“Is it something to do with the man Lydia was telling me about?”
She let out a mouthful of air. “Yes it is.”
“The whaleboat captain?” Her dad laughed. “Come on, sweetheart. You had a vacation fling. It happens. And maybe you needed it. But that isn’t real life. Real life is here in Manhattan. It’s making deals and feeling the rush as you walk into an expensive restaurant knowing you’re the top dog. It’s winning, not settling for some humdrum life in a California backwater town.”
Maybe she should have been surprised he knew all this information about Griff. But he was a lawyer, he dealt in information. It had always been his currency.
“I’m not settling for anything,” she told him.
“He’s a rebound, Autumn. Josh hurt you, I know that. And maybe this is what you needed to get over it. But this sailor guy? He’s not the one for you, sweetheart. He won’t challenge you. He won’t make you be the best businesswoman you can be. And I know you, whatever you do you always want to be the best. He won’t be able to keep up with you. And then he’ll resent you, the same way men always do when their wives are more successful than they are.”
“Maybe success isn’t always measured in dollars,” she told him. “Maybe it’s about loving somebody and being loved by them. Isn’t being happy more important than being successful?”
“I don’t think so, no. And you wouldn’t either, if you had no money.” His tone was short.
“I’m going to make the pier work. I’ll do whatever it takes.”
He sighed. “Let me at least arrange a meeting with the buyer. Let him tell you what he has to say. And if you decide to not go ahead, then I’ll stop asking. Okay?”
“I don’t know.” She shook her head, looking out of the dusty window to the pier beyond. “I’ll just be wasting his time.”
“Let him be the judge of that. Just do this for me, sweetheart.” His voice softened. “This way I’ll know that I’ve done everything I can. And if you make a decision with all of the choices in front of you, we’ll both know you’ve made the right one.”
“Okay.” She sighed. “I’ll talk to him. Give him my details and we’ll set something up.” Once the charity day was over, she’d call him, invite him over, then find a reason not to sell. It was simple, really.
She wanted to stay here. Of that she was certain.
“Thank you. That’s all I ask. And Autumn?”
“Yes?”
“I love you, sweetheart. I miss having you here.”
She parted her lips, a ghost of a smile curling at the edges. He was aggravating as hell, but he was still her dad. “I love you, too.”
* * *
Autumn looked up to the sky, closing her eyes as the sun warmed her face. It was the first time she’d been back to LAX since she’d arrived all those weeks ago. She felt like a different person. Lighter, even though all the walking and surfing had put some additional muscle on her lean body. And so much more relaxed than the uptight recent-divorcee who’d wheeled her luggage out into the Californian sunshine.
As she stepped into the crowded atrium, Griff’s arm slung casually around her shoulders, there was a huge smile on her face.
She was buzzing at the thought of seeing Lydia. Of introducing her to Griff and showing her around Angel Sands.
“Her flight arrived a little early,” Griff said, glancing up at the arrival screens. “U
nless she has a lot of luggage, she should be here pretty fast.”
“Lydia always travels light. She hates waiting for anything, including the luggage carousel.”
The glass doors beneath the arrivals sign slid open and a group of travelers walked through, pulling cabin-sized suitcases. Autumn spotted Lydia almost immediately. She was dressed for the sun, a pretty flowered Bardot top exposing her smooth shoulders where her blonde hair cascaded over them. Her denim skirt had metal buttons down the front, the hem ending halfway down her slender thighs. Her eyes scanned the crowd until they landed on Autumn and Griff, and a huge grin split her face. Abandoning her suitcase in the middle of the crowd, she squealed and ran to them, throwing herself into Autumn’s arms.
Autumn couldn’t help but laugh, though it came out a little strangled thanks to being winded by her sister’s onslaught. A man wheeled her suitcase over and passed it to Griff, before walking away, shaking his head.
“Oh my god, you look so different,” Lydia said when she finally released Autumn from her grasp. “Your hair, it’s down.” She ran her fingers through Autumn’s light brown tresses. “And you’re wearing shorts. Actual shorts. I hardly recognize you.”
“It’s so good to see you, too,” Autumn said with a grin. “And this is Griff.”
He held out his hand to Lydia, but she enveloped him in a bear hug. “Oh god, I want to climb you like a tree,” she told him, tipping her head up, her smile radiant. “Come here.” She pulled his head until her lips pressed against his. “I’m so happy to finally meet you.”