“If the money is attached to you, you’re right. I want nothing to do with you at all,” Dahlia says.
Ava nods. “I feel the same way.”
He sputters. “How can either one of you say that? Where is your loyalty? I have done everything for you, Dahlia! This is how you repay me?”
“You tried to destroy the man I love,” Dahlia says, her voice breaking.
A crowd has gathered around us, but Bruce is zeroed in on Dahlia.
“There is no proof of that,” Bruce hisses.
“Oh stop. Just stop. The whole time I’ve dated Dylan, I’ve been terrified of you finding out. I told myself it was because I didn’t want you to fire me or ruin his reputation because that would’ve been devastating. Why I didn’t walkaway from you then, I’ll never know. When I found out about the fire, deep down I knew it was you.”
She lets out a bitter laugh.
“I knew you were capable of bad things. When I look back at my life, I can’t believe how many things I justified for you.” She shakes her head.
“I saw the way you mistreated people, you manipulated everyone around you, and you even did illegal things…”
She stops to wipe her face, but the tears keep falling.
“And still I stayed. I’m so ashamed about that. But despite everything, I loved you, and I always thought you loved me in your own way. But you don’t. You’re incapable of it. And I don’t have to put up with it for a second longer.”
She looks around me and points at Tully and Noah. “Can you escort him off the property? Thanks for reminding us to file a restraining order, Dad.”
Tully and Noah surround him, and he attempts to shove them back, but they’re barrels—they barely budge.
“I’m going,” he says. He points at Dahlia. “This isn’t the end of this discussion.”
“Oh yes, it is,” she says. “We’re done.”
CHAPTER FORTY
SAFE SPACE
DAHLIA
After the confrontation with my dad, I wasn’t sure I could ever relax again. But we were able to get a restraining order in place, and with the extra security around here, I’m not constantly looking over my shoulder.
Being away from my dad is so freeing.
I love my job.
I’ve never been able to say that, but here at Windhaven, I feel it down to my bones.
Every morning when I unlock my little office, I still get that flutter in my stomach like I’ve somehow snuck into someone else’s life. The whole back wall is windows, and the view is out of this world. Lake Superior stretches out like a sheet of silver, the cliffs standing proudly along the shoreline. On windy days, the surf hits the rocks so hard I can feel it in the floorboards. On calm mornings, the water is so smooth it looks like it’s holding its breath.
I sit at my desk and watch boats drifting out, gulls diving,and the sky showing off with insane colors. It’s impossible to have a bad morning with that view. And because the resort has recently been remodeled—and, in some areas, it’s completely new—everything is in perfect condition and top-of-the-line. The North Shore has welcomed Windhaven with open arms, and it is the place to be. The numbers are showing it.
I adore Susan and Josie, the two people I work with the most. Everyone at Windhaven is funny and warm and open. There’s no undercurrent of judgment or pressure, just genuine kindness. I didn’t realize how tense I’d been in my old life until I came here. I was always bracing myself for the next ball to drop. Everyone has made me feel like I belonged from day one, and I feel appreciated.
And then there’s the bonus of getting to have lunch with Dylan a few times a week.
Sometimes he walks in unannounced, leaning in the doorway with that crooked grin, acting like he has no idea he’s the highlight of my day. Sometimes I find him cleaning the boat or coming in from a hiking excursion and watch him with the guests. We share sandwiches or something from The Kitty-Corner Cafe, but half the time we end up talking too much, and I’m eating back at my desk.
And Windy Harbor…it’s a dreamy place to live. I’ve fallen hard for this little town. Everyone’s nice in that nonchalant Minnesota no-nonsense kind of way.
Nothing feels rushed.
