Tempted by Love: Jack Jock Steele (The Steeles at Silver Island Book 1)

by Melissa Foster

  Jock turned in the front passenger seat and said, “Don’t believe him. He was a natural from day one. He even built Joey her own bassinet.”

  “Aw, that’s so sweet,” Daphne said.

  “Dude, you were hardly ever around. How would you know?” Levi asked.

  Guilt gnawed at Jock. “Mom told me. She said you never complained about getting up a hundred times a night or changing diapers. She and Dad were really proud of you.”

  Levi looked at him and said, “They’re proud of all of us.”

  They had told Jock as much, but when he thought about the feud between him and Archer, he didn’t know how they could be.

  Levi turned onto Ocean View Road toward the center of town. Ocean View was a residential street lined with quaint cottages, white picket fences, and colorful gardens.

  “It’s so pretty here,” Daphne said.

  Jock was excited to show her around the island tomorrow before they returned to the Cape. “Wait until you see our parents’ place. On a day like today, you can see clear across the island, and at night the lighthouse is gorgeous.”

  “You almost sound like you miss it,” Levi said. “Why don’t we give Daphne a quick tour on the way.”

  “Birds! Balloons!” Hadley pointed out the window at birds drinking from a birdbath in the park on the corner of Main and Ocean View. In the distance, balloons danced from long strings tied to strollers and the railings on the gazebo. Children played on swings and jungle gyms as groups of adults watched over them.

  Levi stopped so Hadley could take it all in. “Life on the island is not as harried as other places. Even the birds take the time to enjoy sunny afternoons. We have several birdbaths at our place in Harborside. Joey loves them.”

  “It looks like there’s a birthday party or something going on in the park,” Daphne pointed out.

  “Probably, but gatherings like that are a regular occurrence on the weekends,” Levi said. “Those are the Venting Vixens.”

  “The what?” Daphne asked.

  “That’s what I call the mom groups that get together on the weekends to commiserate and hang out. They saved me the first year Joey was born,” Levi said. “Joey and I still get together with some of them and their kids when we come back to town.”

  “It sounds like such a great place to live. Why did you move away?” Daphne asked.

  “More job opportunities, better pay,” Levi explained. “I work construction, and at the time there wasn’t much going on here. But one of our grandmother’s childhood friends, Metty Barrington, lived in Harborside. They were doing major reconstruction in the area and she offered to let me and Joey stay with her until we got on our feet. Metty is great. She really helped us out.” He glanced at Hadley and said, “Ready to see what else we can find, Hadley?”

  “Yeah!” she cheered.

  When Jock visited, he always took the fastest route to his parents’ or Jules’s house and followed the same route back to the ferry. He didn’t meander or give his mind time to linger on the past. But as Levi turned onto the main drag—a two-lane road lined by cute shops with colorful awnings, window boxes overflowing with flowers, and enough memories to make Jock’s chest ache—Daphne’s and Hadley’s eyes danced with excitement, and he wanted to linger. He wanted to share the good memories with them and make new memories to overshadow the ones he wished he could forget.

  “That’s Jules’s gift shop.” Jock pointed to the Happy End gift shop, with its red-framed picture windows and balloons bobbing from strings tied around the necks of the iron giraffes out front.

  “That’s so cute,” Daphne exclaimed. “Is she working today?”

  “No, Bellamy Silver is. She’s worked with Jules for a few years. You’ll meet her tonight at the party.” Levi pointed to the candy store two doors down from Jules’s shop and said, “See that c-a-n-d-y shop? That’s the place Jock and Archer took me to when I was eight and told me it was free Snickers day. As I filled my pockets, those two jokers took off and I got caught for shoplifting.”

  “Oh man.” Jock laughed. “That was hilarious.”

  Levi scoffed. “Not as hilarious as when you and Archer made those homemade flight suits and jumped off the church roof.”

  “You didn’t tell me you actually jumped off a roof!” Daphne exclaimed.

  Jock laughed. “We did, but only because Fitz and Wells Silver dared us to.”

  Levi hiked a thumb at Jock and said, “This guy sprained his ankle and Archer broke his clavicle.”

  “You were wild back then,” Daphne said. “I’m sure it was fun, but I feel bad for your parents. They must have been worried sick all the time.”

