Gansett Island Boxed Set, Books 1-16

by Force, Marie

  She raised her hips to remind him of what they’d been doing before her emotional meltdown.

  With his arms tight around her and his lips devouring hers, he rocked into her, thrusting deep the way she liked it best, until she broke the kiss to cry out from the pleasure that shot through her body.

  Adam groaned and got impossibly harder and bigger inside her before he came, his fingers digging into her shoulders.

  “Love you forever, Abby.”

  “Love you forever, Adam.”

  “So, New Year’s Eve? Yes?”

  “I can’t wait.”

  Chapter 14

  New Year’s Eve on Gansett Island dawned sunny and cold, the perfect sort of day for a winter wedding. Linda carried mugs of coffee upstairs for her and Mac to enjoy in bed. With nowhere to be until later, they had time for a lazy morning.

  Adam is getting married, she thought with a sigh. He was her baby who wasn’t a baby anymore and hadn’t been for a very long time. No matter. He would always be her baby.

  “What’re you sighing about, my love?” Mac asked when she handed him one of the mugs. He was propped up in bed, reading the morning headlines on the iPad the kids had given him for Christmas. With glasses propped on the end of his nose and his hair tousled from sleep, he looked sexy and adorable.

  She slid into bed next to him, careful not to spill the coffee on the crisp white sheets. “Adam is getting married.”

  “So I’ve heard. This is a good thing, no?”

  “Of course it is, but I’m still allowed to feel a little melancholy about another of my babies taking the plunge.”

  “Should I not mention that Evan will take the plunge in exactly nineteen days?”

  Linda moaned. “No, you shouldn’t.”

  He chuckled at her foolishness. “I love that they’ve each found their perfect match.”

  “So do I. Don’t get me wrong. It’s just…”

  “They grew up way too fast.”

  “Yes. That.”

  “I know, babe. I think about that all the time. Seems like five minutes ago, we had a house full of screaming rug rats, and now…”

  “Silence.”

  “And while silence can be golden, it happened fast.”

  “We haven’t had much of a chance to talk about what Adam told us last night.”

  “I’ve been reading up about this condition Abby has.” He turned the iPad so she could see. “It’s difficult but manageable from all accounts. Fertility can be a big challenge.”

  “I hate that for them. They’d have such beautiful babies.”

  “Yes, they would, and it’s very possible they will. It’ll just take some doing.”

  “If anyone can get through this, it’s those two. They’re so perfect for each other. It’s funny how I never would’ve thought so back when she was dating Grant, but now…”

  “You can’t picture her with anyone but Adam and vice versa.”

  “Right.”

  He put his iPad and mug on the bedside table and turned to her. “Speaking of babies, what do we think about Janey being pregnant again?”

  “We think it’s very scary.”

  “I gotta be honest—as much as I want another grandbaby, I sort of wish they’d quit with P.J.”

  “They planned to, but you know what happens when people make plans.”

  Mac reached for her hand. “Joe said they’re going to the mainland early and she’ll be admitted for the last few weeks so there’s no chance of what happened last time happening again.”

  “There’s always a chance, but at least she’ll be already in the hospital if it does. Then there’s Maddie.”

  “What about her?”

  “She’s pregnant again, even if they’re not saying so yet.”

  “How do you know that?”

  She gave him her best withering look. “Hello? Because I know everything.”

  “You’re getting a little full of yourself over there,” he said with a teasing smile.

  “You mark my words. She’s pregnant, or my name isn’t Voodoo Mama.”

  “What do you think of Evan and Grace’s plan to ride the music wave?” he asked. It had been a rather eventful holiday season for the McCarthy family.

  “As much as I want them here with us, I think they’re doing the right thing. He would’ve always wondered what might’ve been if he didn’t seize this moment.”

  “I agree. It’s not every day an artist has a song go to number one. He would wonder, and she would feel like she kept him from chasing his dream. That they found a way to chase it together is fantastic. I love that she found someone to manage the pharmacy for her and Josh agreed to take on the studio while Evan is on the road.”

