Going All Inn (Faire Island Bride Series Book 1)

by Lizabeth Scott

  “Good morning, Ms. Westmoreland.”

  I look up from my fond memories and smile at the man walking behind the candy counter. “Please call me Kimberly.” I still haven’t gotten used to Kimberly.

  “Kimberly, it’s nice to meet you. Welcome to Faire Island. I’m Homer Brockton and I’m unmarried.”

  The smile on my face cracks. Why would he introduce himself that way? Maybe it’s just an island thing. “Nice to meet you, Homer.” A strong fragrance makes my eyes water. If I didn’t know better, I would think that Homer had been in the back combing his thinning salt and pepper hair and slapping on more cologne than he needed before greeting me. I suddenly lose my need for coffee.

  “I own this store and I have a three bedroom, two bath house about a mile from here. Fully furnished, mind you. My family doesn’t have any major medical issues and I have all my own teeth.” He proceeds to open his mouth wide and snaps them together a few times as proof.

  I’m frozen in place, listening to his spiel as it gets weirder and weirder. “Ummm, that’s nice.” How else am I supposed to respond?

  An hour later, I leave with a bag of assorted candy in my handbag and three paper grocery bags stored in Homer’s refrigeration unit. I tilt my face towards the sun and breathe in the fresh salt air, letting myself be simply in the moment and thankful. Homer is nice, but strange. Maybe quirky is a better word for him.

  The hardware store is another foray I’ve never experienced. A man is already walking towards me when I step inside. Evidently he’d been watching me cross the street. I estimate he’s near forty, if not already there, with a belly pouch and reddish-brown hair cut short.

  “Ms. Westmoreland, please come in. My name is Martin Cowell and I own this fine establishment free and clear. I don’t rent like most of the others do. Now, I don’t mean to brag, but I do quite well, I must say. My business hours are nine to five and I like my dinner on the table at six on the dot. I think routine is important for a happy life. No outstanding debts and I travel to the mainland at least twice a month for a nice dinner out. Sometimes I might even take in a movie,” he finishes, and waits expectantly for what…applause?

  I don’t realize my mouth has dropped open at Mr. Cowell’s oversharing. It’s obvious islanders feel nothing is off-limits. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Cowell. And, um…” I have no idea where to even go in reply. Instead, I pull my faucet knobs out of my bag. “I was wondering if you could help me. These seem to leak when the main water valve under the sink is turned on. Would you know how to fix them?”

  Mr. Cowell looks a bit disappointed, but accepts the knobs I hold out. “It looks like you need new washers. They’re right back here.”

  As I’m checking out, I ask, “Are there any places in town to buy clothes?”

  “Sure. Just take a left out of the door and you can’t miss the Tartan N Tam.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Cowell,” I reply and I’m glad to be leaving.

  “Please call me Martin. If you need anything else, just call the store and I’ll bring it out to you.”

  “Thank you, Martin, that’s very nice of you.” That reminds me I need to find the telephone place and have the Inn phone connected. Lili is probably going crazy with worry since I haven’t called her. I hope she hasn’t called out the royal guard. I chuckle to myself over the pun.

  I am pleasantly surprised at the Tartan N Tam. One entire wall is filled with plaid fabric in all colors and patterns. I can just imagine years ago women shopping for their family tartan pattern to make kilts for their men.

  “Good morning, Kimberly.”

  I look up with a smile at the familiar voice. “Agatha. I didn’t know this was your shop.”

  Today, her outfit consists of a pair of skinny jeans and an off the shoulder shirt. I’m seeing a contradiction there with the colorful outfit she wore yesterday.

  “Oh, it’s not. Griffin O’Malley owns it, but he had to go to the mainland for a dentist appointment so I’m filling in for him. What can I help you with today?”

  A man owns a woman’s boutique? Some things about the town are just strange. “Well, I need a few pairs of shorts and tops that I can work in and a sturdy pair of shoes and maybe some sandals.”

  “Come with me, young lady. I think I have just what you need,” Agatha motions for me to follow. We walk down a row of cute dresses that I must check out before I leave. “How did you get along last night?” she asks.

