Gansett Island Boxed Set, Books 1-16

by Force, Marie

She groaned loudly. “You caught me in a weak moment. I’d like to retract that statement for fear of it being used against me for the rest of my life.”

  “No retractions allowed. You only spoke the truth.”

  “There’s absolutely nothing wrong with your ego, is there?”

  “I like knowing that I please you. That pleases me.”

  “Despite your considerable charm and even more considerable blarney, you’re still going to call your mother and invite her here to visit, right?”

  “All right, love,” he said with a deep sigh. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

  Her ringing cell phone woke Abby the next morning. For a moment, she couldn’t recall how she’d ended up in bed naked. Then the details of the night before came flooding back in a wave of sensual memories that made her entire body tingle. She found the phone on her bedside table and answered, wondering where Adam was.

  “Hey,” Janey said. “Did I wake you up?”

  “What time is it?”

  “Almost ten, sleepyhead. Late night?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Did you do something wild and crazy?”

  Abby burned with embarrassment as she thought of what Janey would say about Abby dating another of her brothers. “Maybe.”

  “Anyone I know?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Who? Tell me right now!”

  “I’ll tell you when I see you.” And she’d hope her close friend wouldn’t be mad about Abby seeing Adam.

  “You’ll see me tonight.”

  “What’s tonight?”

  “Girls’ night out. I guess Maddie talked to Jenny, and she needs a night out with the girls. It’s on for tonight. We’re starting at Stephanie’s Bistro at seven. See you there?”

  “Sure, I’d love to.”

  “Be prepared to spill the beans.”

  “Bye, Janey.”

  Abby rolled over to find a note on the pillow. “Woke up early and went to work on Laura’s reservation system. Come over and have breakfast with me when you wake up. Adam.”

  She read and reread the note, smiling when she remembered the night they’d spent together and the way he’d focused entirely on her pleasure. And then she thought of the shower and how she’d brazenly pushed his hand out of the way and replaced it with her own.

  How was it that they’d spent so little time together but he already understood her so well? How was it that she was so willing to do things with him that she wouldn’t have dreamed of doing in the past?

  He’d probably given up on eating with her a long time ago, so she took her time showering, conditioning her hair, blowing it dry, applying mascara and some lip gloss. She wore one of the summer tops she’d bought at Tiffany’s store. The style was demure yet sexy and sheer enough that the light pink bra she wore under it showed through.

  Abby smiled at her reflection in the full-length mirror behind the bathroom door. A week ago, it wouldn’t have occurred to her to show off her bra. Now she couldn’t wait to see what Adam thought of her outfit.

  She dashed down the three flights of stairs, out the back door of the Beachcomber and across the street to the Sand & Surf. An older couple was coming out as she approached the main door, so Abby stood aside to let them past. She stepped into the lobby and came to a stop when she saw Adam sitting at the reception desk. He wore dark horn-rimmed glasses and was completely absorbed in what he was doing on the computer.

  Abby took advantage of the opportunity to study him when he was in his element. She discovered that his lips moved when he worked, and he talked to himself. And he was absolutely gorgeous. His hair was mussed as if he’d been running his fingers through it repeatedly. His face was freshly shaven, and he wore a polo shirt she hadn’t seen on him before, leading her to conclude that he’d been home to shower and change.

  Before last night, she’d thought him handsome and intriguing. Now she knew he was sexy as all hell, too. She was about to approach the desk and ring the bell, but he looked up and caught her watching him.

  His smile unfolded slowly as he took in her outfit in an equally slow perusal. “I wondered if you were going to sleep all day.”

  “I was worn out.”

  He removed the glasses and held them suspended between his index finger and thumb, swinging them back and forth. “Wonder how that happened.”

  “I have no idea.”

  “I could refresh your memory later, if you’d like.”

  Abby leaned on the counter. “I’d like, except it’s girls’ night out, so it’ll have to be late.”

  “I can do late. Are you hungry?”

