by Marie Force
“Wow. Was that fun?”
“I don’t know that ‘fun’ is the word I’d use. It was one hell of a battle. My arms will be useless tomorrow.”
“You let a little ol’ fish put that much of a hurt on you?”
Shane’s ringing laughter echoed through the empty hallway as they headed for the stairs. “That ‘little ol’ fish’ was a monster. Took five of us to land him.”
“Did you throw him back after you caught him?”
“Nope. My aunt and uncle are serving him for dinner at the marina tonight. The whole family is going.”
“You didn’t want to go?”
“I’d rather go out with you. I can see them anytime.”
“But you can’t eat your eighty-pound badass tuna anytime.”
“It’s all right. I honestly don’t mind missing it.”
“I’d be fine with doing that, if you want to.”
“That’s really nice of you, but I’m not sure you’re ready for full immersion into the madness known as the McCarthy family.” They cut through the lobby and into the kitchen, which led to the parking lot behind the Surf. Since Stephanie’s Bistro was closed on Sunday nights, the kitchen was quiet and spotless.
“I met them all this weekend. They were super nice.”
“They were on best behavior for the wedding.”
“It doesn’t seem fair that you caught the fish but don’t get to enjoy the fruits of your labor. I honestly don’t mind going if you want to.”
Shane hesitated. How to explain to her the way news and gossip flew with lightning speed through the Gansett Island pipeline?
“If you don’t want them to know we’re going out together, that’s fine, too,” she said.
“That is definitely not it. I’m thrilled to be going out with you. In fact, you have no idea how thrilled I am. But if we show up over there—together—the whole island will be talking about us long before we’re ready for that.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, so… Still want to go?” He watched her intently, looking for a hint as to what she was thinking.
“Yes, I think I do want to go. It would be very nice getting to know your family a little better, since they’re now also my brother’s family.”
“If that’s what you want, I’ll cancel the reservation. We can go to Domenic’s another time—that is, if you want to go out with me again after being exposed to my family.”
“I’m sure I’ll want to go out with you again even after being exposed to your family.”
Shane held the screen door for her, delighted they were already talking about a second date when the first one had just begun.
Katie absolutely loved the McCarthys. She couldn’t recall a more enjoyable evening than the one she spent with Shane and his family. He was an attentive date, making sure she had plenty to eat and drink and was surrounded by fun people.
Walking into the party already in progress had been a bit daunting, but she’d been given a warm welcome by Shane’s uncle, whom everyone called Big Mac. He was one of those people who immediately felt like a friend, and he told her the full story of how Shane had managed to catch the biggest fish of the day.
“This impromptu party is all his doing,” Big Mac told her.
“And you hate impromptu parties,” Shane said sarcastically, earning a huge smile from his uncle.
“Wonder where your dad and Betsy are,” Big Mac said. “I left him a message earlier but haven’t heard from him.”
“I’m sure he’ll be here at some point. He knew you were cooking up the tuna.”
“Actually, Stephanie is doing the cooking,” Big Mac said sheepishly. “Turns out, Aunt Linda had no clue how to cook it. Fortunately, Stephanie and her chef from the Bistro know what to do.”
“So you’ve got them spending their night off working.”
“They were happy to do it.”
“Only because you were the one asking.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” He winked and scooted off to welcome his son Adam and his fiancée, Abby.
“He’s full of beans, huh?” Katie asked, amused by Big Mac.
“That he is, but he’s also the best guy you’ll ever know. Well, second only to my own dad.”
“You’re so lucky to have them in your life,” Katie said wistfully. How might she have been different if she’d been born to a man like Mac or Frank McCarthy rather than the beast who’d fathered her?
“I know I’m lucky. I never take them for granted.”
His Aunt Linda came over to hug and kiss him and to welcome Katie. “So nice to have Owen’s sister joining the group. He’s one of our favorites.”
“I’m rather partial to him myself.”
“Are he and Evan playing tonight?” Shane asked.
“Of course they are. Wouldn’t be a party without them. Excuse me. I’ve got to help Stephanie in the kitchen.”
Linda ran off toward the kitchen, leaving Shane and Katie to the mayhem of a McCarthy family party. They’d taken over the entire marina restaurant as well as the picnic tables outside.
“A lot of business gets tended to at those tables,” Shane said of the picnic tables.
“What kind of business?”
“The solving of world problems and overall bullshitting every morning over coffee and doughnuts with my Uncle Mac presiding and my dad in attendance since he retired. The morning meeting is one of his favorite things about living here.”
“That’s so funny. I can picture it from the way you describe it. How long ago did your dad move here?”
“Earlier this summer. He retired after a long career as a superior court judge. My sister and I worried he’d be bored because his work was such a big part of his life, but he’s loving retirement. He and Big Mac take off at least once a week to go fishing, and they’re always coming up with some other adventure. They’re like two little boys back together again.”
“That’s very sweet.”
“Their younger brother, my Uncle Kevin, is here for the weddings.”
“Plural?”
“My cousin Grant and Stephanie on Labor Day.”
“Oh, that’s right.”
