Hooked on You

by Cathryn Fox

  “We should do a pickup game,” Jason says.

  “What’s a pickup game?” Kira asks, and around the table, jaws fall open in disbelief.

  “What kind of Canadian are you if you don’t know what a pickup game is?” Sam asks.

  “Apparently not a very good one,” she says and laughs.

  I lean into her. “Hockey.”

  “Ah, I don’t follow it,” she says.

  “Okay, that’s it. We’re shipping you to Siberia,” Sam says, waving a dismissive hand.

  “Why Siberia? They don’t play hockey there?” She whacks Sam. “And, hey, why not someplace hot, like the Caribbean. You know I hate being cold.”

  I laugh, resisting the urge to lean in and kiss her on the cheeks. She’s so fucking sweet and funny, playful and open, that it hurts my heart.

  “I’ll teach you how to play, Miss Palmer,” Brett says.

  She ruffles his toque. “Call me Kira, and that’s very sweet of you, Brett. I’ll take you up on that.”

  “I’ll help, too,” Liam pipes in.

  “Thanks, Liam.” Kira smiles at the boys, and my gut tightens. Everything about her screams white picket fence and kids—even though she voiced something different—but it’s everything I can’t give her but suddenly want to.

  Don’t go there, dude. You have no staying power, and she’s the last girl you ever want to hurt.

  I fight off the heaviness in my chest, finish off my drink, and say, “I’ll check the ice, but I don’t think it will be frozen through. Maybe another week or so.”

  “There’s a game on tonight, Kira,” Brett says. “After we finish painting, maybe we can watch, and I can explain the plays.”

  “I would love that,” she says, and looks off into the distance like she’s done a million times. What could be going through her head right now? We all finish our drinks, drop our cups into the recycle bin, and hit the hill again. We spent the next hour racing each other down the hill, and I’ve never seen Kira laugh so hard, or her light shine so bright.

  It’s close to one when I realize it’s time to call it quits. Kira has plans, and while I don’t know what they are, I don’t want her to be late. The boys grumble good-naturedly as we all pile back into my truck and head home. I see them home, and Kira is making us sandwiches when I head back to the B&B.

  I grab us each a glass of juice and put them on the table. “Thanks,” I say when she slides the sandwich to me. She has a small grin on her face.

  “Something funny?”

  “I called Amber when you took the boys back. She and a few friends are coming by tonight to watch the game. I thought we’d make a night out of it. Maybe bake some cookies. I did promise them we’d put the eggs to better use, and I’m sure Amber and her friends would love some of Gram’s cookies, too.”

  I grin at her. “Yeah, I’m sure they would.” I take a bite of my sandwich. “You know, I think you’re more like Gram than you realize.”

  She swallows her bite of sandwich and raises a brow. “Really? How?”

  “The guys told me she was always trying to set them up.”

  She laughs. “You think that’s what I’m doing?” She feigns innocence and adds, “I just want to spend time with my new friends before the place sells, and I move back.”

  The sandwich turns to lead in my stomach as I think about our hookup and the expiry date that comes with it. She checks her watch.

  “Almost time to go?” I ask, and she nods. “These plans involve you going out?” She nods again, and I reach for my keys. “I’m driving. You’re not going anywhere in Gram’s car until you have winter tires.”

  She sighs. “Here I thought I wouldn’t even be around long enough to need a winter coat.”

  “Are you disappointed that you’ve had to stay so long?”

  “Actually, no.” Water instantly pools in her eyes. “I…I love being here, surrounded by Gram’s things. I can feel her love and warmth in this house. And you guys.” Her throat makes a noise as she swallows. “You’ve all been like the family I always wanted.” I stand, pull her from her chair, and wrap my arms around her.

  I clear my throat. “I’ve been thinking, what if I—”

  The back door opens and in walks Izzy. Kira makes a move to go, but I hold her to me.

  “Kira, you okay?” Izzy asks, real concern in her voice.

