“That doesn’t sound like Mandy.” Brooke came around the counter. “What else is on her calendar?”
“That’s just it. Nothing.” And that wasn’t normal, either.
“What’s going on?” Holly emerged from the kitchen, Ursula on her heels.
“Sebastian doesn’t know where Mandy is,” Brooke told them.
“Hang on, don’t panic.” Holly pointed to the corner booth. “Eleni’s right over there. She might know where she is. Eleni?” Holly approached the table with them, waved her hand in front of the girl to get her attention.
“Yeah?” Eleni pulled her earphones out. “Oh, hey, Mr. E. What’s up?”
“Where’s Mandy?”
“Mandy?” Eleni squeaked, her gaze flying to Brooke’s. “Um, I don’t know.”
“Eleni.” Brooke’s warning tone had Sebastian looking twice. He’d never seen or heard her look so parental. “Where is she?”
“I’m sure she’s okay.” Eleni’s full cheeks went bright red. “She just wanted to get away and think, you know?”
“No, we don’t know,” Sebastian said. “Holly, can you call Luke?”
“Sure.” Holly pulled out her phone. “Why don’t you two go check the bakery. She likes to hang out there with Gale, right?”
“She’s right.” Sebastian couldn’t believe he hadn’t thought of that. “Yeah, okay. You coming?” He looked to Brooke.
“Go, go,” Holly insisted, untying Brooke’s apron and whipping it off. “Call us when you find out anything.”
“Okay, thanks.” Brooke grabbed her bag and was almost out the door when Ursula stopped her.
“Put your jacket on.” She held it out for Brooke to slip on.
“It’s seventy degrees out,” Brooke protested. “I don’t need—”
“You never know when a chill’s coming. Now git! Go find your girl.”
Sebastian held the door open for Brooke and they raced side by side down the street and around the corner to Chrysalis Bakery. He barely heard the bell tinkle over his head when they went inside. Harvey Mills and his grandson were sitting in the corner, eating éclairs and drinking hot chocolate.
“Afternoon, Sebastian.” Harvey toasted him with his cup. “Everything okay?”
“We hope so.” Sebastian peered across the display case into the kitchen. “Gale?”
She popped her head around the corner, cell phone to her ear. “Yeah, no, I understand. Don’t worry. I’ve got this.” She hung up and came out to greet them. “Sebastian. Brooke. What can I get you?”
“Have you seen Mandy today?” Brooke asked before he could.
“Um, she and Eleni were in here this morning.” Gale smoothed back her hair, her gaze skittering over to Harvey, who sounded as if he was going to choke. “She seemed upset about something. I thought I heard her say something about meeting Frankie this afternoon at the firehouse?”
“Frankie.” Sebastian pulled out his phone. “Thanks, Gale. If you see her—”
“I’ll give you a call. I’m sure she’s okay.”
Sebastian didn’t have an answer to that. He didn’t have an answer to anything. His kid was beyond reliable. You could set your clock to Mandy time and never be late. And she never, ever went anywhere without telling him. Then again, she’d never been this angry with him before.
“We’d probably get to the firehouse faster if we drive,” Brooke said.
“Right.” He got out his keys and they hurried around the block to the alley where his SUV was parked. “Call Frankie just to be safe, would you?”
“Good idea.” While he drove, Brooke spoke to Frankie. He could tell by her voice Mandy wasn’t there, either. “Where is she?” The desperation was beginning to take hold. Mandy was okay. She had to be. Everyone in town knew who she was. If no one knew where she was it was because Mandy wanted it that way. He should have been paying closer attention to her mood.
Roman and Frankie were waiting for them when they arrived at the firehouse. “We still haven’t seen her,” Frankie said.
“Okay, I’m officially freaking out.” He felt like pulling his hair out. Brooke laid a hand on his arm.
“Luke already called,” Roman said. “They’re organizing a search for her. We’ll find her.”
Fear circled like a shark and tried to grab hold. “She’s always supposed to answer her phone. Frankie? You don’t have any idea where she might have gone?”
