Moonlight Cove

by Sherryl Woods

  Jess shook her head. She was the lucky one, not just because of Will, but because she had her family behind her, no matter what.

  Despite her resolve to open her heart to Will, the time they spent apart as he dealt with the Lunch by the Bay crisis was starting to take a toll on their relationship. Once again, Jess’s insecurities kicked in, because it seemed no matter what she offered in the way of help and support, Will rejected it. He insisted that the entire burden for fixing things rested on his shoulders. He was wearing himself out.

  Tired of being pushed aside, Jess went to Sally’s at noon one day, determined to get in Will’s face. She’d heard that’s pretty much what Connie had done with Thomas, and look how that had turned out. They were now officially engaged.

  But when Jess arrived at Sally’s, she found Jake and Mack in their usual spot, but there was no sign of Will.

  “Where’s Will?”

  “Hiding out in his office, I imagine,” Mack said. “He hasn’t shown his face in here for a week.”

  “And you two are just sitting here when he needs you?” Jess demanded. “What kind of friends are you?”

  Both men flushed guiltily.

  “She’s right,” Jake said. “We shouldn’t be letting him get away with this.”

  Mack didn’t look entirely convinced, but he asked, “Are you suggesting we stage an intervention?”

  Jess thought about the various O’Brien interventions to which she’d been a party. She hadn’t much liked them. Still, it was a method Will might appreciate.

  “Let’s go,” she said grimly.

  At least if Will was furious, she’d be there with backup.

  Will was staring out the window of his office when the door opened, and Jess, Mack and Jake barged in.

  “Enough of this!” Jess declared forcefully.

  Will stared at her bleakly. “Enough of what?”

  “Hiding out,” she said.

  Mack gave him a commiserating look. “She’s right, man. No one’s as upset with you as you are with yourself. That guy who made the calls is the criminal, not you.”

  “I know that,” Will said testily. “But it was my company he used to do it.”

  “Then shut down the company,” Jake said. “I imagine a lot of people will be upset at losing a way to connect with other people, but you might as well punish them, too.”

  Will blinked at Jake’s tone. “It’s not about punishing anybody. It’s about making sure people are safe.”

  Jess regarded him with understanding. “You can’t singlehandedly keep the world safe, Will. There are creeps out there. Even if you shut down Lunch by the Bay, they’ll still find some other way to harass women.”

  “But this happened on my watch,” he said stubbornly.

  “And you’ve apologized repeatedly, individually to your clients and publicly,” Jess said. “Laila’s not blaming you. Neither is anyone else.”

  Mack draped an arm around his shoulders. “Come on. Have lunch with us. Sally has a tuna on rye with your name on it.”

  Will frowned. “It’s a tuna melt.”

  Mack shrugged. “Whatever. It’s time for you to get your life back.” He glanced pointedly toward Jess. “You get what I’m saying?”

  Will chuckled despite his sour mood. “You’re not a man of great subtlety, Mack. I get what you’re saying. You two go on ahead. I need to speak to Jess for a minute.”

  “But you’ll come to lunch?” Jake pressed. “This intervention thing worked?”

  Will laughed at the hopeful note in his voice. “It worked.”

  “Thank goodness,” Jake said. “This kind of stuff is way out of my comfort zone.”

  After they’d gone, Will turned his attention to Jess. “How’d you talk them into coming over here?”

  “I didn’t have to do that much talking. They care about you.”

  “And you? Do you care about me?”

  She looked into his eyes. “So much it scares the daylights out of me.”

  Will recognized the genuine fear behind her words and knew they weren’t over the hump quite yet, but they were getting there. One of these days Jess would take that final leap of faith. If for that reason only, Jake was exactly right. He needed to be ready to claim the life he’d always wanted and not sitting in his office wasting his time on regrets for things over which he’d had no control.

  23

  Despite the display of caring evident in the unexpected intervention Jess had staged in his office, Will was still terrified he was going to lose her. He knew that the time he was spending on this business crisis was scaring her, that she felt neglected and abandoned.

