by Carol Henry
“I’m sorry if you’re getting the wrong impression, Gwen. But I’m not ready for a relationship. I’m pretty sure my sister is behind this set-up. And it isn’t fair to you—or me.”
“I don’t understand.” Her eyes wide, she sat up, shoulders pulled back, ready to defend her resolve that they did have a relationship.
“You know Bethany was supposed to join us today, right?”
“Well, yes. But that doesn’t have anything to do with us.”
“You’re right, Gwendolyn, because there really is nothing between us, there is no us, just friendship. That’s all it ever was, all it will ever be. I’m sorry, I don’t know how else to put this, but I need to be frank. I don’t love you, and I’m not looking for a fling of any kind. I’ve told Bethany a number of times, but she doesn’t listen.”
He watched Gwen stand and rush to the window at the back of the solar. Shit! He hoped she wasn’t going to cry. He hated tears. He stood, and in slow motion, made his way to her side.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“At least you were honest. I can’t believe I’ve fallen for Bethany’s ploy. Again.”
“Yes, well, she can be a handful when it comes to matters of the heart. If it makes you feel any better, you aren’t the first one I’ve had to turn down. Honestly, Gwen, you deserve better. Stop living in Bethany’s romantic world of fairy tales and find your own heart’s desire.”
“What makes you think you aren’t mine?”
“I never was. Bethany wanted us to be each other’s heart’s desire because she wanted us to find the same happiness she’s found with Ed.”
****
The sun shifted west across another clear brilliant sky as Gavin made his way up Main Street, leaving Bar Harbor’s active wharf behind. Hands in pockets, he pondered the day’s events spent with Gwen on Frenchman Bay. Seeing her again after all this time warmed his insides as he thought about the final hug and goodbye kiss they’d exchanged on the yacht an hour ago. At least they had parted as friends. Bethany’s college friend had been like part of the family back in the day. He knew his sister had hopes he and Gwendolyn would become more than friends. As much as Gavin had adored Gwendolyn then, she wasn’t the one for him. Now? Now he was going to have to speak to Bethany and tell her to stop interfering in his love life.
And Gwendolyn’s.
He turned the corner of Main and Cottage and headed back to the office in anticipation of seeing Nora. He needed to apologize to her. He’d been curt to her this morning. He hadn’t meant to be, but his emotions were going haywire where she was concerned. He didn’t know where their relationship was headed. True, he was growing more than fond of her. But he was knee-deep in trying to rebuild the family business, a time-consuming job. He didn’t have time for a relationship of any kind.
Still, he couldn’t stop thinking about how she had felt in his arms, her soft skin, and that kiss last night. And her ardent response.
She was as attracted to him as he was to her.
About to enter the office, he turned the handle, but the door remained shut. Locked! He checked his watch and then retrieved his building keys, unlocked the door, entered, and stopped short. The reception area was dark. Where was Nora?
Chapter Eleven
It wasn’t closing time, so where the hell was Nora? Had she had an emergency and had to leave?
He searched her desk for a note. Nothing! His concern was overshadowed by a niggling suspicion that perhaps Nora’s absence might have something to do with Gwendolyn showing up and him spending the day with her. Especially after the kiss they had shared last night. His heart thumped in his chest just thinking about the possibility of her being upset with him to the point she felt she had to leave the office early. Hopefully, she hadn’t quit.
Crap! This was exactly why he had no time for a relationship, let alone an office relationship.
He trekked to his lab but found no release in checking his latest results on the samples he’d taken earlier in the week. As it stood, he had no answers for the McClintock Fisheries clamoring for results. He picked up the phone and put a call in to the Lobster Cove Coast Guard. Perhaps they had come up with a few leads of their own this past week.
Petty Officer Calla Hutchins picked up on the first ring.
“Hello, Officer Hutchins, Gavin Redmond here. Does Officer Bennson have any new information to share in regards to the McClintock case?”