“We should call Monty.” Frankie pulled out her own phone. She’d barely dialed when the sound of laughter rang up the hill. Sebastian turned, his hope fading when he found Willa O’Neill’s little sister, Marley, Charlie and Phoebe coming toward the station house.
“Hey, guys!” Frankie called. “Have you seen Mandy?”
“Uh-huh.” Charlie nodded so hard she almost tipped over. “I saw her down at the docks. She was helping with Mr. Monty’s new boat. They were getting ready to cast off.”
“See?” Brooke let out a long sigh. “She’s fine. She’s with Monty.”
“Why didn’t he call me?” Sebastian muttered.
“Cell reception on the docks is terrible,” Frankie reminded him. “You know that.”
Sebastian and Brooke hurried back to the car, and she buckled in while he made a three-point turn and gunned it down to Monarch Lane and the marina.
“She knows not to ignore calls,” Sebastian stated. “It’s the one rule we have. No exceptions.”
“She’s testing her boundaries,” Brooke said. “She’s angry and hurt and blames us.”
“I get why she’s angry with me. Why would she be angry with you?”
“Because I took your side.” Brooke rested a hand on his leg. “Ease up, Sebastian. She’s safe. There’s no need to rush.”
“If she thinks she’s going diving after pulling a stunt like this... What do you mean you took my side?”
“I told her what happened between the two of us was between the two of us.” She pulled her hand back into her lap. “She doesn’t get a say in whether we’re together or not.”
“You told her that?”
“It’s the truth, isn’t it?” That sounded more accusation than question.
“Well, yeah.” He’d never regretted an admission more. He didn’t want it to be true. He wanted to find a way to be with Brooke, but he’d already risked his heart with her once. Risking it again, having her leave again, might destroy him.
“Like I said. She’s angry. Scaring us is suitable punishment.”
“I don’t like not knowing where our kid is.” He looked to Brooke. “Aren’t you angry?”
“You raised a smart, clever, compassionate young woman, Sebastian. How can I be angry about that?”
All the same, he could see her hands were shaking. He reached out, grabbed hold of one hand and squeezed. “She’s okay, Brooke. Charlie would have said if something was wrong.”
“This situation is mostly my fault. I should have put my foot down sooner. I wanted to give her—give you—some space.”
“I never should have let her run with this fantasy we’d be getting back together.” He felt her hand in his, and the last of his fear abated. “I guess maybe I let myself believe it, too.”
She covered his hand with hers. “So did I.”
“Maybe we should ground her together. Present a united front,” Sebastian said. “She wanted us unified. That could work in our favor.”
He should pull his hand free. He meant to. But when she slid her fingers through his and clung to him, he found it impossible to let go. Being with her, like this, in this moment, felt right. It felt perfect.
He pulled into the marina parking lot, already scanning the dock. When his daughter’s familiar blond hair shone against the dipping sun, the band around his chest finally loosened. “I’m going to ground her right now.” He bent over to catch his breath. “Right after I
hug her to death.”
“Get in line.” Brooke was already heading down the dock toward the gate. “Mandy!” Sebastian hurried to catch up with her.
Their daughter stood up, shielding her eyes, and watched them approach. “Oh. Hey. What are you two doing here?”
“Looking for you.” Brooke didn’t hesitate. She stepped onto the boat and wrapped her arms around Mandy. “Your father said you’re supposed to answer your cell phone no matter what. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” Mandy scrunched her nose when she looked up. “Sorry. Uncle Monty suggested I turn it off.”
“Why on earth would he do that?” Sebastian demanded. “He knows the rule.”
“You can ask him yourself. He’s up in the cockpit.” Mandy waved them up the ladder.
“I’ll take care of this. Monty!” Sebastian couldn’t remember the last time he’d bellowed.
“Mandy, what are you doing?” Brooke’s question didn’t register with Sebastian until he was out of range. A sharp whistle sounded—Mandy’s whistle—and as Sebastian turned he saw his daughter standing alone, but on the dock, throwing the mooring lines onto the boat.
