Christmas at the Cove

by Rachel Brimble

  Scott buckled his helmet beneath his chin and straddled his bike. He turned the ignition, and the powerful engine roared to life, rumbling through him and matching the adrenaline pumping through his blood. He needed some distraction, a few hours’ headspace, before he told one of his best friends he needed him to perform and hurry through a DNA test.

  He glanced toward the doctor’s office. There was no way in hell Kevin would do anything until he had some answers to his non-doctorly and doctorly questions. Scott’s gut tightened. It had always been the three of them, Scott, Nick and Kevin, for the last two decades, and the notion of leaving Nick out of the loop ate at Scott’s gut. How had three childhood best friends remained so close, despite one growing up to be a mechanic, one a DJ and the other a doctor? Scott smiled. It made no sense, but the number of times he’d been grateful for his buddies was endless.

  He pulled out of the parking lot. He needed to go see Nick and put an end to the tension between them—which would be easily done if his friend was prepared to apologize to Carrie. If he wasn’t, Scott had no idea how their argument would pan out.

  As he rode toward the garage, the streets passed in a blur of people. The light snow that continued to fall barely touched his visor before being snatched away again by the wind. Images of Carrie mixed with his intense attraction toward her, tormenting his mind as he endeavored to focus on the road.

  Minutes later, Scott pulled into the garage lot and cut the engine. Parking his bike, he pulled off his helmet. Nick leaned against the iron doors, his jacket collar drawn up around his jaw and a beanie shoved down over his ears, his gaze unmoving as he stared directly at Scott. He slowly pushed away from the wall and crossed his arms. “You certainly like to keep a man waiting. I’ve been here for over an hour.”

  Scott exhaled. When you had known someone as long as they’d known each other, you learned to read a friend’s body language—Nick’s screamed of “let’s get this over and done with,” with a hefty dose of “I still don’t think I did anything wrong.”

  Walking forward, Scott raised his hand. “Good to see you, man.”

  The two of them clutched hands before Scott released him and approached the doors. “Come on, I need caffeine. It’s been a long day.”

  Nick laughed. “You know it’s only one-thirty, right?”

  Scott glanced over his shoulder. “Feels like bloody midnight.”

  They climbed the steps to his office and Scott flicked on the overhead lights. Dumping his helmet on his desk, Scott walked to a small side sink and filled the electric kettle. Switching it on, he took a moment to contemplate his next words before turning around and facing his best friend. He leaned against the counter and crossed his arms. “I’m in deep shit.”

  Nick slowly removed his hat and fisted it in his hand. “I know.”

  Scott tensed. “You know?”

  “I knew the minute I met Blondie at the bakery. She’s the hottest, fiery-tempered, brown-eyed piece of ass I’ve seen around these parts for a long while. You were in deep shit from the moment you laid eyes on her three years ago.”

  Scott grinned and shook his head. “You’re unbelievable.”

  “What? I’m telling you, man, it’s lucky for you I go for brunettes.”

  Scott lifted an eyebrow. “Or what? I wouldn’t stand a chance?”

  Nick shrugged. “Your words, not mine.”

  Laughing, Scott turned to the kettle as it whistled to a boil. “So I guess sending you off to her hotel for a groveling apology is out of the question in case you decide you prefer blondes after all.”

  “Never gonna happen.”

  Scott’s smile dissolved. He kept his back to his friend and inhaled. “The apology or the hitting on her?”

  “Both.”

  Scott’s blood heated dangerously as he turned around. “You were out of line.”

  “Was I? You just said you’re in deep shit. I saw it coming the minute you called me and told me she was back.”

  “Why are you doing this?”

  “Doing what? Looking out for you? Come on, Scott. Is it that easy to forget it was me who picked you up last time?”

  “And you think I’m going to put myself through that again?”