“We’ve been keeping a close watch on a new fishing operation off the coast of Canada. They’re small, but they seem to be doing a stroke of business. How about you? Have you uncovered any new leads on your end?”
“Possibly. I discovered a knife with an interesting looking emblem where one of the McClintock’s nets was cut. I’ve been trying to identify the markings but haven’t come up with anything yet.”
“Any fingerprints?”
“Negative. Not surprising, but the markings on the knife look foreign. I’m thinking Norwegian, at least Scandinavian.”
“Bring it in. We have a file we can search. We can see if it matches one from our previous cases.”
“I can be there in about an hour. Will that work for you?”
“I’ll be here. I’ll have a few files open so we can go over them together.”
“Great. See you soon.”
He hung up, retrieved the box with the knife, locked the office for the night, and headed for Lobster Cove. His mind more on Nora Spears and why she had left early than on the McClintock case.
****
“You wicked friend,” Nora whispered to Jackie the first chance she got after meeting her at Ned’s Lobster Shack. “I told you I didn’t want to be set up with Robert Wells.”
“You said you’d think about it. And if I know you, you wouldn’t give it a single thought.”
She shouldn’t have been surprised when she walked into Ned’s to find the tall, dark, and handsome friend of Brad’s smiling at her as if they were already a twosome. He was congenial, warm, friendly, and politely annoying to the point he was too cloying. Too soon. Thankfully, he seemed to take her cold shoulder in stride and backed off, retreating with Brad and the boys to check out the fish tanks on the opposite side of the room.
“He’s perfect,” Jackie continued, watching the men cross to the tanks.
“So I see. However, I’m not interested, Jackie.”
She glanced at Robert. He was handsome with sparkling eyes to match his warm smile. But his interest in a long-term relationship wasn’t there. Nor was hers.
“You know love can’t be turned on or off at will, Jackie. It will take time to find someone. In the meantime, I don’t need a hook-up, blind date, or friend of a friend. Robert seems like a nice person. If he really is looking for someone, he needs to not come on so strong so soon to every woman he meets for the first time.”
“He’s only in town for a couple of days.” Jackie sipped from her tall frosted glass and leaned forward. “The least you can do is go out with him and keep him company.”
Nora leaned forward and whispered across the table. “I can’t believe you’re asking me to go there. No! The answer is no, Jackie. I don’t want to encourage him. Let it go.”
“Okay. At least stay a little longer and enjoy the evening. What can it hurt?” Jackie gave in with a deep sigh.
“Another iced tea and then I need to go home and finish packing, more like sorting through the last-minute items. I can’t wait to get totally moved in this weekend.”
“Need any help?” Jackie’s grin and raised eyebrows were telling.
“Don’t you even suggest asking Brad and Robert to help.”
“Why not let us help?”
“I can handle this part on my own. We’ve got most of my things moved, thanks to Gavin. If I need help, I’ll let you know.”
No way she wanted to enlist Robert’s help. It would only encourage him.
Thankfully Timmy and Cody rushed back to the table, breaking the
tension with their excitement at seeing all the live fish in the tanks. Brad and Robert followed more sedately.
“Mom, you should see the big claws on the giant lobster in the big tank. They were this big.” Timmy’s excitement, as he held up his arms and stretched them out either side to indicate the size of the lobster, brought a smile to everyone’s faces. The two boys talked nonstop as they sat down on either side of Jackie.
Robert ordered a new round of drinks for everyone, soda for the boys, then proceeded to sit down next to her. His leg bumped against hers as he leaned in toward her. She ignored the words he whispered in her ear, as she looked up and spotted Gavin entering the eatery.
Their eyes met. Her heart skipped a beat. Like a tennis match, Gavin’s eyes swiveled from hers to Robert’s and back again. He raised his left eyebrow in question. What? He had the nerve to question her? What was it to him if she was seeing someone? After all, he’d spent the day with Gwendolyn Rose.
She raised her own eyebrow, daring him to question her. He nodded, then walked past the table to the other side of the room to place his order. Seeing Gavin tonight and being hurt by his actions had only made things more complicated. Oh, Lordy, how was she going to face him in the morning?
