The House on Sunshine Corner

by Phoebe Mills

  “Doesn’t surprise me that you’re giving so much to all these kids, even if that cuts into your off time.”

  “It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do,” she said with a helpless shrug.

  “I remember,” Carter murmured, his eyes locked with hers.

  They stood barely a foot apart, so close the scent of her filled his nose—lemons and sawdust…familiar and yet at the same time, completely new. A lethal combination if the state of his body was any indication. It heated, thrumming to life under her gaze. It’d be so easy to lean down, brush his lips against hers. Feel her tongue sweep into his mouth again. This time, he wouldn’t be as hesitant as he’d been at his sister’s. There’d be no one to walk in on them now.

  He could take his time, relearning the taste of her and all the things that made her moan. Finding out if she still liked it when he scraped his teeth against her soft bottom lip. Or when he hauled her up against him, his hands greedy and his mouth—

  Abby cleared her throat and shook her head, breaking their gazes. When she spoke, her voice came out husky. “What about you? Tell me about your job. Do you love it?”

  Grateful for a distraction, Carter nodded. “I do. I haven’t been able to do much of this kind of thing lately.” He gestured toward their current project, as well as the space around them. “But otherwise I’m happy, and I’m on track with my goals.”

  “And what goals would those be?”

  “I have one last promotion to nail.” His current projects should seal the deal by quarter’s end, even with him working remotely. “Then I’ll have all the experience I need to open my own firm within a year.”

  “Wow, really? Becca didn’t mention that.”

  “That’s probably because I think she’s blocked it out entirely.” He chuckled softly. “She’s been trying to get me to move back since I graduated college.”

  “I don’t blame her. I know how much she loves having you in Sofia’s life. And that little girl adores you.”

  “She adores me because she’s got me wrapped around her finger and she knows it. If she wants something, I’m the one who’s going to give it to her.”

  Abby laughed. “Are you sure they aren’t going to sweet talk you into staying?”

  “Nope. I’ve worked too hard to get where I am. I’ve been strengthening my connections in the Vegas area and socking away every extra penny so I’ll have the capital I need to open up down there.”

  “It’s not all it’s cracked up to be, you know. Owning your own business is a pain in the ass most days. You have to be really sure you want it.”

  “I do,” he promised, determination filling him.

  That hadn’t changed, no matter how much he’d been enjoying his extended stay in Heart’s Hope Bay. Spending real quality time with Becca and Sofia, getting reacquainted with old friends.

  Reconnecting with Abby.

  That, more than anything, gave him pause. He connected with her in a way he’d never done with anyone else. Everything about her drew him in, from her drive to her kindness…Hell, even her obsessive planning. She was beautiful and capable, intelligent and sexy, and his body thrummed with want whenever he was within arm’s reach of her. He’d bet anything she felt the same deep connection.

  But if this conversation had reiterated anything for him, it was that he had a goal he intended to meet. A goal that was in Las Vegas…not Heart’s Hope Bay, Oregon. There wasn’t room in this tiny little town for more than one architecture firm, and Marco’s family had owned that sole business for more than thirty years. Besides that, in a town this size, Carter wouldn’t dream of hanging a shingle out in direct competition to one of his closest friends. Yes, he’d be doing that very thing to Jake in Las Vegas, but it was different there. Competition was expected in a market that large. Plus, he’d never kept his plans a secret from his boss.

  “I’m glad you’re happy, Carter,” Abby said quietly, her voice pulling him out of his thoughts. “It sounds like you’ve got everything you could possibly want there.”

  As Carter looked at her, into the bottomless blue eyes of the girl he’d once loved—the girl he was currently starving for—he knew, without a doubt, Vegas didn’t hold everything he wanted.

  Chapter Eleven

  Abby had always loved her hometown. True, she’d never gone farther than Ashland, Oregon, for college, but she didn’t have to travel around the world to know that the heart in Heart’s Hope Bay was justified. They may not have had every chain restaurant or business, but what they lacked in those things, they more than made up for in their residents. When one of them needed help, they rallied around each other, no questions asked. And they did so, not out of misplaced duty, but rather a genuine desire to help one of their own.

