Gansett Island Boxed Set, Books 1-16

by Force, Marie

  Ethan had been old enough to know something awful was happening, but too young to understand the nuances, for which she was grateful. That she was even revisiting that horror was a sign that she’d done the right thing backing off with Paul. But if that were true, why did she ache so badly inside?

  Was she doomed to be alone forever because she was too scared to take a chance with someone new? Wow, talk about depressing thoughts. The slam of the screen door jarred her out of those thoughts as Ethan came bounding in, dropping his overnight bag on the floor and kicking off his sneakers.

  “What’s for dinner, Mom?”

  “Hello to you, too. Don’t I even get a hug?”

  He gave her the fastest hug in the history of fast hugs and pulled back. “Why are you wearing a robe in the afternoon?”

  “I got stuck in the rain, so I took a shower to warm up.”

  “We got stuck, too! We had to run off the beach, but it was so fun. Can Jonah sleep over here next weekend? Can he?”

  “Sure.”

  “He’s my best friend in the whole world. Well, other than Paul. He’s my bestest friend ever. I wanna go see him and Mrs. Marion.”

  Hearing him refer to Paul as his bestest friend ever brought tears to Hope’s eyes.

  Thankfully, Ethan was jamming his feet back into his sneakers and didn’t notice her emotional reaction to his innocent, yet heartfelt, statement.

  Hope grabbed him by the shoulders to stop him from shooting out the door. “Mrs. Marion is out with her friends, and Paul is at work.”

  “It’s a Sunday! He doesn’t work on Sundays, Mom.” The disdainful tone was a sign of things to come in the teenage years.

  “He’s doing stuff in the office. Computer stuff.”

  “That’s boring.” The sneakers came flying off again, spilling sand he’d brought home from the beach onto the wood floor. “I’m going to watch Star Wars. What’s for dinner? Can we have ziti?”

  “Yeah, we can have ziti.”

  His smile lit up his face, reminding her what was most important in her life. Yes, it would be nice to pursue a relationship with Paul, but that wasn’t where her attention needed to be right now. The squiggling boy who tried to resist her hugs and kisses was her whole world. She’d do whatever it took to protect him from any further hurt, even if it meant she had to hurt instead.

  The rain cast a damper on Mac’s plans for a Sunday afternoon cookout with his siblings, cousins, uncles and closest friends, forcing him to improvise with a makeshift tent over the grill on the deck. As he cooked chicken and ribs and hot dogs for the kids, he thought about the plan he wanted to run by his siblings, in particular.

  Their parents would be married forty years in December, and he wanted to do something to commemorate the occasion, but he wasn’t sure what exactly. He was hoping they would have some ideas. With his parents off-island for a weekend getaway in Boston, this had been the perfect time to bring the gang together to talk about them when there was no chance of getting caught.

  He carried the meat in on a platter Maddie had given him and placed it on the counter, where she’d set out a buffet that the others had contributed to. “Come and get it!”

  Mac loved having his siblings living nearby as well as their cousins Laura and Shane, who now lived on the island, and Finn and Riley, who had spent the summer and were sticking around for the fall. They hadn’t made any promises about the winter, but Mac was hoping they’d stay. He could really use their help on the addition to Seamus and Carolina’s home, for one thing. And he’d gotten the strangest call from Lizzie James earlier, who’d wanted to gauge his availability to convert the former island school into a health care facility of all things.

  When everyone had a plate, Mac stood and cleared his throat. “The reason I invited you all here today—”

  “Oh God, Mac,” Janey said with a groan. “What now?”

  “Hush up, brat, and I’ll tell you. Mom and Dad’s fortieth anniversary is coming up in December, and I think we ought to do something.”

  “That’s a great idea,” Grace said, earning a warm smile from Mac. “What did you have in mind?”

  “I was hoping you all would have some ideas. I have no clue what we should do.”

  “We need a party,” Grant said. “A big bash.”

  “We could do it at the restaurant,” Grant’s new wife, Stephanie, said. I’ll look at the calendar and give you some dates.”

