“Not as well as you, I’m sure. Why don’t you teach me?”
Ryan nodded. “It needs to have four towers with a wall all the way around. Then we need to make a tall, tall tower in the middle.”
“Is that where the princess lives?”
“No, that’s where the ninjas live,” Ryan said, like Devon should have known that already.
“Oh, right. Ninjas. Sure, why didn’t I think of that?”
“Loads of ninjas.”
“And what do they do?”
Ryan sighed, as though he had to explain something that shouldn’t need to be explained. “They fight the fire dragons and push them into the river that’s full of hot lava.”
Devon bit back a laugh. The kid had an imagination, that’s for sure. “Okay, then. Let’s get this castle built before those dragons show up to fight. I’m thinking we need some more water.”
While Ryan ran for more water, Devon looked over his shoulder to see Stella lying on her stomach, reading a book. Dressed in a white cover up with her hair pulled back in a ponytail, she looked relaxed and beautiful. “Hey, aren’t you going to help?”
Her head swung around and her eyes flickered to his. “My degree is in law, not architecture. I’ll leave the building to the boys.”
Devon pointed to the pile of sand. “But the fire dragons are on their way and if we don’t get this castle built, all the ninjas will be burnt to a crisp. How do you think that will make Ryan feel?”
“I’m sure he’ll survive.”
“Okay, but if things go south, you get to be the one to shut a hysterical four-year-old in the bathroom.”
“Yeah, yeah.” She smiled and returned her attention to the book.
Ryan stumbled back, lugging a bucket of water. He dumped it on the pile of sand, splashing wet sand all over Devon’s board shorts. Looking down at the mess and then at the oblivious Stella, reading calmly in the shade, Devon frowned. Her morning of relaxation was about to change. After all, bringing Ryan to the beach and giving him a bucket had been her idea.
Devon whispered to Ryan, “It’s really hot out here. I think it would be nice of you to pour water on Stella so she won’t be hot.”
Ryan grinned. “Okay.” He raced to the water and refilled his bucket. Then he trotted to Stella and turned it upside down over her head.
Devon laughed. The kid had no fear.
Squealing, Stella rolled over, clutching a soggy book in her hand. “Ryan! Why did you do that?”
“Devon said you were hot.”
The little tattle-tale. Ryan may not fear Stella, but Devon sure did. “I didn’t tell him to pour it on your head. That was all him.”
“Well, I think Devon is hot too,” Stella said.
Devon grinned. “Thanks.”
Stella’s eyes narrowed. “I thought you were never arrogant. Ryan—”
But Ryan was already headed back to the water.
“Oh, no you don’t.” Devon lunged and grabbed Ryan around the legs, tackling him to the sand. After tickling more giggles from him, Devon said, “You can’t get me wet, we’re on the same team. Boys always stick together.”
“Don’t listen to him, Ryan!” Stella called. “You’re on my team.”
“No,” Devon argued. “It’s always boys against girls. Ask anyone.”
Ryan looked uncertain, so Devon decided distraction tactics were in order. “Oh no! I hear the fire-breathing dragons coming. We need to hurry and get the castle built.”
It worked. Ryan ran to his castle and started filling a bucket with sand. “I hear them coming! We have to hurry!”
Devon grinned, loving how easy it had been.
“Here, I’ll help too,” Stella said.
A blob of wet sand landed on Devon’s head. A big blob.
“Oops, I missed. So sorry. I really was trying to help.”
Devon wiped what he could from his hair. “Well, it was nice of you to try and help with something.”
“I’m nice like that.” Stella tried to brush the worst of the sand from the back of her cover-up. When she couldn’t reach all of it, she pulled the knee-length dress to shake it free.
“Oh brother,” Devon said. He stood and swiped his hand down her back, removing the worst of the sand. “In case you couldn’t tell, you’re on a beach, surrounded by sand. Did you really expect to stay clean the entire day?”
