Summer at Oyster Bay: A gorgeous feel good summer romance (16 page)

It made no sense at all, but she reached out and put her hands on his face. Before she could process the feeling of his skin against her fingers, the masculinity of his jaw, the day’s growth in his beard, his lips were on hers, moving effortlessly, eagerly, and then softly, making her lightheaded. She moved her fingers around his neck to his hairline, grabbing on lightly for support as he continued to kiss her. Their kiss had so much built-up energy, so much passion, that she didn’t know if it would ever end, which was fine with her.

Charlie’s hands found her back as he leaned her onto the decorative pillows that sat in the corners of the sofa. His lips moved from hers, to her cheek, and then to her neck, his breath causing the hair on her arms to stand up. He found her lips again and she couldn’t get enough of him. She let her hands move along his back, onto his sides, as she gripped his shirt in her fists. For the first time in her life, she understood what Gram meant by
living
. She’d never felt more alive than she did right now, in this moment. And she was happier than she had been in years.

When his kisses lightened, the energy dissipating to a more regular level, he pulled back and looked at her, his grin filling his entire face and causing the little creases at his eyes. “Wow,” he said, running his finger along her neck where his lips had been. Neither of them moved. They were both right there in that moment.

“You said you don’t like to sit still. You’re not moving and you look relaxed now,” she teased.

“Well, I don’t
always
have to move.” He grinned. “And staying still on this sofa is a lot easier since I don’t have the stress of wondering how in the world I’m going to get you to kiss me anymore.”

She laughed quietly, enjoying the feel of him wrapped around her still. “I think it was the oysters.”

He laughed, making her stomach flip. “Want to turn on the movie now?” he asked.

“Okay.”

Charlie hit play on the remote and then dropped it down onto the floor beside him, just as his lips found hers again.

A
n unfamiliar beeping
sound swam through Emily’s head, as she lay under the warm blanket, more comfortable than she could remember being in a very long time. She opened her eyes and blinked, trying to register the source of the beeping. To her confusion, she realized that she was looking at the alarm clock from her bedroom, but it was on the end table and she was still on the sofa. Beside it was a piece of paper. She sat up and opened the note. It read:

Emily pushed the blanket off her legs and stood up. She padded across the house and went out the back door in her bare feet. She could hardly wait to see what Charlie had done. As she approached it, the boat was in the same spot as before, but its beautiful new coat of paint made it look as if it had been pulled right out of her memory, only better. The blue was so pretty. She walked around it, admiring his work.

Flash came running up from the sand, his fur all wet from swimming, his tail thumping the sawhorse. “Hey there,” she said, patting his side, as she continued to look at the boat. Then she saw something and a smile spread across her face. On the wooden seat inside the boat, Charlie’s artistic talent overwhelmed her. He had painted a perfect picture of Papa’s fishing-tackle box, open with all his pretty glistening hooks, lures, and spools of line. Papa always sat it in that exact spot when he was fishing. As Emily looked down at the painting, still marveling at it, she couldn’t imagine a better surprise. She peered into the shed. The photos that had been left strewn across the floor were in a nice neat stack with the one of Papa back on top. Charlie must have picked them all up for her.

There was another note taped to the sawhorse. She reached over and pulled it off. It said:

C
harlie had not been
at the inn all day, which had been good for Emily, as it meant she could focus mostly on work. She had spent a large part of the day booking events and doing inventory for the inn, the whole time smiling—she couldn’t stop smiling.

She checked in at the hospital to see how Gram was doing. Then she called Rachel while she sat outside on the inn’s patio, telling her both about last night and the fact that, on her lunch break, she’d secured herself a condo. Getting a place had been easy—only three phone calls and she’d found one. It wasn’t permanent—a sublease for the summer—but it was dog-friendly, fully furnished, and near the water, so she accepted. She’d be able to move in next week, as it was currently vacant to allow summer renters.

“Guess what!” Rachel said.

“What?” she asked, feeling her sister’s excitement through the phone.

“I got an interview at that marketing company!”

“Oh, that’s fantastic!”

