Page 18 of Devlin

"No way. Why?" Ross asked in surprise. "Frank has been at the Boatworks forever."

"Well, I didn't find out until tonight that Frank apparently told Dad that he'd better shape up or he would lose Mom. Dad didn't appreciate his suggestion andfired him."

"Frank knew Mom was unhappy?" Ross asked, his gaze narrowing. "Did he give you more information?"

"No. He said he'd had coffee with Mom a week ago and she'd mentioned her frustration with Dad always putting work ahead of the family. Mom's anger has been simmering for at least a week. I think her birthday put her over the edge."

"Did he mention anything about asecret?" Logan asked curiously.

"Nope. I don't know what that was about, but I think it's clear Mom left Dad because he works all the time."

"Maybe that should be a cautionary tale for others in our family," Ross suggested. "Brock, Trey, Jason…they all spend way too much time at work."

"We're probably all guilty of that," he muttered. He'd certainly immersed himself in workthe last several years. In fact, it was the work that had kept him sane, given him a purpose, when he'd been floundering.

But was he turning into Frank or his father?That was an uncomfortable thought.

"How long will Hannah be in town?" Logan asked.

"At least until after the Memorial Day race. She and Frank are going to find another boat and race against me."

"No way.You always race with Frank."

"Not this year. I need a partner. Either one of you want to volunteer?"

"Sorry, I have to get back to Kentucky," Ross said. "And I'm better in a fast car than a fast boat."

That was certainly true. Ross spent his time racing stock cars.

"I won't be here for Memorial Day," Logan said. "I have to get back to Boston."

"Well, hopefullysomeone will be around."

Ross gave him an evil grin. "You could always ask Dad."

"He hasn't raced since Uncle Mark died. I've asked him before, and he always says no." It bothered him more than a little that his father had never wanted to share in that part of his life, but he supposed he could understand that there were some painful memories involved. His uncle, his father's onlysibling, had died in a tragic plane crash and it had been a huge loss in his dad's life.

"Maybe Dad will change his mind this year, if he has incentive. He is not going to want his boat to lose to the man he just fired," Ross pointed out.

"You're right." His dad would absolutely hate losing to Frank. Maybe he could get his father on board this year.But did he really want him?Would the dream of racing with his dad turn out to be a nightmare?

CHAPTER FOUR

HANNAH MADEbreakfast Sunday morning feeling grumpy and annoyed, not just with Devlin for putting crazy ideas in her head, but also with herself for actually thinking about how much fun it might be to mess around with Devlin.

As a teenager, she'd had a crushon Devlin, because he was the Blackthorne who liked boats as much as she did. And his sunburned grin, charming swagger, and wild, wind-blown hair had always created a lot of awkward and uncomfortable feelings within her.

He'd created those same feelings last night when he'd spoken so bluntly about the sparks between them. She'd thought those sparks had all been on her side, remnants fromher teenage years, but, no, Devlin had felt them, too. And there was a part of her that really liked the fact that he found her attractive now.

On the other hand, he'd had quite a bit to drink and his mom had just left his dad. He was obviously on an emotional roller coaster. She didn't want to be anyone's stress release, even if it would no doubt be a hell of a lot of fun. And she hadn'thad a lot of that kind of fun in a long time. She had to admit that Devlin's interest was a salve to her bruised heart. Losing Gary to his ex had brought all her insecurities to the forefront, and she was still trying to believe in herself again.

But Devlin had stood by while his father had fired her dad, and she couldn't forget that. She also couldn't forget that she would only be in towna few weeks, and that if her dream came true of racing with her father, that Devlin would be her biggest competitor.

It was all too messy and complicated. She needed to stay away from Devlin.

She just wished it was a little easier to stop thinking about him.

Cracking eggs into the skillet, she forced herself to concentrate on breakfast. She'd almost finished the veggie scramblewhen her dad walked into the kitchen. She hadn't talked to him since he'd left the pub the night before. When she'd gotten home, he'd been in his bedroom with the door closed.

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