even if we don't make a choice,that's a choice."

"That's true," Caroline said. "But sometimes there are signs, and we need to be receptive to them. If we keep going, with our heads down, never looking up or around, we'll miss them."

For some reason, Caroline's words resonated deep within her. She'd been on one path for a long time. Not even Gary had been a detour from that path. He'd been a real estate attorney.They'd talked a lot about properties and deals. He'd lined up perfectly with her life. But now she was here in King Harbor, nowhere she'd planned to be, and suddenly everything seemed up in the air.

Was she meant to go home and get back on the path? Or was it time to forge a new trail?

The questions ran around in her head as their conversation moved on to less thoughtful topics.Sipping tea and sharing crustless sandwiches and decadent scones with two girls she'd grown up with felt remarkably comfortable and pretty wonderful.

She had friends in Austin, but they weren't like these girls. They didn't remember her when she was a child. They didn't have stories to share about teachers and neighbors, and kids she'd grown up with. And those stories made her miss KingHarbor more, made her wish she could have stayed here instead of leaving with her mother.

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