Still, she was drawn to his tall, fit physique—his dark hair brushed back from his face as he waited in line to order his takeaway meal. He was wearing a white, button-down, cotton shirt with rolled-up sleeves and a pair of black slacks as if he were on his way to or from an important meeting. Hands down, he was way more appealing than Robert. Just thinking about the kiss, his light, caring touch turned hot, had her sweating. Jackie was right; she had it bad. If she knew what was good for her, she’d cut and run.
Maybe she should go out with Robert. Then again, she really didn’t want to lead Robert on. She wasn’t looking for a one-night stand.
Her attention was once again drawn into the boys’ chatter. When she looked up again, Gavin was gone.
****
Gavin ordered a lobster sub and a coffee to go and then hightailed it out of Ned’s. He found a bench along the pier and sat staring out across Frenchman Bay. The fact Nora might be in a relationship hadn’t crossed his mind, especially after their kiss last night. Seeing her with the man who was almost sitting in her lap had been a shock. Recalling what little he really knew about her had him rethinking the rumors his sister had shared with him. Were they true? She’d been working for him for several weeks and had given no indication she was in a relationship. He hadn’t seen her with another man in all that time, and if she was in a relationship, why had she joined him and his family for lunch on Monday? Even with the events at the Memorial Day celebration, it was hard for him to believe the gossip. He wasn’t one to believe everything he heard and only half of what he’d seen. Yet for some reason, suddenly seeing Nora enjoying herself with another man rubbed him the wrong way. Especially after their shared kiss. He couldn’t get that kiss out of his mind. He thought for sure they were…
Hell! He had more pressing matters to think about, like discovering who was trying to put the McClintocks out of business and catching the culprits red-handed.
McClintock’s Fisheries were spread out to the north along Lobster Cove’s inlet. Activity on this dock was busy as trawlers lined up, docking for the evening. He wasn’t looking forward to talking to Colman Baker, especially as he was about to inform him what he had found out. McClintock’s nets had been cut, and the markings on the knife he’d found indicated several of the young men working for him had knives and tats with the same markings. Calla Hutchins had confirmed the connection. The Coast Guard had been keeping an eye on the men and had already called in Homeland Security.
He swallowed the last bit of his lobster roll, crumpled the wrapper, drained the rest of his coffee, and tossed both in the trash receptacle on his way back down the dock to Coleman Baker’s office. The breeze off the bay was invigorating this time of year, and the sun was slowly shifting toward the west, his sunglasses deflecting the bright rays. The scent of seaweed, oysters, and mussels along the New England shoreline and the sound of water slapping against the pier was somehow relaxing. He’d grown up in the area, and being on or near the water was soothing.
Coleman Baker was waiting for him when he entered McClintock and McClintock Lobster Fisheries.
“Welcome, welcome. Have you any concrete news?” Coleman asked, as he escorted Gavin down the hall to his inner office where they could carry on their conversation in private. “Would you like a coffee?”
“No, thanks, I just finished one. Thanks for seeing me so late this evening. As you know, I stopped off at the Coast Guard and talked to Officer Hutchins. I think we might have some good news in regards to your situation.”
“So give it to me straight,” Coleman encouraged, as he sat at his desk, cleared his throat, and crossed his left leg over his right knee. He leaned back in his chair and took a deep breath. “I can see it really isn’t good news.”
Gavin also sat before replying. “You’re right. I’m afraid you might have a few employees who have been helping themselves to your catch.”
“What?” Coleman jumped to his feet, the chair rocking backward. “Are you serious? What makes you so sure it’s McClintock’s men?”
Gavin explained about the findings, the knife he’d found, the tats, the emblems, and the information Officer Hutchins had disclosed.
“Not sure what you want to do with this information, Coleman, but Officer Hutchins is ready to act if you are. They think they have enough evidence against them to proceed. It might affect you quicker than you’d like.”
