by Marie Force
“You liked that, huh?”
She nodded as her heart pounded.
“I liked it, too.”
“Did you like it enough to do it again?”
“Let me think about that.”
A gurgle of laughter escaped from her lips, which had been pressed tightly together.
He leaned in so his lips were a heartbeat away from touching hers. “I’m done thinking.” And then he kissed her again, and Katie couldn’t seem to breathe or move or do anything other than wait to see what he would do next.
A slash of lightning followed by a crack of thunder made Katie startle and pull back from him. “Sorry,” she muttered.
He smiled and brushed her hair back from her face. “Don’t be sorry.”
“I feel like such a fool for still being scared of thunder and lightning at my age.”
“Is there an age limit on being afraid of something?”
“No, but… I still feel silly about it.”
“No need to feel silly on my account.”
She turned on her side to face him, wincing when her skin pulled against the cut on her foot. “Are you really this nice, or is this just your first-date-impress-the-girl-with-your-awesomeness act?”
He was even more adorable, she discovered, when he laughed. Falling onto the pillow on his side of the bed, he covered his eyes with his forearm as he continued to laugh. “You’re too much, you know that?”
“I’ve heard that a time or two.”
He lifted his arm off his face and looked at her. “My father always told us to be ourselves because it was too much work to be ourselves and someone else, too. So I hate to tell you that what you see is what you get. I have no reason to be anything other than nice to you, Katie. Do you want to know why?”
She nodded.
“Because I really, really want to go out with you again.” He checked his watch. “Tonight. And maybe tomorrow night, too. And the night after.”
“Do you have to work tomorrow?”
“Today, you mean?” he asked, reminding her it was after midnight already. “Yes, I’m working.”
“You’re going to be tired.”
“Nah, I’ll be fine.”
“You really don’t have to stay. I’ve survived many a thunderstorm on my own. You should see the epic storms we get in Texas.”
“I don’t mind staying awhile. There’s no need for you to survive this one alone.” He somehow managed to arrange them so his arms were around her and her head was resting on his chest.
The subtle scents of soap and sporty deodorant and laundry detergent filled her senses and calmed her racing mind. She was lying in bed with a man for the first time in her life. Shouldn’t she be freaking out or telling him to go or something?
“I can almost hear you thinking,” Shane said as he casually ran his hand up and down her arm, setting off a flood of sensation that seemed to gather between her legs.
“You can’t hear someone think.”
“No, but I can feel your tension and your hesitancy and your internal debate about whether it’s worse to be in a bed with me or to live through the storm on your own.”
Since she couldn’t deny that she’d been having those very thoughts, she didn’t bother to try.
He pressed his lips to her forehead. “It’s okay to relax, Katie. I promise you’re safe with me.”
Little by little, her muscles gave way to the drowsiness that tugged her under. She shifted her legs, trying to find some relief from the dull throb between them. The sensation was new to her and one she looked forward to exploring more in-depth. She choked back a giggle at the direction her thoughts had taken.
“What’re you thinking about now?” he asked.
“I can’t tell you.”
“Oh come on! Now you have to tell me.”
She dissolved into laughter. “I really can’t.”
“Yes, you can! Do I need to tickle it out of you?”
“Don’t you dare.”
He raised his hand in a menacing claw that hung above her, making her forget all about the storm raging outside or all the reasons she’d stayed away from men for so long.
“Shane?”
He dropped his arm and put it around her. “Yeah?”
“I’m really glad I waited to have my first date with you.”
Leaning in, he kept his eyes open when he kissed her. “So am I, honey.”
Chapter 13
The sharp pain in her injured foot woke Katie the next morning. Shane was long gone, but he’d left a note on the pillow next to her.
Morning! Hope your foot doesn’t hurt too much. I have to work until about five today, but I’ll come by after I get home and grab a shower. What do you think of Italian food? I had a great time last night. Shane
Katie sighed with happiness as she reread the note. He was so sweet and had been incredibly kind and accommodating last night—not only when she injured her foot, but after she told him theirs was her first-ever date. He’d made her feel special, and she was eager to see him again later.
She got up, reached for her crutches and hobbled to the bathroom. Figuring out the stairs and getting around the hotel ought to be fun, she thought after she’d brushed her teeth and hair and struggled into a tank top and a pair of shorts, nearly losing her balance several times in the process.
A knock on her door had her hobbling to answer it.
“I was hoping I wasn’t too early,” her grandmother said before stopping to stare at the crutches. “What happened, honey?”
“Stepped on something sharp on the beach last night.”
“Oh my goodness! Are you all right? Did you see the doctor?”
Katie nodded and went to sit on the edge of her bed. Adele came in after her, shutting the door. “I was with Shane, and he took me to the clinic where Doctor David stitched me up.”
“I’m so sorry you got hurt. You could’ve come to get me. I hope you know that. I almost came up to check on you during the storm.”
Katie swallowed hard and tried not to laugh at the thought of her grandmother finding Shane offering comfort during the storm.
“I remember how much you hate them.”