“I’m so excited! It’s Wednesday at two o’clock. But I have a favor to ask. Is there any way you can watch Clara for a few hours while I do the interview? I know you have to work, but I was wondering if you could arrange your schedule by any chance. I hate to even ask, but Gram can’t, and I don’t have anyone else.”

“I’d be happy to. I’ll figure it out.”

“Oh!” she said with relief in her voice. “Thank you so much! I owe you big time!”

“No you don’t.”

“Love you!”

After a quick bit of small talk, Emily got off the phone with Rachel and decided that she’d been away from her desk long enough. It felt good to be working, making plans to see Clara, hearing about Rachel’s job interview. It was a nice change of pace. It was as if she were finally in the real world again. She got up and headed back inside with renewed energy.

Emily wanted to see Charlie. She’d managed to go all day, but now she was losing the ability to focus. She picked up her office phone and ran her finger through the index until she found the phone number for the Concord Suite. With excitement pumping through her, she dialed the number and let it ring, hoping he’d be back.

There was a click. “Charles Peterson.”

He was there! She smiled, hearing his voice, and cleared her throat. “Yes. This is the events coordinator. I have a few questions and was wondering if I could request your presence in my office, sir.”

There was a tiny huff of laughter on the other end. “Certainly, Miss Tate. I’ll be down in… thirty seconds.”

“That’s awfully fast.”

“I like to get straight to business.”

Before she could say anything more, the line was dead. Still unable to get her smile under control, she hung up the phone and took a deep breath to steady herself. She ran her fingers through her hair, pulling it behind her shoulders and sat up tall in her chair. As she made herself look busy by moving things around on her desk, there was a knock at the door.

“Come in,” she said.

Charlie opened the door and then closed it behind him.

“That might have really been thirty seconds,” she said, standing up and walking around the desk to greet him. He looked down at her and smiled, sending her stomach into somersaults.

“I said I like to get right to business.”

“To what business are you referring? You don’t know why I called you down here. I might need new tablecloths. We’re short three.”

He put his hands on her waist, his expression swallowing her up. “I’d better keep control of that corporate card,” he teased. “I’ll have them ordered today,” he said, his mouth near hers, his breath on her lips.

She pulled out of his grasp, her head whirring with the exhilaration of being near him, but she kept her cool. “I also need an artist. I think it would be good for the displays in the restaurant.”

He had a quiet determination about him as he took a step toward her again. She turned to face him and this time, she put her hands around his neck. “Know any good artists?” she asked, looking up at him. “Because I do.”

He smiled a crooked grin as he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. Then he looked at her, his eyes happy. “Did you like it?”

“I loved it.”

“I’m glad.”

“Where did you get the paint for the tackle box?”

“I’d seen it in your grandfather’s shed. There’s a wall full of paint cans. When I needed certain colors, I mixed a few together until I had what I wanted, or at least close to it.”

“You’re very talented. No wonder you have a knack for renovation. You have an artistic eye.”

“Thank you.” He pulled her against him.

“Now about those tablecloths…” She wriggled out of his embrace.

Charlie chuckled. “Would you like to come up to my suite and assist me with ordering them? I’d like to make sure I get the right ones.”

“I have work to do.”

“That would be work.”

She cut her eyes at him playfully. “Perhaps we can order them later. I wouldn’t want to get sidetracked.”

“I won’t take no for an answer,” he teased. “If you need tablecloths, then, by all means, let’s buy them.”

She finally allowed herself to laugh. “Just hush. What are you doing tonight?”

“Nothing, why?”

“I want to hang out on Gram’s beach. I talked to Rachel and she said they can come.”

“What time?”

“I need to visit Gram again—I’m bringing her some books to keep her busy. After that, say six thirty?”

“Shall I bring anything?”

She smiled. “Your swimming trunks.”

“All right.”

They had an easy way of being together, as if they’d always been meant to be, and she remembered Rachel’s words to her about finding someone. Her sister was right, because Emily had never felt like this before.

“Hey, how did the meeting go with the residents?” she asked, all of a sudden realizing why she hadn’t seen him all day.

“It went well.”

“Don’t get too excited yet,” she said, still smiling at him. “You still have to wait for the planning commission to approve the rezoning. But if they do, I think I’ll be okay with it.”

He looked into her eyes and reached out, pulling her close again. Then, he leaned in for another kiss.

