He lowered his voice. “Bram said you might be the one to recognize what a gem Willamina is, but he also thought Ben might go after her, since Bram knew he’s more interested in Tidewater than you are. I was guessing Jesse.”

“You two bet on which one of us would marry her?”

“No, we bet on which one of you would try.” Emmett glanced over his shoulder. “I tried my damndest to talk Bram out of writing that will, but he was convinced his plan would work.” He crossed his arms over his chest with a smile. “Though you have me to thank for his leaving in that loophole.”

“There’s a loophole?” Sam said in surprise.

“Big enough to sail a cargo ship through.”

“What is it?”

“If I have to tell you, I reckon you don’t deserve to marry anyone—especially Willa.”

Sam seriously thought about shoving the man off the pier.

“The way I see it,” Emmett said, “you’ve got three choices. You can hold that bequest over Willa’s head and make her marry you, you can find the loophole and then pursue Willa because you really want her, or you can walk away from the entire mess. Like you’re doing right now, leaving her to batten down the RoseWind all by herself.”

Emmett eyed Sam speculatively. “Walking away might appear to be the easiest thing in the world, but it’s been my experience that guilt is a hell of an anchor to drag around the rest of your life. But then, Willa would know more about that sort of thing.”

Everything suddenly clicked into place. “Bram came toMaine because of you. But why? He rarely ever mentioned your name, except when he was buying the RoseWind .”

“If you didn’t want anyone to find you, would you hide in your usual haunts? I met Abram nearly fifty years ago, when he was attendingMaineMaritimeAcademy over in Castine. We’ve always kept in touch.” He shrugged. “When your grandfather needed a place to run off to, he called me.”

“That makes sense, I suppose. But how does Willa figure into all of this? Why was Bram renting from her instead of staying with you? And what’s your relationship to Willa? Did you introduce my grandfather to her?”

Emmett shook his head. “Two ornery old men living together is the quickest way to end a friendship. Bram found Willa all on his own, when he saw her For Rent sign out by the road. As for Willa and me, I’ve had the privilege of watching her grow up. When she wasn’t dogging her daddy’s heels, she was at my boatyard dogging mine. She’s the child I always wished I’d had.”

“You a member of the marriage posse?”

Emmett chuckled and shook his head. “No. And I’ve told Willa to tell those nosy busybodies to go straight to—”

“I need a mooring, Emmett!” Willa called out.

Both men turned, and Sam saw his dry sack and Willa’s gear, including her mangled suitcase, sitting on the pier. She was coiling the ropes he’d made a mess of earlier.

“My color is still the same blue it’s been for the last twenty-nine years,” Emmett called back to her. Sam looked out at the harbor and saw at least a dozen empty mooring balls in several different shades of blue.

With a pointed glower at Sam, Willa released the RoseWind ’s dock lines and idled out into the harbor. Emmett looked back at Sam and grinned. “You must have really pissed her off. What’d you do, make a pass?” His smile widened. “No wonder you’ve got bruises.”

Sam sighed. “I told her I loved her.”

“And do you?”

“Yes.”

Emmett nodded. “That’s a start. Do you know what you’re up against?”

“I believe it mostly has to do with her niece.”

“You’re in for a treat when you meet Jennifer. We could all take a few lessons from that girl.” He turned serious. “Willa especially.”

“And you think forcing Willa to marry and have children is magically going to fix her?”

“Nope. But there was no persuading Bram otherwise. He said if it was you who fell for Willa, then the two of you could fix each other.”

“Fix each—I’m not broken.”

“No?” Emmett’s eyes glinted again. “You don’t have abandonment issues when it comes to women?”

“What in hell are you talking about?”

“You don’t dump your girlfriends within a few months, before they can dump you first?”

Sam spun on his heel and headed for the lobster shack.

Emmett fell into step beside him. “I’m sorely relieved to realize you don’t blame your mother for abandoning you boys to travel with your dad on his business trips.”

“I have no idea what you and my grandfather talked about these last six weeks,” Sam ground out, “but I do know it’s none of your goddamn business.”

“It became my business when Bram decided to involve Willa.”

“Willamina Kent is a grown woman. She doesn’t need any more interfering bastards messing up her life.”

“Just you?”

Sam took a calming breath. “Stay out of my way, old man. There’s more at stake here than you know.”

“Barry Cobb checked into the Stone’s Throw Bed and Breakfast two days ago,” Emmett said with equal calmness.

Sam dropped his head with a quiet expletive.

“We can be allies, or we can be adversaries,” Emmett continued. “It’s your choice, Sam. I love Willamina like a daughter, and I’ve been the only thing standing between her and outright chaos since her parents died. If you truly do love her, you have my blessing. But if you hurt her, you won’t be safe hiding on the moon. Abram Sinclair didn’t have fools for friends, so don’t underestimate me, and don’t disappoint me. And together, we just might be able to turn this mess into a miracle.”

Sam stared out at the harbor in silence, watching Willa rowing a small dinghy back toward the pier, the RoseWind gently bobbing on a mooring the exact same color as her eyes. He looked over at Emmett, silently studied him for several seconds, then turned and walked away.

Emmett watched the oldest Sinclair grandson stride off and smiled. Bram, you old bastard, I don’t know whether to curse you or thank you for dragging me into your cockamamie scheme. But it sure is damn invigorating squaring off against a man half my age.

“The ungrateful wretch,” Willa said, coming up behind him.

Emmett turned as she dropped her gear at her feet, a scowl on her face that would turn back a shark. “I pulled him out of the ocean—twice!—and he abandons me at the first whiff of food.”

“Twice?”

“The idiot jumped out of a helicopter, then pretended he was drowning so I’d fish him out of the sea. And when he got swept overboard yesterday, I had to fish him out again.” She broke into a nasty smile.

“After I dragged him a good quarter-mile.” Then she sobered. “Please, Em, tell me you didn’t have

anything to do with Abram’s will.”

Emmett pulled her into his embrace and rocked her back and forth. “Oh, Willy Wild Child, you know me better than that.”

She hugged him fiercely. “How come you didn’t warn me?”

He leaned away without releasing her. “I was caught between a rock and a hard place, Willy. I owed Bram one hell of a favor, and I gave him my word. But just because I couldn’t dissuade him from writing that will doesn’t mean I think it’s all bad. Everyone needs the barnacles scraped off them once in a while.”

“But what am I going to do, Em?”

He hugged her again. “I’ve been thinking about that ever since you called and told me you were sailing the RoseWind home.” He tightened his grip. “I believe the wisest thing for you to do, at least for now, is nothing.”

“Nothing?”

Emmett hid his amusement. “You’ve got three whole months. Why not sit back and see how this plays out? If it hasn’t solved itself by then, then we’ll use the loophole and end this farce.”

“There’s a loophole?”

“There’s never been a contract written that didn’t have a back door to sneak out of.” He gave her a reassuring smile. “Sam seems like a bright boy; he’ll figure it out. Just give him some time, Willy.”

“I am not sitting around waiting for Samuel Sinclair to rescue me.”