Page 43 of Devlin

"I'd say be careful. She's leaving in two weeks."

"I'm aware. I'm not thinking that far in the future."

"Spoken like a true man."

He shrugged and sat back in his seat as Hannah returned to the table with two servings of chocolate cake. She put one plate in front of him and then took her seat. "I'm so glad Jessica still loves chocolate," she said. "Do you wanta bite, Caroline?"

"I thought you said you don't share?" he teased. "Or was that only with me?"

"I'm offering a bite, not half."

Caroline put up her hand. "Don't tempt me. I'm actually going to take off. It was nice to catch up, Hannah. I'll see you Saturday at the Bickmore, and Devlin, I'm sure I'll see you around."

After Caroline left, they ate their cake in relativesilence, conversation from the other partygoers washing around them.

The night was coming to an end, but he wasn't quite ready to let Hannah go, and he had a feeling as soon as she finished her cake, she'd be heading home.

"So, I found Mason a boat," he said. "A single-handed dinghy about twenty-five years old. It was the boat my father taught me how to sail in, and it was the firstboat I ever raced. I wasn't sure it was still seaworthy, but it appears that it is."

"That's great. Have you told Mason?"

"I have. He's very excited. His mom signed him up for the sailing program, and in exchange he's going to do a lot more around the house to help out."

"That's a win for both Mason and Erica. You did a good thing, Devlin."

He was glad she thought so."Blackthornes aren't all black."

She tipped her head to his point.

"How's your father doing?" he asked.

"He has been working long hours on the boat, so we haven't talked a lot, but every now and then I catch a look of frustration and worry on his face. His whole life has been his job. He doesn't know what to do with himself, where to go, if he doesn't go to the Boatworks.Thank goodness he has theDaisy Maeto work on, and the idea of beating you and your father is keeping him going."

"I know it's rough, Hannah. I actually gave my dad an ultimatum a few days ago."

Her eyes widened. "What do you mean?"

"I told him that we need Frank back at work and on the boat, and he needs to respect how I run the Boatworks or I should move on."

"Youthreatened to quit? What was his response?"

"He told me not to give him ultimatums and stormed out of the room. Then he went back to Boston, but I think he'll eventually come to his senses."

"I'm losing faith in that."

"It has only been a few days. He'll be back soon, and we'll talk again."

"I appreciate you taking the stance that you did. Thank you for going to batfor my dad."

His gaze met hers. "I just did what was right. I'm sure you thought it took me too long, but I hoped it wouldn't have to come to an ultimatum."

"Would you really leave the company? It's your family business. You've worked hard to build it up. Could you walk away?"

"I don't want to, but I could, and I would. Hopefully, it doesn't come to that." He paused. "Yourfather asked Erica to box up his office. Did you know that?"

"No, I didn't. That sounds like he's giving up."

"I told her to go slow, but while we were talking, she showed me some old photos she'd found in Frank's filing cabinet, pictures of Frank and your mother and my parents. They were actually pretty good friends at one time."

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