The Tycoon's Perfect Match

by Christine Wenger

  She sighed. “If anyone could understand, Brian, it’s you. You work in your family’s business, just like I do. You take care of the books at the garage and all, and—”

  He nodded. “Sometimes it can be tough, working in a family business.”

  Her eyes met his, and he could see the anguish in them.

  “Absolutely,” Mari agreed. “Especially if you’re an only child like me.”

  He nodded. “Or if your siblings have problems of their own to deal with, and you have to pick up the slack.”

  “Or if you’re the last of the line,” she said.

  “Or if you have dreams of your own that have been pushed to the back burner,” Brian replied.

  “Yes!” she agreed. “Or if you’ve just broken up with a man.”

  “Or…What?” Brian raised an eyebrow. “Sorry. That never happened to me.”

  She laughed, then lowered her eyes. “He’s not worth talking about.”

  “To be honest, I suspected something like that.”

  She raised an eyebrow.

  “You tend to look down at your left hand, or touch a ring that isn’t there.” He met her gaze. “Was it serious?”

  “I thought so. Matter of fact, I thought so three times.”

  He couldn’t help himself from reaching for her hand and holding it, and for once, she didn’t pull away.

  “Forget them. None of them deserved a woman like you.” He thought he saw the hint of tears in the corners of her eyes. He wanted to ask her more, to find out how the bastard had hurt her, but it was too private a pain.

  “Thank you for that,” she said.

  “Now, cheer up. We’re going to have a great time at Mel’s.” He’d show her a good time, and she’d forget about him.

  He pointed to the plastic bin of gifts. “You shouldn’t have done that.”

  “It was fun,” she said. “They’re all little things. I have an idea for a little surprise—a game.”

  “That’s very thoughtful of you. Kyle and his friends will love it.” He picked up the bin, and they walked to his car.

  On the way to Melanie’s house, they kept up a steady chatter. “Do you remember Sunshine Cottage?” he asked.

  “It was your house. Right?”

  “Yes, and my grandparents’ house before us. Melanie always loved that house, and she lives there now. Her husband, Sam, loves it, too. He said it reminds him of his childhood home in Canada.”

  When they pulled in, Melanie ran out with an excited scream and scooped Mari into a big hug.

  “Mel, you’re taller, of course, but I would know you anywhere.” Mari grinned. “It’s good to see you.”

  “This is my husband, Sam,” Melanie said proudly. She smoothed the baby’s blanket. “And this little doll is Angeline. Angie for short. And this adorable guy is Kyle, who is seven today.”

  “Oh, Mom!” said Kyle, blushing to the roots of his sandy-brown hair.

  Mari cooed over Angeline, and took the time to ask Kyle a few questions and wish him a happy birthday.

  Brian caught the expression of longing on Mari’s face when she looked at the kids.

  “Are you Uncle Brian’s girlfriend?” Kyle asked.

  Brian held his breath. It figured that Kyle would ask such a thing.

  Mari smiled. “I’m an old friend. I used to play with your mother and uncles when we were kids. My parents used to own Sherwood Lodge, and I came here every summer.”

  “You don’t look that old,” Kyle said, then ran off to greet his grandfather and Uncle Jack, who’d just pulled in.

  “Do you want to hold Angeline?” Sam asked Mari. “I have a couple of things I have to do before Melanie yells at me.”

  “That’s right.” Melanie laughed. “Get to work.”

  “I’d love to, Sam,” Mari said. “But I really don’t know how. I mean, I haven’t been around many babies.”

  “I didn’t have any experience until now, either,” Sam said, handing Angeline over to Mari. “Just support her head.”

  Sam showed her, and within seconds Mari looked as though she was born to the job. Her eyes got all dreamy, and she had a contemplative expression on her face when she looked at Angeline.

  “I am so glad you’re here, Mari,” Melanie said, putting her arm around Mari’s shoulder. “I can’t wait to catch up with you. It’s been so long.”

  As they walked toward the party, talking excitedly, Brian got the packages out of the car and carried them to the side yard of the big yellow house, up the stairs to a big deck that was decorated with balloons and streamers.