  “That would be perfect,” Mac said. “What does everyone else think?”

  “I can’t believe they’ve been married forty years,” Frank said. “That makes me feel older than dirt.”

  “You are older than dirt, Dad,” Laura said with a teasing smile.

  “Gee, thanks a lot, hon.”

  “We know better, don’t we?” Frank’s girlfriend, Betsy, said to groans from Laura and Frank’s son, Shane.

  “So gross,” Shane said.

  Frank grinned at Betsy. “See why I love her?”

  Mac’s Uncle Kevin got up and walked over to the big windows that looked over the meadow behind the house. Normally, the view stretched all the way to the ocean in the distance, but today the low clouds hampered the visibility.

  While the others hashed out ideas for the party, Mac went over to check on his uncle. “How you doing, Kev?”

  “I’m good.”

  “Are you really?”

  Kevin shrugged. “Just getting used to the fact that I’ll never have a fortieth anniversary. Hell, I won’t have a thirtieth either. Just missed.”

  “I’m sorry about you and Aunt Deb.”

  “Thanks. It’s a bummer, but it is what it is.”

  “There’s really no hope for reconciliation?”

  “Nope. She’s off enjoying her new romance with a younger guy of all things.”

  “Is it a mid-life crisis?”

  “Could be. But what does it matter? She’s gone.”

  Mac squeezed his uncle’s shoulder. “I’m really sorry, Kev. And I’m sorry if I threw salt in the wound by bringing up my parents’ anniversary in front of you.”

  “Don’t be silly. Of course we need to celebrate them. They’re the best couple we all know.” He smiled at Mac. “Go on over there and figure out a plan. I’ll be okay. It’s just going to take some time to figure out what’s next.”

  “Have you told Riley and Finn?”

  “Yeah, we have, and they’re taking it hard. They’re angry with her, but I’ve tried to tell them this is between her and me, and there’s no need to get pissed. But they don’t see it that way.”

  “Hopefully, they’ll work things out with her in time.”

  “We’ll see.”

  “We’re glad to have you here with us in the meantime.”

  “It’s good to be here. It’s been years since I took any real time off, so I was due, and where else would I rather be than here with all of you?”

  “Mac,” Evan said. “Get over here.”

  “Duty calls,” Mac said. “They can’t function without my leadership.” He left Kevin laughing and returned to the dining room table, where the others were hashing out ideas.

  “You ought to do a video of photos from all their years together,” Mac’s recently discovered half-sister, Mallory, suggested.

  “That’s a great idea,” Janey said, “and that can be Adam’s job.”

  “Sure, brat, sign me up,” Adam said.

  Janey stuck out her tongue at him. “Who else could do that?”

  “No one,” he said, grinning. “I’m all over it.”

  “The girls will handle decorations and the cake,” Maddie said as the others nodded.

  “Owen and I have got the music covered, in case you wondered,” Evan said.

  Sitting beside him, Owen smiled in agreement.

  “Me and Francine will take care of gittin’ ’em there,” Big Mac’s best friend, Ned Saunders, said. “We’ll invite ’em out fer dinner.”

  “Perfect.” Mac rubbed his hands together. “I love
when my master plans come together so smoothly.”

  “So what exactly is your job in all of this?” his cousin Laura asked.

  “It was my idea. What else do you want from me?”

  The entire group howled and threw balled-up napkins at him.

  Laughing, Mac batted them away. “I’m so underappreciated in this family.”

  “You’re perfectly appreciated,” Maddie said, tossing another napkin at him.

  “I nominate Mac to pay for the whole thing,” Janey said. “All in favor, say aye.”

  A loud chorus of aye votes had Mac groaning.

  Mac’s son, Thomas, ran over to him. “Dada, why they throwing stuff at you?”

  Mac picked up the blond-haired toddler. “Because they’re being silly.”

  Thomas wrapped his arms around Mac’s neck. “I take care of you, Dada.”

