No, he wasn’t okay! He was on the verge of throwing his entire world at her feet and terrified she’d reject it. Reject him.
“I’m fine,” he managed. “Like I said, it’s been a rough day.”
He started to pace and she stared at his legs. “Why are your pants legs all wet?”
“Hmm?” He looked down. “Oh, I went walking on the beach.” He paced a bit more. “Look, why don’t we get something to eat, then go to the apartment where we can... talk?”
“Okay,” she sighed, sounding incredibly tired. “I guess it won’t hurt to take one night off. Just give me a minute to tell Alli and Adrian we’re leaving.”
He nodded. The minute she left the room, he dropped forward and braced his hands against his knees as he gulped in air. What a narrow escape that had been from a really stupid move. He couldn’t just blurt out a proposal of marriage. He needed to plan what to say and how to say it.
First, tonight, they’d talk. He’d tell her about his decision to leave the bank. Then, depending on her reaction to that, he’d figure out the right time and way to propose. The last thing he wanted to do was make an ass of himself while he asked her to spend the rest of her life with him.
Except, they didn’t talk that night. Or the next day. At least not about anything more important than getting ready for the ball, which was now only a few days away.
Chance decided not to turn in his resignation until after his father’s last day. He didn’t want it to look as if he were walking out in protest, or people would know rather than merely suspect that his father wasn’t leaving of his own free will. Besides, it would make his father’s last days at the bank and the retirement party less stressful for everyone.
As for proposing to Aurora, he was definitely putting that on hold until after the ball. Every day, she seemed more emotional and on edge. The last thing she needed was for him to put her on the spot and ask her to make a decision that would affect the rest of their lives.
Yes, waiting was best. Definitely best. Besides, it gave him time to order a ring.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chance was going to break up with her. Rory just knew it. Every day, he grew more distant. He acted nervous and distracted. Several times, he’d seemed on the verge of telling her something—something big—but then he’d stop himself. If she asked what was wrong, he’d make some vague comment like “Let’s get through this weekend, then we’ll talk.”
Talk about ending their relationship, she assumed.
Would that mean ending his involvement with the inn as well? How in the world would they deal with that? He’d been a godsend with his knowledge of business, taking care of so many things they never would have thought to do.
Well, they would deal with it, somehow. The inn would survive. Even if her heart didn’t.
By Friday afternoon, she was an emotional wreck, but doing her best to hide it. Chance had taken off the whole day to help them get ready. They were working together outside, helping two men from the rental company unload the truck. In addition to the tables on the veranda and lawn, they would set up tables on the deck of the ship—whenever it arrived.
With one hand shading her eyes, she glanced toward the cove, wondering when the Pirate’s Pleasure would appear. The last thing they needed was some huge catastrophe, like the ship not showing up on time.
Although with the ship would come Paige. The thought tied up her insides even more.
Rory searched the horizon for some sign of the ship, but all she saw was blue water and cloudless sky. At least the weather had cooperated. A cool front had blown through mid-week, ending the rain and leaving them with clear sunny days.
Adrian and two of his friends, Rusty and Jeff, were down on the beach arranging large driftwood logs to serve as benches near the pit where the Hawaiian kalua pigs had been roasting since yesterday. In the morning, they would add the lau lau, another Hawaiian dish, this one made of pork hash wrapped in ti leaves. Once the food was removed from the pit tomorrow afternoon, they planned to light a big fire. The buffet line would be set up nearby on the lower yard, well lit by dozens of tiki lamps. The dance floor and entertainers would be on the ship, and the dessert buffet would be inside the house, in the dining room, to entice people closer to the silent auction that would be set up in the music room.
“Aurora,” Chance called, emerging from the truck with his arms loaded. “Where do you want the tray stands for the buffet line?”
She turned back to the task at hand, trying to act normal, as if she didn’t know Chance’s feelings for her had changed. “Go ahead and take them to the kitchen. We won’t set up the tables until the morning.”
