“It’s OK,” I tell her. “I know you care about him. But, Ash is the only one who can decide what’s important to him. You can’t force anything.”

“I know,” Tegan sighs. “But wouldn’t life be so much easier if I could? I’m his sister, I know what’s best for him!”

“I’m not so sure about that,” I laugh. “If my family got to call the shots about me, I would still be trapped up in one of those New York high-rises, working eighty-hour weeks and miserable to the bone.”

“OK, so maybe not,” Tegan agrees. “But it’s just so frustrating. He plays it so close to his chest, I never know what’s going on with him. For all I know, he could be having a dozen torrid affairs, or sitting in alone every night!”

Tell me about it. I don’t let on anything to Tegan, but I know how she feels. Ash went out of his way to help me with the Bunny situation, he even invited me out today—and then didn’t show up. I’m long past trying to figure out what’s going on behind those dark eyes of his, but that doesn’t stop me wishing I could; that somehow, he would give me a sign of how he feels.

Because what we had—what we have, when his guard is down, when there’s humor in his words and that devilishly tempting look on his gorgeous face—is too good to just give up and walk away. And every time I swear that’s what I’m going to do, he gives me a glimpse of that other man hidden away inside, and it reels me back in all over again.

It’s exhausting. Confounding.

Frustrating as hell.

My thoughts are interrupted as Alicia collapses beside us on the deck. “Stop me, someone please,” she says through a mouthful of cupcake. “I won’t fit into my dress if I keep eating like this. Where did you buy them?”

“She made them,” Tegan tells her. “Noelle’s a genius in the kitchen!”

Alicia’s eyes widen. “You did? They’re amazing!”

“Thanks, but it’s all Nana.” I deflect the praise. “I just follow her recipes.”

“No way,” Tegan argues. “I’ve had her cakes at the diner. She was good, but you’re even better.”

“Well, thanks.” I flush. I’m used to getting compliments on my legal briefs, or arguments, but somehow this praise matters way more. “I’m getting the hang of it again. My kitchen in New York was like a glorified closet, it’s amazing just having the space at the B&B.”

“Do you take orders?” Alicia asks, licking frosting from her fingers. “Because I’ve been tasting wedding bakers all week, and nothing measures up to these.”

“You mean, make your wedding cake?” I blink, stunned. “I don’t know, I’ve never done something like that.”

“Do it!” Tegan claps her hands together. “And charge her a boatload too. Dex is picking up the tab,” she adds, mischievous. “He can afford it.”

Alicia laughs. “Not so fast. I would pay though,” she adds to me. “And maybe we could even do cupcakes for the rehearsal dinner, and some other desserts for the buffet? If you were willing to help cater.”

“Umm, sure,” I agree, quickly running the math in my head. All the repairs on Rose Cottage are adding up, and it would be great to earn some extra cash to offset my savings. “I’ll put together some ideas, and we can set up a tasting.”

“Yes!” Alicia leans over and hugs me, gleeful. “You have no idea what a favor you’re doing me,” she adds. “One more thing I can tick off my list!”

“I just hope I can come up with something good enough,” I say, already thinking of the flavor combinations. White chocolate and raspberry, maybe, with sugared rose petals on top…

“Are you kidding? You could show up with another carton of these cupcakes, and I’d be over the moon.” Alicia beams. “I better go taste some more. For research!”

We cruise for about an hour, until we drop anchor in the curve of a private bay. The yacht is some way out from the deserted beach, so Alicia and Dex volunteer to row all our supplies to shore. There’s room in the boat, but I’m hot and sticky now from an hour in the sun, and the water looks invitingly blue, so I strip off the rest off my clothes and dive off the side of the yacht before I can think twice.

I hit the water, cold slicing through me. I surface, spluttering. “It’s freezing!”

Tegan laughs, paddling beside me. “But doesn’t it feel great?”

It does. I lazily swim to shore, enjoying the pleasant ache in my limbs. I try to picture Lexi and the other associates at the law firm. What would I be doing now? Buried in the library, maybe. Or stealing a moment for dinner, eating takeout salad from a plastic box at my desk with a stack of briefs still left to work on.

Even though I’m taking the biggest risk of my life here in Beachwood Bay, and I still can’t be sure if it will pay off, I don’t even feel an ounce of envy, remembering the life I left behind.

Risk and all, this is way better.

I kick harder, until my feet find sand and gravel. Then I wade in, clearing water from my eyes.

“I should have guessed you’d be first in the water.”

It’s Ash. Sitting on a blanket on the beach, watching as I emerge from the ocean. He’s resting back on his elbows, wearing faded jeans and a white T-shirt that should be illegal for how good they look on him.