  “I could eat.”

  “Let me just call upstairs for someone to come watch the desk. I was multitasking.” He made a quick call and then put the phone down. “My cousin Shane is coming down.” Adam glanced up the stairs. “Laura is sick again.”

  “That’s too bad. It’s got to be miserable with a baby to take care of.”

  “I know. She’s wiped out. Here comes Shane.”

  Adam’s cousin came bounding down the stairs. Like his cousins, he was tall with startling blue eyes, but his hair was much lighter than theirs.

  “Do you know Abby Callahan?” Adam asked Shane.

  “We met years ago,” Abby said, hesitant to mention her connection to Grant in front of Adam.

  “She used to date Grant,” Adam said, saving her the trouble.

  “Oh, right,” Shane said. “I remember now. Nice to see you again.”

  “We’re going to grab some breakfast, and then I’ll be back,” Adam said.

  “Take your time.” Shane sat in the chair behind the desk. “I’ve got nowhere to be.”

  “Thanks.” Adam gestured for her to precede him into the restaurant where they waited at the hostess stand to be seated.

  “Didn’t he get married a couple of years ago?” she asked.

  “Yeah. Didn’t work out.”

  “I hadn’t heard that.”

  “It was a bad scene. She was hooked on prescription drugs, and he didn’t know it. He’s been through a nightmare, the poor guy.”

  “God, that’s awful.” And it made what she’d been through seem not so significant.

  “He’s doing a lot better since he’s been here with Laura and the rest of the family.” Adam put an arm around Abby and kissed her temple. “I’m starving. I thought you’d never get here.”

  “You didn’t have to wait.”

  “Yes, I did. I told you I would in the note.”

  “It was nice of you.” Cal wouldn’t have waited. He was impatient, always in a hurry and didn’t like to be kept waiting.

  “What’re you thinking?” Adam asked as he held her chair for her.

  “That Cal wouldn’t have waited for me.”

  Adam settled in the seat next to her rather than across from her. “That would’ve been his loss. You look gorgeous this morning. Almost as gorgeous as you looked last night.” As he said the last part, his hand landed on her knee and moved up until Abby stopped him from going any farther.

  “Will you put the glasses back on?”

  He seemed surprised by her request. “You like them?”

  “Uh-huh. They make you look smart.”

  “I am smart,” he said with an arrogant, teasing smile as he slid them back on.

  His intelligence, Abby thought, was every bit as sexy as what he’d done to her in the hotel room last night. She covered his hand on her leg and wrapped her fingers around his, sharing a smile with him. Neither of them could seem to look away. Abby’s insides fluttered with awareness of him and pride in herself for reaching out to take what she wanted.

  “Morning, folks,” the waitress said. “Coffee?”

  She tore her gaze off him and looked up at the young woman. “Please.”

  “Me, too.”

  Abby paid attention to every detail as he stirred cream and sugar into his coffee and ordered fried eggs over easy, turkey bacon and rye toast. She’d barely glanced at the menu
but asked for an egg-white omelet with vegetables and wheat toast.

  “How’s the project going?” she asked when they were alone again.

  “It’s going. I enjoy the challenge of figuring out what the client needs and making the computer give it to them.”

  “That sounds like a very simplified explanation for complicated work.”

  “It can be, I suppose, but it’s not complicated to me. It’s my second language, the only thing I’ve ever been any good at.”

  “Not the only thing,” Abby said as a blush swept over her.

  His ringing laugh and the squeeze of her hand pleased her. She liked making him laugh. When his smile faded a bit, she looked over to see what had caught his attention. His brother Mac and Luke Harris had walked into the restaurant. Mac zeroed right in on them sitting together.

  Abby released Adam’s hand, and he pulled it back.

  “Hey, bro,” Mac said as he approached the table with Luke. “Abby. I didn’t hear you were home.” He leaned in to kiss her cheek. “Nice to see you. Is Cal with you?”

