Just One Kiss: A Harbor Pointe Novel

by Courtney Walsh

“Jaden, you’re sure you’re okay to meet me at the party?” she called up the stairs.

  “I’m sure,” her son hollered. “No way I’m going with you and the doctor. That’s just weird.”

  Carly saw David’s car pull up in front of the house, and she hurried outside as he exited the vehicle.

  He met her on the sidewalk.

  “Hey,” she said.

  He smiled. “Hi. You look very nice tonight.”

  “Thanks, David.”

  “Listen, Carly, I wanted to apologize. I realize my invitation to go on the boat the other day may have seemed insensitive. I was thinking it would give you something to look forward to, but I think it came across as a bit callous. I deal with this every day, but I know you don’t, and I know Jaden is your son. I’ll respect your feelings as you work through everything.”

  After a surprised pause, Carly shifted. “I appreciate that.”

  “And I’m glad you didn’t cancel on me tonight because of my stupidity.”

  She forced a smile, feeling guilty about the number of times she’d nearly called the whole thing off.

  After all, she hadn’t exactly thought this through. She’d have to introduce David to her family. She’d have to answer questions about who he was and about the nature of their relationship. She’d have to stick by his side all night because he wouldn’t know many people, and that was the polite thing to do.

  How would she focus on Quinn if she was tending to David?

  It all seemed like a bad idea now that she was in it. But she was in it nonetheless.

  “I appreciate you coming with me,” she said. And she did. It was a strange mix of being thankful she had a plus one and being anxious for the same reason.

  “Of course,” he said. “I’m looking forward to spending some non-medical-related time with you.” He opened the car door for her and she got inside.

  “I’ve never been to the Harbor Pointe Pavilion,” he said as he restarted the engine.

  “It’s beautiful,” Carly said. “Perfect place for an engagement party. Or a wedding, I guess.”

  “And your whole family will be there?”

  “It’s just my dad and sister and I,” Carly said. “And then my dad’s friends, who are kind of like family, I guess.” She told him about Judge, Calvin and Beverly and hoped he asked no more questions.

  “And your mom?”

  Carly stifled a groan. “She left when I was fourteen.”

  Indifferent.

  “Oh, I’m sorry.”

  “She has a new family now.” Carly didn’t care—not really—she’d written her mother off years ago. Quinn was the one who battled feelings of abandonment—at least from their mother. Though, in those early days when Jaden was a baby, it sure would’ve been nice to have a mother to rely on.

  To have anyone to rely on.

  But it was what it was. She was better for it. Stronger. Independent.

  At least he hadn’t asked about her and Josh. At least that wound could stay properly covered. For now, anyway.

  They arrived at the pavilion, exited the car and walked toward the music, the sound of voices filling the night air. The mid-June weather was warm but not hot, the sun, still hanging low in the sky, bathing Harbor Pointe in a glorious orange and pink hue.

  The Harbor Pointe Pavilion had an outdoor garden that led into a community building, making it the perfect spot for any event. Quinn had a knack for decorating spaces like this, and if Carly knew her sister, she’d gone all out.

  They walked through the arch that led to the outdoor part of the pavilion and Carly drank in the ambience her sister had created.

  If I ever get married, Quinn will be my matron of honor and my wedding planner.

  White lights twinkled and sprays of every kind of white flower Quinn could’ve dreamed up decorated the open-air space.

  David sneezed. Then sneezed again. “It’s a lot of flowers.”

  Carly’s eyes went wide. “Are you allergic?”

  He nodded and sneezed again.

  Quinn rushed over, her face beaming, looking every bit a soon-to-be blushing bride. “You made it.”

  “Of course I made it.” Carly hugged her sister and David sneezed. “This is David. David, my sister, Quinn.”

  He looked down at the hand that had just caught his last sneeze and then at Quinn.

  “It’s okay, I’ll pretend you’re shaking my hand,” she said.

  Grady appeared at her side. “Hey, Carly.”

  “Grady, this is David.”

