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

by Marie Force

  Now she felt like a foolish teenager waiting for the captain of the football team to show up. No doubt he had far better things to do than hang out with her on one of his rare nights off. He’d probably felt obligated to accept her invitation, and the whole thing would be painfully awkward.

  When it came right down to it, they had absolutely nothing in common. She was a hard-working—if perpetually poor—housekeeper at the McCarthy’s hotel, and he was the island’s only doctor. She’d come from a family that invented the term dysfunctional, whereas he’d been raised with his sisters on the island and gone to a top college and medical school in Boston.

  She’d dated one loser after another while he’d been engaged to Mac’s sister, Janey McCarthy Cantrell. Janey was married now to Joe Cantrell and expecting their first child at the end of the summer.

  Daisy had never heard what went wrong between David and Janey, but their long relationship had ended suddenly two summers ago. She could’ve asked Maddie and almost had a few times, but she’d been unable to bring herself to actually ask.

  In the meantime, David had been so nice about coming by to check on her injuries and so gentle with her as she recovered. They’d fallen into an unlikely friendship that continued when she stopped by the clinic a couple of times to share the influx of food her friends had brought her. David worked so hard that he often missed meals, and it had seemed only fitting to share with him when he’d been so good to her.

  It was foolish, she knew, to let her heart get all pitter-pattery over a guy who was just being nice to her because that was his job. It was doubly foolish, she also knew, to nurture the world-class crush that had come from his many kindnesses. Thus, it was triply foolish to be hoping that something might come of the time they’d been spending together.

  Romance, Daisy thought, is so fraught with peril. At least it always had been for her. She simply chose the wrong men. The habit dated back to high school when she’d yearned for a boy who turned out to be a cheating pig. Next came a lovely guy who became a mean drunk and then another with a gambling addiction she’d failed to recognize until he’d wiped out her meager savings account.

  Then came Truck and his meth addiction and meaty fists.

  Daisy shuddered thinking of the awful night when Truck most likely would’ve raped and killed her if the island’s police chief, Blaine Taylor, hadn’t broken down her door and stopped him from finishing the job.

  A knock on the sliding glass door made her startle. Had she really wasted all that precious time thinking about things that couldn’t be changed? And now David was here and she probably looked like a wreck after wrangling babies all night. She combed her fingers through her long, blonde hair, hoping to restore order as she walked over to the door to unlock it.

  “Hey,” he said as he came in smelling of fresh air and a hint of cologne that made her want to snuggle in close to him. He wore a navy blue button-down Gansett Island shirt with khaki shorts.

  Daisy had never seen him dressed so casually. “Hey.”

  “Are they asleep?”

  “I think so. I’m told it’s a minute-to-minute thing.”

  He smiled, revealing a flash of straight, white teeth that made her want to sigh with pleasure. She had a thing for a great smile, and David Lawrence’s smile was one of the best she’d ever encountered. Coupled with thick, dark hair and serious brown eyes, that smile was downright potent. Even the slight bump in his otherwise perfect nose was appealing.

  “Is that…” He brushed at something on her shoulder, making her nerve endings tingle. “Spit-up?”

  “Oh crap,” Daisy said, mortified. Heat singed her cheeks and made her scalp itch. “I forgot that Hailey nailed me at bedtime. I’ll just run up and borrow something of Maddie’s. She won’t mind.”

  “Don’t bother.” He took her hand and led her to the kitchen, where he wet a paper towel and went to work on the spot on her shoulder.

  Daisy had never been more acutely aware of her own intake of oxygen than she was in that moment with his face about six inches from hers as he worked with single-minded purpose to clean the spot off her thin top. While focusing on the shine of his dark hair, she concentrated on drawing in enough air to remain conscious without gulping in the deep breaths she desperately needed.

  “There,” he said after an interminable few minutes. As he backed away from her, his fingers brushed against her neck, and damn if she didn’t gasp. “Sorry.”

  “Oh no, don’t be sorry. I…um…”

  “What’s wrong, Daisy?” He studied her in that deep, dark, serious way he did so well.

