by Marie Force
Good lord, what had she been thinking? Letting her mind wander back twenty-four hours, it was clear with hindsight that she hadn’t been thinking at all. She’d been under the influence of Irish charm. That was the only possible explanation for her actions.
“Are you all right, honey?” Linda asked, squeezing Carolina’s arm.
“I’m fine, but in need of the rest room.” She had to get out of there before she burst into tears or did something equally embarrassing, such as grab Seamus O’Grady by the arm and drag him out of there so she could have her wicked way with him. Again. “Be right back.”
She kept her head down as she wandered into the hallway to find the bathroom, which was occupied.
“Feel free to use the one in our room, Carolina,” Syd said, pointing to the last room on the left.
Desperate for a private moment to recover her composure, Carolina thanked Sydney. Her heart raced as she rushed through the dark bedroom to the adjoining bathroom and closed the door, leaning back against it to drag deep breaths into her straining lungs. This was utter madness! She couldn’t be in the same room with him without getting hot all over. She’d lived without sex for thirty years! How was it that one night with a randy Irishman had her panting like a bitch in heat?
Mortified by her thoughts, she splashed cold water on her face and studied her reflection in the mirror. Nothing on the outside had changed, but her insides resembled the aftermath of a tornado. The more agitated she became, the madder she was with Seamus for doing this to her. She’d said one night. One damned night. What about that didn’t he understand?
“You need to make him understand, before it’s all over the island that you’re sleeping with your son’s employee,” she whispered to her reflection. “Get it together!”
After a few more deep breaths, she felt ready to rejoin the party. Hopefully, Mac and Linda would be up for an early night. She opened the door and gasped with shock when Seamus pushed her backward into the small bathroom and closed the door. The sound of the door locking echoed like a gunshot.
“What’re you doing?”
He grabbed her hips and yanked her into him. “This.” His lips came down on hers, hard and determined.
Carolina intended to push him away, but her arms didn’t get the memo. They looped around him as she returned the kiss with frantic urgency to match his.
Cupping her ass, he pushed his erection against her, and had her on the verge of explosive release in a matter of seconds.
The fear of knowing they could be discovered at any second made the whole thing even hotter, if that was possible. If she’d been looking for proof that she’d taken leave of her senses, here it was, wrapped around her.
When he tugged on the button to her jeans, Carolina realized he intended to have sex right there in Luke and Sydney’s bathroom. Turning her head to break the kiss, she said, “Stop.” With a hand to his chest, she pushed him back. “Stop.”
“Let me take you home.” His voice was raspy as his lips burned a trail on her neck.
“No.”
“Please, Carolina. Tell them you don’t feel good, and I’ll offer to take you home.”
“I can’t. Everyone will know why we’re leaving.”
“No one will know anything other than your son’s employee is giving you a ride home.”
“I told you this isn’t going to happen.”
His fingers dug into her hips as he pushed his hard cock against her throbbing core.
Remembering how he’d stretched her, almost to the point of pain, made her whimper with the need for more.
“It’s already happening.”
“Seamus, please. I can’t do this.”
“Can’t or won’t?”
Her head dropped onto his chest as her fingers gripped his belt loops.
“If you mean it, love, you might want to let me go.”
He paused for a heartbeat, giving her a chance to release him.
Almost against her will, her fingers tightened their grip on his jeans.
He chuckled as his lips moved over her neck.
“Don’t get all full of yourself,” she snapped, annoyed by how easy she was with him. “This doesn’t change anything.”
“It makes me so hot when you’re bossy. Like last night when you told me to fuck you harder. So hot.”
Furious with herself as much as him, Carolina let him go, reached around him and opened the door to a rush of cooler air. “Leave me alone.”
With her hands trembling and her heart beating so hard it felt like it might burst, Carolina took a minute in the hallway to pull herself together before she rejoined the party.
Linda pounced immediately. “Are you all right? Your face is all red.”
“I feel like I’m coming down with something. Would you mind terribly if we left early?”
“I’ll give you a ride,” a voice behind them said in a lilting Irish brogue. “I was just getting ready to leave myself. I’m on the eight o’clock boat in the morning.”
Carolina closed her eyes, seeking forbearance. She couldn’t whack him—or murder him, for that matter—in a room full of people.
“Are you sure you don’t mind, Seamus?” Linda asked. “I don’t mind taking her.”
“I’m going right by her place on the way to the Beachcomber,” Seamus said with a crafty grin.
Her place was in the complete opposite direction from the Beachcomber, and he knew it. Since Linda had been looking forward to the gathering, Carolina hated to drag her away early. “Thank you,” she said to Seamus through gritted teeth. He was so going to pay for this, except that was exactly what he wanted.
“If you’re sure,” Linda said, giving Carolina a speculative glance.
“No trouble a’tall,” Seamus said. “Shall we, Miz Cantrell?”
If looks could kill, he’d be so dead.
His decadent mouth curled into the charming smile that’d gotten her into this mess in the first place.
