Parker came in as Laurel tossed chunks of steamed new potatoes in butter, garlic, and dill.

“Need a hand?”

“Under control. Del must’ve hit a farmer’s market on the way in. Pretty smart of him.”

“He’s pretty smart.” Parker did another scan as she spoke. “I’m already in love with this place.”

“God, me, too. The views, the air, the sounds. And the house itself—it’s incredible. How much will you change?”

“Not much. Tweak more than change.” She walked to a window. Voices and laughter floated in on the breeze. “That’s a good sound. I bet it’s beautiful here, even in the winter.”

“You read my mind. I was thinking how we almost always have that slow period, a week or so after the holidays.”

“Yeah, I had that thought. Maybe. Del looks so happy. Part of that’s you.”

Laurel’s hands stilled. “Do you think?”

“Yes, I do. And I’m standing here watching him man the grill while you put things together in here. It’s nice.” She glanced back. “It makes me happy, Laurel, the same way hearing the voices carry inside makes me happy.”

“I feel the same way.”

“Good. It’s good from someone who loves you both. So.” She turned back from the window. “Are we eating in or out?”

“An evening like this? Out, definitely.”

“I’ll start setting the table.”

Later, they walked off the meal along the beach, wading in the surf, watching the lights of faraway ships that cruised through the night. As the air cooled, Laurel gave some thought to a long bath in the flicker of the fireplace.

But the challenge went out; the game room called. The quiet flipped into the arcade cacophony of pings and whistles.

Jack and Del battled in what looked like a pinball death match when she decided she had to throw in the towel. She left them to it to wander back to the bedroom, and indulged in that long soak. When she’d slipped on a nightshirt to step out on the deck, she realized she hadn’t looked at her watch in hours.

Now that was vacation.

“I wondered where you’d gone off to.”

She glanced back at Del. “I have to get in some serious practice before I take on you or Jack. I had the most incredible bath, in firelight while I looked out at the ocean. I feel like the heroine of my own novel.”

“If I’d known, I’d have taken one with you, and we’d have written a love scene.” He put his arms around her so her head rested on his shoulder. “Good day?”

“Pretty much the best. This place, these views, this air, good friends.”

“As soon as I saw it, I knew. This is what we need.”

Not I need, she noted. Not Del. Del was wired for we.