Love Lost, Love Found

by Judy Kentrus

  “I’ve been totally honest with both of them. Speaking of Stud One, Sean has invited us to have dinner with him. He’s eager to get to know you.”

  “I’ll bet. Does he know I carry a gun? If he breaks your heart again, I’ll do him bodily harm.”

  “That won’t be necessary,” Nancy said and was relieved that some of the tension in her body had eased. “He knows you’re a police officer. Please give him a chance. I do love him, and he loves me very much. We’ve talked so much and know where we went wrong the first time. We want to avoid those mistakes.”

  “What happens when your loving reunion ends in a week?”

  “We haven’t gotten that far, but I’m not worried.”

  “Mother, you didn’t have to tell me how much you love this guy. The change in you is obvious. When you talk about him, your face takes on a soft glow. You’re happy.”

  “Thank you. I am. So, are we having dinner with Sean this evening? He’s really a great guy.”

  “You’re a very good judge of character, so the daughter side of me will take your word for it. The cop side says I’ll reserve judgment. I don’t believe in coincidences and have a number of questions.”

  “Enough about my past. I’m going to call and see if they have two appointments this afternoon at the Eucalyptus spa.” Nancy put a hand to the small of her back. “We went swimming last evening and overdid it.”

  “The swimming or the sex?”

  “No comment!” she said and headed to her bedroom to get her cell phone. “You’ll be sharing my room.”

  “What about Stud One? Won’t he be pissed I’m taking over his side of the bed?”

  “I wouldn’t worry about it. Sean is very resourceful.”

  “Now I really feel like a third party. Can I take a quick shower?”

  “Help yourself. I want to call about our massages.”

  As soon as Kaitlyn went into the bathroom, she called Sean. He picked up almost immediately.

  “Are you okay?”

  “I’m totally embarrassed because I told my daughter we lived together for two years and accidentally mentioned you’re great in bed. She knows the rest and why we broke up.”

  “Does she hate me?”

  “No, just threatened to do bodily harm if you break my heart again.”

  “Guess I better invest in body armor.”

  “So you’re planning to break my heart?”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. I didn’t fight this hard and make all these plans to get you back only to walk away again.”

  “What plans?”

  “How soon we forget about last night.”

  “Sorry, I’m just rattled. Last night was fantastic, and I love you so much for bringing back the place where we shared so much joy.”

  “Can I pick you girls up at seven and take you to the Bay House? There’s a deck to eat outside, and they have the same heat lamps as the Turtle Club. It’s casual, but no shorts or tank tops. Underwear required.”

  “Very funny, Sean Patrick. We’ll wear pretty dresses. Only you will know that I’m wearing a lacy thong.”

  “Not fair, you minx.”

  “Oh, and be prepared. The interrogation George put you through last evening was very mild. My daughter will be out for the kill.”

  “I’d expect nothing less with Kaitlyn having grown up with lawyers for parents. Just bring along a box of Band-Aids to cover all my bruises.”

  “I’ll take it one step further and kiss every one, even your bruised balls.”

  “In that case, this is one interrogation I’m eager to suffer through.”

  “Pervert!”

  “I love you, too. See you at seven.”

  Sean set his phone on the table in front of the couch. With the afternoon free, he’d be able to follow up on a half-dozen emails that required his attention, especially one from Long and Barrows, the architectural and engineering firm he’d contracted to design the buildings, to confirm the changes he’d requested. He’d worked so much with the two owners, Scott Landis and Russell Long, that they’d become close friends. This was an over-the-top rush job, and they’d never let him down.

  If he could pull this off, it would be the coup de grace of his career. It was also the biggest risk of his life.

  Chapter 11

  “This is beautiful,” Kaitlyn said. “Everyone at home is freezing their butts off, and we’re sitting on a deck overlooking a canal. These heat lamps are like mini-umbrellas with lights. I know we can’t see much of the water, but the reflection off the lights is magical.”

