by Marie Force
Shane was grateful for the distraction Holden provided as he tried to process what Katie had told him. This was her first date. Ever. Which meant she hadn’t done anything else with any guy. Ever. He had to force air into his lungs as he absorbed the implications of her confession.
Suddenly, this evening out with her was about much more than his first date after a crushing divorce. This date was much more important to her than it could ever be to him. Imagine living thirty-two years without ever going on a date. Shane had been dating since he was sixteen with a newly issued driver’s license in hand. His father had lectured him endlessly about safe sex, even going so far as to buy him his first box of condoms.
Shane would never forget the mortification of that conversation, but he’d been damned grateful to have them six months later when he had sex for the first time with his high school girlfriend.
Katie had skipped that entire phase of her life, preferring to be alone rather than risk being treated the way her father had treated her mother. She hadn’t needed to draw him a map for him to understand the why of it. He knew just enough about the Lawry family to get the picture.
But was he the right guy for her to take this monumental step with? He wasn’t sure about that, and before things went any further between them, he needed to tell her about Courtney and what he’d been through so she could decide if she wanted to continue seeing him. The thought of talking about all that garbage with Katie turned his stomach and ruined what was left of his appetite.
He pushed his plate away and focused all his attention on Holden, rubbing his back. Shane loved the way the baby snuggled into the space between his head and shoulder, making himself comfortable in his uncle’s arms. And then he noticed that Holden had wrapped his hand tightly around Katie’s index finger. He shared a smile with her.
“He’s so perfect,” she whispered.
“I know. Being an uncle is the best thing ever.”
“It looks good on you.”
“Thanks.”
“Do you want kids of your own?”
“Someday.” He didn’t mention that he’d expected to have a couple of them by now. But he’d tell her that later, when they were alone. “What about you?”
“When I was little, I wanted a big horde of kids like my mother had. But I haven’t thought about that in ages.”
Sitting on the picnic tables outside the restaurant, Owen and Evan began playing their guitars as their friends and family sang along to “Brown-Eyed Girl.”
Katie watched her brother with a look of love and pride on her face. “He’s so good. Always has been.”
“I love listening to him play. He kept us entertained all winter. He and Laura and the baby, Sarah and Charlie and me… We spent many an evening in the sitting room at the hotel with a fire burning and Owen’s guitar for entertainment.”
“That sounds really cozy.”
“It was. From the time he was born, Holden has been mesmerized by Owen and the guitar.”
“He was probably already used to hearing it while he was in utero.”
“Really?”
“Uh-huh. Babies can hear all sorts of things before they’re born, especially music and their parents’ voices.”
“That’s so cool.”
The island’s police chief, Blaine Taylor, and his wife, Tiffany, came into the restaurant. “Did you guys eat all the tuna?” he asked.
“There’s plenty left,” Big Mac said. “Help yourselves.”
The party continued to grow when Alex Martinez and his fiancée, Jenny, arrived with Alex’s brother, Paul, along with Dr. David Lawrence and his girlfriend, Daisy Babson, as well as Jared and Lizzie James. Shane introduced Katie to all the late arrivals when they came by their table to say hello.
“Do you guys do this sort of thing often?” Katie asked him.
“There’s always some sort of gathering going on. It’s a really fun group of people.”
“I can see that.”
And he could see her desire to be part of it. He wondered if she knew her expression gave her away as she took in the happy people gathered around them.
Laura returned to claim her sleeping baby.
“Do I have to give him back?” Shane asked.
“Afraid so. Hand him over.”
“If you insist.” As Shane transferred the baby to his mother’s waiting arms, the baby never stirred. “He’s out cold. My work here is finished.”
“We’re going to listen to Daddy play,” Laura said.
“We’re heading out shortly,” Shane said. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Laura flashed a saucy, suggestive smile. “Have fun, you kids.”
“Go away, Laura.”
“What?”
“Go!”
“He’s not usually so rude, Katie. I apologize for him.”
Katie laughed at the scowl Shane directed at his sister.
“You’re going away now, Laura.”
“Fine. Be that way.”
“Sheesh,” Shane said when his sister took off with the baby. “What a pain she is.”
“You love her.”
“Unfortunately, I do, and she knows it.”
“You guys are tight.”
“Always have been. Our mom died when she was nine and I was seven. We’ve been through a lot together.”
“I’m sorry about your mom. That’s awful.”
“It was pretty bad for a while, but we got through it.” He wanted to tell her what else he’d been through and give her an out if she wanted it. “What do you say we hit the road?”
“Sure. Whatever you want to do.”
He got up and held out a hand to help her and hung on to her hand even after she was standing. They went around to say their good-byes to his family, all of whom made a big deal out of the fact that he’d caught dinner for the whole clan. “I do what I can for the family,” Shane said to laughter from his dad and uncles.
“Have a good night, son,” Frank said. “Nice to see you again, Katie.”
“You, too, Mr. McCarthy.”
“Please, honey. Call me Frank.”
“Thank you, I will.”
