Gansett Island Boxed Set Books 1-16 (Gansett Island Series)

by Marie Force

  “I’m sure one of the top criminal defense attorneys in the country would be all for taking on a piddling divorce case—if it even comes to that.”

  “All you’d need is to let Jim think Dan Torrington is taking your case.”

  “That’s very devious, Madeline. I’m shocked and appalled to discover this evil side of you.”

  “It’s been there all along.” Maddie shifted the baby to her shoulder for burping. “I only save it for the most critical moments.”

  “Does Mac know about this unsavory side of you?”

  Maddie hooted with laughter. “He’s my favorite victim.”

  Grace took the noon ferry to Gansett Island on the Saturday after Labor Day weekend. The boat was all but empty except for an animated threesome at the table next to her. She’d hoped for a quiet passage to calm her churning mind. When she’d told her parents about her weekend plans, they’d been disdainful of her desire to return to the island. Not that she was surprised. They were rarely ever supportive of her.

  Thinking of them made her sad. They were both extremely overweight and unhealthy, which made them unhappy. Not that they would ever admit it. They’d been adamantly opposed to her having the surgery and unsupportive in the aftermath. She’d realized over time that they’d been threatened by her efforts to better herself. It had become increasingly clear that she needed to get away from their negativity if she had any prayer of a life of her own.

  That made what she was about to do so wildly out of character. But when she thought about the proposal she planned to submit to Mr. and Mrs. Gold, a waterfall of tingles attacked her spine, filling her with excitement and anticipation. Other than the surgery, this was the most audacious thing she’d ever done, and she couldn’t wait to get things moving.

  “So who’s running McCarthy’s?” the blonde woman sitting next to her asked.

  “Grant is still helping out even though Mac is back to work this week,” the man said. “Evan has been helping, too. He’s also been playing at the Tiki Bar with Owen.”

  Before she could take a minute to contemplate whether it was totally rude to butt into their conversation, she was spinning around to face them. “Sorry to interrupt, but are you guys talking about Evan McCarthy?”

  A pretty woman with long red hair smiled at her. “Yes, we are. Do you know him?”

  “I met him last weekend when he helped me out of a major jam.”

  “Come join us,” the blonde woman said, waving her over.

  “Are you sure you don’t mind?”

  “Of course not,” the man said. He had dark hair and eyes. His foot was resting on a pillow, and crutches were propped next to him.

  Grace slid into the booth next to the blonde, careful to avoid the injured man’s foot between them. “I’m Grace Ryan.”

  “Sydney Donovan.” The redhead extended her hand to Grace. “This is Luke Harris and Laura McCarthy, Evan’s cousin.”

  “It’s great to meet you all.”

  “So tell us everything.” Laura, the blonde, propped her chin on her hand. “How did you meet Evan?”

  Grace relayed the story about Trey abandoning her on the island—leaving out the about-to-have-sex and the nasty-wager-with-his-friend parts, both of which became a “big fight” in the retelling—and how Evan had come to her rescue.

  “Wow,” Luke said. “The guy just left you there?”

  “Yep.” Grace had gone from being infuriated to enjoying the reaction people had at hearing what a jerk Trey had been. Rather than being devastated over what he’d done, she’d decided she was damned glad she’d seen his true colors before their relationship progressed any further.

  “Did you get your stuff back?” Sydney asked.

  “Under threat of police action, which was Evan’s idea. Trey delivered it all to a mutual friend’s house the next day. Good riddance.”

  “What’s with men these days?” Laura asked indignantly. “Are they all dogs or what?”

  Sydney linked her arm with Luke’s. “Not all of them.”

  Luke flashed her a sexy grin that made Sydney blush.

  “I agree with Sydney,” Grace said. “Evan restored my faith by coming to my rescue.”

  “What brings you back to the island?” Luke asked.

  “I owe Evan some money, and I wanted to pay him back.”

  “Hmm,” Laura said with a knowing grin. “And that’s all it is?”

