“Want a cognac?”

She could tell from his tone he was upset, but still resigned to being a gentleman. “No, thanks. I’d love a water.”

He paused, then turned back to the tray and put the stopper back on the crystal bottle. He then opened two bottles of water and carried them to the bed.

He handed her a bottle, then slid beside her on the mattress. She moved to make room for him against the headboard. He stretched his legs out beside hers and leaned back, taking a long swallow.

Dora leaned against his shoulder, relieved that he’d returned to the bed and not stayed away in a show of pique. Only a man with confidence would do that, she thought. She reached out to take hold of his hand on his lap. Immediately, he squeezed it.

“Dev, we haven’t talked yet about your marriage,” she said, glad that they were both sitting against the headboard, looking out at the ocean, not at each other. It made the honesty somehow easier. “Did you love your wife?”

“I thought I did. I won’t deny it.”

“I’m glad,” Dora said. She wouldn’t have liked to think he hadn’t been in love with his wife.

“Ashley and I got married a long time after you and I broke up,” he clarified.

“Why did you divorce?”

A long sigh rumbled in Devlin’s chest. “I screwed up. Screwed around. I was too young to get married and too stupid to appreciate what I had. We hung on for longer than we should’ve. I don’t think either of us wanted to admit we’d made a mistake. Especially after Leigh Anne came along. But when Ashley finally made the call, I didn’t fight her. I couldn’t. I’m not gonna lie. The divorce was hard to go through. We both still bear the scars. But I can look back and see it was for the best.”

“How is she?”

“Ashley’s doing okay. Getting married again.”

She looked over at him. “Are you okay with that?”

“Sure,” he replied quickly. Then, more sincerely, “I’m happy for her. He’s a good guy. He’ll be a good father for Leigh Anne. But she’ll always be my little girl. I’d do anything for her. Getting a divorce doesn’t change how a father feels about his child.”

Dora thought about Cal and believed Devlin was right, unfortunately for Nate.

“Where do they live?”

“Over in Mt. Pleasant. They have a real nice house on the creek. Not far.”

“Do you see your daughter often?”

“Every other weekend, and we work out holidays. I haven’t missed a school function or a dance recital,” he said with a measure of pride.

She smiled, glad to hear that.

He shifted against the headboard to look into her eyes. “Honey, I know we talk about the past a lot and what we remember from back when we were sixteen. I like that you make me feel like that again. And that I make you remember.” He paused, playing with her fingers.

“But I know we aren’t kids any longer. I got the aches and pains to remind me.” His laugh rumbled low. “I’m not that reckless surfer that you used to know. I’m a man now. But just because I’ve grown up doesn’t mean I have to be old, now does it?”

She shook her head and moved a hand to place it over his. “No, not at all. I love that you’re still spontaneous and fun. You make me happy.”

He cocked his head. “I hear a ‘but’ coming . . .”

She smiled ruefully. “But . . . like you said, I enjoy a quiet life, my home and my garden. My son. I like staying home at night. While you . . .” She looked into his eyes. “You go out all the time. You walk into the bar and Bill knows your drink. You called Dunleavy’s your office.”

“It’s the nature of my business. I go out with clients when they can go, which is often on weekends and in the evenings. I take them to restaurants to talk about deals and to add some local color.”

“It’s all business?”

“No, of course not.” He paused. “What are you asking? Do you think I can’t settle down?”

“I only know what I see.”

He looked at her hands again. “Did it occur to you that I might be lonely?”

She abruptly looked up at his face. The blue of his eyes burned like torches against the ruddy tan and burned a hole right through her arguments. She couldn’t quite grasp the concept: Devlin Cassell, lonely?

Dora had not considered that possibility. She shook her head, then lowered it onto his broad, strong, capable shoulder. He wrapped his arm tighter around her.

“Dev,” she said, pushing herself to be honest. “It means so much to me that you love me. Be patient with me. I can’t say the words. Not yet. It might just be paper, but I need to get my divorce signed, sealed, and delivered before I can move forward. I’m not ready for anything more.”

He sighed, but his hand gently patted her shoulder. “Okay, honey. I won’t rush you.”

“Thank you.”

“As long as you’re not pushing me away again.”

“I’m not. I promise.” Dora patted his chest with her hand. “I’m right here.”

He bent and kissed the top of her head. “That’s where I want you to stay.”

Dora awoke the following morning filled with light. As soon as she reached the beach she began to run. She didn’t stretch. She simply took off, with her fists pumping at her sides. Her feet pounded the hard-packed sand, one foot after the other. To her right, the ocean was a roiling mass of choppy, white-tipped waves.

You’re strong. You can do it. You can make your goal.

She said the words over and over, like a metronome keeping the pace. She had to believe the words, too.

Sweat poured down her brow, but she pushed on, past the lighthouse on her way to Breach Inlet. She remembered the first time she’d reached this point, the first day of her walking program. She was tired, thirsty, barely able to put one foot in front of the other. That was the morning Devlin had found her. She’d looked her absolute worst and he’d thought she was beautiful. Dora laughed out loud, hearing the joyful sound like a clarion call in the early morning wind.

She reached the inlet and turned back, keeping up the pace. Her heart felt ready to burst, but Dora kept on running the final lap. Her muscles were screaming, but she’d come too far to quit before she reached her goal. No more excuses. Today she was going to make it.