"Whoa," he said with a frown. "Frank needs to slow down. He's moving fast."

  "He was being very friendly and helpful. And they have a lot in common. They want to be active. They like cruises. They both used to play golf. Neither one of them wants to spend their retirement years sitting around."

  He sighed. "I never imagined I was going to run into this kind of problem. I thought it was all about money and a good business plan."

  "That's what it's supposed to be. But the reality is that it's not, so what do you do?"

  "What do you think?"

  She looked surprised at his question. "What do I think?" she echoed.

  "You have experience analyzing financial situations. What's your opinion?"

  "I need to look at the books first."

  "Fair enough."

  "I'll do that after we eat."

  "No rush. I want you to enjoy your dinner."

  "I am enjoying it. You did a great job. When did you learn to cook?"

  "When I was a kid. My mom often worked nights as a waitress, so Dad and I would grill. He liked to call himself a barbecue master. Occasionally, he let me take over when I got older, but I didn't like him telling me what to do, so I usually just let him grill while I did everything else."

  "Did he teach you how to surf, too?"

  "He was my first instructor. He had me on his board when I was three. My mother didn't like that he got me going so early, but I loved it, and I honestly don't remember a time when I wasn't surfing."

  "I wonder what he would have done if you hadn't liked the water."

  "Thankfully, he never had to find out," he said with a smile. "We spent so many hours on the water, and my father taught me as much about life when we were out there as he did about the sport."

  "Like what?"

  "Like living in the moment, not worrying about the future or the past, believing that things will work out even if it seems like they won't."

  "Things don't always work out," she said quietly.

  He knew she was thinking about her parents. "You're right. But the point was to appreciate what I had, not what I was missing. If I had a problem, he would ask me three questions: Are you healthy? Are you safe? Do you have people you love and who love you? If the answer was yes to all three, then I didn't have any problems."

  "That's a good way to look at things, I guess. A little simplistic, though. It doesn't set the bar very high."

  "I agree. And sometimes I just really wanted to complain about something. But my parents believed complaining was a waste of time. If I didn't like something, I should do something about it. I should take action, make a change. Even if the action I took was wrong, it would teach me something. My dad used to say you either win or you learn."

  She cocked her head to the right, giving him a thoughtful look. "How did that advice work with your desire to always end up in first?"

  "It didn't work very well. I didn't want to learn; I just wanted to win. But he wasn't wrong. I have learned from my losses." He watched a series of emotions play through her eyes that he couldn't begin to decipher. "What did I say?" he asked.

  "Nothing," she replied.

  "I can see the wheels turning in your head. You might think you have a poker face, but you don't."

  "I was just thinking I don't remember any lessons my parents taught me. How is that possible? They didn't die until I was thirteen. They obviously taught me something before that. Why don't I remember?" she questioned.

  He felt bad, seeing the pain in her eyes. He'd gone on and on talking about his parents when she'd lost hers. "I'm sure you remember something," he said. "Or their lessons are just ingrained in you, and you don't think about where you learned them."

  "Maybe. Sometimes I think I've blocked out the good memories because I don't want to think about the bad ones."

  "That makes sense. You had to do what you needed to do to protect your mental health."

  "I guess. Anyway, it sounds like you had a good childhood with very wise parents who didn't worry about a lot."

  "They probably should have worried a little more than they did. We didn't always end up in the best situations, at least in my opinion. I didn't find sleeping under the stars on a sandy beach to be the best option when there wasn't enough money for a hotel room or an apartment."

  "The flip side of not planning ahead."

  "Exactly. I had a good childhood because I had love, but sometimes there were other things missing. Did you travel with your parents before they passed away?"

  "No. My mom always said they wanted to take us to Europe when we were older, but that didn't happen. My aunt and uncle were always on the go with their travel company, but that was business, and we were not invited to participate."

  "Never? That seems strange."

  "Well, once they took us to Hawaii. That was lovely. I really liked the beaches on Maui. And the water was warm."

  "I've surfed off every one of the Hawaiian Islands."

  "I'll bet. We grew up very differently, Liam."

  "But we both turned out good," he said with a smile.

  She gave him a reluctant smile in return. "Well, I'm not as good a cook as you are, and I should be. My aunt and uncle worked long hours and I was often responsible for dinner. But I usually made sandwiches or heated up leftovers. I never wanted to spend time doing more. I was too busy trying to get my homework done and convince Serena to do hers. She was a huge procrastinator."

  "I'm guessing you were not."

  "No. I was determined to get good grades. I loved school and getting an A made me feel good. For Serena, the social scene was what made her happy."

  "Were your parents focused on good grades?"

  "Not really. They wanted us to do our work, but also have time for fun."

  "What were they like?" he asked.

  She hesitated. "Do you really want to know?"

  "I wouldn't have asked if I didn't."

  "My mom worked for an interior designer, and she would often take us to antique stores or thrift shops to look for hidden treasures in all the junk. I thought it was rather boring, but Serena loved it. My dad was an accountant. I get my love of numbers from him. He liked when things added up, and so do I."

