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

by Marie Force

  “You’re amazing. I have to be the luckiest girl on the face of the earth.”

  Touched by her words and the emotion he heard behind them, he said, “Just because he isn’t mine doesn’t mean I won’t love him, Princess. As much as I love his mother.”

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and clung to him. “Thank you. For that and a million other things. I love you so much. So, so much.”

  With his face buried in soft, fragrant hair, his hands full of soft, fragrant skin, and his heart full of her soft, sincere words, Owen had never been happier or more content. If only the nagging worry about what Justin might do or not do wasn’t hanging over them, everything in his world would be perfect. “We need to get going to Luke and Syd’s.”

  “In a minute.” Her mouth found his in a kiss that said more than words alone ever could about the deep bond they’d formed.

  “Keep that up, and we’re going to need more than a few minutes.”

  “I don’t mind being late,” she said with a saucy grin that got his motor running all over again. “Do you?”

  He slid his leg between hers and tugged her closer to him. “I don’t mind at all.”

  Chapter 18

  Sydney had asked Jenny to come early so she could meet Luke and get settled before the masses arrived. As the day of the party had drawn closer, Sydney had become nervous about how many people they’d invited.

  “So you know how I mentioned this would be a small gathering?” Sydney said as she handed Jenny a glass of chardonnay and shooed Buddy away before he got dog hair all over Jenny’s dark jeans.

  Jenny’s eyes sparked with amusement. “Did it mushroom?”

  “Since there’s not much to do around here this time of year, word gets out about a party, and next thing you know. . .”

  “It’s not a small party anymore. Just like high school.”

  “Exactly! Does that freak you out?”

  “A year or two ago it would have, but I’m doing better now. Like I said the other day, it’s time to get unstuck. I may as well meet everyone at once.”

  “They’re all so nice and truly looking forward to meeting you.”

  “I’m sure they’re nice if they’re your friends. I appreciate that you reached out to me, Syd. I was thinking after you left the other day that it took some gumption, knowing what we had in common.”

  Syd sat on the sofa and let Buddy rub up against her. She’d long ago given up on the dog hair battle. “When I first came back here earlier in the summer, I was stuck, too, so I know what you mean. Everything that’s happened since then has been nothing short of miraculous.”

  As if on cue, her own personal miracle came into the room wearing faded jeans and a navy blue sweater. His hair was still damp from the shower, and his handsome face was freshly shaven. He was positively gorgeous and all hers. “Luke, honey, come meet Jenny.”

  “Hi there,” he said, extending a hand to Jenny. “It’s great to finally meet you. We’ve been wondering about our mysterious new lighthouse keeper.”

  She shook his hand. “After Sydney’s visit, I figured it was time to come out of hiding before y’all started making up stories about me,” Jenny said, a hint of North Carolina in her voice.

  “So the crazy cat lady rumor isn’t true?” Luke asked, making Jenny laugh.

  Syd smiled at him, appreciating his effort to be sociable when his usual tendency was to hang back and take it all in.

  “No cats,” Jenny said with a good-natured grin. “Yet.”

  That earned a smile from Luke. “You want a glass of wine, babe?” he asked Sydney.

  She’d been running around all day making preparations and was more than ready for a drink. “Don’t mind if I do.”

  “Stay there. I’ll get it.”

  As he left the room, Jenny fanned her face. “H-o-t,” she whispered. “Good for you, girl.”

  Laughing, Syd was pleased to realize that Jenny would fit right in with their group.

  A short time later, the house was filled to overflowing. The new arrivals were friendly and accepting of Jenny and full of congratulations for their newly engaged hosts. Several bottles of champagne were presented to Luke and Sydney. Everyone brought appetizers, bottles of wine and six packs of beer. The guys had gravitated to the kitchen, and the women gathered in the living room.

  “I love what you did with this room, Syd,” Linda McCarthy said. Along with her famous artichoke dip, she’d brought Joe’s mom Carolina, who was back on the island for the winter.

  “Thank you,” Syd said. “I was happy with how it came together.”