  “The Bay House is another place I come to when I’m in Naples,” Sean said. “There is a unique Claw Bar and a second dining area on the other end of the restaurant. They usually have a four-piece combo.”

  “It’s been a long time since you and I have danced. Maybe we can sneak in a quick one before we leave,” Nancy suggested and squeezed the hand she was holding under the white linen tablecloth. Inside, her stomach was in knots, but she was putting on a good front.

  Her main concern was her daughter. One of the things that made her a good cop was her suspicious nature. Anyone who knew Kaitlyn Griffin recognized she was a force to be reckoned with. She acted like she’d accepted Sean, but Nancy was waiting for Kaitlyn to pounce like a jaguar on its prey. It was important that the man she loved got along with her daughter. Maybe she was being overanxious. Sean was a grown man who didn’t need her protection.

  He continually surprised her and had dressed for their dinner engagement in a richly cut business suit that reflected a man who enjoyed the finer things in life. His steel-gray shirt was the same color as the thin pinstripes in his darker gray suit. He’d added a dark plumb and black silk tie. She liked the smooth, earthy scent of his cologne.

  “Anything special you like to drink?” Sean asked. “They have an excellent wine selection. I’m driving, so you might as well enjoy yourself.”

  “Since I don’t have jurisdiction in Florida, I can’t arrest you for drunk driving, so you might as well have something, too. Which reminds me, have you ever been arrested?”

  “Kaitlyn! That was uncalled for.” The twists in Nancy’s stomach tightened.

  “Mother, chill. I was joking. We had these great massages and spa treatment this afternoon, so you should be relaxed. I’m only going to interrogate him a little.”

  “Kaitlyn, getting you to accept me is as important as my love for your mother. Consider me your punching bag. But I give you fair warning, I’ll fight back if you offend your mother in any way.”

  “Touché. Mother, you didn’t mention he’s also your knight in shining armor. I think I like him already.”

  “Score one for me. Drinks first, questions later. I’d be remiss not to mention I’ve never had the pleasure of dining with such beautiful women. You could be taken for sisters.”

  “Thank you, Sean,” Nancy said. “I purchased these sundresses the other day when we went shopping in Naples. Kaitlyn and I both wear the same size, so we tend to borrow each other’s clothes.”

  “You actually went shopping, in a store? Who are you?” Kaitlyn teased. “The yellow straps over your shoulders bring out the golden tan of your skin. I like the red one I’m wearing because it’s strapless. I plan to work on my tan while I’m here.”

  When their waiter approached, Nancy was relieved to see a friendly face.

  “Hi, Chris, you certainly get around,” she said. Like all the other waiters, he wore a hound’s-tooth gray bowtie with his white shirt. A dark butcher-linen apron covered his trousers.

  “Glad to see you again. I work at both locations. Have you decided on what you would like to drink?”

  “I’ll have my usual Johnnie Walker Red,” Sean replied. “Nancy will have a margarita.” He looked at Kaitlyn and didn’t get a response.

  “Kaitlyn,” Nancy called, noting that her daughter’s eyes were busy feasting on their blond, blue-eyed waiter who could have posed for the cover a romance novel. “Cool your hormones. Check out
the ring finger on his left hand. He’s married. What would you like to drink?”

  “Such a pity. I love good-looking guys who wear bowties, and this one is taken.” Her comment was followed by a heavy sigh. “I’ll have what he’s having, on the rocks.”

  “Very good,” Chris said before stepping away.

  “Kaitlyn, I know you must have questions about me,” Sean began, “but I’d also like to know about you. Being a police officer is a commendable job. Your mother mentioned you are going to college for your degree in criminal justice. What do you like to do when you’re off duty and not studying?”

  The tenseness in Nancy’s stomach eased as Sean took control of the conversation, a calculated move by a very smart businessman.

  “Our police fraternal organization sponsors a youth center for troubled kids and those in foster care. The town leases us the building for a dollar a year. I volunteered there when I was in high school. The kids range in ages from nine to eighteen. We help with their schoolwork, supply tutors and take them on field trips. There’s a gym, and we’ve organized basketball and volleyball teams. In the summer months, we have baseball and soccer. They may be separated from their real families, but we want them to know we’re supportive and that they can depend on us. There’s a hotline they can call twenty-four seven.”