Shane put his arm around her as they walked to where he’d parked the motorcycle. He helped her put on the helmet and waited until she was settled on the back before he donned his own helmet and climbed on. “Hang on extra tight.”
Katie laughed at his flirtatious comment.
He loved the way her arms felt around him as he drove out of the marina and headed for town. With his entire family at the marina, they’d have the hotel sitting room to themselves. It was the perfect place for the conversation they needed to have before this went any further.
When they pulled into the parking lot at the Surf, Katie was disappointed that they’d come home so early. He’d seemed to be enjoying himself, but maybe she’d read that wrong. How would she know anyway?
Would it be awkward when they said good night? What if he tried to kiss her? Would she let him? Right… When he hadn’t even wanted to stay out past ten o’clock, he wasn’t likely to try to kiss her.
He took the helmet from her and gestured for her to go on ahead of him into the hotel.
“Thanks for a nice time,” she said when they stepped into the lobby. With the restaurant closed for the evening, no one was around. “Your family is amazing.”
“Yes, they are, but our date isn’t over. Unless you want it to be.”
“Oh. I thought…”
“You thought I was bringing you home and calling it a night.”
“Yes,” she said, feeling foolish now.
“I was hoping we could find a quiet place to talk, if that’s okay.”
Katie couldn’t believe how relieved she was to learn their date wasn’t over. “I’d like that.”
“Come on in here.” He led her into the sitting room, where he stashed the helmets on the floor next to the hutch that housed her grandmother’s favorite china. Then he joined her on the sofa, sitting with one
leg curled up so he could face her. “I wanted to say that I appreciate you trusting me enough to tell me what you did earlier.”
“It’s sort of embarrassing.”
“Don’t be embarrassed. There’s no need to be.”
“That’s nice of you to say, but honestly… How many thirty-two-year-old women do you know who’ve never been on a date or… well, anything else?”
“I’m so honored to be your first date, Katie.” He took hold of her hand and brought it to his lips, running them over her knuckles. That simple contact was all it took to set off a fever inside her.
“It wasn’t that I didn’t want to date. When I was younger and everyone was doing the group-dating thing, my dad wouldn’t let me go. He didn’t approve of the boys I was friends with, and I knew better than to argue with him. And then later, when I got to college, they were all such players, you know? I was surrounded by immature jerks who were awful to my friends. I wanted nothing to do with any of them. Before I knew it, I’d created a pattern of avoidance that became an unintentional lifestyle.”
“I can see how that would happen, and I understand it. I want you to know some things about me that might make you reconsider whether you want me to be the first guy you date.”
Katie couldn’t imagine any scenario that would make her not want to spend more time with him. “Okay…”
“I was married for a couple of years, but I’m divorced now.”
“Oh.”
“My wife, Courtney, was a drug addict. She was addicted to pain meds, and I didn’t find out until we’d been married for quite some time.”
“Oh God, Shane. I’m so sorry.”
“Yeah, it was a rough time. And I was literally blinded by love. It never occurred to me that she was an addict. She hid it incredibly well.”
“How’d you find out?”
“It all came to a head when I started getting calls from bill collectors. She took care of the bills, so I didn’t know where the money was going. When I dug a little deeper, I found out she’d basically bankrupted us with her habit.” He released a deep breath and ran his fingers through his hair repeatedly, as if it was excruciating to talk about this. “After an ugly, horrible confrontation, I got her into rehab. I borrowed money from my dad to pay for it.”
“She was so lucky to have you.”
“So lucky she divorced me the second she got out of rehab. I haven’t seen her since the day I dropped her off there.”
Katie had no idea what to say to that. His pain was so palpable, even after what had to be some considerable time if he was already divorced. “I’m sorry she treated you that way. No one deserves that.”
“I really loved her. She was the real deal for me. To find out it wasn’t for her was… Well, it took me a really long time to get past it. Sometimes I wonder if I’m actually past it, and I thought you should know, since our date was a big deal for you, too. This is the first time I’ve been out with anyone since everything happened with her.”
“Oh, wow,” she said on a long exhale. “We’re quite a pair, huh?”
He smiled, but the sadness lingered around his eyes. “Yeah, I guess we are. I’d understand if my crap is too heavy for you, Katie. You’ve had enough of your own, and it wouldn’t hurt my feelings if you told me it’s too much for you.”
Katie thought about what she should say. “You’re completely divorced, right?”
“For about eighteen months now.”
“Then I don’t see any reason why we can’t spend some time together and see what happens.”
“Really?”
He was so cute and so eager. She wondered if he had any idea how adorable he was. The thought of his ex-wife treating him so callously made her furious on his behalf. “Yes, really.”
“You want to go for a walk on the beach?”
“I’d love to.”
Chapter 11
With everyone fed and happy, Stephanie filled a plate and went to sit next to Grant, who was sharing a table with Dan, Kara, Evan and Grace.
“Everything was amazing, as always,” Grace said to Stephanie.
“Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it.”