  “I need you to do something fabulous with my living room,” Maddie said. “It’s sort of blah.”

  “It’s not blah,” Syd said. “It’s functional, which is what you need with young kids underfoot.”

  “Functional,” Maddie said, making a distasteful face. “There’s a stylish word.”

  A young woman Sydney didn’t recognize poked her head in the door.

  “Come in!” Syd called to her as she walked over to welcome the newcomer. “Hi there, I’m Syd.”

  “Kara Ballard. Mac and Luke mentioned that I should stop by tonight and meet some people.”

  “Oh yes! You’re their new business partner. Luke told me about your launch service. I think it’s a great idea.”

  “I’m glad you think so. They’ve been great about helping me figure out the logistics. So you’re Luke’s fiancée?”

  The word still brought a thrill several days after he put the ring on her finger. “That’d be me.”

  “He was really excited telling me how he just got engaged,” Kara said with a wistfulness that caught Syd’s attention. “Could I see your ring?”

  “Oh, of course! I love showing it off.”

  Kara took a close look at the ring. “It’s gorgeous. Congratulations.”

  An aura of sadness clung to the pretty young woman that made Syd curious. She slipped an arm around Kara and escorted her into the kitchen where Big Mac, Luke and Mac greeted her warmly.

  “What can we get you to drink?” Big Mac asked.

  “A light beer would be great.”

  “Are you old enough to drink?” Big Mac teased.

  “Very funny,” Kara said with a laugh. “I’m older than I look.”

  “One beer coming right up,” Luke said.

  Mac introduced Kara to his brothers, Grant and Evan, as well as Ned, Seamus O’Grady, Blaine Taylor and Dan Torrington, who’d tagged along with Grant.

  “Nice to meet you all,” Kara said, thanking Luke when he handed her an open bottle of beer.

  “I can’t leave you in here alone with them,” Syd said, tugging Kara along with her. “Too much testosterone.”

  The comment earned her groans and wads of balled up napkins aimed at her head.

  Kara seemed more than grateful to leave the men for the safer gathering of women. Syd introduced her to Maddie, Tiffany, Francine, Linda, Carolina, Grace and Stephanie.

  “Where’re Laura and Owen?” Grace asked.

  “I don’t know,” Syd said. “She told me they’d be here.”

  “Did they make it back from the mainland?” Stephanie asked.

  “I haven’t heard,” Grace replied. “Evan tried to call him a couple of times this afternoon, but the calls went straight to voicemail.”

  “I hope everything is okay,” Stephanie said. “Laura was anxious about the meeting with her ex.”

  For the sake of Jenny and Kara, Syd said, “Laura is Mac, Evan and Grant’s cousin. She’s been hired to oversee the renovations and redecoration of the Sand & Surf Hotel in town and to manage the place when it reopens in the spring.”

  “Oh, I love that old place,” Jenny said. “Every time I drive by, I imagine the stories it has to tell.”

  “It’s been on that corner for a hundred years,” Linda said. “My husband told me this is the first time it’s been fully renovated since it was built.”

  “I believe it,” Syd said. “It�
�s fallen into disrepair, especially since Owen’s grandparents retired and moved to Florida.”

  “When I was a kid, I used to dream about owning the Surf,” Maddie said. “I’d imagine grand tea parties and ladies in fancy dresses on the big porch.”

  “I think Laura said something about offering tea parties,” Stephanie said.

  “We should have one there,” Maddie said, “all of us, when the Surf reopens.”

  “That’d be fun,” Syd said. “What do you think, Jenny?”

  “Sounds good to me. I’m a tea party regular. I have nieces.”

  Syd suddenly remembered the tea parties in her own past. Her daughter Malena had been a big fan of the tea party.

  Maddie sent her an empathetic smile, seeming to know exactly what Syd was thinking.

  “So you’re not the only one who got engaged this week, Syd,” Grace said, nudging Stephanie.

  Linda let out a most unladylike shriek. “Grant McCarthy! I’m going to kill you!”

  That set the other women into a gale of laughter as they cajoled Stephanie into showing off her new ring.