  “Nothing,” she said in a cheerful tone that sounded forced, even to her. “Want a beer or some wine or something?”

  “I’d rather know why you seem so uncomfortable. I thought we had a nice time last night. I was looking forward to seeing you tonight, but if this isn’t a good time, I can go.”

  “No, I don’t want you to go.” Daisy covered her face with her hands. “I’m making a total mess of things.”

  “Tell me what’s wrong.” He covered her hands with his and gave a very gentle tug that revealed her eyes.

  “I’m nervous, and that makes me feel stupid.”

  “Why are you nervous?”

  “Because you’re here. Because I invited you, and I wasn’t sure if you really wanted to come or you just said you would because I asked you to and you didn’t really want to—”

  And then he was kissing her, and Daisy’s brain cells positively fried the second his lips landed on hers.

  He was a really good kisser, as if that was any big surprise. His lips were firm but soft and moved over hers in a light caress that was neither too much nor too little. It was just right, and quite simply one of the best kisses she’d ever received. Just as she began to relax and kiss him back, he withdrew.

  “Sorry,” he said, his forehead leaning against hers. “I didn’t mean to do that.”

  “I’m glad you did that.”

  “You are?”

  She smiled, because really, how could she not? He was so cute. “Maybe you’ll do it again sometime?”

  “We might be able to arrange that.”

  Daisy discovered she was no longer nervous about having him there. Now she was nervous for a whole other reason, a much better reason. “Do you want to watch a movie?”

  He took a step back from her. “Sure.”

  “Maddie left some on the coffee table if you want to see if any of them interest you. Popcorn?”

  “I won’t say no to that.”

  “How about a beer?”

  “Will you have one, too?”

  “I’m going to stick with Coke.”

  “Then I will, too.”

  While she made the popcorn in an oil popper that Maddie had once told her dated back to her high school years but still worked perfectly, he went into the living room to check out the movies. Reliving the kiss, Daisy was acutely aware of him in the next room.

  What did it mean? What was he thinking? Was he looking for a summer fling or something more lasting? What was she looking for? Nothing serious. That was for sure. After what had happened with Truck, she’d been prepared to swear off all men permanently. But then David kept showing up, chipping away at her defenses one visit at a time.

  “These are all chick flicks,” he said.

  “In case you haven’t noticed, I am a chick.”

  “Oh, I’ve definitely noticed.”

  Daisy nearly swallowed her tongue.

  “Have you seen Love and Other Drugs?” he asked, as if he hadn’t just totally rocked her with that comment. “Looks kind of good. A girl with Parkinson’s falls in love with a drug rep.”

  “Leave it to the doctor to pick a medical movie.”

  “Um, I believe it’s a chick-flick romance that happens to include a disease. There’s got to be something in it for me.”

  “Who is in it?”

  “Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway.”

  “I should probably me
ntion at the outset that I have a huge crush on Jake Gyllenhaal. I’d hate for you to be threatened by my ogling.”

  “I believe I’m man enough to handle your crush.”

  As she carried the bowl of popcorn and two Cokes into the living room, she tried to remember the last time she’d enjoyed a conversation with a man as much as she enjoyed every conversation with him. He never talked down to her or made her feel like she wasn’t as smart as him, even though she was nowhere near as smart as him.

  After she put the bowl and sodas on the coffee table, he handed her the movie and she popped it into the DVD player. She sat on the sofa, careful to leave at least a foot between them, and reached for the popcorn bowl.

  David opened both sodas and put them on coasters.

  As she dipped into the bowl, his hand brushed against hers. Daisy pulled hers back and then felt like an idiot. So his hand had touched hers. Why did she have to react like a teenage girl on a first date?

  The movie’s opening credits had just begun when Daisy heard a noise at the top of the stairs. She handed the bowl to David, got up to go investigate and found Thomas sitting behind the baby gate, his blanket and teddy bear with him.

  “What’re you doing up, honey?”