  “Right,” Grady said. “Jaden’s doctor.”

  David sneezed, his eyes reddening with every second that they stood there. “And you’re the snowboarder.”

  Grady smiled graciously. “Downhill skier.”

  David snapped. “Right. Skier.”

  “Do you ski, David?” Quinn asked.

  “Not even a little bit,” he said. “I can’t stand the cold.”

  Quinn smiled. “And you live in Michigan?”

  David laughed. “Hopefully not for too long.”

  Quinn’s eyebrows shot up. “Really?”

  David shrugged. “So many places to see.”

  An awkward pause hung there like something stale in the air.

  “Hey, there he is,” Grady said as he looked past Carly and toward the archway.

  Carly followed Grady’s gaze and found Jaden standing behind her, wearing the clothes she’d laid out for him. He looked handsome and grown up in black dress pants, a blue dress shirt and a tie. He tugged at his collar. “This is so uncomfortable.”

  Grady laughed. “But you look sharp, dude.”

  Carly had been so grateful for Grady over the last year, though she had to wonder if it was her sister’s fiancé who’d encouraged Jaden to give Josh another chance. She didn’t know the whole story, but she knew his relationship with his own father had been tense, and maybe he had some regrets.

  As it was, Jaden looked up to the man as more than a skiing coach, and so far Grady hadn’t let Jaden down.

  She prayed he never did, though her son apparently had a higher capacity for forgiveness than his mother.

  “You do look sharp,” Quinn said.

  “It pays to listen to your mother, especially about fashion,” Carly said.

  “I’d rather be in my track pants, but I’ll suffer for you, Aunt Quinn,” Jaden said with a grin.

  Couples and small groups strode in through the decorated archway, and then, as if parting like the Red Sea, they dispersed to reveal Josh standing at the entrance. He spotted them and waved.

  And now he was coming over here.

  Carly’s smile faded. She looked at Quinn and widened her eyes, as if to ask, Why didn’t you tell me you invited Josh?

  But Quinn’s own widened eyes seemed to convey that she had no idea herself. She glanced at David, who sneezed again.

  As Josh reached them, Jaden clapped a hand around Josh’s shoulder and smiled. “Hope it’s okay I invited Dad.”

  Josh carried a small box professionally wrapped in white and silver paper with a big silver bow. He held it out toward Quinn. “Congratulations.”

  “You got me a gift?” Quinn looked as surprised as Carly felt.

  Josh’s expression changed. “Well, it’s for both of you.” He motioned toward Grady. “Was I not supposed to?”

  “Heck no, man, we’ll take your gift.” Grady reached out and took the box. “I’ll go put this on the table.” He kissed Quinn on the cheek and walked away.

  “Thanks for that, Josh,” Quinn said. “You didn’t have to do that.”

  He shrugged. “I wanted to.”

  Knowing the new wealthy Josh, whatever was in that box was probably really nice. And really expensive. He’d made a habit of spoiling Jaden over the last year and now, paying for all of her expenses for a month? No one could say he wasn’t generous with his new fortune.

  “Hey, Doc, since you’re here, could I have a word?” Josh turned toward David.

  Dav
id sneezed.

  He put a hand on David’s shoulder and walked him away from the group. Carly followed. No way she was letting her ex talk to her date without her there.

  Josh didn’t seem to mind. “I was doing a little research about Long QT Syndrome.”

  Carly had been doing some research herself. And she had planned to discuss it with David later that night if an opportunity presented itself. Perhaps that was the difference between her and Josh—he didn’t wait for opportunities. He created them.

  “The internet is an unreliable—ah-choo—source of information.” David squeezed the bridge of his nose.

  “But I’ve read multiple stories about athletes who are competing with ICDs. It seems like an out-of-date practice—” Josh stopped as David sneezed—“to prevent high levels of physical activities simply because there’s a fear the ICD will malfunction. There were no instances where this happened, so most sports allow participation. Do you think that means Jaden might still be able to compete?”