“I was fine, but thanks for thinking of me.”
“I was hoping I could talk you into some shopping and maybe lunch today, but I can see we’ll need to do something much more relaxing, such as lounge on the deck all day and let people wait on us hand and foot.”
Katie laughed at her grandmother’s irreverence. The time she and her siblings had spent here with Adele and Russ had saved their childhood from being utterly miserable, and her grandparents had stayed faithfully devoted to their grandchildren even after they’d become adults. “I’d love to do that.”
“Let’s figure out how to get you downstairs.”
Adele carried one of the crutches while Katie went down a stair at a time, using the rail and the other crutch as she made her way. Shane’s method the night before had been far more efficient—and enjoyable. Thinking about him made her feel giddy and excited as she anticipated spending more time with him.
Her grandmother helped her get settled at a table on the deck and asked that coffee be delivered to Katie.
“I do love how you get stuff done, Gram.”
Adele took the seat across from Katie. “I may be retired, but I still know how to make things happen.”
Katie gazed out at the sparkling blue water. “This is still the best view in the whole world.”
“Even after what happened the other day?”
“I’m trying not to let that ruin one of my favorite places.”
“I’m glad to hear that. You’ve always loved the beach and swimming.”
“I’ll get back to it. As soon as I’m allowed to get my foot wet.”
“So you were walking along on the beach and sliced it open?”
As their coffee was delivered, Katie nodded. “We’d come back from the dinner at Shane’s uncle’s marina where they cooked the huge tu
na Shane caught yesterday. He suggested a walk on the beach, and we were having a really nice time when I cut my foot. He was great about it. He even carried me back to the hotel and took me to the clinic after he called Dr. David.”
“I’m not surprised. He seems like a very fine young man.”
“He is.”
Adele raised her brow in question. “And we already know this for sure?”
“Everyone has sung his praises—Owen, Laura, Mom. He’s… Well, he’s easy to talk to and fun to be with. I don’t feel worried about all the things I always worry about when I’m with him. I’m not constantly waiting for him to turn into someone else, because people I trust have assured me he won’t. That goes a long way with me.”
“I’m so happy to see you taking this step, my darling. I can’t tell you how much I’ve worried about you and the others.” She shook her head. “The worry has been overwhelming at times.”
“I speak for all of us when I tell you we don’t want you to worry about us. We’re all doing well and coping in our own ways. It’s going to be better now that the legal stuff is over and with Mom getting engaged. What do you think of that news?”
“I’m delighted for her. Charlie is a wonderful guy and treats her so lovingly. No one deserves that more than she does.”
“You’re so right. I love to see her so happy. I realized yesterday that I’ve never seen her look like that before—happy, content, relaxed. She was always on edge, waiting for the next explosion.” Katie shook her head to rid her mind of those unhappy memories.
“It is indeed nice to see—not just on her, but on you, too.”
The waitress returned to their table to see if they were interested in ordering breakfast.
“Nothing for me,” Adele said. “I ate hours ago, but my granddaughter is probably hungry.”
“I am,” Katie said. “The egg white omelet would be great.”
“Coming right up.”
She enjoyed more coffee, the omelet and a lively conversation with her always-entertaining grandmother. It was such a relief to not have to dread going back to work to deal with Doctor Strangelove.
Speaking of doctors, Katie was surprised to see David Lawrence coming across the deck to their table.
“Hi there,” David said.
“Gram, this is Doctor David Lawrence. David, my grandmother, Adele Kincaid.”
“Yes, we met at the wedding,” Adele said as she shook his hand. “Nice to see you again. I understand we owe you a debt of thanks for coming in last night to tend to Katie.”
“I was happy to do it. How is it today?”
“Sore.”
“It will be for a day or two. A couple of ibuprofen will take the edge off.”
“I’ll take some now that I’ve eaten.”
“Do you mind if I join you for a few minutes?” he asked.
“Of course not. Please, grab a chair.”
While he did that, Katie exchanged quizzical glances with her grandmother.
“Sorry to barge in on your breakfast,” he said when he was settled in a chair.
“It’s fine,” Katie said. “We were done and just chatting.”
“After we met last night, I was thinking about how you mentioned you’re a nurse practitioner at home. We’re desperately in need of more help at the clinic, and I wondered if you’d have any interest in relocating.”
Katie stared at him as her grandmother beamed with pleasure. “What a lovely offer,” Adele said. “What do you think, Katie?”
“I, um, I don’t know what to think.”
“I’m sorry to drop it on you this way, but we’ve been overwhelmed for quite some time now, and our uptick in patient load has made it possible to consider hiring another full-time nurse practitioner. We already have Victoria Stevens, our nurse practitioner-midwife, but the two of us are utterly swamped. When you said you were a nurse practitioner in a family practice, my wheels began to spin.”
Katie’s wheels were spinning right along with his.
“What’s your situation at home?” he asked.
“Funny you should ask. I recently quit my job in that family practice.”
David placed his hand over his heart. “Don’t play with me.”
