Sweetheart Cottage (Cranberry Bay #1) (16 page)

Applause filled the room as the women hugged each other and quickly gathered their files and computer and returned to their seats.

“Bryan Shuster.” Tom boomed. “Riverboat Proposal.”

Bryan gathered his file and stepped toward the front of the room. He nodded to Cole, who was sitting at the back with his PowerPoint presentation. A drawing of the shiny riverboats, floating in the river outside of Cranberry Bay, flashed onto the screen. The room hushed and all eyes focused on the overhead screen.

“This,” Bryan began, “is a new set of riverboats I’d like to purchase for Cranberry Bay.” Easily he slid into his idea and outlined how the boats would improve their tourism. “It won’t solve Cranberry Bay’s problems overnight. But it’s a start to help our tourism and revenue, and we need to build that up more.”

Bryan talked through his presentation as he showed how the Riverboat Casinos could help with fund-raising, bring in new opportunities for events, and provide a boon to their local tourism economy through increased income.

“Questions?” Tom called.

“Who will fund this? Is it taxpayer money? I’m not paying any more taxes,” a voice called from the back of the room.

“Corporate sponsors have been sought. Our first one,” Bryan paused, “is my brother, Sawyer Shuster.”

Applause erupted in the room, and Bryan knew his idea had sold.

“Any more questions?” Tom asked.

The room fell silent.

“If there are no more questions,” Tom said. “Let’s take a vote. All those in favor say aye.”

Six voices filled the room. “Aye.”

“All those opposed.”

The table was silent.

“Motion carries. Cranberry Bay Riverboat Casinos is approved, and, with the proper permits submitted, can open for business in the spring. Meeting adjourned.”

Bryan closed his folder and found himself engulfed by residents who slapped him on the back and congratulated him. After the crowd cleared, Bryan searched the room for Rylee. A group of people clustered around Lisa, Katie, Sasha, and Ivy. Bryan expected to see Rylee’s blonde hair and hear her light laugh. But she was gone.

“Excuse me.” He strode toward his sister. He touched Lisa on the shoulder and asked. “Where is Rylee?’

“I’m sorry, Bryan,” Lisa said. Her eyes darkened with sympathy and compassion. “She left. She said she needed to talk to her Dad.”

Bryan squared his jaw. This wasn’t her fight to do alone.

“Dad?” Rylee walked into the living room. Warm light glowed from the stained-glass lamp, but the room was empty.

Raisin bounded off the couch with a thump. He shook himself, and she scowled at him. “You know you’re not supposed to be on the couch. What’s wrong with your dog bed?” She motioned toward the plush dog bed, which lay on the floor.

Raisin wagged his tail, and she rubbed behind his ears. “All right, just this once you can sleep on the couch. Where’s Dad?”

The water in the bathroom upstairs coursed through the pipes as a toilet flushed. Rylee looked up at the ceiling. She softened her shoulders and smiled. The plaster hadn’t been replaced, but not a drop leaked from the pipes running above her head. Jim had done his job well.

Rylee hung her jacket in the closet beside Dad’s black leather coat. She ran her hand down the leather of his left sleeve. As long as she could remember, Dad had always had a leather jacket. She remembered how the coat would be the last thing Dad slipped on before escorting Mom out for a night on the town. As a child, she had enjoyed watching Mom get ready for her date night with Dad. Mom always wore silky, shiny dresses and a pretty wrap around her shoulders. She sprayed perfume on her wrists and clipped on large dangling hoop earrings. Sometimes she spritzed Rylee with the same perfume and giggled as Rylee wrinkled her nose. Mom and Dad had seemed so happy on those date nights. Yet Rylee knew that underneath the smiles and laughter lurked the constant strain and worry from Dad’s gambling debts. Depending on how the evening played out, sometimes only Mom returned. Her shoulders tight with tension and all the laughter gone.

The knot tightened in Rylee’s stomach as she made her way into the kitchen and turned on lights in the hallway. Dad said he had quit the gambling habit, but once the riverboats came to town, Rylee suspected it’d be too easy for him to slip down to the boats and play just one hand of cards. He’d lie, of course, the way he always did, and tell her he wasn’t gambling, he was just hanging out with friends. But Rylee knew better. It wouldn’t be long before Dad would be back to his old habits, and the entire town of Cranberry Bay would see what had happened to their hero.

Rylee stared out the window and clenched the counter. She had tried to talk to Dad about his gambling before. He had been on a two-day spree and hadn’t come home. She called every hospital in the area, hoping that someone would tell her Dad had been admitted for a fight and was safe. An hour before her high school graduation ceremony, she slipped into her cap and gown. Dad walked into their small townhouse after she dressed. His eyes were rimmed with dark circles, a two-day growth on his face. She leapt at him. Her fists hit his solid chest, and she demanded he give up gambling.

