Gansett Island Boxed Set, Books 1-16

by Force, Marie

He went into the house through the garage and noted the flicker of the TV coming from the family room. Abby was curled up on the sofa, her eyes glued to the TV, though he doubted she had any idea what was on.

  “Hey,” he said.

  “Oh, hi, you’re home. How are Grace and Evan?”

  “They’re good. They said to tell you they can’t wait to see you.”

  “That’s nice. Glad they’re home safe.” She pulled her feet back so he could sit with her on the sofa.

  “Everyone missed you.”

  “I’m sorry. I wasn’t up for the mob scene tonight.”

  “I understand.” He reached for her hand and was encouraged by the way she curled her fingers around his. “Let’s go to bed.”

  “Okay,” she said, but with none of the enthusiasm she’d once had for going to bed with him.

  She shut off the TV, and he helped her up, leading her through the dark house to the stairs. In the daylight, they had a spectacular view of the water. At night, they could lie in bed and look at the stars through the high windows. They’d both loved the house at first glance, especially the extra bedrooms it had for the children they still hoped to have. What a difference a month could make.

  They stood at side-by-side sinks in the master bathroom and brushed their teeth. Abby put on the moisturizer that she applied every night and brushed her long dark hair until it shone like spun silk.

  Fuck this shit and the polite silence. Fuck the distance and fuck the bullshit.

  The thoughts came one right after the other, and rather than take the time to think through what he should do about them, he acted, taking her into his arms and kissing the stunned expression right off her face. He kissed her until he felt her yield, until she began to kiss him back, until the desperate, grinding feeling that she was slipping away from him began to let up ever so slightly.

  Without breaking the kiss, he turned her toward their room and walked her backward until the bed connected with her legs, taking her down and him with her. He kissed her like it was the first time all over again, and he so remembered their first kiss, as if it were yesterday rather than more than a year.

  For the longest time, she’d been Grant’s girlfriend and then his ex. It had never occurred to Adam that Abby could be the love of his life. And then he’d run into her on the ferry when both of them were at the lowest point in their lives. After that, it hadn’t taken long to be unable to picture his life without her at the center of it. And damn it, that was where she still belonged.

  He kissed her until he was certain she was no longer thinking about doctors or fertility or malfunctioning reproductive organs. Then he moved to her neck, kissing and nibbling on the sensitive skin there.

  Her arms encircled his neck, her fingers sinking into the hair he wore a little too long because she liked it that way.

  Adam began pulling at her clothes, desperate for more now that he’d had a taste of her sweetness. He could never get enough of her, especially lately when she’d been so hard to reach. No more of that. No more. He helped her out of her T-shirt and cupped her breasts. Normally, he’d want to arouse her to the point of madness before he proceeded to the main event, but tonight he needed the connection more than the madness.

  He removed her panties and quickly pulled off his own clothes, the whole time waiting for her to stop him, to say not tonight or give him some other reason why they shouldn’t the way she had so many times recently. Thankfully, she didn’t say anything and held out her arms to welcome him into her embrace when he came down on top of her with nothing between them now but love and need.

  What did it say about the state of their marriage that he couldn’t remember the last time they’d made love? That was going to change, starting right now and every night going forward. Things were going to be the way they used to be, back when they were first together and couldn’t keep their hands off each other, before they knew they couldn’t have children, before everything had changed between them.

  He took himself in hand and entered her slowly and carefully, giving her time to adjust while watching her face for any sign of distress. But he didn’t see distress when he looked at her. Rather, he saw serenity and a small smile that was another thing he hadn’t seen in a while.

  His plan was working. Adam gathered her up into his arms and held her close to him while he made love to her.

  “Missed you so much,” he whispered. “I don’t need anything else but for you to be happy.”

  She hugged him tighter, moving with him as he moved in her, and for that moment, everything that was wrong felt right once again.

  “Love you, Abby. More than you’ll ever possibly know.”

  “Love you, too. I’m sorry, Adam.”

  He kissed the words off her lips. “Shhh. No apologies. We’re starting over right now, and it all begins right here with us.” Withdrawing from her, he kissed his way down the front of her until he was settled between her legs. He made love to her with his mouth and fingers, paying attention to the subtle changes in her breathing that told him she was close to release.

  “Give it to me, sweetheart.” He sucked hard on her clit, keeping it up until she clamped down on his fingers and cried out from the pleasure he gave her. Moving up, he entered her again and drew in a sharp breath at the intense desire he felt every time with her.

  She ran her hands down his back to slide over his ass, pulling him deeper into her.

  That was all it took to let go of his self-control and give in to the overwhelming pleasure. Afterward, he came down on top of her, breathing hard and more in love with her than he’d ever been.

  After a long moment of silence, he said, “That, right there, is what matters. We matter. You and me. Us.” He raised his head and looked down at her, brushing the hair back from her face. “I know you’re heartbroken, and I get it. I really do.”

  “I don’t think you can understand being the one who can’t have children, but I know you want to.”

