Kisses After Dark

by Marie Force

  “I guess.”

  “I know you’re still mad at him for what he did, but I’ve made my peace with it and moved on. If he hadn’t screwed up so royally, I never would’ve met Owen, and what a tragedy that would’ve been.”

  “Indeed.”

  “I hope that someday you might feel the same way about what happened with Courtney—that all the pain and sorrow led you to where you were meant to end up.”

  “It would be nice to have it make sense.”

  “Someday it will. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but someday.”

  Shane glanced at the clock on his bedside table. Five minutes to seven. “I need to get going.”

  “Katie moved down the hall earlier to Sarah’s old room.”

  “Oh, okay. Good to know. Where did Sarah go?”

  “To Charlie’s.”

  “Ahh, not wasting any time, huh?”

  “Nope. I’m so happy for them. What a great couple they are.”

  “I agree.”

  “Did you hear he’s getting a huge settlement from the state for the time he spent in prison? Seven million bucks!”

  “Wow. That’ll set them up for life.”

  “No kidding. That’s what Owen said, too.”

  “Nice to know some people get a happy ending,” Shane said.

  “I have a good feeling where you’re concerned. You’re going to get yours, too.”

  He rolled his eyes at her. “On that note, oh wise one, I gotta go. Go on back to your new husband. He’ll be wondering where you are.”

  “He knew I was coming to check on you before your date.”

  “Does he know who I’m going out with?”

  “Um, he might?”

  “Laura!”

  “What? He asked me, so I told him.”

  “I should’ve told him myself or asked if he minded or something.”

  Laura laughed at his distress. “Why would he mind, Shane? She’s thirty-two years old, and he knows you’re a good guy.”

  “Still… I should’ve said something to him.”

  “He thinks it’s great, and he hopes you guys have a good time.”

  “He said that? Really?”

  “Yes! Now go, will you?”

  “Before I do, I just want to say… Thanks, you know, for everything. For dragging me out here and giving me a reason to get up in the morning again. And for Holden, who is quite simply the best thing since ice cream and beer.”

  Laura laughed again, which made Holden giggle in response to his mother. “Yes, he is, and I should be thanking you for showing up just when we needed you most. We say all the time that we never would’ve been ready for the season without you.”

  He gave Holden a kiss and bent to kiss Laura’s cheek as he handed the baby back to her. “I’ll see you guys in the morning, and thanks for coming to check on me.”

  “Have fun tonight, Shane. Let loose and whoop it up.”

  “Right…”

  “I mean it.” Carrying the baby, Laura followed him out the door. “You’re still young with a lot of life left to live. I want to see you enjoy every minute.”

  “That would certainly beat the alternative. See you later.”

  In the hallway, she went left toward the apartment she shared with Owen and Holden while he took a right toward what used to be Sarah’s room and was now Katie’s. He glanced down the hallway to make sure his sister wasn’t spying on him as he knocked on Katie’s door. When the door flew open, he was surprised to find her still in a robe with her hair wrapped in a towel.

  “Did I get the time wrong?”

  Chapter 9

  “No, not at all,” Katie said. “I fell asleep and just woke up fifteen minutes ago. I’m so sorry I’m not ready.”

  “No worries. Should I come back?”

  “No, come in. Have a seat. I’ll be just a few more minutes.”

  “Okay.” He followed her into the room where the only place to sit was the bed that was still rumpled from her nap. The air in the room was humid and fragrant from her shower. In the bathroom, the hair dryer went on. With a few minutes to kill, he went to the window to look out at the water, where the sun was inching closer to the horizon. It was going to be an amazing sunset.

  The encroaching sunset reminded him of the spectacular sunsets he and Courtney had seen on their honeymoon in the Bahamas. And here, once again, that off-switch would come in handy. Why was she creeping into his mind—again—when he had far better things to think about tonight? “Just leave me alone,” he whispered.

  “Did you say something?”

