Falling for Love (20 page)

Grant seemed to have lost interest in his half-eaten pie. He put down his fork and wiped his mouth with a napkin. “So what does that mean for Abby?”

The moment the words were out of his mouth, Stephanie’s stomach began to ache. Of course she would be his first thought.

“I can’t imagine what she’ll do,” Linda said. “Her store is doing so well.”

“Huh,” Grant said, seeming lost in thought.

Stephanie wondered if he was considering that Cal’s absence would create an opportunity for him to pick up where he’d left off with Abby. At that thought, her heart began to ache, too.

“More pie?” Linda asked her son.

“No, thanks. I’m full.”

“Stephanie?”

“No, thank you. It was all very good.” She couldn’t eat another bite because she feared she might be sick.

A full moon hung over the Salt Pond as they walked back to the marina. Since Stephanie had her arms crossed, he couldn’t reach for her hand the way he wanted to. When he tried to put an arm around her, she stepped out of his embrace.

“All right,” he finally said, “what’s wrong?”

“What? Nothing’s wrong.”

With a hand to her shoulder, he stopped her and forced her to meet his gaze. The closed off, shuttered look in her eyes sent a jolt of fear through him. “I’m sorry I cornered you into telling my parents about Charlie—”

“It’s not that. I’m glad they know.”

“Ah, well, at least I’ve gotten you to admit it’s
something
. Come on, Steph. Just tell me.”

She continued on down the hill. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

Grant threw his hands up in frustration and trotted after her. “
I
want to talk about it.”

“So that means we have to?”

“Yes, that’s exactly what it means.”

“You’re a little too used to getting your own way all the time.”

“Yeah, right. That’s the story of my life. I suppose the years of nonstop rejection from just about everyone in the film business is a sign that I get my way all the time. Or of course the fact that I supposedly write for a living and haven’t written a goddamned word in more than a year is another sign. That’s exactly what I want.”

“Don’t forget the girlfriend you managed to lose but still want.”

“Ah, so that’s what this is about.”

“She’s free and clear now. Cal’s not coming back. There’s the opening you’ve been waiting for. Go get her.”

Grant was so stunned by her sharp words that he had no idea how to respond. “Is
that
what you think I want?”

“It’s what you wanted just a few short days ago,” she reminded him.

She was moving so fast down the hill, he had to jog to catch up to her. When he did, he took her by the shoulder again. He hated that after all the time they’d spent together, the closeness they’d shared, she still flinched as the unexpected hand landed on her shoulder. “Stop, will you?” Softening his tone, Grant said, “Please, just stop.”

As a family walked by them, ice-cream cones in hand, the adults cast a curious glance their way before continuing on.

“You’re making a scene,” Stephanie said, shrugging off his hand.

“You want me to make a scene?”

“No,” she said through gritted teeth. “What I want is for you to admit the truth—that your first thought upon hearing Cal isn’t coming back to the island was how it would affect Abby.”

“Of course that was my first thought! She’s his fiancée—and my friend. One of my oldest friends. I want her to be happy!”

“Good! Then go make her happy, and leave me alone.”

“Oh, my God, you’re driving me crazy.” He took her hand and dragged her off to a dark corner behind Moby Dick’s restaurant. Mindful of the abuse she’d once withstood at the hands of her mother, he kept his grip light enough that she could’ve escaped if she really wanted to.

She resisted him the entire way. “
Let me go
, you Neanderthal.”

“Not until you listen to me.”

“I’ve heard everything I need to hear.”

“No, you haven’t.” When he was certain they were out of the sight of prying eyes, he wrapped his arms around her. Taking a handful of her hair, he tugged gently, forcing her to meet his gaze. “Are you listening?”

She looked away. “No.”

Damn, she was cute when she was being mulish. Tipping his head, he brought his mouth down hard on hers. When she tried to register her protest, he sent his tongue in search of hers, stroking and caressing until he felt her fingers in his hair and the answering brush of her tongue against his. Now
that
was more like it.

He must’ve kissed her for ten minutes before he softened his lips and raised his head to find her eyes. “Are you listening now?”

The brat shook her head and dragged him down for more kisses.

When he had no choice but to come up for air, he said, “Who have I spent most of the last three days in bed with? You or her?”

“I was convenient.”

“That’s not true.”

“So I
wasn’t
convenient?”

He wanted to shake her until her teeth rattled, but instead, he kissed her again. “That’s not what this is about, and you know it.”

Their kisses were nearly violent as he set out to show her exactly why he was with her and not with anyone else.

“I don’t want Abby,” he said against her lips. “For some strange reason that is far,
far
beyond me, I seem to want you.”

