McCarthys [10] Meant for Love

by Marie Force

  “I remember when Linda first told us about you, and we talked about how best to approach you out there all by yourself in the lighthouse. I remember thinking about what I would want before I went to see you. I volunteered to go because I understood what not to do better than the others could have.”

  “I’m so glad it was you who came, and that you shared your story with me. Right away I felt comforted to know that I wasn’t alone with that kind of pain—not that I’d wish it on anyone. But that you understood so well made it easier to accept your offer of friendship.”

  “We’re all thankful you accepted the offer.”

  “No one more so than me.”

  “Awww, shucks. You’re a perfect fit with us, kiddo. We’d have badgered you until you had no choice but to join our happy clan.”

  “It is a happy clan, and I’m thrilled to be part of it.” Her phone beeped. “Oh, that’s my mom.”

  “I’ll let you go. Glad it all went well.”

  “Thanks again for today, Syd.”

  “Any time. Talk soon.”

  Jenny pushed the button to end her call with Syd and accept her mother’s call. “Hi, Mom.”

  “Hi, honey. Hope I’m not catching you at a bad time.”

  Jenny thought about where she’d been forty-five minutes earlier and held back a nervous giggle at the thought of her mother calling then. “Nope. Good time. What’s up?”

  “Dad was able to score three full days off next week—Tuesday through Thursday. We were thinking of flying up Monday afternoon and leaving on Thursday. Would that be okay?”

  Guilt flooded through her, because her very first thought was three days with no Alex. “Of course,” she said to her mother. “That’s absolutely fine.”

  “I looked on a map and I saw that the McCarthy’s hotel is fairly close to the lighthouse, so I booked a room there hoping you’d say yes to a visit.”

  “You can stay here.”

  “That’s very sweet of you, but we’ll be very happy at the hotel, and you won’t have us around your neck the whole time. I’m sure you’ve got your own things to do.”

  Images of what she’d done with Alex in the garden chose that moment to pass through her mind like an erotic movie. Jenny cleared her throat. “A few things here and there.”

  “So we’ll be on the eight p.m. ferry on Monday. Should I try to get the rental car on the boat?”

  “No need. I’ll pick you up at the ferry, and you can use my car while you’re here.”

  “I can’t wait to see you and your lighthouse and meet your friends.”

  “I can’t wait either. I’m really glad you’re coming, Mom.”

  “So are we. See you soon, hon.”

  Jenny tucked the phone in her purse, grabbed her keys and headed out to check in with Paul Martinez, who was working at the retail store today. She wished she’d asked Alex what his brother knew about the two of them, but she hesitated to interrupt his work again with a phone call.

  “I guess I’ll find out soon enough,” she said as she drove down the long driveway from the lighthouse to the road. A short time later, she pulled onto the grounds of Martinez Lawn & Garden and realized she was strangely nervous about meeting with Alex’s brother. “You’re offering to help him. What do you have to be nervous about?”

  Not knowing if Alex had told his brother that he was seeing her fueled her anxiety as she grabbed her purse and headed inside. Paul was at the counter, huddled around a computer terminal with Adam McCarthy.

  Both men looked up at her as she came in the door.

  “Hey, Jenny,” Adam said.

  “Hi, Adam.” She shifted her gaze to Paul, who was every bit as handsome as his brother. “Paul.”

  “Hi, Jenny. Good to see you again. Thanks for the offer of help.”

  “Sure. Happy to do whatever I can.”

  “It all depends on Adam, the computer magician. Sharon’s parting shot was to password-protect the system, and naturally we can’t reach her to find out what it is.”

  Incensed on his behalf, Jenny said, “Have you reported that to Blaine?”

  “Filed a report this morning. He’s issuing a warrant for her arrest on charges of malicious mischief. We won’t actually press charges if she gives us the damned password.”

  The poor guy seemed exhausted, stressed out and frustrated, but who could blame him? Like he didn’t have enough to deal with without a spiteful ex-employee tampering with his business.

  “I hope you’re also withholding her final paycheck,” Jenny said.

