Trey’s mouth twitched with amusement. “She’s in good hands with Ava. The Mermaid Room is one of her masterpieces.”
“How bad is it?” Nash asked, dreading the answer.
“It’s tasteful,” Trey defended. “Just … enthusiastically aquatic.”
“Thirty minutes,” Porter reminded him firmly, checking his watch with that same determined focus he used to manage the ranch’s operations. “We need to finalize the plan for Bird Island.”
Porter moved back outside.
Trey lingered. “Everything okay with you and Amy?” he asked, his normally commanding tone softened with genuine concern.
Nash considered the question. “Yeah, I think so. It’s just … a lot. For both of us.”
“Finding someone in the middle of all this craziness isn’t easy,” Trey said. “When I met Ava, I was convinced the timing couldn’t be worse.”
“But?”
“But timing is rarely perfect,” Trey said simply. “And sometimes what seems like terrible timing turns out to be exactly right.” He clapped a hand on Nash’s shoulder. “Just something to think about.”
Nash grunted. “You and Porter said the same thing.”
Trey winked at him. “That’s ’cause big brothers are the smartest.”
Nash laughed.
Someone called his name.
He moved out the front door. “Make yourself comfortable.”
Nash wandered through the main level of the inn, taking in the elegant details that somehow managed to blend coastal charm with historic gravitas. The Stones had preserved the original hardwood floors and crown molding while updating the space with comfortable furnishings and modern amenities. Family photos covered one wall—generations of Stones. There was a whole wall dedicated to the treasure.
After sampling some of the appetizers laid out on the massive kitchen island, Nash headed upstairs to check on Amy.
He found her on the balcony outside her room, gazing out at the ocean. She’d changed into a light summer dress and her hair was pulled back in a loose braid.
Sensing his presence, she turned and smiled. “The Mermaid Room is something else,” she said with a laugh. “There must be at least fifty mermaid figurines.”
Nash joined her at the railing. “Trey always says that Ava doesn’t believe in subtle themes.”
“I heard that!” came Ava’s voice from somewhere down the hall. “Those are premium collectibles, Nash Cross!”
“They’re beautiful,” Amy called back, then lowered her voice to a whisper. “And slightly terrifying in their numbers.”
Nash laughed, leaning closer and taking her hand.
She stared into his eyes, then turned back to the ocean. “This is almost like out of some kind of fairytale.”
“It is a cool place.” He squeezed her hand, then leaned down.
She quickly kissed his lips.
“Meeting time!” Porter boomed down the hallway.
The Stone familylibrary was magnificent—walls lined with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, a massive oak table in the center, comfortable leather chairs scattered throughout, and large windows overlooking the ocean. It had the feeling of a place where important decisions had been made over generations … which, Nash supposed, they had.
By the time he and Amy arrived, most of the others were already there.
Porter, Colt, Blaze, and Chance sat on one side of the table with their wives. Trey, Marshall, Hunter, Trent, and Brooks occupied the other side, with spaces left for Cheyenne, Micah,Nash, and Amy. A large nautical chart of Bird Island and the surrounding waters was spread across the table.