  Jenny and Kara exchanged wide-eyed glances at the goings on.

  “What’d I do?” Grant asked as he came into the living room to face his mother.

  “You got engaged and didn’t tell me?”

  “You didn’t tell your mother?” Stephanie asked.

  “I, uh, well, I was going to.”

  “Idiot,” Stephanie muttered as she accepted a hug from her future mother-in-law. “He’s an idiot.”

  “I have no doubt you can fix the mess I made of him,” Linda said.

  “I’m afraid it’ll take the rest of my life.”

  “I’m right here,” Grant said. “And I can hear you.”

  “Good,” Stephanie said. “Now go tell your father before he hears it through the grapevine, too.”

  “Dad, Mom and Stephanie are being mean to me,” Grant said as he went back into the kitchen where much celebrating and backslapping ensued after Grant shared his news.

  “That’s not all the news,” Mac said. “Luke, do you have a speaker phone handy?”

  “Sure, let me get it.”

  Everyone was focused on the kitchen as Mac punched in a long-distance number and set the phone on speaker.

  “Hey, brat,” he said, signaling to the others to stay quiet.

  “You’ve got the wrong number,” Janey said.

  “What’re you all grumpy about?”

  “I’m not feeling very good. And why are you calling me from Luke’s house?”

  “Because a few of us got together tonight, and we were sharing some good news. Did you hear Grant and Stephanie got engaged?”

  “No way!”

  “And Luke and Syd.”

  “Shut up! That’s awesome. Congrats you guys. Joe says congrats, too.”

  “Thank you,” Luke said.

  “We hear you have some news of your own to report.”

  “Mom has a big mouth.”

  “I can hear you Jane Elizabeth McCarthy Cantrell,” Linda said.

  The gathering tittered with laughter.

  “Hi, Mom,” Janey said meekly.

  “So what’s your news?” Mac asked.

  “You already know.”

  “But everyone else doesn’t.”

  “It appears that somehow I’m pregnant.”

  The news was met with whoops and hollering.

  “That’s awesome, Janey!” Maddie said. “I’m so glad Thomas and Hailey will have another cousin close in age. But I thought you were going to wait until you finished school.”

  “So did I. That’s another whole story.”

  “She can’t keep her hands off me,” Joe said.

  That got everyone laughing again.

  “Congratulations, you guys,” Evan said. “I’m going to be an uncle! Again!”

  Grace went to him and gave him a celebratory hug.

  “Who’s going to be an uncle?” Owen asked, as he came in holding Laura’s hand and yet another six-pack of beer.

  “I am,” Mac, Grant and Evan said together.

  “I’m pretty sure it’s not Adam, so that leaves Janey?”

  “You got it,” Janey said. “Knocked up while still in vet school.”

  “Oh, Janey,” Laura said, leaning toward the phone. “That’s awesome!”

  “See?” Joe said. “That’s what I said, too.”

  “Of course it’s awesome for you,” Janey said to her husband. “You’re not the one slugging through vet school while knocked up.”

  “Why don’t we let you two have this argument in private?” Mac said, grinning at the others. “Congratulations, brat. And Joe.”

  “And stop using the words ‘knocked up’,” Big Mac said to his daughter. “I can’t bear it.”

  Among much laughter, shouts of love and congratulations, Mac ended the call with his sister.

  “I’d say all this good news calls for some champagne,” Big Mac said. When everyone had a glass, he raised his. “To love.”

  “Hear, hear.”

  Sydney snuggled into Luke’s embrace as Grant hooked an arm around Stephanie and hugged her tight against him.

  “To love,” Luke whispered in Sydney’s ear.

  Sydney smiled up at him, at peace with her past, content in her new life and excited about the future.

  “He’s looking at you,” Maddie whispered to Tiffany.

  “Huh?”

  “Blaine. He keeps stealing glances at you. Every chance he gets.” Maddie gave her sister a nudge. “Go talk to him.”

  “I can’t.”

  “Of course you can. Don’t be ridiculous.”

  “You don’t understand.”

  “What don’t I understand?”

  Tiffany sighed and turned away from her sister.

