Season for Love

by Marie Force

  “I do, too. So what’d you want to talk to me about?”

  “A business opportunity.” Evan outlined Ned’s plan for a recording studio on the island. “What do you think? Could we make a go of it?”

  “You could. That’d be right up your alley.”

  “But not yours?”

  “Sounds like a lot of work.”

  “It would be, but I really think we could do it.”

  Owen was pleased to see Evan excited about something again. Watching him wait to hear what would become of his hard-won career in Nashville had been difficult on everyone who cared about him.

  “Think about all the musicians we both know, people like you and me who’ve never gotten a break. There’s so much talent out there looking for an outlet.”

  “You’re excited about this.”

  “Yeah, kinda, but I was hoping we could do it together.”

  Owen chose his words carefully, not wanting to put a damper on Evan’s enthusiasm. “I think I’ve found my calling at the hotel.”

  “Doing what?”

  “Whatever needs to be done,” Owen said with a shrug. “Once the renovations are finished, Laura will manage the hotel, and I’ll help her. It’ll always need constant care and feeding. I’ll have more than enough to keep me busy. I’ve discovered I enjoy puttering around the old place.”

  Evan’s eyes had bugged out of his head. “Are you listening to yourself? Since when are you Mr. Fix It? You’re a musician. That’s who you’ve always been.”

  “People change, Ev. Things change. I’ll always be a musician, but there’s other stuff I want to do, too. My grandparents ran that place for half a century. I like the idea of keeping it in the family.”

  “How does Laura fit into that?”

  “If I have my way, I’ll be keeping her in the family, too.”

  “You’re really not interested in the studio?” Evan asked, looking crushed.

  “I’m very interested in seeing the amazing things you’re going to do with it. I can’t wait to buy your first record.”

  “But you’re not going to be part of it.”

  “I’m sorry, but no.”

  Evan rested his hands on his hips, seeming a little lost. “I wasn’t expecting you to say no.”

  “Sorry to let you down.”

  “You’re not. I’ll have to rethink the plan. That’s all.”

  “I have no doubt you can take this opportunity and run with it. You’ve already got everything you need to make it a huge success. You don’t need me.”

  “I’ll need you later tonight. Luke asked us to play after a while. Did you bring your guitar?”

  “Never leave home without it.”

  Evan nodded. “Good.”

  “You’re not pissed are you?”

  “Nah. Surprisingly enough, I get it.”

  “You’ve always had more ambition than I did. I was happy playing covers in bars, while you were writing songs and chasing the big deal.”

  “For all the good that did me,” Evan said bitterly.

  “Everything happens for a reason. Maybe you were meant to venture down this new road.”

  “Grace said the same thing.”

  “So she’s in favor of the studio idea?”

  “Hell, yeah,” Evan said with a grin. “It’d keep me here on the island with her. She’s thrilled.”

  “Give her time. She’ll wise up.”

  “Very funny.”

  Owen’s cell phone rang, and he was surprised to see Frank McCarthy’s number on the caller ID. “I gotta take this,” he said to Evan.

  “Go right ahead.”

  Owen walked outside to take the call. “Hi, Frank.”

  “Owen, I’m glad I caught you.”

  “We’re at a party. Is everything okay?”

  “I had a conversation tonight with the son-in-law who shall not be named.”

  Owen’s gut clenched with anxiety. “And?”

  “I convinced him that it’s in his best interest to sign the papers and give Laura primary custody of the baby. He agreed to a visitation schedule of occasional weekends and vacations, two weeks in the summer and alternating holidays.”

  Owen released a deep breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. “That’s great. Laura will be thrilled.”

  “I’m not so sure.”

  “Why’s that.”

  “He has a condition.”

  Owen’s stomach began to hurt. “What condition?”

  “He wants her to end it with you.”

  He’d received actual gut punches that hurt less than those words did. “What right does he have to dictate who she spends time with?”

