by Joanne Rock
“Beautiful,” he agreed, unable to take his eyes off her to assess the scenery.
“There are even a few trees turning red and yellow.” She pointed toward the shore as she closed the distance between them, her feet silent on the deck in a pair of leather moccasins.
“Fall comes early up here.” Even a few hours north of where they’d grown up made a big difference, and despite the fact that it was still summer, fall was starting to creep in around the edges.
Would he get to share the season with her this year? Other years? A chill of foreboding chased down his spine and he wasn’t sure why. He’d worked too hard to make this moment right for her to mess it up now.
He would simply offer up the property as an olive branch for the past and be done with it. If she wanted more from him on a personal level, she knew where to find him. He didn’t want her to feel as if his investment in the inn was tied to any expectation of a relationship.
“Speaking of early—” she wound her way across the deck to stand beside him at the rail “—you must have gone out at the crack of dawn.”
“You noticed.” He thought for sure she’d been sleeping. “Miss me?”
“I missed a few things while you were gone.” She sidled closer and threaded her arms around his waist, resting a hand on his hip.
Damn, but he had missed her, too. He hadn’t let himself think about how much until he was out of the navy for good. Once, during a family July Fourth ball game that coincided with his leave, he’d peered over at the pitcher’s mound in the backyard and known she should have been there. For one thing, she would have brought her A-game and goaded everyone on the opposite team just for fun. More importantly, she would have flat-out enjoyed the day. The family. The fun. He’d known then that he’d screwed up with her. But by that point she’d been dating someone else.
“Good to know my finer qualities are appreciated.” Wrapping her in his arms, he reeled her close to hold her tight, savoring the surprise he had in store for her.
The waves splashed against the hull, but the boat was nice and steady despite the choppy water. He’d made plans to meet Keith’s CFO in a couple hours, unable to stall the handoff of the watercraft any longer. Alicia had already arranged for a rental car to be dropped off for her at the bed-and-breakfast, so she could explore the Bar Harbor area a little more before returning home.
“Should I sit down for your assessment of the property?” Edging back, she gazed up at him and shielded her eyes from the glare of the sun on the water. Although it wasn’t hot, it was a bright, clear day. “I’ll admit I’m a little nervous about going over that big list I spotted on your phone yesterday.”
That was the opening he’d been waiting for. His chance to make things right with Alicia.
He’d played this out a few different ways in his head in the early hours of morning, unsure how to proceed. A damn foreign feeling for him, since he’d been born sure of himself. Now that the time had arrived to reveal what he’d done, he felt all the more pressure to get it right.
“Maybe that’s a good idea.” He looked around the dock and up to the rambling building, his gaze coming to rest on the two Adirondack chairs closest to the water, near the fire pit. “Let’s go sit there.”
Nodding, she followed him off the boat and down the planked pier to the big wooden seats, whose bright paint had faded to sun-washed shades.
“You really hate the house, don’t you?” she asked as she sank into her chair, her brown eyes studying him. “You think it’s past the point of no return.”
“No.” He reached for his phone, thinking it would be quicker to simply show her the list so she understood some of his rationale for investing in the property. “But it’s priced too high when you consider some of the major repairs that need to be made.”
Pulling up the notepad feature, he handed the device to her, giving her time to absorb the problems.
Alicia whistled softly between her teeth. “These are serious setbacks.” Her finger flicked down the touch screen, scrolling through his notes. “The roof alone would cost—wow. You projected the costs, too?”
Frowning, she stilled her finger on the screen, and Jack tried to remember if he’d made some notes about the sale at the bottom of the page. Or had he put that information in another file? He’d crammed a lot of research into a couple of days, so his brain was still swimming with numbers. He didn’t want to ruin the surprise.
“I thought it might help you to have some rough figures to work with.” He reached to retrieve the cell. “But the bottom line is this—”
When she didn’t hand it over, he tugged the phone from her fingers.
“It’s a bad investment,” she said.
At the same time, he announced, “I bought it for you.”
ALICIA MUST HAVE FORGOTTEN to breathe.
Her world stilled. Narrowed to the news Jack had just dropped on her like a neutron bomb. Had he really just said that he’d bought the bed-and-breakfast?
“I’m sorry.” She blinked to clear the pandemonium in her mind. Forced herself to take a breath. “What did you say?”
Jamming the cell phone in the pocket of his cargo shorts, Jack shifted on the seat beside her, his knee grazing hers.
“I said I bought this place.” He gestured to the sprawling three-story structure behind them, the grand home fallen on hard times that she’d been dreaming about bringing back to life. “All the problems that I listed need to be addressed, so it won’t be easy to turn this property into a profitable, thriving business. But I know how much it means to you and I know how committed you are to doing this.”
His hand covered hers where it rested on the wide wooden arm of the Adirondack chair. Birds chirped in the silence while he waited for her to say something, but she couldn’t begin to process what all of it meant. He’d bought her property? She watched a squirrel shamble across the yard and up a tall oak tree.
“Is it a new acquisition for Murphy Resorts?” She knew his father wanted her to come back to work for the company. Was this some kind of Murphy maneuver to ensure she returned to the corporate fold?
