by Carol Henry
Hunter helped her carry the necessary items to Katelyn’s vehicle. Her friend placed Makenzie in the car seat and closed the door.
“Take all the time you need.” Katelyn pulled Juelle in for a big teddy bear hug, then released her, and jumped in to her car.
“Come on, my car is over here.” Hunter wrapped his arm around her quivering shoulders. It made her want to burrow into him and cry. But she was done crying. He opened the car door for her, and once she was settled, he dashed around the front and slid into his seat. He turned the key in the ignition.
“Sit back and relax. You don’t have to say a word. Pretend I’m not here.”
Hard to do. His arms around her shoulders had sent warm sizzles racing straight to her core.
“I’m not sure what to say.”
“Nothing. Nothing at all. But I’m here in case you do want to talk—get it out of your system. Sometimes talking is the best way to deal with the issue, as my mother would say.”
“Does it work for you?”
“Depends on the situation—for the most part, yes.”
She tilted her head on the backrest and shut her eyes.
“Put the seat back. Relax. It will help.”
“Thanks for rescuing me.”
“No problem. We’ll take the long route on our way up to Cadillac Mountain. I was there the other day, but the weather was a bit cloudy and I didn’t get to see the entire view.”
“That sounds wonderful. It’s a restful place to visit.”
Hunter drove along Route Three, until he came to the visitor center and the Park Loop Road circling around the eastern portion of the island. He turned right onto the one way byway through the forested area and followed the signs past Bear Brook, Beaver Dam Pond, and on up to the Overlook. He pulled into the circular drive, parked, and left the engine running while he sat inside the car staring out at the view. He shut the motor off and sat for fifteen minutes, not wanting to disturb Juelle. She deserved a break after the ordeal at the cemetery. How humiliating was it to learn of your husband’s infidelity at his funeral, by his mistress. His heart ached for her—what she must be feeling inside and will carry with her the rest of her life.
Hunter hated his half-brother even more at this moment. If that was the kind of son his father raised, then he was glad his father had left him behind in Hawaii to be raised by his mother.
“Where are we?” Juelle yawned, and sat up in her seat.
“At Lookout Point. I didn’t want to wake you, you needed the rest. I was checking out the scenery.”
“Thanks. I must have been more exhausted than I thought to pass out so quickly.” She brushed her hair back from her face. “Let’s get out and walk around so you can get a better view. It really is a lovely spot—you can see way out into the bay.”
She stretched when she got out of the car and walked over to the edge. Her beauty and constant caring for others captivated him. He shook uncalled for thoughts out of his head as he watched her body’s movements, and then followed her toward the ledge.
Two other couples lingered nearby. A family with three children walked to the far end. He joined Juelle next to the ledge overlooking the ocean, keeping his distance. He didn’t think he could control the desire to hold her in his arms—a desire so strong it had been driving him crazy since they’d met at the park the other day—when he’d kissed her out of the blue. It might have been on the forehead, but it had done a number on him. He’d wanted to take her in his arms again. And again, he told himself she was grieving for her husband. Hitting on his half-brother’s widow was not cool.
The late afternoon sun was still high overhead, the air warm, and the breeze temperate and cooling. A cruise ship had sailed into Frenchman Bay where it would dock closer to Bar Harbor. White sails dotted the ocean, and below, waves washed up against a craggy, rocky shoreline.
“I never tire of the view. But it’s much better from the top of the mountain.”
“We’re heading there. I took the long way around so you could relax, unwind.”
“Have you stopped at Thunder Hole? The trapped air makes a thundering noise when the waves wash through the rock chamber and forces the air out—it’s just down the road a bit.”
“I stopped the other day. It was packed with tourists enjoying the thunder and the spray. The kids were having a ball climbing down on the boulders and getting soaked. Do you want to stop and check it out?”
“I think I’ll pass this time.” She laughed. “I don’t have the urge to get sprayed.”
