by Marie Force
I can sleep when I’m dead, he’d joked the other night, but she didn’t want to think of him as anything other than beautifully alive and all hers.
Nikki didn’t think she would sleep, but she awoke when Riley stirred, realizing two hours had gone by.
Riley’s stomach growled loudly.
Laughing, she said, “That’s one hell of an alarm clock.”
“You want to go somewhere?”
Nikki groaned. “Not even kinda. How about I make us some pasta while I can still cook?”
“That’s fine with me.” He ran his index finger down her backbone, making her jolt when he didn’t stop at her waist. “I was thinking that you should come stay at my place while yours is torn up. Then you wouldn’t have to live in a war zone.”
“What about Finn? Would he mind?”
Riley’s brows furrowed. “He’s thinking about going back to Connecticut.”
“Does that bum you out?”
“Kinda. I wasn’t expecting him to say that, but I think he’s sort of lonely since my dad moved in with Chelsea and I started hanging out with you.”
“He’s lost his best friend,” she said sympathetically. “I know how that feels, and it sucks.”
“No word from Jordan?”
She shook her head.
“Is there someone you could call to check on her?”
“There’re a few people who work for Zane, but I’m trying to disengage. Reaching out to them brings me back in. I keep telling myself if something was wrong, it would make the news.”
“Have you checked online?”
She looked somewhat sheepish when she nodded. “Nothing.”
“No news is good news, right?”
“Usually, but I can’t help but feel anxious the longer she goes without reaching out to me or our grandmother. Although, she knows we don’t approve of her going back to him, so maybe that’s why she’s gone silent.”
Trailing his index finger down her arm, he said, “I’m sorry you’re worried.”
She offered a weak smile and linked her fingers with his. “Seems to be the new normal where Jordan is concerned. Anyway, it’s her loss. She would be so excited to hear that I’ve been seeing you.”
“Is that what you’re doing?” he asked, grinning. “Seeing me?”
“Seeing all of you.”
Laughing, he drew her in even closer to him, until she was half lying on top of him, their legs intertwined. “You think she’d approve?”
“Definitely. She knew I really liked you when we first met.”
They stayed wrapped up in each other for a long time, until his stomach growled loudly again and made them laugh.
“How about we see about some dinner?” she asked.
“My stomach says yes, please.”
Nikki sat up and reached for the flannel shirt he’d had on earlier, fastening only two of the buttons.
Riley found a pair of sweats in the bag he’d brought and put them on.
They went downstairs, made dinner, polished off a bottle of wine and ended up back in bed an hour later.
“I thought we were going to get some work done tonight,” he said after they’d made love again.
“Eh,” she said, yawning. “We’ll work tomorrow.”
“I recruited Finn to help with demo, so we need to be decent by noon.”
“Define decent.”
He squeezed her ass. “None of your good parts showing.”
“All my parts are good,” she said indignantly.
“Mmm, they certainly are.”
She loved how he constantly touched and caressed her, as if he couldn’t be near her without touching her. One stroke at a time, he was repairing the wound on her soul that Griffin had left there. And while she didn’t expect she’d ever “get over” that, every minute she spent with Riley proved she was capable of having a real, loving relationship with a man. For a very long time, she’d doubted whether that could ever happen. Now she knew that not only could it happen, it could change her life in all the best ways. “Thank you,” she said softly.
“For what?”
“This. All of it. You have no idea what it means to me to be here with you this way.”
“I can’t believe you’re thanking me. I feel like I should be down on my knees in front of you. This has been the best week of my entire life.”
With her hand on his face, she drew him into a kiss. “I feel so lucky to have met you.”
“Me, too, babe. So fucking lucky, it’s not even funny.” Gazing into her eyes, he kissed her again. “I love you. I’ve never said that to anyone but you, and I’m really glad I saved it for you.”
She blinked back tears. “I love you, too, and I’ve never said that before either. I was waiting for you.”
He hugged her fiercely, and during the most perfect moment of her life, the old insecurities came roaring back to remind her not to get too comfortable. How could something so amazing possibly last?
* * *
Riley and Nikki slept until ten, lolled about until close to noon and then dragged themselves out of bed to shower and get dressed before Finn arrived.
“Today,” she said, flexing her biceps, “is what Chip calls ‘Demo Day.’”
“Tell me again who Chip is,” he said, focused on getting another cup of coffee into his system so he could begin to function.
Nikki stared at him, agape. “Who is Chip? What rock do you live under, Riley McCarthy? Chip Carter Gaines is the master renovation guy on Fixer Upper, one of the best TV shows ever.”
“Until I met you, I’d never heard of him or the show.”
Looking absolutely adorable with a big sledgehammer resting on her shoulder, she shook her head, seeming as gutted as her kitchen soon would be. “I knew you were too good to be true.”
“You’ll have to educate me.”
“Oh, I will, and before long, you’ll know all about Demo Day and shiplap and everything you ever wanted to know about Waco, Texas.”
“Can’t wait. In the meantime, are you going to use that sledgehammer or just stand there looking fierce and pretty all day?”
She struck a playful pose. “Do I look fierce and pretty?”
He replied with a low growl that had her taking a step back.
