Trapped in Tourist Town (21 page)

• • •

By the time they had left the hospital, there weren't any restaurants in town that were still open. So they'd ended up back at Logan's, raiding the glass case for day-old pastries and slightly fresher thumbprint cookies. Cady grabbed herself a Diet Coke and fixed Burke a latte before he could insist she not go to the trouble. Sitting side by side at the counter, he watched her scoop a cherry out of her cheese Danish with her finger and pop it into her mouth. Burke stared down into his steaming mug.

“You doing okay?” He sent her a sidelong glance, unsure of what to say.

“I was in the worst self-absorbed snit in the world before you came in to the bakery earlier. And then Chase comes flying in to tell us about Dad. Really puts things in perspective, you know?”

She hadn't answered his question. Not really. Burke slid a cookie from his plate onto hers, earning him a grin. He'd been worried about how he'd handle things if she broke down in a sobbing mess. He sensed the worst was past.

“My dad is going to be okay. So I'm going to be okay. Okay?” Her smile stretched a little wider.

Cady nibbled at the cookie, washing it down with a sip from her soda can. She nudged his foot with the side of her sneaker, peeking out at him from under her eyelashes.

“I shouldn't have interrupted your father/daughter time.”

“You were checking up on him.”

“Pretty pathetic that I care more about Wallace than I do about my own father, huh?”

“You tell me. Is your father deserving of your concern?” She pushed her plate aside and grasped one of his hands. “Maybe now would be a good time to catch me up on what happened when you met with him in New York.”

Taking a deep breath, he blew it out and rehashed his meeting in his father's office. If he'd thought he had processed it, compartmentalized it, and stuffed it way down where it could no longer bother him, he was mistaken. Snakes roiled in the pit of his stomach and a simmering anger he hadn't realized was there began to boil to the surface. Even the soft touch of Cady's thumb rubbing his hand barely had the calming effect he knew she intended.

He told her about having to wait through the conference call. He told her how he'd started browsing through the knickknacks. He told her about the photos and how he'd slowly put two and two together and come up with a conclusion that was surprising at best, sickening at worst.

Gently, he pulled his hand away and pretended to focus on the latte that had long since cooled off. He studied a scratch in the worn Formica.
It was no big deal.
Still,
he was scared to look at Cady. What would she think of a man who had essentially been tossed aside by his own father in favor of a younger, better version of himself?

“So, yeah, I won't be going back to New York any time soon.”

He thought he saw her wince and he wanted like hell to apologize. But he couldn't. He meant it. Even if she moved there tomorrow, Cady would have to come back to Scallop Shores if she wanted to see him. Maybe he'd feel differently down the road—like
years
down the road. If he could let go of the hurt and the anger long enough to associate his old world with something besides the family he'd effectively written off.

“I don't blame you.”

Bracing himself, he lifted his gaze to Cady's face. She looked like she was about to cry. But not
because
of him. For him. She swatted at an errant tear and tightened her jaw. She reached out a hand, as though giving him plenty of time to back away from the kind gesture, and cupped his cheek.

“Oh, Burke. This explains so much. The new house. The new car. Adopting a dog? I thought you were rushing into things. I didn't understand your compulsion to fit into Scallop Shores so badly.”

“Yeah, the house, I might have rushed. The car, I needed. You said yourself that I'd have to give back the rental. And Bandit? The family that had rented the cottage nearest mine just left him. I wasn't planning to adopt a dog. But you have to admit that he came along at an eerily perfect time in my life.”

They sat quietly for a moment. Burke unclenched the fist he hadn't realize he'd been holding onto, flexing his fingers a few times for good measure. His father's betrayal still stung. He felt embarrassed, humiliated, and belittled. But having someone else to share this shameful secret with made it easier to bear. Fate could be a cruel bitch, but fate had introduced him to Cady Eaton and her family, and for that, he'd be eternally grateful.