  “I’d have to do some checking myself, but Dr. Roby is one of the best,” David said. “I’d trust his judgment.” Another sneeze.

  “Maybe we should find you some allergy medicine,” Carly said.

  “Actually.” David sneezed again. “Maybe I should head out.” He looked at Carly through bloodshot eyes. “When it gets like this, nothing really helps.”

  “Okay,” Carly said. “I’ll walk you out.”

  They ducked past Josh and Jaden and walked back out into the flowerless air of the parking lot.

  “I’m sorry about that,” she said. “We’re all just trying to wrap our heads around a world in which Jaden isn’t able to ski. It’s really become such a part of him.”

  “I understand, but better to not ski and stay alive, right?” He laughed.

  Carly didn’t.

  They reached his car, and aggravation swirled inside her. David didn’t understand. Nobody did.

  Except Josh.

  “I’m so sorry about all the flowers,” Carly said. “My sister went a little overboard.”

  He sneezed again, then held up a hand. “I’m the one who’s sorry. I really wanted to spend the evening with you and meet your family.” Another sneeze.

  “Another time.”

  David nodded, gave her an awkward hug and turned away in time for another sneeze. “I’ll call you.”

  She waved goodbye as he got in his car and drove away.

  So much for not showing up dateless.

  Back inside the pavilion, just outside the community building, a DJ had started the music and a few brave souls were out on the makeshift dance floor underneath swaths of white tulle strung with white lights.

  They called this the golden hour for a reason. Everything and everyone looked even more beautiful bathed in the last tinge of light as the sun took its final bow for the day.

  “Is he okay?” Quinn asked when Carly returned. “I had no idea he was so allergic to flowers. How sad.”

  Carly grabbed an appetizer off a tray carried by a server passing by. “Me neither.”

  “Are you bummed?”

  Carly shrugged.

  Quinn gasped. “You’re not bummed?”

  “I mean, I feel like a loser being here without a date.” She popped what turned out to be a crab wonton into her mouth and chewed it up. “These are good.” She looked around for another server, happy to flag one down. She took two more appetizers from the tray.

  “I mean, there’s always Josh,” Quinn said.

  Carly followed her sister’s gaze to the other side of the dance floor where Josh sat at a table next to Cole Turner and Wes Thompson, another guy they’d gone to high school with. Josh met her eyes instantly, as if he’d been waiting for her to look over.

  “Very funny.” She turned away.

  “So, you’re not having, you know . . . feelings for him, are you?” Quinn’s eyebrows popped up in expectancy.

  “Are you delusional?” Carly ate another wonton.

  Quinn clicked her phone to life, scrolled for a minute, then held it out with the screen facing Carly. “Okay, so how do you explain this?”

  Carly took the phone and looked at a photo her sister had pulled up on the screen. Staring back at her was the image of her, Jaden and Josh sitting at their table at Dockside a few nights before.

  “Why do you have a picture of us?”

  Quinn shrugged. “I’ve got eyes all over town, big sister.”

  Carly rolled her eyes. “They wanted to get a pizza after Jaden’s appointment.” She handed the phone back to Quinn and walked away, toward the outdoor bar on the opposite side of the space from where Josh and his friends sat.

  To her dismay, Quinn followed her.

  “Pretty cozy pizza,” Quinn said. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were all one happy little family.”

  Carly groaned. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

  “It’s not so ridiculous.” Quinn leaned against the bar and surveyed the space, eyes landing on Josh and his table of brooders.

  “Quinn,” Carly said, “this is Josh we’re talking about.”

  Quinn met her gaze. “Exactly.” She faced Carly. “All I know is, I see the way he looks at you, and it makes me nervous.”

  “Because you don’t want me to get hurt, I know.”

  Quinn put a hand on Carly’s arm. “You kind of lose your mind when it comes to Josh. He has this strange spell over you.”

  “He doesn’t have anything over me anymore,” Carly argued.

  “Just be careful is all I’m saying,” Quinn said.