“We said no touching during demo.” She sent him a coy look over her shoulder as she turned to face the wall that was coming down. “We have rules.”
Crossing the small distance between them, he wrapped his arm around her waist and hauled her back against him and nibbled the ticklish spot on her neck. “Rules were made to be broken.”
She screamed with laughter and tried to break free of him.
“Don’t let me interrupt,” Finn said as he came in bearing a tray of coffees and a bag of what looked like Aunt Linda’s doughnuts.
Riley released Nikki and lunged for the doughnuts.
“I see where I rate,” Nikki said. “Second to a bag of doughnuts.”
“These aren’t just any doughnuts,” Riley said, dead serious.
Finn held them out of his brother’s reach. “I’ll trade you doughnuts for assurances that I’m not going to see or hear anything that can’t be unseen or unheard in this house of ill repute.”
“Deal,” Riley said. “Gimme.”
Finn handed over the bag. “Don’t be a pig. Offer one to Nicholas.”
“Thank you, Finnbar,” she said, helping herself to a doughnut.
“Welcome.”
“Where’d you get these?” Riley asked over a mouthful.
“Auntie Linda made them for Uncle Mac, Ned, Dad and Uncle Frank, and I happened to stop by to see what they were up to. I told her what we were doing, so she made some for us.”
“She’s the best,” Riley said, reaching for a second.
Taking in the sledgehammer on Nikki’s shoulder, Finn said, “You ought to put that down before you hurt yourself.”
She scowled at him, turned toward the wall Riley had spray-painted an X onto and le
t it rip into the drywall, taking a huge chunk of it out in the first hit.
“Not bad,” Finn said. “You’ve got real potential.”
“Shut it, or I’ll pretend this wall is your head,” she replied.
Riley snorted with laughter. “That’s my girl. You tell him.”
“I thought you people wanted my help,” Finn said, pretending to be offended.
“We do,” Riley said. “Help me get the old cabinets out.”
The two of them took crowbars to the cabinets, pried them off the wall and walked them to the dumpster. They were too old to save, which they did whenever they could. Donating outdated but still working items was something Clint had advocated when they had worked for him, and Mac practiced as well. Recycle and reuse was a central theme of the renovation game.
By four o’clock, the kitchen had been taken down to studs. The old appliances were picked up and hauled away by Joshua Banks, the pastor at one of the island churches, who was going to find a good home for them.
Nikki opened three beers and sat next to Riley on the sofa while Finn flopped into one of the easy chairs. “Thank you both for giving up a weekend day to help me.”
“It was our pleasure,” Riley said.
“It’ll be your pleasure, I’m sure,” Finn said, adding a teasing grin. “Happy to help, but I’m going to need food, and I’m going to need it soon.”
“Me, too,” Riley said.
“I’d offer to cook for you boys,” Nikki said, “but I seem to be out a kitchen.”
“Let’s go to Mario’s,” Finn said.
“Yum,” Nikki said. “My treat.”
“You bet your ass it’s your treat,” Finn said. “The pizza is on you for the indefinite future.”
“Good to know,” Nikki said, laughing.
A loud knock sounded at the unlocked door, followed by Kevin McCarthy calling out, “Anyone home?”
“Come in, Dad,” Riley said, giving the others a quizzical look. What was he doing here?
“Finn told me you guys were working over here, so we thought you might be hungry.” Kevin and Chelsea came in bearing pizza boxes and bags along with a twelve-pack of beer.
“Is he telepathic?” Finn asked.
“I think he might be,” Riley said. “But I’ve never loved him more than I do right now.”
“What’s that about?” Kevin asked.
“We were just talking about going to Mario’s, and they were going to make me pay,” Nikki said, standing to take Kevin’s and Chelsea’s coats. “So we’re all happy to see you.”
“Judging by the dumpster, you got a lot done today,” Kevin said as he sat on a love seat with Chelsea and served up pizza onto paper plates that Mario’s had provided.
“We’ve got the kitchen ready to rock and roll,” Riley said.
“And we found out that Nicholas wields one hell of a sledgehammer,” Finn said, gesturing behind him. “Used to be a wall there until she showed it who’s boss.”
“I put a serious hurt on it,” she said, proud of how hard she’d worked, even if every muscle in her body ached as a result.
Riley smiled at her, and she could tell he wanted to kiss her.
He lit the fire, and they passed an entertaining couple of hours in which Nikki heard stories from Riley and Finn’s childhood, including their extremely profitable lemonade stand as well as their lawn-mowing, snow-shoveling and car-detailing businesses.
“How old were they when they started all these businesses?” Nikki asked in amazement.
“Like twelve and thirteen, I think,” Kevin said.
“We like money, and the doc kept us on a short leash,” Finn said around another mouthful of pizza.
“Didn’t want them to grow up to be useless,” Kevin said.
“It worked with me,” Riley said, tending to the fire. “Not so much with Finn. He’s completely useless.”
“I believe I proved otherwise today, didn’t I, Nicholas?”
“Yes, Finnbar. You were very useful today.”
Finn smiled victoriously at his brother. “Your girl digs me.”