  “Nice to see you, too, Mac.” She glanced at Adam. “Cal and I broke up.”

  “I hadn’t heard that.” Mac’s gaze darted between her and Adam. She could almost hear him jumping to conclusions that weren’t far from wrong.

  “How’s the gift shop coming along?” she asked.

  Mac forced his eyes off his brother and focused on her. “We should finish it up today.”

  “That’s great. Laura is anxious to get it open by next month. That should give us just enough time.”

  “So you’ll be running the store?”

  “That’s the plan.”

  “Adam, could I have a word with you?” Mac asked. “It’ll only take a minute.”

  “Not right now. Later, maybe.”

  Mac didn’t seem pleased to be rebuffed by his younger brother. “Find me before you leave.”

  “Sure. Luke, good to see you.”

  “You, too. The girls are getting up a night out tonight, so the guys are coming to my house for some poker. You’re welcome to join us.”

  “I’d love to, thanks. See you then.”

  Abby watched them walk to the bar where they procured coffee in to-go cups before they left the restaurant. On the way out, Mac took another long look at Adam and Abby.

  “He’s such a pain in the ass,” Adam muttered.

  “You love him.”

  “Of course I love him, but sometimes I want to punch his lights out.”

  “You two look so much alike it’s scary.”

  “I’ve been hearing that my whole life. My own aunt mistook me for him the other day.” He took a drink of his coffee, his eyes on the door. “You know he’s already on the phone with Grant, telling him I’m eating breakfast with you.”

  “Does that bother you?”

  “Not for the reasons you think it might.”

  “Good thing you already talked to Grant, huh?”

  “Yeah, very good thing.”

  “I don’t want to be the cause of trouble in your family.”

  “Don’t worry about that. Grant is happy with Stephanie, and this has nothing to do with him. You two are ancient history. If you’d just broken up with him, that would be different, but it’s been over between you guys for a couple of years.”

  As their breakfast arrived, Abby couldn’t help but worry about causing trouble between brothers who’d always been close.

  “So you already knew he was seeing her and didn’t tell me?” Mac asked Grant. He held the phone in the crook of his neck as he painted the trim in the gift shop.

  “I talked to him yesterday, and he mentioned they’d been hanging out. I didn’t realize I was required to inform you of this development.”

  “Very funny. They looked awfully cozy. That doesn’t bother you?”

  “What do you want me to say? I’m engaged to Stephanie. Why would it bother me?”

  “Still… I think it would bug me if one of you guys dated my ex.”

  “After the way I treated her, Abby certainly deserves to be happy, and if Adam makes her happy, well… Who am I to get in the middle of that?”

  “You’re very evolved about all of this.”

  “Don’t make a big thing out of it. Leave him alone.”

  “You’re ruining all my fun.”

  Grant let out a huff of laughter. “You’re worse than Mom. You’ve turned into a regular Gansett Island gossipmonger.”

  “That hurts me, Grant. Deeply.”

  “The truth always hurts.”

  “You sound a little better today,” Mac said, feeling as if he was tiptoeing into a minefield.

  “I’ve been sleeping. That makes everything better.”

  “You know I’m here if you need me, bro. I went through the same thing you did out there—”

  “No, you didn’t.”

  Grant’s sharp retort caught Mac by surprise.

  “I’m sorry,” Grant said, instantly contrite. “I didn’t mean to snap at you. It’s just…”

  Mac put down his paintbrush and switched the phone to his other hand. “What, Grant? Say it. Put it out there and get it off your chest. Let us help.”

  “I…”

  Mac waited breathlessly, praying that his brother would finally unburden himself.

  “I can’t. I’m sorry, but I can’t.”

  Blowing out a deep breath, Mac said, “When you’re ready, you know where I am.”

  “Yes. Thank you.”

  “Are you coming to Luke’s tonight?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I’ll see you there.”

  Mac ended the call, upset and dismayed that his brother was in pain and there was nothing he could do about it.

