“Seems you’ve left a string of broken hearts across the country,” Mason continued as if I hadn’t said anything. He took a swig of beer.
“I doubt that. I can count possibly one and that’s debatable if there’s a Sammie floating around.”
A satisfied glint flashed through Mason’s expression. “That’s Sammy, with a “y” not an “ie””. He’s about seventy, but you’re wrong. According to Tanner, he says you broke it off with him and he never heard from you again. You wouldn’t even respond to his texts. The poor guy had to travel all the way across the country to see you.”
“Excuse me?” A cross between a chortle and shriek erupted from my throat.
“Don’t shoot the messenger,” Mason said, standing next to Tanner.
There was no comparison between the two. Tanner looked like a pipsqueak compared to Mason’s magnificent physique. But now wasn’t the time to get distracted. Not with Tanner’s corrupt stories sinking into Mason’s psyche.
My blood was pumping as my anger level rose and I glared at Tanner.
“Did you bother to tell this gentleman why I broke it off with you and never returned your calls or texts?”
“It’s irrelevant. We were engaged. What we shared—”
My hand flew into the air and my eyes blazed with fury.
“It’s irrelevant?” My teeth almost shattered as hard as I smacked them together. “We were vacationing on your parents’ boat and I walked in on you banging my best friend. And that is irrelevant?”
I somehow skipped the top step and landed inches from Tanner. I had no idea what came over me, but instantly Mason set his beer down and wrapped his arms around my chest, trying to pull me away.
Anger, grief, guilt, and sadness crashed into me at once as I watched Tanner try to dismiss the hurt he caused. Mason’s heart was beating so quickly, I could feel it as he kept me pressed into him, holding me back from releasing the kraken.
Everything about this was so unlike me. I was an upstanding citizen, a schoolteacher, no less, and I wanted so badly to—
Shoot! I didn’t even know what I wanted to do to Tanner, but I felt tingling in my knuckles. The longer Mason kept me away from Tanner, I felt something change in the way he held me. It went from holding me back to comforting me, and I realized I never told him about Tanner, about why I left him. What he’d done to me. Maybe if I had, things between Mason and me would’ve ended differently.
“What is it you really want, Tanner? I can see right through you,” I said, trying to keep my voice even. I wasn’t going to let my anger overtake me again.
And then he opened his mouth.
“You know the engagement ring you tossed over the side of the boat? Well, it was a lot of money and I’d really like to be reimbursed.”
My body flew from Mason’s arms, but he caught me just in time.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I screamed, hating who Tanner made me become.
“You’re selling the house. You’ll have the money.” His eyes were cold, exactly like I remembered them that day on the boat. He stood up and pulled a receipt from his pocket, grinning like the monster he was.
Mason released his hold from me and before I knew it, Mason landed his fist right into Tanner’s cheek, knocking him down to the ground. Mason bent over Tanner and twisted his fingers around the neck of his pink polo, lifting him back up to his feet.
“Man up and get the hell off our property,” Mason ordered, his voice low. His other hand was fisted as if pleading to have one more chance at Tanner, and all I could do was stand in awe and complete amazement that Mason just punched my ex-fiancé. I’d had so many fantasies about what I’d do to Tanner to teach him a lesson, but never once did this perfect scenario enter my mind, and I loved every second of the pain my cheating ex was feeling.
Tanner shrugged himself out of Mason’s grip and shoved the receipt back into his pocket. Rubbing his sore cheek with his free hand, he glanced at Mason and then at me.
He looked as if he was going to say one last thing but thought better of it before walking down the steps and to his car. My pulse was still racing, but I snuck a look at Mason, who was studying me.
A few minutes went by as we watched Tanner pull out of the driveway. This time I was pretty certain it would be the last I heard or saw him and a sense of relief spread through me, knowing his send-off couldn’t be any more perfect even if I planned it.
“Why didn’t you tell me what happened with Tanner?” Mason asked, leaning on the porch railing.
“Would it have made a difference?”
Mason sucked on his lower lip for a second and pressed his lips together. He slid his hands into his pockets as his gaze remained on mine.
“Yeah. It would’ve made a difference. I would have understood more about you, about why you were so afraid of getting involved…”
“I wasn’t afraid. Cautious but not afraid.”
Mason smiled. “Oh, no. You were afraid. Don’t get it twisted.”
I laughed hearing that phrase come from his lips. “You’ve been hanging around the high schoolers a little too long, I’d say.”
The tension we’d been harboring slowly started slipping away, but I knew it would take far more than a few shared laughs to get us back to where we’d been.
“So you think it would’ve made a difference, huh?” I sat on the steps, somewhat surprised that Mason sat next to me. Our form of communication had been through our real estate agents and nothing else.
“In all honesty, it would have told me to keep my mouth shut and not press for something you couldn’t give. I would’ve waited however long it took. I wouldn’t have sent that text.”
I nodded, propping my elbows on my knees. “It didn’t help I overheard Lily at the barbeque.”
Mason’s brows furrowed in bewilderment. “Saying what?”
I contemplated whether or not to tell him. After all, it really didn’t matter now. Nothing would change the events that had already transpired.