  Maddie poked her the way she used to when they were kids and she wanted to get a rise out her younger sister. “Go. Talk. To. Him.”

  “Shut. Up.”

  “You shut up.”

  “No, you.”

  Maddie laughed at the familiar exchange, also a holdover from childhood. “What have you got to lose?”

  “Only my dignity. When I think about what happened with him. . .”

  “You want more of it?”

  “That’s not what I was going to say!”

  “So you don’t want more of it.”

  “I didn’t say that, either.”

  “I hate that Jim did this to you,” Maddie said with a sigh.

  That got Tiffany’s full attention. “Did what?”

  “The Tiffany I know and love wouldn’t think twice about going after something she wants. My Tiffany took notice of Jim Sturgil in high school and set out to make him hers. She started a dance studio when she was barely a kid and made a go of it. When she had a baby and needed a job while her husband was starting his practice, she started a day care business that was also a huge success. My Tiffany goes after what she wants. She doesn’t sit in the corner wishing things were different.”

  “I know what you’re doing.”

  “What am I doing?”

  “You’re trying to piss me off so I’ll march over there and do something stupid that I’ll regret tomorrow.”

  “You won’t regret it.”

  Tiffany shook her head, and Maddie was astounded when Tiffany’s eyes filled. “I’m sorry.” She put her arm around her sister and pulled her close. “It’s none of my business.”

  “You’re right, though. I’ve become a total wimp. I’m afraid of my own shadow.”

  Maddie couldn’t stand to see Tiffany so defeated and hated her ex-brother-in-law for what he’d done to his wife’s self-esteem. “I shouldn’t have said anything.”

  “I really want to talk to him. I do. Just not here. Not with an audience.”

  “Why don’t you go out on the deck to ‘get some air’? I bet he’d follow you.”

  Tiffany shook her head. “Too obvious.”

  “I could go in
there and tell him you’d like to talk to him.”

  “And that’s not obvious?”

  “I’m having flashbacks to high school here.”

  “I know. It’s ridiculous. Don’t worry about it. If it’s meant to be, it’ll happen on its own.”

  “If you say so.”

  Carolina should’ve brought her own car. She’d realized her strategic mistake the second she stepped into Luke and Sydney’s cozy home and came face-to-face with the one man she most wished to avoid at the moment, especially with Linda “Hawkeye” McCarthy at her side.

  “Miz Cantrell,” he’d said in that annoyingly sexy brogue as he bowed gallantly over their joined hands. “How lovely to see you. I didn’t know you were on island.”

  Even as a jolt of electricity traveled up her arm, she wanted to wipe that smug I’ve-seen-you-naked smile off his face.

  “Nice to see you, too, Seamus.” She pulled her hand free. “How’s business?”

  “Excellent. Even in the offseason, the people keep coming and coming and coming.”

  The reminder of how many times he’d made her come the night before paralyzed her. “T-that’s good to hear.”

  His smile told her knew exactly what she was thinking. “And how’s Joe?”

  “As you well know, since you speak to him several times a week, he’s just fine.”

  His amusement at her discomfort was apparent in the devilish glint in his eyes. Fortunately, Linda was distracted as she greeted Evan, Grace, Grant and Stephanie.

  “Knock it off,” Carolina hissed at Seamus.

  “Knock what off? What’d I do?”

  “You know exactly what you’re doing.”

  “Let me drive you home.”

  “Not in this lifetime.”

  “You know you want to.”

  Before she could come up with a suitably dismissive comment, Linda had come back to claim her. Carolina managed to steer clear of him after that, but she was acutely aware of his every move—and the fact that he hardly took his eyes off her. Every time she glanced into the kitchen, her gaze met his. Each time, she immediately looked away, but her nipples tightened, her sex ached and her face burned with mortification.

  She had to get herself under control before Linda tuned into what was going on. That was the last thing she needed. Linda was already curious enough about Carolina’s young lover. If it ever got back to Joe that she was sleeping with the man he’d hired to run the business in his absence. . . The thought of it made Carolina want to die on the spot.