If she could capture one perfect moment in time, it would be this one. Unwilling to open her eyes just yet, Cady pressed her face to Burke's chest, happy beyond words that he had agreed to stay the night. A light dusting of hair tickled her nose and she fought the urge to sneeze.

“Good morning.” She could feel the deep rumble of his words vibrate through her skin.

“How did you know I was awake?”

“I felt you smile.”

Cady lifted her head and peered up at him through what she could only assume was a raging case of bedhead.

“I'm happy you stayed.”

“There isn't any other place I'd rather be.” His tone was matter of fact. It wasn't a line and it didn't sound like something he felt obligated to say.

A glance at the clock showed Cady they had about an hour before she would have to get ready to open the bakery. She traced the outline of his ribs with her fingertips, enjoyed the rough texture of his leg as she moved her thigh up the length of it. She felt a rising panic at the passing of time. This moment they had together was fleeting. The time she had left to spend with him and her family, it would be over far too soon.

Burke rolled her onto her back, pressing her into the mattress as he covered her body with his own. His whiskers tripped nerve endings along the column of her sensitive neck. Filling her senses with his scent, Cady blocked out the insistent worrisome chatter that sounded more like a ticking clock.

“I need you ... now.” His breathy declaration in her ear sent a shivery thrill straight to her center.

“Yes.” She scraped her fingernails down the long expanse of his back, opening her thighs as she tilted up in invitation.

Cady gasped as he stretched her, seating himself fully in the first thrust. Yes. This. His hips moved quickly and she found herself having to grab his backside to keep up. He left a path of open-mouthed kisses everywhere he could find, whispering a litany of praises, of needs, of promises.

Arching her back, she tried to get even closer. Head thrashing on the pillow, she moaned, equal parts passion and frustration. Blessedly perceptive, Burke paused to lift her hip, hooking her leg over his shoulder. With a long intense stare, he drove into her again, stealing her breath and eliciting a shout that was sure to be heard by anyone on Main Street.

They raced to their finish together, encouraging each other with grunts and soft words. So close. She was so close. Staring sightlessly ahead, Cady strained every muscle she had. Searching for what, she wasn't sure. With a hoarse cry, Burke came apart. Again, as though he could read her thoughts, he changed his angle just right, pushing forward and guiding her into her own sweet ending. Together they crumpled to the mattress, replete.

The only sound in the room for several minutes was their combined panting. Cady actually saw stars as she gulped in lungfuls of air. Her muscles deliciously lax, she stared up at the ceiling. This was all she needed.

She'd written her letter of resignation to Mr. Logan yesterday. Today she was supposed to mail it to him but—where was he this week? It didn't matter. She wasn't going through with it. Everyone she loved, yes, she was including Burke in this blanket declaration, was in Scallop Shores. There was no choice. She had to stay.

“I'm not going.”

“Of course you're going. You need to see this through.”

What the hell? They'd just shared an incredible moment of passion and he was still pushing her to leave town? Cady sat up in bed, her expression a mixture of anger, hurt, and confusion.

“Everyone I ... care for ... is here. If I move to the city, I have no one.”

“Nothing has changed, Cady. Before I came along, you were willing to strike out on your own. You had plans, dreams. You were willing to leave your loved ones behind to explore them. Don't let go of that now.”

She drew her knees up to her chin and hugged them tightly. He was right. She was caving too easily. Her father's heart attack had scared them all, but he was going to be just fine.

Burke sat up, nudged her with his shoulder, and turned her to face him.

“Do you want to run the bakery for a dick like Logan for the rest of your life? A guy who can't appreciate your ideas to bring more money and customers into his business?”

“Well, when you put it that way.” She sat up straighter. It felt good to have someone in her camp for once.

“Say money was not an issue. If you could do anything you wanted, what would you do? Would you want to work for someone else? And I'm not saying there is anything wrong with that, as long as your boss is someone you can like and respect and who treats you the way you deserve.”