“
I
’m the last one
, Emily,” Rocky said after she had called him for an update. She took a chance that he’d be in the office after five o’clock, and she’d been right.

Things were eventually going to have to move along—she knew that—and Rocky was in an awful spot.

“I really don’t have an argument. It’s a good move, expanding the inn. He’s proven that he’s going to be cognizant of the area with the build. The residents are happy, there are some big tax advantages that could come from this, he already owns the land… It just doesn’t make sense to say no.”

Emily sat on the sofa, chewing on her thumbnail, her knee bouncing relentlessly. “Rocky, you’ve done a great job for me and I’m so thankful that you’ve put up a fight, but if you feel that it would be a better business move to expand the inn, then agree to it.” She closed her eyes in disbelief of her own words.

“Honestly, I don’t know how much longer I could’ve held them off. They’re starting to see through me—they know I’m doing it for you. If I had even a few people on my side it would be different, but I don’t.”

“I understand. I’m sorry to have put you in that position.”

“Don’t worry about it. It’s fine. I’d do it all over again if I had to.”

“Thank you.”

T
he sunlight was hanging on
, its heat-laden rays still powerful enough to require Emily to wear sunscreen as she sat alone on the beach. It would be a few hours yet before the sun dipped low enough to cast shadows on the sand. Emily swiveled in her beach chair and looked toward the house where she saw Clara running full speed across the yard. She had her swimsuit on, her sparkly sunglasses, and a tiny striped beach bag over her shoulder.

“Aunt Emily!” she called, out of breath. “Charlie’s here too! He’s talking with Mommy and Daddy!”

She continued to sprint, her thin brown braid bouncing with every step. She slowed down near the shore, trotting over the path through the sea grass that led to the sand. Her little chest was pumping up and down as she took in large breaths.

Clara squatted in the sand and dug into her beach bag. She pulled out a bright blue and pink circle float and held it out to Emily. “Will you blow this up?”

“Sure.” Emily took it and opened the plastic cap. Then, with a deep breath, she puffed into the float, the surface expanding only slightly. She puffed again. With her cheeks full of air, the float hanging from her lips, Emily spotted Rachel, Jeff, and Charlie coming across the lawn. From that distance it seemed they were talking and laughing, and it looked like they were old friends. It reminded her of when she was in high school and she and Rachel would have Jeff and the guys over to swim. The boys would walk across the yard with their floppy hair and bare feet, their skin tanned from being in the sun all summer. Rachel and Emily would whisper about them, giggling, stopping only when they were within earshot. Charlie had the same sort of look on his face as her high school friends had had, and she couldn’t help but get excited about it.

“Hey,” she said as they all reached the beach.

Charlie walked over to her, and Rachel and Jeff began unpacking their things on the sand. “Hi,” he said. “I don’t mind blowing that up. Clara had asked me on the way in.” She handed him the float. He put it to his lips and blew it up until the edges were tight with air. Then he secured the cap and handed it to Clara.

“Thank you,” Emily said, trying not to notice how good he looked in his T-shirt and swimming trunks. She could see the bottom of his biceps peeking out from below his sleeves.

Clara went running into the water, the spray splashing all the way up to her face. Jeff had already waded out to be with her. He grabbed Clara and lifted her into the air before toppling over as they both fell under the water. Clara came back up giggling. “Do it again, Daddy!” Jeff picked her back up.

“How was Gram?” Rachel asked, setting up their three chairs.

Emily sat down on hers, and Charlie followed in another. “I popped in to see her on the way home. She’s fine. I trust the doctors, but I really wish they could send her home before Friday.”

“They probably just like to keep her there so they can bill the insurance,” Rachel said with a laugh. “Does she seem lonely? I haven’t been by today…”

“She was her usual self. I took her some books. I think she was glad for that.”

“That’s good to hear.”

“Are you all ready for your job interview tomorrow?” Emily asked.

“I hope so. I’m a little nervous. I’ve been out of the game for a while.” She leaned forward to address Charlie on the other side of Emily. “I’m interviewing for a marketing job and I’ve been out of the working world since Clara was born.”

“Ah,” Charlie said, nodding. “You’ll do great.”