“Gee, I’m flattered.” The reply was exactly what he expected from her and a sign that her usual spark was returning.

“Just like I’m flattered that you seem to want me.”

She pushed against his chest. “I don’t want you.”

Her words were in sharp contrast to the way she had molded her body to his to kiss him senseless. “Is that so?” He moved quickly to send his hand diving over her ass to the hem of her skirt and was sliding his fingers through her slick heat in two seconds flat. “The evidence seems to suggest otherwise.”

She gasped and tilted her hips to encourage his questing fingers.

“Liar, liar, pants on fire.” The rhyme took him right back to sparring with three brothers and a sister.

“Shut up and don’t stop.”

Laughing, Grant recaptured her mouth in another torrid kiss as he zeroed in on her clit, determined to make an even bigger liar out of her. “Are you
sure
you don’t want me?”

“Very sure,” she said, panting and clinging to him as he stroked her to a shuddering climax.

He held her up when her legs would’ve collapsed under her. “I’m glad we were able to settle that to your satisfaction.”

“Shut
up
,” she said as her teeth clamped down on his ear, which sent a surge of lust to his already hard-as-a-rock erection.

“I don’t want her.” His lips blazed a trail on her neck, making her tremble. “I want you. Only you.”

He took the tightening of her arms around his neck as a sign that she’d heard him and believed him. At least he hoped so.

Laura zipped her duffle bag the next morning and took a long look around the cozy suite that would be her home for the foreseeable future. The “shabby chic” antique furniture bore no resemblance to the stylish, contemporary pieces she’d chosen for her home with Justin, but she already felt more at home here than she ever had there.

As if to ensure her return, she tucked her favorite pair of black sandals into the closet. “I’ll be back,” she said as she shut and locked the door to her suite. She’d called her aunt and uncle earlier to let them know she’d be leaving for a few days. They wished her a safe trip and invited her to dinner when she got back.

Dropping her bag in the lobby, she tiptoed toward Owen’s closed door. Between her illness and his gig with Evan at the Tiki Hut last night, she hadn’t seen him since the previous morning. She was about to slide the note she’d written for him under the door when it opened.

“Thought I heard you skulking about, Princess.”

His dirty-blond hair was disheveled, his eyes were red with fatigue and his smile was breathtaking. Laura wondered if he had any idea how attractive he was. He seemed to go out of his way to look like he’d just fallen out of bed. Imagining him in bed made her face heat with embarrassment.

“I wasn’t skulking.”

He ran his fingers through his hair as if that might bring order to it and fixed his gaze on her duffle. “Going somewhere?”

“To the mainland for a couple of days to take care of some things.” Confirming her pregnancy, returning the unused wedding gifts, emptying the apartment she’d lovingly furnished, filing for divorce, breaking the news of her failed marriage to her beloved father and bringing what she could fit in her car back to the island. The usual stuff a woman had to take care of a few months after she married the so-called love of her life.

Forcing herself to focus on the here and now rather than the nightmare ahead, she tightened her grip on the folded sheet of paper. “I, ah, I was going to leave you a note.”

Holding out his hand, he said, “Let me see.”

Suddenly mortified by the words she’d settled on, she tucked it under her arm. “Doesn’t matter now.”

Before she could anticipate his next move, he had the note in his hand and was moving past her into the lobby to read it.

“That was sneaky.”

Laughing, he said, “I’m the oldest of seven. I had to be quick to survive.”

As he read the note she’d slaved over—trying for the proper level of appreciation without descending into the maudlin—Laura looked for something to do with her hands. She ended up folding and unfolding them.

“That’s very nice,” he said, stashing the note in the back pocket of his faded jeans, which were still unbuttoned. “And very sweet. I’m glad I met you, too, Princess, and it was my pleasure to provide a shoulder for you to lean on.”

She could see the button to his jeans poking at the gray T-shirt he wore over them, not that she was looking or anything.

“But you don’t have to thank me. You’re doing us a huge favor by taking on this place. My grandparents are happy, and that makes me happy.”

For some reason, it pleased her to have played a part in making him happy. She’d have to chew on that realization when she was alone. “About yesterday… I just wanted to say, you know, thanks for the tea.” Damn, was it hot in here or what? “And everything else. It was nice of you.” She couldn’t bear to think about him watching her worship the porcelain god. The thought of it made her ill all over again.

“How’re you feeling today?”

“More of the same,” she said with a wry grin. “Happens around the same time every day.”

He winced. “Such a drag.”

Shrugging, she said, “I hear it only lasts about three months.”

“Oh, God, that’s awful!”