“They’re all yours, Uncle Monty!”
“Mandy!” Brooke stepped toward her.
“Monty, what the—” Sebastian grabbed hold of the railing as the boat lurched forward. He looked down to see Brooke tumble into one of the seats.
“Hold on.” Monty grinned over his shoulder. He gunned the engine and the boat took off.
“You have about ten seconds to tell me what’s going on or I’ll—”
“You’ll what?” Monty yelled at Sebastian over his shoulder.
“You’re not allowed to go over three miles per hour in the marina!” Sebastian yelled back.
“I got special permission from the sheriff.” Monty turned west and headed straight into the sunset.
“Special permission for what?” Sebastian yelled.
“To show my best friend what an idiot he’s being.” He nodded his head toward Brooke, who climbed up to the deck to join them. “What idiots you’ve both been.”
“What’s happening?” Brooke tucked her coat tight around her and visibly shivered. “Monty, this wasn’t part of the plan. Where are we going?”
“Plan?” Sebastian felt the color surge into his cheeks. “What plan?”
Sebastian looked back at the dock, where his daughter was now surrounded by their family and friends. Frankie and Roman, along with Charlie, Phoebe and Marley. And Holly, Eleni, Ursula and Gale were just joining them. When they reached the group, they stood there, as one unit, and waved at the boat.
“I don’t believe this,” he whispered, then looked to Brooke. “We’ve been set up.”
“What?” Brooke followed his gaze.
“You’re being parent-trapped.” Monty grinned. “Compliments of your daughter.”
“I don’t believe this,” Sebastian muttered. “Monty, turn this thing around.” He reached out to grab his friend’s arm.
“Hey!” Monty smacked his hand away. “No assaulting the captain. We’ll get to where we’re going soon enough.”
“Where are you taking us?” Brooke yelled over the wind.
“You’ll see.”
* * *
WELL, THEY’D DONE IT. They’d hoodwinked Sebastian Evans. And tricked her, as well, in the process.
Brooke hugged her arms tighter around her torso and curled into the back of the cocaptain’s chair. Sebastian sat beside her, looking, it seemed, anywhere but at her. Watching him grow increasingly frantic over Mandy’s whereabouts had nearly forced her into confessing. But she knew it would take a shock, just as it had with her, to move beyond the lost years between them.
“I promised her immunity,” Monty called as he eased up on the throttle, maneuvered the boat around and stopped at the edge of a cove. “Mandy. When you get back. She gets immunity.”
“Too bad you’re not her father!” Sebastian stood up, then froze when he looked out at where they were. “Flag on the play, brother. This is not fair.”
Brooke glanced over her shoulder, and her heart melted. The cove—her and Sebastian’s not-so-secret hideaway where Mandy had been conceived after Brooke’s eighteenth birthday—was as beautiful as she remembered.
“No one ever said I’d play fair.” Monty hit a button to drop the anchor. “I was wrong about you two.” Monty killed the engine and dropped the keys into a zippered pocket on the inside of his swim trunks. “When Brooke first got here, I thought the worst thing that could happen was for the two of you to get back together. I was wrong.”
“Monty.” He’d already said this, when she and Mandy and Frankie had approached him earlier today with their plan. After she’d told them the real reason she’d left all those years ago. He didn’t need to say it in front of Sebastian. That he did proved she’d earned more forgiveness than she could have hoped for. “Thank you.” She moved toward Monty and laid a hand on his arm. “For everything.”
“You’ve got your captive audience now, Brooke. It’s all up to you.”
“Hang on.” Sebastian reached out as Monty dropped down the ladder to the lower deck. “Where are you going?”
“Home. There’s food in the galley. Compliments of your daughter and Jason Corwin. You’ve got a sunset and sunrise in front of you and plenty to talk about. We’ll be back to get you in the morning.”
The roar of another motor ripped through the air and Brooke moved closer to Sebastian to see Frankie steering a speedboat toward them.
