by Marie Force
“So how did someone nice like you end up with a guy who’d ditch you on an island without any of your stuff?”
“That is a very long story.”
“We’ve got nothing but time. First boat off the island isn’t for about eight hours.”
Sighing, she glanced up at a sky polluted with stars. “It all began in fourth grade when he moved into my neighborhood. I’ve basically been in love with him ever since—or I thought I was until I saw his true colors. Tonight was our tenth date, and in all the time I spent with him, I never knew…”
“What didn’t you know?”
“That he was an asshole. I nursed a crush on him for decades, and I had no idea that he was an asshole. How did I miss that?”
Evan smiled at her. “I’m shocked to hear that language coming from such a sweet face,” he said with mock dismay.
Damn if that didn’t make her blush. “I’m sorry. Swearing is one of my character flaws.”
“Is that so? What’re some of the others?”
“Inappropriate laughter.”
“Seriously? Give me an example.”
“At my aunt’s wake, my holy-roller cousin gets up and acts like a priest, leading us all in prayer. My other cousin, who is truly evil, makes a face at me, and the next thing I know, I’m bent in half, sweating from the effort to contain the laughter.”
“I’d like to see that,” he said, seeming delighted by her confession.
“Weddings, funerals, bat mitzvahs. You name it, I’ve had a laughter incident. I’m sort of known for it in my family.”
“Well, it’s better than being known as a drunk or a drug addict or something like that.”
“I suppose that’s true, but drunks and addicts can go off on benders by themselves, and the whole family doesn’t have to witness their misbehavior.” Nothing like being the fat girl with a laughter problem, she thought but didn’t say.
“There is that.”
“What are some of your character flaws?”
He seemed taken aback by the question. “Who says I have any?”
She rolled her eyes at him. “Get real.”
“Gee, let’s see. It’s actually a rather long list.”
“The first boat doesn’t leave until eight,” she reminded him.
Laughing, he turned around to walk backward in front of her as they made their way up the hill. “First, there’s ambition. I’m told I have too much of it.”
“That’s not always a bad thing.”
“See? That’s what I think, too. But I’ve been told, by people, that my ambition tends to run my life.”
“Well, since you’ve got a CD coming out from an actual record company, it looks like all that ambition is finally paying off.”
“Yes, it is,” he said, seeming pleased by what she’d said. “I’ve been rather single-minded the last few years. That’s why it’s good to be home for a while. I’ve got nothing to do but wait until late November when my disk drops. Since I’ll be touring all next summer, I won’t get back here for a while, so I’m trying to enjoy it while I can.”
“Under normal circumstances, that include having clothes, money and a place to stay, I’d imagine this is a rather lovely place to be stuck for a while.”
He nodded in agreement. “My brothers and I used to spend hours plotting and scheming to get the hell out of here. It became rather confining as we got older. Lost a lot of its charm. But now, when I come back after a long stretch away…”
“It’s home.”
“Yes.”
“You said ambition was one of your vices. What’re some of the others?”
“I enjoy beer. A lot. I like women. A lot. I’m not a big fan of commitment or anything that makes me feel confined, thus my issues with living on an island for eighteen years.”
“That’s quite a list, and I’m very impressed to discover you’re so flawed. But I’m sorry to inform you that none of your stuff can top the inappropriate laughter.”
“Oh, come on! Doesn’t my womanizing or commitment-phobia count for anything?”
“I’m afraid that just makes you a typical man.”
“Ouch. That hurt.” He rested his hand on his chest. “I’m wounded.”
“Sure you are,” she said, amused. “So your parents really won’t mind an unexpected houseguest?”
“They really won’t mind. They have five kids. They’re used to rolling with it.”
“Wow, five kids. Where’re they all now?”
“Despite our confinement issues, two of my brothers are here. Mac, the one that runs the marina, is married to Maddie. He adopted her son, Thomas, who’s three, and they had a daughter, Hailey, during the tropical storm.”