“Thank you.”

“How’s Jeff dealing with the news of an interview?” Emily asked, keeping her voice lower, shooting a quick glance at Jeff and Clara still in the water splashing around.

“He hasn’t said anything. He didn’t offer to take off work or to help with finding childcare either.”

“I’m sorry.”

Rachel shook her head. “I can’t stop my life from moving forward. I’m just going to go for it, let fate have a hand. Maybe I won’t get it and Jeff won’t have anything to worry about for a while.”

“Or maybe you will,” Emily said, raising her eyebrows with enthusiasm for her sister.

“Yes,” Rachel said. “Maybe I will.”

They sat there quietly for a little while, Clara calling out to them to watch as Jeff threw her into the water. Finally, Jeff and Clara came up onto the beach. “The water is so warm,” he said. “You all should get in. It feels great.”

“Yeah,” Clara agreed. “Get in please, Mommy.”

Rachel stood up and looked down at Emily. “I suppose we should, since the water’s so nice. Do you have your suit on under your clothes?”

“Yep,” Emily said, not moving from her chair. She’d never cared how she looked before, but she found herself wanting to look attractive for Charlie. She reached down into the beach bag and fumbled for the bottle of suntan lotion to stall, suddenly a little bashful. She pulled it out and pretended to read the ingredients.

Clara grabbed Emily’s arm. “Please come in the water, Aunt Emily. It’s fun. You can bring Charlie.” She let go and ran toward the water, Rachel following behind and diving in.

Charlie and Emily both stood up. He pulled his shirt over his head, the sight of him causing her to drop the bottle. It fell in the sand with a smack.

“You okay?” he asked, a smile twitching at the corners of his lips.

“Fine, thank you.” Emily picked the bottle up and shook it in the air to release any leftover grains before she chucked it back in the bag. Why was she so nervous? He’d had his hands all over her last night. She shimmied off her shorts and folded them, placing them in her chair and then she pulled her shirt over her head. When she did, she saw the way his eyes roamed her body despite his attempts to keep them on her face.

“Ready to swim?” she said.

They waded in together, the bay water just cool enough to be refreshing in the intense summer heat.

“Let’s play Marco Polo!” Clara said, swimming inland just a bit until she could touch. She was wearing bright orange floaties on her arms. “Do you know how to play that, Charlie?”

“Is it where someone closes his eyes and calls out ‘Marco’ while the others say ‘Polo’ and he tries to tag them?”

“Yes,” Clara said. “I play it with Daddy, and he’s really good. Do you want to play?”

“Okay,” he said.

“Yay!” Clara splashed around. “Close your eyes!”

He looked surprised. “You want me to say ‘Marco’?”

“Uh huh!”

Charlie’s gaze flicked over to Emily just before he shut his eyes, and she wondered if he was taking stock of her position in the water. He wouldn’t dare…. But the lightness in his attitude today made her think he might. She took a big step toward the shore as a wave came in, trying to cover the sound of her movement.

“Marco,” Charlie called, immediately turning to where Emily had been. She had to restrain herself from laughing. She moved toward Rachel. Charlie whipped around, zoning in on her movement. “Marco,” he said again.

“Polo,” she said quietly.

“Polo!” Clara yelled out.

Charlie waded toward Emily. She backed up out of his reach.

“Marco,” he said, a smile playing in his features. He knew he was close, she could tell.

“Polo,” she said, darting out of the way just as his hand came near her arm.

“Marco.” His strides were too large for her to escape and he was so close to her that she couldn’t possibly move fast enough. It was clear that he could hear the swoosh of the water and his reaction time was impeccable.

“Polo.”

Slowly, he raised his arms out of the water. And then, as quick as a flash, he grabbed her, tickling her sides and making her squeal as he opened his eyes. “Got you,” he said with a grin and let her go. “Your turn.”

“You think you’re slick,” Emily said, still recovering, and he laughed. She liked the way he looked at her when she’d made him laugh. “Well, Clara and I will both try to find
you
. How does that sound, Clara?” she said, turning to little Clara. Charlie raised his eyebrows, a flicker of excitement in his eyes.

“Yes, yes!” Clara cheered.