  Kyle and his friends were playing kick ball on the expansive lawn.

  Brian pulled out a chair for Mari and the baby and sat down next to her. There was a lot of chatter as everyone exchanged greetings with his father, Ed Hawkins, and Jack. He offered to take Angie, but Mari wouldn’t hear of it. She seemed content just to sit and rub the baby’s back.

  Every so often, she’d whisper to Angie, who was curled up against Mari’s shoulder, cooing and dozing.

  Brian could have watched Mari forever—the wonder on her face when she looked at the baby, the happy sparkle in her eyes, the little motherly gestures and the sounds she made. He wondered why he was noticing every little thing about her—he’d certainly never paid this much attention to any other woman holding a baby.

  “You’re a natural, Mari. You’d make a great mother.”

  “Maybe,” she said quietly. “But finding a father might be difficult. My choice of men hasn’t been all that great.”

  Her words struck a chord of regret in Brian. Any man who would hurt Mari was a fool.

  Yet he was the biggest fool of them all. He was the one who’d hurt her first.

  Mari hated to give up Angeline, even though her arms ached, but it was time for Melanie to feed her.

  It was good to be around such a close family, observing how they related to one another, enjoyed each other’s company.

  If this were her family, her mother would be on her cell phone, and her father would be sending e-mails on his BlackBerry. There would certainly never be a treasure hunt.

  She turned to Brian. “Come with me. I have a present to hide in the woods for Kyle to find. I cleared it with Melanie and Sam. I wanted to make sure it was okay with them.”

  “Sure,” he said. “Sounds interesting.”

  When they tried to disappear quietly, so as not to pique Kyle’s curiosity, Jack and the other men made some teasing comments as to what they were going to do.

  “What are we doing?” Brian asked.

  “Well, I put a treasure map in Kyle’s birthday card, and—” Melanie pulled out a metal box from her purse. “We are hiding pirate’s treasure for Kyle to find. Inside are gold-wrapped chocolate coins, gum and some other little things I’ve picked up.”

  “He’ll love it,” Brian said.

  “I know I did when I was his age. Remember how we used to make a treasure map, and the other person had to follow it?”

  “That’s what I was just thinking.” He chuckled. “Remember how you made a treasure chest out of a cigar box and—”

  “And I covered it with silver and gold glitter glue. And I glued on some pennies and nickels.”

  “You gave it to me, and I’d make the treasure map, and we’d put our treasures into your box,” he finished.

  Brian took her elbow and helped her through an uneven patch of land. She could feel his strength as he guided her, and she thought that she should have worn sneakers instead of fancy Italian wedge heels so his help wouldn’t have been necessary.

  “The treasure map that I’m giving to Kyle was one that you’d made,” she said.

  He looked at her in amazement. “You’ve kept one of my maps all this time?”

  She chuckled. “I’ve kept every pirate map that you’ve ever made—in my old diaries.”

  He stopped and turned toward her. “And you brought them with you?”

  “Yes.” She looked up at him. “And before yo
u ask me why, the answer is for old-time’s sake. I just wish I hadn’t lost that treasure chest. I don’t know what happened to it.”

  “I wonder what else is in your old diaries. Anything about me?” He raised an eyebrow.

  “Oh, yes. You were the star.”

  “Was I the star of a comedy or a tragedy?” he asked, taking both her hands.

  “Both.” She looked deep into his eyes, her smile fading. “You broke my heart, you know.”

  “I know,” he said softly. “I didn’t mean to, but you were too young, and I was too—”

  “Immature?”

  “Probably. But I was really falling for you, Mari.” He swallowed hard. “I hurt you, and that was the last thing I wanted to do.”

  She wanted to ask him why he hadn’t called, hadn’t written. But she found herself standing too close to him, and they were gazing into each other’s eyes.

  They were going to kiss, and finally something in the back of her mind sounded an alarm. She couldn’t let him—shouldn’t let him. She’d come here to get away from her life, and here she was, falling into old habits again, drawn to a man too easily.