  “None whatsoever, but try telling him that. I’m having lunch with the senior partner at his firm on Monday. We went to high school together. I’ll feel him out and see if he’s willing to lean on his wayward associate on my behalf.”

  “Will you keep me posted?”

  “Of course. I called you because I didn’t want to upset Laura any more than she already is. Will you tell her about this?”

  Owen closed his eyes and pictured her gorgeous face as she told him she loved him earlier. “If you’re seeing the partner on Monday, I suppose I can wait until then to mention it to her but not much longer. I don’t want to keep things from her.”

  “As my father would say, I like the cut of your jib, young man.”

  Owen thought of his own father, who’d never approved of a thing about him. “Thank you. That’s nice of you to say.”

  “I’ll be in touch,” Frank said. “Take good care of my girl in the meantime.”

  “I will.”

  Reeling, Owen stashed the phone in his pocket. What the hell was he supposed to do now?

  “Tell us everything,” Stephanie said as she and Grace dragged Laura to a quiet corner in the living room. “What happened with the ex? And Owen! That was one heck of a kiss I walked in on the other day.”

  “Sorry about that,” Laura said, mortified.

  “Don’t be sorry! Spill the beans!”

  “You first,” Laura said. “I want to hear all about the proposal. Was it so romantic?”

  “He did a good job,” Stephanie said with a soft glow in her eyes. “Especially since I was trying to break up with him when he asked me.”

  “What?” Grace said. “Why?”

  “We were constantly at odds. It was too much for me. I lived like that for years with my mother, and I can’t do it anymore.”

  “How did he change your mind?”

  “How else? Words. The man is gifted. In more ways than one.”

  Grace let out a snort. “I bet it was quite something.”

  “Unforgettable,” Stephanie said.

  Laura took a closer look at Stephanie’s ring. “I wouldn’t have pictured the traditional engagement ring for you.”

  “Grant said he debated something eclectic but decided to go traditional because I’d never had that before. Turns out I kinda dig tradition.”

  “Oh,” Grace said. “How sweet is that?”

  “I know. He definitely has his moments.”

  Laura hugged Stephanie. “I’m so happy for you. No one deserves to be happy more than you do.”

  “Thanks. I’m so happy it’s not even funny. Not only do I get a lifetime with Grant, my dad is free and clear and figuring out what’s next. His battle was at the center of my life for so long that some days I can’t believe I don’t have to think about it anymore.”

  “It must be such a relief,” Grace said. “I can’t even imagine what that was like.”

  “It was a fourteen-year nightmare.”

  “It’s all in the past now, and you can do anything you want,” Laura said.

  “I know,” Stephanie said with a gleam in her eye. “That’s why I’m finally going to open the restaurant I’ve always dreamed of.”

  “Open it in the hotel,” Laura said. The words were out of her mouth before the thought was fully formed.

  Stephanie’
s confusion showed on her face. “Huh?”

  “Adele—Owen’s grandmother—and I agree that we need a top-shelf restaurant in the hotel. We’ve got the space and a huge kitchen and everything you’d need. We’ll renovate it to your specs—whatever you want.”

  “You’re serious.”

  “I’m dead serious.”

  “I love that idea,” Grace said. “You guys would make a great team.”

  “I totally agree,” Laura said, more in love with the idea with every passing minute. “You’d have carte blanche over the restaurant. It’d be totally yours.”

  “Wow. I don’t know what to say.”

  “Say yes,” Laura said. “Let’s work together to bring the Surf back to its former glory.”

  “It does have everything I want—an ideal location in town, a spectacular view of the water and built-in foot traffic,” Stephanie said. “It sounds perfect, but I’d need to take a closer look at the kitchen and dining room before I decide for sure.”

  “Come by in the morning and look to your heart’s content.”

  “I will. Thank you for the amazing idea. If it works out, this could be terrific for both of us.”

  “Yay,” Grace said, clapping her hands. “Now let’s hear about what happened with the ex—and Owen.”