  "Did they have a good marriage?"

  "I think so. They were always laughing and teasing each other. They were super affectionate, too. Sometimes, it was embarrassing to see them kissing all the time. But when I remember it now, I think it was sweet. We had a lot of love in our house." She drew in a breath, as her eyes grew watery. "Anyway, that was a long time ago."

  "I'm sorry I made you sad."

  "It's okay. It's been so long since they died that most people don't ask, and it's nice to talk about them. One of my favorite memories is of my parents dancing. Neither one liked television, but they both loved music. At night, after dinner, they'd put music on, and they'd dance in the living room. Serena and I would giggle and dance next to them or with them. It was so much fun. Of course, as we got older, we didn't want to do it as much."

  "That's a nice memory."

  "It is." She paused. "Thanks for pushing me to remember something good."

  "They're a part of your life. They're in your blood and your heart; they always will be. You'll never forget them."

  She blinked really quickly, then said, "You're right. I should never doubt that."

  "You shouldn't."

  She cleared her throat. "Anyway, this was an excellent meal."

  "You haven't had dessert yet."

  "I'm stuffed. Can I take a raincheck on the sundaes?"

  "Of course. Later tonight, tomorrow, whenever…"

  "Probably tomorrow. I want to start looking through John's ledgers now."

  "Do you want me to do that with you?"

  "I think it's best if I do it on my own."

  "Okay. But don't forget, I still want to trade you a surfing lesson for your time. I think you'd enjoy it."

  She gave him a doubtful look. "I can't imagine why you'd think that. Surely you've figured out I am not a daredevil."

  "Maybe there's more dare and devil inside of you than you realize," he suggested.

  "There's not, trust me. What do you like so much about surfing anyway?"

  "So many things. Picking the right wave, challenging my mind and my body to perform in sync with the roll of the ocean, battling fear and other forces, getting the perfect ride, feeling one with the sea."

  "You can feel like one with the ocean? I would think it would be a constant battle."

  "It can be. I respect the ocean. I can't control it. But I can ride it, and that's when it feels like we're in sync."

  "Have you ever been hurt?"

  "A couple of times," he said, downplaying that answer. "But it never made me want to stop. It's exhilarating to surf, Ava. I want to show you how it can feel. And I know the perfect spot to take you. It's a cove a few miles away where the waves are gentle."

  "I don't know. I'll think about it." She got to her feet. "This was…surprisingly fun."

  "Surprisingly?" he asked as he stood up.

  "We got along better than I thought we would," she admitted.

  "You just needed to give me a chance, roomie. I knew we could be…friends." He didn't know why he'd paused before the word friends. Maybe because he liked the way the pink rose in her cheeks at his words and her eyes sparkled with uncertainty as their gazes clung together.

  He found himself fighting an impulsive urge to take a step forward and see if her mouth tasted as good as it looked. But she'd probably slap him in the face if he did that, and while it might be worth it, they still had to live together.

  Instead of reaching for her, he reached for her plate.

  But his step forward made her jump backward, and he heard the catch of her breath as desire flared in her eyes. She was feeling it, too, this odd pull of attraction between them. He picked up her plate, and she flushed again, as if realizing she'd given too much away.

  Then she abruptly turned and walked to the door. "I'm going to get to work."

  "Okay," he said, but she was already gone.

  He stared at the empty doorway for far longer than he should have.

  Then he told himself what she was probably telling herself—that anything happening between them was a very bad idea. But it still might be worth it.

  Chapter Eleven

  Tuesday morning Ava left her bedroom just before eight, prepared to face Liam with a neutral expression that would not give away the fact she'd been thinking about him all night. But he was gone. The door to his room was open, and there was no sign of him. Maybe he was surfing.

  She blew out a breath as she went into the kitchen and started the coffeemaker. She hadn't seen Liam after dinner last night because she'd taken John's financial ledgers into her bedroom. She couldn't avoid him forever, and it was silly to even want to try. There was nothing between them. They'd had an odd little moment last night where she'd had the crazy idea he was going to kiss her, but he hadn't. And he wasn't going to. And she wasn't going to kiss him. That was the end of that.

  She pulled out a coffee mug and wondered how she could be attracted to someone who was completely the opposite to her. Liam was not even close to anything she was looking for in a partner or even a date. He was too…everything, she thought.

  Then she felt annoyed with herself for not being able to define exactly why he was so wrong. So, she'd make a list in her head, like she always did.

  Leaning against the counter as she waited for her coffee to brew, she thought about all the reasons why Liam was wrong for her. Number one, he wasn't a serious person. He made his living surfing. He didn't have roots. He didn't even have a place to live right now. His finances were all going into the purchase of a store that had a good chance of losing money in the first year. What would happen then? Would he take off for a new adventure? It seemed likely. That's how he'd grown up.