“I love that they named their daughter for a tropical storm. They’re sort of hexing themselves for the teenage years.”
Evan laughed. “I doubt they considered that. My brother Grant is a screenwriter who used to live in LA until he chased his ex-girlfriend Abby back to the island—after she got engaged to someone else. Turns out Abby really digs the other guy, and Grant is now with Stephanie, who runs the marina restaurant. My sister Janey, who dated David for thirteen years, married Mac’s best friend Joe on the day she was supposed to marry David. The newlyweds are due back tomorrow from Aruba, where they went on their honeymoon. They’ll grab their pets and head for Columbus, Ohio where she’s in vet school at Ohio State.”
Grace listened to his recitation with fascination. “What happened with David? Thirteen years is a long time.”
“She caught him in bed with someone else.”
“Ouch.”
“As strange as it may sound, I think she’s grateful now that it happened. She and Joe truly belong together. He’d been in love with her for years, but she never knew.”
“That’s very sweet.”
“They seem really happy.”
“So that’s two brothers and a sister accounted for.”
“My brother Adam lives in New York City where he’s a co-owner of a tech company. He’s a computer whiz. We joke that all he needs to put a man on the moon is a laptop and an Internet connection.”
“Is he married?”
“Hell, no. He’s got the same commitment phobia I’m afflicted with. Owen has it, too. The three of us are united in our plan to stay single as long as possible.”
“I wish you well with that.”
“What about you? Tell me you aren’t going to let what happened tonight sour you on men. You had the misfortune to connect with one asshole. Doesn’t mean we all are.”
“I know,” she said with a sigh. “I’ll take a week or two to lick my wounds, and then it’s back on the horse.”
“That’s my girl.”
Something about the way he said that sent a wave of yearning rolling through her. What would it be like to be his girl? Don’t be ridiculous. He just made it perfectly clear he’s not interested in anyone being his girl. Besides, he could have all the girls, so why would he want just one? Especially one who’d never even had a boyfriend until recently—and look at how that had turned out.
He flipped the latch on a white picket fence and ushered her into a yard that was fragrant with roses.
“Smells good,” she said.
“My mom’s prize roses. We weren’t allowed within three feet of them growing up.”
“I don’t blame her.”
“You’re supposed to be on my side.”
Grace snickered at his indignation as she followed him into the spacious house.
He led her into the kitchen and flipped on a light. Peeking into the fridge, he withdrew a beer and offered her one.
“No, thanks.” She’d already had two, which was far more than she normally consumed since the surgery, but tonight hadn’t been an average night. “Just some water, please.”
“Coming right up.”
When he pressed the glass to the icemaker on the door of the fridge, Grace cast a nervous glance around. “You’re going to wake them up.”
/> “Nah, they’re heavy sleepers. We used to count on that when we were kids and wanted to sneak out.”
“Is that so?”
They spun at the sound of a woman’s voice. Grace assumed she was his mother.
“That was Mac,” Evan said quickly. “I never snuck out. Not once.”
“Tell your story to someone who believes you.” To Grace, she said, “Hi there, I’m Linda McCarthy.”
Embarrassed to have been caught, Grace shook her outstretched hand. “Grace Ryan.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“Grace needed a place to crash tonight, so I offered her Janey’s old room. Hope that’s okay.”
“Of course it is. Can I get you something to eat?”
“No, thank you. I had something earlier. And thanks for letting me impose.”
“No problem at all,” Linda said with a warm smile.
“What’re you still doing up, Mom?” Evan asked.
“Couldn’t sleep.”
“Everything okay?” he asked, seeming concerned all of a sudden.
Linda shrugged. “Dad wasn’t doing too great earlier. By the time I got him settled, I was wide awake.”
Evan put down his beer and went to his mother. “What do you mean?”
