He studied Ava. She deserved a man who stood on his own two feet. Who made friends with equals rather than those who needed him. Who was he without Scholar Central and Ben’s presence in his life?

  Someone who loved motion and activity, he thought as he remembered how good it felt to be hiking the other day. Someone who loved nature. The hours he’d spent kayaking with Ava at the slough had been one of his best afternoons in years. Chicago was his home, but now he found himself craving a more physically challenging, outdoor life for himself. He was still driven to succeed. He still needed a way to earn an income, but if he loved a woman who lived in California, there was nothing stopping him from moving to be with her.

  The realization was like the sun burning off the coastal marine layer that shrouded the beaches here in the early morning hours. Suddenly he could see more clearly. His horizons were limitless.

  He imagined a life spent surfing, kayaking, hiking, exploring, climbing and more. Ava loved all those things, and he’d already met Noah and Andrew, who enjoyed active pursuits. Seahaven was in easy driving range of Silicon Valley, home to a slew of start-ups and large tech ventures. If he couldn’t come up with his own ideas, he could always join someone else’s company for a while.

  “What?” Ava asked when the moment stretched too long.

  “Know of a room I can rent if I move here?”

  She met his gaze. The corners of her mouth turned up. “I might know of an apartment. It’s a shared situation, though.”

  He knew he was grinning. “That sounds perfect.”

  “You’d really consider staying?” she asked.

  “I’m past considering it. I’ve decided.”

  He edged closer to her on the bench seat, leaned in and brushed a kiss over her cheek. How could he ever have thought he could go home to Chicago without her?

  “What changed your mind?”

  “I kept thinking I had to finish what I’d started at Scholar Central, and I realized that’s not true. Ben can do the rest without me. He’s made it clear Chloe’s the person he’s putting first in his life, as he should if he’s going to marry her. I don’t like his choices, but at the end of the day, it’s none of my business. I need to make my own decisions, based on what I need—and that’s you, Ava Ingerson.” He drew her close, tipped her chin up and kissed her, this time taking his time to show her exactly how he felt.

  “Whew, it’s getting hot in here,” Ashley exclaimed, fanning herself.

  When they broke apart, Sam took Ava’s hand and squeezed it. “Should we go back to your place?” he asked in a low tone as the others laughed at Ashley’s joke.

  “Our place, you mean?” She nodded. “Sounds like a good idea.”

  They said their goodbyes and hurried back to the Blue House, laughing like teenagers at their own haste to get up the stairs and into her apartment. Once inside with the door closed, Ava’s hands tugged at his shirt, and he pulled it up over his head and tossed it away. He made short work of her shirt, reached around to unclasp her bra and palmed one of her breasts when she shrugged out of it.

  He traced kisses down her neck and shoulders as she worked to undo his jeans. It was a struggle to get out of the rest of their clothes and stay upright, but as soon as they’d managed it, he led her to her bed and they climbed on top of it, already intertwined. “God, I missed you,” he told her, running his hands over her curves. “I couldn’t stand the thought of leaving you behind.”

  “I couldn’t stand it either,” she confessed. “I wasn’t sure how much longer I could stick to my guns on staying.”

  “I’m glad you did.”

  “Are you sure?” Half underneath him, she clung to him, her worry plain.

  “I’m positive. This is where I want to be—right here with you in Seahaven. I’m ready for a new adventure.”

  “With me?” She kissed the underside of his chin.

  “With you,” he confirmed and settled into the task of showing her he meant it.

  CHAPTER 12

  “Hey, beautiful.”

  Ava woke up in Sam’s arms the following morning and basked in the memory of the night they’d shared. Sam was going to stay in Seahaven. They’d agreed it was much too early to promise each other anything more than that, and she decided not to worry about the future. She was going to enjoy the present—especially this time together with Sam, who looked altogether delicious lounging in her bed.

  A knock on her door startled both of them into sitting positions, however.

  “I bet it’s Chloe,” Ava hissed, clutching the bedclothes to her chest. “What do we do?”