  It was for that reason that Last Call, the local bar and tavern that sat on the ocean’s edge just a few blocks west of downtown, was crammed full tonight for the fundraiser Becca had talked Abby into hosting.

  Not only was the location packed, but she’d also had more than two dozen businesses offer up goods and services, ranging from gift baskets full of nontoxic and organic skincare to surf lessons to a night for two at the Seascape Bed-and-Breakfast.

  Abby had never been so humbled in her life, and she was full to bursting with gratitude. She hadn’t ever known what it felt like to grow up in a large family, but she wondered if maybe it felt a tiny bit like this.

  “What put that look on your face?”

  At the deep male voice in her ear, Abby startled and spun around only to find Carter standing there looking so completely drool-worthy she could hardly stand it. He wore well-loved jeans and a black sweater that clung to his chest in a way that made Abby long to feel it under her fingers.

  “Carter, hi. I didn’t know you were coming tonight.”

  He lifted his shoulder. “Becca was feeling pretty run-down after her day, so she sent me in her place. Hope that’s okay.”

  “Of course.” Abby was going to completely ignore the way her stomach somersaulted at his mere presence here to support her. “Is she feeling all right?”

  He shot Abby a wry look. “My sister, the demonic conniver, will be just fine. Believe me, this was more about getting me here than it was about her being in pain.”

  Before Abby could ask what he meant by that, he lifted his head and glanced around at the people lined up to bid on the silent auction items. “She was wrong about one thing, though.”

  “What’s that?”

  “I don’t think you would have missed one less person here. This is quite the turnout. You must be liked around town or something.”

  Abby smiled at his gentle teasing tone and then stepped to his side, her shoulder brushing his biceps. “I can’t believe so many people showed up. I was worried nobody would, and then I’d have to tell these businesses, ‘Thanks so much for the donations, but you can keep them.’”

  He nudged her with his elbow and turned his head to look down at her. “Come on, Abby. You have to know by now how much you’re loved here. Besides, I’ve only heard people rave about the Sunshine Corner. Of course everyone would come out to help you in whatever way they could.”

  Abby swallowed through her tight throat, her eyes stinging as she furiously blinked back tears she absolutely did not want to fall. She nodded. “Yeah. It’s just unexpected to see it in action.”

  At her tone, he made a gruff sound in his throat, wrapped his arm around her shoulders, and tucked her into his side, pressing a kiss to her temple. With a sigh, she melted into him, one arm going around his waist as she pressed her other hand to his firm stomach. She tried to ignore the ridges of muscle she could feel even through the material of his sweater, because it was the last thing she needed to be thinking about. This embrace was too good to spoil it with senseless, unwanted attraction.

  “Have you been drinking already, Abby?” he asked, his voice teasing.

  She breathed out a watery laugh and looked up at him, grateful he’d lightened the moment. “I was so nervous
about who would and wouldn’t show up that Savannah made me do shots before everyone got here. I was never able to hold hard liquor very well.”

  “Well that’s your problem right there. Savannah was always a troublemaker.”

  “Hey!” Savannah snapped, suddenly standing in front of them, her eyes narrowed. “I heard that.”

  Carter simply raised an eyebrow. “And are you denying it?”

  Savannah pursed her lips and crossed her arms, her toe tapping out her irritation. “Well…no. It’s just a little rude of you to say it aloud, Mister I Haven’t Been Home In A Hundred Years. Don’t you think?”

  “I call ’em like I see ’em.”

  As quickly as her irritation had come, it vanished, and Savannah shrugged. “Fair enough.” She slid her eyes to Abby, and then pointedly to where Carter’s arm still rested across her shoulders. “I’m not interrupting anything, am I?”

  “What? No,” Abby said, stepping away from Carter’s side as she tucked her hair behind her ear. “What’s up?”

  Savannah looked at Carter, but Abby didn’t dare, too scared of what she’d find. But whatever Savannah saw made her cock her brow before turning her full attention to Abby. “My parents just got here and they wanted to say hi. I told them I’d see if you were too busy.”