  Will knew firsthand how dangerous it was to let her go on allowing her insecurities to take over, but up to now he’d felt he had no choice. He was spending every spare minute trying to reassure his clients or debating with himself the merits of simply throwing in the towel on a business that no longer held his interest.

  Realistically, he knew that even before the crisis, Jess had been pulling away from him, and it didn’t take someone with his advanced degree in psychology to figure out why. She was terrified he’d take off, just as her mother had all those years ago. Mick, though he’d stayed in the lives of his children, had pretty much turned to work after the divorce, so the two people who should have been teaching Jess about lasting, unconditional love and relationships had taught her about loss, instead.

  Will knew all too well that love didn’t come with guarantees, not of forever, anyway, but perhaps he could persuade Jess that theirs had the potential to withstand the test of time. Maybe all she really needed was the concrete commitment that he intended to try for.

  Most important, there wasn’t time to waste. He needed to do it now before the situation between them deteriorated even further than it already had. Nothing in his life was more important than Jess, and she needed to know that.

  He started by asking Mick’s permission to marry her. That didn’t go half as smoothly as he’d expected. Apparently Mick had reservations about letting his youngest daughter marry anyone. Megan jumped in to save the day.

  “Do you have a ring yet?” she asked Will, shooting a warning look at Mick that kept him silent.

  “I was going to look this afternoon,” he said.

  “Wait here.”

  An awkward silence reigned while she was gone. “My reservations don’t have anything to do with you,” Mick said finally. “It’s Jess. She doesn’t stick with things. You know that, don’t you?”

  Will bristled on her behalf. “She’ll stick with this,” he said confidently. “She might have attention issues, but her heart’s just fine. She knows how to love.”

  Mick regarded him with surprise. “I should have figured that you’d understand her better than most.”

  “Because I’m a psychologist?” Will asked. “It has nothing to do with that. It’s because I’ve been in love with her since we were kids.”

  Mick seemed to be digesting that when Megan returned and handed a small black velvet jewelry box to Will. “If you like that, you can use it as an engagement ring. It was my mother’s and her mother’s before that. Jess always admired it. I think she’ll appreciate the significance of having something with a long history of love behind it.”

  He opened the box to find a perfect diamond in an old-fashioned gold setting that was absolutely perfect for Jess. The setting was as delicate in its way as she was, the stone as glittering and as enduring. He met Megan’s misty gaze.

  “It’s perfect,” he said. “I don’t know how to thank you.”

  “Just make our girl happy,” she said, tucking her hand into Mick’s.

  “Or else,” Mick murmured, but there was a twinkle in his eye.

  Since Will intended to do everything in his power to meet that one request, he wasn’t worried about consequences. The only thing terrifying him at the moment was that Jess might find some reason to say no.

  It wasn’t enough to have her parents’ blessing, Will decided,
or even the perfect engagement ring. He had to do something that would appeal to Jess’s need for real romance in her life, a gesture that was a little over the top. He had a pretty good idea of what it should be, but it was going to take some help to pull it off, especially since winter had settled in and the outdoor plan he had in mind could wind up with both of them in the hospital with pneumonia if he didn’t handle it just right.

  He called Mack, Jake, Connor and Kevin together for beer at his place. When they were all settled and staring at him expectantly, he announced, “I’m planning to ask Jess to marry me.”

  Rather than whoops of delight, he was greeted by four worried expressions. It was Connor who risked speaking.

  “Are you sure she’s ready, man? You know how skittish she is about any kind of commitment. I don’t want you to put your heart on the line and have her stomp on it.”

  “My heart’s been on the line for years. I think we have a real shot here, and I’m going for it. Will the four of you help me or not?”

  Kevin looked puzzled. “Are you talking about us signing on to be ushers or something like that?”

  “The time will come for that, but right now I need help with proposing.”