  “Haven’t done that yet, but you’re absolutely right. I’ll call the payroll company and get that done. Thanks for the reminder.”

  Jenny didn’t know him at all, but she suspected the computer situation was about to take him over the edge. “While Adam does his thing, maybe you could show me around and give me a sense of the routine so I can get to it as soon as we have access to the computer again.”

  “You’re going to work here, Jenny?” Adam asked, his gaze never wandering from the computer terminal.

  “I’m helping out until things settle down.”

  “And we’re extremely grateful for the help,” Paul said. “Come on, I’ll give you the tour and introduce you to some of the employees.”

  Chapter 16

  After a truly wonderful and relaxing afternoon with her new fiancé, Kara brought the launch to a smooth landing at the dock. She wasn’t at all surprised to see her sister sitting on the bench where customers waited for a ride to their boats.

  Fortified by her time with Dan and the things he’d said to her when he proposed, Kara busied herself tying up the boat and shutting down the engine, all the while pretending that Kelly wasn’t watching her every move. A petite blonde, Kelly had always attracted lots of male attention. Kara, who’d felt like an amazon next to her younger sister, realized Kelly no longer had the power to hurt her. At some point over the last two years—well, mostly since she met and fell in love with Dan—she’d moved past what’d had happened with Kelly and Matt.

  She wished she was a more forgiving person, but some things couldn’t be forgiven. The last time she saw her sister, nearly two years ago now, they’d had a screaming fight and both had said things that could never be taken back. Not that Kara regretted a word of what she’d said that day. Nor did she regret the two years that had passed since then with nary a word between them. She had no earthly idea what her sister was trying to accomplish by showing up like this and thinking she could force Kara to deal with her and her husband.

  “I’m right here,” Dan said quietly, his hand warm on her back.

  Kara nodded, grateful for what he’d done earlier and for his presence beside her now. She took a deep breath, grabbed her bag and got off the launch.

  As she stood, Kelly appeared wilted from the heat, and there was no sign of Matt or the baby, for which Kara was thankful. “It took you long enough to come back,” Kelly said.

  “I didn’t realize I answered to you.”

  “Your employee had no idea where you were. Shouldn’t he know how to get in touch with you?”

  “He knew exactly where I was. He chose not to tell you.” First two points were hers, Kara thought smugly. “Is there something I can do for you? I have plans.”

  “You know why I’m here. You don’t have to act so surprised to see me.”

  “Why wouldn’t I be surprised to see you? I don’t want you here, and you know that, which is why you tried to blindside me with your visit. You thought you could force me to deal with you and your darling little family.” Kara leaned in closer, and Kelly took a step back. “Sorry your plan failed so dismally.”

  “You’re so hard and bitter. I pity you.”

  Kara laughed, which she could see infuriated her sister. “You pity me? Whatever. I really ought to take this opportunity to thank you for stealing Matt from me. You truly did me a favor.” Kara glanced at Dan, appreciating the pride she saw in his gaze. “I’m engaged to someone who’s ten times
the man Matt will ever be, and the sex… Whoa.” Kara fanned her face. “I had no idea what I was missing out on, so thanks for that, too.”

  Next to her, Dan made a sound that was half grunt, half laugh. No doubt, her comment had pumped up his already overinflated ego.

  Kelly’s face got very red, and Kara wasn’t sure if she was embarrassed or enraged. Probably the latter. She’d never wanted anyone to have something better than what she had. “Wait, so you’re engaged? Since when?”

  “Why do you sound so stunned? Were you under the illusion that I was hiding under a rock, licking my wounds while you two rode off together into the sunset? Sorry to disappoint you, Sis, but I’ve been just fine.”

  Kelly’s eyes darted between Kara and Dan. “Where have I seen him?”

  “Probably on TV. He’s a famous lawyer. He saves people’s lives. What does Matt do again? Oh right, he attempts to make money for people. Last I heard, he’s not all that good at it, unlike my fiancé, who is very, very good at making money. Aren’t you, honey?”