“Anyway, they’ve had poor Kevin hopping since he got here. He’ll need to go home to get a break from his vacation.”
“They sound like really fun guys.”
“They are. I hope to be just like them when I’m their age.”
“It’s good to know there are men and fathers like them in this world. It gives me hope.”
“I have to believe there are far more like them than there are like yours. I hope it’s okay to say that. I don’t mean any offense.”
“None taken, and I’d like to think you’re right about that.”
“The men in my family worship the women they love, Katie. We don’t know any other way to be after being raised by them. Look at my cousin Mac.” He gestured to a table on the far side of the room where Mac was supervising two young children while his wife sat back and relaxed. “The boy, Thomas… He’s Maddie’s son from a previous relationship, but Mac adopted him and gave him our name, and as far as he’s concerned, he’s the boy’s father—the only father he’ll ever have.”
“That’s lovely.”
“Mac is crazy about that kid. Their daughter, Hailey, was born—at home—during Tropical Storm Hailey. I wasn’t here then, but I heard about how wild it was. They’re expecting their third child now. You met my cousin Grant, right? He’s Stephanie’s fiancé. When he met her, Charlie, who’s her stepfather, was still in prison.” He paused and looked stricken. “Oh crap, you know about that, right?”
Smiling, she nodded. “My mother told me today. It’s an amazing story.”
“It really is. Grant called his friend, Dan Torrington—”
“The lawyer? I’ve heard of him.”
“That’s him right there.” He pointed to Dan, who was sitting with a pretty woman with red highlights in her long brown hair. “With his fiancée,
Kara. Anyway, Dan made a few phone calls, threw his weight around, and next thing we knew, Charlie was sprung from prison. Then Dan came here to write a book about his innocence project and met Kara. They’re getting married next year.”
“What is it about this place and people finding their soul mates?”
“Mac says there’s something in the water.”
Katie laughed. “I’ll take a glass!”
“Coming right up.” After he fetched her a glass of Gansett Island water and a bottle of the light beer she’d requested, he returned to his seat next to her. “Want to hear more about my cousins?”
“Absolutely.”
“That’s Evan over there. He’s sitting with his fiancée, Grace Ryan. They’re getting married in January. He was playing a gig right here at the marina with Owen last summer when he noticed Grace crying at one of the tables. He took the time to find out what was wrong and learned her date had left her stranded on the island after she refused to have sex with him.”
“Whoa.”
“I know, right? So Evan took her home to his parents’ house for the evening and paid her way home to Connecticut. She came back a few weeks later to reimburse him, and from all accounts, they’ve been together ever since. Now she owns Ryan’s Pharmacy in town.”
“I love that. What a great story.”
“Now, my cousin Adam is engaged to Abby, who was with Grant for ten years.”
“That sounds dicey.”
“It might’ve been if Grant hadn’t been happily in love with Stephanie. They worked it out, and everyone is happy for Adam and Abby. They’re great together.”
“Another amazing story.”
“I’m beginning to think that bringing you here was the best thing I could’ve done.”
“Why’s that?”
“After hearing all about my cousins and their smooth moves, you might be tempted to go out with me again.”
Before she could form a reply to that audacious statement, Adam and Abby took seats at their table, followed soon after by Shane’s cousin Janey and her husband, Joe, who carried their son, P.J.
“What a cute baby,” Katie said of the tiny blond boy who watched the world go by with big blue eyes.
“We’re quite fond of him,” Joe said, gazing down at his son.
“You McCarthys make cute babies,” Katie said. “Holden is adorable, and so are Mac’s kids.” She caught Shane watching her with a guarded expression and wondered if she’d said the wrong thing.
“Holden is super cute,” Janey agreed. “He’s going to be tall, dark and handsome when he grows up.”
“Could Auntie Abby take a turn with P.J.?” Abby asked.
“Absolutely.” Joe handed the baby over to Abby, who melted before their eyes.
Adam watched her intently as she snuggled the baby, and then whispered something in her ear that had her smiling softly at him.
Apparently eighty pounds of tuna fed a lot of people, because they kept arriving. First Owen and Laura with baby Holden, and then Ned and his wife, Francine. Katie was introduced to Joe’s mom, Carolina, and her new husband, Seamus.
“Wow,” Katie whispered to Shane. “Good for her.”
He chuckled at her comment. “Apparently, their age difference was quite the scandal when they first started dating. Now it’s no big deal.”
Surrounded by happy couples, all of whom had risked their hearts to find true love and happiness, had Katie thinking about the rules that had governed her life and whether it might be time to say to hell with the rules. She leaned back against Shane and forced herself to remain calm when he casually put his arm around her, announcing to anyone who might be looking that they were together.
And people were most definitely looking.
“Is this okay?” he asked, his lips brushing against her temple.
She nodded and tried to get her rigid muscles to relax and enjoy the moment. Here she was with a nice, handsome, sexy man who seemed interested in her. They were surrounded by a big, boisterous, loving family that wanted only the best for him—and probably her, too, due to her relationship to Owen.
It was okay to relax and enjoy herself. It was okay to let him touch her. It was okay to talk about second dates and things she’d never allowed before. “Shane?”
