by Marie Force
“Great,” Blaine said with a smile that would’ve made her swoon before she knew Evan McCarthy was in the world. Damn him! Had he ruined her for all other men? Was that her fate after one night with him? “Give me a call at the station after you get settled, and we’ll get together for dinner to work out the details.”
Okay, that sounded an awful lot like a date. Where had all these lovely men been hiding before she met Evan?
Laura came up to them. “Sorry to interrupt, but Owen is giving me a lift back to town before he goes to work. Are you ready to go, Grace?”
“I’ll stay for a bit to help Stephanie clean up. I can get a ride from someone.”
“I’ll take you, Gracie,” Seamus called from across the room, waggling his brows suggestively at her.
Grace’s face heated with embarrassment. “Thank you, Seamus.”
Laura leaned in to whisper in Grace’s ear, “Keep it up. Evan is seething with jealousy.”
“Keep what up?” Grace said out loud. “He is not!”
“Is too,” Laura said, kissing Grace’s cheek. “Give me a ring tomorrow before you leave.” She pressed a slip of paper into Grace’s hand. “Here’s my number.”
“I’ll do that.”
“What was that all about?” Blaine asked after Laura had left with Owen.
Since she couldn’t very well mention to Blaine that she was apparently making Evan jealous by talking to him, she said, “Laura is just being silly. I’m going to give Stephanie a hand with the cleanup, but I’ll be in touch when I get back to the island.”
“I’ll look forward to hearing from you. It was nice to meet you, Grace.”
“You, too.”
Grace went into the kitchen, where Stephanie was up to her elbows in soapsuds.
“Look who it is,” Stephanie said. “Miss Congeniality. The belle of the ball.”
Grace took a garbage bag someone had left on the counter and started collecting empty beer bottles. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“All the single guys at the party have chatted you up.”
“So what? They’re just being friendly.”
“Uh-huh. Whatever you say, Miss Gansett Island.” Stephanie raised her chin to draw Grace’s attention to the window that overlooked the deck. “Poor old Evan. He’s dying out there watching you work the room.”
“He couldn’t care less what I do.”
“Oh, trust me, he cares, Grace. That’s his problem. He has no idea what to do about it because it’s never happened before. He’s skated through life without a care in the world until he met you and fell flat on his face. I hope you can excuse his bad behavior today and chalk it up to male stupidity.”
Grace leaned against the counter, contemplating what Stephanie had said. “You’re saying I should give him a second chance?”
“Only if you want to. I’d say the ball is firmly in your court.”
Grace took a moment, choosing her words carefully. “I went through a lot of rough years to get where I am today. Just wearing this dress,” she said, gesturing to the silky, slinky fabric, “is a big deal for me. I never imagined I’d get to the point where I’d feel comfortable showing off my arms. I spent years—literally years—in a gym trying to reinvent myself. After all that work, I want a real man, not a boy pretending to be a man.”
Stephanie dried off her hands and turned to face Grace. “I have a feeling there’s a really good man in there trying to get out. If you had it in you to be a little patient and maybe a bit indulgent, you might find he’s everything you could ever hope for.”
“Is that what you did with Grant?”
“I guess I did,” Stephanie said, smiling. “When we met, he was still hung up on Abby and determined to get her back any way he could.”
“That must’ve been hard to deal with, especially if you were interested in him yourself.”
“I wasn’t so much interested in him at the beginning as I was attracted to him. I’m ashamed to admit that when I first met him, I was totally wowed by how he looks.” With a sheepish grin, she shrugged. “What can I say? I’m only human, and he’s hot.”
Grace laughed. “I’ve got the same problem with Evan. I look at him and go stupid in the head.”
“You’ll be glad to know that passes after a while. They become less godlike and more like mortal men. That’s when the trouble starts.”
“Are you guys still fighting?”
“Not at the moment. I’m sure we will once we get back to work on the screenplay, but he assures me that all the fighting in the world won’t change how he feels about me.”
“That’s very sweet.”
“Isn’t it? He knows all my insecurities and goes out of his way to reassure me.”
“Speaking of insecurities, I never got around to telling Evan about the surgery.”
“Maybe you should.”
“I’ve been annoyed with him all day for blowing me off, but I wasn’t exactly an open book with him, either. I also never mentioned the deal with Gold’s. I didn’t want him to think it has anything to do with him, you know?”
“That’s perfectly understandable. If I were you, I wouldn’t write him off yet. If he’s anything at all like his brother, and I think he might be, he’s well worth the effort to make him civilized.”
As Grace laughed at Stephanie’s statement, Evan came into the kitchen and made a beeline for the fridge. He withdrew a beer, popped off the cap, downed half of it in one swallow and followed it with a loud belch.
That sent Grace and Stephanie into a fit of laughter, which made him scowl.
“What’s so funny?” he asked.
Was it Grace’s imagination or was he going out of his way not to look at her?
“You are, you uncivilized beast,” Stephanie said.
“Gracie, my love, are you ready to go?” Seamus asked as he came into the kitchen. “I’m on the eight o’clock boat in the morning, and I need my beauty sleep.”