  Kira wipes her face and inches away from me, and I instantly miss her warmth. “Just emotional today, I think. I have to take some of Gram’s paintings to a gallery, and I’m finding it harder than I thought I would have.”

  “I’m sorry,” Izzy says. “I’m free today. I can help.”

  “Thank you,” Kira says. “But I think I just need some alone time.”

  Izzy opens the fridge. “I’ll be hanging out here today, so give me a shout if you need anything.”

  “Come on. I’ll drive you,” I say.

  We pull on our coats and toques. I open the back door and hear Jason, Sam, and Cody talking near the pond, as we head to my truck. They must be checking the ice.

  “Wait, don’t you need to bring some paintings with you?” I ask.

  “I need you to take me somewhere first if you don’t mind,” she says.

  I’d take her to the moon and back if she asked. “Sure.” We get in the truck. “Where to?”

  “Bluenose Drive, but let’s go by the wharf first.”

  I nod and head toward Lunenburg’s downtown. As we drive, I notice there seems to be a lot of traffic this Saturday afternoon, and when I reach the wharf, I can see why.

  “Holy shit,” I say and turn to find Kira grinning at me. “Did you know the Bluenose II was going to be in dock today?”

  “I did,” she says.

  “How?”

  She lifts her chin. “I have ways.”

  “Holy shit,” I say again and laugh. I park the truck, and we both get out. A crowd of people are on the wharf taking pictures of the gorgeous schooner. I’ve wanted to get a look at her since I first arrived in Lunenburg, but she’s never been in port.

  “Beautiful, isn’t it?” Kira says.

  I take her hand, and we get closer. “Did you know she won the first international fisherman’s trophy for the fastest fishing schooner that worked in the North Atlantic deep-sea fishing industry? She had to win two out of three races to claim the trophy. She defeated the American challenger Elsie for the international fishermen’s trophy and returned to Nova Scotia in 1921.” I spout off a few more facts, and Kira is grinning at me by the time I finish.

  “You really do like boats, don’t you?” she asks.

  I shake my head and grin. “And I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know, am I?”

  “No, but it’s okay.” She shuffles closer, and I offer her my warmth. “I like listening to you, and I love your enthusiasm.”

  I exhale, and my breath turns to fog in front of my face. “I’m so glad I got to see her,” I say quietly. More importantly, I’m glad I got to share the moment with Kira.

  She checks her watch. “We need to go.”

  “Okay,” I say, and we get back into the truck. I’m about to take her back home to get the paintings, but she points the other direction.

  “This way,” she says.

  I give her a quizzical look, but she just stares out the window. We drive down the road, and she says, “Pull over here.” I pull the truck over and glance around. I scan the streets for an art gallery, but all I see is the Dorey Shop.”

  “What are we doing here?”

  “You’re building a boat today, Nate.”

  I sit up a little straighter. “What are you talking about? I didn’t sign up.”

  “I signed you up. I overheard you at the Halloween party, and wanted to do this for you.”

  “Kira…” I say, my heart swelling in m
y too-tight chest. I swear to God, this is the nicest, most thoughtful thing anyone has ever done for me. I take in her smile and the tumble of honey-blonde hair falling over her shoulders.

  I’m in deep fucking trouble here.

  The women from my social circle have never taken the time to get to know the man beneath the suit, to dig below the surface and discover who I really am, and what makes me tick, let alone sign me up for boat building lessons. Then again, have I ever let them? I closed my heart off long ago, yet I somehow opened it to this sweet and sexy mathematician without realizing it. Everything tells me it can only lead to trouble. But at times like this, when it’s only me and her, the world falling away around us, that I easily forget why we can never work out.

  “You okay?” she asks. “You want to do this, don’t you?”

  “Yeah, of course, Kira. I just…I don’t even know what to say.”

  “You don’t have to say anything.”

  “What about the paintings? I thought you were going to the gallery.”

  “I am. I’m going to do it while you’re in there.”

  “You’re taking my truck,” I say, her safety on the roads is of great concern to me. “I won’t take no for an answer.”