“Wait! Monty!” Sebastian yelled as Monty saluted, then dived over the side. When he popped back up, he started swimming toward his sister. “What are we supposed to do?”
“Work it out! See you in the morning!” He swam away.
“Unbelievable.” Sebastian slapped his hand on the railing.
Brooke couldn’t help it. She laughed. Softly, at first. And to herself. Until the zaniness of the situation—the waves slapping against the boat, the wind rushing around them as the sky became fire-bright orange—sank in. Her laughter got louder, and louder still when Sebastian faced her, eyes wide with disbelief.
“You really think this is funny?”
She nodded. “I really do. Sebastian.” She stepped toward him, pressed a hand against his chest. “I’m sorry. Mandy convinced me this was the only way.” She glanced down when he rested his hands on her hips. “But the number of people who helped—our friends, the town, even Mandy’s teacher and principal. They did this all for Mandy. And for us. Tell me that’s not one of the most amazing things you’ve ever heard of.”
His lips twitched. “She does inspire loyalty.” He lowered his forehead to hers. “Brooke.” He brushed his mouth against hers. She smiled, locked her hand behind his head and held on, pressing her lips against his. “Wait a minute.” He jerked back. “You were in on this? The whole time you knew Mandy was okay?”
“Yeah.” She wrinkled her nose. “That was the one hitch in the plan. Sorry about that. But I needed to bring you here, to see this place again when I told you...”
“Told me what?”
She took a deep breath. “Told you the real reason I left.”
* * *
SHE WAITED UNTIL he’d poured the sparkling cider. Dinner—an amazing cold smoked-salmon salad and opera cake for dessert—would wait. Preferably until she had an appetite instead of the doubt currently wedged in her stomach.
They sat at the table at the bow of the boat, beneath a canopy, looking out at the sunset, the secret beach and cove where Mandy had been conceived.
“I’m glad Ursula forced me into my jacket.” She tucked her legs in tight. “It’s going to be freezing out on the water tonight. Aren’t you cold?”
“No.” He topped off her glass, poured his own, then rested his arms on the table. “You’re stalling.”
“Try me.”
“All right.” She squeezed her eyes shut. Monty was right. She didn’t have anything to lose, but there was so much she could gain. She spoke in a rush so she could get it out in one breath. “It seems so out there now, especially since I’ve talked with Leah and listened to all the legal ins and outs.”
“Brooke, I swear if you don’t start talking I’m going to jump over the side of the boat and swim for shore.”
Her lips twitched. He’d do it, too. “When I went home to pack, my mother threatened to have you arrested.”
“Arrested?” His hand fell from her face. “For what?”
“She was convinced I was underage when we...you know...conceived Mandy.”
“But you weren’t. We waited until after your eighteenth birthday.”
“Mandy was three weeks early.” She sighed and opened her eyes. “I knew the truth. Not that that mattered to my mother. She was determined to separate us, that I would live the life she wanted me to live. And she found the only weapon that would ever work against me. You. And Mandy.”
“That doesn’t make any sense.” He sat back, his eyes wide. “The charges wouldn’t have gone anywhere—”
“I know that now, but then? All sorts of lawyers and judges were her friends, Sebastian. She even had the DA at the house that night. He showed me the list of charges my mother had had drawn up. I saw your name and realized even if the matter didn’t go to court that the accusation alone could ruin your life. You’d just gotten approval for the mortgage on the store. My mother knew that—she told me if I gave up being with you she wouldn’t have the law called in. My father backed her up. They were going to do it. I was certain.”
“I could have fought them.”
“With what, Sebastian? You didn’t have any money. The only reason you got the loan was because your parents cosigned it for you. They could have lost their home. And you could have lost Mandy forever.”
“Mandy? What about Mandy?”
“I was supposed to come back and get her. She was supposed to go with me, but that’s where my mother underestimated me. I refused.”
A Match Made Perfect--A Clean Romance Page 21