  Sighing, Mac closed his eyes and squeezed the little boy. When he opened his eyes, he caught Maddie watching them with tears in hers.

  “I can always count on you, buddy.”

  Thomas squirmed out of his embrace and scampered off to play with his cousin Ashleigh and his baby sister, Hailey.

  Maddie reached for Mac’s hand, and he curled his fingers around hers.

  “So everyone is going to AM’s bachelor party next weekend, right?” Evan asked, referring to Alex Martinez’s high school nickname. Paul had been known as PM back then.

  “Can’t wait,” Grant said to murmured agreement from the other guys.

  “However shall we entertain Jenny while the guys are off partying?” Sydney asked with a mysterious grin.

  “Gee, I have no idea what we should do,” Maddie replied.

  “They’re up to something,” Mac said.

  “Do ya think?” Adam asked.

  “You hired the male strippers, right?” Maddie asked Adam’s fiancée, Abby.

  “All set,” Abby said. “They’ll be on the five o’clock boat, and we’ll bring them right to Syd’s place.”

  “Wait just a second,” Luke said. “Syd’s place is my place, too, and I never signed off on strippers.”

  “It’s okay, babe,” Sydney said, patting Luke’s arm. “I don’t need your approval to have some friends over.”

  “They’re not friends! They’re strippers!”

  “Who will be very good friends by the end of the evening,” Stephanie said with a dirty grin.

  “You’re not partying with strippers,” Grant said.

  “Oh yes, I am, honey,” Stephanie said, laughing at her husband’s outrage as the other women egged her on.

  “Maddie won’t be there,” Mac said.

  “Grace won’t be there either,” Evan said.

  “No Abby,” Adam said.

  “Laura is pregnant,” Owen said.

  “What the hell does that have to do with anything?” Laura asked him.

  “It’s indecent for pregnant women to party with strippers.”

  “Color me indecent, then,” Sydney said. “Pregnant and partying with the boys.”

  “You are not,” Luke said, glaring at his wife.

  “Janey can’t make it that night,” Joe said.

  “In your dreams,” Janey shot back. “I wouldn’t miss it for anything.”

  Mac noticed that Ned was laughing his ass off. “What the hell is so funny over there?”

  “All ya fools thinkin’ ya can tell yer ladies what to do.” He dabbed at laughter tears. “Funniest thing I ever heard.”

  “What do you know about it?” Mac asked. “You’re a newlywed. Us crusty veterans know how to manage our women.”

  More napkins and other items flew in Mac’s direction.

  “You’re such a freaking blowhard,” Janey said.

  “No kidding,” Maddie said. “I have a few ideas of how I can show him who’s really in charge around here. I believe I’ll begin his retraining program at bedtime tonight.”

  “Oh damn, dude,” Adam said. “You’re getting the deep freeze.”

  “I know a few ways to defrost her,” Mac said.

  “Better bring your blowtorch,” Maddie said.

  “I carry it with me everywhere I go.”

  “I’m going to puke,” Janey said.

  “So about the strippers,” Evan said. “We’re clear on how we feel about that, right?”

  “Crystal clear, honey,” Grace said with a smile for the other women. “We heard you loud and clear.”

  “They’re going to do it anyway, aren’t they?” Evan asked no one in particular.

  “I believe they are,” Grant said.

  “Wait till you ladies see the guys Abby and I hired,” Tiffany said with a wink. “They make the Chippendales look ugly.”

  “Wait till your husband hears you’re hiring strippers while he’s off protecting our fair island,” Mac said to his sister-in-law.

  “What can I say? The ladies consulted the expert, and I came through for them.”

  “Blaine will hit the roof when he hears about this,” Mac said.

  “I can’t wait,” Tiffany said. “I love when he gets stern with me.” She shivered dramatically, making the others laugh.

  “I was living such a nice quiet life in Nashville,” Evan said, shaking his head. “What was I thinking moving home to be treated this way?”

  “Awww, baby,” Grace said. “No one has ever treated you better than I do.”

  “Most of the time, that’s very true. Today? Not so much.”