Katie laughed at his boyish grin. “I really did quit right before I came here and was going to look for a job when I got back to Texas after some time here with my family.”
“Would you consider relocating to our lovely island?”
Katie thought about the momentous few days she’d already had on Gansett and how much she’d enjoyed spending time with her mother, grandparents, Owen, Laura, Holden—and Shane, not to mention the rest of the McCarthy family. What would it be like to be here all the time, surrounded by her family and new friends like Shane and his family?
“Katie?” Adele said. “What do you think?”
“I’d love to hear more about the job.”
“Fair enough.” David withdrew a business card from his wallet and handed it to her. “My cell number is on there. Feel free to give me a call when you’re getting around better, and we’ll set up a time for you to come in. Or just stop by, and I’ll fit you in between patients.”
“Thank you so much for thinking of me for the job.”
“No problem. I hope you’ll give it some thought and remember the word ‘desperate’ as you do your thinking.”
Katie laughed at the pleading face he made to go with the word desperate. “I’ll definitely be in touch.”
“I’ll look forward to hearing from you. Adele, it was a pleasure seeing you again.”
“Likewise.”
“Back to the salt mines,” he said, leaving them with a wave.
“Well, how about that?” Adele said when they were alone again.
“Rather unexpected.”
“A very interesting offer, to say the least, and allow me to sweeten the pot by telling you that Pop and I are talking about moving back to the island in the spring.”
“You are? Really?”
“Uh-huh. We’ve had enough of the Florida sun. We’ll be looking for a little place on the island before we go home later this month.”
“No one moves from south to north, you know. It’s just not done.”
Adele laughed. “Especially at our age, when we’re considered ‘snow birds.’ We’ll probably keep our place down there to run away to when the Gansett winter gets too cold, but we want to be here. It was our home for a long time, and we miss it.”
Katie reached across the table for her grandmother’s hand. “None of us will ever forget what you guys did for Jeff when he needed you.”
“That was the very least we could do. After we found out the truth of what’d been going on for all those years… I think I could’ve actually committed murder if I’d gotten your father alone in a room.”
“You’d have to get in a very long line.”
“I don’t want to spend one more second of my life—or yours—thinking or talking about him. I’d much rather talk about your evening with the oh-so-handsome Shane McCarthy.”
Katie was well aware of the fact that her face was turning bright red, because she could feel the heat stealing into her cheeks.
Adele never missed a thing, especially a good blush. “Oh. My. So I take it you had a good time?”
“A very nice time, except for the trip to the clinic and the stitches portion of the evening. But even then, he was terrific.” She leaned in closer to her grandmother. “And he stayed with me during the storm.”
“Did he now?”
“Uh-huh. He was very nice about everything.”
“I’m so glad you agreed to go out with him, honey. You can’t do better than that handsome young man. He’s all dark and broody until his little nephew is around, and then he lights up. It’s good to know he has that kind of joy in him.”
Katie absorbed her grandmother’s astute assessment like a hungry sponge. “The reason he’s dark and broody is because he had a miserable experience with h
is ex-wife, who hid a serious addiction to pain meds from him the whole time they were married. He paid for her to go to rehab, and she thanked him with a divorce.”
“Oh dear,” Adele said. “No wonder why he seems so quiet and withdrawn much of the time.”
“He’s really sweet and easy to talk to and everything, but I wonder…” She looked up to find her grandmother watching her intently. “We both bring such heavy crap to the table. Do you think it’s too much? Not that I’m planning to marry him or anything. But if we’re going to spend time together, I just… I wonder. That’s all.”
Adele propped her chin on her upturned fist. “You’ve waited a long time to take a chance with any man, so it’s understandable that you have concerns. Let me tell you what I know to be true—everyone has crap. You don’t get to be thirty years old without accumulating crap—some of it good, some of it not so good. If you’re looking for someone with no crap, you’ll be hard-pressed to find him.”
“That’s true. And it’s not like I don’t have my own bag of crap dragging along behind me.”
“Listen to me, Katie. That bag of crap isn’t yours. It’s your father’s. The worst thing you can do is let one man’s insanity influence and color the whole rest of your life. Look at our wonderful Owen and how happy he is with Laura. Those kids fought long and hard for their happily ever after, and there’s no reason you can’t have yours, too. It’s a choice, my darling, to not allow the past to ruin the future. It’s a conscious choice you have to make to be happy.”
“I want to be happy. I really do.”
“Then go for it. Maybe you’ll make something lasting of this connection with Shane, or perhaps it’ll just be a fun late-summer romance. No way to tell how it’ll all work out. But I promise if you don’t try, honestly try, you’ll regret it.”
“I know. I’ve already had that thought myself.”
“There’re no guarantees in this life, and when we risk our hearts, there’s always a chance of getting hurt. Speaking only for myself now, I’d much prefer taking a chance on being hurt over never knowing real, true love. I look at your grandpa after fifty-five years of marriage and I still think, ‘There he is. There’s my guy.’ I want you to have that, too, my sweet girl.”