  “Of course,” Grace said, even though she suspected the rush of heat to her cheeks gave her away. Evan McCarthy had played a prominent role in her daydreams over the last week, and she was anxious to see him again, even if she knew nothing could come of the slight crush she’d developed. What girl wouldn’t be crushing on a guy who’d been so nice to her? Anxious to get the focus off her, she gestured to Luke and Sydney. “So how did you guys meet?”

  “That is a very long story,” Sydney said.

  “We’ve got time,” Laura said. To Grace, she said, “I’ve never heard it, either.”

  “Well,” Syd said, “we dated for a few summers back in high school.” With a hesitant look at Luke, she continued. “We went our separate ways in college. I was married to someone else, and after I was widowed, I came back to the island and reconnected with Luke earlier this summer.”

  “I’m sorry about your husband,” Grace said.

  “Thank you. He and our children were killed by a drunk driver a year and a half ago.”

  “My uncle told me about your terrible loss,” Laura said, reaching across the table for Sydney’s hand. “I’m so sorry.”

  Grace felt bad that her question had reopened an old wound. “Me, too.”

  “I’m doing much better these days, especially since the guy who hit them was sentenced to twenty years in prison last week.”

  Luke squeezed her other hand, and she sent him a grateful smile.

  “Now that Luke has had surgery on his ankle, we’re hoping he’ll be back on his feet soon,” Sydney said, clearly anxious to change the subject. “He’s a co-owner of McCarthy’s Marina, and he’s itching to get back to work.”

  “Fingers crossed,” Luke added.

  “How did you hurt your ankle?” Grace asked.

  “There was an accident at the marina earlier this summer,” Luke said.

  “The one where Evan’s dad was hurt?” Grace asked.

  “That’s the one,” Sydney said. “Luke jumped onto the boat to get the guy’s attention before he ran over Big Mac and Mac in the water. He saved their lives but did a number on his ankle. My hero.”

  “Stop it,” Luke said, seeming embarrassed by the praise.

  “At first we thought it was just a bad sprain,” Sydney continued, “but when it didn’t heal, we went to the mainland for an MRI. That showed a torn ligament, and he had surgery last week to fix it.”

  “Evan was telling me how grateful they are for what you did,” Grace said.

  “I hate to even think about that day,” Luke said with a slight shudder. “It was horrible.”

  “I’m glad you’re on the mend,” Laura said.

  “Let’s hope,” Luke said.

  Laura leaned in closer to Luke and Sydney. “So are you guys going to tie the knot or what?”

  Luke’s entire demeanor changed, and his face took on a blank expression. “The question has been asked.”

  Sydney leaned into him. “I wasn’t ready to make that decision yet.”

  “Oh, of course,” Laura said. “I didn’t mean to bring up a sore subject.”

  At that, Luke seemed to rally. “It’s not a sore subject. The offer is on the table for whenever she’s ready.”

  Sydney sent him a warm smile that made Grace want to sigh. They were obviously madly in love and working hard to figure things out. The burst of yearning that surged through her nearly took her breath away. That was all she wanted—someone she could love madly while they figured things out together. Was that so much to ask for? Well, considering the recent disaster with Trey, maybe so.

>   Sydney turned her focus on Laura. “So you must be excited for your new job.” For Grace’s benefit, Sydney added, “She’s the new manager of the Sand & Surf Hotel in town.”

  “Oh, that sounds like so much fun,” Grace said, thinking of her own business prospect on Gansett Island. When she hadn’t been daydreaming about Evan McCarthy this week, she’d been obsessing over Mrs. Gold’s desire to sell the island pharmacy.

  “It needs a ton of work,” Laura said of the hotel, “but I’m excited to get started and get the place open for next summer. I talked my brother Shane into coming over to help me out for the winter, so I’m excited about that. He’s been through a rough time and needs a change, too.”

  “Didn’t you get married earlier this year?” Luke asked.

  Laura’s smile faded. “Yep. I got one of the dogs, unfortunately. He didn’t get the memo that when you get married, you’re supposed to quit dating.”