  “For them? Never.”

  She turned to Carter and found him with his hands in his jeans pockets, his eyes unerringly on her. “I’m going to run and say hi to them quick. Will you be all right by yourself?”

  An amused grin tipped the corner of his mouth and he nodded. “I’m a big boy, Abby. I think I can probably manage.”

  Just then, Marco came up and clapped a hand on Carter’s shoulder, greeting him warmly. The murmur of their voices followed Abby and Savannah as they walked away.

  Savannah tugged her arm and hissed, “Stop staring at him! God, have I taught you nothing? At least play a little hard to get.”

  Abby whipped her head around to face the direction they were walking, her cheeks flaming at being caught. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Uh-huh. And my favorite position is missionary.”

  Abby turned to her on a gasp, her mouth hanging open. “I cannot believe you just said that at a fundraiser for our preschool.”

  Savannah shrugged. “What? Do you see any actual preschoolers around here? Don’t worry, I promise not to whip out the Kama Sutra for show-and-tell on our first day of school.”

  “Oh, there you both are!” Pauline, Savannah’s mom, wrapped Abby up in a hug, her arms warm and welcoming. With one last squeeze, she stepped back and grabbed Abby’s hands as she regarded her with nothing but fondness. “We’re just so proud of you, Abby, and all you’ve accomplished.”

  Abby waved a hand in front of her face, brushing aside the compliment. “Oh, I haven’t done—”

  “Nonsense,” Alan, Savannah’s father, boomed as one large hand settled on Abby’s shoulder, squeezing lightly. “It’s quite a feat what you’ve done. Opening your own business, and now expanding? All before you’re even thirty. You should be very proud of that.”

  Dammit. Those traitorous tears were burning behind her eyes, the tingle in her nose telling her she was about three seconds away from losing it.

  Savannah’s parents had played a huge and much-needed role in Abby’s life when her own mom couldn’t be bothered. She didn’t know much about her father, only his name and that he wanted absolutely nothing to do with her. So she’d always looked upon Savannah’s parents as the next best thing. When she and Savannah had been younger, Abby had stayed over there countless times, Abby’s mom all too willing to relinquish her responsibility so she could spend the weekends doing what she’d insisted she should have been able to do all along.

  When they weren’t at Savannah’s house, they’d stayed at Abby’s grandmother’s. And though she loved Hilde with everything she had, she couldn’t deny her grandma was a bit…eccentric. She allowed Abby to do things that most parents would probably be horrified about. Abby never needed much discipline or supervision, though, all too willing to keep herself in line if that meant easing the burden on her mom, and consequently on her grandma when her mom would pawn her off.

  But at Savannah’s house, there were fights and yelling, groundings and apologies. There was raucous laughter and pancakes on Saturday mornings and family movie night that all five siblings grumbled about but sat through every weekend nonetheless. Abby had soaked up every ounce of it, longing for a bond like the Lowes shared.

  Once Abby was able to get her emotions under control, she cleared her throat of any sign of tears. “Thank you both. That means a lot to me. I’m so glad you were able to come.”

  “Nonsense! We wouldn’t have missed it for the world.” Pauline wrapped Abby up in another hug, and she breathed in the familiar combination of Chanel No. 5 and cinnamon chewing gum that she’d always associated with Savannah’s mom.

  Alan tugged his wife away. “Come on, now. Leave the poor girl alone. You’re smothering her.”

  Abby laughed as Pauline stepped back, but she shook her head. “She gives the best hugs, so I don’t mind.”

  As if they’d been called by name, three of Savannah’s brothers strode up looking like they’d stepped off a set for GQ, and suddenly Abby was surrounded by Captain America, Thor, and Star-Lord—she wasn’t a huge superhero fan, but she damn sure knew the Chrises. She could admit, in a completely impartial way, that they were attractive. For one brief moment in middle school, she had, in fact, crushed on Caleb, the second oldest Lowe boy and the only one not in attendance tonight since he lived in San Francisco. He must’ve sent his best friend, Noah—the solitary friend Savannah clashed the most with—in his stead, as he stood stoically in the mix, the only dark-haired man in the bunch, though certainly not the only attractive one. But though Abby could admit they were all good-looking, all she felt for them now was sisterly fondness, even if they weren’t hers to claim as such.