  “Oh, it was fine. I just didn’t anticipate the amount of work that needs to be done. I’m afraid I wasn’t prepared in the clothing department.”

  Agatha stops in front of a round rack filled with rainbow colors of shorts. “Well, don’t you worry, dear. We can fix you right up. Now here we are. These are what all the young women wear. I just love all the colorful shades they come in. Such fun. And they make your ass look good too.”

  My head jerks up, sure that Agatha is joking, but she isn’t. As elitist as it makes me sound, I’ve never seen this style or fabric. I reach out and touch a pair. Nylon by what the tag says. I take a pair of salmon-colored ones, trimmed with a thin strip of white around the bottom of each leg. They will definitely be cool to work in. “Aren’t they rather… short?” I ask.

  Agatha laughs, but I wasn’t kidding. I hold them up to my waist. My butt cheeks will fall out the bottom. Is that what she meant by the ass remark? “Do you have anything a little more… You know, more?”

  “Oh, honey, all the girls wear them. Now why don’t you pick out the colors you like. They are five ninety-nine a pair. Get several and then I’ll show you the boring ones.”

  I work to keep the astonishment off my face. “Five hundred and ninety-nine dollars for one pair of shorts? That aren’t even a designer brand?”

  Agatha covers her mouth as she laughs. “Oh, you are a funny one. I can’t wait to tell Olivia that. I tell you what, I’ll make it two pairs for ten bucks. We just won’t tell Griffin.”

  I leave the store wearing a new pair of flip-flops with a bright sunny flower on top. I’ve never worn flip-flops and I like the sound they make on the sidewalk. But that wasn’t all I got. Five pair of what I call booty shorts; five t-shirts, some with fun sayings; a pair of work boots; a pair of red canvas sneakers, and a pair of imitation leather sandals with faux turquoise stones and, as Agatha called them, six pairs of boring shorts. Oh, and a pair of lace-up work boots.

  Then I picked out a black and blue acid washed pair of skinny jeans and tank tops. And I couldn’t resist a few cute sundresses and a red bikini that makes my boobs look perky. Agatha also said I needed a hat to wear when I’m outside to protect my skin from the sun.

  My hands are at capacity with shopping bags and I’d spent only $129.00. Impossible. That wasn’t all I accomplished in the Tartan N Tam, though. Agatha made a few calls and now I have landline phone service at the Inn and a post office box. Which I find curious.

  I’ve always had mail delivered to me. I’ve never had to go get it. Not even at our office for Helping Hands. Now I have my very own key to my very own box. Inside the post office.

  Some form of transportation is going to be my next acquisition. Agatha said she thought she remembered the Inn having a golf cart. She even recommended a man named Case at the garage to get it running.

  “Here, let me help you with that.”

  I look up to see a handsome man reaching out to take the bags from me. “Oh, that’s not necessary. I’ve got it.”

  “I insist. What type of welcome would it be if I didn’t help you? Good morning, Kimberly. I’m David Caldwell and the only official law enforcement the town has.”

  Struggling over the bags would be rude, so I relinquish them. David is a very attractive man with a charming smile. Tall, broad shouldered, and dark thick hair swept back from his face, longer on top, shorter on the sides. Kimmie would be all over that, but Kimberly doesn’t feel a spark. Not like she did with Bode from just a look.

  “Thank you, David. Is there a high crime rate on the
island?”

  He chuckles. “No. Not at all. The last call I went on was when Mrs. Shaughnessy’s cat got stuck in a cinderblock. And that happened last week. I’m also an attorney—and before you ask—no, we don’t have much need for those either. But we do have a lot of commercial fishermen that use Faire Island as one of their ports, so I keep busy with legal stuff.”

  I like David. I can see us being friends. I’m returning his smile when Bode walks up. He takes the bags from David with a scowl. “I’ve got it, Caldwell,” he mutters and works his way between me and David. “Let’s go, Kimberly.”

  “Oh, sure.” I lean over so I can see David and explain, “Bode was nice enough to give me a ride today.”

  A business card quickly appears in David’s hand. He holds it out and offers, “Here’s my number. Call me anytime you need a ride. Day or night.” Then he winks at me.

  A low growl comes from Bode and I cut my eyes toward him.