The thought of her charming seaside inn turned into a homogenized, vanilla hotel made her heart feel hollow. Didn’t Jack understand what she wanted better than that?
“No.” He shook his head, his voice adamant. “I invested in this place. My father’s company isn’t involved. I wanted you to be able to follow your heart and make the kind of life for yourself that you dream about. I know I haven’t been very supportive of the move to Bar Harbor. But I didn’t understand how hard you’ve worked to make this place a reality. I realize how much your family has stood in your way, and you deserve the chance to spread your wings.”
He withdrew a sheaf of papers from his pocket. Folded and stiff, the sheets crinkled as he smoothed them so she could read the writing. Through the haze of her confusion, she could see a sales contract with the former owner’s name scrawled next to Jack’s.
She hadn’t believed her ears, but she couldn’t doubt her eyes. What she couldn’t understand was why he would do something like this. Heat crawled up the back of her neck, making her itchy and uncomfortable. The day that had seemed so beautiful and full of possibilities a little while ago now felt suffocating.
“You think it will help me ‘spread my wings’ by handing me the property I wanted to buy myself?” She tugged at the neckline of her hooded sweater, unable to get enough air. “I’m not sure how I can feel the fulfillment of realizing a dream if it arrives gift-wrapped on a silver platter. Why would you swoop in and steal this moment from me? Do you think I’m too feebleminded or weak to have haggled for a better price? Or found another property?”
She could tell that her words had been harsh by the way his shoulders tensed. His hand slid away from where it had rested on her forearm. But how else could she describe what he’d done?
“I wanted to help you bring the property into the black faster. The list of repairs is so long and expensive they would
have been cost prohibitive if you used your start-up cash to buy the inn. This way, you can afford the repairs and open for business by spring. Generating operating income will give you a fighting chance to make the business profitable.”
“And because you know best, you bought the place without even discussing it with me.” Memories of all the times her father had made decisions for her swamped her. Why had she thought Jack was any different? “Just like when you broke up with me for my own good. You planned the end of our relationship and executed it, all without any input from me. So why ask me for my opinion on how to handle the purchase of the bed and-breakfast that I’ve been dreaming about and planning for?”
She heard the unsteadiness in her voice and hated the quavering tone. But after the time they’d spent together, she’d thought they were growing closer. No. Worse than that, she’d fallen in love with him all over again, only to be confronted with how foolish she’d been. Again.
Jack knew best. Then and now.
“I didn’t do it to take the decision out of your hands.” He stood, pacing around the fire pit like a caged animal looking for a way out. His feet crunched over fallen twigs and pine needles. “Hell, anyone could see you’d made up your mind to buy the place long before you even set out for Maine. I knew when I saw that damn notebook of yours with the plans for a cabana and the diagram for a beach bungalow that this was a done deal. I thought I was doing you a favor because…”
He paused. His green eyes flashed to hers with fiery heat.
“Because why?” She rose, feeling the tension in the air.
Had he bought the inn for any reason other than he-man protectiveness? Did any sentimentality lurk underneath the assurance that he knew what was best for everyone around him?
“Because I had faith in your vision, and you work harder than anyone I know,” he admitted finally. The words were quieter than the rest of his heated diatribe, as if they’d come from deeper down inside him. “You deserve this chance, Alicia.”
The anger seeped out of her as he stared her down, daring her to argue. She wouldn’t. Not now. She couldn’t remain mad at someone who believed in her—possibly the only person in the world who would make that claim. Jack was different from her father. And he hadn’t simply bought the inn to keep her from fighting her own battles. He wanted to help, and she couldn’t hold that against him.
Yet, she realized as she wavered on her feet, she had hoped for a lot more from Jack. Her limbs felt like wrung-out dishrags, her whole body sapped of the anger and conviction she’d felt just moments ago. Jack hadn’t done any of this because he wanted to be with her or start a future here beside her. There was no mention of the old feelings they had once shared. Sinking back into her chair, she tried to come to terms with what that meant.
“I’m sorry,” she murmured, the words raw in her throat, which suddenly burned with unspoken emotions. “I’m being ungrateful when you’ve been thoughtful and generous. I—” She had to stop and clear her throat. And, oh, God, what was the matter with her? “I will pay you back as soon as I can start generating some income and work out a budget. You know I’m good for it.”
She tried to paste on a game face, but could tell it wasn’t quite coming together. Jack remained on his feet on the other side of the fire pit, watching her.
Slowly, he nodded. “I know. And it was probably a bad idea to surprise you with something so important. I don’t know what I was thinking. I was caught up in how excited you were about the whole thing.”
Okay, now she felt like a huge ogre. A good friend would throw herself at his mercy and beg for forgiveness for being such an ingrate, except she didn’t want to be just a good friend. She wanted so much more, and he…
He was currently checking his watch.
“I should really be shoving off if I’m going to meet Keith’s buddy.” He stuffed his hands in his pockets. “I know you’re renting a car and checking out the area, but maybe when you come back to Chatham, we could get together. I can help you with the move.”
