Page 34 of Devlin

"Where did you go?"

"Everywhere—Iceland, Norway, Europe, Spain, Morocco,Tahiti…the list goes on. Eventually, I started feeling better, happier."

"The ocean did its job."

"Yes," he agreed, giving her a smile. "It healed me."

"I'm surprised you ever came back."

"I found myself missing King Harbor. I wanted to accomplish more with my life. My dad told me I could take over the Boatworks if I was willing to work my way up, so I took a job there.Eventually, the manager decided to leave, and I took over."

"Did you ever consider that my father should have taken over?" she couldn't help asking.

"I didn't have to consider it; my dad offered Frank the job before he gave it to me."

"I never heard that," she said doubtfully.

"Your father turned it down, Hannah. He said he didn't want to manage a company or employeesor have to worry about profit and loss; he just wanted to design and build boats."

"That does sound like him. My mom wanted him to move up the work ladder, but he always said he liked what he was doing. She couldn't understand his lack of ambition, because when she does something, she wants to be the best and to be in charge."

"There's nothing wrong with that; I'm much the same way."

"My dad is different. He wants to do the best work he can, but he doesn't care about being in charge."

"What about you? Who do you take after, Hannah?"

"I'm probably a bit of both of them. I'm ambitious and I want to be successful at what I do. But I also want more than work in my life. I can't believe I've been too busy to come back to King Harbor for five years. That's wrong.I need to find a better balance. I'm actually thinking the next two weeks will be a good time for me to reassess my goals. Plus, I get to catch up with my dad, maybe some old friends, and, of course, beating you will be the icing on the cake."

"Ouch."

She smiled. "I know it won't be easy. You're very good."

"You're not bad, either. I wouldn't mind having you on my boat. Istill need a second crew member."

"I have no doubt you can find someone exceptional. And this race with my dad will help bridge the distance that's grown between us. Plus, it gives my dad something else to think about, and he needs that right now."

"I know."

"Thanks for telling me your story, Devlin. It's not one that many people seem to know, even in this small town wheregossip is a favorite hobby."

"I've never felt compelled to share it. I'm sure people have talked about it behind my back, but it was a long time ago—ten years. Sometimes, I can't believe it has been that long. Anyway, now you know the story of why your father had to rescue me that night."

She gave him a thoughtful gaze. "Why did you tell me?"

"You already knew some of it.And I didn't think you were going to drop it."

"Both of those things are true, but I don't believe either one is the real reason."

He shifted in his seat, giving her a direct look. "Maybe I wanted you to know another side of me, Hannah."

"A side you don't show many people."

"No, I don't." He paused. "Amy was in my life for less than a year, but she had an impact onme. Her death made me realize that I didn't want to waste a second of my life going down a path that wasn't right for me. When I was in college, I was a business major. I sailed on the side, of course, but I was going down the path of becoming an executive for Blackthorne Enterprises. After Amy died, once I went off on my own, and started really living my life, I realized that wasn't what I wantedat all. Maybe you think it was a cop-out to go to the Boatworks, since it was also a Blackthorne company—"

"I don't," she interrupted. "It was exactly what you wanted to do. Why wouldn't you work there?"

"Right? It was part of the family business, but it felt like I was the only person who had the desire or the ability to take it over. Anyway, you asked me why I told you my story,and it's this: I may be a Blackthorne, Hannah, but I'm also me. I'm my own man. I'd prefer to be judged by what I do and not by what my family does."

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