  Grace covered her mouth but couldn’t hide her laughter.

  “It’s very inappropriate of you to laugh in my face, my love.”

  “I’m so sorry.”

  “You are not!”

  The laughter and joking continued until everyone began to leave when the kids started getting cranky. As they did every night, Mac and Maddie worked together to get their kids bathed and into bed. Stories were told, night-lights illuminated and kisses were given to sweet-smelling cheeks.

  They left Thomas’s room and propped the door open so they could hear him if he got up in the night.

  Mac put the gate across the top of the stairs just in case Thomas went wandering. Exhausted after the long day and a little buzzed from the beer he’d consumed, Mac went into the bedroom, where Maddie was applying lotion to her arms as she sat up in bed. She wore one of the sexy silk nightgowns he bought her for every occasion. They were more for him than her because he loved how she looked in them.

  He took a quick shower, shaved the stubble off his face and emerged from the bathroom to a dark bedroom, which was unusual. Maddie usually waited for him to come to bed before turning off the light. The sheets were cool against his naked skin, but he found the heat when he curled up to her.

  “Nice time tonight, hon. Thanks for letting the family invade.”

  “Mmm, it was fun.”

  He slid his hand from her flat belly to the valley between her spectacular breasts. The rest of his body reacted predictably to her closeness, her scent, her sexy curves. Mac pressed his erection against her ass and kissed the back of her shoulder.

  A soft snore from his wife was like a bucket of cold water on his plans. “Maddie,” he said softly. Cupping her breast, he ran his thumb over her nipple until it stood up.

  Her breathing changed before she turned over, dislodging his hand and nearly unmanning him with her knee.

  “Oh, sorry,” she murmured sleepily. “Did I hurt your blowtorch?”

  “Oh my God! You were faking?”

  She began to laugh and couldn’t stop. “You’ve got some defrosting to do, Mr. McCarthy. I can’t make it too easy on you.”

  With his hand on her ass, he tugged her in tight against him. “I know how to defrost you, Mrs. McCarthy.”

  “You really are an awful blowhard, Mac.”

  “You can blow me hard any time you want.”

  She slapped his shoulder but rocked with silent laughter. “It’s a good thing I love you so much, or I’d have to do something about your out-of-control ego.”


  “My ego is very healthy, thank you very much. And you’re not going anywhere near male strippers, you hear me?”

  “What was that you said? I can’t hear from all the noise your blowtorch is making as it tries to thaw me out.”

  Growling, he turned her onto her back and settled into the V of her legs, one of his favorite places to be. The nightgown was now hitched up around her hips, and he was delighted to realize his lovely wife hadn’t worn panties to bed. How convenient for the kind of defrosting he had in mind. “You’re very sassy these days, my love.”

  “You like me that way.”

  He kissed her sweet lips. “I like you every way, but I don’t want you going near those strippers.”

  “Mac?”

  “What?”

  “Shut up and make love to me before I change my mind about forgiving you.”

  Never one to have to be told twice, Mac did as directed, entering her in one smooth stroke that took his breath away. God, he loved her. He loved being inside her. He loved laughing with her and raising their beautiful kids with her. He loved every minute he spent with her, even when she was pushing his buttons, which was most of the time.

  “No strippers near my gorgeous wife,” he whispered.

  She responded by tightening her internal muscles and nearly finishing him off.

  “That was dirty.”

  “I can fight dirty when need be.”

  “As long as you’re only fighting dirty with me, that’s fine.”

  Running her hands down his back, she grasped his ass and squeezed.

  He captured her mouth in a ravenous kiss. She made him crazy every time she touched him. Hell, she made him crazy every time she walked into a room and looked at him with those golden eyes. The thought of her looking at—or, God forbid, touching—any other guy made him positively feral.

  When he was fully seated inside her, he said, “I’m not letting you come until you promise me you won’t even look at those strippers.”

  She shocked the shit out of him when she ran her hand down the front of her body to tease her clit, brushing up against his cock in the process.