  “It all worked out perfectly. I also hear that Stephanie decided to go to LA with Grant after all.”

  “Oh, that’s good news. I wasn’t happy about the idea of them spending all that time apart when they’re newlyweds.”

  “Me either, but we couldn’t blame her about being hesitant to relive the nightmare of Charlie’s incarceration.”

  “No, definitely not.”

  “So five children happily married or soon to be. That leaves Mallory.”

  “I’ve been thinking a lot about her since she went back to Providence,” Mac said. “She doesn’t say much about her past or her love life, but I get the feeling she hasn’t had it easy when it comes to men.”

  “She said she’s not married ‘anymore,’ but that’s all she’s said to me.”

  “Me too. I’m dying to know more, but I don’t want to push her to confide in me until she’s ready to.”

  “That’s a wise approach. Baby steps, my darling.”

  “That’s not really my style,” he said with a sheepish grin.

  “No, really?” she asked, laughing. “This is no time for your bull-in-a-china-shop approach to fatherhood, Mac.”

  “That’s not nice.”

  “Is it untrue?”

  “It’s not completely untrue.”

  Chuckling, Linda said, “What time does she get in today for the wedding?”

  “She worked last night, so she’s on the four o’clock boat. I’m picking her up.”

  “We’ll have this weekend with her and then the week in Anguilla for Grace and Evan’s wedding.” Thankfully, they’d managed to relocate their wedding to another resort when the original one had been closed down for repairs after a storm. “You’ll have a chance to get to know her even better without overwhelming her.”

  “Yes, dear.” He kissed the back of her hand. “What do you feel like doing today?”

  “As little as possible. I’m still recovering from the madness that is Christmas around here.”

  “Another spectacular job from Linda McCarthy holiday productions.”

  “I’m glad you thought so. Thank God Maddie did Christmas Eve and that everyone pitches in to help on Christmas Day. All that help makes it easier on Mom than it used to be when everything fell to me.”

  “You make it look easy.”

  “Weren’t the kids so cute?”

  “So cute. I forgot how fun it is to have little ones underfoot on Christmas. You want to see the pictures again?”

  “I sure do.”

  They spent the rest of the morning scrolling through the hundreds of photos he’d taken with his new toy during the holidays—and they watched the video Adam had made for their anniversary for about the hundredth time. It never got old, and every time she watched it, Linda saw something she hadn’t noticed before.

  Adam was getting married…

  As her eyes filled with tears, she hoped that by the time six o’clock rolled around, she’d be ready to once again be mother of the groom.

  Adam and Abby had overtaken the McCarthy’s Gansett Island Inn for their wedding. Copying Laura’s idea, they’d arranged for rooms for everyone at the inn so family members could party the night away without having to drive home afterward. The inn was still beautifully decorated for the holidays
, and everything was in place for the wedding.

  Daisy Babson, head of housekeeping, had stepped up to help finalize their plans since the hotel’s event coordinator was on vacation. They couldn’t have pulled off the wedding on such short notice without Daisy’s able assistance.

  “To say event planning isn’t your specialty, you sure arranged a miracle,” Adam said he and Abby walked with Daisy through the downstairs rooms that would be used for the wedding.

  “I’m so glad you’re happy with it.” Daisy glowed with happiness after getting a big engagement ring from Dr. David Lawrence for Christmas. “It’s been good practice for planning my own wedding.”

  “We’re all so happy for you guys,” Adam said.

  “Thank you. I know it means a lot to David to have your family’s support.”

  It seemed like a long time now since David’s relationship with Janey had ended with him cheating on her. David had changed a lot in the last few years and had earned the McCarthy family’s undying respect when he delivered both Hailey and P.J. under difficult—and dangerous—conditions.

  “How did he ask you?” Abby asked.

  “It was very romantic and sweet,” Daisy said, blushing lightly as she conveyed the details of the proposal. “After we spent Christmas Day with his family and our friends, we came home to our place. He said he had one more gift he’d forgotten to give me earlier. I almost passed out when I realized what was happening.”

