“The chairman of the board called both of us. I was at the dentist. She was at the office and took the call. Before I was out of the chair, she’d accepted a deal to force me out of the company I founded. I’d lost my company and my girlfriend in the time it took to get my teeth cleaned. Hilarious, huh?”

“No,” she said, her tone hushed and the hiccups gone. “It’s not funny at all.”

“It’s kinda funny.” He hated to think what he might do if he didn’t laugh.

“I’m sorry that happened to you, Adam.” Her hand on his arm was strangely comforting. He’d felt very alone during the last few unbelievable days. “You’ve worked so hard to build that company.”

“Fourteen years, and the only mistake I made was taking on a partner four years ago.” He leaned against the rail as the breakwater for South Harbor came into view. “You know what the best part is?”

“What’s that?”

“I’m the only one with the first clue about the actual work we do. She runs the business side. I oversee the technical end. She and the board have no idea what they’re in for without me there to take care of the technical stuff. I’d love to be a fly on the wall.”

“They’ll be begging you to come back in no time at all.”

“Probably.”

“Will you go?”

He shook his head. “I gave that company everything I had, and this is the thanks I get? They can kiss my ass.”

“I don’t blame you for being bitter. You got royally screwed—in more ways than one.”

“Yep.”

“So what’ll you do now?”

“I’m not sure exactly. After the accident, I wanted to come home and see my brothers—”

Her eyes went wide. “What accident?”

“You didn’t hear about the sailboat in Race Week that got hit by the freighter? All three of my brothers and Grant’s friend Dan were on the boat.”

“Oh my God! Are they all right?”

“They will be. Grant and Dan got the worst of it, but Mac and Evan were fine.”

Abby looked like she might be sick again, so he nudged her closer to the rail. “Take some deep breaths.”

She did as he directed while blinking rapidly. “It’s been over between Grant and me for a while now, but to hear he could’ve died…” The hand she rested over her heart said it all.

“Believe me, I’ve had some rough moments of my own since I got that news from my parents. It was a very close call. All three of my brothers.” He shuddered just thinking about what could’ve happened.