He liked the way she laughed—it made her eyes sparkle, her whole face light up. He suspected she hadn’t had much to laugh about for some time. He might not have known his half-brother, but he sure as hell didn’t like him very much right now. It was a fair bet the man took after his mother. How could he cheat on the mother of his child? A beautiful, caring woman at that. The man was a total ass. If he wasn’t already dead…
Hunter drove past the jutting rock and Thunder Hole, the spray spritzing across the road drenching everything in its wake. Hunter put his windshield wipers on as they drove through, both laughing at having forgotten to roll up their windows, a bit of spray blowing inside the car.
The road wound around the coast of Otter Point, Little Hunter’s Beach, and then wound back into the wooded trail of birch, aspen, oak, and spruce scattered up around Jordan Pond. The traffic pattern changed to accommodate vehicles going in either direction. In silence they continued onto a straight drive past more forested land until Hunter turned the car onto Cadillac Mountain Road. The passage wound upward for a spell before they arrived at the parking lot on the left. He pulled in and turned the ignition off. But before he could come around and open the passenger door for her, Juelle stepped out. He took her hand in his and led her out onto the bare granite rock face sprinkled with three-toothed cinquefoil clusters, the bright sunshine up above, and a sparkling ocean down below.
“I missed the view of Bar Harbor and Lobster Cove the other day. Let’s check it out before we go any further.”
They stood for a moment, hand in hand, looking down on the Maine coastline. His mind was focused on the softness of her hand, the slender fingers, and short, but neat and unpolished nails. She wrapped those tempting fingers through his, as if their hands knew each other. He forced himself to concentrate on the scenery.
A different view than that from Lookout Point, Bar Harbor lay sprawled out along the coast. To the left, farther up the bay, was the small community of Lobster Cove. McClintock and McClintock Lobster Company building was visible—a large white structure stretching along the inlet, trawlers coming in for the afternoon. Hunter wondered what was to become of the business now that Sebastian was dead. Would Eugenia inherit? Would Juelle?
He tugged on Juelle’s hand before his mind could wander any further. Hell, her mind must be going a hundred miles an hour right about now after everything she’d been through. The scene he’d witnessed with the other woman and to find out her husband was a cheat had to be devastating. “Let’s check out the rest of the sights while we have such a clear view.” He was pleased when she didn’t resist.
“You’ll love it over on the other side—you can see more of the island.” Her voice lacked enthusiasm. He cursed Sebastian again. “Watch your step, there is no path here.”
They walked in silence until they reached the other side of the giant boulder. The view was spectacular.
“Jordan Pond is to the left.” Juelle pointed out. “We passed it on the Park Loop Road. They have a great little restaurant that serves homemade popovers and fresh squeezed lemonade. There is a stable further on where you can take a carriage ride around this portion of the island, as well. And there are plenty of hiking trails if you like to hike.”
“We’ll have to go hiking another day.”
“I wasn’t hinting.”
She looked contrite, her eyes wide, those very enticing lips pinched between her teeth. He wanted to kiss them and take her worries away.
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br /> “Besides,” she continued, “I have Makenzie. I haven’t looked into a full-time babysitter or day care—someone besides Katelyn.”
“Not a problem. She’s a well behaved kid. She can come along for the ride as well.”
“We’ll see.”
“I spied a gift shop when we entered. It’s over by the car park. Let’s go see if they have a cold soft drink. We can sit down over there, relax, and enjoy more of the view.”
Hunter paid for their soft drinks and indicated a spot past the parking lot that overlooked Frenchman Bay.
“Sorry, I don’t have a blanket in the car to sit on, but the rock looks clean and dry.”
“Glad I wore slacks. I’m not worried about getting them soiled. Although I’m sure Eugenia will have something to say about my attire not being appropriate for attending a funeral. She’s very old-fashioned in many respects.”
“It must be quite a trial living with her.”