“No, she doesn’t,” Riley said, scowling at his brother as he rejoined Nikki on the sofa.
Chelsea laughed at their antics. “I’m a little concerned for our baby, Kev, and the things these two will teach him or her.”
“We won’t let them near the baby until he or she is at least eighteen.”
“Good plan,” Chelsea said.
“The first time they need babysitters, it’ll be like Riley, Finn, help us,” Finn said in a high-pitched voice.
“God forbid we’re ever that desperate,” Kevin said.
Chelsea covered her mouth to hold back laughter.
“You guys won’t be surprised to hear that your uncle Mac has us fully organized to go to Courtney’s funeral on Thursday,” Kevin said. “Right down to ferry reservations for enough cars to get us all there.”
“I’m sure Joe had more to do with that than Uncle Mac did,” Riley said.
“Joe was apparently a big help with the ferry part of the program. Chels and I are staying on the mainland for a few days so she can pick up her wedding dress and I can get a new suit. We’ve got a few other details to tend to.”
“Oh crap,” Finn said. “We need suits, too.”
“Give us sizes and measurements, and we’ll hook you up with something new,” Kevin said.
In one of the boxes from the kitchen, Nikki found an unopened bag of marshmallows that they toasted in the fireplace and used to make s’mores for dessert.
Chelsea began to yawn around nine. “I’m a good time had by all lately.”
“First trimester is exhausting,” Kevin said. “Let’s get you home to bed.”
“I’m out, too,” Finn said. “Thanks for a fun night, Nicholas.”
“All the thanks go to Kevin and Chelsea for bringing the pizza and beer.”
“It was a pleasure,” Kevin said. “I can’t wait to see the renovations finished.”
“It’s going to be beautiful,” Riley said, slipping an arm around Nikki.
“I hope so,” she said, nervous but excited to see her choices come together in the new kitchen. “There’s no way I could do it without your help.”
“And mine,” Finn called on his way out the door.
“You’re the one making it all happen,” Nikki replied.
“Hey!” Riley’s outrage made her laugh. While the others dashed through the cold to their cars, he said, “Do you want to go to my place?”
“Since we’ve been well fed, let’s stay here where we can be alone.”
“I won’t argue with that.”
Chapter 20
They stood at the door until both vehicles had left the driveway. Then Nikki shut off the outside lights and locked up. “That was really fun.”
He followed her back to the sofa. “Yes, it was. Nice of my dad to cater.”
She pulled a cable-knit blanket over them. “Very nice. He’s very sweet and obviously crazy about Chelsea.”
“He has been from the start. At first, it was kind of odd for us to see him with someone else, but now she’s one of us.”
“Do you hear from your mom?”
“Yeah, we’re in touch. We text and stuff.”
“What’s her name?”
“Deb.”
“Your entire demeanor changes when you talk about her. Do you realize that?”
“It does?”
She nodded.
Reclined against a pile of pillows with her snuggled up to him, Riley ran his fingers through his hair, attempting to bring some order to it. “I’ll never understand why people don’t just get divorced if they want someone else. Why cheat?”
“I don’t know. I don’t get it either.” She looked up at him. “No matter what happens between us, I promise I will never do that to you.”
“And I will never do it to you.” He drew her into a kiss that quickly went from soft and sweet to needy. “I feel like it’s been da
ys since I woke up with you.”
“Days and days,” she whispered. “Let’s go to bed.”
* * *
On Thursday, Riley and the rest of the McCarthy family took the first boat off the island to attend Courtney’s funeral, which was held in a cathedral in Providence. They filled four rows in the crowded church, surrounding Shane with their unwavering support.
Shane had remained stoic throughout the emotionally charged service, and Katie never left his side or released her tight hold on his hand during a very long day.
The usually jovial group was subdued on the ferry ride home.
“It was so good of you all to come,” Shane said. “I really appreciate it, and I know Courtney’s mom did, too.”
“Nowhere else we would’ve been today,” Big Mac said.
“We’re all so proud of you, Shane,” Linda said.
Shane’s eyes filled as he shook his head. “Don’t be proud of me. I didn’t do anything.”
“You tried to save her,” Linda said gently. “You did as much as anyone could.”
“She’s right, son,” Frank said. “The only one who could truly save Courtney was Courtney. You did everything you could and then some.”
“This is just the saddest freaking thing,” Janey said in a low tone that only Riley and Finn sitting next to her could hear. “I can’t bear it for him.”
“He’s going to be okay,” Finn said. “We’ll all be there for him, and we’ll get him through it.”
“I thought you were planning to go back to Connecticut,” Riley said.
“I talked to Mac, and he begged me to stay until the Wayfarer is finished. Besides, I don’t feel right leaving when Shane’s dealing with all this, and what’s up with him anyway?” Finn gestured to Mac, who was on the phone as he paced from one end of the cabin to the other.
“No idea,” Riley said. “He’s been agitated all day.”
“He doesn’t like leaving Maddie and the kids on the island, especially this time of year,” Janey said. “He was afraid he wouldn’t be able to get back to them.”
“You left Joe,” Finn said.
“And we told Maddie to call him if she needed anything, but Mac frets nonetheless.”
