He tapped his pen against his notebook. If he was serious about launching his company, eventually he was going to have to stop planning and start doing. He needed to take the next steps, do things like register domain names, secure an office space, and hire a team. It was daunting, to have what had only been a dream for so long finally on the verge of becoming a reality.

That was the irony of dreams: they appeared more attainable when they were out of reach.

The high-pitched yapping of an excited canine barreled through his thoughts and he glanced up. Penelope was making her way across the terrace toward him, her fluffy, faithful new companion in tow. Luke shook his head. By some miracle, his sister had managed to control herself and had adopted only one fur ball from the legion of corgis she’d brought to the resort.

And even though Cuddle with Corgis had continued to be a part of the rom-com experience, Pen had resisted the temptation to add any more companions to her personal entourage. Luke’s teasing that she was going to turn into Mrs. W. probably helped. While Penelope had limited herself to one dog, their boss had adopted at least another three—possibly four. At this point, Luke had lost count. He just got out of the way when he heard them coming.

“Have you taken your walk on the beach yet?” Pen asked.

“Am I that predictable?” Luke asked, squinting up at her.

“Do you really want me to answer that?” she shot back.

“No.” They both knew he already knew the answer. “And not yet,” he added. “I was just about to, though.”

“Do you mind if Crumpet and I join you?”

“I don’t know,” Luke said slowly, a teasing grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. “I’m not sure if I can handle such a shocking deviation from my routine.”

His sister laughed. “Challenge yourself.”

“If you insist.” With a beleaguered sigh he slipped his laptop into his bag and followed his sister down to the beach.

A few minutes later, Pen had talked “Uncle Lukey” into holding Crumpet’s leash. Luke would never admit it, but he loved it when his sister referred to him as her dog’s uncle; the fox face and fluffy heart-shaped rump had grown on him. “So, what did you want to talk to me about?”

His sister glanced at him from beneath her lashes. “Am I that predictable?”

“Do you really want me to answer that?”

“Fine,” she snorted. “You got me.”

Crumpet scampered eagerly toward a large chunk of driftwood that had washed ashore overnight, and Luke paused to let the dog investigate. “What’s up?”