“Most of the time it is. But I understand how alone she feels—she has no other family. From what I’ve been told, she was passed around from one foster home to another from an early age.”
“That’s no reason to take her frustrations out on you. You’re her daughter-in-law, the mother of her granddaughter. You live with her.”
“Not for much longer. I plan to find a place of my own soon. I’ve kept my eye out for a house since Sebastian and I were married, but he always found some excuse not to leave the McClintock Estate. Now I know why. As soon as I find a house within my price range, I won’t have to put up with Eugenia.”
“Let me know if you need any help looking at houses while I’m here. It will give me something to do besides sitting in my empty motel room waiting for the reading of Hunt’s will.”
“Eugenia said Mr. Jordan has the meeting set up for Thursday. I’ll be glad when this is over and things settle down. Depending on the outcome of the estate, our membership in the Lobster Cove Chamber of Commerce is in question.”
Juelle didn’t need one more problem added to the already growing list. Her smile turned upside down and her perfect white teeth bit deep into her lower lip. Was that a tear about to escape from the corner of her eye? Oh, crap. Now wasn’t the time for his insides to start acting up and sending signals to his brain telling him he needed to hold her, comfort her. He swallowed and shoved his hands in his pockets.
“What’s wrong with your membership? Say she no longer controls McClintock and McClintock, can’t individuals join as associate members?”
“Yes, but then she wouldn’t be a voting member. As it is, the board has been specifically questioning Eugenia’s membership. As you’ve already surmised, she can be difficult to deal with, and they would like nothing better than to find a way to silence her. I’m not worried about my own membership. I only joined at Eugenia’s insistence. Eugenia, on the other hand, has been a member forever. In fact, she started the chamber after she and Hunt were married. The board is waiting to learn who is going to inherit the company. It’s been in the McClintock family since it started three generations ago. There is a meeting coming up to discuss membership and the Lobster Crawl. I plan to go and make a case on her behalf.”
“She looks like the type of person who can stand up for herself.”
“Yes, but if she is her usual overbearing self at the meeting, and they can find a loophole to get rid of her voting power, they’ll do it. They forget Eugenia has done a lot for the community. Her donations alone have kept many organizations afloat. Without her annual donations to the Lobster Cove Historical Society, the Children’s Park Fund, and the McClintock Employees Emergency Fund, families would be finding it hard to stay in Lobster Cove. She was the one responsible for the McClintock Scholarship Fund. And if the company closes, a lot of people will be out of work and needing some of that emergency funding.”
“What about your family—your parents? Do they live close by?”
“I’m originally from New York. My parents are missionaries. They’re in Africa at the moment. I haven’t seen them for several months. Not unusual. I didn’t see much of them as a child growing up, seldom see them now. They are committed to their Christian calling. I lived with my grandparents most of the time. They were very elderly, and died the year I started college.”
“That must have been hard on you, not having your parents around.”
“Not really. I got used to it. Besides, my grandparents were very caring people—treated me like a daughter. My grandmother took me to all my school events, made sure I got to church, let me have friends over. My grandfather took me fishing—said it was to make sure I was a well-rounded kid.”
He wanted to ask her about his father, what kind of a man he was. Besides his looks, did he resemble Hunt McClintock in other ways?
“What about your father? Weren’t you ever curious to find out about him?”
Had she read his mind? Hell yes, he had wanted to know about his father. Still did.
Their eyes met. His heart picked up a beat. This beautiful woman was stronger than she gave herself credit.
“I’m sorry. That was insensitive of me.” She looked away. “You must be disappointed your father died before you got a chance to meet him. Sebastian, too.”
Disappointed was hardly the word he would use, but hell yeah, he wished he had had some form of contact with his father while the man was alive. Sebastian? Not so much.