  “You don’t have to. I’d never make it over the back roads in the land yacht.”

  I have no idea what back roads she’s taking, but right now, all I can think about is kissing her. I lean across the cab and press my lips to hers. Everything about her mouth is incredibly hot, delicately soft, deliciously warm. After a deep, intimate kiss, one that leaves us both breathless, she inches back.

  “I’ll be back at six, when class is over.” She glances past my shoulder. “Now go, before you’re late.” I grab the handle, but I’m reluctant to leave. “Thanks for the use of your truck,” she says.

  The use of my truck is nothing, because as I revel in the warmth in her big brown eyes, I realize it’s the world I truly want to give her.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Kira

  They’ve set up a small stage at the back of the Anchor, and the place teems with women of all ages. The music is loud, but the laughter and excitement buzzing in the air are louder. I stand at the bar with Izzy as she fills a tray with drinks to help the serving staff with the huge crowd.

  “This is insane,” I practically yell into her ear.

  She grins at me. “Everyone loved Gram, and everyone wants to save her place.”

  Guilt niggles through me, and I feel like the worst granddaughter in the world. It’s not that I want to sell it—I have to. But if this town and its amazing people raise a down payment, would I still have to sell?

  Oh God, I would, because I simply don’t make enough to pay the monthly mortgage payments. I need to call my mother first thing tomorrow, let her know how this town has rallied together to keep Gram’s house in the family and keep it running as a B&B. Do I think she’ll change her mind? Not a bit. But I have to try at least, right?

  At least I have the studio. I’d taken some of the paintings out last week, brought them to one of the downtown galleries so they could be displayed. I could make a fair penny if I sold the studio to Pratt and Whitney—the offer keeps increasing with each letter they send—but I refuse even to entertain the idea. No way would I ever sell that out from under Gram. She asked one thing of me, and I plan to follow through. Either the B&B or the studio has to go. In my heart, I know Gram would rather I didn’t part with either, but when push comes to shove, I just can’t go back on the one last thing she asked of me.

  I steal a glance around the crowded bar. Liquor and food are flowing, and everyone is in good cheer. The fishermen have all dressed up for tonight, and Nate looks sharp in a dark gray suit with a white button-down shirt, and hair that’s a bit too long to fit the corporate image he’s exuding.

  With an air of authority and confidence in his every movement, he stands out as he shoulders his way through the masses. He steps up to me, a grin on his handsome face, and it’s all I can do to stop gawking at all his hotness. The man cleans up nice. Then again, I fell for him—literally—when he was wearing his fishing gear.

  “So you’re not going to bid on me, save me from taking a stranger out to dinner tonight?”

  “While I’d like to be the one dining with you, I refuse to. Besides, I get to take you to my bed later,” I say.

  “Confident—I like that in a woman.” Our knuckles brush, and warmth goes through my body. I haven’t been here long, and I can’t believe I’m getting used to the cold, but the best part of the snowy fall is the way Nate warms me up every night.

  “Well, if you’d rather not—”

  “Oh, I’d rather,” he says quickly, and my heart fills with all the insane things I feel for this man and wish I didn’t.

  I hold my hand out. “Index card?”

  “Shit, I forgot to fill one out.”

  Just then, Heather taps the microphone to gather everyone’s attention. “Okay, folks, now that you all have your drinks, we can get the night underway. Remember, this is to save Gram’s B&B, and it’s all in good fun. Thank you all for coming out, and thanks to the fishermen. Now remember they are putting themselves out to help, not ‘putting out’ to help,” she says, and everyone claps and laughs.

  Nate leans down, puts his mouth next to my ear, and says, “I’ll be putting out.”

  Heat moves through me, and as I envision his body over mine, doing the most delicious things to me, my cheeks must be aflame. I glance up to find Izzy watching us as she approaches with her empty tray.

  “You’d better go,” I say to Nate and shove him as the guys all line up.

  “I’ll see you at home,” he says.

