My Kind of You (A Trillium Bay Novel Book 1)

by Tracy Brogan

  Emily headed toward the hill, feeling stupidly nervous about being alone with her own father, and she realized that for this entire visit, it had never been just the two of them. The Cold War had continued, but maybe it was time to try once more. Plus, any minute now Lilly was going to tell him about Tag and lose her favorite daughter status, and that would boost Emily up to at least second place. She needed to take advantage of that while she could.

  Nearing the crest, she called out, “Hi, Dad. I bought you a snow cone. Chloe thought you looked hot.”

  “Thanks.” He took the cone from her hand.

  “You’re welcome.” She really wanted to head right back down the hill and go find Ryan, but she felt rather obligated to visit with her dad for a few minutes, so she climbed up on the fence next to where he was leaning, and they nibbled their snow cones in silence.

  “How’s your day going?” she finally said.

  “I’ve had better. I had worse.”

  Excellent. That was very helpful. Way to keep the conversation rolling, Dad.

  After what seemed like a full minute, he finally said, “How’s your day going?”

  She was having a fabulous day, because for the past few days, she’d been having fabulous sex with Ryan. “I’m pretty good,” she said.

  “Uh-huh.” He paused for another moment, then said, “I know about the Taggert fella.”

  Emily swallowed a chunk of ice big enough to sink the Titanic. How did he know about Ryan already? Maybe, hopefully, she’d heard him wrong. “What’s that you say?”

  “I know about the Taggert fella.”

  Yep, she’d heard him right. But she and Ryan had been very discreet. Incredibly discreet. Except for the lighthouse. Shit. So much for secrecy around here.

  “I want you to know, Dad, he’s a good person, and I’m so much wiser now and very careful.”

  “What? You? I’m talking about your sister and that John Taggert guy. What are you talking about?”

  Oh good grief. She was so used to being scolded by him she’d nearly confessed before getting caught. She stuffed the snow cone in her mouth and mumbled, “Me? Um, nothing. What are . . . what are you talking about?” Time to play dumb, which was apparently going to be no challenge whatsoever.

  He tossed the paper cup from his snow cone into the nearby trash can and crossed his arms, looking stern. Then again, he always looked stern. “I know Lilly has been keeping company with that man. Tag,” he scoffed. “What kind of a grown man goes around using a nickname?”

  “I don’t know. Chief.” She pressed her lips together, wondering if he’d catch her sarcastic slip.

  “It’s indecent, that’s what it is. He’s my age. He should be ashamed of himself. And what is it with you girls? Why can’t any of you settle down with someone from a nice island family?”

  “Um . . . I can’t speak for Lilly, Dad, but keep in mind, we’re related to half the population, and the other half are Mahoneys. We don’t really have much to choose from.”

  He tapped at a tuft of grass with the heel of his shoe. “What about that Reed kid? He was a good boy. He works for the governor now, and he’s terribly important.”

  Mrs. Bostwick must have bent her father’s ear.

  “Reed was a good boy, and now he seems to be a nice man. A much better man than Nick turned out to be. I shouldn’t have run away like I did, Dad. It was wrong. I know that now, and I’m sorry.”

  Another moment passed. Harlan uncrossed his arms and slid his hands into his pockets, and Emily thought the conversation might be over, but it wasn’t.

  “You know, there are certain days in a man’s life that he looks forward to. Days he knows are significant. Graduating. Getting married. Seeing his children for the first time.” He sighed and looked off into the distance. “I still remember the day you were born. Coldest winter we’d had in years, and there was Mary, in labor and bundled up to the hilt as we walked to Dr. Pine’s house. She wouldn’t let me get her a sled. She said she wanted to walk. Then you came along and you were kind of orangey all over, squalling like nobody’s business. You looked so mad, I couldn’t help but laugh.”