He started to pass her on his way to the house, but something behind her must have caught his attention. She turned to see what it was ... and her eyes widened with surprise. There, clearing the line of palm trees, was the Pirate’s Pleasure coming in under full sail.
“Oh, wow,” she breathed, temporarily forgetting all her worries at such a spectacular sight. Even though Bobby had shown them pictures, nothing could compare to the real thing—a beautiful Baltimore clipper flying over the water with billowing white sails.
“I take it that’s the ship we’ve been waiting for,” Chance said.
“I’d say so,” she answered.
The men on the beach stopped to stare, as did the two from the rental company. As the ship neared the mouth of the cove, Rory could see the crew scurrying up into the ratlines. The sails came down, like a great bird folding its wings, and the ship slowed. A dinghy was lowered over the side and four crew members climbed in. When the outboard motor roared to life, the dinghy headed for the pier.
“Do you think they need help docking?” Chance asked.
“I don’t know,” Rory answered.
“Well, either way, let’s go have a closer look.” He set the tray stands aside and headed down the path to the pier.
Conflicting emotions played tug-of-war in her stomach as she followed: her apprehension over Paige pulling her back, her eagerness to see the ship pulling her forward. Adrian and his friends were already on the pier when she got there. He turned with a broad grin. “Not exactly something you see every day, eh, sis?”
“Not exactly,” she agreed. The dinghy bumped up to the dock long enough for two of the four crew members to hop out, then it raced back in a wide arc toward the Pirate’s Pleasure.
“Ahoy,” one of the crew called, his voice thick with the sound of the Caribbean. His tall, dark-skinned body rippled with muscles and his teeth flashed white in the sunlight.
“Hey, you need help?” Chance asked. “No, we got it. Jus’ stand clear.”
Taking that as a request to stay out of the way, they all backed up a few steps. The docking maneuver was quite a sight to behold, with the dinghy serving as a tugboat to guide the larger vessel in. As it drew near, Rory marveled at its lavish beauty, a black-hulled vessel with red and gold accents on the railing. The mermaid that adorned the bow had golden hair that trailed backward as if tossed by the wind.
Bobby and Paige stood at the rail, Bobby in the bow, Paige midship. There was another woman on the quarterdeck handling the wheel and calling out orders. Bobby and Paige tossed lines to the crew on the pier, and within minutes the vessel was secured, an actual Baltimore clipper tied right there to their pier!
“Man, that’s what I call a ship,” Adrian’s friend Rusty said.
A set of wooden steps, complete with handrail, was lowered to the dock.
“Hey, beautiful!” Bobby called to Rory as he sauntered down the steps. “Couldn’t wait to see me, eh?”
She laughed, shaking her head. “I came to see the ship and you know it.”
“She’s something, ain’t she?” He turned to admire the vessel.
Rory nodded, but her eyes shifted back to the steps as Paige started down. If she hadn’t known it was Paige, she would have had a hard time recognizing this disheveled, windblown woman dressed in gym shorts and a T-shirt that loo
ked as if they’d come from Academy Surplus rather than a designer boutique.
Chance went to greet her, holding out his hand to help her down the last few steps. “So, how did you enjoy sailing your first pirate ship?”
“It was fun,” Paige answered, but her smile was sad.
Rory watched as the two of them moved toward the end of the pier, out of earshot. They stood close together, almost touching as they talked.
“Hey,” Bobby said, “I guess I should introduce everyone.” The black man with the island accent was the first mate. The other crewmembers ranged in age and background from a college student to an old dockhand with skin as weathered as driftwood.
“Welcome to the Pearl Island Inn,” Adrian said. “We’re glad y’all made it.”
While Adrian and his friends visited with the crew, Bobby followed Rory’s gaze. “You know, for a little rich girl,” Bobby said, “that Paige is one heck of a sailor. Pulled her weight and didn’t complain once on the whole trip up here. Although maybe she was too terrified to complain.”