  “Ava? Yoo-hoo! Are you in there?” a woman’s voice called from outside.

  “That’s not Chloe,” Sam said.

  Ava couldn’t think who it was. It wasn’t Emma or Penelope, yet the voice was definitely familiar. She got up and grabbed a robe. Sam got out of bed, too, and pulled on his jeans from the night before.

  The knocking came again. Ava hurried to the door and opened it a crack.

  “Marie?” Astonishment had her stepping back.

  “Happy birthday!” Marie said, bouncing up and down on her toes. “Are you surprised? I wanted to surprise you.”

  “I’m definitely surprised.”

  Marie hooted. “Victory! This is going to be your best birthday ever. I’ve got a whole plan. Come on, everyone.”

  “Everyone?” Ava sucked in a breath of surprise when Marie pushed past her into the room and Oliver and her parents trouped in after her.

  “Happy birthday,” Oliver told her heartily. Ava couldn’t tell if he was happy to be there or not, but he looked around her apartment with an appraising eye. She tried to see the place the way he did and doubted it appealed to him much. Oliver liked large spaces, concrete and exposed beams. The Blue House was comfortable and eclectic—just what a beach house should be in her opinion.

  “Happy birthday.” Her mother gave her a shrug and then a quick hug. “It is good to see you.”

  “Happy birthday, pumpkin,” her dad said, tousling her hair.

  Only then did Ava remember Sam. He’d managed to put most of his clothes on, but her family stopped when they spotted him, grouping together in a little knot of confusion. Her unmade bed and his tousled hair were all the evidence they needed as to what kind of relationship they were in.

  “Um… Mom, Dad, Oliver, Marie—this is Samuel Cross. My… friend.”

  “Hi, everyone.” Sam gave them a little wave.

  “Oh, we’re interrupting something.” Marie put her hand to her heart. “I’m so sorry, Ava.”

  “You’re not interrupting anything,” Sam said. “It’s Ava’s birthday. Of course you’ve come to celebrate!” He sent Ava a look, and she knew he was wondering why she hadn’t told him this was a special day. The truth was, she hadn’t even thought about it. Like she’d told Marie once, her family didn’t make a fuss about birthdays. Todd forgot hers most years, so she’d learned to put it out of her mind.

  There was an awkward pause until Marie rallied. “We brought food and our bathing suits so we can all go to the beach. We’re here only for the day.”

  “We still have a plane to catch to West Sumatra tomorrow,” her mother explained.

  “We’re taking the red-eye home tonight,” her father said.

  Ava realized they must have flown overnight to get here. “You haven’t had any sleep,” she exclaimed. She turned to Marie. “I can’t believe you pulled this off. I haven’t celebrated my birthday with my family in years.”

  Marie beamed. “I know. I thought that should change.”

  Ava glanced out the window. “It’s awfully early. Why don’t I open up the main house for you, and you all can have a quick nap while I take a shower and make some breakfast. We can reconvene in an hour and spend the day at the beach.”

  “You don’t have guests?” Oliver asked.

  “Not at the moment.” She didn’t feel the need to explain. She could almost see Oliver making another check mark on his mental list about the place. Not a lucrative venture.

  Let him think what he wanted. Ava suspected the real reason Aunt Laura had left her the Blue House was because she knew no one else in the family would settle in Seahaven. Her parents and brother were tied to the University of Pennsylvania. In their free time, they traveled the world. Aunt Laura had known Ava was dying to make a home somewhere and stay put for once. Her aunt had wanted the Blue House to stay in the family.

  She escorted her unexpected guests downstairs, leaving Sam to use the shower first. It was fun to show them the changes she’d made to the house. When they were all settled in their rooms, she returned upstairs for her turn in the shower.

  “You didn’t know they were coming?” Sam asked her, toweling off when she came into her apartment. She wished she could climb right back in bed with him, but there’d be plenty of time for that when her family was gone.

  “Not at all. Marie must have forced them to come. They would never have made the effort otherwise.”

  “She’s a good sister-in-law.”

