Page 47 of Summer on Sunshine Bay

“I know, but to be honest, I have a feeling me staying at Windemere would make things worse, not better. I’m pretty sure Gavin hasn’t given up on me being part of Team Windemere. And David hasn’t given up on us living in the manager’s suite.” She undid her seat belt. “It doesn’t help that I haven’t had time to start looking for a place to live.”

Her father tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. “I was planning to wait until your wedding day, but it might alleviate some of your stress if I give you your present now.”

“No way, Dad. You’re not giving us a wedding gift. You’re paying for the wedding,” she said as she got out of the car.

“Just like I’ll be paying for your sisters’ weddings when and if they decide to get married, and they’ll also be getting a wedding present.” He joined her on the driveway. “I want to do this for you.” He took her hand, placing a key in her palm.

She stared at the key and then looked up at him. “You’re giving us the Ferrari? I thought it was a rental.”

He laughed. “I’m not giving you the Ferrari. I’m giving you the beach house. I signed the papers yesterday.”

“The beach house? You’re giving us the beach house?” she repeated, positive she must’ve misunderstood him.

“Yeah, but if it doesn’t work for you, we can—”

“Are you kidding me? I love this place. I never dreamed of living in…” Overcome with emotion, she trailed off. “It’s too much, Dad, way too much. And I know I should say no, but I can’t.” She swiped at her eyes. “I love it, and I love you. Thank you.” Half laughing, half sobbing, she threw her arms around him.

“I love you too, sweetheart.” He patted her back while she got her happy tears under control. “But there’s something I need you to do before I sign the house over.”

She stepped away from him, unable to take her eyes off the beach house. She still couldn’t believe she’d be living here for real. “What’s that?”

“I’m putting the house in your name only. I’ve talked to your mother about it, and we both agree. It has nothing to do with me not trusting or liking David. I just want you protected.”

She had a feeling David wouldn’t see it the way her father did, but Lila had to admit there was a certain level of comfort in knowing the house would be in her name. “Did your lawyer draft a revised prenup?”

“It wasn’t necessary. There’s a clause that covers the beach house. You and David haven’t looked it over yet, have you?”

“No, but I promise we’ll do that this weekend.” She made a face. “Just one more thing to add to my list.”

He slung his arm around her shoulders. “How about we make a spreadsheet of everything you have left to do, and we’ll divvy things up between me, your mom, and Jennifer? You’re on your own with the prenup, although I’m sure your mother would be happy to mediate.”

She shuddered. “Can you imagine? I’d be better off making an appointment with Willow’s friend for premarital counseling.”

“It’s not a bad idea.”

“It’s probably a good idea, but with just over three weeks until the wedding, there’s no way we can fit it in with everything else we have going on.” And there was a tiny part of Lila that was afraid the therapist would tell her she was making a mistake.

“Let’s see what the spreadsheet has to say about that.”

Apparently the spreadsheet, along with her father, thought she had time to schedule a premarital counseling session with Willow’s therapist friend. Lila promised she would if she and David couldn’t come to terms on the prenup.

She texted David that her father had given them their wedding present early and that she wanted him to come to dinner at the beach house so they could celebrate. She didn’t mention he’d given them—technically her—the beach house. She wanted to surprise him, and she figured it would be as good a time as any to get the prenup out of the way.

Her dad had left for La Dolce Vita five minutes before. Jennifer was meeting him and her mom there, and the three of them were going to have dinner together and go over their list of wedding duties while coming up with a plan for updating the restaurant as inexpensively and as quickly as possible.

Lila wished her mother enjoyed David’s company as much as she did Jennifer’s. She also wished her father hadn’t looked quite so happy at the prospect of spending the evening with her mother. At least Jennifer would be there to chaperone.

Lila pushed her worries about her parents’ relationship out of her head and opened the refrigerator. She hadn’t inherited her mother’s talents in the kitchen, but she was competent enough to put a simple meal together. She pulled out two steaks and seasoned them with salt and pepper, leaving them on a platter on the counter. David would be there in an hour, which she knew from her mother was enough time to bring the steaks to room temperature.

There were two twice-baked potatoes in the fridge that would work well for a side, and she found a package of mushrooms behind the romaine lettuce. It took less than fifteen minutes to make garlic butter mushrooms, and she moved the pan off the burner, turning off the element. She’d reheat them just before serving the meal. She put a tomato salad together, careful not to touch her eyes after adding the minced garlic and slivers of jalapeno, and glanced at her phone on the counter. Ten minutes until David arrived.

She grabbed a bottle of water and brought up the summer playlist she’d made years before, syncing it with the speaker. Aerosmith’s “Livin’ on the Edge” filled the main floor, and she hummed along as she opened the patio doors. She hadn’t realized how loud the music was until she stepped onto the deck. She’d forgotten there were speakers out there too.

She leaned on the railing of the upper deck and lowered the volume, taking in the reflection of the sun glittering on the turquoise water. There were two sailboats in the distance, skimming across the calm, glassy surface.

Her cell phone rang, and she glanced at the screen. “Hey, where are you?” she asked as soon as the call connected.

“I’ve got good news and bad news,” David said. “Remember the guy from the dentist convention I told you about? He’s agreed to meet with me. He’s joining me for dinner.”

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