  He turned to find Katie, her hair dry, wearing a sexy orange dress as she affixed the back of an earring. “Talking to myself. A bad habit that comes from working alone most days.”

  “Ahh, so I won’t cart you off to the loony bin just yet, then.”

  Shane laughed. “Thanks for the second chance.”

  “So sorry again for not being ready. I had all day and then ended up running late.”

  “Not to worry. Our reservation isn’t for a while yet.”

  “You made a reservation?”

  “Only so we don’t have to wait two hours to eat. Sunday nights in the summer are busy around here.”

  “Is it just me or do the crowds seem bigger than ever these days?”

  “It’s not just you. This place is a madhouse from June through September.” He cleared his throat. “You, um, you look really nice.”

  “Oh, thanks. I’m a little thrown together.”

  “If that’s the case, I’d love to see what you’re capable of when you have more time.”

  She smiled at his feeble attempt at charm.

  “I’m just realizing that I should’ve borrowed my sister’s car.”

  “Why’s that?”

  “Because I have a motorcycle, and you’re wearing a dress.”

  “A motorcycle, huh? You don’t seem the biker type.”

  “Because I don’t have tattoos and wear leather chaps?”

  “Among other reasons,” she said, hiding a giggle behind her hand.

  “I’m thoroughly insulted.” He lightened his words with a smile to let her know he was kidding. “The bike is easy when parking is tight, and it gets me where I need to go. We can take a cab over to Domenic’s if you’d like.”

  “I don’t mind the bike if you have an extra helmet.”

  “I have two.”

  “Okay, then.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  The thought of Katie Lawry wrapped around him on the bike had him trying to think of something else—anything else—to avoid a predictable reaction. “So, um, are you hungry?”

  “Starving! I haven’t eaten since brunch.”

  “I had lunch, and I’m still starving.” He held the door and gestured for her to go out ahead of him in a cloud of perfume and female fragrance that had him leaning in for a closer sniff. “I went fishing with my dad, uncles and cousins this afternoon.”

  “How was it?”

  “Great. I bagged an eighty-pound bluefin tuna.”

  “Wow. Was that fun?”

  “I don’t know that ‘fun’ is the word I’d use. It was one hell of a battle. My arms will be useless tomorrow.”

  “You let a little ol’ fish put that much of a hurt on you?”

  Shane’s ringing laughter echoed through the empty hallway as they headed for the stairs. “That ‘little ol’ fish’ was a monster. Took five of us to land him.”

  “Did you throw him back after you caught him?”

  “Nope. My aunt and uncle are serving him for dinner at the marina tonight. The whole family is going.”

  “You didn’t want to go?”

  “I’d rather go out with you. I can see them anytime.”

  “But you can’t eat your eighty-pound badass tuna anytime.”

  “It’s all right. I honestly don’t mind missing it.”

  “I’d be fine with doing that, if you want to.”

  “T
hat’s really nice of you, but I’m not sure you’re ready for full immersion into the madness known as the McCarthy family.” They cut through the lobby and into the kitchen, which led to the parking lot behind the Surf. Since Stephanie’s Bistro was closed on Sunday nights, the kitchen was quiet and spotless.

  “I met them all this weekend. They were super nice.”

  “They were on best behavior for the wedding.”

  “It doesn’t seem fair that you caught the fish but don’t get to enjoy the fruits of your labor. I honestly don’t mind going if you want to.”

  Shane hesitated. How to explain to her the way news and gossip flew with lightning speed through the Gansett Island pipeline?

  “If you don’t want them to know we’re going out together, that’s fine, too,” she said.

  “That is definitely not it. I’m thrilled to be going out with you. In fact, you have no idea how thrilled I am. But if we show up over there—together—the whole island will be talking about us long before we’re ready for that.”

  “Oh.”

  “Yeah, so… Still want to go?” He watched her intently, looking for a hint as to what she was thinking.