  “Isn’t that exactly what you’re doing?” Nick shook his head. “It was me who watched you go from a guy who did his work and then had some fun to someone who went after women as though he had a limp dick. Sure, things have picked up with you as far as women are concerned but, God, you were stonewalled by her, man. Why are you letting her do the same thing again?”

  Irritation hummed in Scott’s gut like acid. “Can you really say you’re happy dating a different woman every week? That’s where you want to be?”

  Nick lifted his shoulders, his cheeks darkening. “Sure, it is. What’s not to like?”

  “Bullshit. You and I both know it’s a waste of time and, more often than not, more trouble than it’s worth. I like Carrie. I like her a lot and if I had to choose her over every woman I’ve dated in the last three years, she’d be the hands-down winner. Don’t tell me if a woman came along and grabbed a hold of you so damn hard it knocked you sideways, you’d let her walk away to go and find someone else.”

  Nick’s jaw tightened. “I wouldn’t know ’cause it hasn’t happened.”

  Scott glared. “Well, who says it isn’t happening to me?”

  Nick raised his eyebrows and Scott fought not to turn away as he let the thought of being with Carrie slip into his heart...just to see how it felt for a while. “Why can’t you apologize to Carrie and let me see what happens between me and her, huh?”

  Nick planted his clenched fists on his hips. “So she’s back for good? She feels the same way about you and wants to set up home in Templeton?”

  Scott clenched his jaw. Once again, Carrie intended disappearing. Would she be back in the New Year? Only time would tell. “Not exactly.”

  “Jesus, man.” Nick paced to the windows at the rear of the office and back again. “Then why the hell are you giving me the brunt of your bad-ass temper instead of her? What is it I’ve actually done wrong here?”

  “Carrie and I haven’t discussed us yet. So having you get in her face won’t help things if we do decide...” Scott clenched his jaw, unable to say the words and regret them if either he or Carrie couldn’t hack a relationship. He stared as his respect for Nick and his burning desire for Carrie gathered in a fireball in his chest. “You shouldn’t have spoken to her the way you did. Since when do you go after women like a jackass?”

  “Until you can make me understand why that woman has such a hold over you, I’ll carry on being a jackass. So you need to either explain it to me or I walk out of here until you get your head straight.”

  Squeezing his eyes shut, Scott tipped his head back and took some strengthening breaths in a bid to slow his heart rate. He calmed down and opened his eyes. “If I tell you something, you have to promise you’re not going to freak out or do a damn thing about it. You’re going to trust me to deal with this my way. The same way I deal with anything that affects my family. Deal?”

  “She’s not your family.”

  “I know that. I’m just saying.”

  “You’re saying she matters as much to you as your mum and sisters?”

  “Of course not.” Yet, the strength of Scott’s feelings for Carrie smacked him hard in the center of his chest. It was crazy when Nick said it out loud, but maybe right now Carrie was as important as his family. Who was to say, in time, she wouldn’t always be? From the moment Scott first saw her, his entire world shifted and now there was Belle, too.

  He blew out a breath. “She’s special, Nick. Really special. I’m sorry if you can’t accept that, but that’s the way it is. I’ve spent my whole life either picking up my father’s mess when he was here, or clearing it up sinc
e he’s gone. She does something to me I can’t explain. She makes it go away. But at the same time I can’t help thinking what the hell can I offer her? I won’t leave Mum and let her believe her son is no better than her husband, so I’m stuck in Templeton whatever happens.”

  Nick’s eyes widened. “Are you serious?”

  “Yes.”

  “I don’t know which is more insane. That you’d even think about leaving the Cove for this woman, or that you’re stuck here out of some irrational duty to your mum.”

  “What other alternative is there? I can’t see a way to pursue whatever the hell I’m feeling for Carrie without someone getting hurt. I can’t promise her anything. I don’t want to promise her anything.”

  “And why should you? Come on, Scott, we’re who we are. You and me are guys who like our freedom, man.”