“He was agitated.” To Grace, she said, “My husband suffered a head injury earlier this summer. He’s much better but still has some rough spots.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. I’ll pray for his speedy recovery.”
Linda squeezed her arm. “Thank you.”
“You should’ve called me—or Mac or Grant. You don’t have to handle him on your own when he gets like that.”
“You’re all busy with your own lives. Besides, I took care of it. Nothing to worry about.” She went up on tiptoes to kiss the son who towered over her. Grace would put him at six two at the very least. “I’m going up to bed. I’ll see you in the morning. Grace, honey, make yourself at home.”
“Thank you so much, Mrs. McCarthy.”
“Please call me Linda.” She waved to them on her way out of the kitchen.
Evan stared after her for a long time.
“Are you okay?” Grace asked.
“Yeah,” he said, making an effort to shake off whatever had upset him.
“Do you want to talk about it?” After all, he’d listened to her troubles earlier. It seemed the least she could to do to return the favor.
“It’s…um, well, my dad.” He gestured for her to follow him to the spacious deck off the kitchen. The Salt Pond sparkled with lights from hundreds of boats on moorings.
Evan took off his sweatshirt and handed it to her.
Grateful for the warmth, Grace zipped it on and was immediately cocooned in his appealing scent. “What’s going on with your dad?” she asked when she was settled in the chair next to his.
“He’s this larger-than-life presence, you know? But ever since the head injury, he’s cranky and withdrawn and sometimes nasty and not at all himself.”
“That happens with head injuries.”
“We’ve heard that over and over and over. Of course, no one can tell us how long it’ll be before he’s himself again—if ever.”
He looked and sounded so dejected that Grace felt her heart go out to him before she could remember that she’d intended to keep her distance. “It’s apt to be a while. Don’t give up yet, and try to be as patient as you can with him.”
“We’re trying, but it’s not easy sometimes. I never remember my parents arguing, and now that’s all they seem to do.”
“They never argued?”
“Not that we ever heard. They’ve always been more lovey-dovey than anything, which was mortifying to us.” He pretended to stick a finger down his throat.
“Of course it was,” she said with a laugh, even as she experienced a pang of envy over his parents’ happy marriage. She had good reason—especially after tonight’s disaster—to wonder if she’d ever be so lucky as to find the one person meant for her.
“What’re you thinking?”
“That I envy your parents. Sounds like they have the real deal.” She smothered a yawn and burrowed deeper into his sweatshirt.
“I’m sorry. I’m going on and on, and you’re exhausted.”
“No, it’s fine. I’ve enjoyed talking to you.”
He smiled at her, flashing those adorable dimples, and her insides melted. “Me, too. Let me show you where you’ll be sleeping.”
Chapter 3
Against all odds, Grace slept like a dead woman. When Evan shook her awake just after seven, she couldn’t remember where she was, but she certainly remembered him. Of course he was even more gorgeous in the morning with rumpled hair, stubble on his jaw and bloodshot blue eyes.
“We’ve got an hour until the first boat,” he said. “Time to grab some coffee if you’re interested.”
“I’m interested.”
“I’ll let you get ready and meet you downstairs in a few.”
“Thanks for getting up early.”
“No problem,” he said with the dimpled grin that was too cute for words.
After he left the room, closing the door behind him, Grace took a moment to study his sister’s bedroom in the bright light of day. Trophies and plaques and framed photos told the story of high school life for a petite, pretty blonde. It wasn’t fair, Grace told herself, to hate his sister without having met the woman.
As she dragged herself out of bed and into the bathroom, she thanked the gods for the one physical blessing bestowed upon her—hair that could be managed with fingers when she found herself marooned on an island without a hairbrush. No toothbrush, either, she remembered, bemoaning the lack of such a necessary item. Goddamned Trey Parsons. She’d kill him when she got her hands on him.
“Hey, Grace,” Evan said from the hallway, giving the door a short knock. “My mom said there’re extra toothbrushes in the cabinet if you want one.”