“I’ll call you tomorrow to check on you,” Linda said, giving Carolina a hug.
“I’ll be fine. I’m sure it’s just a bug that’s going around.”
“Of course it is. What else would it be?”
Carolina left Linda’s question unanswered. As she and Seamus said goodnight and thank you to their hosts, Carolina plotted his imminent demise. She was going to slice him into tiny pieces and ship him back to his homeland in a shoebox. And then she was really going to kill him.
Chapter 19
“Where the heck have you been all day?” Evan asked Owen.
“I was. . . busy. Why?”
“I’ve been trying to call you. I need to talk to you.”
Owen took a drink out of his beer and fixed his gaze on Laura, who was huddled across the room with Grace and Stephanie. He wondered if she was spilling their secrets to her girlfriends. In the past, women who kissed and told bothered him. In this case, however, he wanted the whole world to know that she was his and he was hers and they were officially together. For keeps.
“Hello? Owen, are you listening to me?”
“Sorry, what were you saying?”
“What the heck is with you, man?”
“Same thing that’s been with you since you’ve been with Grace.”
Following Owen’s gaze to Laura, Evan scratched at the stubble on his jaw. “Is that right?”
“Uh-huh.”
“You and my cousin. Who’d a thunk it, huh?”
“Not me, that’s for sure. But now it’s all I can think about.”
“I know that feeling,” Evan said with a laugh. “I like you guys together.”
“I do, too. So what’d you want to talk to me about?”
“A business opportunity.” Evan outlined Ned’s plan for a recording studio on the island. “What do you think? Could we make a go of it?”
“You could. That’d be right up your alley.”
“But not yours?”
“Sounds like a lot of work.”
�
�It would be, but I really think we could do it.”
Owen was pleased to see Evan excited about something again. Watching him wait to hear what would become of his hard-won career in Nashville had been hard on everyone who cared about him.
“Think about all the musicians we both know, people like you and me who’ve never gotten a break. There’s so much talent out there looking for an outlet.”
“You’re excited about this.”
“Yeah, kinda, but I was hoping we could do it together.”
Owen chose his words carefully, not wanting to put a damper on Evan’s enthusiasm. “I think I’ve found my calling. At the hotel.”
“Doing what?”
“Whatever needs to be done. Once the renovations are finished, Laura will manage the hotel, and I’ll help her. That old place will always need constant care and feeding. I’ll have more than enough to keep me busy. I’ve discovered I enjoy puttering around the old place.”
Evan’s eyes had bugged out of his head. “Are you listening to yourself? Since when are you Mr. Fix It? You’re a musician. That’s who you’ve always been.”
“People change, Ev. Things change. I’ll always be a musician, but there’s other stuff I want to do, too. My grandparents ran that place for half a century. I like the idea of keeping it in the family.”
“How does Laura fit into that?”
“If I have my way, I’ll be keeping her in the family, too.”
“You’re really not interested in the studio?” Evan asked, looking crushed.
“I’m very interested in seeing the amazing things you’re going to do with it. I can’t wait to buy your first record.”
“But you’re not going to be part of it.”
“I’m sorry, but no.”
Evan sighed and rested his hands on his hips. “I wasn’t expecting you to say no.”
“Sorry to let you down.”
“You’re not. I’ll have to rethink the plan. That’s all.”
“I have no doubt you can take this opportunity and run with it. You’ve already got everything you need to make it a huge success. You don’t need me.”
“I’ll need you later tonight. Luke asked us to play after a while. Did you bring your guitar?”
“Never leave home without it.”
Evan nodded. “Good.”
“You’re not pissed are you?”
“Nah. Surprisingly enough, I get it.”
“You’ve always had more ambition than I did. I was happy playing covers in bars while you were writing songs and chasing the big deal.”
“For all the good that did me,” Evan said bitterly.
“Everything happens for a reason. Maybe you were meant to venture down this new road.”
“Grace said the same thing.”
“So she’s in favor of the studio idea?”
“Hell yeah,” Evan said with a grin. “It’d keep me here on the island with her. She’s thrilled.”
“Give her time. She’ll wise up.”
“Very funny.”
Owen’s cell phone rang, and he was surprised to see Frank McCarthy’s number on the caller ID. “I gotta take this,” he said to Evan.
“Go right ahead.”
Owen walked outside to take the call. “Hi, Frank.”
“Owen, I’m glad I caught you.”
“We’re at a party. Is everything okay?”
“I had a conversation tonight with the son-in-law who shall not be named.”
Owen’s gut clenched with anxiety. “And?”
“I convinced him that it’s in his best interest to sign the papers and give Laura primary custody of the baby. He agreed to a visitation schedule of occasional weekends and vacations, two weeks in the summer and alternating holidays.”
Owen released a deep breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. “That’s great. Laura will be thrilled.”
“I’m not so sure.”
“Why’s that.”
“He has a condition.”
Owen’s stomach began to hurt. “What condition?”
“He wants her to end it with you.”