  “Yeah, that’s one of several things I’m pretty good at,” Dan said suggestively, earning major points with Kara.

  “So again I say thank you,” Kara said with a wide smile that seemed to further ruffle her sister. “Who wants a man who’s all talk and no action in more ways than one?” High on her own success, Kara winced dramatically. “Oh sorry, I guess you want that guy. Well, congratulations. He’s all yours. My fiancé and I have somewhere to be, so enjoy your visit.”

  Kara took Dan’s hand and started for the ramp that led to the main dock.

  “Burn,” Dan whispered under his breath, making Kara laugh.

  “Kara! Wait! I want to talk to you! I waited all day.”

  Kara spun around and pointed a finger sharply at her sister. “No, you wait. When I told you two years ago that you were dead to me, I wasn’t spouting off. I have nothing to say to you or your husband. Go home, Kelly. There’s no reason for you to be here.”

  “You have no interest in your nephew?”

  “Sure, I do, and I expect to have a very meaningful relationship with him—as soon as he’s old enough to see me when his parents aren’t around. Until then…” Kara shrugged. “Nothing to say.” She smiled at Dan. “Let’s go, babe.”

  “What about Mom and Dad?” Kelly asked, sounding more desperate by the second. “Don’t you care at all about what this is doing to them?”

  “How dare you try to lay that on me? If you were worried about how a rift between us would affect Mom and Dad, you should’ve kept your hands off my boyfriend. But you didn’t, so that, too, is your problem—not mine. I hope he was worth it, Kel. I really, really do.”

  Since Kara had already given her sister far more time than she deserved, she hooked her hand through Dan’s arm and headed for the parking lot.

  “Oh my God,” he whispered. “I’m so hot for you right now, I’m about to implode.”

  Kara laughed. “I never could’ve done that if I hadn’t had a couple of hours to prepare myself. I owe you big for that.”

  “No, you don’t.” He put his arm around her. “But remind me to never get on your bad side. It’s a pretty darned scary place. The litigator in me is extremely impressed.”

  “Goddamn, that felt good.”

  “I bet it did.”

  “I mean really, really good.”

  Dan laughed. “You honestly don’t plan to speak to her again? Ever?”

  “I’ll probably get around to forgiving her. Eventually.” Arm in arm, they walked toward her apartment in a building that abutted the marina property. “But not today.”

  “No, not today. You’ll be too busy having hot sex with your rich fiancé.”

  “Didn’t take long for that to go straight to your head.”

  “It was actually pretty instantaneous.”

  “In case I failed to mention it earlier, I love you, Torrington.”

  “Love you right back, Ballard. Now, about that hot sex…”

  ***

  By the time Alex arrived home after six o’clock, Paul, Adam and Jenny had moved from the store to the house, where Adam was working on Paul’s laptop. He’d had the idea to log in to the system from the laptop and try to change the password that way. He was seated at the table with Paul and Jenny standing behind him, offering suggestions and moral support.

  Watching Adam operate behind the scenes in the guts of the computer had been nothing short of fascinating for Jenny. The guy was clearly brilliant, and she had full faith that if anyone could get them into the system, he could.

  Marion had left a short time ago for a ride with one of her friends but would be returning soon.

  “Hey,” Alex said when he came in, looking tired and dirty. “Are we having a party and I wasn’t invited?”

  “Goddamned Sharon,” Paul said. “She password-protected the system before she rode out of town on her broomstick. We’ve been working all day to try to get in.”

  Alex’s dark eyes flashed with rage. “Are you freaking kidding me?”

  “I wish, and I’ve already reported it to Blaine. He’s issued a warrant for her arrest.”

  “Good. Tell him we’re pressing charges.”

  “I just want the damned password.”

  Jenny sent Alex an empathetic smile, wishing she could go to him and hug him, but she quelled the urge until a more appropriate time.

  “I’m going to hit the shower,” he said as he cracked open a beer to take with him. Looking directly at her, he added, “I’ll be right back.”

