Page 87 of Just My Luck

“I absolutely did not—” Lincoln’s heated words were interrupted by the arrival of Maureen.

“Can someone catch me up on what just happened? Why was Zara digging in the sand? Why did those guards try to go swimming with all their clothes on?”

Zara shared an amused glance with Lincoln. “It’s such a hot day. Can you blame them?”

Maureen lowered her sunglasses and eyed the two of them. “I see how it is. I guess I can’t blame you. But if we’re going to work together⁠—”

Lincoln interrupted. “There’s a piece of tech that Tanaka wanted back. The ocean had other ideas.”

“What would that tech do?”

“Nothing, unless he also has the CHUM. If he gets his hands on that, he’ll be extremely dangerous. Are you sure you want to be involved in all this? I appreciate you coming to Hawaii and being open to whatever Zara told you⁠—”

“She told me there might be a way to repair things with you and get back to making tons of money.”

Zara’s lips quirked. She liked the way Maureen’s bluntness contrasted with her soft Southern accent.

“I have to be straight with you, Maureen. Right now, I don’t have the CHUM and the lab hasn’t managed to produce another functioning sample. My father is currently destroying all our research. Not only that, but there’s a crew of amateur geologists out there who might make a version of the CHUM long before we do. They want to claim it for the general public, and I think I agree with them. Tanaka has control of all the material they’re using to make his weapon. Our only tiny bit of it just disappeared into the ocean.”

“My goodness, that’s a real run of bad luck.”

“Maybe.”

To Zara’s eye, Lincoln didn’t look worried about that. In fact, he seemed energized, as if he loved a challenge. She found that attitude very sexy, almost as sexy as the bare chest peeking from behind his open shirt, and the way his hair curled against his neck. Really, everything about him just worked for her. Strange, out of all the people on the planet, that she’d fall for this complicated man who’d wandered into her life.

“Okay, then exactly how are we going to make money with this CHUM thingie?” Maureen planted her hands on her leopard-print-covered hips and glared at Lincoln.

He shrugged. “Maybe we’re just going to ride the wave and see what happens.”

Maureen wheeled on Zara. “That’s not what you promised me, Zara.”

“I promised you a way to connect with Lincoln, who’s the brilliant leader who made Kerr Enterprises what it is.” Chin up, Zara held her ground. She’d been very careful not to promise anything other than guaranteeing that Lincoln would be open to engaging with Maureen. She knew his wounds went deep, but she also understood how much he wanted a real family. He wanted to create his own, yes, and she was down with that. Being a surrogate parent had been so much more satisfying than she’d ever imagined. But resolving things with the Kerr family, and his father, would bring him some peace. She’d be there for him every step of the way.

Tension enveloped the three of them. Then Maureen relaxed into a laugh. “You know what, Lincoln? You’ve made money all your life and you probably won’t stop now.”

“I’d say that’s a safe bet.”

She dropped her sunglasses back over her eyes. “Then I trust you, and yes, I want you to come back. I want in on this. And now I’m going back to my beach nap. The two of you can make out now, since I can tell you’ve been dying to this whole time.”

She wasn’t wrong.

As Maureen walked away, Zara linked her hand with Lincoln’s. “I knew we were in sync. You just almost quoted my famous motto. ‘Whistle while you wait for the wave, then ride it with all your heart.’”

Lincoln grinned down at her, finding her more enchanting than ever. “That’s an endearingly long motto.”

“Yes, I’ve been told. I also keep changing it. You know why?”

“Because life changes, and so do mottos?”

“Nice one! I will enter that into consideration as my next motto.” She gave him a slight smile, warier than he would have liked. “I have a feeling there’s a lot I will have to adapt to, being with you.”

He tilted her face so their eyes met. “This can only work if it’s equal. I want to support you and your dreams and desires, not take over your life.”

She nodded soberly. “I’m glad you said that. I can see how that might happen. I mean, you bought me the house. I didn’t ask for that. All things considered, things between us would be less complicated if you weren’t a billionaire, or a millionaire, or wherever your bottom line stands right now.”

He got it. He really did. Before crashing in the jungle, before working as a gardener, he wouldn’t have. But now he knew—being a decent human was much more important than being a billionaire.

“Listen, Zara. I may not be able to stop being a billionaire. These things take on a life of their own. But I never want to be a callous one, like you said before. Will you help me with that? I’m not sure I can manage that by myself.”