“No, you don’t.” Grace played along with Seamus’s outrageousness, enjoying that Evan was, in fact, seething, now that she noticed. “You’re beautiful just the way you are.”
Staggering backward, Seamus rested a hand on his heart. “Are you teasing me, Gracie? Because if you are, I don’t think I’ll survive it.”
“Oh my freaking God,” Evan muttered as he slammed his way toward the deck. “I think I just threw up in my mouth.”
“Where else would you throw up?” Stephanie called after him. “In your armpit?”
The whole situation struck Grace as ridiculously funny. She was still laughing when Seamus escorted her out of the McCarthy’s home and into his company truck for the short ride back to town.
After Seamus dropped her off with a friendly peck on the cheek, Grace took a shower and pulled on the robe provided by the hotel. She brushed her hair and teeth and then stared at her reflection in the mirror. How was it possible that everything had changed and she still looked exactly the same?
Surely after all that had happened in the last few days there ought to be some sort of outward sign to tell the world this wasn’t the same Grace Ryan who’d arrived on the island yesterday. That Grace had been hesitant and uncertain. This Grace was confident and ready to take on the world.
No matter what happened from here on out, there was no going back to who she used to be, and she had Evan to thank for part of her transformation. He’d made her feel beautiful and sexy and desirable, and she’d never forget him for that.
She startled when someone pounded on her door. Her heart skipped a few beats as she checked the peephole and found Evan was staring furiously at her.
“Grace!” More pounding. “Open the damned door. Is he in there? Did you let him in? Grace, come on… Open the door.” In a quieter, more urgent tone, he said, “Please.”
Worried about disturbing her neighbors, Grace unlocked the door and opened it.
Reeking of beer and something stronger, he leaned against the doorjamb. His poor face… It had to
be hurting something fierce by now. His eyes traveled the length of her, pausing at the V over her breasts where the lapels of the robe came together, before moving down and then back up to her face. All he’d done was look at her, but Grace felt like he’d stripped her naked.
“Is he here?” he asked, trying to see around her.
“Who?”
“Your new boyfriend.”
What was he talking about? “I don’t have a boyfriend.”
“Did that Irishman kiss you?”
“Maybe,” Grace said with a coy smile. Of course when his face fell with dismay, she immediately felt bad for being intentionally mean to him. She pointed to her cheek. “He kissed me right here.”
At that, Evan brightened considerably. “Can I come in?”
“Why do you want to?”
“This has been the worst day ever. I need a friend.”
“Are we friends?”
“Grace… I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have left this morning. I was… I was confused.”
“Are you still confused?”
“Yes. No. I don’t know.”
Her lips began to quiver. He was entirely too cute for his own good.
His wounded look didn’t help to quell the brewing laughter. “Are you going to laugh at me?”
“I’m trying not to.”
Before she could gauge his intent, he leaned forward, buried his lips in the curve of her neck and destroyed her resistance. “Can I come in?” he whispered. “Please?”
“As long as you know nothing is going to happen.”
“By nothing, do you mean—”
“Nothing.” She took his hand and led him into the room, closing the door behind them.
“Grace.” He pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her.
Smiling at how adorable he was, even when he was more than half drunk, she returned his embrace, stroking a comforting hand over his hair. “I’m sorry you had such a rough day.”
“It’s all your fault.”
Once again, she found herself choking back a laugh. “How is it my fault?”
“You’ve cast some sort of spell on me. That’s the only possible explanation.”
“For what?”
“For the fact that I can’t stop thinking about you. I think about you all the time. I don’t understand it.” He raised his head and met her gaze. “Tell me the truth—did you cast some sort of spell over me? Did you slip me some pharmacy thing that rebooted my computer?”
Grace shook with silent laughter.
“It’s not funny! You’re making me crazy!”
“Tell me you didn’t drive here.”
“Of course I didn’t,” he said, full of indignation. “I don’t drink and drive.”
Grace led him to the bed and pushed him down. Knocking his flip-flops off his feet, she lifted his legs onto the bed and settled his head on the pillow.
“Grace… Come here.” As he held out his hand to her, his eyes fluttered closed. “Tell me what you did to me. Whatever it is, you can undo it, right?”
Grace took his hand and crawled onto the bed next to him. “I don’t think it can be undone.”
Evan moaned. “So what am I supposed to do? How am I going to stop thinking about you every second of every day?”
Grace had never been more amused—or aroused—by a conversation. “I’m sure it’ll pass in time. Just like a fever or a virus.” She smoothed the hair off his forehead, the silky strands gliding through her fingers. “Give it a few days. You’ll feel better.”
He opened his eyes and turned his head to look at her. “I don’t think it’s going to pass.”
They stared at each other for a long, breathless moment. Right then he could’ve asked her for the moon, and she would’ve found a way to get it for him. Remain calm, she told her racing heart. He’s not himself. Nothing he says tonight should be taken too seriously.
“My record company is bankrupt,” he murmured as his eyes closed again.
“What? Evan! What did you say?”
“It’s all gone to shit. The company’s bankrupt, and my CD is caught up in it.”