  “I don’t need to be careful. Only a fool would make that same mistake twice. You know how long it took me to get over Josh leaving.”

  Quinn stilled. “Carly, some days I wonder if you’re still not over it.”

  Carly’s jaw went slack as she searched her mind for a proper response to this lunacy, but she came up empty.

  “There you are.” Grady came up behind Quinn and wrapped his arms around her. “Carly, can I steal her for a minute?”

  Carly nodded. “Of course.” She leaned against the bar and watched as they walked off onto the dance floor, perfectly in sync, as if they were made for each other. What did Carly have to do to find someone like that?

  She could be strong and independent all she wanted, but if she was really honest with herself, she longed for what her sister had.

  She kept her eyes on the happy couple for several seconds, marveling at the way they moved, the way Quinn looked so comfortable in Grady’s arms. It hadn’t been that many months ago her sister despised the man.

  Now look at them.

  They almost made her believe true love did exist. Almost.

  The activity in the room kicked up, but Carly didn’t move. She couldn’t. She was lost in thoughts she wished she wasn’t having. Thoughts such as Will it ever be my turn, Lord?

  “You okay?”

  She turned and found Josh on the stool next to her, facing the opposite direction. Her body tensed at his nearness. How had she failed to notice he was right beside her? And how long had he been sitting there?

  “I’m fine, why?” she asked.

  He shrugged. “You’ve got your deep in thought look on.”

  “I do not.” She stayed unmoving, wishing he would leave her alone. She would be able to think so much better if he wasn’t so close.

  “You do, actually,” he said. “It’s nice to know after all this time some things haven’t changed.”

  He was staring at her, she could feel it. Their heads faced opposite directions, but he’d positioned himself so they were very close. Too close. And now his eyes practically demanded her attention.

  “I’ve changed,” she said without looking at him.

  The bartender slid a soda toward him—which he must’ve ordered when she was in her daze—and Josh took a drink, leaning back ever so slightly. “Not too much, I hope.”

  She turned toward him, which, she quickly discovered, was a big mistake. No
w their faces were only inches apart—so close she could feel his breath on her cheek—and his eyes grabbed on to hers and left her absolutely powerless to look away.

  She stayed still as he searched her like a detective looking for clues, and she tried—failed—to ignore the thoughts and emotions of the last sixteen years.

  Maybe Quinn was right—he cast a spell.

  Why did he still have such a hold on her? Where was her carefully cared for anger when she needed it?

  You are stronger than this, Carly.

  Finally, she pulled her gaze from his and went back to staring at the couples on the dance floor.

  Josh pushed back slightly on the stool, leaned in so close his lips nearly brushed across her cheek and whispered, “You’re still as beautiful as ever.”

  And then he walked away.

  15

  Josh had left the engagement party with the image of Carly firmly pressed inside his mind, like a drying flower between the pages of a book.

  How was he supposed to function when she looked like that? Smelled like that? Yes, he’d been close enough to inhale the scent of vanilla and stupid enough to go in closer, as if he needed more to survive.

  Now, lying barely awake in Cole’s guest room, Josh heard the indistinct sound of voices in the next room—Cole’s and a woman’s.

  He rubbed his eyes open and sat up in bed, sure he shouldn’t be listening to what was definitely an argument.

  “You can’t just show up like this, Gemma,” Cole said.

  “It’s my house too,” she said.

  “Not anymore it’s not.”

  A pause.

  “Just get your stuff and go,” he said.

  “Cole, it doesn’t have to be like this.”

  No response but a slamming door.

  Josh’s friend had never been one for conversation, but whatever had gone down between him and Gemma had made him even more reclusive and withdrawn.

  Josh pulled the guest room door open and walked into the hallway just in time to see Gemma take her wedding ring off, put it on the counter and walk out the door.

  He’d overstayed his welcome at Cole’s—he was sure the man would much rather be having this conversation with his wife without Josh in the next room. And while most people would like company in times of crisis, Cole wasn’t like most people. He did better on his own, and he always had.