“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely. Everyone needs downtime once in a while.”

“I won’t say no to that.”

“I’m heading home. They’re all down at the Tiki Bar. Have a good time tonight.”

“We will.” Luke reached for Sydney’s hand and escorted her to the bar Big Mac had installed off the main pier in another of his successful schemes to expand the business.

Maddie waved to them from the corner of the crowded outdoor bar.

On the way past the small stage, Luke waved to Owen, the blond surfer dude with an incredible voice, who loved to boast of his vagabond existence in an old van with an even older guitar.

Owen stopped singing when he saw Luke but kept strumming his guitar. “Is that Luke Harris? With a girl? Did hell freeze over since I was last here?”

Luke flipped his friend the bird, which drew laughs from the table in the corner. He looked over at Sydney in time to catch the blush that flamed her cheeks.

The group made room for Luke and Sydney. Maddie dragged Syd down to the chair next to hers and gave her a big hug.

“How’re you doing?” Maddie asked.

“Better. Thank you—both of you,” she said, including Mac.

“Anytime,” Mac said.

“What’s a guy gotta do to get a beer around here?” Luke asked, looking around for a waitress.

Mac gestured to the bar. “It’s quicker to help yourself tonight,” Mac said, gesturing to the bar.

“Anyone need anything?” Luke asked.

“We’re good,” Joe said. “Just got a new round.”

Luke leaned over to Sydney. “Wine?”

“Actually, light beer is looking good to me tonight.”

“You think you know a girl,” Luke said with a smile for her as he made his way through the crowd to the bar. He found Big Mac’s best buddy, Ned, the island’s number one cab driver, leaning against the bar. “How goes it, Ned?”

“Not bad. Madhouse tonight.”

“Always is when Owen’s here.”

“Pretty girl grew up to be a lovely woman.”

“What’s that?”

“Yer girl,” Ned said, nodding toward the table.

“Oh. Yeah. She sure did.” Luke tried and failed to get the bartender’s attention. Didn’t she know he partially owned the place? Not that he’d ever play that card.

“Had me a girl like that once,” Ned said in an odd moment of introspection. “Even had red hair like yer girl.”

Astounded by the revelation, Luke stared at the old man with the wild white hair and bushy beard. He wore a faded red T-shirt and khaki shorts—an outfit that was dressed up by Ned’s usual standards. “What happened?”

“Same thing that happened to you—she picked someone else.”

Luke wasn’t sure how to reply to that. “Is she still with him?” he asked, deciding that was the safest of his many questions.

“Nah. Ended more than twenty-five years ago.”