  The message couldn’t have been clearer—don’t leave. As if there was anywhere she’d rather be. Adam and Paul continued to converse about the system, and Jenny pretended like she was paying attention, but all she could think about was Alex and the despair she’d sensed in him at the thought of yet another challenge to contend with. She wanted to wrap her arms around him and provide all the comfort she was capable of. Hopefully, he’d let her.

  Before Alex emerged from the shower, Marion returned home with her friend.

  Paul left Adam to work on the computer alone and got busy putting dinner together for his mother.

  Jenny eyed the pan of lasagna Paul had pulled from the fridge. “Could I help with that so you can keep working with Adam?”

  “You don’t have to do that.”

  “I know I don’t. I’m offering anyway.”

  His smile was warm and full of gratitude, but it couldn’t hide the exhaustion. “Thanks. That’d be great.”

  “No problem.” Jenny cut a piece of lasagna, heated it in the microwave and served it to Marion, who was seated at the bar.

  “Who are you?” she asked.

  “I’m Jenny.”

  “I don’t know you.”

  “We met earlier before you went for a ride with your friend.”

  “I went for a ride?”

  “Yes, you went to look at the sunset.”

  “I do love a good sunset.”

  “You should come to the Southeast Light sometime. It’s the best place for a sunset.”

  “What’s your name again?”

  “Jenny. I’m a friend of Alex’s and Paul’s.”

  Marion took a small bite of her lasagna. “My boys always had nice friends and lots of pretty girls around. The girls have always liked them.”

  Jenny bit her bottom lip to keep from laughing.

  “Mom, what’re you telling her?” Paul asked.

  “None of your business,” Marion said with a wink for Jenny that made her laugh. “It’s girl talk.” She stared at Jenny for a long moment. “Tell me your name again. I have trouble remembering.”

  “Jenny.”

  “And you’re friends with my boys?”

  “Yes, I am.”

  “Are you dating one of them?”

  “I, um…” Where was Alex when she needed him?

  “She’s dating me, Mom,” Alex said as he came into the kitchen, wearing a pair of plaid shorts with a navy polo shirt. His wet hair
had been combed into submission, his face was freshly shaved, and he smelled amazing as he joined her at the counter.

  When he declared their relationship in front of his mother, brother and Adam, Jenny’s heart had tripped into double time. His hand on her lower back was reassuring and arousing at the same time. She had to remind herself to breathe.

  “She’s very pretty,” Marion said.

  “I think so, too,” Alex said with a smile for Jenny that made her melt.

  She couldn’t believe the effect he had on her just by walking into the room fresh from the shower. She’d spent the entire afternoon with Paul and Adam, two exceptionally good-looking men in their own right, and hadn’t experienced so much as a flutter of interest for either of them. But the second Alex walked in the door, her entire body had woken up to take notice. The powerful reactions he inspired in her were exciting and frightening at the same time.

  Adam checked his watch. “I hate to say it, but I’ve got somewhere to be. Can we continue this tomorrow?”

  “Sure,” Paul said, defeat radiating from him. “I have a town council meeting tonight anyway, so I’ve got to get going.”

  Alex’s hand curled around Jenny’s hip as he uttered one word. “Damn.”

  It occurred to her that Alex hadn’t known about Paul’s meeting when he made plans for their date.

  “You’ll be home tonight, right?” Paul asked Alex after he saw Adam out.

  “Yep. No problem.”

  “I’ll be home by ten if you want to go out later,” Paul said with a teasing wink for Jenny and Alex as he headed for the hallway.

  “Bite me,” Alex said, making Jenny laugh.

  “Don’t be mean to your brother, Alexander,” Marion said.

  “Why not? He’s mean to me.”

  “Be nice,” Marion said, pointing her fork at Alex. “Your friend didn’t come over to listen to you bicker with your brother.”

  “That’s right,” Jenny said. “You tell him, Marion.”

  “I like this girl, Alex. What did you say your name was again?”

  “Jenny.”

  “That’s a nice name. I like it.”

  “Thank you. Marion is a nice name, too.”