Emily waded over to Clara as Jeff and Rachel, both eyeing her, spread out. “Okay, Clara. Ready?” Clara closed her eyes and Emily did the same. They waited for everyone to get their positions before Clara called out, “Marco!”

“Polo.” Charlie’s voice was to Emily’s right. She started to move in that direction, the water swishing rapidly around her when he moved.

“Marco!” Clara said again, flapping around, trying to hear her mom as Rachel called out to her.

“Polo,” Charlie said. This time the voice was behind Emily. She could hear his amusement in the word.

“Marco,” she said this time, jolting quickly toward where the sound had come from. There was a loud splash.

“Polo,” he said with a laugh. Another splash.

Her stomach was fluttering every time she heard his voice. She knew where he was. Slowly and deliberately, she waded through the water, listening as the ripples made their sound.

“Marco.”

“Polo.”

With all her might, she tackled him, sending them both under water.

When they came back up, his arms were around her. She opened her eyes and his face was so close, his arms so strong that she wished they were in that water alone because she would’ve kissed him right there.

He pushed a strand of wet hair out of her face. “You got me,” he said with a grin.

She pulled out of his grasp with a giggle, turning toward the others.

“I got Mommy!” Clara yelled.

“Good job, Clara!” she said.

Clara swam over to the sand and got out, turning to Rachel, her limbs dripping wet. “I’m hungry, Mommy. Can we eat?” And just like that, the game was over.

E
mily and Charlie
stayed in the water while Jeff and Rachel took Clara in for an early dinner, a bath, and finally bedtime. They’d pulled in two lounger floats. Emily was on one, lying on her belly, holding on to Charlie’s float by the cup holder to keep them from drifting apart while he lay on his back. They bobbed together as the waves washed ashore from a passing boat.

“I like how close you are with your family,” he said out of nowhere, and she couldn’t help but feel happy. Perhaps she’d gotten him thinking.

There was a kite in the distance. It was so far up in the sky that it looked like a tiny rainbow speck among the clouds.

“Would you ever want to have a family of your own?” she asked, her eyes on the kite for a moment before she pulled her float up next to his and rested her chin on her hands.

“I’m not sure…” he said. “I don’t know if I’d be any good at it.”

She lifted her head. That was quite a big thing to admit. “None of us know if we’ll be any good at it. We have no way of knowing what little souls we’ll receive or what will fall in our paths.”

“I think all the time about how glad I am that I didn’t have kids when I got divorced. I wouldn’t be able to raise children alone, and there’s just no guarantee that your partner will be there.”

“You’re right. There are no guarantees. But I’d be willing to take that chance.”

“Why?”

She looked at him for long time, trying to get her thoughts straight. “So I can play Marco Polo and know that my child will remember it for the rest of his or her life. I can teach my child to drive Papa’s tractor. I can make Gram’s sugar cookies and that child will know the recipe that’s five generations old. Maybe when I’m Gram’s age, I’ll be able to have my child visit and bring her own children…”

“You’re keeping your grandfather’s tractor?”

“Of course. I’m going to drive it to work every day.” She was teasing because she didn’t want to think about how much of an eyesore it would be at the condo or imagine it decaying out in some junkyard somewhere because no one would want it. She was having a good day, and she wanted to keep it going.

Charlie chuckled at her joke, but she could see the same thoughts in his eyes.

“Are y’all gonna just stay out there and get all pruney or are you going to have some dinner?” Rachel called from the backyard, the kitchen door still open. “I ordered us a pizza. Jeff’s going to pick it up.”

W
hen Jeff had returned
, he and Charlie had the fire going in the fire pit and Emily had pulled the patio table over in front of it to give them a little light and keep the bugs away. Rachel, who’d brought the pizza box out with four beers, was tuning the radio.

“Did Clara go down okay?” Emily asked her sister.

“Yeah. I put her in Gram’s bed. I might just stay the night. We can all three fit in that big bed and then I wouldn’t have to wake her.”

“That’d be fine.”

“Do you have to work in the morning?”

“Yes, but I’m taking a half-day to watch Clara while you’re at your interview. Haven’t run it by the big boss yet,” she said, giving Charlie a wink, “but I’ve cleared it with Libby.”