  His parents had taught him to live in the moment, and that was fine, but planning was a way to avoid future problems. And she was a person who was always worrying about the future. She'd saved every penny she'd ever made so she would never have to wonder if she had enough money to take care of herself and her sister. She was twenty-nine years old, and she'd already put retirement plans in motion. She was planning on buying a condo or a house in the next five years. And she'd been at the same job since she'd graduated from college. She hadn't jumped around like most of her friends. She'd put her head down, worked hard, and stayed the course.

  God, she was so boring!

  She frowned as she suddenly felt more disappointed in herself than in Liam. She didn't make waves, much less ride them. She'd built a safe, controlled life, with few surprises—good or bad. She had friends, although she wasn't close to very many people anymore. Her best friends had all moved away from LA and were with significant others now. Since she worked a lot, it was difficult to make friends, except the few she had at work.

  But she had the life she wanted, the one she'd painstakingly built so that she would never have to feel scared again. The fear that had overwhelmed her after her parents' death was something she never wanted to relive.

  It had been nice of Liam to ask her about her parents. He was a good listener, which wasn't something she encountered all that often. That was a point in his favor. He had also gone out of his way to make her dinner as a thank-you for something she would have done for nothing. Another point for him. He was very easy to talk to, and he was a curious person. He was interested in other people. He was interested in her.

  Damn! She was adding a lot more pros than cons to her list. And she hadn't even allowed herself to think about the physical attraction that was starting to simmer between them.

  Thankfully her coffee was ready. She filled her mug and then went back into the bedroom to get on a work call. After that, she'd go through the notes she'd made while reviewing John's books the night before so she could give Liam some advice.

  She had already seen some problems in the books that could decrease the value of the business. That might help convince John he wouldn't get a better offer, but she didn't know if John's reluctance to make the deal was really about money. At any rate, she wanted Liam to have all the facts, and then he could make his decision.

  Liam spent over an hour in the water, but his mind wasn't really on catching a wave. He'd always found the ocean a good place to think. Being offshore gave him a different perspective, one he needed. He'd been so focused on buying the Beach Shack that he'd rushed past some red flags. He knew that. He just hadn't been able to stop himself. He suspected Ava would find more red flags in John's financial records. And then what?

  Did he withdraw his offer? Did he give up on that store in that location?

  If he did, what then?

  He couldn't think of an answer. He'd always believed that single-minded focus on a goal was the best way to achieve that goal. Having a backup plan was the easiest way to fail. But maybe Ava was right, and having another option in mind would have been the smart thing to do.

  He hadn't had a chance to talk to her after dinner. He had a feeling her relocation to her bedroom had more to do with the small moment they'd shared in the kitchen than with her not wanting to work in the living room. Maybe that was just as well, because in getting to know her better, he'd started to like her more. But she was also like a thorny rose. One minute she was soft and pretty and another minute, she was drawing blood.

  Not that he disliked unpredictability. It was the spice of life. But Ava was also Brad's sister-in-law, and he didn't want to mess with her and complicate things with his friend. Ava would also be gone in a week, and during that time he had to concentrate on getting his business deal back on track.

  But he had to admit she was one of the most interesting women he'd met in a long time. She was very smart, driven, and sharp-edged, but she also seemed to have a softer side. He'd seen that when she'd spoken kindly to John. And she'd certainly been generous in offering her help to him when she clearly did not have to. She was a mix of contradictions, a tangle he wouldn't mind unraveling in ordinary circumstances. But she would be a huge distraction, and one that he did not need.

  "Liam!"

  The shout turned his head, and he saw Tyler and Gabe paddling toward him. Tyler was just the man he wanted to see.

  "How's it going?" Tyler asked as he drew next to him.

  "Good. You?"

  "Can't complain. I thought you'd be out at the point. Bigger waves there."

  He shrugged. "I know. I'm just enjoying the water." He turned to Gabe. "How's the food truck business going?"

  "Getting busier every night," Gabe replied, running a hand through his dark hair as he sat up on his board. "But I need to change up my locations and see if I can find a wider audience. I have my eye on the corner by the park, near where Escalito's used to be."

  He raised a brow. "I thought you were trying to get a group of investors together to rent that space and open your own place."

  "Yeah. That didn't happen. I couldn't find the investment. I need a bigger reputation, and I don't have it yet. There is a new restaurant moving into the space. It's supposed to open in a month or two. I heard it's going to be formal, fine dining." He shook his head. "I don't think it fits there at all."

  "So you're going to put your food truck across the street." He could see the eager light in Gabe's eyes. "You're going to cause trouble, aren't you?"

  Gabe grinned and gave an unrepentant shrug. "I say, let people have a choice, fine dining or fantastic tacos and burritos. I do have to get a permit, but it shouldn't be an issue. There's plenty of space on that block."

  "Sounds like a plan. But the Maverick's customers will miss you."

  "I'll split the week between the two locations. That will also make Dan happy," Gabe said referring to the long time cook at Maverick's. "He doesn't like it when people order my tacos and not his burgers."

  "It might make it easier if you're not in the parking lot every night," Tyler conceded. "I can't lose Dan. He's rough around the edges, and complains a lot, but he's a damn good cook."