  “And you’re asking Mack?” Jake said, giving Mack a poke in the side. “He can’t even muster up the courage to ask Susie on a real date.”

  “Bite me,” Mack replied.

  “Focus, guys. I’m serious here,” Will said. “I want to propose at Moonlight Cove.”

  “But it’s freezing cold,” Kevin said.

  “Thus the need for help,” Will said impatiently. “I’m going to go over there tomorrow and set the scene, a bonfire, candles, flowers, all of it. Then I’m going to pick up Jess. Obviously I can’t leave candles and a bonfire burning, so somebody’s got to work with me, then stick around until we get back.”

  “You want us there when you’re proposing to our sister?” Kevin asked incredulously. “Bad idea. Nobody wants an audience for something like that.”

  “Maybe we should be there,” Connor argued, his expression still dire. “If things don’t work out the way Will wants them to, Jess might need a shoulder to cry on.”

  “Or he will,” Jake chimed in. “Come on, guys. The man has asked for our help. We can’t turn our backs on him.”

  “Thank you,” Will said. “And for the record, I don’t want any of you as witnesses to the proposal. As soon as Jess and I get there, you’re to take off, not hide in the bushes making rude noises or something. We’re not twelve, for goodness’ sake.”

  “We wouldn’t do that,” Mack said indignantly.

  “Speak for yourself,” Connor said.

  Will stood up and glared at him. “Do not make me regret this,” he said grimly.

  “You won’t,” Mack said, standing to give him an awkward hug. “Right, Jake?”

  “Absolutely. We’ve got your back,” Jake said, directing his own scowl toward Connor and Kevin.

  Kevin glanced toward his brother, then sighed. “Count us in, right, Connor?”

  “I’m in,” Connor agreed.

  Will nodded.

  “When’s the big night?”

  “Sunday,” Will said. “It was a Sunday when she called me to rescue her from Moonlight Cove. I figure that was the real start of things changing between us. I’m hoping she’ll see the significance of that.”

  “You do realize you’re going to show all of us up with this grand gesture of yours,” Kevin said. “Our wives will never let us hear the end of it.”

  “And you’re setting the bar real high for Mack, here,” Jake teased. “Susie’s going to expect something spectacular.”

  “I’m pretty sure my cousin would be satisfied with an actual invitation to dinner that includes the option of sex after,” Connor said.

  “You don’t know a blasted thing about what Susie needs,” Mack retorted.

  “I’m just saying—”

  “Well, don’t,” Mack said, putting an end to the topic. “I’ll see you all on Sunday. What time, Will?”

  “Two o’clock?” Will suggested. “After Sunday dinner.”

  “Works for me,” Connor said.

  With the others in agreement, Mack took off, slamming the door behind him.

  Connor winced. “Was it something I said?” he asked dryly.

  “Yes,” the others replied in unison.

  “I think the subject of Susie is a touchy one these days,” Will said. “Maybe you should leave it alone.”

  “He’s never gotten all bent out of shape before,” Connor protested.

  “Well, he did today,” Jake said, his expression worried. “Will’s right. We need to leave it alone. Whatever’s going on with those two, they need to figure it out for themselves.”

  “Suits me,” Kevin said. “Is there some kind of a game on? All this talk about relationships and romance is getting to me. I need a dose of testosterone.”

  “Done,” Will said, flipping on the TV and finding a basketball game.

  Not that he was able to concentrate on it. All he could think about was what might—or might not—happen just a few days from now when he asked Jess to marry him.

  One by one on Sunday, Jake, Will, Connor and Kevin made their excuses and left the O’Brien house. Jess stared after them.

  “Something’s up with those guys,” she said, looking to her sisters-in-law for confirmation. Bree, Heather and Shanna merely shrugged.

  “I have no idea what’s going on in Connor’s head half the time,” Heather said.

  “Ditto,” Shanna said of Kevin. “The man keeps everything to himself until I pry it out of him.”