  “She won’t be needing that card, Caldwell,” he calls over his shoulder and then herds me towards the truck and away from David.

  Bode opens the passenger door and picks me up by the waist and sits me in the seat when I’m not fast enough getting in. I’m stunned by his audacity and aroused by his strength and the brief contact with his body. Now there’s a spark. That’s what I attribute my loss of speech to.

  We were back on the main road through town when my senses return. “Don’t you think that was rather rude? David was just being nice.”

  Bode keeps his eyes on the road and I would swear he’s pouting. His jaw tenses. “No, he wasn’t.”

  I run back over my conversation with David. Nope, nothing could have been misunderstood. “What are you talking about? David is a very nice man.”

  One of Bode’s brows pops upward and he glances my way with a surly grin. “He had an agenda.”

  This conversation is making me hot under the collar. I calmly try to explain. “I said less than ten sentences to the man. How could he have an agenda? And he’s in law enforcement. He’s supposed to protect.”

  He stops right in the middle of the road. I look behind us and there’s not another vehicle in sight. “Kim, he wants to fuck you.”

  I sit up straighter in the seat and my chin tips in defiance. Who does Bode think he is? He has no say in something like that. I feel the temperature rising in my face. I know it’s going to happen and I’m unable to stop Kimmie from popping out. “So what if he wants to fuck me? Do you not think I’m fuckable?”

  Bode takes his cap off and wipes his forehead on his t-shirt sleeve. I get my first look at his sun-streaked hair. What I wouldn’t give to run my hands through it. I know many men and women who pay tons of money to achieve that look. Wait, stop looking at him like he’s going to be my lunch.

  I can tell he’s nervous by the tapping of his thumb on the steering wheel. I bet he’s trying to find a way out of his blunder. Now he’s the one who smiles and calmly says, “I didn’t say that. I just think that you shouldn’t have to put up with that so soon after arriving in town. I mean, you still have so much to do to the Inn. I just thought you’d want to focus on that. Again, I apologize for overstepping.”

  I eye him cautiously. I study his eyes, he does look regretful. That sounded plausible, but I don’t think that’s the real reason. Could he be…jealous? I quickly dismiss that idea. I haven’t known Bode long enough for a peeing contest to be called for. “I accept your apology and I may have overreacted.”

  He raps the wheel a few times and turns to me once more, this time with a sly grin and a twinkle in his mischievous eyes. “And while I’m being honest with you, I should tell you that I definitely find you fuckable.”

  Our gazes lock and I feel his searing look all the way down to my core. Kimmie would crawl into his lap and take what she needs, but Kimberly clears her throat and says with a scratchy voice, “Where are we going for lunch?”

  He puts the truck back in drive. “I need to make a quick stop and then we’re going to the marina.”

  I know his parents own the marina. “Will your parents be there?”

  He gives a frustrated sigh. “I would like to say no, but I don’t think there is any way I can prevent them from coming. I called my mom and asked her to make us a picnic lunch.”

  “I hope that wasn’t too much trouble for her.” Had I called my mother for such a request, she would have connected me with the kitchen and the chef would have prepared whatever I wanted.

  He chuckles. “Not at all, she loves to cook and now she will have bragging rights as being the first on the island to fix you a meal.”

  I am feeling more at home here every minute. “This town makes me feel like a princess. Everyone is so nice and helpful.” I say that with some authority on the subject. Lili. I miss her so much. We haven’t been apart since we were thirteen.

  “Hey, what’s that sad look for?”

  It’s nice that Bode he noticed my mood change. Most men aren’t that in tune. “Oh, nothing. I just miss my best friend. We went to school and college together and then I went to work for her after we got our degrees. It’s hard not seeing her every day.”

  “Where is she?” he asks.

  Far, far, away from here, in more ways than just distance. “She’s married and moved away. And they have an adorable little boy who is my godson. With the phone service on the island being what it is, I haven’t even been able to call her.”

  He glances over and our eyes meet. “I’m sorry. That must be difficult. I’ve known my best friend since kindergarten. I can’t imagine moving so far away and not seeing him every day.”

  He understands and that feels good. “Then you get it. Who is your bestie?”

  “David Caldwell,” he says flatly.