“My mother was my rock. She never spoke a single unkind word about my father. Even before I made arrangements to fly here, she only had kind words to say. From what she told me, my grandfather was ill and ordered my father back to Maine to take over the business. My mother wrote to Hunt to tell him about her pregnancy, but she received a letter from Herman, my grandfather, that he’d had the marriage annulled. That Hunt had married and his wife was with child. Apparently, the letters crossed in the mail. She wrote to him several times, but never heard back from either of them.” He took a breath, shook his head, and continued. “She took what life handed her and lived it day by day, and built a good life for us.”
“It couldn’t have been easy for her to cope on her own with a child. Did she ever remarry?”
“No, and I never heard her complain. She had a large supporting, loving family.” He looked out over the ocean as if to recall his place back in Hawaii. “I know what my mother has told me about the younger man my father was, but what about the older version? What can you tell me about him?”
“Hunt was a very dedicated man—to the company and his employees. He had their best interest at heart. He didn’t spend as much time at home, the lobster business required a lot of hours and hard work. Hunt was a kind man, never raised his voice around Makenzie, and always found time to acknowledge her when she was in the room. He was an exceptional man—loyal, good business ethics, and a good family man. You’re like him in several respects. Not only do you resemble him, but your mannerisms are like his, and you’re a caring person.”
“That’s kind of you to say.”
“Why else would you come to the aid of a damsel in distress?”
She smiled. Her eyes sparkled as she looked into his. Although he had no business doing it, he leaned in and kissed her full on the lips. When she didn’t pull back, it was the spark he needed—he pressed his advantage, wrapped his arms around her, and drew her in for a mind-blowing assault to his senses. Her arms curled up around his neck. The kiss continued until he was out of breath, and his lower extremities tightened so hard he was about to embarrass himself. Just in time, she flattened her hands against his chest and leaned back in his arms.
The look in her startled eyes turned a boat-load of screws in his chest. He wasn’t going to apologize. That had been one hell of a kiss.
“I’m sorry.” She covered her lips with shaking fingers. It was all he could do not to retrieve those fingers and nibble every last one of them. The Maine air must be playing tricks on his libido again, because he’d never been this turned on by a woman’s kiss in his entire life.<
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“You’re sorry? I’m the one who should apologize. Although, it’s hard not to want to kiss you again.”
“Hunter, please. Don’t. I should never have let this happen. It’s wrong. I was wrong. I just buried Sebastian. What must you think of me?”
Damn. The tears broke his heart. He’d done this to her. He wanted to pull her into his shoulder while she let the tears fall but didn’t want to come on too strong. When her tears subsided, he lifted her chin with his fingers and was once again lost by her piercing bold sea-green, but sad eyes. And her very enticing, kissable lips. He wanted to wipe all her worries and sadness away all over again. Lost in a haze of sexual desire, Hunter was shaken from his fantasy when she pulled out of his embrace.
“I think you’d better take me home.”
She covered her hot cheeks with shaky hands, and turned her back on him. His insides twisted knowing he had crossed the line and put her in an awkward position.
“Don’t beat yourself up. Your husband has been cheating on you. He’s gone. You have nothing to feel guilty about. It was only a kiss.”
Only a kiss? If he knew how his kisses had made her tingle and her toes curl, making her body ache with desire. Was her shame written all over her face?
“Come on. I’ll take you home.”
He didn’t take her hand this time. Instead, they walked apart, careful not to touch. The ride down Cadillac Mountain was a quiet, nerve-wracking one. Regardless of what he had said, she was bursting with guilt. His voice when he asked for directions to the McClintock Estate startled her, invading her numb brain filled with nothing but Hunter’s kiss.
“Sorry. It’s on the opposite side of the cove from where you’re staying. You passed it on your way to Mariners’ Fish Fry on Hidden Cove Drive.” And then her mind cleared and she remembered where she’d left her car. “You can drop me off at the cemetery in St. Joseph’s parking lot so I can get my car and go pick up Makenzie.”
Katelyn would have questions, want details. And she wasn’t anxious to answer them.