“You can’t leave me hanging like that.” His expression softening.
“All right. On our way to the rope swing, I heard her whispering to Gabby, You don’t think he’ll get bored with her like he has in the past, right? The moment I heard that I knew I couldn’t go through it again.”
Mason turned slightly on the step, his expression completely baffled. “And you assumed they were talking about me, about us?”
I nodded. “It seemed logical.”
“There’s no way.”
“How so?” I asked.
“First of all, I don’t bore easily, and second of all, my mother raised us well.” His eyes twinkled with amusement and he shook his head. “But I bet I know who she was talking about.”
“Who?”
He didn’t answer. Instead, he looked out over the driveway, somewhat dazed. “I can’t believe how many things have been working against us all because we didn’t communicate.”
“What do you mean?”
“You know how I was in Paris?”
I nodded.
“We were there because Aaron asked my sister, Brandy, to marry him. That morning at the lake he phoned my parents, we’d all found out about his plans and he asked us to keep it secret.” Mason paused for a second. “Aaron wasn’t the most focused guy when it came to past relationships and Gabby knows it firsthand since they’re siblings. It’s a complicated mess, but I’m guessing Lily was referring to Aaron’s dating life. And since they’re all best friends…”
I dipped my head into my hands. “Are you serious?”
“That’s my best guess.”
“I can’t even tell you how much I tortured myself over that sentence.” I threw my head back in frustration. “That had been the tipping point for me and never in my real world would I have let something like that push me over the edge. I would’ve asked you, but I was such an emotional mess.”
Mason slid his hand along my back and rubbed it softly. “Don’t beat yourself up.”
>
I laughed. “Too late. I just can’t believe…”
“Cut yourself some slack. You lost your dad, you broke off an engagement because your fiancé was a prick, and you came back to an island that you tried to forget for obvious reasons. Not to mention you ran into an incredibly sexy and talented contractor to confuse your normally impeccable judgment.”
I chuckled. “I like your version way better than mine.”
His hand slowly ran up my spine and the feelings of longing I’d spent more than a month pushing aside crept back into my life. But I knew it was too late. The damage had been done.
“I’ve missed you more than anything, Tori.” His hand rested at the base of my neck, and my body lit up like a firecracker as his eyes met mine. “Staying away from you has been pure torture. I can’t get you out of my head. Thinking about you has become part of my day. I can’t even get a coffee without wondering what you’ve been doing all this time.”
“I’ve been finding my way again.” I smiled. “And the one place I thought I needed to forget was the place that showed me what it meant to be home. It taught me home wasn’t a place. It was a way of being. I’m content. For the first time in a very long time, I’m fulfilled. I’m not searching for something. I’m not running away from something. I just am. And I realized I truly am a Pelican not a Pelican’t.”
Mason let out a seductive growl. “I’ve waited months to hear that.”
He leaned in and my heart nearly exploded as his lips came so close to mine, but he didn’t kiss me. Instead, his lips parted and he hovered far enough away to make the chemistry between us unbearable.
I shook my head and his expression crashed to depths I never wanted to see again. I touched his cheek, smiling, and spun on my knee as I anchored myself on his lap. Resting both arms over his shoulders, I pressed my forehead against his, hovering my lips barely out of reach.
His expression was scorching as he slowly shook his head. “I’m not playing anymore, Tori Aickens.” He cupped the back of my head in his palm and kissed me like I’d never been kissed before, his mouth claiming mine with a rawness and passion that made my heart finally succumb.
The crisp morning air nipped at my cheeks as I walked up the steps to my home. A few of the maples had started to turn, but it was still too early for the reds and golds to ignite into a brilliant masterpiece.
I opened the door and tugged off my scarf and tossed it on the entry table with my free hand as I magically balanced the drink tray with the other.
“Okay. You better be out of bed and showered. It’s okay to be completely naked, as long as I can take advantage of you.” Absolute silence returned. “I have your red-velvet latte steaming and at the ready.”
As I took another step inside, I smelled something delicious. I walked into the kitchen and my heart filled with love as I spotted Mason cooking up a breakfast that was fit for a Rhodes family barbeque. There were plates filled with bacon, sausage, English muffins, pancakes, and scrambled eggs.
My heart stopped as I glanced around the family room and spotted his parents, Ayden, Lily, Jason, Gabby, Brandy, Aaron, Bethany, Tessa, and Natalie. I didn’t know whether to start laughing or run for the hills after I threatened to take advantage of their son, brother, friend, and confidant.
“Surprise,” They all shouted, trying to keep in their laughter, but it was too much for Gabby. She started giggling, which led to a chorus of more laughter.
“Way to pick ‘em son,” Mason’s dad laughed and his mom elbowed him hard. My cheeks ignited, but I was sure they were used to it by now. After all, I was a redhead.
“Now that is how it’s done,” Ayden shouted, followed by Aaron and Jason joining in to tease me. I eyed Mason, who was beaming as he spooned the scrambled eggs out of the skillet. His eyes connected with mine and I wondered how I’d gotten so lucky and how he managed to pull this off. There wasn’t a single car in the driveway or along the road leading up to the house. This took planning.