  My head swings around and I meet his laughing eyes. I giggle. “You’re horrible. You know that, right?”

  Chapter 7

  Bode

  As we walk down the deck to the marina, I see the picnic basket on the counter, but I can also see trouble ahead. My parents aren’t the only ones hoping for a word with Kimberly. I want to wipe the grins off their leering faces. Not my parents, the group of hopeful husbands that are with them.

  My mom and dad watch intently as I glare at the group surrounding them—my business partner, Patrick, Chris Hartford, Steven Harrison, and even my brother Case, all wanting time with Kimberly. I set my jaw. That’s not going to happen. Not because I’m proprietary or anything, but because Kimberly just got to town. Everyone needs to back off and let her settle in before making fools of themselves chasing her.

  After introductions that I quickly skip through, I pull my dad aside and ask him to take care of the groceries in my truck, ignoring the smug amusement on his face. Then I pick up the food basket, take Kim’s hand, and lead her down the deck to my boat, turning a deaf ear to the snickers coming from the peanut gallery.

  “Where are we going?” Kimberly asks as she navigates the step from the dock to the boat.

  She stumbles and I wrap my arms around her waist to steady her. She looks up at me with bright blue eyes and I can’t look away. My eyes go to her lips and I see a blush rising on her cheeks as she returns the stare. Her body is flush with mine and my cock begins to harden. Almost at the same time, we realize how close we are to doing things we shouldn’t. We break the connection and step apart. I turn away until I can get myself back under control and almost run to untie the mooring rope.

  “I thought you might like to see your new home from a different view.”

  When I turn back around, she’s looking over my boat. Her cheeks are still pink and she’s toying with her hair. “Really? That would be great. Is this your boat?”

  Kimberly finds a seat while I take my place behind the helm and navigate us slowly out of the marina. “Yes, it is. I offer fishing and diving tours. Mostly in the summer.”

  I nudge the speed once we’re clear of other boats and Kimberly laughs out loud as she raises her hands in the air. I turn and find
a wide smile on her face while her blonde hair blows in the breeze. Our eyes meet again and I find such pleasure in her enjoyment of the moment. “You are a busy man. A landscaping business and tours.”

  I wince. I feel bad lying to her. This would be a perfect time to come clean. We could even laugh about her misassumption. But I keep quiet. I wasn’t going to let someone else help with her landscaping, even if I’m not sure why I continue the lie. “Yeah. I guess so.”

  “I hope I’m not taking you away from something today.”

  “No. Nothing was on the books for today.” Nothing that I didn’t reschedule and move to Patrick’s list.

  “Oh, my God! Is that the Inn?” Kimberly asks as she shades her eyes against the bright sun.

  “It is,” I tell her and angle the boat to face the Inn and drop anchor.

  Kimberly is quiet as she surveys her home and I give her time to take it all in while I grab the basket with our lunch. I wonder what she sees when she looks at it because I see a rundown, unkempt property. “It’s even grander than I thought. It must have been beautiful in its prime,” she says wistfully.

  I dig around in a storage compartment and pull out an old quilt. Giving it a brisk flick, I lower it to the deck of the boat and began to unpack the basket. “She still looks pretty majestic for a two-hundred-year-old home. A McMillian has always owned the Inn. Well, at least until Sinclair and Ruby McMillian died leaving no one to inherit. They left the Inn to the town. And now it’s yours.”

  She joins me on the blanket, but her eyes never waver from the Inn. “I want to bring it back, Bode. I want it to be majestic once again.”

  I look up at the Inn and many memories flood my mind. “At Christmas, the house would be decorated inside and out and the McMillians would hold a huge party for anyone in town. Santa would come and hand out one toy to each child. One year, I remember they had a real carousel constructed on the lawn and I rode it so many times, I threw up. Then at Halloween, the McMillians would host a Fall Festival. Each merchant in town would sponsor a booth. There were games and fun things to do and enough candy to fill a pillowcase. I know this because my brothers and I went every year. They even had a hayride. At Easter, they would hold a sunrise service for anyone that wanted to come and then in the afternoon, they held an egg hunt for the children.” Those were such good memories. I’d forgotten how connected everything was to the Inn.