  He paused and shook his head and actually chuckled. But then he sighed again. “And I remember it as clear as if it was yesterday. I held you on my chest, and I thought to myself, You know, one day I’m going to have to walk this precious little girl down an aisle and hand her off to another man. But the thing is, Peach, you never gave me that chance. You stole it from me. You just took off with that punk, a kid who didn’t even respect you enough to come and ask me for your hand like a real man would have. And the thing that still bothers me the most? The thing that hurts me to this very day? It’s that you seemed okay with it.”

  Emily felt as if the sun had moved a million miles closer and she was burning from the heat. It was more words than her father had spoken to her in a lifetime, and this was what he said? It was honest and raw, and if she hadn’t been sitting on the fence, she would have crumpled to the ground from the burden of it.

  “I’m sorry, Dad. I really am. I never meant to hurt you, and honestly, by the time I left with Nick, I didn’t really think you’d care. I thought it might be a relief.”

  He turned to look at her, actually appearing surprised. “A relief? To know you were out there where I couldn’t protect you? That was my job.” He pointed to his chest. “I promised your mother I’d take care of you, and then I didn’t. I couldn’t because you’d left. All those times you got in trouble growing up, that’s all I was trying to do. Keep you safe. It was the only part of being a parent that I thought I might be any good at.” He scoffed and turned to stare forward again. “I didn’t do very well by you, though, did I? And now it seems I haven’t done too well by your sister either. She’s going to take off with that Taggert fellow, and it’ll be years before I see her again, too.”

  Emily felt tears scalding her eyes. This was so much more than she’d bargained for when she’d climbed up this hill with a snow cone. She’d seen things from her own side and never thought much about his. The pattern of his disapproval was so ingrained during her teenage years, and she never thought there could be more to it. But now she was a parent herself, and she understood the inherent fear that came with it. The constant worry that never fully went away. The need to protect your child at all costs.

  “I don’t know what to say, Dad, other than to tell you I wish with all my heart that I could go back and fix the stuff I broke. Running away was a mistake. Nick was a mistake, but Chloe is my everything, and I don’t ever want her to wonder if I regret having her, because I don’t. We can’t change what’s behind us, but if you want to, maybe we can turn in a new direction for the future?”

  He pressed his lips together, and Emily could see he was actually choked up. Emotion under all that gruff exterior. Finally, he nodded. “She’s a good kid, Emily. You’ve done all right. You might be better at this parenting thing than I was.”

  Did Harlan Callaghan just admit to a flaw?

  “I know I’ve made mistakes,” he said, “but all I know now is that I don’t want to drive Lilly away like I did with you.”

  Emily thought about patting him on the back, but it just seemed like too much. She didn’t want to overwhelm him, so she kept her hands on the fence. “Well, the thing about parenting, Dad, is that it’s for life, so you might not get a do-over, but that doesn’t mean you stop trying. It’s up to you to decide how to handle things with Lilly. As for me, you’re stuck with me, too, so if you want to try to salvage something, I’m willing to try. That’s why I’m here.”

  “Here on this hill, or here on this island?”

  “Both, I guess.”

  He looked over at her and then reached up and patted her knee, and she almost fell off the fence from that robust demonstration of his affection. “I’m glad you’re here,” he said.

  Her heart bloomed like a lilac in the spring sunshine because that was as much of a declaration of love as she might have ever hoped for
.

  “I’m glad I’m here, too, Dad. On the island and right here on this hill with you.”

  Chapter 27

  “Hey there, Peachy-keen! Happy Independence Day,” said Gloria Persimmons, waving enthusiastically.

  Emily and her dad had come down the hill together soon after their conversation ended. He’d gone off to find Judge Murphy and Father O’Reilly, probably so they could reminisce about the good old days when they were the ones causing trouble, and Emily had made her way toward Ryan. Now they were sitting at a picnic table watching Tiny, Garth, and a handful of other guys competing against each other in a pie-eating contest. For a skinny guy, Garth sure could snarf down a banana cream.

  Emily looked up at Gloria’s call and struggled to maintain her composure. Her friend was decked out head to toe in a stars-and-stripes ensemble that Uncle Sam would have considered too patriotic, from her red sparkly tennis shoes all the way up to the miniature flags sticking out from each ponytail. That was some outfit. Tiny stood next to her using the world’s biggest, sturdiest crutches because of his sprained ankle.