Cady chewed at her bottom lip, pondering the question. She'd been so focused on just getting to New York that she hadn't constructed a five-year or ten-year plan. What did she really want? A smile slowly spread across her face as she thought of those order catalogs downstairs.

“I want my own coffee shop. Dedicated first and foremost to coffee, but I'd still carry pastries, breakfast sandwiches, paninis.” She was on a roll.

“There would be a cozy fireplace off to the side. You know how they used to have those big pot-bellied stoves in the old general stores? And they'd set up a checkerboard on an old whiskey barrel.”

“Sounds like you're catering to Old Man Feeney and his buddies.”

He wasn't supposed to have noticed that. Cady backpedaled quickly.

“Well, I've got to go with what I know, right? New York is a big place. It can't be completely populated with twentysomethings jetting off to their important jobs in the huge high rises. There have to be folks looking to slow down, take a load off.

“And not just retirees. Moms looking for a chance to decompress while their kids play.” Her eyes lit up and she clamped her lips together to keep from squealing in excitement as her imaginary coffee shop began to take shape.

“Kids and a fireplace?” Burke's brow arced.

“It can be done. It can
so
be done.” She bumped her shoulder into his. “Are you on my team or what?”

“I am
so
on your team.” His grin was indulgent.

She stuck her tongue out at him and continued.

“There would be a basket of toys. Oh—maybe a play kitchen! How cute would that be?”

“And when you aren't working at your amazing new coffee shop? You are soaking up the city life? What is it you can't get in Scallop Shores that you know you'll get in the city?” He wasn't talking her out of this, she knew. He was merely curious.

“Here, every day is the same old, same old. I mean, there is only one streetlight in town. No one ever does anything exciting. People mark the passing of days by the changing of the seasons. Tourist season, foliage season, holiday season, and muddy season.” She sighed.

She snuggled against him. “I'd seek out cultural experiences. I look forward to having more restaurant choices than deep-fried seafood or mom-and-pop American fare. I've never tried Indian or Thai. I'm curious about those dim sum places. And all those food trucks we saw when we were there? I'm going to be so busy!”

“And who will be joining you for these restaurant excursions?”

Was Burke jealous? She couldn't help the smile that question elicited, or the gentle squeeze on her heart.

“I thought part of the adventure would be learning to dine alone.”

Cady's smile faltered when she realized it worked both ways. She thought of Burke staying in Scallop Shores and all the single women who would consider themselves lucky to snag such a gorgeous new member of the community. And if they ever learned that the man was part of the Sanders hotel dynasty, look out!

Seeming to sense her flagging enthusiasm, Burke squeezed her knee and brought one of her hands to his mouth for the sweetest kiss.

“There are some great little neighborhoods where I can totally picture your coffee shop. But where would you live? If you find an apartment above your shop, wouldn't that take away a lot of the adventure?”

“Yeah, I need a commute.” She agreed, nodding.

“What if you had a move-in-ready place? Somewhere with a heated pool? You could do laps in the morning.”

“Oh, I couldn't afford a place like that.” Cady snorted. “I'll be lucky if I can afford a place with a basement laundry room.”

“Well, say there's this place. And it's just sitting empty. With a rooftop pool ...” He let the description linger in the air.

Okay, she was a little slow on the uptake, but did he mean what she thought he meant? Her eyes widened and she grasped his face in both hands, turning him to look at her head on. His eyes danced with merriment and his toothy grin suggested he was enjoying this torture.

“You do
not
mean what I think you do!” She leaned even closer, pressing her nose to his.

“My apartment is yours if you want it.”

She backed away as though he'd burned her. No freaking way! Would he laugh outright if she pinched herself?

“I thought your parents bought that penthouse. Isn't it in their name?”

“Actually the deed is now in your name. My dad thought he was buying me off with that trophy CEO position. Let's just say I negotiated a new deal.”

“I can't ... I couldn't ...” She was feeling lightheaded.

“It's done. It's yours. And don't worry about taxes or anything. I made sure you would be living there free and clear.”