  Laura filled them in on the highlights—or lowlights as they were—of her conversation with Justin.

  “So where does it stand now?” Stephanie asked, still scowling over Justin’s comment about the baby’s paternity.

  “I’m waiting on him. I left there convinced he would sign the papers, but part of me suspects he’s not done fighting.”

  “What did he say about the baby?” Grace asked.

  “He already knew.”

  Stephanie’s brows narrowed. “How?”

  “Apparently, he had me followed. He knew all about the hotel, the baby, Owen.”

  “So creepy,” Grace said with a shiver. “I dislike this guy more all the time.”

  “No kidding,” Stephanie said. “What does Owen say about it?”

  “He’s been amazing,” Laura said. “So supportive and understanding. Get this—he asked if he could be my childbirth coach. Can you believe that?”

  “He loves you,” Grace said. “The whole time he was talking to Evan just now, he was watching you.”

  “Was he?” Laura asked, smiling.

  “Couldn’t take his eyes off you,” Grace confirmed.

  “He’s. . . wonderful. I hope Justin signs the papers and sets me free before Owen runs out of patience with the situation.”

  “He’s not going anywhere,” Stephanie assured Laura. “Any man who’d willingly volunteer to witness childbirth must have a big, bad thing for you.”

  “No kidding,” Grace said. “If that’s not a measure of his devotion, I don’t know what is.”

  The baby chose that moment to send a rippling wave across Laura’s stomach. She took that to mean the baby agreed with her friends.

  “So what’s her story?” Dan Torrington asked Grant.

  “Whose story?”

  “Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm over there.” Dan nodded to Kara, who was chatting with Big Mac and Linda.

  “No idea. Hey, Mac,” Grant said to his brother. “Come here.”

  “What’s up?” Mac asked when he joined them.

  “Dan wants the skinny on Kara,” Grant said.

  “I don’t know her all that well except that she’s from Maine and number six in a family of eleven kids.”

  “Eleven?” Grant asked. “Jesus. I thought our family was big.”

  “Imagine twice as many of us plus one,” Mac said with a grin.

  “No, thanks,” Grant said. “I’ve got all I can handle with four siblings.”

  “What’s she doing on Gansett?” Dan asked, his gaze riveted to Kara, who was making Big Mac and Linda laugh with an animated story. For some strange reason, he desperately wanted to hear what she was saying.

  Mac told them about the launch service Kara had proposed for the Salt Pond and the role McCarthy’s Gansett Island Marina would play in the plan.

  “Why didn’t we think of that?” Grant asked.

  “Dad and Luke have talked about it over the years, but that’s as far as it got,” Mac said. “This is even better for us because we get the benefit of increased foot traffic for the restaurant and gift shop—and possibly new customers for the marina when they see how great our place is—but none of the headaches of running the launch service ourselves. Win-win.”

  While Grant talked business with his brother, Dan continued to watch Kara. She wasn’t even his type. He went for built-like-brick-shithouse blondes, not buttoned-down, wholesome country girls. She wore Levi jeans, for Pete’s sake. Though they did amazing things to her excellent ass, he couldn’t remember the last woman he’d known who wore plain old Levis.

  It was hard to tell through the bulky sweater if she had anything going on up top, and from what he could gather from a distance, she didn’t wear a lick of makeup on her fresh-faced complexion. She wouldn’t last a day in LA. For some reason, the thought pleased him.

  “How long is she here?” Dan asked Mac.

  “She’s heading back to Maine on Monday, but she’ll be back in March to get ready for the season.”

  For some strange reason, Dan felt oddly deflated to know she was leaving. Soon.

  “What’re you up to, Torrington?” Grant asked when Mac went to find his wife.

  Startled out of his thoughts, Dan said, “Nothing.”

  “Why’re you staring at her? You’re going to creep her out.”

  “I’m not staring at her.”

  “Don’t tell me you’re interested. You’re way too old for her, and she’s hardly your type.”

  “Funny, I was thinking the same thing. And yet…”

  “What?”