  “Same to you, Gloria. Tiny, how’s that ankle?” Emily said.

  “Not so bad. I’ve got Glo-Glo here to help me forget about the pain. She’s my angel.”

  Gloria giggled and bumped against him, nearly knocking him off his crutches in her enthusiasm, but just as quickly wrapped her arms around his middle to catch him.

  “And you’re my naughty devil.”

  He beamed at Emily over the top of Gloria’s head and mouthed the words thank you.

  Emily smiled back, but her mind was uttering Glo-Glo? One square dance and they were already to the pet-name stage? What was it with people these days? Tag and Lilly falling hard and fast. Kevin and Jewel falling even faster. And now Tiny and Gloria? Was she the only one with any sense of caution? Then Ryan pressed his thigh against hers underneath the table, and she realized she was just as susceptible as the rest of them.

  It was wonderful and terrible at the same time. Wonderful because it felt so damn good to experience the rush and the tumble of a new romance. Wonderful because Ryan was everything she would look for in a partner. Smart, funny, handsome, generous. Sexy. And did she mention sexy? But it was terrible, too. Because Tag and Lilly were still going strong, and if the four of them continued on, good heavens, their family tree could end up more gnarled and twisted than that one-hundred-year-old lilac tree down the hill from Gigi’s cottage. What if Tag and Lilly had a son? It would be Ryan’s half brother and Emily’s nephew. And what if things continued on with Ryan and Emily and one day they had a son? He would be Tag’s grandson and Lilly’s nephew. And how would those two kids be related to each other? It was all just a little too Greek tragedy for her, and all things considered, they might actually be breaking laws in some states.

  Then, of course, there was the not-so-little matter of geography. Emily was very seriously considering moving back home to the island, and Ryan would go home to Sacramento. Too far apart to be workable. There was Chloe to consider, too, of course, but she’d been thoroughly Team Ryan for weeks, so somehow Emily didn’t think she’d mind.

  So many things to consider, so many angles to look at this from, but today was Independence Day, and tonight there would be fireworks. Fireworks of all sorts, she hoped.

  “So, guess what?” she whispered to Ryan after Gloria and Tiny had ambled away.

  “What?”

  “Chloe is sleeping at Brooke’s house, so I’m completely kid-free for the entire night.”

  “Are you now?” He lowered his sunglasses to peer at her.

  “Yes, and guess what else?” She was already enjoying this.

  “What?” he asked, his voice husky with anticipation.

  “Gigi sleeps like a tranquilized elephant and never has any idea what time I come home.”

  His eyebrows rose at her scandalous intentions. “Why, Miss Chambers, are you suggesting that we stay out past curfew?”

  “I am. I would like to exercise a little independence of my own on this Fourth of July holiday. So how’s about a little star-spangled romance at your hotel?”

  “I like the way you think.”

  “And as I’ve mentioned before, I like the way you do a whole bunch of stuff.”

  “You are so smart, Emily Chambers. You were absolutely correct. Private fireworks are far superior to public fireworks,” Ryan said with a satisfied smile as he rolled over in his hotel bed, pulling Emily with him. She was soft and warm and so delicious, he could already feel his body stirring again, but first, a bit of rest. That had been quite a workout.

  She stretched like a cat in the sun next to him. “I am smart, and I especially liked that grand finale.”

  “Thank you. I tried to include a little something extra since it’s the Fourth of July.”

  “How very patriotic you are,” she said with a giggle.

  “I am all for the raising of the flag.”

  Lying in a hotel bed, tangled up with Emily in his arms, Ryan was feeling all kinds of wonderful. Being with her was so natural and easy. Not the take it for granted kind of easy, but rather, the honey, I’m home kind of easy. Maybe it was just all the public displays of affection he’d seen today, or maybe it was because he’d been without a relationship for a long time, but deep down this felt . . . right. He also knew, deep down, that it wasn’t because of either of those other things. And it wasn’t just from positive associations, and it wasn’t just random chemicals zooming around in his head. It was Emily. It was her laugh and her smile and her enthusiasm for her work. It was the way she interacted with her daughter. It was simply everything about her. Ryan was an opportunities guy, and if his mother were alive, she’d say, “Ryan, you should marry that girl before she gets away.” Of course, it was far too soon to be thinking such things, but he was thinking them anyway.