Dad pushed her away, and she landed on the floor in a heap, her maroon gown wrapped around her legs.

“Don’t you ever talk to me about my gambling,” he said. “It’s none of your business. Always remember that.”

Stunned, Rylee could only stare as Dad walked out the door and left her to attend her high school graduation ceremony on her own. She was the only graduate in the auditorium who had no parent or aunt or uncle or grandparent to celebrate with her. She had left the next day for her summer in Cranberry Bay. She and Dad never talked about it again.

Rylee scooped a cup of dry dog food into Raisin’s silver bowl and placed it before the eager dog. She sat down at the kitchen table and rested her head in her hands. Her heart pounded. She had to confront Dad. She had to tell him she was still selling Grandma’s house. She needed her own life free from Dad and his debts. She’d buy her own place and restart her life. If Dad stayed in Cranberry Bay and gambled again, it wasn’t her responsibility to shelter him any more. She wasn’t going to help him out any more either. She would no longer take responsibility for her father’s addiction. She would no longer place his needs above her own.

“Rylee.” Dad strode into the kitchen. He carried his small black handbag. “I’m glad you’re home. I’ve got some exciting news to share with you.” Dad’s eyes glowed as he placed his handbag on the kitchen table. He moved a paisley chair cushion to the floor before easing into the chair.

“I’ve got to talk to you,” Rylee said. Her voice shook slightly.

Dad pulled his reading glasses from the top of his head and eyed her over the wire frames. “Everything okay with the young Bryan Shuster?”

“Yes,” Rylee shook her head. “It’s not about Bryan. Well,” she paused. “It is, but…”

“He’s a fine young man,” Dad opened up his laptop. “The Shuster family always was one of the best in Cranberry Bay.”

“I know,” Rylee said. “But that’s not really what I want to talk to you…”

“Can it wait?” Dad tapped the computer screen. “I need to take a little trip as soon as possible. I booked a midnight flight out of Portland. I’ve got a car coming for me in minutes.” He smiled at her in that knowing way that sent Rylee’s heart thumping in fear.

“I thought you were staying in Cranberry Bay?” Rylee stepped away from the table. She wanted to separate herself from her father with as much physical space as she could find. She stepped to the kitchen sink and leaned against the counter.

Dad typed into the computer and with a snap, shut the top. “You know,” he stood and stretched. “I’m not sure what I was thinking. The town is just too small for me. I know your grandparents loved it here, and you seem to love it here.” He winked. “But I need to be where the action is. I need to be in the heart of things.”

Rylee clutched the edges of the counter to steady herself. Words bubbled to the tips of her tongue, and her nerves tingled. She had to tell Dad no. She couldn’t support him any more, not at the cost of her own life. “I can’t go back to Vegas.”

“I know.” Dad stepped up beside her. “You’re going to San Diego. It’s a fine place for you, and you’ll do well. As soon as I take care of this investment opportunity, I’ll join you. By then, the house will have sold. You’ll have a new one all picked out, and you’ll be into your new job.”

“No,” Rylee turned to face Dad. Her eyes blazed at him, and her heart pounded. “I’m selling this house and staying in Cranberry Bay.”

Dad studied her. “I never realized how much you look like your Mom.”

“What?” Rylee narrowed her eyes.

“You look like your Mom.” Dad repeated. “She used to get this look, just like you have now.” He smiled at her. “It’s a good look.”

“I miss her,” Rylee said as tears bubbled in her throat. “So much she missed. So much I missed telling her.”

“I miss her too.” Dad placed his hand on her shoulders.

Tears pooled in Rylee’s eyes. “We did okay, Dad.”

“No.” Dad shook his head. “I should have said something to you ten years ago when you came back from Cranberry Bay. You were so happy. It was the happiest I’d ever seen you. You literally glowed and walked as if there was no ground beneath you. Grandma had called, and she told me you and the Shuster boy were in love. But I was selfish. I didn’t want you to leave. I couldn’t imagine life without you. So I threw a game. I found a fight to be in, and I landed in jail, just so you would know how much I needed you.”

Rylee took two steps away from her father. She shook her head. “You caused me to ruin my engagement with Bryan, but I could have said no to you. The truth is, I wasn’t ready. I wasn’t ready for what Bryan was asking. Cranberry Bay and Bryan scared me. If I married Bryan, I would become a part of this town. I wasn’t ready for that.”

“And you’re ready now?” Dad asked.

“I think so,” Rylee said. “But Dad, I can’t continue to lie about you either. I can’t continue to pretend. I have to tell the truth when people ask about you. You have an addiction. A gambling addiction.”