  As she gazed into his eyes, she could hear children’s laughter in the distance. Kyle’s party was in progress, and it reminded her that they were supposed to be hiding his gifts. The metal box from Clancy’s dug into the palm of her hand, bringing her back to the present.

  They pulled away at the same time.

  “Um…” Brian’s hands were back at his sides.

  Mari bent down and hid the box under a pile of leaves at the base of an old cement property stake, hoping Brian couldn’t see her blushing.

  “This is just where you hid my butterfly pin,” she said, trying to make things lighter.

  “And you found it in less than a half hour.”

  She put her hands on her hips. “Well, I never said that your maps were difficult.”

  They laughed, and they were back to their old selves again—almost. She’d softened toward him.

  But while Mari reminded herself yet again not to get involved with Brian, she wasn’t sure she could control the heat that he awakened inside her.

  Brian couldn’t believe that he’d almost kissed Mari.

  She was on the rebound and had made it perfectly clear that she wanted to be left alone—that she wasn’t interested in anything more than friendship.

  Brian knew she’d come to the party to see everyone and catch up—certainly not for him. In a way, that was disappointing.

  He had no good excuse for not calling her or writing her, other than that he’d had plans for himself—big plans. And he just hadn’t been ready—or willing—to give up his dreams.

  But he could never explain this to her now. He’d seem so shallow, so arrogant. Basically, he’d picked his ambition over a friend. No, not a friend. The girl he could have—might have—loved.

  They rejoined the group, and Kyle opened his presents. The pirate costume that Mari had given him was the envy of his pals, and the subsequent treasure hunt was a huge success with the kids.

  Angeline was once again snuggled on Mari’s shoulder, and Mari was eating a hamburger with one hand. Brian’s father had her ear and was regaling her with stories of the “old days” on Hawk’s Lake, when Ezra Hawkins established a smithy here and the town was slowly built around it.

  When his sister finally scooped up Angie to put her to bed, Brian could see the disappointment on Mari’s face.

  By the time Melanie returned with a baby monitor in her hand, the sun was setting, and Jack and Sam had a fire blazing in the ring. Kyle and his friends were sitting on big logs and had marshmallows on sticks ready to toast.

  Melanie put her hand on his shoulder. “Bri, I meant to tell you, but I’ve had some trouble with Buzz’s Antique Auto Parts. They keep sending me the wrong fenders for the ’32 Ford.”

  “Don’t worry about it, sis. I’ll take care of it in the morning, and you’ll have your fenders in two days.”

  “Thanks, Brian. I knew I could count on you.”

  Jack snapped his fingers. “That reminds me. Brian, I have to ship a stock car to New Hampshire so Bobby Regent can test drive it while he’s out there. He’s interested in buying it. I’d like to use a different company than the Killborn Brothers. Do you have any ideas?”

  “I do. I have the contact information in my office at the garage, and…” Brian sighed. “How about if I just make the arrangements for you?”

  Jack grinned. “I was hoping you’d say that. Thanks.”

  Brian pulled out a BlackBerry from his back pocket and made a few quick notes, then leaned back in his Adirondack chair and put his hands behind his head. He had a lot of things to take care of tomorrow. He’d better get up early and get to it.

  Mari put her hand on the arm of his chair. “Brian, I can’t remember when I had such a good time. It must be nice to have such a close family.”

  He laughed. “Without them, life in Hawk’s Lake would really be dull.”

  “You think so?” she asked.

  “I know so. Truthfully, I think you’re lucky to live in Boston,” he said.

  “You’ve got to be kidding.”

  “It’s an exciting city—just like New York. I loved it when I lived there. Now, that’s an incredible place. There was always something to do. In Hawk’s Lake, they roll the sidewalks up at five o’clock.”

  Mari shrugged. “That’s good. Then everyone can go home to their families.”

  He’d never thought of that.

  “And don’t forget our magnificent stores,” he joked. “Like Clancy’s.”

