Kisses After Dark

by Marie Force

  “Is he okay?” Katie asked.

  “He’s upset and confused, but he’s all right.”

  “I hate this,” Katie whispered to her brother, who squeezed her shoulder in support. While she ached from head to toe, at least she understood why everyone made such a big deal about romantic entanglements. Nothing had ever hurt more than seeing Shane with his ex-wife or having to take a step back from him tonight out of self-preservation.

  She used to think her sister was being a drama queen when she’d weep for days over a breakup. Now she got it. As Owen drove them back to the hotel, Katie sat in the backseat, brushing away tears. “Don’t let me go to him when we get there,” she said.

  “We’ll tuck you in,” Laura assured her.

  “Will you check on him?”

  “Of course I will.”

  “Thanks.”

  True to their word, Laura and Owen walked her to her room and stayed until she was ready for bed. Katie climbed into the big comfortable bed where she and Shane had shared such magical hours together and broke down all over again.

  Laura and Owen stretched out on either side of her, making her laugh through her tears.

  “You guys are on your honeymoon,” she said. “You don’t need me in the middle.”

  “We don’t mind staying for a while,” Owen said.

  “I’m all right,” Katie said after several quiet minutes. “It’s safe to leave. But thanks for holding me up the way you always have.”

  “And I always will.” Owen kissed her forehead and got up.

  They left, promising to check on her in the morning.

  As soon as she was alone, the tears flowed freely down her face as she thought about the wonderful day she’d spent with Shane until it veered off course. She relived every minute they’d spent together, from that fateful day at the beach through to the painful conversation on Luke’s deck and everything in between. The trip down memory lane only made her cry harder as she hoped they’d get the chance to make more memories together. His words ran through her mind, torturing her and threatening her resolve to keep her distance from him.

  I’m three thousand percent sure.

  I actually love you.

  I sent her away. It’s truly over between us.

  You’ve been more right for me in five days than she was in five years.

  Had she done the wrong thing? Would he want her back after she pushed him away? Was she in love with him? Was that why she hurt so badly? Questions filled her mind, but answers were elusive as she drifted off to sleep even as sobs continued to rack her body.

  She woke when a crack of thunder crashed through her room, making the windows rattle. Lightning lit the darkness, sending Katie burrowing deeper into her bed, pillow over her head, which was how she nearly missed the soft knock on her door.

  She flew out of bed and threw open the door to find Shane, wearing only a pair of basketball shorts.

  “I thought you might be scared.”

  Thrilled to see him and overwhelmed by his kindness, she took his hand and all but dragged him into the room, closing the door behind her. They got into bed, and Shane reached for her.

  Katie snuggled up to him as another loud boom of thunder made her whimper.

  “It’s okay, honey. I’m right here.”

  He held her close as the storm raged, reassuring her with soft words and the gentle caress of his hand on her back.

  Katie fell asleep in his arms, no more certain that she belonged there than she’d been earlier, but comforted nonetheless by his tenderness.

  Tiffany arrived home to find Blaine in bed but still awake. Her daughter, Ashleigh, was cuddled up to him, her dark hair spread out on the pillow. “Bad dream?” Tiffany asked, moved as she always was by the sight of her child in the arms of the man she loved.

  “Thunder.”

  “Oh, right.”

  Tiffany smoothed the hair off her sleeping child’s face. “I can take her back to bed.”

  “No way are you lifting her. I’ve got her.” He picked up the little girl and carried her to her room.

  Tiffany followed and helped to tuck her in.

  When Blaine leaned over to kiss Ashleigh’s forehead, Tiffany blinked back tears. She was an emotional basket case these days, but never more so than when she witnessed how much her husband loved her daughter.

  With his hand on her back, Blaine followed Tiffany from Ashleigh’s room into theirs at the other end of the hallway. “How was Maddie?”

  “Good, actually. Surprisingly good. Except for one thing. She seems to be avoiding Mac.”

  “Why would she do that?”

  “I don’t know, but he’s a mess over it.”

  “I’d be a mess, too, if that happened to us.” He rested his hand on her flat belly. “Feeling okay?”

  “Better than earlier.”

  “Did anyone notice that you didn’t drink?”

  She shook her head. “I used the designated-driver excuse. No one thought a thing of it.”

  “You’ll have to tell Maddie eventually.”

  “I know, but not now. Not for a while.”

  Blaine groaned. “I really can’t tell anyone?”

  “I know it’s so hard to keep it a secret, but my sister…”

  “I understand, honey. I really do. And it’s the right thing. It’s just hard not to shout it from the rooftops. My wife is pregnant! We’re having a baby!”

  She smiled at his adorable enthusiasm. “You can shout it to me all you’d like. I’m always happy to hear the good news.”

  “Even though you feel like crap?”

  “It’s a small price to pay, and it won’t last forever.” Tiffany kissed him. “I’ll be right with you.”

  “I’ll be right here, waiting for you.”

  The loss of her unborn niece or nephew had hit Tiffany hard, especially in light of her own recently discovered pregnancy. She’d been so excited to be pregnant with her sister again, like they were with Thomas and Ashleigh. And then to hear that Maddie’s baby was gone… She’d cried for hours while trying to be supportive of her beloved sister.