Dad’s eyes darkened with emotion. “It’s not right to continue to lie to people.”

Rylee stepped closer to her father. She smiled faintly. Her father still wasn’t ready to admit to his gambling addiction. But she couldn’t continue to live the lie.

From outside, a car door slammed, and Raisin barked.

“Your ride is here.” Rylee picked up Dad’s black bag. She followed him to the front door. Her insides felt light, as she left behind a weight she had carried for years.

In the living room, Dad turned to her. “Let me know when you’re going to marry that Shuster boy. I’ll be there to walk you down the aisle.”

“Oh.” Rylee flushed. “I don’t know…”

“Yes.” Dad wiggled his eyebrows at her. “You will marry him, and it won’t be too much longer. I predict I’ll be back in time for a summer wedding.”

Dad leaned over and kissed the top of her head. Then he opened the door and walked to the driveway, where a black town car’s headlights shone across the lawn.

Dad gave her a final wave and slipped into the car. Raisin nosed his head into her palm. She leaned down and buried her face in Raisin’s fur, unwilling to see the car pull out of the driveway. Dad planned to get back to Cranberry Bay, but she knew how his gambling addiction worked. She might never see him again.

“Rylee!”

Startled, Rylee lifted her head as Bryan hurried up the steps.

“Is everything okay?” He kneeled down beside her and gazed into her eyes.

Dad left,” Rylee said. “But yes, everything is okay.”

Bryan reached out his hand. He linked his fingers with hers and helped her to a standing position.

“Why don’t you come in, and I’ll explain everything?” Rylee said.

* * *

An hour later, after enjoying Rylee’s homemade chicken noodle soup and thick, cranberry bread, Bryan towel-dried a bowl and placed it on the counter. Rylee picked it up and their fingers touched. She smiled at him as the candle on the counter reflected the light in her eyes. Rylee had always been beautiful, but now her face reflected a new brightness, and her body moved a little bit more easily as it was finally free from the emotional confinement she had been in for years.

Bryan’s conscience tugged at his chest. He never wanted to lie to Rylee. She had been bathed in lies for so long. He never wanted to see her hurt because of something he failed to tell her. She deserved so much more than half-truths, lies, and deceit. It was what she’d lived with all her life, and he wouldn’t continue the pattern. Bryan folded the towel and cleared his throat.

“Rylee,” he said. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

Rylee stepped closer to him. “Yes?”

Every part of him cried out to stop now before it was too late. He could tuck the bet with Sawyer into the recesses of his mind and forget about it. But he couldn’t. There would be someone, somewhere who would tell her. He loved her too much to lie, and he had to tell her the truth, even if that truth meant she walked away from him for good.

“I haven’t been honest with you about something.” He looked over her head and out the darkened kitchen window.

A shadow slid over Rylee’s face. She crossed her hands over her chest.

Bryan’s chest hurt. He would do anything to take that look away, but he pressed forward. “When you first arrived in Cranberry Bay, Sawyer made a bet with me about you.”

“A bet?” Rylee’s voice sounded fragile. “About me?”

“I’m not proud of this,” Bryan squared his jaw.

Rylee’s mouth parted slightly, but she didn’t say anything.

“I needed money to fund the riverboats. The banks wouldn’t loan me anything. I had no credit history for something like the casinos.” Bryan swallowed hard. “Sawyer bet me that if I could convince you to stay in Cranberry Bay, he would give me the funding for the riverboats.”

“I was being used as a pawn in a bet? The time we spent together in…” Rylee’s voice trailed off. The hurt was evident in her eyes.

“No.” Bryan exploded suddenly. He wanted desperately to explain himself. “How I felt about you wasn’t a lie. I was lying to myself. When I saw you on the highway, I told myself I wasn’t still in love with you. I was lying to myself because I didn’t want to feel the hurt again when you left.”

Rylee’s eyes softened.

“But the truth is…” Bryan said. “I never stopped loving you, and I want you to know. I tried to marry someone else and go on with my life, and it didn’t work. I want you to know I have always loved you.” His voice broke in the emotion of his words.

Rylee took a step toward Bryan. She ran her hand down his face. “Did you win the bet?”

“I lost,” Bryan placed his hand over hers. He covered her small one with his large one. “I called it off. Sawyer agreed to fund the riverboats as a corporate sponsor.”

Rylee stepped closer to him. “You won,” she said quietly. “It just wasn’t the bet you expected to win.”

Bryan gazed down at her slightly parted mouth. He whispered against her cheek. “You’re right.” He placed his lips on hers. “I won the best bet of them all. I won your love.”