  Abby laughed at the comical expression on Daisy’s face.

  “It was perfect,” Daisy declared.

  Abby hugged her. “I’m so happy for you. No one deserves to be swept off her feet more than you do.”

  Adam wanted to tell his bride that she deserved it, too, but rather than tell her, he intended to show her. Later.

  He and Abby had said to hell with superstition and had spent their wedding day together. In truth, he was still slightly afraid to let her out of his sight. Since their intense conversation on the night of his parents’ anniversary party, she’d been more resigned to her diagnosis. She’d been an enthusiastic if quieter-than-usual participant in the planning of their wedding. However, he still sensed an underlying fragility to her newfound strength, which was why they’d spent every day this week together.

  He’d taken the week off from work and had given her his undivided attention. With her store closed down for the winter as of Christmas Eve, they focused on resting and relaxing in the days before their wedding. Adam couldn’t wait to give her the surprise he had for her later.

  She’d suggested that the week in Anguilla for Evan’s wedding could count as their honeymoon, but Adam didn’t want to wait three weeks to celebrate their marriage. They were leaving tomorrow for a weeklong cruise to the Bahamas, and he was excited to have his new wife completely to himself for a whole week.

  Hell, he was excited about everything where she was concerned—the good, the bad, the sickness, the health and everything in between. After his last relationship ended in spectacular fashion, he’d been resigned to spending the rest of his life alone rather than ending up with the wrong person.

  At the lowest moment in his life, he’d come home to Gansett and found true love with his brother’s ex-girlfriend. He hadn’t seen it coming, but that was what made it so great. They’d been right under each other’s noses for years without realizing they were destined to be together.

  As Abby chatted with Daisy about the flower delivery that would arrive from the florist, Adam squeezed her hand.

  She replied with the genuine smile he hadn’t seen much of since her diagnosis, but it gave him hope that she would bounce back in due time. That she also looked excited about the wedding helped to soothe his battered nerves.

  The rest of the day flew by with last-minute details and other preparations. With darkness descending as it did so early in the winter, Adam spent his last few minutes as a single man in the hotel salon with his brothers as well as Joe and Owen, all of whom were serving as his groomsmen. His nephew, Thomas, was the ring bearer. Owen was doing double duty and would provide music for the ceremony. Adam’s Uncle Frank would preside.

  Abby had asked Grace to be her maid of honor with Janey, Maddie, Laura and Stephanie as her attendants. They hadn’t had time to come up with the usual matching outfits, so all the girls were wearing black cocktail dresses, and the guys were in dark suits. Abby had found a dress she loved at Tiffany’s store a couple of months ago, and Adam couldn’t wait to see it.

  It had been rather easy to throw together an elegant last-minute wedding that would also serve as a New Year’s Eve party.

  “Are you ready, bro?” Mac asked, clasping Adam’s shoulder.

  “So ready.”

  His brother Grant shook his hand. “Take good care of Abby. She deserves the very best.”

  “She’ll never get anything less than that from me.”

  Grant nodded soberly. Adam was thankful that there’d never been any ill will from his brother when he started seeing Abby. Grant knew he’d screwed up with her, and he’d told Adam that his experience with Abby had prepared him to do better with Stephanie. Everyone had ended up where they belonged, but it was still a relief not to have trouble with Grant. That would’ve forced Adam to make some awful decisions.

  Evan approached him with a white rose, a huge pin and a demonic look in his eyes.

  “Don’t even think about it, idiot.”

  “I only thought about it. I wasn’t actually going to do it.” Evan, the best man, pinned the rose onto Adam’s lapel and then took a measuring perusal of Adam’s appearance. “You won’t ruin the pictures.”

  Adam laughed. He expected nothing less from Evan. The two of them had spent their childhood beating the crap out of each other every chance they got, and were still known to wrestle on occasion. In fact, they’d gotten in trouble for wrestling too close to their mother’s tree on Christmas Day. Good times.