  Tossing an arm around Pauline’s shoulders and tucking her into his side, Jackson said, “She does, doesn’t she?”

  Pauline rolled her eyes but slid an arm around her youngest son’s waist. “That’s not what you said once upon a time. I used to have to sneak my affection after you’d fallen asleep for the night.”

  Horrified, Jackson stared down at her. “Jesus, Mom. You actually did that?”

  Sounding not even a little bit remorseful, she said, “Every night until you moved out. Used to sneak into your bedroom in the middle of the night and stick my hand under your nose to make sure you were still breathing. And, in fact, I did it every time you were home, all through college. A mother’s work is never done.”

  Spencer, the oldest, crossed his arms over his chest and narrowed his eyes at his mom. “Just him or all of us? Just him, right? On account of the fact that he’s so stupid, he might forget how to breathe?”

  Without moving his gaze from his mom, Jackson reached out and shoved a laughing Spencer.

  Pauline rolled her eyes. “Yeah, just him. I didn’t care if any of the rest of you lived through the night.”

  Aaron, second youngest Lowe boy, held up a hand to his chest as if he were wounded. “That was harsh, Mom. I didn’t even say anything.”

  “What’s harsh,” Alan piped in, “is you three little shits taking the spotlight off of Abby on her well-deserved night.”

  “Oh damn.” Spencer turned to Abby, true remorse written on his face. “Sorry, Abs. The event is great. I’m glad Ben was able to host it tonight.”

  Spencer’s best friend, Ben, owned Last Call and had been kind enough to let her use the space for the event, free of charge. As if that wasn’t enough to forgive him, the use of her nickname certainly would’ve tipped it over.

  Abby waved off his apology. “No sorry needed. Have I thanked you yet for setting this up for me?”

  He grinned, rolling his eyes. “I think maybe once or twice.”

  Okay, so she’d thanked him at least a dozen time
s, but her gratitude for this big family that had taken her in as if she were their own couldn’t be capped.

  “Looks like you’ve got a great turnout,” Aaron said, his gaze sliding over the lines by the items up for bid. “I think everything over there’s got more than one bid on it.”

  “I bid on the surfing lessons,” Jackson said.

  Abby’s brows pinched. “You donated the surfing lessons.”

  He lifted one broad shoulder. “And I’m worth every penny.”

  “How’d you manage to get through the door with your huge head?” Savannah asked dryly.

  Without answering, Jackson locked his arm around Savannah’s neck and tugged her to him before she shoved him away. “Speaking of, it’s a full moon tonight. Anyone up for a little midnight surfing?”

  Savannah’s brothers all nodded their agreement, and so did Savannah. “Yeah, I’m in,” she said.

  As if choreographed, Spencer, Aaron, and Jackson widened their stances, crossing their arms over their broad chests as they scowled at their baby sister. “No,” they said in unison. Even Noah got in on the action and mirrored the brothers’ scowls.

  Savannah snorted and rolled her eyes. “It’s cute how you guys think you can boss me around. I’m twenty-nine. And you,” she said, pointing an accusatory finger at Noah. “You don’t have a vote here.”

  The man didn’t back down, but neither did he utter a word, too busy scowling at Savannah.

  “I don’t give a shit if you’re twenty-nine or eighty-nine,” Spencer said. “You’re still our baby sister, and you’re not getting out there. It’s too dangerous.”

  “Too dangerous for me, but totally fine for each and every one of you. Have I got that right?”

  “Well, yeah…” Jackson said with a shrug.

  Savannah made a gruff sound of frustration in her throat, her hands fisted at her sides. “Mom, Dad, would you tell them to knock it off?”

  Both parents held up their hands in surrender and shook their heads.