  Levi went on sharing childhood memories Jock had long ago stopped thinking about. Hearing them again was bittersweet, but as they made their way up the hilly streets and turned onto the road that led to their parents’ house, his nerves caught fire. They passed the entrance to Top of the Island Vineyard and turned down their parents’ driveway. The vineyard spanned sixty acres to the west of their parents’ house. The cedar and brick winery and outbuildings—Archer’s domain—brought a foreboding sensation. Their mother’s great-great-grandparents had built their home and established the vineyard. Jock assumed that when his parents eventually stepped down, Archer would inherit the house and vineyard and carry on the family legacy.

  Levi parked in front of the house, a rambling two-story with weathered cedar-shingle siding, a mix of gambrel and peaked roofs, and a built-in gazebo anchoring the right side of the wide porch. Their grandmother lived in the carriage house around back. Their mother’s car and Jules’s Jeep were the only vehicles in the driveway. Jock wondered where everyone else was.

  “Wow. This is beautiful. I can’t believe you grew up here,” Daphne said.

  Jock pointed to the left side of the house and said, “My bedroom was behind that tree on the second floor.”

  “He used to sneak out by climbing out his window, sliding down the roof, jumping to the tree, and then climbing down to the ground.” Levi opened his door and said, “Bet you didn’t know your boyfriend was a parkour guy.”

  “I definitely did not. That’s insane. It’s so high up,” Daphne said.

  “That’s why Jack was my hero when I was growing up,” Levi boasted. “Nothing scared him.”

  Jock shook his head, sure Levi was just blowing smoke to build him up. “Where is everyone?”

  “Joey went with Tara to pick up Sutton, Leni, and Leni’s friend Indi from the airport, and then they were going to stop and pick up a few things for the party. Dad and Archer were heading to the winery to start setting up when I left to pick you up.”

  At least that gave Jock a little time before facing Archer.

  Daphne unhooked Hadley from her car seat and said, “Are you ready to meet Jock’s family?”

  Hadley nodded as Jock climbed out and opened her door. She thrust out her arms, clutching Owly in one hand, and said, “Cawwy me.”

  “Sure thing, princess.” He lifted her into his arms and reached in to touch Daphne’s hand. “Ready for this?”

  Her eyes brightened. “I can’t wait to meet your family. Don’t worry about us. Your scowling girls will be fine.”

  He chuckled and carried Hadley around to help Daphne out on her side. Levi stopped him at the tailgate and said, “Before the craziness starts, I want you to know I’ve got your back. Daphne seems like a doll.”

  “Thanks, man, she is. I appreciate that.”

  “I’ll grab your bags. You’re going to need both hands.” He nodded toward the house as the front door swung open. “Mom’s going to go apeshit over both of them.”

  “As well she should,” Jock said.

  As Jock helped Daphne out, Jules ran down the front steps and squealed, “I’m so excited you’re here!”

  Jock turned with Hadley in his arms just as his mother stepped outside. Shelley Steele was a big, beautiful woman with a zest for life and a heart of gold. She was a few years younger than their father and
had looked the same forever, with long auburn hair, bangs, and an ever-present smile. She looked at Jock and a surprised O formed on her lips as she headed for them.

  Jules gasped at the sight of Hadley, grinning from ear to ear. “Who is this?” She tickled Hadley’s belly. “Aren’t you just adorable?”

  Hadley hid her face in Jock’s neck.

  “This is Hadley, Daphne’s daughter,” Jock said, rubbing Hadley’s back.

  “Well, you are just full of surprises!” Jules hugged Daphne and said, “I’m so glad you came! I can’t wait for you to meet everyone.”

  “Me too. I’m excited,” Daphne said.

  “Jackie.” His mother sounded on the verge of tears.

  “Hi, Mom.” He gave her a one-armed hug, but she hugged him for all she was worth, and he soaked up her love. “Mom, this is my girlfriend, Daphne, and her daughter, Hadley.”

  “Hi, Daphne. I’m Shelley. It is such a pleasure to meet you.” She wrapped Daphne in a warm embrace.

  “What other secrets are you keeping?” Jules whispered.

  “Wouldn’t you like to know?” Jock teased.