“Terrified?” Rory asked. “Of what?”
“Not what. Who.”
Just then a figure appeared at the top of the steps, a white ball cap shading the face. “You laggards have this ship secure?”
“Aye, aye, Captain!” the first mate called back.
“Well, then, get back up here and grab your gear so we can go ashore.”
All the crew but Bobby and Paige scrambled back on board. After giving a few more orders, the captain came down the steps, pulling a shirt on over her swimsuit top and tying it at the waist. Then she freed a long, mahogany-colored braid from the shirt so it hung down her back. She wasn’t a tall woman, but she had incredibly long, lean legs beneath a pair of very short, very frayed cutoffs.
“Rory, Adrian,” Bobby said as the captain stepped onto the pier. “Meet Captain Jackie, owner of the Pirate’s Pleasure.”
The woman lifted her head, revealing a face that was more interesting than attractive, with strong cheeks, a square jaw, and a wide mouth. “Pleased to meet you,” she said in a low, husky voice. “So, this is Pearl Island?” She gazed about at the house and cove, her expression difficult to read. “One of the possible resting places of Jean Laffite’s treasure.”
“You’re familiar with our local lore,” Adrian said.
Jackie tipped her head back to see him better from beneath the brim of her cap and Rory revised her first impression. The woman wasn’t beautiful but there was something there to attract a man’s eye. A fact her brother seemed to home in on right away. “My father raised me on tales of the pirates. He was especially enamored of your blockade runner, Captain Jack Kingsley, which is why he named me Jackie.”
“Really?” Adrian cocked his head and gave her one of his lazy smiles that could seduce at twenty paces. At point-blank range, it was downright lethal. Amazingly, this woman didn’t seem to notice.
Bobby stared at the captain. “You never told me you were named after Jack Kingsley.”
Jackie merely shrugged as if it weren’t important. “So, which one of you wants to fill me in on this shindig tomorrow night?”
“I’ll be happy to go over everything with you,” Adrian volunteered. “Would you like a tour of the house and grounds?”
“Sure,” Jackie said. “But first, I need to arrange a ride into town for my crew. They’ll need a rental car and a hotel while we’re here.”
Adrian assigned that task to his friends, then turned back to Jackie. “But what about you? Have you made plans on where to stay? If not, we could get one of our rooms ready, even though we’re not officially opened.”
Rory wanted to kick him, since they wanted guests at the ball to roam freely through the house.
“That’s okay, I’ll stay on my ship,” Jackie said, saving Rory from having to inflict bodily harm on her brother.
“No, really,” Adrian insisted. “It won’t be any trouble. And I’m sure you’d be more comfortable.”
“And I assure you,” she said in a slow, succinct voice, “I’ll be perfectly comfortable on board my ship. The Pirate’s Pleasure is where I live.”
“Where you live?” Adrian frowned. “As in full-time?”
Jackie gave him a challenging look. “Do you have a problem with that?”
“No, not at all,” he insisted. “Why don’t you follow me up to the house, so I can show you around while your men gather their gear?” Adrian turned to lead the way.
“Aurora?” Chance said, as he and Paige joined them. “If you and Adrian can handle things here, I’m going to drive Paige home. Bobby, I’ll be happy to give you a lift, as well.”
“Sure,” Bobby answered. “I’ll just grab my things.”
Rory watched him and Paige head back on board. Her heart sank at the thought of Paige and Chance being together, even though someone had to take Paige home.
“Hey, you okay?” Chance asked.
She nodded. “Will you be back tonight?”
“Of course I’ll be back.” He chided her with a laugh. “With everything we have left to do? I wouldn’t be much of a partner if I bailed out tonight of all nights.”
Paige and Bobby came back down the steps, each carrying a duffel bag. Paige greeted Rory but didn’t quite meet her eyes.
“Are you ready?” Chance asked Paige.