  “Emily?” he asked softly, wondering if she’d drifted off to sleep. The room was dark except for the glow of some streetlamps. They’d left the windows open, and a soft breeze set the curtains to dancing a slow waltz back and forth.

  “Hmm?”

  “I like you.”

  He felt her chuckle more than he heard it, but she lifted her head from his shoulder and smiled down at him. “I like you, too.”

  “I seem to like you quite a bit.”

  She nodded. “Same.”

  “I’m not sure what to do about that. About . . . us. I just know I’d like there to be . . . some kind of us. You know?”

  Her smiled faded and her expression matched the emotions he was feeling. Uncertainty about their odds, but earnest in their hope to make it work.

  “Same.”

  He could feel her heart beating against his chest as he pulled her over on top of him, like he wanted to be surrounded by her in every possible way. Her hair fell around his face like a curtain, keeping them hidden from the world.

  “There’s something I should mention, probably.” She stared down at him in the dim light. “I’m thinking about moving back here. To the island.”

  “You are?”

  “Chloe wants to. I seem to be in kind of a nice place with my family, which I haven’t had in years, and Gigi wants me to renovate more of her cottages. We even talked about buying that cottage down the hill from where I’ve been working.”

  He knew which one she meant. He knew instantly, but she kept talking.

  “Mrs. O’Malley, the fossil who owns that little pink house, hasn’t been looking so well at church lately, and Gigi thinks we could pool our money and buy it as another rental for her, but I don’t know. It’s just an idea.”

  She couldn’t buy that place because Taggert Property Management already owned it. He should tell her that right this minute, but he had clients to consider. And Emily moving home wasn’t contingent on that one place. If it was, then certainly he’d tell her. He knew a solid plan from a fanciful speculation. Like she’d said, it was just an idea.

  Even so, he felt a little guilty. He want
ed to tell her, but he couldn’t. A contract was binding. He’d figure something out, some way to explain it to her, but not right now, because right now, Emily was smiling down at him, her expression full of invitation.

  “In the meantime,” she said, “until we figure out what to do about us, I suggest we just keep doing this.”

  Then she kissed him, and he agreed.

  Chapter 28

  “So the cat’s out of the bag, the fox is in the henhouse, the shit has hit the fan,” Ryan said to Bryce over the phone. “I’m not sure which of these phrases suits the situation best, but the bottom line here is that Chief of Police Harlan Eldred Callaghan now knows that our father is banging his daughter.”

  “Dude,” Bryce said, his voice scratchy from sleep. “Do you have any idea what fucking time it is here?”

  Ryan glanced at the clock on his nightstand. It was 7:00 a.m. “Oh shit. Sorry. Forgot about the three-hour time difference. Good morning. Thought you’d want to be the first to hear the news. Well, actually you’re the first person who isn’t physically on this island to hear the news. As far as the people around here go, I think everyone now knows.”

  “Dude, seriously, could we talk about this later? I’m in REM sleep.”

  “Can’t talk later. I’ve got to shower, and then I’m taking Chloe and Emily out for breakfast before we go see the reenactors at the fort.”

  “Who is Chloe?”

  “Emily’s daughter.”

  “Who is Emily?

  “Lilly’s sister.”

  “Who is Lilly?”

  “The gold-digging bimbo. Did you take an Ambien? What the hell is wrong with you?”

  “It’s four o’clock in the morning, you asshole, and you woke me up. That’s what’s wrong with me. What the hell is wrong with you? You’re wide awake and way too cheerfu—oh shit. You’re doing it with the bimbo’s sister, aren’t you? The chick from the airport. I knew it. I knew I couldn’t trust you.”