Maybe Luke was right about being present rather than investigating. And she needed perspective.
I’ll be there
An hour later, dressed in jeans and a light sweater against the late afternoon breeze, Meg parked at the small lot overlooking Crescent Bay. Luke was already waiting, leaning against the rail that separated the viewing area from the steep cliff below, his gaze on the ocean.
“Hey,” she called as she approached.
He turned, a smile warming his features. “You made it. I wasn’t sure if work would win out.”
Meg chose not to mention that she’d brought her laptop in the car, planning to return to Tyler’s and work after their excursion. “I’ve been told I need to see more of Laguna than just the Beach Shack and Tyler’s place. Get out more.”
“Wise advice,” Luke agreed. “Ready for a small adventure?”
He led her down a set of public stairs to the main beach, then continued along the shoreline toward a rocky outcropping that appeared to mark the end of the accessible area. As they approached, Meg could see why tourists wouldn’t venture further—the rockslooked impassable, rising directly from the water with no visible path around them.
Luke, however, moved with confidence, finding handholds and footholds invisible to the casual observer. He reached back to offer Meg his hand.
“Trust me,” he said simply.
Something about the way he said it—not as a challenge or a demand, but as a genuine invitation—made Meg place her hand in his. His grip was warm and secure as he guided her through a narrow passage between two boulders she hadn’t been through since she was a child.
They emerged on the other side into what could only be described as a perfect hidden cove—a crescent of golden sand, sheltered by rocky arms that extended into the water.
Meg stood still, the breeze brushing her cheek. “I haven’t been here in years,” she said softly. “Maybe since I was ten? I think I thought it was a dream.”
“Still one of Laguna’s best-kept secrets,” Luke said, releasing her hand only after she was safely on the sand. “Your grandfather showed me when I was little. Said sometimes people just need a place the world can’t reach.”
Meg looked out at the tidepools. “He brought me here once, too. But I’d forgotten… or maybe I didn’t understand it then.”
They’d reached the tidepools now, small worlds contained in rocky depressions, teeming with liferevealed by the receding tide. Luke crouched down, pointing out tiny sea stars, anemones, and hermit crabs with the enthusiasm of someone who’d never lost his childhood fascination with the ocean.
Meg found herself drawn in not just by the marine life, but by Luke himself—the way his face lit up as he explained the ecosystem, the gentle manner in which he handled tiny creatures before returning them to their homes. This was a side of him she hadn’t seen in their high school days, when he’d been known primarily for his surfing skills and easygoing charm.
“You really love this stuff, don’t you?” she observed as he carefully returned a small sea urchin to its rocky niche.
“Never gets old,” Luke confirmed. “Every tidepool is like a tiny universe with its own rules and residents. Been exploring them since I was a kid, but I still find something new every time.”
They made their way around the pools, Luke pointing out interesting specimens, Meg asking questions that would never have occurred to her teenage self. As the sun began its descent toward the horizon, they settled on a smooth rock formation, watching small waves lap at the sand.
“Something’s bothering you,” Luke said after a comfortable silence. “And I’m guessing it’s not quarterly reports or client presentations.”
Meg considered deflecting, then decided on honesty. “I’m worried about Margo. The Beach Shack’s finances seem strained.”
Luke’s expression remained neutral. “How so?”
“A supplier came by today about overdue payments. When I looked into it, I found several accounts behind schedule despite the business seeming to bring in decent revenue.” She hesitated, then added, “And there are regular monthly payments that she won’t discuss. I’m concerned she might be struggling more than she’s willing to admit.”
Luke looked out at the ocean, his profile thoughtful in the golden light. “Did you ask her about it?”
“She shut the conversation down pretty quickly.”
“That sounds like Margo,” Luke said with a small smile. “She’s never been one to ask for help, even when she probably should.”
Meg turned to face him more directly. “Luke, you care about her too. Do you have any insight into why she might be having cash flow problems?”
He met her gaze, his blue eyes thoughtful. “I know that Margo has always prioritized taking care of people over taking care of herself. She’s the most generous person I’ve ever known, sometimes to her own detriment.”
“So you think she might be overextending herself financially?”