  “Yes, I think I do want to go. It would be very nice getting to know your family a little better, since they’re now also my brother’s family.”

  “If that’s what you want, I’ll cancel the reservation. We can go to Domenic’s another time—that is, if you want to go out with me again after being exposed to my family.”

  “I’m sure I’ll want to go out with you again even after being exposed to your family.”

  Shane held the screen door for her, delighted they were already talking about a second date when the first one had just begun.

  Katie absolutely loved the McCarthys. She couldn’t recall a more enjoyable evening than the one she spent with Shane and his family. He was an attentive date, making sure she had plenty to eat and drink and was surrounded by fun people.

  Walking into the party already in progress had been a bit daunting, but she’d been given a warm welcome by Shane’s uncle, whom everyone called Big Mac. He was one of those people who immediately felt like a friend, and he told her the full story of how Shane had managed to catch the biggest fish of the day.

  “This impromptu party is all his doing,” Big Mac told her.

  “And you hate impromptu parties,” Shane said sarcastically, earning a huge smile from his uncle.

  “Wonder where your dad and Betsy are,” Big Mac said. “I left him a message earlier but haven’t heard from him.”

  “I’m sure he’ll be here at some point. He knew you were cooking up the tuna.”

  “Actually, Stephanie is doing the cooking,” Big Mac said sheepishly. “Turns out, Aunt Linda had no clue how to cook it. Fortunately, Stephanie and her chef from the Bistro know what to do.”

  “So you’ve got them spending their night off working.”

  “They were happy to do it.”

  “Only because you were the one asking.”

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” He winked and scooted off to welcome his son Adam and his fiancée, Abby.

  “He’s full of beans, huh?” Katie asked, amused by Big Mac.

  “That he is, but he’s also the best guy you’ll ever know. Well, second only to my own dad.”

  “You’re so lucky to have them in your life,” Katie said wistfully. How might she have been different if she’d been born to a man like Mac or Frank McCarthy rather than the beast who’d fathered her?

  “I know I’m lucky. I never take them for granted.”

  His Aunt Linda came over to hug and kiss him and to welcome Katie. “So nice to have Owen’s sister joining the group. He’s one of our favorites.”

  “I’m rather partial to him myself.”

  “Are he and Evan playing tonight?” Shane asked.

  “Of course they are. Wouldn’t be a party without them. Excuse me. I’ve got to help Stephanie in the kitchen.”

  Linda ran off toward the kitchen, leaving Shane and Katie to the mayhem of a McCarthy family party. They’d taken over the entire marina restaurant as well as the picnic tables outside.

  “A lot of business gets tended to at those tables,” Shane said of the picnic tables.

  “What kind of business?”

  “The solving of world problems and overall bullshitting every morning over coffee and doughnuts with my Uncle Mac presiding and my dad in attendance since he retired. The morning meeting is one of his favorite things about living here.”

  “That’s so funny. I can picture it from the way you describe it. How long ago did your dad move here?”

  “Earlier this summer. He retired after a long career as a superior court judge. My sister and I worried he’d be bored because his work was such a big part of his life, but he’s loving retirement. He and Big Mac take off at least once a week to go fishing, and they’re always coming up with some other adventure. They’re like two little boys back together again.”

  “That’s very sweet.”

  “Their younger brother, my Uncle Kevin, is here for the weddings.”

  “Plural?”

  “My cousin Grant and Stephanie on Labor Day.”

  “Oh, that’s right.”

  “Anyway, they’ve had poor Kevin hopping since he got here. He’ll need to go home to get a break from his vacation.”

  “They sound like really fun guys.”

  “They are. I hope to be just like them when I’m their age.”

  “It’s good to know there are men and fathers like them in this world. It gives me hope.”

  “I have to believe there are far more like them than there are like yours. I hope it’s okay to say that. I don’t mean any offense.”

  “None taken, and I’d like to think you’re right about that.”