The face he made had her giggling. He often reminded her of an overgrown kid.

Scooping up her duffle bag, he settled the strap on his shoulder. “You shouldn’t be carrying this heavy thing in your condition.” He held the door and gestured her out ahead of him.

“I’m pregnant, not feeble, and it’s not that heavy. I left most of my stuff here.”

“Good,” he said with the irrepressible grin that was so
him
. “That means you’ll be back before I have time to miss you.”

As she took the stairs to the sidewalk for the short walk to the ferry, Laura was caught completely off guard by his casually uttered comment. What did that mean? He was going to
miss
her?

“You heard me right, Princess. I’ll miss having you around to keep me company.”

Stunned by his confession. Laura tried desperately to think of something witty she could say. “You’ve got Evan, Mac and Grant to entertain you.”

“They’re so
ugly
compared to you,” he said with a pout that made her laugh again.

“I hate to break it to you, pal, but my cousins are
not
ugly. Trust me on that. Janey and I used to make fun of the daily parade of girls who’d show up at the White House looking for one or the other—or in some cases, all four of them. It was obscene.”

“That may be true, but in my eyes, they’re
far
uglier than you.”

“Thank you. I think.”

They laughed and joked all the way to the ferry landing, where he seemed to reluctantly hand over the duffle. “Take care of yourself over there on the mainland,” he said, attempting a serious expression that failed miserably since he didn’t have a serious bone in his body. He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and cuffed her chin playfully. “Don’t let the bad stuff get you down.”

She appreciated his insight and his concern. “I’ll try not to. See you in a week or so.”

He surprised her when he bent to press a tender kiss to her cheek. “I’ll be here.”

“Good,” she said, leaving him with a smile as she boarded the ferry. It was nice to know she had a friend waiting for her on the island she was planning to call home for the next little while.

Francine tossed and turned all night. Ned knew this because he’d been right there beside her. He wanted to dance a jig and shout the news from the rooftops. They’d finally done it—the horizontal bop, the
deed
—or whatever they called it these days, and it had been every bit as phenomenal as he’d remembered from the last time they were together.

Even though Ned’s heart was singing a new song on this glorious day, he knew his beloved was troubled by the news she had to bring to her eldest daughter this morning.

Ned held her hand all the way to Maddie’s home on Sweet Meadow Farm Road. “Everything’s gonna be all right, doll,” he said for the hundredth time since they woke up together and shared a pot of coffee and eggs that she’d barely touched.

“It’s so unfair to drop this on her a few days after she had the baby.”

“That may be true, but it’s no fault of yers that he showed up here when he did. Ya had no control over that, and Maddie will know that.” He squeezed her hand. “I’ll be right there with ya, okay?”

She nodded and held his hand between both of hers. “I appreciate you coming with me.”

“Of course I’m coming with ya. We’re a team now, and doncha forget it.”

“I won’t,” she said, offering him a fleeting smile.

Ned wanted this encounter between Maddie and her father over with so Bobby could go back under the rock he’d crawled out from under and leave them all in peace. Ned had kept up a brave façade and pretended to eat Francine’s share of their breakfast, but he’d been a nervous wreck the whole time.

He had this vision of Mac flatly refusing to allow his wife to see her wayward father—not that Ned would blame the boy for not wanting his wife upset right after giving birth. But then where would they be? Bobby could hang up the divorce forever if he wanted to, and there wasn’t much they could do about it without a protracted battle. He wanted to be married to Francine, and he wanted to help her and her girls through this crisis. That was all Ned cared about at the moment.

They arrived at Mac and Maddie’s home and navigated the stairs to the deck hand in hand.

“Take a deep breath, doll,” Ned said when they were on the deck. “Remember, none of this is yer fault.”

She looked up at him with her heart in her eyes. “I could’ve chosen a better father for them.”

The significance of her words wasn’t lost on him. “I’ll be a damned good stepfather to them. I promise ya that.”

“I know you will. Come on. Let’s get this over with.”

They visited with the new parents, fussed over the baby and played with Thomas for more than an hour. Fortunately, Mac and Maddie didn’t seem to notice the tension that Ned and Francine had brought with them.

“David was just here to check on Hailey, and he says she’s doing great.”

“That’s a huge relief,” Francine said.

“It’s nice to see you two kids together again,” Maddie said as she burped Hailey.

Ned exchanged glances with Francine.

“Actually,” Francine said, “we’re hoping to be married before too much longer.”

Ned wasn’t sure his heart was strong enough for the excitement that surged through him as she said those words.

“Oh my God!” Maddie cried. “Mac, come here! Quick!”