  Scott stared at his friend. Nick was right. That’s exactly who Scott was and how he felt...until he learned he could have a child out there somewhere. He swallowed. He wouldn’t bail out on Belle. No way, no how. As for Carrie...they came as a package. A broken family wasn’t something he wanted for his child and he’d do his damnedest to make sure he and Carrie gave it their best shot.

  Nick shook his head and sighed. “I don’t know what the hell we’re arguing about. I did you a favor telling her off. Hopefully, she’ll get the message and disappear and then you won’t have a dilemma on your hands, will you?”

  “It’s not as simple as that.”

  “The hell it’s not.”

  “There’s someone else involved.”

  Nick frowned. “Who are you talking about? Me?” He laughed. “Believe me, if you want me to leave it alone, I will.”

  “It’s not you.”

  “Then who?”

  Scott looked to the ceiling. The two sides of his internal battle were becoming bloodier and bloodier. “I can’t believe I’m telling you this.”

  “Hey.”

  Scott dropped his chin and met Nick’s steady gaze.

  Nick raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. “I’m your friend. Just tell me.”

  “You’re going to let me deal with this my way?”

  “For Christ...” Nick briefly closed his eyes and opened them again. “Yes. Scott’s honor.”

  Incapable of even a glimmer of a smile, Scott drew in a shaky breath. “Carrie came back because she had a baby. My baby.”

  Silence.

  The seconds ticked by and Scott held himself rigid, waiting for the explosion. He stared in morbid fascination as Nick’s face paled before turning a worrying color of gray. Two heartbeats passed and a flush of bright red lit his entire face and most of his scalp visible through his blond hair.

  “Are you freaking kidding me? And you believe her? Please tell me you haven’t signed over your life savings to some unknown bank account in her name or something stupid like that. You have, haven’t you? You’ve given her money.”

  Scott glared, anger and frustration roaring through his blood as Nick continued his rant.

  “Don’t you dare take this on face value, man. I get that you feel responsible for your mum and sisters. I was there when your dad left you with next to nothing, but bloody hell, you don’t know this woman.”

  Scott’s simmering temper snapped. “Do you think I’m an idiot? I’m getting a DNA test, but I fell for Carrie the minute I saw her. I fell and I fell hard. I won’t ignore her now she’s back. Especially if somewhere out there I have a child.”

  Nick’s chest rose and fell. “Listen to me—”

  Scott raised his hand. “Don’t paint me as a sap waiting to be walked all over, Nick. Don’t do that. I care about people. I care about you, Kevin and my damn family. I care about half the people in the Cove, and I’ll do everything in my power to protect all of you. That doesn’t mean I’ll be played for an idiot by anyone, including Carrie.”

  The atmosphere pulsed around them, matching the blood pumping in his ears. He would not let Nick do this. Nick was a player. A man yet to fall for anyone or anything. He was independent, a carefree bachelor who made the most of his position as a DJ to pick up and enjoy the women who idolized him. Scott loved him, but Nick knew shit about providing for people who needed you to do just that.

  Nick’s heavy exhalation rasped through the silence. “Holy shit.”

  “Yeah, holy shit.” Scott dropped into the chair behind his desk and cradled his head in his hands. “I finally thought I knew how to make myself happy in Templeton. Finally accepted making a life in the Cove wouldn’t be so bad.” He lifted his head and swiped his hand over his face. “I thought buying a second garage, earning a shitload of money and providing for Mum would be enough. That I’d eventually meet a girl, fall in love, the whole thing...”

  Nick stared, his gaze steady as he slowly nodded. “But...”

  “But now Carrie’s back, I want to explore if she and I are a possibility, but Templeton’s too small for a woman like her. She should have the whole damn world at her feet.”

  “God, you’ve got it bad, man, but you’re jumping way ahead.”

  “Maybe. Maybe not.” Scott inhaled a long breath. “Me and Carrie are different people. What do I know about raising kids? More than that, do I want to know right now? God, this thinking is entirely my dad’s fault and if I saw the man now, I’d show him exactly what he’s done to me.”