  Ava was starting to appreciate that.

  “Do you want me to go?” Sam asked.

  “Of course not! I want my family to get to know you. If that’s okay.”

  “That’s terrific.”

  It turned out to be one of the best days she’d spent with her family since leaving home. Marie insisted that Ava call Emma, Penelope and anyone else she wanted and let them know there’d be a party at the Blue House that afternoon. In the meantime, they went on a hike through the redwoods, the whole family appreciating the beauty of the enormous trees. Ava couldn’t believe how well Sam was hitting it off with her parents. He even had Oliver laughing at a joke. They arrived at the Blue House in time to receive an enormous order of food from a local catering company, something Marie had planned ahead of time. She set it all up on the deck, and soon they were joined by Emma and Noah, Ashley and Andrew, Penelope, Kate and Aurora. Winston settled in the shade nearby and soon fell asleep.

  “I haven’t had a party like this for my birthday since I was a kid,” she confessed to Emma and Penelope during a lull in the proceedings. “Todd never remembered birthdays.”

  “Sam seems like the type who might stay on top of things like that,” Penelope said.

  “That would be nice,” Ava admitted.

  “More to the point, now we know when your birthday is,” Emma pointed out, “and we’ll never forget it.”

  Ava hugged her—and then hugged Penelope. “I’m so lucky to have met both of you.”

  “Where’s my hug?” Marie demanded.

  Ava hugged her, too. “You’re amazing,” she told her sister-in-law.

  “I’ve been trying to tell you that for ages.” Marie grinned at her. “Come on, everyone,” she called out. “Time to eat!”

  After they’d filled themselves with gourmet food and cake, Marie declared it was time for presents. Ava couldn’t understand how her friends had managed to find gifts with such short notice, but Emma gave her a beautiful journal in which to record her sightings during her outdoor adventures, and Penelope gave her a blue tablecloth embroidered with seashells that went perfectly with her decor.

  Her parents gave her a woven wall hanging they’d been gifted in Peru by villagers high in the Andes mountains. Her brother presented her with a wooden bowl hand-carved by an artisan in Tanzania.

  “Thank you,” she said to him, touched by the gesture.

  “I remember you always were more interested in nature than people,” he said. “I thought you’d like something made out of wood.”

  “You’re right. I mean, I like people, but I adore nature. It will go perfectly with the rest of my things.”

  He nodded. “This place suits you. I see why Aunt Laura left it to you.”

  Ava sucked in a breath, but he didn’t seem angry. “I wish she’d left you something more.”

  “She left me what she could, and I’ve got everything I need, anyway,” he said with a shrug. “It bothered me at first, but Marie said you and Aunt Laura were in constant contact ever since you were little. She said you kept her from being lonely. I didn’t bother to do that.”

  Ava told herself she’d thank Marie when they were alone. She doubted her brother would ever have understood all that without her input.

  “Here’s my present,” Marie said, handing her one last package. It felt like a book. Ava was prepared to smile and give thanks no matter what title Marie had chosen, but when she unwrapped a photo album and saw that it documented her family’s life during the time period her sister-in-law had been a part of it, real appreciation made her eyes mist over.

  “Oh, Marie, this is so thoughtful.”

  “I know it must be hard to be so far away from your family, and I remembered that album you said your aunt Laura made for you. I thought we should make you one, too,” Marie said.

  Her parents and brother suddenly looked as sheepish as she felt. She barely remembered telling Marie about Aunt Laura’s album and she’d rarely shared photos with her family, even though she’d spent so much time away from them since she left home. They’d all taken each other for granted, hadn’t they?

  “It is hard,” Ava said. “I miss all of you. I’m glad you got to come here and meet my friends and get a glimpse of my life. I’ve wanted you to know me better.”

  “We haven’t seen your school yet,” Oliver said suddenly. “Where you’re going to teach this fall.”

  Ava was surprised all over again. Was Oliver trying to extend an olive branch? She had a feeling his visit had satisfied some question in his mind. He’d needed to put to rest the idea that maybe he’d have preferred living in the Blue House to his life in Bryn Mawr. Now he was at ease.

