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What can I say? Burlington’s a little far.”
    â€œYeah, but it’s a great college town with lots of beautiful women.”
    Liam raised his eyebrows. “You’re not supposed to be looking.”
    â€œI know, I know, but sometimes a fella can’t help it.” He laughed amiably. “So, are you seeing anyone . . . or are you still Nantucket’s most eligible bachelor?”
    Liam shook his head. “Nah.”
    â€œHoly crap, Li, don’t tell me you’re still hung up on . . . on . . . what was her name?”
    â€œNo, no,” Liam contended, looking away. “I just haven’t met anyone.”
    â€œYou can’t meet anyone if you don’t try,” Jack said, eying him. “And you can’t fool me either. I’m the one who propped you up after she swept in here, stole your innocence, and kicked you to the curb . . . but, geez, that was, like, thirty years ago, man. You need to move on.”
    Liam chuckled. As if that was possible. “How long are you here?” he asked, changing the subject.
    â€œJust the weekend. I’ve gotta head to L.A. on business tomorrow night and we’re going to an art show tomorrow, so I came by to see if you wanted to meet us for dinner. I tried to call, but there was no answer . . . or answering machine. Do you have a cell phone?”
    â€œA what?” Liam asked, looking puzzled.
    â€œOh, man,” Jack said, “are you ever gonna engage in this world?”
    â€œI am engaged,” Liam protested. “I’ve got my business, my dog . . . I even have a cat.”
    Jack shook his head. “How about a computer or an e-mail address?”
    Liam gave him the same bewildered look.
    â€œYou’re hopeless, ya know that?”
    â€œI know,” Liam agreed with a grin.
    â€œWell, back to dinner—we were thinking of The Brotherhood.”
    â€œThat’d be great, but it’s not the same place, you know. They had a fire and now it’s under new ownership.... It’s fancier, and I actually don’t know if they’d let you in,” he teased.
    Jack grinned. “Well, they’ll let Tracey in, and I’ll just sneak in behind her.”
    Liam laughed. “Sounds like a plan. What time?”
    â€œSeven?”
    â€œSeven it is.”
    â€œAll right, well, I gotta get back—Trace wants to take the kids to the beach.”
    â€œWhere’re you staying?”
    â€œWith friends—they have a place out here.” He paused, knowing Liam too well. “They’re going to be at dinner too . . . I hope that’s all right.”
    â€œOf course,” Liam lied, suddenly wishing he’d declined Jack’s invitation—he’d been looking forward to an intimate dinner with old friends, but the unexpected inclusion of strangers changed everything.
    â€œAll right. We’ll see you later, then.”
    â€œLooking forward to it,” Liam said, tousling Tuck’s ears. He waved as Jack pulled away, and then knelt down and pressed his cheek against Tuck’s soft brow. “Oh, well, at least we can put off food shopping for another day,” he murmured as Tuck licked his cheek.
    He walked back into the boathouse, and although the big golden started to follow, he only made it as far as the doors before he stopped and lay down on the sunny pavement. “Sure,” Liam teased, “now that breakfast is over, you’re not interested in hangin’ with me.” Tuck looked up, thumped his tail, and then closed his eyes. Liam shook his head, took a sip of his coffee, and ran his hand over the deck of the runabout.
    Three hours later, after polishing the mahogany surface to a warm glow, he walked over to the boathouse doors and pushed a worn metal button on the wall. There was a familiar click of an electrical connection, and a second later, the ancient winch housed under the heavy metal panel in the floor creaked to life and a