  “I want Mommy.”

  “Mommy and Daddy are out with their friends, but they’ll be home soon.”

  “Who were you talking to?” Thomas looked around her to see who was visiting.

  “You know Dr. David, right?”

  “He gave me a shot,” Thomas said, his feathery brows knitting into an adorable scowl. “It hurted.”

  “Come here, sweetie.” Daisy extended her arms, lifted him over the gate with the blanket and bear and carried him downstairs. “We have a visitor,” she said to David.

  “Hi there, Thomas,” David said.

  Thomas burrowed his face into her neck.

  “I believe Thomas is annoyed with you. Something about a shot?”

  “Ah, yes. Sorry about that, pal. Just trying to keep you healthy.”

  “It hurted,” Daisy said, earning a smile from David.

  “Do you know what else is really important to staying healthy?” David asked.

  Thomas turned toward David.

  “What’s that?” Daisy asked.

  “Sleep. We need lots and lots of sleep, especially when we’re three years old and our bodies are using so much energy to grow.”

  “I growed,” Thomas said. “Mommy measured me on the wall.”

  “If you want to keep growing and someday be big and strong like Daddy,” Daisy said, “you have to go to sleep.” She drew the blanket up to his shoulders and rubbed his back. He popped his thumb into his mouth and cuddled up to his bear.

  As Daisy brushed her lips over Thomas’s hair, her own hair slid over her face.

  Before she could tend to it, David had it secured behind her ear. The brush of his fingertips against her cheek and ear gave her goose bumps. She ventured a glance at him and saw that he was watching her with sexy eyes attuned to her every move.

  Oh my.

  Chapter 2

  When Daisy carried Thomas back upstairs, David followed to open the gate for her. She tucked him into bed and drew the covers up and over his shoulders before leaving him with a kiss to his forehead. He was such a cute little guy—all blond hair and big, blue eyes and a sweet, sunny disposition.

  Maddie had him alone after the boy’s father left the island without knowing she was pregnant. After they were married, Mac adopted Thomas and gave him the McCarthy name. He was a very lucky boy, Daisy thought as she left his room, leaving the door open so she could hear him if he woke up again.

  David waited for her in the hallway.

  “I’m going to check on Hailey while I’m up here,” Daisy whispered.

  “Mind if I take a peek? I’m extra partial to her after helping to deliver her during the big storm.”

  “Sure, come on.”

  With the hallway light illuminating the nursery, they tiptoed into Hailey’s room. She slept with her bum in the air and her lips pursed.

  Daisy adjusted her blanket and shared a smile with David before they left the baby to sleep.

  “You were good with him,” David said on the way downstairs.

  “He’s adorable. I got to hold him the day he was born and fell madly in love. I’ve been like an extra aunt to him his whole life.”

  “He’s lucky to have so many people who love him.”

  “Now he’s got the McCarthys, too. They’re quite a family.”

  “Yeah, they sure are.”

  Did she detect a hint of sarcasm in his voice? It made her curious to know more about what’d happened between him and Janey, but she didn’t have the guts to come right out and ask him.

  “I heard how you saved Hailey’s life the night she was born. Maddie and Mac are so grateful to you.”

  He shrugged off the praise. “I did what I was trained to do.”

  “Still, if you hadn’t been here… I don’t even want to think about what might’ve happened.”

  “I was glad I was here and able to help. She’s a beautiful little girl.”

  “That she is.”

  They returned to their spots on the sofa, and Daisy reached for the popcorn bowl and the remote control to start the movie. “Let’s try this again, shall we?”

  Was it her imagination or did he sit closer to her this time? His leg brushed against hers. Nope, not her imagination. Thank goodness she had the popcorn to focus on as the movie about an aggressive salesman began. Not even five minutes in and he was having sex with a coworker in the stockroom at work.

  Daisy felt her entire body flame with embarrassment. Next to her, David sat perfectly still. She wondered if he was equally mortified. She breathed a sigh of relief as the encounter in the stockroom ended with Jake’s character being fired. Within a few minutes, he’d moved into a job as a pharmaceutical salesman.