He rushed in from the kitchen, a towel tossed over his shoulder and his eyes wide with panic. “What’s wrong?”

“Absolutely nothing! Mom and Ned are getting married!”

“Hey, that’s great, you guys. Congratulations!”

“There’s just one thing…” Francine said.

“What, Mom?”

“Well, it seems that I’m, um… God, how do I say this?”

Ned reached for her hand. “Spit it out, doll. Get it over with.”

Francine met her daughter’s gaze. “Your father and I are still married.”

“Wait… How can that be? It’s been more than thirty years since he left.”

“Neither of us ever filed for divorce.”

Seeming stunned, Maddie stared at her mother.

“Tell ’em the rest, doll.”

“What, Mom?” Maddie’s gaze darted nervously to Mac, who came to sit next to her on the sofa. “What is it?”

“I called his sister, Marion, asking if she could help me get in touch with him so we could take care of the divorce. Yesterday, he um… He…”

“He’s here,” Ned said. “He’s on the island, and he wants to see you.”

“Absolutely not!” Mac’s face flushed with color. “She just had a baby! The last thing she needs is a confrontation with that son of a bitch.”

“I really don’t want to see him,” Maddie said, reaching for Mac’s hand.

“You don’t have to, honey,” Mac said. “Of course you don’t.”

Francine swiped at a tear that rolled down her cheek. “I’m so sorry to have to ask you this… I hope you know I never would, not in a million years, but he, um…”

Maddie’s eyes widened with disbelief. “Oh my God. Is he demanding to see me before he’ll give you the divorce?”

“Yes,” Francine said, humiliation coming from her in waves that infuriated Ned.

Maddie handed the baby to her husband and stood slowly and carefully. “Then let’s go.”

“Maddie, wait a minute.” Mac stood with the baby propped on his shoulder. With her diaper changed and her belly full, Hailey slept blissfully.

Thomas watched them from the floor, where he was playing with his cars.

“You don’t have to do this, babe,” Mac said.

“Yes, I do. If it’ll free us from the past, then I’ll give him a minute of my life and then get on with it.” She flashed them a winning smile that anyone who knew her well would recognize as forced. “Besides, I want to dance at my mother’s wedding.”

Francine stood to face her daughter. “I’m so sorry, honey.” Tears made her eyes bright and shiny.

Ned’s heart broke for them as they embraced. “I’ll take you there and bring you right back,” he said.

“That’d be great, Ned. Thank you.”

“I should be there with you,” Mac said, concern etched into his face.

Maddie went to him and gave him a kiss. “Stay here with my babies, and I’ll be right back, okay?”

“If you’re sure.”

She nodded and kissed him again before turning to her mother and Ned. “Let’s go.”

They rode the short distance to the Beachcomber in silence.

Ned had never experienced such tension. He couldn’t imagine how Maddie and Francine must be feeling.

Inside the hotel, they were about to ask for Bobby at the front desk when Ned spotted him having breakfast on the deck. He pointed him out, and Maddie made a beeline across the crowded lobby to where her father sat enjoying his eggs sunny-side up.

Ned and Francine were right behind her.

“You’re Bobby Chester?” Maddie said.

Bobby looked up with a smarmy smile that Ned wanted to smack off his face. “Who wants to know?”

“Your daughter. The one you left decades ago? The one who sat in the window for weeks after you left watching every ferry hoping you might come back? Remember me?”

Since Maddie made no effort to keep her voice down, she soon had the attention of everyone on the deck. Everything stopped, and silence descended upon them.

“You sure are a pretty thing,” Bobby said.

“That’s it? Nearly thirty years and that’s all you’ve got to say to me?”

“I understand you have kids.”

“Yes, I do. Not that you’ll ever meet them.” Her voice broke ever so slightly, but Ned heard it. Apparently, Francine did, too, because she stepped forward to place a hand on her daughter’s shoulder.

“Now that you’ve seen Maddie,” Francine said, “I assume I’ll hear from your attorney within the week?”

Bobby made them wait a good long time before he nodded ever so slightly.

“Let’s go, honey.” Francine took Maddie by the arm. “There’s nothing for us here.”

Maddie managed to hold it together until she got home. At the first sight of the big, beautiful house she shared with Mac and their children, tears burned her eyes.

“You don’t have to come in,” she said to her mom and Ned, struggling to maintain her composure for their sakes. “I’m okay. I promise.”

Her mother turned in her seat and took Maddie’s hand. “Thank you so much. I’m so sorry you had to do that.”

“Whatever it takes to be rid of him once and for all.”

“Let’s hope we’re rid of him now.”