  “He’s done nothing to you unless you let him.” Nick came forward and planted his hands on the desk, his gaze trained on Scott’s. “First of all, we need to find out if this baby is yours. After that, we’ll deal with the rest, okay?”

  “We’ll deal with the rest?”

  Nick shrugged. “You really think I’m going to sit back and not help you fix your happily-ever-after? If this girl’s gotten a hold of you, you have to work this out.” His eyes glinted with mischief. “So...I assume you’ve called the most intelligent out of the three stooges?”

  Scott’s shoulders came down from around his earlobes and he smiled. “I’m going to Kevin’s tonight.”

  Nick straightened and grinned. “Then we’d better get extra pizza and beer, hadn’t we?”

  Scott laughed as the weight of his burden lifted from his shoulders and split three ways. “Sounds like a plan.”

  Nick gave a curt nod. “Good. Now pour me some coffee. I need time to think.”

  Shaking his head, Scott turned back to the kettle, his heart pumping. It was as though a switch had been flipped inside him and, feeling Nick’s support, Scott was now entirely committed to finding a way to convince Carrie he’d be there for her and Belle. More than that, he wanted free of the damaging, burning resentment that tainted his life, his mother’s and sisters’.

  He spooned instant coffee grounds into mugs, his hand trembling. If what Bianca suspected was true and his father intended on worming his way back into their lives, Scott would be there to give him the welcome back of a lifetime. Jacob Walker would not have a second chance to break his mother’s heart and hurt her children. This time around, Scott was a man, maybe even a father...and not a kid of nineteen who knew jack shit about real life and the choices a man could, or should, make.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CARRIE GLANCED SURREPTITIOUSLY around the hotel dining room. A chilled glass of white wine perspired alongside the tips of her right hand, while the fingers of her left rolled and released the corner of the linen napkin the waiter had drawn across her lap a half hour before.

  She’d made it through her appetizer.

  I can do this. I’m a young, independent woman and mother. I don’t need company at dinner. I don’t need Scott here with me. All I need is to know I have Belle waiting for me at home.

  When her feet itched to move and her brain told her to stand up and leave the dining room, Carrie picked up her wineglass. She took a deep,
fortifying gulp and replaced it on the table, steadfastly ignoring the way the liquid trembled.

  The dining room was full of holidaying couples and big groups enjoying the start of the holiday season. Baubles sparkled, candles flickered and the enormous Christmas tree, eclipsing the corner of the room, claimed focal prominence. Christmas anthems played cheerfully, muted only by the various British accents that mixed and rose as joviality increased and the alcohol flowed. Yet, with each passing minute, the loneliness and pining for Belle gripped harder around Carrie’s heart. The more she fought it, the more she edged toward the easiest option of leaving the table and going to her room.

  Two days. She had two days to get through before her final deadline to Scott of Christmas Eve. If she gave up now and went home, he’d have the ammunition to use one day that could potentially cause an irreparable split between her and Belle. There was no guarantee that now Scott knew Belle existed, he wouldn’t track his daughter down in the future—or that Belle wouldn’t make it her mission to find him. If that happened and Scott told Belle it was her mother’s fault their relationship never stood the smallest chance of blossoming, Carrie would be the villain in Belle’s eyes. No one else.

  “Hey, I found you.”

  Carrie jumped so high, her thighs knocked the table, sending cutlery clattering and her wineglass wobbling. She reached out to steady it and looked up into Amanda Arnold’s smiling face.

  Oh, God. What’s she doing here? Carrie’s stomach tightened as she forced a smile. “Amanda. What are you—”

  “You’ve been on my mind all day.” Amanda laughed as she slid into the seat on the opposite side of Carrie’s table. “All I could think was whether Scott would do the right thing and keep you company tonight, or leave you to have dinner all alone in a strange town.” She looked down at the place setting for one and tipped her head to the side and pouted. “I guess my supposition was right. He’s such a rat bag.”