  “What’s up?” Luke asked from the other end of the store where he was screwing the plug covers back on now that the paint on the walls was dry.

  “Damned if I know. How is it we went through the same thing, and he’s so screwed up over it?”

  “Something else happened to him. Something so traumatic he can’t talk about it.”

  “If he doesn’t talk about it, how will he get past it?”

  “Give him some time. Keep doing what you’re doing. Let him know you’re there for him. That’s all you can do.”

  “It makes me crazy to know he’s so upset but keeping it all inside.”

  “It’ll come out eventually. When he’s ready.”

  “Yeah, I suppose you’re right.”

  “Hey, so listen. I’m going to be off-island a couple of days next week. Is that okay?”

  “When are you going to stop asking us for time off?” They’d made Luke a partner in their business more than a year ago.

  “Old habits die hard,” Luke said with a chuckle.

  “I hope you’re going somewhere fun before the madness begins with the season.”

  “Not fun, exactly, but a step in the right direction. Syd’s having a reversal of her tubal ligation.”

  Mac grimaced. “What the hell does that mean?”

  “It means, you jackass, that we might be able to have kids of our own. If it works.”

  “Hey, that’s cool. Kind of a big step for her, huh?”

  “A very big step. It took me a while to convince her that what happened to her kids couldn’t possibly happen again.” Sydney lost her first husband and young children to a drunk driver. “She’s worried she’ll be a crazy overprotective mother who never lets the poor kid out of her sight.”

  “You couldn’t blame her for that.”

  “No, but I told her I’d be there to keep her from going too far overboard. Of course that’s if it even happens. There’s a chance the surgery won’t work, and even if it does, she may not conceive.”

  “I’ll be hoping it goes your way. We all will.”

  “Thanks. Like I told her, if it doesn’t, we’ll adopt. There’re other options, and we’re keeping them all open.”

  “Good plan. Let me know how it works out, okay?” />
  “I will. We’re keeping it kind of quiet. Syd doesn’t want everyone asking questions.”

  “No one will hear it from me.”

  Luke crooked a skeptical eyebrow.

  “What? I said I won’t say anything, and I won’t.”

  Laughing at Mac’s indignation, Luke went back to work.

  Mac thought about Grant for a long time, wondering what had his brother so upset and wishing there was something he could do about it.

  Chapter 16

  A steady thump, thump, thump woke Laura from a sound sleep. Even though she’d been asleep for hours, her eyes didn’t want to open. Exhaustion clung to every inch of her.

  “Laura? Princess, are you in there?”

  Only two people called her Princess. Was that her dad? What was he doing here? Laura pushed aside covers Owen must’ve put over her and crossed the room on wobbly legs to open the door.

  “Did I wake you?” Frank McCarthy asked. As always, he was impeccably dressed with every one of his silver hairs in place. “I’m sorry. Owen thought you’d be awake by now. He sent me up.”

  Thrilled to see him, Laura stepped into his embrace and held on for dear life. “What’re you doing here, Dad?”

  “I talked to Shane yesterday, and he said you were still feeling poorly. Since I have a couple of days free from court, I wanted to come see my kids. I hope that’s okay.”

  “It’s more than okay.” She released him and took his hand. “Come in. What time is it?”

  “Almost four.”

  “Jeez.” She’d been asleep for three hours! “Did you see Holden?”

  “I did,” he said, beaming with delight over his grandson as he had since the day Holden was born. “Owen has him downstairs. They’re ‘working’ at the registration desk.”

  “That must be something to see.” Owen was doing both her jobs so she could sleep the day away. Laura sighed, furious at herself and her body for betraying her. With the season about to get under way there was so much to be done, and all she wanted to do was sleep—that was, when she wasn’t puking.

  “He’s grown so much in just a couple of weeks. I couldn’t get over it.”

  “A lot happens the first year. He’ll be walking before we know it.”

  “What’s wrong, Princess? You’re so pale. Are you okay?”