She glared at him and moved away from his touch. “You’re making me sound like a wowser, which I’m not.”
“Prove it.”
“Fine.” She plopped down on the sand next to them. “What do you want me to do, Ryan?”
Devon bit back a smile. Mission accomplished.
⇐ ⇑ ⇒
Stella’s eyes drifted to Devon as he stooped to gather another bucket of water. His short, light brown hair had a disheveled, almost spiky look that she loved. With his brown eyes and broad muscular shoulders, she couldn’t help but stare. Was there a girl waiting for him back in the States?
Focus, Stella, focus. The last thing she should be worried about was some hopeless attraction. In another week Devon would be gone, hopefully with Ryan in tow. And in order for that to happen, the boys needed to bond. And not just any bond—a strong and lasting one, like epoxy. Stella needed Devon to feel the same way about Ryan that she did.
“I think the dragons are getting closer,” Stella said as she worked on the moat.
“I know. We have to hurry.” Ryan’s digging became frantic.
“Would it help if I put a powerful force field around the castle?”
The shovel stilled in Ryan’s hand. “What’s a force field?”
Stella moved her fingers like she was playing the piano and circled her hands over the castle. “A force field is like an invisible wall or shield, one that can block out dragons and fire, and keep the ninjas safe. In fact, I’ll bet it will hold while we go take a dip in the ocean. What do you think?”
Ryan looked unconvinced. “Will the ninjas really be safe?”
“I promise. Come on, I’ll race you to the water.”
Devon was walking toward them, so Stella and Ryan grabbed his hands and tugged him back to the ocean. They played, splashed, threw a ball around, ate lunch, and finally finished the castle. Ryan wanted to add seashells to make the walls stronger, in case the force field stopped working, so Devon and Stella gratefully dropped to their towels, ready to soak up the warmth and sunshine.
Stretching his arms behind his head, Devon closed his eyes. “I could definitely get used to this.”
Stella wanted to ask what “this” included, but she didn’t dare. She could only hope Ryan was part of it. “Working eighty hours a week doesn’t leave you much time for play, does it?”
“Nope.”
A handful of warm sand streamed through her fingers. “When was the last time you took a real vacation?”
“A real vacation?” he asked. “Hmm . . . that would be in high school. Our family spent two weeks in Florida after I graduated. Ten years ago.”
“Wow. I don’t even know what to say to that.”
“Pathetic, I know,” he said. “But I’ve been busy and haven’t had the time.”
“Haven’t made the time, you mean.”
Devon’s eyes opened and he rolled to his side, facing her. “No. I mean I haven’t had time. Do you have any idea how much work it takes to start a company?”
“No. But I know you’ve managed to put your life on hold for two weeks to stay in Australia.”
Brown eyes stared at her before he finally said, “You’re right. The company’s more established now, so I could probably take some time off. And Brady’s more than capable of handling things while I’m gone. It’s just that I like what I do. My company means everything to me and it’s hard for me to let other people take control, even for a little while.”
Stella picked up another handful of sand. “What do you mean, it means everything to you? Don’t you have a life outside of work?”
“Sure. I have friends and a sm
all social life, but my job always comes first. I started the company from scratch and built it to what it is today. You can’t do that and not have it consume your life.”
“What about your family? Lindsay mentioned you came from a close family.”
“I am close to my family. But they’re still in Oregon, where I grew up. I live in Chicago and only go home for Christmas. We text and call each other a lot, though.”
Stella felt a heavy, disturbing weight settle in her stomach. For some reason, she’d assumed he lived near his family. It was one of the reasons Lindsay had chosen him—a big reason.
Stella’s fingers clenched around the sand. Why hadn’t Lindsay called Devon before her death? Why hadn’t she gathered more information? Why? Flipping onto her back, she squinted against the afternoon sun. Did you really know what you were doing, Linds? Did you? Or is this some horrible punch line of an old teenage crush?
Stella honestly didn’t know what to think anymore.