  Their conversation was interrupted when Chris delivered their drinks and asked if they’d decided on what they wanted to eat.

  Nancy looked at Sean. “You can order for me since you know what I like.”

  “I certainly do,” he replied with a wink. “We’ll have Mexican blue shrimp cocktail and the lobster and lump crab potholes. The seared sea scallops for our main meal.”

  “That sounds great,” Kaitlyn said. “I’ll have the same but would like the filet, medium rare, and roasted lobster for my main course.”

  “Excellent choices. I’ll be back in a few with your first course.”

  “Tell me more about your youth center,” Sean asked before taking a sip of his drink. “How do you get funding for your organization?”

  “We have raffles, fundraisers, but they usually fall short of our plans. Why?”

  “I’m sure I can help you with donations.” Sean pulled out a slim leather wallet from the inside pocket of his jacket and retrieved one of his business cards, listing the name of his firm and him as president. He passed it to Kaitlyn.

  “I return to work next week. Give me a call, and I’ll see what I can do.”

  “Harrigan, Warwick and Douglas, Investment Bankers. Fancy name. What is it exactly you do?”

  “To put it simply, if you want to build something that will require a great deal of money, we find backers, investors and bond funding.”

  “What do you get out of it?”

  “A piece of the action. Investment bankers tend to do well since we can generate more revenue from all activities we undertake. I have a master’s degree in accounting, so we pick and choose projects that will be most profitable. I’m down here because we’re investing in the new baseball stadium.”

  “What do you do for fun?”

  “I like to play volleyball and handball at least four times a week.”

  “He was quite good at playing volleyball. His nickname was Splat, and mine was Happy Feet,” Nancy said.

  “Since when did you play volleyball, Mother?”

  “She was very good. We’d always make a side bet, so I never minded losing.”

  It wasn’t the heat lamps that made her cheeks turn pink. She was tempted to kick him when he wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. “Kaitlyn, don’t ask what the side bet was. And Sean, if you tell her, I’ll have to kill you.”

  “Sounds interesting, but I’ll pass on hearing the explanation. Don’t want a dead body on my hands.”

  Conversation stopped when the server brought their appetizers along with a wire basket of fresh-baked dinner rolls. They talked very little for the next hour, enjoying the delicious food. It was when the server cleared the table and brought their after-dinner coffee that Kaitlyn dropped the bomb.

  “This has been great, and so far you’ve proven to be the suave, courteous, thoughtful man my mother professed you to be, but I’m far from satisfied. I love my mother more than you do, so my first concern is her happiness. She gave me a synopsis of your history, but there is one thing I need to know from you.”

  Nancy didn’t care that her daughter could see her reaching for Sean’s hand to present a united front. “Kaitlyn, I appreciate you worrying about my welfare, but it isn’t necessary.”

  “It’s perfectly all right,” Sean said. “I figured I’d gotten off too easily. One thing I’ll not debate is who loves your mother more. Ask your question.”

  “Why the hell did you break my mother’s heart?”

  Nancy’s back stiffened, and she leaned forward. “You are completely out of line. I explained everything to you this morning.” Right now, she wanted to muzzle her beloved daughter.

  “You gave me your version. Now I’d like to hear his.”

  The discord radiating between mother and daughter was obvious, but he needed to tread with caution, not wanting to offend either one.

  “I don’t mind answering Kaitlyn’s question. Was I a selfish bastard for not telling your mother that love wasn’t enough to keep us together? Yes. Did I know what I was doing when I raised the bar on my hopes and dreams to bulldoze into the corporate world and make lots of money? Yes. Was it right to make my decision without consulting her first? No. Was my decision to walk away so she could realize and fulfill her dreams correct? I thought so at the time.