  “What I want, Abby, is for our marriage not to be ruined by disappointment. What I want is my wife, with children or without them, I want my wife. I want you.” He used his thumbs to brush aside her tears. “Please don’t do this to me, Abby. Don’t make me have to practically force myself on you to get things back on track.”

  “You didn’t do that.”

  “That’s how it felt. At first.”

  “I made an appointment with Kevin.”

  Astounded, Adam stared at her. “You did?”

  “Is that okay, him being your uncle and all? It’s not like we have a million therapists to choose from here.”

  “It’s fine with me. Of course it is. Whatever you need to feel better.”

  “I want to feel better, Adam. I know it might not seem like it, but I do. I hate feeling like this.”

  “How, exactly, do you feel? I’d really like to know.”

  “Like… Like the world has ended or something.”

  “It hasn’t. We still have everything we had before this happened. We haven’t actually lost anything until we lose us.”

  “Do you think that’s going to happen?”

  “I’ll never, ever, ever let that happen. There is nothing you could do, nothing in this universe that could make me want to be anywhere but right here with you.” He continued to brush back her hair and wipe the tears from her face. “I’ll fight for you and for us with everything I have, but you have to help me, Abby. I can’t do this by myself. Can you help me?”

  “I couldn’t do this without you. Don’t let me push you away. Don’t let me get away with it.”

  Adam smiled down at her. “I won’t, baby. I promise.”

  “We’ve still got it,” she said, returning his smile as she ran her hands over his back.

  That got his motor running all over again. As he made love to her a second time, he vowed to keep making love to her, morning, noon and night, if that was what it took to keep disappointment from ruining their marriage.

  Chapter 17

&
nbsp; After most of the crowd had departed, Mallory stayed to help Janey do the dishes and clean up the kitchen. While she washed, Janey dried. Joe was upstairs trying to get PJ settled for the night. When Mallory insisted on staying to help clean up, Quinn had told her to text him when she was heading home and had left with his brother and sister-in-law.

  “Where’s your menagerie tonight?” Mallory asked of Janey’s special-needs pets that no one else had wanted until they’d found a loving home with her.

  “In the basement where they can’t get underfoot and steal all the food when no one is looking.” She took a bowl from Mallory and began to dry it. “You really don’t have to do this. We can finish in the morning.”

  “I don’t mind at all, unless you want me out of here.”

  “Not even kinda. If you go, I’ll have to help Joe. PJ will think it’s playtime, and I won’t get any sleep at all tonight—and sleep is all I want lately.”

  “You’re feeling good, though, right?” Mallory had been horrified to hear of the placental abruption Janey had suffered giving birth to PJ. That she might’ve died before Mallory ever had a chance to meet her was an unbearable thought.

  “I feel great. Just tired, but that’s normal, especially the second time around when you already have a little one to take care of.”

  “What’re your doctors saying about your risk level?”

  “It’s high, and I’m going to be on full bed rest at Uncle Frank’s house in Providence during the last month.”

  “That’s a good idea.”

  “I keep telling myself that, but the idea of a month in bed makes me crazy. I had bed rest with PJ, too, and about lost my mind.”

  “It’ll go by fast.”

  “I guess, and it’s comforting to know we’ll be minutes from the hospital.”

  “Sounds like you’ve got it all worked out.”

  “Except the part where I’m scared out of my mind that something will go wrong again.”

  “You’ll be right where you need to be. Try not to worry.”

  “Can I ask you something, and will you tell me the truth?”

  “Of course,” Mallory said. “Anything you want.”

  “As a nurse, do you think I’m crazy for letting this happen again after what I went through the last time?”

  “No, Janey, I don’t think that at all.”

  “Really? Because sometimes I wonder if the whole world doesn’t think Joe and I are insane for having another baby.”

  “What happened with PJ is very, very rare. There’s no reason to believe it’s going to happen again, and if it does, it won’t happen on a remote island without an OB and a surgical suite. I’m sure your doctor will recommend a C-section around thirty-eight weeks, just to be on the safe side.”

  Janey nodded. “That’s what they said.”

  “All right, then. No chance for disaster.”

  “I just have to get to thirty-eight weeks without a disaster.”

  “Try not to think the worst. It’s not good for you or the baby.”

  “I know. I’ve been meditating and breathing and doing everything I can to stay calm, but nine months is a long time to be anxious. It’s taking a toll on Joe, too. He tries to hide it, but he’s not sleeping well and is tightly wound.”

  “You two need a couple of nights away from it all. Why don’t you take off and go somewhere? I’ll watch PJ.”

  Janey stared at her as if she had three heads. “Are you for real?”

  “Yes,” Mallory said, laughing. “I’m sure the grandmothers would help, wouldn’t they?” She did have a new job, after all, and couldn’t be with the baby around the clock.

  “They would and Joe gets a small break after Race Week before the season officially kicks into high gear. Are you sure?”

  “Yes!” Mallory laughed. “Go for it. I gotcha covered. My offer even includes pet sitting.”

  Janey hugged her. “You’re the best sister I’ve ever had.”

  Once again, Mallory had to blink back tears because of something one of her siblings said to her. “Same goes.”