No wonder Devon was hesitant to take Ryan. Who would look after him while Devon worked? Some day care center? The idea made her ill.
Unfortunately, it was still better than the alternative.
Lindsay, why couldn’t you have picked me? I could have made it work. Somehow, I would have made it work. But Stella could no longer plead her case. Lindsay was gone, placing Ryan and his future on an unknown, undefined course—one that Stella could only hope and pray would end up like the sky that day, sunny and bright.
Shoving her worries aside, Stella forced her mind to other things. “So what does this company of yours sell?”
“It’s an internet security site. Basically we help to protect people against viruses, hackers, or scams. We also offer filters that people can download for free to keep most of the crap on the internet off their screens. So when I say that the company is established, I mean that we no longer have to worry about paying our employees. But we still have to worry about keeping our products updated and recent. It’s a constant battle, and we have a lot of competition. For right now, we’re on top, but it’s going to take a lot of work to stay there.”
“Impressive.”
“Thanks.”
Stella’s arm shaded her eyes from the sun as she studied Devon. He seemed like a take-charge sort of person, not one to bury himself behind a computer, writing code. “I would have never pegged you for a computer nerd.”
He chuckled. “Guilty—although not so much anymore. I started off as a programmer with the dream of owning my own company. I wanted the flexibility to pick my hours and be my own boss, but I’ve had some rude awakenings since then. Ironically, I’ve put in twice the number of hours as most of my employees, and I don’t remember the last time I took a day off just because I wanted to. And as for being my own boss—yeah right. The board of directors and stakeholders are really the boss.”
Ryan continued to plaster the sides of his castles with broken bits of seashells. What would he be like as an adult? Still happy and laid-back? Or would life change him as it did so many people? “Wouldn’t it be great if life turned out the way we dreamed it would as kids?”
“Maybe.”
“Maybe?”
Devon shrugged. “If it had all been as easy and smooth as I’d imagined it, I wouldn’t be who I am today.”
“And who are you today, exactly?”
He chuckled. “I really have no idea.”
Stella smiled, brushed some sand off her legs, and stood up. “Well, I’ll let you figure it out while I go pay a visit to the loo.”
Chapter Seven
Stella’s slim figure made its way across the beach, somehow looking graceful as her feet wrestled with mounds of soft sand. She really was beautiful—and a complete mystery, but maybe that was part of her attraction. One minute she seemed anxious and worried, and the next, calm and collected. Devon didn’t understand her.
Or why he even cared.
He was lounging on a beautiful beach in Sydney, Australia. A dream vacation for most people. And yet all Devon could think about was a mysterious girl and a four-year-old boy.
Who was no longer adding seashells to his castle.
Where did he go?
“Ryan?” Devon sat up and scanned the surrounding area. No Ryan. He wasn’t in the ocean either. Leaping to his feet, Devon called, “Ryan!”
No answer. No boy.
The crowded beach now looked like a page out of Where’s Waldo.
“Ryan!” Devon yelled. He’d been there only seconds ago. He couldn’t have gone far.
A girl lying on a towel ten yards away set her book aside. “Lost someone?”
“Yeah, a boy. Four years old.”
She scrambled to her feet. “Which way did he go?”
“I don’t know.”
“What’s he wearing?”
“Uh . . . navy blue shorts. Red hat.”
“Okay. I’ll head this way, you go that way.”
Devon nodded and jogged to the left, shouting Ryan’s name along the long stretch of beach. By the time he neared the end, several others had joined in the search, and cries of “Ryan” drifted up and down Manly beach.
Ryan, where are you?
Had he gone out in the ocean? Had a large wave carried him out to sea? Had he drowned? Been attacked by a shark? Been kidnapped? Was someone driving off with him right now? The nightmares came at him like an onslaught of killer bees.
Deep breaths.
Calm down.