  “I’ve heard so much about you,” Daphne said. “Thank you for letting us join you. I hope you don’t mind that I brought Hadley. My parents were going to watch her, but my mom got sick. I promise I’ll keep an eye on her so she doesn’t interfere with the party.”

  “I’m sorry your mom isn’t well, but, honey, I’m thrilled that you brought Hadley. The more the merrier,” his mother said. “And don’t you worry for a minute about her interfering with the party. I raised six children. I can handle a…three-year-old?”

  “Almost,” Daphne said. “She’ll be three next weekend.”

  “Then I haven’t lost my touch,” Shelley joked, eyeing Jules. Some sort of secret message passed between them.

  Jock and Daphne had plans to shop for birthday presents for Hadley when they got back from the island. He was excited to spoil his littlest girl.

  “Where’s Grandma? Champagne brunch with the Bra Brigade?” Jock asked.

  “Of course, and their special bingo game.” Amusement rose in Shelley’s eyes, and she said, “My mother thinks I don’t know about her secret trips to Pythons with her lady friends. As if I don’t notice that every year she has a purse full of one-dollar bills when she leaves.”

  “Pythons? Isn’t that a club on the Cape that has male dancers?” Daphne asked.

  “It sure is,” Jules said, earning glares from Levi and Jock. She rolled her eyes. “I mean, that’s what I’ve heard.”

  “In my day we called them strippers,” Shelley said. “Mark my word, when Grandma comes back to get ready for the party, she and all of her Bra Brigaders will have ink stains on the backs of their left hands where they’ve scrubbed off the entry stamp.”

  “Your mother sounds like she’s a lot of fun. Not that I go to strip clubs.” Daphne blushed.

  “My mother will never stop carousing,” Shelley said. “She’s the one who started the Bra Brigade, which is what my mother and her friends call themselves because they like to sunbathe in their bras. They’ve been doing it since they were teenagers, and to this day, they still get together every summer, pick a spot, and do their thing.”

  “I stumbled upon them once up on the cliffs by Fortune’s Landing. I’m still scarred from that.” Jock put his arm around Daphne and said, “My grandmother will try to recruit you into the Brigade.”

  “Yes, she will and, Daphne, you’ll love every second of it,” Shelley said. “Why don’t we go inside so you can get settled. I made up your old room, Jackie. We’ll put Hadley in Archer’s old room since your room and his have the adjoining bathroom.”

  As they headed inside, Shelley and Jules flanked Daphne, chatting animatedly, and led her inside ahead of Jock and Levi.

  “You’re outnumbered now, dude,” Levi teased.

  Jock kissed Hadley’s forehead and said, “I was already outnumbered, and I freaking love it.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  JOCK STEPPED INTO the foyer of his childhood home, enveloped by the delicious aroma of his mother’s baking and happy echoes of the past. He could still hear the sounds of him and his siblings racing up the stairs, through the center hall, blazing a path to the patio doors, laughing and egging each other on. He could still smell his father’s spicy cologne as he walked into a room, still see his work boots among the pile of children’s shoes by the door. Even the anxiety of seeing Archer later today didn’t take away from the overwhelmingly peaceful sensation of being within these love-drenched walls.

  Levi put their suitcase and backpack by the stairs and said, “I’m going to get the golf carts ready and drive them around back.”

  “Thank you, lovey,” Shelley said.

  “Golf carts?” Daphne asked.

  “We use them to drive to and from the winery,” Shelley explained. “Why don’t Jules and I take Hadley into the kitchen for a cookie and you two can take your things upstairs to get settled?”

  “It’s okay. We can take Hadley with us,” Daphne offered.

  “I want cookie.” Hadley wriggled from Jock’s arms and toddled over to Shelley, taking her hand.

  Jock’s heart felt like it might explode, and from the look on Daphne’s face as he reached for her hand, hers did as well.

  “You mean, if I had offered her a cookie, she wouldn’t have hidden in Jack’s neck?” Jules smirked. “I won’t make that mistake again.”

  “Is this okay, Mom?” Shelley asked Daphne.

  “Of course. Thank you,” Daphne said.

  When Shelley and Hadley headed into the kitchen, Jock pressed his lips to Daphne’s and said, “You okay?”