  “Shut up!” Sydney said. “Are you kidding me?”

  “I wish I was,” Laura said with a sigh. “It’s been a rough couple of months, but I’m looking forward to diving into a new life and a new challenge on Gansett. It’s just what we need.”

  “We?” Syd said.

  Laura patted her belly. “I’m three months pregnant. I was married just long enough.”

  “Whoa,” Luke said. “Does he know?”

  “Not yet. I figure I’ll tell him when I have to. Until then, it’s my little secret.”

  Listening to them, Grace yearned for friends like these women. They were gutsy and brave. They were survivors. She wanted to be like them. She was so tired of getting in her own way and letting self-doubt derail her dreams. Those days were over, she decided as the bluffs on the island’s northern coast appeared in the distance.

  Suddenly, she couldn’t wait to get to Gansett and set the next phase of her life into motion.

  Chapter 6

  Grace drove her car off the ferry and eyed the Beachcomber as she drove past. This time she’d left nothing to chance and had weekend reservations at the iconic South Harbor hotel. She also had a reservation for her car on the last boat back to the mainland Monday night. Hopefully, that trip would be a quick stay at home to pack up her old life before her new life on Gansett began.

  The pharmacy was located on the main road, halfway between South and North Harbors. Grace had done her homework and found Gold’s to be a solid business with an outstanding reputation. The island’s only pharmacy had a built-in clientele that all but guaranteed a safe investment. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been so excited about anything, but she remained cautiously optimistic. A lot could change in a week. Maybe the Golds had already found a buyer. Maybe they wouldn’t go for her proposal. Maybe—

  “Okay, cut it out,” New Grace said to Old Grace. “Stop with the self-defeatist thing. We don’t do that anymore, remember?”

  She pulled into the parking lot and stared at the two-story weathered shingle building for a long time before she was able to force herself out of the car. Whatever happened, she’d be fine. Because she was so determined to shake things up, she’d already given notice at her job in Mystic. No matter what happened this weekend, it was time to snap out of the rut she’d been in for years.

  As she pushed open the door and heard the delicate tingle of the bell that announced her presence, Grace smiled as the sweetly scented air filled her senses. The place smelled the way a pharmacy should. She wandered toward the back of the store, hoping to run into Mrs. Gold. At the counter, Grace asked for her.

  “She just left to do some errands,” the pharmacist said. The older man was balding, with a warm smile and wire-framed glasses. “Is there something I might help you with?”

  “Oh, um, well, do you happen to know if she’s found a buyer for the pharmacy yet?” Grace held her breath as she awaited his reply.

  His smile faded a bit. “Not yet. We keep hoping. One of these days, maybe.” He took off his glasses and wiped them on the white coat he wore over a shirt and tie.

  “Are you Mr. Gold?”

  “Yes indeed.”

  Grace extended a hand over the counter. “I’m Grace Ryan—”

  “You’re the pharmacist from Mystic. My missus told me about you!” He took a long, measuring look at her. “Are you going to make my day, my month and my year, young lady?”

  “Quite possibly.”

  “Oh, happy day! Pamela, take over here for a bit,” he said to the woman who was working with him behind the counter. “I’ll be right back.”

  “Okay, Mr. Gold,” Pamela said, casting a wary glance at Grace.

  “Right this way, Miss Ryan.” He ushered Grace through double doors into a cramped office. When they were settled, he folded his hands on the desktop. “Now, let’s talk turkey.”

  Grace appreciated his direct approach. “The truth of it is, I can’t afford to buy your pharmacy.”

  His face fell with disappointment. “But I thought…”

  Grace held up a hand to stop him. “This is what I propose. I’ve been out of college and working for close to seven years while living at home, but I don’t have the credit history or collateral to get a loan. However, I could make a sizeable down payment. If you and Mrs. Gold hold the mortgage on the remaining portion, you’d have a guaranteed monthly income.” By the time she finished speaking, Grace had begun to sweat. All week she’d kept telling herself it was a long shot, but as she laid out her plan to Mr. Gold, she realized how badly she wanted him to say yes.