  Tiffany changed into a T-shirt and brushed her teeth before joining Blaine in bed. Thank goodness for him. He’d been her rock this week while her emotions swung from elated to despondent and back to elated.

  “Come here, baby—and baby.”

  “You are so damned cute, you know that? I love how excited you are about the baby.”

  “I’m so far beyond excited they haven’t yet invented the word for it.”

  “I’m glad you’re happy. Don’t get me wrong. It’s just… It’s kind of soon still, and anything can happen.”

  “Just because it happened to Maddie doesn’t mean it’ll happen to you.”

  “I know that. Of course I know that, but still…”

  “I hear you, and I know it’s always a risk, but I have a good feeling about this baby of ours. He’s going to be fine. I know it.”

  “He? You sound awfully sure.”

  “I need some testosterone reinforcements around here. It’s got to be a boy.”

  “I’m picturing another frilly girly-girl who will wrap her daddy right around her little finger the way Ashleigh has.”

  “That kid does have me wrapped.”

  “Yes, she does, and I love you so much for the way you love her.”

  “She makes it easy. She’s adorable just like her mama, only smaller and less mouthy.”

  “Ha-ha,” Tiffany said, even though she knew it was true. Her daughter was the image of her without the saucy attitude. That would come later. She had no illusions about her daughter’s teenage years.

  He wrapped his strong arms around her. “You know I love your mouth and every other thing about you.”

  “I do know that. Thanks for propping me up this week.”

  “That’s my job.”

  “And you do it so well.”

  “Close your eyes and get some sleep.”

  “You don’t want to�
��”

  “Always. Every minute of every day I want to. But my baby mama needs sleep more than she needs me groping her.”

  “I wouldn’t mind a little groping. You wouldn’t want me to feel neglected, would you?”

  His bark of laughter made her smile. She loved to make him laugh. His laugh was one of her favorite things. “I’d never want that.” He rolled over so he was on top of her, looking down at her with amusement and love.

  Tiffany wrapped her arms and legs around him and drew him into a kiss. “I love you.”

  “Ah, baby,” he said with a sigh. “I love you so much it hurts.”

  She raised her hips, encouraging him to take what she offered. “Let’s see if we can make it feel better.”

  Shane was awake all night, thinking about Katie and Courtney and everything that had happened the day before. While Katie slept in his arms, he thought it through from every angle and knew what he needed to do. First, he had to make sure Courtney went back to the mainland, and then he had to get busy convincing Katie that he was ready for all the things he wanted with her.

  Energized by his plan, he moved slowly to get out of bed without disturbing her. He’d already disturbed her enough. Today he would prove himself to her. Shane ducked out of her room and headed for his, thankful to avoid any wandering family members as he went.

  Since it was too early to do much of anything else, he decided to go for a run and a quick swim to shake off the grogginess of the sleepless night. The hotel was quiet as he went down the stairs and out to the beach, where he ran the full length of the town beach and back again.

  When he reached the front of the Sand & Surf, he bent at the waist to catch his breath. He guzzled the bottle of water he’d brought with him and kicked off his running shoes to dive into the ocean. The cool blast of the water was a shock to his overheated body, but it helped to clarify his thinking.

  He floated for a long time before he returned to the beach, picked up his shoes and empty water bottle and headed for the stairs. Shane was only partially surprised to see Courtney sitting on the second to last step with a tall coffee in her hand and another on the step next to her.

  She handed the other one to him and scooted over to make room for him on the step. “Cream, no sugar.”

  He took the cup and sat next to her. Today her long dark curls were pulled back in a ponytail, and a headband held the wispy ends away from her pretty face. That face had haunted him for years, but not anymore.

  “It’s funny,” she said with a laugh. “When I asked your old boss where you were and he told me you were here, I thought, of course he is. He loves that island. Where else would he be?”

  Though there was much he could say to that, he chose to remain silent and let her have her say. Then he’d have his.

  “I’m so sorry for everything that happened, Shane. I hope you know how sorry I am. It was completely unfair of me to marry you when I did, knowing how sick I was. I never should’ve dragged you into the mess that was my life. But I loved you so much. Too much. I couldn’t bear the thought of losing you. I’d hoped…” She took a deep breath and a sip of her coffee. “I thought I could get it under control, and you’d never have to know. But I was incredibly naïve. I had no concept of what a vicious adversary I was up against.” She looked over at him with dark brown eyes that shimmered with emotion in the early morning light. “I heard everything you said yesterday, and I deserved every word of it. All I’m asking for is a chance to show you who I am now.”

  Her plea hung heavily in the humid air between them.

  Shane took a drink from his coffee and tried to find the words he needed. “I was so lost for so long after you left, and even a few months ago, I might’ve been willing to try again.”

  “But now you’re not.”

  “I’ve met someone else, Courtney.”

  “The woman you were with yesterday.”

  He nodded. “Her name is Katie, and she’s a really amazing person.”

  “Have you been together long?”

  “Not long at all. I met her a week ago when she came for her brother’s wedding. Her brother Owen married Laura.”

