But it was always possible that winning the ESTA could change his situation. It would likely open up new avenues for him. Open doors he’d never had a chance to walk through. Would he be willing to leave Extreme Adventures and his partnership with Ross for one of those opportunities?

It was the first time he’d allowed the thought to form. The notion sent a burst of adrenaline through his system. It felt good, the thought of change, of something new and exciting. An adventure of some kind, minus the business partner.

But what would he do if he left the business? And would that change allow the possibility of . . .

Sophie was pricing books like a woman with a carafe of coffee in her system. He didn’t know what his future held, but he knew what Sophie’s held—and they both needed to focus on that for the next few days.

chapter twenty-eight

What a day. The fierce wind tugged at Sophie’s hair and clothing as she limped toward the Boardwalk Beanery. Aiden was grabbing lunch from the deli, and Sophie had promised to bring back some much-needed caffeine.

When she opened the coffee shop’s door, she held tight to the handle, then dragged it shut behind her. She drew in the pleasant aroma of brewed coffee and sighed at the promised shot of energy.

“Sure is breezing up out there, isn’t it?” Haley said as she came out of the kitchen. The brunette barista was about Sophie’s age and had become her favorite. Haley was a free spirit with an impish smile. Her bohemian style of dress suggested she marched to the beat of her own drummer.

“Where’s my girl?” Haley asked.

“I was afraid to bring her out.” Even as Sophie said it, the windows rattled in their panes. “Goodness.”

“One of our table umbrellas blew away this morning. Jim went out to hunt it down.”

Sophie laughed, picturing the straitlaced manager chasing the thing down the boardwalk. “Oh no. I’ll keep an eye out for it.”

She placed her order along with Aiden’s, then paid for both and made small talk as Haley whipped up their drinks.

“How’s the shop coming along? I started to peek in when I passed by yesterday, but there was a sign on the door.”

“The floor’s still drying. Well, technically it’s dry but we can’t walk on it yet. The bookcases go in tomorrow.”

“How exciting! If you need help shelving books, let me know. I’m off Monday, and I’m a whiz at alphabetizing. Plus I want a preview of all your fiction so I can figure out how much of my paycheck to set back.”

“I might take you up on your offer. We’re running pretty tight on that deadline.”

“I’d shelve every book in the store for a chance to meet Nathaniel Quinn.” Haley winked.