“Tell her thanks,” Grace said, weak with gratitude as she found a new toothbrush and broke it open.
When she was as put together as it was possible to be without her bag of tricks, Grace made her way downstairs where Evan and his mother were having coffee.
“I was going to take you to the diner,” Evan said, “but Mom beat me to the punch.” He gestured to the stove where his mother stood watch over scrambled eggs and sausage.
Grace’s stomach chose that moment to grumble. Loudly. Mortified, she placed a hand on her belly, as if that could stop the sounds that often emanated from that region since the surgery.
Evan chuckled. “I’d say Grace approves of the plan.”
“Sorry,” she muttered as she accepted a mug of coffee from him. He put cream and sugar on the table for her. “I hope you’re not going to any trouble on my account.”
“It’s no trouble at all,” Linda said cheerfully.
A tall man with gray hair came into the room, and Linda’s gaze landed on him, seeming to take a quick visual inventory. “I hope we didn’t wake you,” she said.
He took the cup of coffee she handed to him. “I was awake.”
Grace decided he was an older version of Evan, every bit as handsome in his own way, even if his brows were furrowed and his face set into a grumpy expression. His left arm was encased in a bulky plaster cast.
“Dad, this is Grace. She stayed in Janey’s room last night. Grace, this is my dad. Everyone calls him Big Mac.”
“Nice to meet you,” Grace said. “Thanks for the lodging.”
“No problem,” Big Mac muttered, taking his coffee out to the deck.
Evan and his mother exchanged concerned glances as she dished up eggs and toast for all of them.
“I’m going to take mine outside to join Dad,” she said to Evan. “Let me know if I can get you two anything else.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“Yes, thank you, Linda—for everything. I really appreciate it.”
“We’re happy to have you. I hope you’ll come back to see us
again sometime.”
“I’d like that.”
Linda took two plates and headed for the deck.
Evan jumped up to help her with the door and then slid it closed behind her. As he rejoined Grace at the table, he let out a deep sigh. “Sorry about that. He’s usually a lot more hospitable, especially with our friends.”
“He was fine. It’s early, and he didn’t expect to find a stranger at his table.”
“It’s certainly not the first time he’s been greeted with unexpected guests at the breakfast table.”
“So you make a habit of bringing home strays?”
His lips formed a hint of a smile, and Grace was oddly relieved to see his expression lose some of the concern he’d directed at his father. “Not usually. My mother gets a little too hopeful when she sees me with a friend of the female persuasion.”
That made Grace laugh. “Something tells me you don’t give her many opportunities to get her hopes up.”
“You got it.”
“Well, I appreciate you taking one for the team by bringing me home.”
“It was a huge risk, that’s for sure,” he said gravely, which set her off into a fit of laughter. “In light of this huge risk I took on your behalf, I find your laughter highly inappropriate.”
His haughty tone only made her laugh harder. “I’m sure you do,” she said, wiping the tears from her eyes.
“A guy takes a big risk for a gal, and this is the thanks he gets. I see how it is.”
Grace rolled her eyes at him and laughed some more. He was just too cute, and it was fun to laugh with him—and at him. “After what happened last night, I didn’t expect to laugh again for a while, so thanks for that.”
“Happy to be of service.” He gestured to her half-eaten breakfast. “Are the eggs okay?”
“They’re great. I’m just full.” Because she couldn’t very well tell him about the stomach she’d had surgically reduced, she pushed the plate his way. “Why don’t you finish it for me so your mother’s feelings aren’t hurt?”
“Don’t mind if I do.”
While he wolfed down the rest of her eggs and toast, she contemplated the dilemma of how she’d get home to Mystic and what she would tell her parents about why her purse and luggage were missing. It was definitely time to get her own place. She’d put that off long enough. Why the heck she was still explaining herself to her parents at twenty-eight years old was something she needed to rectify—and soon.