  Looking to dispel some of the tension, Daisy tried to think of something witty she could say about the movie. “He’s kind of a tool, huh?”

  “You could say that.”

  She offered him the popcorn, and he took a handful. “You still want to watch the movie?” she asked.

  “I’m invested now. Gotta see if the tool gets his comeuppance.”

  Daisy smiled at him and tried to relax, but it was hard with her world-class crush sitting so close to her and sexy Jake shadowing a doctor as he treated a young woman with Parkinson’s. Daisy’s hormones were on overload.

  “Yikes,” David said. “Twenty-six with Parkinson’s. What a drag.”

  “Is that unusually young?”

  “Very.”

  They went silent as Anne Hathaway’s character bared her breast to the doctor and asked about a mark that turned out to be a spider bite while Jake looked on, obviously ogling the naked breast.

  “Total tool,” Daisy declared. “If this was my house, I’d throw popcorn at the TV.”

  “Too bad they don’t have a dog,” David said. “He could clean it up.”

  “Thomas wants one, but Maddie is holding out until Hailey is a bit older. Can’t say I blame her.”

  “You and Maddie are really close, huh?”

  Daisy was relieved to be talking about something other than the bare breast on the screen. “Yeah, she’s been a great friend to me. I miss her at the hotel, but I’m so glad she got the dream come true. No one deserves it more. Now how did he go from inappropriate ogling to having coffee with her?”

  “It’s Hollywood,” David said dryly. “Things happen at the speed of film.”

  “Oh!” Daisy cried as the scene changed and the celluloid couple tore each other’s clothes off to go at it standing up in Anne’s apartment.

  David shook with silent laughter next to her as Daisy watched, transfixed by the intensely erotic scene that ended with the characters on the floor panting from exertion.

  “I need a cigarette,” Daisy said, making him laugh harder. “Is it totally ru
de for me to be staring at his naked bum while you’re sitting one inch from me?”

  “Only if it’s rude for me to be taking a good healthy look at her bare breasts.”

  “You probably see plenty of breasts every day at ‘work.’” She used her fingers to make air quotes.

  “For your information, it’s very stressful to look at strange breasts at work.”

  “You’re so full of it.” She grabbed a sofa pillow and smacked him with it.

  He grabbed the pillow and her hand, giving a gentle tug that sent the popcorn bowl flying off her lap. “Whoops,” he said, but he didn’t let go. Rather, he brought her closer, so close their noses were nearly touching and Daisy didn’t dare to even breathe. All thoughts of Jake Gyllenhaal’s naked rear end fled from her mind under David’s intense gaze.

  And then the unmistakable sounds of sex from the TV sent David and Daisy dissolving into laughter. As far as she was concerned, David was every bit as handsome as Jake, but when he laughed, whoa. Crazy sexy. She’d never seen him laugh as hard as he had tonight, and the urge to kiss him consumed her. It was the only thought in her entire brain. She moved toward him as he moved toward her in a moment of perfect harmony that would forever go down as one of the sweetest of her life.

  There was nothing sweet about the kiss, however. The only word to describe it was hot. Seriously hot. It went from start to go in like two seconds flat as his tongue darted into her mouth. As fast as it happened, though, it was over. He drew back from her, breathing hard, his eyes wide. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—”

  With her hand on the back of his head, she dragged him back into the kiss, taking the lead this time.

  His arms came around her as the kiss transported her far away from anything she’d known before. She could barely remember to breathe as his tongue brushed against hers. Through the thin fabric of her top, her nipples pebbled and tightened when they rubbed against his shirt.

  She twisted in his embrace, trying to get closer as the kiss became desperate.

  He shifted them so she was under him, his body big and heavy on top of her. A twinge of panic registered at the outer fringes of her awareness, reminding her of what had happened the last time a man had pinned her down beneath him. She turned her face, breaking the kiss and drawing in greedy deep breaths. “I… I…” She pushed at his chest.