“I’ll need to contact Hunter McClintock in Hawaii. They’re due for a business trip out here next week.”
“It sounded to me as if the Coast Guard wanted to act right away.”
“I’ll contact Hunter. See what he thinks. Perhaps he could come sooner.”
“Okay, I’ll talk to Officer Hutchins again and see if she can hold off a few days. Give me a chance to do a couple more dives and check the nets and traps to gain more evidence.”
“Good idea. I’ll call Hunter this evening and get back with you.”
“In the meantime, perhaps you can do a bit of your own sleuthing and see what employees are involved before all hell breaks loose.”
****
Nora was at her desk when Gavin showed up for work the following morning. She still wasn’t prepared to see him after last night’s disastrous evening with Robert and the thought of Gavin having spent the day in the arms of Ms. Rose. But his tall, domineering presence as he entered the office sent her heart fluttering like a giddy teenager’s. He appeared fresh from a shower. With his dark hair still damp, his crisp denims and blue, chambray, button-down shirt with rolled-up sleeves, he resembled a hot, sexy preppy.
She turned to her computer and mumbled, “Good morning.” His response was spoken closer to her desk than she’d expected. She looked up to see him leaning toward her, his hands in his pockets, his eyes glued to hers.
“Can I help you with something?” A stupid question seeing as he was her boss, and she was there to serve him.
“As a matter of fact, I think we need to clear the air.”
“Oh? How so?”
“I think you know.”
“If it’s about snubbing me last night at Ned’s, there’s nothing to discuss.”
“I think there is. After all, we’ve shared a few intimate moments. And I wasn’t snubbing you.”
Her face warmed as she gazed into his deep ocean-blue eyes turned a stormy gray. “I don’t follow. What intimate moments?”
“Don’t play coy with me. You know as well as I do we have feelings for each other.”
“We have?” Surprised to say the least, she stood to face him. Had he really noticed she had feelings for him? Even though she had tried to hide them? Well, except for responding to his hot kiss!
“So why didn’t you tell me you were in a relationship? I would have understood. I wouldn’t hav
e made a pass at you the other day.”
“What? What makes you think I’m seeing someone?”
“Last night at Ned’s.”
“You can’t believe everything you see. You know better.”
“You mean I’m wrong?”
“Yes. I was with friends. Why the twenty questions?”
“I thought we had something going between us. Guess I was wrong about that, too.”
“So am I wrong about you and Ms. Rose?”
“Oh, so you were upset about Gwen yesterday? Is that why you were gone when I got back to the office? Went out with your ‘friend?’”
Hands on hips, she shot back at him, “For your information, Mr. Redmond, I’m not about to interfere in another person’s relationship, married or not. That’s not who I am. Lesson learned, remember? And by the way, Robert is not my friend, he’s Brad’s.”
“It’s not who I am, either. I’m not involved with Gwendolyn, never have been. It’s all in her and Bethany’s heads.”
Gavin reached for her and swept her into his arms. She was further startled when he covered her mouth with a long, lingering kiss. It had her body temperature boiling and threw her into a tailspin.
Without thinking, she wrapped her arms around his neck and gave in to his embrace, her desire. Just as suddenly, he let her go. Stunned, she stared at him, transfixed, as a hot, searing heat of sexual need washed over her.
“I’m not going to apologize for that kiss. I’ve wanted to kiss you since the first day you walked into this office.”
She stepped back on shaky legs. Her knees bumped against her chair, and she sat. She shot back up and faced him, hands on hips.
“We can’t do this. You’re my boss. I need this job. I just bought a house. This is too sudden.”
“We can work this out. I’m hardly in the office as it is.” He rubbed his hand through his thick hair, then over his face. He turned away, then swung back around and reached for her again. “Look, I know you have feelings for me, otherwise you wouldn’t have responded to my kiss as ardently as you did the other day and especially right now. I’m going to be honest with you. I want to see more of you, and not in a business capacity here at the office, either.”