  “I’ll talk to Joe and see what we can work out. I know it can’t be this week because Seamus and Carolina are going to the mainland to finalize their adoption of Jackson and Kyle, so Joe is on duty at work.”

  “That’s so exciting,” Mallory said. “They must be thrilled.”

  “They are. The boys are adapting so well, all things considered. Losing their mom at such a young age was a terrible blow, but Seamus and Caro have done what they could to fill the void. And now they’re making it official. I hear there’s a party to celebrate soon.”

  “Never a lack of parties around here.”

  “And people say island life is boring.”

  “Not in this family.”

  “So tell me… What’s up with you and the hunky Dr. James?”

  “Ummm, we’re friends?”

  “With or without benefits?” Janey asked.

  Mallory laughed at the blunt question. “Is this what it’s like to have a sister?”

  Janey nudged her. “You know it. Answer the question.”

  “With partial benefits. For now, anyway. We have the same exact birthday. That’s kind of cool, right?”

  “That’s very cool. You should go for it with him. He’s a stud.”

  “Are you talking about me again, babe?” Joe asked when he came into the kitchen.

  Janey rolled her eyes. “You wish.”

  Joe flexed his biceps. “Am I or am I not a stud?”

  “I think that’s my cue,” Mallory said, gathering her purse and the plate she’d brought with the brownies.

  “Guess what, Joseph? My lovely sister has offered to stay with PJ so we can get away by ourselves for a couple of nights. What do you say?”

  “I say can we go now?”

  Both women laughed at his quick reply.

  “How about in a week or so when I get used to my new schedule on the rescue?” Mallory said.

  “I suppose I can wait that long,” Joe said. “That’s nice of you, Mallory. Thank you.”

  “I’m looking forward to some time alone with my nephew. I’ve got lots of spoiling to do.”

  Janey groaned. “He’s already spoiled rotten.”

  “No such thing.” Mallory hugged Joe and walked with Janey to the front door. “Thanks for a fun night.”

  “Thanks for the cleanup help.”

  Mallory zipped her jacket. “No problem.”

  “Hey, Mallory?”

  “Yeah?”

  “I just wanted to say…” She paused, seeming to collect her thoughts. “When I first heard about you, I didn’t react the way I should have, and I just want you to know that I’m really glad you’re here and that I have a sister. I always wanted one while growing up with the four animals we call brothers, and… I’m, well, I’m glad you’re my sister.”

  Deeply moved, Mallory hugged her. “Thank you so much for that. I couldn’t have dreamed this family, but I’m so happy to be part of it and to have you as my baby sister.”

  “As long as you don’t call me brat, we’re all good.”

  Mallory laughed. “I’ll try to refrain.”

  Janey pulled back, and they both dabbed at their eyes. “So is your stud doctor making a house call tonight?”

  Shaking her head, Mallory said, “Good night, Janey.”

  With her heart full after the night with her family, she got into her car and debated whether or not she should text Quinn. At this hour, a text could be construed as a potential booty call, but she’d promised to let him know when she was heading home, so she went ahead and sent the text.

  On the way.

  She put the phone in her purse and concentrated on driving, resisting the temptation to see if he’d replied.

  “You’re so incredibly tense,” Dan said to Kara as he massaged her shoulders. He’d brought her home right after dinner at Janey and Joe’s because he could tell she wasn’t in a partying mood tonight. Now he had her p
ositioned in front of him in bed and was trying to help her relax. “Your muscles are like rocks.”

  “It’s wedding stress. I can’t take much more of it.”

  “I have a suggestion that might not win me any points with my future mother-in-law but will win me all sorts of points with my future wife.”

  “I can’t wait to hear this.”

  “Stop taking her calls. Stop reading her texts. Just stop everything with her.”

  “You want me to stop speaking to my mother a week before our wedding?”

  “Well, I don’t want that, but she’s making it impossible for you to enjoy what should be the happiest time in your life, and I find that highly unacceptable.”

  Kara turned her head so she could see him behind her. “I love when you go all lawyerly on me.”

  “Then how about I file an injunction prohibiting her from contacting you until after we say ‘I do’?”

  “As much as I love the thought of that, I’d hate to have you stuck in her cross hairs, too. It’s bad enough that I’m there.”

  “I’d happily take a bullet for you.”

  “Don’t even say that. I’ve had enough of you being injured to last me a lifetime.”

  His low chuckle drew one from her, too. “That’s what I want to hear. Laughter and happiness and nothing but pure joy, which is what I feel when I think about being married to you.”

  “I can’t wait to be married to you. I just wish the wedding hadn’t turned into such a circus.”

  “The wedding could be an actual circus with a big top, elephants and clowns, and I wouldn’t give a flying fuck as long as you were there to marry me.”

  “You mean that, don’t you?”

  “I mean it.”

  “So you’re suggesting I let the wedding turn into a circus?”

  “I’m suggesting you do it exactly the way you want it and ignore anyone who tries to deter you from having what you want on your day. And PS, babe, we’re paying for it, not them, so we get to do exactly what we want.” He’d insisted on paying for it so she could have it her way, thus the months of back and forth with her mother, who wanted to control the whole thing.

  “That’s true.”