  Home.

  Oh God, Gram’s really does feel like home—more of a home than I’ve ever had. I wish I could save it. I wish there were a way.

  It will all work out in the end.

  As Gram’s wise words, ones Nate said not so long ago, rush through my brain, I throw a silent prayer up for a miracle. I turn and grab the stack of index cards that the guys had filled out. Izzy passes in her order to the bartender and leans against the counter.

  “So Nate…” she begins.

  My gaze tracks him as he maneuvers his way to the side of the stage with the other. “What about him?”

  “You like him, eh?”

  “Sure, I like all the guys. We’re a family.” My heart hitches. This motley crew has become my family over the last month, more of a family than I’ve had in a long time.

  “Yeah, we are, aren’t we?” she says. “I like to think of you as my sister, and so do the guys. I’m not so sure Nate thinks about you like that.” I swallow down my unease and say nothing. “Has he caught that mouse yet?” she asks with a grin on her face.

  Damn, she knows.

  “No. Maybe it got back outside before Nate sealed off the hole.”

  “Maybe,” she says. “Nate’s nice, though. We like him. He’s a hell of a lot better than the last asshole in his position. He’s more like one of us.” I’m about to ask what she means by that when Heather calls out my name. I make a move to go to the stage, but Izzy puts her hand on my wrist. “You’re a nice girl, Kira. I get what you see in him. I just don’t want to see you hurt, okay?”

  “I know what I’m doing,” I say, even though I don’t. God, I have no clue what I’m doing with Nate, or how I’m going to walk away from him, Izzy, all the guys. My throat tightens, and I try to pull off normal when our eyes meet, hold an extra moment. Izzy nods and breaks the contact.

  “Okay,” she says. “Go knock ’em dead up there. Here’s to Gram.”

  I force my shaky legs to carry me to the stage. I’ve given presentations before, so I’m not a newbie at this, although my presentations had to do with math and science, not auctioning off fishermen.

  “Okay, first up,” I say and
read the top index card. “It’s Sam Winters,” I say. The crowd claps, and Heather boos. I glance at her and laugh. I do love the comradery between her and Sam. “At six foot four—” I pause. No way is he that tall. I steal a glance at him as he takes to center stage and starts flexing. The crowd goes crazy, and I laugh. He’s such a goofball. “Okay, at six four, and two hundred pounds of pure muscle…” I shake my head and glance at him. “Really, Sam?” I say, and everyone roars.

  “Keep reading?” he says and does some pose to show off his ass.

  I glance back at the card and read. “Sam, who was Gram’s favorite, despite what Jason claims, has a lot to offer. He’s kind, generous, and will fight for a woman’s honor.” Good Lord. “He loves to wine and dine his date and leave her with lasting memories. He loves skiing, snowmobiling, lazy Sunday mornings, and peanut butter and jelly.” I drop the card, and Heather takes over for the bidding portion.

  “Now that we’ve all heard Sam’s Tinder profile,” she says, and the crowd laughs, “let’s start the bidding at fifty dollars.”

  I step up to the bar and get a glass of white wine. The bids reach one thousand dollars. Holy crap. On stage, Sam is hamming it up, putting on a show for the ladies, and the final bid comes in from a middle-aged woman, at two thousand dollars. Unbelievable. Sam, ever gracious that he is, steps down from the stage, holds his hand out to the woman, and lifts her to her feet. He helps her into her coat like the perfect gentleman, and the two go out the door for their dinner date at the Grand Banker.

  I head back to the stage and continue reading the information provided for each man, with Heather taking over for the bidding. I stand back, a smile on my face, and my heart full of love for this town and the people. I glance upward and fight a tear. Gram would be so pleased, and that warms my soul.

  When it’s Nate’s turn, I remember he doesn’t have an index card, so I’ll have to wing it. I glance down, to pretend I’m reading. “Please welcome Nate Montgomery to the stage.” Nate, looking so damn hot in his form-fitting suit, takes center stage, and the crowd claps.