  “What happened to Justin?” Courtney asked of Laura’s longtime boyfriend and now ex-husband.

  “He never quit dating after they were married.”

  “Oh jeez.” She pushed the sand around with her foot. “So you’ve only just met Katie. It can’t be that serious with her.”

  “You’d think so, right? But we had sort of a dramatic beginning.” He told her about the near-drowning incident that started their relationship. “We’ve become very close since then, and I like how I feel when I’m with her.”

  “We have a lot of years invested, Shane. I can’t see how a few days with her would trump all that time.”

  “It might not make sense to anyone else, but it makes sense to us. I want to be with her. I’m sorry if that’s not what you want to hear, but there’s just too much water under the bridge between us. There’s no going back to who we were before.”

  She covered her mouth to muffle the sound of a sob that seemed to come from deep inside her. “Everything I did was to protect you.”

  “And I appreciate that. More than you know. But it’s over, Courtney.”

  Bending her head, she continued to sob softly. “If you hadn’t met Katie, would you give me another chance?”

  He thought about that for a long moment. “No,” he said. “We’ve been over for a long time, as far as I’m concerned. I’m sorry if hearing that hurts your feelings, but it’s the truth.” After another quiet minute, he said, “I think you should go home.”

  “I don’t really have a home anymore.”

  “I’ve continued to pay the rent on the apartment. It’s all yours if you want it.”

  She wiped the tears from her face. “You’re not going back to Providence?”

  “Nope. I’m staying here.”

  “But your stuff…”

  “Everything I need is here.” With those truthful words came a powerful sense of peace that finally set him free from the past. “Take the apartment, Courtney. Start over. I’ll pay the rent for another year.”

  “You don’t have to do that.”

  “I know I don’t, but I will. Do you still have a key?”

  “Yeah, I do.” She glanced at him. “You were always too good for me, Shane.”

  “It wasn’t all bad. I’m choosing to remember the good times and let the rest go.”

  She stood, so he did, too. “Thanks for seeing me and talking to me. I wouldn’t have blamed you if you’d told me to go to hell.”

  “Take care of yourself.”

  “You, too.” She surprised him with a hug that he returned reluctantly. Then she headed up the stairs and out of his life.

  Feeling lighter and freer than he had in years, Shane sat on the stair to finish his coffee. A long time later, he went up the stairs and into the hotel, where Adele was working at the front desk.

  “Did you get drafted?” he asked Katie’s grandmother.

  “I volunteered. I’ve still got some game.”

  “I have no doubt,” he said with a laugh.

  “Heard there was a spot of trouble yesterday between you and my girl.”

  “Unfortunately, you heard right.”

  “What’re you doing about it?”

  Rather than be intimidated by the gauntlet she threw down, Shane decided to recruit her to help his cause. He leaned on the counter that sat above the reception desk. “Here’s what I’m thinking.”

  Chapter 31

  The sun streaming through her windows woke Katie. She blinked several times as she came awake with the scent of Shane’s cologne clinging to the sheets. He’d come to her during the storm, she remembered with a flutter of butterflies in her belly. Over and over she heard the words he’d said to her the night before on Luke and Sydney’s deck…

  Judging by the way I felt earlier when I had no idea where to look for you, it’s quite pos
sible that I actually love you, and I know for damned sure I want to be with you.

  “I want to be with you, too,” she whispered to the humid morning sea air that floated through her open windows.

  As she lay in bed and tried to puzzle her way through all the emotions running around inside her, she heard a rustling sound in the hallway before an envelope appeared under her door.

  Katie jumped out of bed, wincing when her sore foot connected with the floor. She bent to pick up the envelope and tore it open to find Sand & Surf stationery and distinctly masculine handwriting.

  Good morning, sweet Katie,

  I’ve never been more thankful for thunder and lightning, because it gave me an excuse to hold you while you slept. I wish it didn’t scare you so much, but know that I’ll always hold you when the thunder comes.

  You said you need time to think, so please think about this: You’re the only one I want. There’s no one else but you.

  Love,

  Shane

  With his letter in hand, Katie went to the door and threw it open, looking for him in the hallway, but no one was there. She went back for her robe, pulled it on with trembling hands and went down the hall to knock on his door.

  No answer.

  When she turned back toward her room, Owen was coming out of his apartment. “Morning.”

  “Morning.”

  “Everything okay?”

  “I was just looking for Shane. Have you seen him this morning?”

  “He stopped by to play with Holden, but he’s gone to meet Mac at the house they’re building. Did you hear about the woman who was supposed to get the house?”

  “I did. It’s so sad.”

  “It sure is. They’ve got to figure out next steps with the house and how they can help her and her kids.”

  Katie wasn’t surprised to learn that Shane wanted to help.

  “What’s that?” Owen asked of the letter.

  “Oh, um, just a note from Shane.”

  “I thought you were taking some time apart.”

  “We are.”

  “So why is he sending you notes?”

  “Because he had something he needed to tell me.” She folded the letter and put it in the pocket of her robe. “You said Holden is up. Is he available for playing with aunts or does he only prefer uncles?”