  “The men in my family worship the women they love, Katie. We don’t know any other way to be after being raised by them. Look at my cousin Mac.” He gestured to a table on the far side of the room where Mac was supervising two young children while his wife sat back and relaxed. “The boy, Thomas… He’s Maddie’s son from a previous relationship, but Mac adopted him and gave him our name, and as far as he’s concerned, he’s the boy’s father—the only father he’ll ever have.”

  “That’s lovely.”

  “Mac is crazy about that kid. Their daughter, Hailey, was born—at home—during Tropical Storm Hailey. I wasn’t here then, but I heard about how wild it was. They’re expecting their third child now. You met my cousin Grant, right? He’s Stephanie’s fiancé. When he met her, Charlie, who’s her stepfather, was still in prison.” He paused and looked stricken. “Oh crap, you know about that, right?”

  Smiling, she nodded. “My mother told me today. It’s an amazing story.”

  “It really is. Grant called his friend, Dan Torrington—”

  “The lawyer? I’ve heard of him.”

  “That’s him right there.” He pointed to Dan, who was sitting with a pretty woman with red highlights in her long brown hair. “With his fiancée, Kara. Anyway, Dan made a few phone calls, threw his weight around, and next thing we knew, Charlie was sprung from prison. Then Dan came here to write a book about his innocence project and met Kara. They’re getting married next year.”

  “What is it about this place and people finding their soul mates?”

  “Mac says there’s something in the water.”

  Katie laughed. “I’ll take a glass!”

  “Coming right up.” After he fetched her a glass of Gansett Island water and a bottle of the light beer she’d requested, he returned to his seat next to her. “Want to hear more about my cousins?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “That’s Evan over there. He’s sitting with his fiancée, Grace Ryan. They’re getting married in January. He was playing a gig right here at the marina with Owen last summer when he noticed Grace crying at one of the tables. He took the time to find out what was wrong and learned her date had lef
t her stranded on the island after she refused to have sex with him.”

  “Whoa.”

  “I know, right? So Evan took her home to his parents’ house for the evening and paid her way home to Connecticut. She came back a few weeks later to reimburse him, and from all accounts, they’ve been together ever since. Now she owns Ryan’s Pharmacy in town.”

  “I love that. What a great story.”

  “Now, my cousin Adam is engaged to Abby, who was with Grant for ten years.”

  “That sounds dicey.”

  “It might’ve been if Grant hadn’t been happily in love with Stephanie. They worked it out, and everyone is happy for Adam and Abby. They’re great together.”

  “Another amazing story.”

  “I’m beginning to think that bringing you here was the best thing I could’ve done.”

  “Why’s that?”

  “After hearing all about my cousins and their smooth moves, you might be tempted to go out with me again.”

  Before she could form a reply to that audacious statement, Adam and Abby took seats at their table, followed soon after by Shane’s cousin Janey and her husband, Joe, who carried their son, P.J.

  “What a cute baby,” Katie said of the tiny blond boy who watched the world go by with big blue eyes.

  “We’re quite fond of him,” Joe said, gazing down at his son.

  “You McCarthys make cute babies,” Katie said. “Holden is adorable, and so are Mac’s kids.” She caught Shane watching her with a guarded expression and wondered if she’d said the wrong thing.

  “Holden is super cute,” Janey agreed. “He’s going to be tall, dark and handsome when he grows up.”

  “Could Auntie Abby take a turn with P.J.?” Abby asked.

  “Absolutely.” Joe handed the baby over to Abby, who melted before their eyes.

  Adam watched her intently as she snuggled the baby, and then whispered something in her ear that had her smiling softly at him.

  Apparently eighty pounds of tuna fed a lot of people, because they kept arriving. First Owen and Laura with baby Holden, and then Ned and his wife, Francine. Katie was introduced to Joe’s mom, Carolina, and her new husband, Seamus.

  “Wow,” Katie whispered to Shane. “Good for her.”