  Despite the fighting—or maybe because of it—he and Evan were close, and there was no one else he’d rather have stand up for him today. He hoped Evan would resist the urge to headlock him during the ceremony.

  Adam checked his watch. Ten minutes until six. Ten minutes until he married the love of his life. He couldn’t wait.

  Clutching the arm of her father and following her attendants, Abby made her way downstairs to the salon, where she and Adam would exchange vows. The beautiful old hotel was awash in candlelight that created a soft, romantic vibe. She’d been skeptical that they could pull off a decent wedding with only eleven days to prepare, but as usual, Adam had shown her that anything was possible if you wanted it badly enough.

  With every step she took toward her groom, Abby thought about the long journey she had traveled to arrive at this moment. More than ten years with Grant had led to heartache in the end, followed by another failed relationship with Cal—and a broken engagement.

  She’d officially given up on men and love, which was exactly when her path had collided with Adam’s on a ferry ride home to Gansett that changed both their lives forever.

  Even though her relationship with Adam was totally different from anything she’d known before, she’d still expected something to go wrong—because in her experience, something always went wrong. The devastating diagnosis last week had nearly derailed them, but he hadn’t let it. He hadn’t let her withdraw into herself. He’d fought for her and for them the way he always had and, she now knew, the way he always would.

  She’d chosen an off-white silk dress with a deep V neckline that showed off the cleavage Adam loved. It fell to her ankles and included a slit on the right side. The dress was sexier than she’d normally have chosen for herself, but if her body was going to change dramatically due to her disorder, she wanted Adam to have the memory of a sexy, beautiful bride to cherish.

  Abby had left her hair down because that was how he liked it best, and had worn the lightest possible amount of makeup. Marrying him was a dream come true, and she didn’t want to be unrecognizable to h
im. She and her dad turned the last corner before they entered the room where the ceremony would be held, and Abby took a deep breath, preparing herself for him.

  She squeezed her dad’s arm, and they rounded the corner. Accompanied by the gentle tone of Owen’s guitar, Abby locked eyes with Adam, who appeared to brush a tear from his cheek. He was so beautiful and so sexy and all hers forever. In those final steps as a single woman, she let go of her painful past and her worries about the future. For right now, there was only Adam and her and the vows they would make to each other.

  Adam shook hands with her dad and tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow, squeezing it once in reassurance. “Stunning,” he whispered.

  “Likewise,” she replied, smiling up at him.

  “We’ve come together tonight to celebrate the marriage of my wonderful nephew Adam with his beautiful Abby.” Frank led them through the traditional recitation of vows and the exchange of rings that they’d ordered online and paid top dollar to have shipped to them in time for the wedding. “In addition to the vows they’ve already taken, Adam and Abby have written their own vows. Adam?”

  As he took a deep breath, his eyes shone with unshed tears. “My whole life began the day I found you on that ferry ride home to Gansett,” he said gruffly, bringing tears to her eyes, too. “We were both at the lowest point in our lives and in no way prepared for what was about to happen to us. Since that momentous day, you have taken me places I never expected to go, including the tattoo parlor.”

  Abby laughed, as did everyone else.

  Adam touched his lips to the new tattoo of their wedding date on her inner wrist. He had the same one in the same place.

  Releasing one of her hands, he cupped her face as he gazed into her eyes. “No matter what challenges may come our way, I’ve always got your back, and I know you’ve got mine, too. I love every single thing about you, and I always will.”

  He used his thumbs to brush away her tears.

  “I have never been more myself than I am with you,” Abby said. “I’ve never felt as completely accepted as I am with you. And I’ll never love anyone the way I love you. From those first moments on the ferry, you’ve taken care of me and protected me and encouraged me to go for what I want, even if it might seem out of reach. You’ve shown me that nothing is out of reach when you have the right person holding your hand through life’s challenges. The day I found you on the ferry was the best day of my life, until today.”