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“Obviously the bar is in good hands,” Max announced with a solemn nod.

I smirked. “Then why do you look so disappointed?”

He stuffed his hands in his pockets and shook his head a few times before responding. “It’s weird not to be needed.” He blew out a breath. “I’ve built my life on rushing in and picking up all your broken pieces.”

My brow furrowed. “What’d I break?”

“Nothing. This time.” He chuckled. “In the past, ever since we were little, I was the fixer. It started with model cars you struggled to assemble, and then helping you pass English in high school.” Max pulled his hands from his pockets and crossed them over his chest. “Hell, even recently, I ended up here to help you and build a bridge for our father.” He jerked his head toward our father who stood to his left, the tall, serious, imposing figure he’d always been. Although in the last few years, his hair had turned salt and pepper colored and his build didn’t seem as muscular.

I nodded at my father. “I couldn’t be a fuck up my whole life.”

“Yeah, well you sure tried damn hard.” He grinned.

“True, but that was by not trying at all.” I shrugged. “I never felt like I fit in Seattle. But here…life makes sense to me. Here, I could actually have everything I want.”

“I believe it.” Max sighed dramatically. “I suppose I could go work on this one new project…”

With a laugh, I mumbled, “Although making a new Rogers doesn’t seem like much of a chore.”

Max clapped me on the back. “May you one day have such a burden.”

“I just need a girlfriend first. No problem. You’ve seen the way women flock to me.” I rolled my eyes.

“Bodhi, you spend your days on the beach and your nights in a bar. You’ll find someone. May she bring you as much joy as Victoria brings me.” Max gave me a bro hug, then motioned for our father to follow him. “We’re going to scope out some new investments.”

I had no idea what to say to that. “Have fun?” It sounded terribly boring to me. And that’s why I left the family business.

As Max opened the door, I saw Norah standing on the other side, hand poised to grab the handle. “Oh.” She jumped back.

“You must be Norah.” Max held out a hand. “Bodhi has nothing but glowing words about you.”

Her chin lowered and I could see a blush rising in her cheeks. “Thank you. And congratulations on your marriage. I wish you both much happiness.”

“Same to you.” Max chuckled. “I’m in the honeymoon phase. I want everyone happy and married.” He shot me a look and I groaned.

Norah tilted her head and studied me as she entered and then they left. “Nice meeting you,” she murmured without ever taking her eyes off me. Once we were alone, she asked, “What? You don’t want to marry?”

“Oh, I do.” I grinned. “Very much. I just can’t get the right woman to even agree to date me, which has its own set of perks, let alone work for me, which comes with a weekly paycheck to take the sting out of it.” I winked.

Her eyes widened briefly, then she sighed. “You are always so playful.”

“And yet serious,” I argued. “I mean it.”

“Which part?” Her brow furrowed.

I reached out and pulled her into my arms. “All of it.” Then without thinking, I bent low and kissed her forehead. “What you did with the bar is nothing short of amazing.” I glanced around the place. “In one night, you managed to get me on the right track. You helped me pull it together.” I gazed down at her. “I don’t want to lose that in this place. I’d like to think I’m a diamond in the rough and with a little polishing…”

“You need a diamond cutter.” She rested her chin on my chest.

“Not polish?” I frowned.

“No. Rough diamonds are cut to create this amazing, dazzling stone out of what looked like not much.” She grinned.

My brow arched. “So, I look like not much, huh?”

“Au contraire, Bodhi.” She laughed. “You’re not that rough. You just needed the right setting to shine. I think you’ve found your place.”

I licked my lips. “My brother and father are serious businessmen, entrepreneurs. Me, I surf and run a bar.” This time I captured her lips. When I pulled back, I continued. “And yet, I’m happy. The ocean calls to me and the bar meets my financial needs.” I smoothed her hair back and studied her seriously. “I don’t need as much as they do to be happy. Some waves, a few boards, a couple bucks…and the right woman.”

Norah sighed against my chest. “I get it. I think my parents had bigger dreams for the café, but that wasn’t for me.”

I could feel my heart racing as I cleared my throat and prepared to ask the next question. “How about a bar? Could that be for you?” When she bit down on her lower lip and looked away, I knew the answer, but still, she hadn’t pulled away. She was here with me.

“I’ve starting sorting my life into two big categories. In order to keep stuff around, it has to fit either for now or forever.” Norah stared up at me with her dark eyes.

“Where does the bar fit? Or doesn’t it?” I eyed her curiously. Her answer mattered more than I could stand to let on.

She took a deep breath. “The bar?”

“Yes. The bar.” I nodded a few times.

“The bar would be a for now.” Norah licked her lips. “I’m going to go back to school. I’m going to finish my degree.”

“That’s great!” I exclaimed enthusiastically. Flooded with relief, I decided to get a little bolder. “What about the guy running the bar?”

“Hawk?” Norah asked, as she batted her eyelashes at me.

“Dammit, woman,” I grumbled. “You know he’s only my bouncer.”

“Right. Max?” She giggled.

“Owner. Doesn’t lift a finger. I meant me. You know I meant me,” I grumbled.

“Right. You.” She sighed dramatically. “Well, you’re between boxes right now.”

I swallowed hard. “Oh?”

“Yeah. I mean for a while, you weren’t in a box. Then you seemed like a solid for now.” Norah stared at me seriously. “But now, you’re hovering at the border of a guy I could see as my forever.” She started to look away shyly, but I picked her up and hugged her close.

“Well, now you have to date me,” I teased.