“Yes?”
“I have to tell you something.”
“I’m listening.”
The others were engaged in their own conversations, which gave Katie the opportunity to speak privately to him. “I… I want you to know…”
“What do you want me to know?”
At that moment she was glad she couldn’t see his face. Rather, she watched his father come into the restaurant holding Betsy’s hand, which he released only to hug his brothers before reclaiming his woman. The two of them were smiling and fairly glowing with happiness that only bolstered her courage.
“Katie? What do you want me to know?”
“This is the first date I’ve ever been on.”
Chapter 10
Shane’s entire body seemed to go still behind her as he absorbed what she’d said. “Like, ever?”
“Like, ever.”
“Why?”
“Because…”
“Because of your dad, right?”
“Partially.”
He spoke softly to her, ensuring their conversation couldn’t be overheard. “I would never, could never, ever, raise a hand to you to cause you anything other than pleasure.” As he spoke, he ran his fingertip down her bare arm, setting off a series of reactions that had her squirming in her chair. “Do you believe me?”
“I want to.”
“Katie…”
Encouraged by his kind response to her confession, she turned so she could see his face, which was tight with tension.
“We’ll talk more later,” he said. “When we’re alone.”
His low, intimate tone as well as the thought of being alone with him later set off another set of tremors inside her, all of them seeming to land in a tight knot of need between her legs. He continued to stroke her arm, and Katie wanted to purr from the sweet pleasure of such a simple caress. It had her wondering what else might be possible with him.
Being around his family, hearing the stories of how his cousins had fallen in love as well as his heartfelt pledge had Katie relaxing in a way she never would’ve expected she could with a man.
And then Stephanie announced dinner was served, and the little bubble around them burst as everyone began getting up to head for the buffet Stephanie and her chef had set out at the counter where customers placed their orders during regular hours.
“This is amazing, Steph!” Maddie proclaimed as she checked out the spread that included the grilled tuna along with two kinds of potatoes, several types of vegetables, a huge Caesar salad and rolls.
“Don’t be too impressed,” Stephanie replied. “A lot of it is left over from the wedding last night.”
“I’m very impressed,” Maddie said, “mostly because it looks fantastic, and I didn’t have to cook it.”
“Hear, hear,” Grace said.
With Shane behind her, Katie filled her plate and returned to their table. She didn’t want to confess that she’d never had tuna, except for the kind that came in a can, so she wasn’t sure she’d like it. Before Shane joined her, she took a quick bite to try it and was pleasantly surprised by how good it tasted.
“How is it?” he asked when he had taken the seat next to her.
“Excellent. I’ve never had it before, but I really like it.”
“You might find that to be true of a lot of things,” he said with a playful smile and the suggestive waggle of his brows.
Katie stared at him, incredulous and amused at the same time. “Did you really just say that?”
“I really did, and I really mean it.”
Katie found it difficult to swallow her food with him sitting so close to her and obviously thinking about other things he wanted to introduce her to. How did she feel
about being introduced to those things by him?
“Stop thinking so much,” he whispered. “Nothing will happen between us unless you want it to.”
Buoyed by his reassurances, she said, “You don’t think I’m weird because I’ve never been on a date before?”
“No, Katie. I don’t think you’re weird at all, because you had a good reason to keep your distance from men. I think you’re sweet and beautiful and kind, and I want to get to know you better.”
“Fancy meeting you here,” Laura said from behind them, where she stood with Holden in her arms.
“Oh, hey,” Shane said to his sister, as casual as could be, as if he hadn’t just tipped Katie’s world upside down with what he’d said to her. “What’s up?”
“I could ask you the same. Didn’t expect to see you at a family thing tonight.”
“Katie wanted to meet my tuna.”
She held up a forkful of the succulent fish. “He’s delicious.”
“I wish I could have some,” Laura said wistfully.
“Why can’t you?” Shane asked.
“Tuna has a lot of mercury, which isn’t good for the babies.”
“That’s a bummer. I would’ve caught something else for you if I’d known that.”
“But I see there are potatoes,” Laura said, her eyes widening.
“One of her cravings,” Owen explained.
Shane reached for the baby. “Let me take him while you guys eat.”
“Are you sure?” Laura asked. “You’re still eating.”
“I’m positive. Come see Uncle Shane, buddy.”
Holden’s arms and legs went wild as he tried to get to his uncle, making his mother and Katie laugh.
“It’s so not fair,” Laura said. “You’re sick as a dog while you carry a baby for nine months, and then he picks your brother over you every time—and sleeps through the night for him when he won’t do it for you!”
“What can I say?” Shane kissed the baby’s chubby cheek. “We’re buddies.”
“Not fair,” Laura said again before she went off to see about some dinner.
“You’re so good with him,” Katie said.
“I’m crazy about him.”
Watching him snuggle the sleepy baby made Katie’s heart melt. Right then she decided she wanted to get to know Shane better. For the first time in her life, she wanted to take a chance on a man and let him show her what she’d been missing for all the years she’d kept her distance from such things.