Again, her eyes flew to his, searching. Hoping. Because she was foolish like that. But his gaze remained guarded, assuring her he was offering the help only to be nice. Because they were friends, apparently. Friends with too many damn benefits.
And for crying out loud, hadn’t it hurt enough to have him walk away once? She would be an idiot of the first order if she kept putting herself in a position to experience the unique sting of that particular heartache.
“Sounds great,” she lied, knowing she wouldn’t call him until it was time to pay the first installment of the massive loan he’d forced upon her by buying the inn. “I appreciate your faith in me. I will make sure it’s well placed.”
She had no idea where the stilted words originated from. She felt like a parrot on autoplay, mindlessly speaking phrases with little real meaning. Who would have thought this day would find her relationship with him relegated to the same importance as the connection he shared with the bar owners he’d financed back on the Cape? Jack and she now had a business arrangement. Nothing more. Nothing less.
Neither of them moved for a long moment. Finally, Jack broke the standoff and approached her, his arms open. Alicia thought it would be healthiest to step back, to refrain from feeling his strong, warm body against hers. But after all they’d shared, she discovered she didn’t have the willpower to deny the embrace.
Stepping into his arms, she laid her cheek on his chest. Felt the steady thrum of his heartbeat there. How could she have read everything so wrong these last few days? Yet, if ever there was a time to declare feelings for her, it would be now. Jack would say something now.
The beat of his pulse drummed in one ear while the chirping of birds and the wash of waves along the shore sounded in the other.
“Call me,” he reminded her, kissing the top of her head. Cupping the base of her skull and threading his fingers into her hair.
Just before she melted, she stepped back. Nodding.
“Of course.” At last she managed to mask her emotions, a trick she’d perfected that day at the championships, when no one was there to see her moment of triumph. “Travel safe. And thank you.”
With that, he was gone.
Her eyes followed his progress down the grass and onto the pier. Onto Keith’s forty-five-foot power catamaran that could practically drive itself. Jack flipped the engine on and engaged the self-steering mechanism to back away from the dock. The boat seemed to surgically remove itself from its moorings, much like Jack neatly extricated himself from her life and a chance reunion that was never meant to be.
Lifting her hand to wave goodbye, she congratulated herself on putting on a good front. Right up until the tears broke through the dam as he cruised out of sight.
13
“YOU JUST TOOK OFF?”
Jack realized the story sounded stupid in the retelling. But his brother Danny hadn’t been standing there with him and Alicia. He didn’t know how prickly Alicia LeBlanc could be about accepting help. About maintaining independence.
And Jack sure as hell still didn’t understand how to be what this woman needed.
He’d been back in Chatham for all of three days, trying to figure out his next move with Alicia—assuming he even had one. Somehow he’d ended up at his parents’ house, since he couldn’t sleep on the Vesta now that Keith had it. He and Keith had exchanged a few messages since Keith had taken the sailboat for a week. He’d apparently found an interior decorator aboard the Vesta the night after Ryan’s engagement party. As if Jack would ever hire anyone to lay a finger on the vintage sailboat. But the woman had misread the slip numbers on the pier, and next thing Keith knew, he was out to sea with a stranger.
Jack had sent his brother ten different messages asking him not to sell the boat. After realizing that he still had feelings for Alicia—no, damn it, that he loved her—he didn’t want to get rid of it. Not yet.
Which brought him back to the conversation with the second-youngest Murphy brother, Dan
ny, over brandy on the back porch just past sunset.
“Bro? You in there?” Danny wadded up a cocktail napkin and pegged him in the temple with it. “Why the hell would you buy her a million-dollar property and then run for the hills? Are you trying to mess with her mind, or do you get off on playing hard to get?”
His brother was younger than him by three years, but Jack had related to Dan more than any of the others since long before their mutual decision to enter the navy. Not that their similarities helped them get along. Danny was the crustiest of the bunch, unwilling to embroider the truth for any reason whatsoever, determined to live by his own light and consequences be damned. There was a grounded quality to him that Jack appreciated.
“No.” Jack tossed the napkin back, taking dead-center aim at his brother’s beak. “Don’t you have any sense of tact? I couldn’t make a big play for her the moment I purchased the inn. How tasteless would that be? She’d think I was trying to buy her affection.”
Although, maybe she would have thought differently if he’d told her that he loved her. It had been tough enough to admit it to himself and face up to the magnitude of the mistake he’d made four years ago. But now he’d compounded the error by not telling her how he felt.
He hadn’t thought the whole thing through well enough when he’d bought the bed-and-breakfast. That was the main problem. He’d been so determined to help her achieve her goals—unwilling to undermine what she wanted, the way her old man had—that he’d moved too fast and hadn’t considered the consequences. That was totally unlike him. But it showed how much she affected him.
Still, he hadn’t felt right asking to be a part of her life when she’d been reeling with the news that he’d bought the old inn.
“No wonder she isn’t speaking to you.” Dan gulped the rest of his brandy, settling his work boots on the railing where he and Jack looked out over the Atlantic. He ran his fingers over the scruffy goatee he’d been sporting for the past year. “I’d cut you off, too, if you shipped out right when things were starting to get interesting. Especially since you did that to the same girl once before. Am I remembering that right?”