“I suppose so,” Paige sighed as she glanced down at her rumpled, dirty clothes. “Even if I’m not looking forward to Mom seeing me like this.”
“Maybe you can sneak in and get cleaned up before she catches you,” Chance teased.
“And maybe her mother should quit trying to run her life,” Bobby piped in, surprising all of them. “Well, it’s true,” he insisted when Chance glared at him. “Paige is a grown woman, perfectly capable of deciding how she wants to dress and what she wants to do.” He turned to Paige, whose cheeks had gone beet-red. “And your parents will never stop bullying you as long as you let them get away with it.”
Chance straightened to his full height. “I fail to see how Paige’s relationship with her parents is any of your concern, since you barely know her, and don’t know them at all.”
Bobby spread his hands. “Just stating my opinion.”
“Chance,” Paige said when he looked ready to argue more. “It’s okay.”
After a tense moment, Chance nodded. “Very well. If y’all are ready, let’s go.”
Rory stood watching as they headed up the path, wondering if Chance regretted breaking up with Paige.
* * *
Chance had his first inkling that something was wrong between Rory and him that night when she told him she wanted to stay at the inn rather than go to his apartment. Okay, logically her decision made sense. With everything that needed to be done, of course she’d want to stay there and get an early start in the morning.
But it was the first time she’d ever spent the night at the inn.
Adrian and Allison had moved there gradually over the last few days. Since his breakup with Paige, though, Aurora always came home with him. It was a situation everyone seemed comfortable with. Adrian and Allison might send him minor looks of disapproval, but no one had said anything outright. He truly didn’t think they were pressuring Aurora to not sleep with him.
So why tonight of all nights did she want to stay at the inn? Was it just the ball, or was it something more as his gut kept telling him? As he drove home he went over their parting conversation: her assuring him she was just tired and wanted to go straight to bed, and him insisting she could do that at his place. It wasn’t like they had to make love every night, even though they’d been basically insatiable so far.
What had him the most worried, though, was the way she hadn’t looked at him when she’d said she didn’t want to go home with him. Was he imagining that there was something wrong? Or was she getting ready to ditch him?
And what would he do if the latter was true?
Fight like hell, was his gut reaction, even though it went against
all his training as a dignified Chancellor. If Aurora tried to leave him, would he do anything it took to keep her? Or would he accept her decision with a stiff upper lip and his pride intact?
He hoped he never had to find out.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Rory woke feeling disoriented, at first wondering why Chance wasn’t snuggled up beside her. When she reached out for him, her hand found the edge of the mattress and she wondered how the bed had shrunk. Then she remembered. She wasn’t in Chance’s bed. She was in the twin bed they’d moved from the cottage to her room at the inn.
Lifting her head, she looked around. The room was sparse, with little more than the narrow bed she’d slept in most of her life, a chest of drawers, and a single chair. The rag doll angel she’d found in Houston sat on the nightstand, watching her.
Picking it up, she ran a hand over its braided yarn hair. At least my room has furniture, she thought.
The nursery beyond the connecting door stood empty. She remembered the white wicker bassinet she’d seen in the thrift shop, and felt a physical yearning deep in her chest. She wanted to drive to the nearest baby store and buy drawers full of tiny outfits and minuscule booties and diapers. Of course, she couldn’t do any of that without telling Chance about the baby. Until then, there’d be no baby showers thrown by friends or even anyone outside the family asking her how she was feeling and when she was due.
Dropping her head back on the pillow she hugged the angel as she realized how badly she wanted those things. She wanted to share her news with the world. She wanted to share it with Chance.
But fear of his reaction held her back. Especially now that he was acting so weird. How would she handle losing him? Her eyes squeezed tight against the pain.
Enough! she told herself.
Today was the big day they’d all been working toward. It was not the day to lie in bed and bawl over things she couldn’t change or control. Besides, she doubted the breakup would happen today. Her best course of action was to put all of her angst on hold until tomorrow.
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