  “I love them. Did you see Hadley walk right over to her and take her hand? Oh my gosh. She never does that. Your mom is so nice, and every bit as beautiful as you said. You have her smile and her eyes. Levi is awesome, and he obviously thinks the world of you, and you already know I love Jules. I just don’t want Hadley to be a bother to anyone.”

  “Everyone who is coming tonight knows kids get cranky when they’re tired and are shy around new people. It’ll be fine, and I’ll stick close to both of you—don’t worry.”

  They went up to his room, and he set their things inside the bedroom door. His parents had kept all of their bedrooms the same when they’d moved out, though they’d replaced the blankets on the beds. Jock’s old desk sat beneath the window. His bookshelves were filled with horror novels and littered with sports trophies. His old boxing gloves hung from a hook on the wall beside a picture of him and Archer, lanky, sweaty, and smirking, after a boxing tournament in which he’d taken first place and Archer had taken second. He glanced through the open bathroom door into Archer’s room and got a funky feeling in his gut.

  “So, this is where the midnight prowler slash troublemaker slept.” Daphne ran her hand along his bed and then peered out the window. “And this is where you snuck out.”

  She turned around, smiling as she came to him, turning the discomfort in his gut to determination.

  “So, Jackie, have you deflowered any girls in this bed?” she teased.

  He chuckled. “Absolutely not, but I will hopefully be devouring a very special woman in that bed tonight.” He lowered his lips to hers in a tender kiss. “Thank you for being here.”

  “You’re welcome. I’m glad I’m here, and I’m looking forward to you meeting my family next weekend at Hadley’s party.”

  “Me too.”

  “I know I said this in the car before we left, but I still can’t get over that you’re okay holding Hadley. She’s so happy when you hold her,” she said. “What changed?”

  He gathered her in his arms and said, “Everything. I’m moving forward. You and Hadley ground me in the present, and that’s where I want to stay. I want to hold her, to be the man you both feel safe with. I’m going to try to work things out with Archer, and I know he’ll drag me back into the nightmare of our pasts, but I promise you, I’m not going t
o let that ruin our time here, or take away any of the changes I’ve made.”

  “You’re amazing. I just want you to know that.”

  He pressed his lips to hers and said, “No, angel. You are the amazing one.”

  “I guess that means we’re an amazing couple.” She wound her arms around his neck and said, “Did you see how thrilled your mom was when she saw you? I wanted to cry. It makes me so happy that you’re here and you’re willing to try to make things better. Levi said you were his hero. You’re ours, too, Jock. We believe in you.”

  Gratitude swelled inside him. He brushed his lips over hers and said, “It’s all because of you, angel, you and your little princess.” He lowered his mouth to hers, taking her in a sweet, slow kiss, as he’d been waiting to do all morning.

  “Oops,” his mother said. “Sorry, honey.”

  They parted on a giggle and a blush and found his mother turning to leave the room.

  “It’s okay, Mom.”

  “Is Hadley okay?” Daphne asked, slipping into mommy mode despite the blush on her cheeks.

  “She’s fine, darlin’. She and Jules are having a discussion about Dock. She is the cutest thing. I just want to eat up those little cheeks.”

  “Thank you,” Daphne said. “Why don’t I go downstairs and give you two time to catch up.”

  Jock watched her leave the room, and his mother watched him. Her eyes became glassy as she touched his face and said, “I can’t believe you’re home for a whole night.”

  “It’s been a long time since I’ve been in this room.” He put his arms around her, hugging her too long and too tight, but that didn’t stop him from holding on a little longer, because he’d missed her so damn much.

  When he finally let her go, she said, “It’s been a long time for a lot of things, Jackie. I’ve been so worried about you since Harvey died. This past year without him has been very difficult for all of us.”

  “What do you mean? Why did Harvey’s death affect you and Dad so much?”

  “Oh, honey.” She looked a little pensive. “Harvey loved you so much. He would have done anything for you, and he did. He knew you wanted to keep your distance from home, and he allowed you the space to do it. But it was torture for us to let you have that space, and Harvey knew that. He kept in touch with me and your father and let us know how you were doing. Harvey was the reason I wasn’t on your doorstep every week. He didn’t only help you through your grief; he helped us through ours.”