“Oh God.” She pressed her lips gently to his abraded cheek. “I’m so sorry.”
“Just as well.” He reached for her. “Cuz I get stage fright. Did I tell you that?”
“No, you didn’t,” she said, touched to be in on a secret that she suspected he didn’t share with just anyone. Moving closer to him, she rested her head on his chest and her hand on his belly while trying to process everything he’d said.
“Why do you let him call you Gracie?” His fingers combed through her hair rhythmically.
“Who?” Grace asked, trying to keep up with the ever-changing conversation.
“That Irish charmer. He’s trying to take you away from me.”
“I’m not with you. How can he take me away from you?”
The fingers in her hair tightened into a fist. “You are with me. You have to be with me. I can’t stop thinking about you, about what we did. Right here. Last night.”
Grace’s entire body flushed with heat at the reminder.
“It was so good, wasn’t it, Grace?”
“Yes.”
“Why did you pick me to cast your spell on?”
“Because you’re so handsome, and I love dimples. You didn’t stand a chance.”
“You did this to me,” he said, his voice starting to fade as sleep beckoned. “You have to stay with me until we can fix it.”
She wondered if he’d remember any of this in the morning.
“Grace? You gotta promise me. You’ll stay with me, won’t you? I need you.”
Her heart contracted, and the breath got caught in her lungs. If only… “Yes, Evan, I’ll stay with you. Tomorrow will be a better day. Don’t worry.”
“Grace,” he said on a sigh the instant before his body slackened into sleep.
Grace was awake for a long time thinking about what he’d said, watching him sleep and listening to the strong beat of his heart.
Chapter 22
Pain woke Evan early the next morning. His face was on fire, and an entire drum corps had taken up residence inside his skull. As long as he didn’t move or breathe, he might survive. And then he opened his eyes to blinding sunlight streaming in through the blinds.
He quickly closed his eyes as pain ricocheted through his brain. It was official—he was never drinking again.
Somehow he’d ended up in Grace’s hotel room. He had vague memories of pounding on her door and hugging her, but he didn’t remember much else. And while the idea of moving was unimaginable, his tongue was stuck to the roof of his mouth, and he needed to pee. Urgently.
Moving as slowly as he could, he sat up and waited for the pain to catch up to the movement. When it did, it took his breath away and left him hanging in the precipice as his stomach reacted with a surge of nausea.
“Christ have mercy,” he muttered as he stood up and headed for the bathroom.
The door was closed, but not all the way, and Grace was talking to someone.
When he nudged the door open, she winced at the sight of him (he must be quite a sight), and gestured for them to switch places, giving him the bathroom.
After he took care of business and washed his mouth out with water and toothpaste, he tuned in to her conversation.
“I’ve applied for a ninety-day temporary license with the state of Rhode Island, so we should be good to go when I get back in two weeks. Since I’m licensed in Connecticut, they said the temporary wouldn’t be a problem. I’ve applied with NABP to take the MPJE, so that’s all set, too.”
What the heck was she talking about?
“I’ve got a reservation on the ferry for two weeks from today. Will that give you enough time to vacate the apartment?” She paused to listen. “That sounds good. So you’ll schedule the closing with Jim for that afternoon?” Another pause. “Perfect. I’ll see you then. In the meantime, you have my number if anything comes up.”
By the time she ended the call, Evan had started to put two and two together, but nothing was adding up. “Something you want to tell me?”
“Good morning. How’re you feeling?”
“I feel like shit. What’s going on, Grace?”
Her face flushed, and just like that, he wanted her. While his first impulse was to get the hell out of there, he’d done that once before. Today, he was going to stay and somehow rid his system of the madness she’d inflicted upon him. Maybe then he could get on with his life without thoughts of her tormenting him morning, noon and night.
“I was going to tell you…”
He realized that whatever she needed to tell him was making her nervous. “Tell me what?”
“I’m buying Gold’s.”
The statement hung in the air between them like a live wire. He had no idea what to say.
“Before you totally freak out or think this is a nefarious plot to trap you in a godforsaken relationship, let me set your mind at ease. This has nothing at all to do with you.”
“I know that.” Was it possible for a head to explode? If so, his was about to.
She went into the bathroom and returned with two painkillers that she dropped into his hand. “I hope so, because this was in the works before I saw you on Saturday. For all I knew, I was going to pay you back the money I owed you and go about my way without ever seeing you again.”
Appreciating that she took care of him without even seeming to think about it, he popped the pills into his mouth and washed them down with the glass of water she gave him. “And was that what you wanted?” He stepped closer to her, drawn to her like a magnet to steel. He couldn’t be in the room with her and not touch her. The discovery, like so many others in the last few days, was unsettling and worrisome. “To never see me again?”
“We want different things, Evan. You’re still sowing your wild oats, and I’m looking for someone who wants to be with just me.”
“I want to be with just you.” The words were out of his mouth before he had fully considered the implications. As long as he was on a roll, he might as well go all the way. “And I don’t want you with anyone else.”
“Evan, you don’t know what you’re saying—”
