Page 27 of Devlin

"We don't work together. I onlyagreed to run the Boatworks because he usually has nothing to do with it, but, as we both know now, your father's termination was not about the business." He paused. "I spoke to my dad again this morning, Hannah. He told me to stay out of it. I'm sorry, but at the moment there's nothing else I can do. My dad is reeling from my mom's abrupt departure, and your dad is tangled up in that."

"I know," she admitted. "I'm disappointed, but I understand that you're caught in the middle."

He flung her a quick look. "I'm glad. Your father might have better luck if he talks to my dad himself."

"He won't do that. He says he is not going to beg for his job when he didn't do anything wrong."

"Looks like we have a stalemate, at least for the moment. Why don't we forget aboutour obstinate parents for a while?"

"That sounds like a great idea." Turning her head, her gaze swept the shoreline, loving the sight of all the colorful houses tucked into the hills overlooking the water. "I always wanted to live in one of those homes."

"They're nice," he agreed.

"My mom used to take me to open houses on the weekends when we lived here. Even then she wasfascinated with real estate, but, of course, we had no money to buy anything. And my dad was happy to live in the two-bedroom house three blocks away from the Boatworks that he lives in now."

"It is convenient."

"Yes, but those houses are so pretty, and the views are spectacular. I wonder how much they sell for now."

"Probably more than they did when you were a kid. Why? Areyou thinking of buying one?"

"No. Although, I have been saving money to buy a house. I just haven't found anything that I love. Nothing is quite right. My mother says that's because I still want a house at the beach; she's not completely wrong."

"So why don't you live at the beach?"

"There is no ocean beach in Austin, and lakes don't quite do it for me."

"You couldalways come back to King Harbor."

"I have a life in Austin now. King Harbor is my past."

"Right now, it's your present," he said with a smile.

"For the next two weeks, but then I go back to reality."

"Well, since reality is still days away and we're now in open water, why don't we let this baby run?"

"Sounds good," she said. "Show me what you've got."

"Right back at you," he said.

She laughed. "It's your boat. You're in charge."

"Words I never thought I'd hear you say."

"Don't get used to it."

For the next thirty minutes, they worked together in easy accord. Devlin was quick, agile, and calmly efficient. He gave orders with a smile that sent tingles down her spine. And as they worked the sails and rode the waves,she felt incredibly happy. With the sun on her head and the wind at her back, she felt transported back in time to days spent out on the ocean with her dad. On the water, everything had seemed possible, and problems had floated far away. She'd missed this feeling of freedom, of being untethered, of flying across the sea.

And when she looked at Devlin, she saw the same pure joy in his eyes.Muscles rippling, his body powering the sails, he was completely in his element. He'd been born for this, and he'd found a way to combine passion and business.

She almost felt bad about wanting to beat him—almost. Because as much as he loved this boat, she had a feeling her father loved it just as much.

He turned his head and met her gaze. "What?" he asked.

"You look likea kid in a candy shop."

"The sea is my candy shop. I love it out here. I think you love it, too."

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