Ryan knew not to go in past his knees. He couldn’t have drowned. No. He must have gone for a walk and gotten lost. But does he know to stay away from strangers? Not to take candy from them and get in their cars?
Stop it already!
Devon ran, calling out Ryan’s name and searching the beach as he went. Maybe the girl with the book had found him. Please let her have found him.
Stella stood by their towels, holding the hand of a small boy with a red baseball cap. Stopping, Devon doubled over and tried to catch his breath. Ryan. He’d been found. He was fine. He hadn’t drowned or been kidnapped. Everything was okay. Ryan was okay.
Devon suddenly wanted to throttle him. “You scared me to death, Ryan. Where have you been? I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
“As well as half of the people on the beach,” Stella said. “You sure know how to get a search party moving.”
Devon glared at her before returning his attention to Ryan. “Well?”
“I went with Stella,” said Ryan.
“No you didn’t. I watched her walk away.”
Stella had the nerve to grin. “I guess I didn’t hold your interest long enough because Ryan caught up to me just outside the loo.”
The girl was unbelievable. How could Stella make fun of him at a time like this? Could she at least try for some sympathy? Her cheeky grin widened.
Apparently not.
Knowing he was about to wring both their necks, Devon spun around and went for a walk.
A long walk.
⇐ ⇑ ⇒
The hike from Manly Beach to North Head was breathtaking. A lush plateau of green looked like its edges had been crudely chopped off, exposing jagged cliffs that were splattered with creams, oranges, and browns. The ocean waves splashed across the rocky coastline below while a light breeze danced over Devon’s skin, cooling him.
He was officially in awe of New South Wales.
Stella gripped Ryan’s hand as they stood overlooking the ocean. “Did you know that most of Mission Impossible II was filmed here? In fact, somewhere along these cliffs they shot that scene where Nyah nearly jumped to her death.”
Devon took a step back and pulled Ryan with him. “I’m beginning to think you’re the queen of random facts, Stella. First the platypus, then Manly beach, and now North Head.”
“Those aren’t random facts,” said Stella. “They’re interesting tourist facts. But if you want random, I can give you random.”
Always full of surprises. “Okay, sure. Let’s hear it.”
“Did you know that if you chew gum while peeling onions, it will keep your eyes from stinging?”
“Seriously?”
“It’s true. I’ve tried it.”
Devon grinned. “Ski goggles work too. What else you got?”
“Hmm . . . Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.”
Devon laughed. “Where are you getting these so-called facts from? The National Enquirer?”
“You mock, but I’m telling you, they’re true. Go look them up for yourself.”
“Maybe I will.”
“And maybe you’ll learn a random fact of your own.”
“Like how all blue-eyed blondes are eccentric?”
“You obviously don’t have extra zinc and copper in your hair.”
“I’m tired,” said Ryan. “Can we go home now?”
Devon lifted the boy into his arms, and Ryan’s head dropped to his shoulder. Little hands wound around Devon’s neck as Ryan snuggled against him. Trusting him.
Devon tightened his hold. There was something about Ryan . . . something different, something unique. It was like an added responsibility, but one Devon didn’t mind so much.
A large boulder rested a few steps away, and Devon sank down in front of it, leaning back. Ryan relaxed against him as his breathing deepened.
Stella collapsed beside him. “Feel like carrying me back as well?”
“Sure, why not?” Devon said. “Hey, I want to apologize about earlier. One minute Ryan was there and the next he was gone. It sort of freaked me out.”
“So I noticed.”
“Funny.”
Stella smiled. “It was partly my fault. I should’ve made sure you’d seen him follow me.”
“I should’ve been watching him better.”
“You mean instead of watching me?” Her eyes laughed at him.
“Are you flirting with me?”
Her smile vanished and she looked away. “Why would I flirt with you? It would be pointless.” She cringed. “Uh, what I meant to say was—”
“I’m leaving in a week and you’ll never see me again.”
Blue eyes reconnected with his. “I’d better see you again.”
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