  “Do I have regrets? Absolutely, but we’ve both agreed that twenty-four years ago wasn’t our time. Your mother told me that love never dies, it sometimes needs a rest.”

  He directed the last of his statement to the woman who completed him. “Ours has slept long enough, and I love her with everything that is in me.”

  “That’s quite an impassioned reply.”

  “Do you think I just made that up?” he asked, trying not to feel offended.

  “If I was interrogating a suspect, I’d be convinced you were telling the truth.”

  “Kaitlyn, you don’t give an inch,” he replied with a light chuckle.

  “You never considered contacting her? She’s been a widow for ten years.”

  “I was married part of that time, and quite frankly, I was afraid she wouldn’t want to have anything to do with me.”

  “So you just happened to show up here at the same time as my mother?”

  It was time to stretch the truth. “Fate put us in the right place at the right time. Believe me, it wasn’t easy convincing your mother that my love for her never died.” He turned his head and stared deeply into Nancy Jean’s watery eyes. “I’ve never been happier than I am now that I’ve reunited with my one and only love.”

  “I was really prepared to not like you, but you obviously love my mother and make her happy. Mom, stop crying. He’s a keeper.”

  “Thank God for small miracles,” Sean said and was once again wiping away the tears running down Nancy Jean’s cheeks.

  Their meal had been so satisfying, no one wanted dessert. Sean paid the bill, and they walked inside the main restaurant with its rustic wood-grain walls. A row of wine-red leather backed booths lined two walls, and tables filled up the center of the room. All were occupied. They continued past the Claw Bar and stopped before a fireplace burning real wood.

  “I always loved the heat and smell of a real fire,” Nancy said and gave Sean a knowing smile.

  “I get that you two are having a private conversation,” Kaitlyn said. “On our way in, I noticed a fire burning in the raised hearth surrounded by cocktail tables in the courtyard. Why don’t you two sneak in that dance you mentioned earlier? I’ll meet you outside. Take your time.”

  “Thanks, we’ll do that,” Nancy said and tightened her grip on Sean’s hand.

  A four-piece combo occupied a section of the dining area, ad
ding relaxing ambience to the dining experience. There wasn’t much space to dance, but Sean wasn’t about to let this opportunity pass them by.

  “Don’t move,” he said and approached the female singer playing a guitar. He passed her a fifty-dollar bill and whispered something in her ear. She replied with a nod and soft smile of understanding.

  “What did you do?” Nancy asked when he came back to her.

  He slipped his arm around her shoulders. Her skin felt silkier than normal, and he lowered his head to breathe in the vanilla scent that hugged her neck. “I requested that they play something just for us.”

  A few minutes later, the guitarist started singing the old Engelbert Humperdinck classic After the Lovin’.

  Her slender arms wrapped around his neck as they moved slowly in the cozy setting. “This was the first song we danced to,” he whispered in her ear and drew her closer, urging her head to snuggle on his shoulder.

  “It was also the first time we made love on the ugly couch. You had that radio and CD player on the end table, and we accidentally knocked it over in our enthusiasm. It came on, and this song was playing. You pulled me up, stark naked, and we started slow-dancing.”

  “You said it would be our song,” Sean murmured. “Whenever I hear it, I think of you.”

  They danced a little more, cherishing the touch of their clinging bodies. No other couples joined them. Sean glanced around, and the attention of the other dinner guests was focused solely on them. When the song ended, a number of people clapped.

  “You two dance like you’ve been doing it for a long time. Anniversary?” one woman asked.

  “Yes. It’s the anniversary of the rest of our lives,” Nancy said.

  His heart gathered in the warm smile she gave him. “Let’s consider this refreshing an old memory, but making it a new one.”

  “I’d like that,” Nancy said and kissed him on the cheek.

  “Now our evening is complete. Let’s get your daughter and head back to the resort.”

  “What are your plans for tomorrow?” he asked when they got back to the Casa Blanca a little after midnight.

  “I’ll be going for my run tomorrow morning to work off our delicious dinner, and then I thought Kaitlyn and I would go into Naples to do some shopping.”