  She was certainly willing to forgive him for wondering.

  “We’re not leaving until after dinner,” Marie said. “We could drive over there later this afternoon. After we go to the beach.”

  “I’d love to show you where I’m going to teach. You, too,” she told Sam.

  “Sounds like a good plan,” her father said.

  After cleaning up their meal, they all walked to the beach and lazed in the sunshine for several hours, heading into the water when they got too hot, lying out on their beach towels to dry off and then doing it all over again. Sam got Oliver, Noah and Andrew to toss a football around. Marie made Ava and the other women try boogie boarding. They trooped back up to the house, where her family cleaned up and piled into Ava’s RAV4 and Marie’s rental car for the drive to the Seahaven Outdoor Adventure Academy late in the afternoon. Ava’s stomach grew jittery on the way over. Sam, sitting in the passenger seat, touched her hand.

  “You okay?” he asked.

  She nodded, but she appreciated his quiet presence when they arrived at the empty campus and parked their cars. Since school wasn’t in session, there wasn’t a lot to see, but she showed them around as best she could. Each discipline was housed in its own little building, and she led them to the science center, where she’d be based. Through the windows they could see that one part of it resembled a tiny natural history museum and another space was set up as a laboratory.

  “Of course, we’ll be out in the field as much as possible.” Ava braced for derision, but her family only nodded their heads and murmured approvingly. “I’ve been going on local adventures all summer, taking notes and making plans for the school year. Sam’s been helping.”

  Sam moved to put his arm around her. “Can’t wait to help even more,” he said.

  “Where are you working again?” Ava’s mother asked him.

  “At the moment I’m part of Scholar Central, an online educational start-up, but I’ll be leaving that company and starting something new.”

  “You should get a job here, too,” Ava’s father said. “The combination of classroom and real-world experiences is a commendable way to impart knowledge to children. You know what I’d do if I were you?” he asked Ava. “I’d involve my students in my research. Make sure you publish now and then,” he added. “It’s the only way to command respect in academia.”

  Ava opened her mouth to object, then closed it again. Why shouldn’t she do research and get published? Involving her students in the process could be fun.

  “Maybe I should take a job here,” Sam said, surprising her. “At least until I figure out what to do next. I told Ava I could help her with her science videos, if she wants.”

  Her family turned her way. “Are you going to start those again?” her brother asked.

  Ava found herself shaking her head. “I keep talking about it, but the truth is, I don’t really want to. I made those videos because I couldn’t teach while I was traveling with Todd. Now I want to teach the kids who are present with me rather than ones I never actually see.”

  “That’s understandable,” her father said.

  “You don’t mind, do you?” Ava asked Sam.

  “No. I guess if I feel like making videos, I can do it myself. I don’t think I’m ready to make any decisions about my future today. Not until Scholar Central wraps up.”

  “That’s fair.”

  As the others wandered the grounds, Ava found herself near her mother. “Well?” Ava asked her. “What do you really think?” She braced herself. Her mother liked to tell it as she saw it.

  “I think you’re right where you belong.” Her mother faced her. “I think Laura understood you in a way I never did, but then I never understood her, either. She was always looking for a settled home. I couldn’t wait to be untethered.”

  “You made a home in Bryn Mawr,” Ava said.

  Her mother considered that. “Our house there is just a stopping place in between trips. My home is wherever my research takes me. You’re more like Laura. You want roots. That’s okay, you know.”

  “It is?”

  “Oh, Ava. I’m sorry if I made you feel that it wasn’t.” She touched Ava’s arm. “I’ve had this feeling since I was a little girl—this hunger to understand people who live differently from us. I’m never satisfied at home. I feel… caged. Growing up, I got a lot of pushback for that. There was a certain expectation from my parents that I’d settle down sooner or later.” She shook her head. “I had to fight for what I wanted. After I had children, it would have been so easy for me to get caught in a life that wouldn’t have allowed for the research and adventure I crave. Can you understand that?”