  “There’s something about her. Look at her. She’s pure as the driven snow.”

  “Which is why you need to stay far, far away.”

  Dan rested a hand over his chest. “I’m wounded.”

  “You’ll survive.”

  “Introduce me.”

  “I don’t know her either,” Grant protested.

  “I believe you know the people she’s talking to, don’t you?”

  Grant rolled his eyes. “I’ve met them once or twice.”

  “Come on then.”

  “Why do I have the sinking feeling I’m going to regret this?”

  “Be a pal, McCarthy. Remember that favor I did for you when your girlfriend’s stepfather was unjustly incarcerated?”

  “How long will I have to pay for that?”

  “I’ll let you know in a decade or two when the debt is repaid. In the meantime…” He gave Grant a gentle nudge to get him moving.

  “Fine. Let’s get this over with.” Grant crossed the kitchen to where his parents were talking to Kara. “Having a good time, everyone?”

  “Kara Ballard,” Big Mac said, “this is our idiot second son, Grant, who got engaged and forgot to tell his parents for two days.”

  “I was busy,” Grant said, shaking hands with Kara. Waggling his brows, he added, “Celebrating.”

  Kara’s cheeks went pink at Grant’s mention of celebrating, and Dan became even more intrigued. Pure as the driven snow, and she blushes. Too good to be true.

  “Kara, this is my friend Dan Torrington.”

  “Nice to meet you.” When she met his gaze, he noticed her eyes were brown with flecks of gold. And were those…freckles? Her shy smile was right out of a toothpaste ad. Good God, she was too cute for words, and as Grant had said, probably far too young for him.

  “Nice to meet you, too,” Dan said. “I hear you’re in the boat business.”

  “Her family has a big outfit in Bar Harbor,” Big Mac said.

  “What do you do?” Dan asked.

  “Business development, mostly, but as of next summer, I’ll be running the launch service in the Salt Pond.”

 
Dan would’ve bet his sizable fortune that she’d been the smart girl in school who’d ruined the curve for guys like him. He wondered if she ever let down her ponytail and got a little wild. He’d sure like to know.

  “And you, Mr. Torrington? What do you do?”

  Grant guffawed at the “Mr. Torrington,” earning him a swat and a glare from his mother.

  “Call me Dan, please. I’m a lawyer.”

  “Oh,” Kara said, barely hiding her contempt. “That’s…nice.”

  Dan’s face lifted into a half grin as he bit back the instant urge to ask what she had against lawyers.

  “Stephanie is beckoning us,” Grant said to his parents. “I hope I’m not about to hear the words ‘wedding plans’ come out of her mouth.”

  “Oh, I can’t wait to plan another wedding!” Linda said, leading her husband and son into the living room.

  “Fabulous,” Grant muttered as his mother tugged at his arm.

  Dan laughed at his friend’s dismay. “The poor bastard has no idea what he’s in for.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Kara asked.

  Surprised by her tone, Dan chose his words carefully. “Wedding planning isn’t for the faint of heart.”

  “Are you married?”

  “Nope.”

  “Then what do you know about wedding planning?”

  The memories flooded over him in a wave of pain that caught him off guard. How was it possible that it still hurt so badly? “Came close once.”

  “What happened?”

  “Why Ms. Ballard, we’ve just met,” he said with the effortlessly charming smile that had served him well with women his entire life. “I don’t know if I’m ready to start spilling all my secrets.” The instant the words were out of his mouth he regretted them. What he’d intended as teasing had clearly embarrassed her.

  “I’m sorry. You’re absolutely right. It’s none of my business.”

  “Hey, I was only kidding.” He bent his head to look into her eyes. “Seriously, kidding. The engagement didn’t work out.” His shrug belied the ongoing pain of finding his fiancée riding his best man two days before the wedding. Two losses for the price of one. “It was one of those things.”

  “Well, it must’ve been a difficult time. I’m sorry you had to go through that.”

  “Shit happens.”