Grant put his arm around her and kissed her cheek. “Great job, babe. Only you could prepare a quick dinner for forty and not freak out.”
“What else can I do when my adorable future father-in-law calls me for help?”
“This was way above and beyond with everything you’ve got going on,” Evan said.
“It was fun,” Stephanie said.
“How are the wedding plans coming along?” Kara asked. “I can’t believe you’re putting together a wedding as quickly as you are. I have almost a year, and I’ll be lucky to get it all done in time.”
“We’re going very simple,” Stephanie said, smiling at Grant. “That makes it easier.”
“That’s what we should’ve done,” Kara said, sighing.
“I offered to elope to Vegas,” Dan replied with a cheeky grin for his fiancée.
“There’s simple and then there’s cheesy,” Kara said as the others laughed. “Two very different things.”
“I think she might be insulting me,” Dan said.
Grant rolled his eyes at his close friend. “You’re lucky you found someone willing to marry you. If I were you, I’d do anything she wanted me to do.”
“This is true,” Dan said gravely.
Kara smiled at him. “He’s taking me to LA to meet my future in-laws after the season.”
“And she’s taking me to Bar Harbor to meet the rest of mine.”
“That sounds like fun,” Stephanie said. “When are you leaving?”
“Right after Columbus Day,” Kara said. “I’ll shut down the launches for the winter, and off we go.”
“Wait till you see his place in Malibu,” Grant said. “Very swank.”
“I can’t wait,” Kara said. “I’ve always wanted to live in a beach house.”
“Now you’ll have your very own any time we get out to the West Coast,” Dan said.
“Where do you guys plan to live after you’re married?” Grace asked.
“Here,” Kara said. “We both love it here.”
“Oh good,” Grace said. “I was worried for a minute that we’d be losing you after the wedding.”
“No way,” Dan said. “We’re here to stay. I’ll have to get out to LA once in a while for work, but I can do most of it from here and tend to my accidental practice on the island at the same time.”
“I like that,” Grant said with a chuckle. “‘Accidental practice.’”
“That’s what it is. I never had any intention of practicing here, but one thing led to another…”
“And Jim Sturgil lost his mind,” Evan added.
“That didn’t hurt,” Dan conceded.
“What’s the latest with him anyway?” Stephanie asked.
“He’s been charged with felony assault for the stunt he pulled at our engagement party.” Dan ran a finger over the healing scar on his hand where Jim had slashed him with a knife. “I haven’t heard anything more than that.”
“Damn,” Evan said. “If he’s convicted—and how could he not be with so many witnesses—he’ll be disbarred.”
“I don’t feel sorry for him at all,” Kara said indignantly. “He brought it all on himself by being an asshole to Tiffany and then by trying to blame Dan for his practice going belly-up. It’s no one’s fault but his.”
“Listen to my little hellcat.” Dan put his arm around Kara. “Don’t get her started on Jim Sturgil.”
“He could’ve killed you with that knife. You’ll have to pardon me if I don’t find that one bit funny.”
“Wow,” Grant said. “She really does love you.”
“I know, right?” Dan said. “It’s just as shocking to me.”
“Shut up,” Kara said, laughing at the amazement on Dan’s face. “Before I forget why I love you so much.”
“Please don’t do that.”
Sitting wit
h Grant and their friends, her stepfather across the room with his new fiancée, Sarah, Stephanie wanted to pinch herself to believe this was actually her life now. After spending fourteen years totally on her own while trying to free Charlie from prison and having no luck until Grant and Dan had entered her life, she would be forever grateful to them. Grant had called Dan to tell him about Charlie, and Dan had taken it from there.
They would never know the full measure of her relief and gratitude for what they’d done for her—and, more important, what they’d done for Charlie.
“Whatcha thinking about, babe?” Grant asked, his lips close to her ear as he spoke to her.
“Everything that’s happened in the last year and how it’s still amazing to me how different my life is now. And Charlie’s life, too. We owe it all to you.”
“All I did was make a phone call.”
“That’s what you always say.” He never took any credit for what he’d done to help them, and now was no different.
“It’s true. Dan did the rest.”
“But there would’ve been no Dan without you.”
“I hope you know by now,” he said, his lips brushing her ear, “that there’s absolutely nothing I wouldn’t do for you.”
His love surrounded her like a warm blanket, filling her with the kind of security she’d never had before she fell in love with him during Tropical Storm Hailey. Despite all the many ways she’d tried to sabotage their relationship since then, he’d remained steadfast in his devotion to her.
“I could use your help with something in the kitchen,” she said. The others had begun to migrate out to the picnic tables in the parking lot, where Big Mac had started a fire in a portable fire pit he produced from somewhere, and Evan and Owen had everyone singing along with them to “Margaritaville.”
“Sure. Lead the way.”
Stephanie took his hand and led him around the counter to the kitchen. “Actually, where I need your help is down this hallway here.” With a quick glance to make sure no one had seen them slip away, she took him into the windowless room that had been hers when they first started seeing each other. Big Mac and Linda had hired her to run the marina restaurant that summer.