  “Then you really don’t know what they’re up to?” Jess asked.

  “Not a clue,” Heather assured her. “Do you have plans with Will later? Maybe he’ll fill you in.”

  “I guess I do,” Jess said. “He mentioned he’d stop by the inn around six, but who knows? Sometimes things come up. Especially lately. The few dates he’s made, he’s broken at the last minute. He says it’s because of the Lunch by the Bay situation.”

  Bree studied her knowingly. “How are you handling that?”

  “I panic, of course,” Jess admitted. “But I’m getting better. Most of the time Will does exactly what he says he’s going to do. And when he can’t, he calls at least, so I’m not waiting and wondering.”

  “Why don’t you hang out here with us this afternoon?” Bree suggested. “It’s been ages since we’ve all gotten together for some good, old-fashioned girl talk.” She glanced up just then and spotted Megan in the doorway. “Mom, how about it? Want to sit around and gossip?”

  Megan’s gaze went straight to Jess. “I thought you had things to do at the inn.”

  “I do, but if I head over there now, I’ll just be worrying about whether or not Will’s going to show up. I might as well hang out here.”

  Megan shook her head. “I think you need to be there.”

  Jess regarded her mother with suspicion. “Mom, do you know something the rest of us don’t?”

  “Not really,” Megan said, but the flush in her cheeks said otherwise.

  “Spill it,” Jess commanded.

  Megan chuckled. “I can’t do that. Trust me, though, you need to go home. And don’t you dare stay here just to be stubborn.”

  Jess reluctantly stood. “Nothing like getting kicked out of my own home.”

  “Your home is at the inn,” Megan reminded her. “At least that’s what you’ve always told me whenever I’ve suggested you move back in here with your father and me.”

  “Uh-oh, she’s got you there,” Heather said. “Now run along. Something tells me that once you’re out of the room, we can get your mother to blab to us about whatever’s going on with the guys.”

  “I’ve been known to eavesdrop,” Jess threatened.

  “Do you really want to spoil the surprise, if there is one?” Bree asked. “Just go home, sweetie.”

  Jess didn’t like it, but she went, mutt
ering all the way back to the inn. She hated being left out of the loop, especially with her own family.

  Determined not to dwell on whatever it might be that her mother hadn’t told her, she changed into old jeans and a baggy sweater and went up to the attic. Mick had been making good progress. The large, open room that would eventually be here was taking shape. The windows had already been installed, giving her a sweeping view of the bay and the town.

  Though she’d planned on cleaning up some of the construction debris just to keep busy, she found herself instead sitting by the window gazing out at the reflection of the sunset. Though the sun set behind the inn, it still turned the water into a shimmering, fiery spectacle.

  That’s where she was sitting when she saw Kevin’s boat, the one he’d donated to Uncle Thomas’s foundation, pull up to the dock. To her surprise, it was Will who leapt onto the dock and secured it.

  She started down the stairs and heard him call her name as he came through the front door.

  “On my way down,” she said. As she rounded the landing, she said, “Why do you have Kevin’s boat?”

  “We’re taking it out,” he said.

  She stared at him. “Are you crazy? It’s freezing out there. It’s not a night to be on the water.”

  “Which is why you need to run back upstairs and dress warmly,” he said, his expression unrelenting. “I have a surprise for you.”

  “I’m not sure how I feel about a surprise that requires me to freeze my butt off.”

  He laughed. “You’ll like this one. I promise. Now, scoot.”

  Though she still had her doubts, she trusted Will enough by now to do as he’d requested. She changed into wool slacks, a long-sleeved shirt and sweater, then added lined boots, her heaviest winter jacket, a hat and a scarf.

  “I feel like an overstuffed snowman or something,” she grumbled when she joined Will downstairs.

  “Stop complaining. You’ll be grateful for every layer.”

  Once they were out on the boat and Will had moved into the bay’s open waters, the air seemed to cut right through her clothes. “Will, this is crazy. We should go back.”