He’d received actual gut punches that hurt less than those words did. “What right does he have to dictate who she spends time with?”
“None whatsoever but try telling him that. I’m having lunch with the senior partner at his firm on Monday. We went to high school together. I’m going to feel him out, see if he’s willing to lean on his wayward associate on my behalf.”
“Will you keep me posted?”
“Of course. I called you because I didn’t want to upset Laura any more than she already is. Will you tell her about this?”
Owen closed his eyes and pictured her gorgeous face as she told him she loved him earlier. “If you’re seeing the partner on Monday, I suppose I can wait until then to mention it to her but not much longer. I don’t want to keep things from her.”
“As my father would say, I like the cut of your jib, young man.”
Owen thought of his own father, who’d never approved of a thing about him. “Thank you. That’s nice of you to say.”
“I’ll be in touch,” Frank said. “Take good care of my girl in the meantime.”
“I will.”
Reeling, Owen stashed the phone in his pocket. What the hell was he supposed to do now?
“Tell us everything,” Stephanie said as she and Grace dragged Laura to a quiet corner in the living room. “What happened with the ex? And Owen! That was one heck of a kiss I walked in on the other day.”
“Sorry about that,” Laura said, mortified.
“Don’t be sorry! Spill the beans!”
“You first,” Laura said. “I want to hear all about the proposal. Was it so romantic?”
“He did a good job,” Stephanie said with a soft glow in her eyes. “Especially since I was trying to break up with him when he asked me.”
“What?” Grace said. “Why?”
“We were constantly at odds. It was too much for me. I lived like that for years with my mother, and I can’t do it anymore.”
“How did he change your mind?”
“How else? Words. The man is gifted. In more ways than one.”
Grace let out a snort. “I bet it was quite something.”
“Unforgettable,” Stephanie said.
Laura took a closer look at Stephanie’s ring. “I wouldn’t have pictured the traditional engagement ring for you.”
“Grant said he debated, but decided to go traditional because I’d never had that before.”
“Oh,” Grace said. “How sweet is that?”
“I know. He definitely has his moments.”
Laura hugged Stephanie. “I’m so happy for you. No one deserves to be happy more than you do.”
“Thanks. I’m so happy it’s not even funny. Not only do I get a lifetime with Grant, my dad is free and clear and figuring out what’s next. His battle was at the center of my life for so long that some days I can’t believe I don’t have to think about it anymore.”
“It must be such a relief,” Grace said. “I can’t even imagine what that was like.”
“It was a fourteen-year nightmare.”
“It’s all in the past now, and you can do anything you want,” Laura said.
“I know,” Stephanie said with a gleam in her eye. “That’s why I’m finally going to open the restaurant I’ve always dreamed of.”
“Open it in the hotel,” Laura said. The words were out of her mouth before the thought was fully formed.
Stephanie’s confusion showed on her face. “Huh?”
“Adele—Owen’s grandmother—and I agree that we need a top-shelf restaurant in the hotel. We’ve got the space and a huge kitchen and everything you’d need. We’ll renovate it to your specs—whatever you want.”
“You’re serious.”
“I’m dead serious.”
“I love that idea,” Grace said. “You guys would make a great team.”
“I totally agree,�
� Laura said, more in love with the idea with every passing minute. “You’d have carte blanche over the restaurant. It’d be totally yours.”
“Wow. I don’t know what to say.”
“Say yes,” Laura said. “Let’s work together to bring the Surf back to its former glory.”
“It does have everything I want—an ideal location in town, a spectacular view of the water and built-in foot traffic,” Stephanie said. “It sounds perfect, but I’d need to take a closer look at the kitchen and dining room before I decide for sure.”
“Come by in the morning and look to your heart’s content.”
“I will. Thank you for the amazing idea. If it works out, this could be terrific for both of us.”
“Yay,” Grace said, clapping her hands. “Now let’s hear about what happened with the ex—and Owen.”
Laura filled them in on the highlights—or lowlights as they were—of her conversation with Justin.
“So where does it stand now?” Stephanie asked, still scowling over Justin’s comment about the baby’s paternity.
“I’m waiting on him. I left there convinced he would sign the papers, but part of me suspects he’s not done fighting.”
“What did he say about the baby?” Grace asked.
“He already knew.”
Stephanie’s brows narrowed. “How?”
“Apparently, he had me followed. He knew all about the hotel, the baby, Owen.”
“So creepy,” Grace said with a shiver. “I dislike this guy more all the time.”
“No kidding,” Stephanie said. “What does Owen say about it?”
“He’s been amazing,” Laura said. “So supportive and understanding. Get this—he asked if he could be my childbirth coach. Can you believe that?”
“He loves you,” Grace said. “The whole time he was talking to Evan just now he was watching you.”
“Was he?” Laura asked, smiling.
“Couldn’t take his eyes off you,” Grace confirmed.
“He’s. . .” Laura sighed. “I don’t have the words. I just hope Justin signs the papers and sets me free before Owen runs out of patience with the situation.”