  He ran a hand over his face as he pondered her plan. “It’s not what we were hoping for, but it’s not a bad idea.”

  Grace let out a sigh of relief that he hadn’t rejected her outright.

  “I’d need to talk it over with my missus, of course.”

  “Of course.”

  “How long are you here?”

  “I’ve got my car booked on the five o’clock boat on Monday.”

  His brows furrowed. “Have you thought about what it’d be like to be here during the winter?”

  That was the part Grace had wrestled with the most as she contemplated her life-changing plan. “I have, and while I know it will be very different from what I’m accustomed to, I’d become involved in the community and keep busy running the business.”

  “Did my missus tell you about the apartment upstairs?”

  Grace’s heart did a happy dance at that news. Finding a place to live in case the deal went through had been one of her other priorities for the weekend. “No, she didn’t.”

  “Would you like to see it?”

  “I’d love to.”

  He gestured for her to lead the way out of the office. “After you, my dear.”

  On her way through the store, she made a few mental notes of things she would change, but for the most part, the store seemed clean, orderly, well stocked and, most important, busy. The two registers at the front of the store had at least four people in each line, which made Grace smile.

  Mr. Gold led her around to the back of the building, where a sturdy set of wooden stairs led to a deck that overlooked South Harbor in one direction and the town beach in the other. There were colorful pots filled with cheerful blooms, as well as tomato plants tied to stakes.

  He gestured her through the sliding door into a spacious living and dining room. The kitchen was against the far wall and at first glance seemed to be in need of updating. She looked up to find a loft that served as the bedroom.

  “Full bathroom upstairs and a half bath down here as well as a wood-burning fireplace,” Mr. Gold said. “It’s not much, but it’s worked well for us.”

  “It would work for me, too,” Grace said, her heart racing with excitement as she pondered paint colors and furniture and what she might need to buy. She could so see herself living here—close enough to her parents for an occasional visit but far enough away that they couldn’t pop in and insert themselves into her life without invitation.

  Mr. Gold handed her a pad stamped with the
logo of a well-known drug manufacturer. “Write down your number, and I’ll give you a call as soon as we’ve had a chance to talk it over.”

  Grace took the pen and wrote down her cell number. She handed it back to him and extended her hand. “Whatever you decide, I appreciate your consideration of my offer.”

  Mr. Gold put the pad on a table and folded her hand between both of his. “My missus and I are very anxious to live near our grandbabies, so I hope we can work something out.”

  “I hope so, too. I’ll look forward to hearing from you.”

  Filled with excitement and anticipation, Grace skipped down the stairs to her car. She hoped her next stop went as well as the first one. As she drove to the McCarthys’ home, she was hit by a bout of nerves that nearly undid her. Why should she be so nervous about seeing a man she barely knew? What was the big deal?

  She’d pay him back the money she owed him and then go check into her room at the Beachcomber. This weekend was her chance to explore the island and get to know the place she might be calling home before too much longer.

  At some point, she’d have to break the news to her parents that she was moving, but that wasn’t happening until everything was signed, sealed and delivered so there was no chance for them to try to talk her out of it.

  She pulled up to the McCarthys’ big white house and told herself it didn’t matter that there were no cars in the driveway. If they weren’t home, she could always come back again later. As she walked through the white-picket gate, the aroma of roses greeted her, reminding her of the previous weekend when Evan had ushered her through his mother’s garden.

  Grace rang the doorbell and waited a long time before she rang it again. When no one came, the staggering disappointment forced her to own up to how much she’d been looking forward to seeing Evan again. Which was ridiculous in light of his philosophies on women and relationships.

  She felt like a wilted rose as she returned to her car. The marina seemed like the logical next place to check, so she drove down the hill, taking in the glorious views of North Harbor. “What a beautiful place,” she said with a sigh. “Imagine living here and getting to see this every day.”