  “Brian, Clancy’s is the most incredible place. You can find everything you want in one stop. And you can walk or drive anyplace you need to go and park for free, just steps from any business here. No commuting headaches.”

  “I can see I’m losing this argument,” Brian said.

  “You can’t say anything bad about Hawk’s Lake to me. I couldn’t wait to get back here. I’m just disappointed that I didn’t return sooner.”

  “I’m disappointed, too,” he said.

  “You are?”

  “Of course.”

  He took her hand and kissed the back of it. His brother, Jack, gave a long, low whistle. Brian had forgotten that they weren’t alone—that everyone was around the campfire and all eyes were on them. Kyle and his friends were laughing. Melanie looked like a deer caught in headlights. Sam and Ed exchanged knowing glances.

  What was he doing?

  He dropped her hand and looked up at the sky. “It’s a little cloudy. On a clear evening, I should take you out on the lake. The view is amazing.”

  She leaned over to him and whispered, “So there is something you like about Hawk’s Lake after all?”

  “One thing.” He smiled. “And you make it two.”

  “You don’t have to walk me into the cottage,” Mari said as Brian pulled up to Sherwood Lodge later that night. “I’m fine.”

  She didn’t want him to kiss her at the door, nor did she want to invite him in.

  Okay…maybe she did.

  She should have known that she’d be attracted to him again. But it was probably only because she was still vulnerable after the Jason Fox incident.

  No. That wasn’t it. She and Brian just couldn’t pick up where they’d left off—when she was sixteen and he was eighteen, and they came within a blink of making love.

  Too much time had gone by, and she wasn’t the same innocent girl anymore.

  Besides, if she decided to take the CEO job, she would probably never return to Hawk’s Lake. She’d be busier than ever.

  And if she didn’t take the job, she’d break her parents’ and Grandma Rose’s hearts.

  “Thanks, Brian. I had a really wonderful time.” Since it was a little after midnight, she didn’t have to fake a yawn to get away.

  The clouds had finally passed. Now the moon was shining on the lake, and the water was sparkling in the glow. She could see her way to
the side porch door.

  He got out of the car anyway, appeared at her side and opened the door. Brian was always a gentleman.

  “I wouldn’t want you to run into any skunks or bears.”

  She laughed. “I’d forgotten about those critters.”

  “Another negative to add to the tally of Hawk’s Lake.”

  “But they’re cute. And we’re the intruders. Not them,” Mari pointed out.

  His eyes twinkled in amusement. She just loved his eyes.

  “If you don’t mind, I’d like to fix the shutter tomorrow. It won’t take long. Then I’ll be out of your hair.”

  “Tomorrow is good. I’m going to go for a walk and work on my pottery. Maybe write a little in my journal.”

  He slid his hands into his pockets. “Sounds like a busy day.”

  “Sounds like a relaxing day. You should try it sometime. Melanie told me that you’re always busy working. Jack and Ed, and even Sam, agreed with her.”

  He grimaced. “They should know. They’re the ones who always have something for me to do.”

  “I did notice tonight that Melanie and Jack seemed very dependent on you. But you were the one who jumped to volunteer to help them out—which they obviously expected you to do.”

  “I jumped to volunteer?”

  “Yes, you did. So you can’t blame them entirely.” As she slid out of the seat, she thought that tonight probably wasn’t an isolated incident, and that Brian’s family was used to him taking charge when they didn’t want to deal with something. But that was the kind of guy he’d always been. He’d help anyone who asked—or didn’t quite come out and ask—for his help. “Thanks again, Brian. It was so wonderful to see everyone again and get caught up. And it was a real treat holding Angie.”

  “I thought you were going to kidnap her.”

  She laughed. “I wanted to.”

  “You looked really…beautiful…holding her.”

  How would she ever respond to a touching statement like that?

  Brian would make a remarkable father. She’d watched him on the treasure hunt, pretending to give them wrong clues, like he didn’t want the kids finding the treasure. He’d had just as good a time as they had.

  And whenever he talked to Angie, her bright blue eyes would grow wide, and happy gurgles would erupt from her tiny mouth.