“Happy Birthday, love,” he whispered, as Bethany came over to give me a hug.
“I’m sure his mom didn’t hear that,” she assured me, squeezing me tightly.
“You were standing right next to her,” I whispered.
“Well, you know….whatever.” She released me and smiled a wicked grin. “Maybe she did.”
The crowd slowly began moving into the kitchen for brunch, and I turned to Mason still in awe that I’d somehow snagged one of the Rhodes men.
“Thank you. This was an amazing surprise.”
He took off my floral apron he was wearing, which made me giggle and brought me in for a hug, nuzzling his chin into the crook of my neck. I heard the mutters and laughter of family and friends behind us as he placed a soft kiss on my exposed skin.
“You’re rotten,” I teased, taking a step back as his parents came to give me hugs and birthday wishes.
The afternoon went by in a flurry. As the bus honked at the top of the drive I chuckled, realizing how seamlessly Mason pulled everything off.
“See… Perfectly planned. Their chariot awaits,” Mason whispered. “Plus, we have no stragglers now. The bus pulls up and off they go.”
I laughed as he slipped his arm around me, and we walked our friends and family out to the bright yellow school bus. It had been an amazing day—a beautiful day—and it had been a long time since I’d celebrated today. It was the first time since her death that I let myself remember it was my birthday too, not only Val’s. I watched everyone climb in, poking and prodding each other like they were back in school and I looked up at Mason.
“I thought an old school bus was more fitting. The company was gonna send a shuttle, but this is way more fun,” Mason whispered. “You should’ve seen them unloading. It was hilarious.”
I laughed watching Lily swat at Ayden as he pinched her rear while she climbed the steps into the bus. These two brothers were far more similar than even they understood.
I rested my head on Mason’s shoulder and took a deep breath in, feeling the cold air coat my lungs. Valerie would’ve loved Mason. In fact, I could feel her now telling me she approved. They all did. It was like having my own cheering squad in heaven, waiting and wondering what my next step in life would be.
The school bus flapped its door closed, and everyone began waving and cheering through the windows as it began its way back to the ferry dock where they all left their cars. I couldn’t help but chuckle at how everyone sitting in the yellow bus reverted back to high school.
“This was a perfect day,” I whispered. “And I’ll remember it always.”
Mason smiled as we stood in the front yard and he nodded. “It did turn out pretty good.”
“This is the first birthday I’ve actually celebrated since Valerie’s death.”
Mason nodded. “I know.”
“How? I never told you.”
“Someone else did.”
“Who?”
He shrugged and held me tighter, and that was when I knew he believed me about hearing my mom’s call from the cove. He’d heard it too and that was how he saved me.
I held in my breath and debated until I was sure.
“I think today’s the day,” I said, more to myself than anything.
Mason slowly unwrapped his arm and took a deep breath in. “I thought that might be the case, so I have the rowboat down there and ready to go.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “How’d you know?”
He shook his head. “Just a premonition.”
“I’ll be right back.”
Mason nodded and watched me wander up the steps. I walked through the entry and into my dad’s office where the urn remained on his desk. I wrapped my fingers around the cold porcelain and took a deep breath in. Everything was going to be okay. It might not always be perfect, but it would be okay and that was all anyone could ask for.
Cradling my father’s urn in my arm, I walked outside to where Mason was waiting. He’d wandered to the butterfly garden. He slipped his
hand in mine, and our fingers locked together as we started down the path.
“Would you like me to carry it?” he asked.
I shook my head. “I got it.”
I knew we were both wondering the same thing. What if I dropped it?
I chuckled quietly and Mason squeezed my hand.
“I’m sure he wouldn’t be that angry if it happened. Your dad probably halfway expects it. Regardless, the trail is pretty close to the cove,” Mason assured me.
“What faith you have.” I smiled, clutching the urn even tighter.
We made our way down the last of the trail and to the rowboat. I set the urn in the boat as I slipped the life vest over my arms, a nervousness filling my veins. I hadn’t been out since my canoe flipped.
“It’s probably the last weekend we could do this before fall really hits,” I said.
“Definitely,” Mason agreed, tightening up my life jacket.
I picked up the urn as Mason helped me to step in the boat and get settled while I tried to calm my mind. This felt like the last step. The final step I needed to take to allow my dad to go home. Mason shoved the boat into the water a foot or so before he stepped in and pushed us off as I clung to the urn. Watching Mason row us to the middle of the cove flooded me with the realization of how much I almost lost by not allowing love in. I watched his gentle movements as we got closer to the place we’d talked about going to many times before but never quite made it.
He didn’t say a word. He just listened, listened to my silence, and listened to the wind as it guided us and led my father back home.
I lifted the lid off the urn, and set it on the bench next to me, and pulled out the plastic bag. Mason stopped rowing and brought his hands to my knees, resting them there, as I held my father’s ashes. I no longer needed to hear my mother’s voice because I felt her inside of me. I felt all of them inside of me. There was no more running from my memories or trying to forget what they taught me. Their spirit was part of me now and always would be, but their memories no longer controlled me, they only fulfilled me, and I knew it was time.
Finding Love in Forgotten Cove (Island County Series Book 1) Page 20
