Demolished

by Cathryn Fox

  In the blink of an eye life can change. We’re both aware of that. Maybe Gram was right. We have one shot at this and need to find happiness. Maybe I would be happy staying here in Blue Bay if Summer was staying here with me. When I first came back, I figured I had to walk the straight and narrow—no distraction, no women, no trouble. I thought that was what I would take to be the man Dad needed me to be, but I see now that Summer makes me a better man. She believes in me, knows I’ll never hurt her, and that helps me believe in myself, believe that I’m not a guy who only knows how to disappoint. I mull that over, let the idea of it grow on me. But Summer still has secrets, is still hiding things from me.

  I tune everything out, even the light raindrops falling on us, and gaze at the woman I’ve been crazy about since we were kids. Something that feels like love moves through me and I know I have a long-ass way to go to get my father’s business up and running the way he’d want me to, but that road doesn’t seem so steep or painful if Summer is by my side. But what does she want? Is it possible that I could prove she can trust me, prove that we could move past the secrets and build something together?

  What if that’s not what she wants?

  What if it is?

  Chapter Twelve: Summer

  I can’t believe I’m sitting around a huge dining room table with Sean and all his family. The noise level has reached an all-time high as his twin brothers razz Tyler about some girl he’s been hanging out with. Tyler jumps from the table, and takes them both to the floor in record time but stops instantly when Grandma Nellie puts her hand on her hips and glares at them.

  For such a small woman, she sure has her grandsons under control. I take in her scowl, one I’ve become familiar with in her grandsons, and realize she’s the glue that holds this whole family together. She turns to Tyler and points her spatula.

  “Who is this girl that has you all tied up in knots?”

  Sulking, Ty sits down, and even though I can tell he’s trying hard to shut down his expression, there is a light in his eyes as Grandma Nellie talks about the mysterious girl who has, undoubtedly, gotten under his tattooed skin. “No one, Gram.”

  She shakes her head. “Don’t tell me, then. I’ll find out on Facebook later.”

  I smile, loving the camaraderie of this family, the way they fight and tease but so openly love each other. There isn’t a man in here who wouldn’t fight to the death to protect his brother. This is the family I always wanted. I ease back in my chair to take it all in, bask in the ambience of love and solidarity known as the Owens brothers.

  “Gram . . . she’s just a friend,” Ty groans. But her scowl stops him.

  I turn my head to hide a laugh, having no doubt that by this time next week—like Sean—Tyler will be sitting with his girl at his side.

  His girl.

  I steal a glance at the handsome man beside me, take in the scruff on his chin, his hard jawline that always softens when he looks at me. I might be his girl—but it’s just for the summer season, or until he finishes work on the cottage, which, at the rate he’s going, will be sooner rather than later. Eventually I’ll have to get back to my life in SoCal. My heart grows heavy at that thought. Cripes, what the heck is that all about? SoCal is where I built my practice, have my home. I just need to find the ledger, and figure out what to do with it. I just pray it has answers to what really happened between my dad and Jack. But if I find what I’m looking for, who do I trust with the information?

  Chatter around the table turns to the business, and all faces sober as they discuss the permits that Sean still isn’t able to secure, and how they’re going to lose the bid on the Cassidy cottage if he doesn’t produce them soon. I consider my chiropractor business and the permits Sean needs, and my mind goes to one client in particular: Susie Jennings. I don’t have many friends, but we hit it off and had coffee a few times outside of work. She’s a nurse and I remember her mentioning she had a sister who worked for city hall back home I wonder if I could put a call in to her, ask her what Sean needs to do, how he can work around the red tape to finally secure the documents he needs. If I call, will my ex be able to track me? If I don’t, what will happen to Sean’s business? He so desperately wants it to work, to prove to his father once and for all he’s the man he needed him to be. I have to do something. He’s been so good to me, so caring and helpful and always there when I need him.

  Grandma Nellie, along with the help of Jace, one of Sean’s cousins—apparently he used to be a chef in New York—finish putting the dishes on the table. The delicious smell of pot roast fills the air and takes me back in time. My mom used to make the best pot roast. My heart fills with loss, but when Sean reaches under the table and gives my leg a squeeze, like he knows what’s going on inside my head, the pain of loss isn’t quite as hurtful as it used to be.

  It’s a shame this guy doesn’t want a family or kids. He’d be such an amazing father, so aware of his shortcomings in parenting that he’d do his best to give his child everything they needed. When it comes to being a husband, he checks all the boxes, and I can’t imagine a woman would want anyone else.

  I don’t want anything more.

  Well done, Summer. Well done. This is a brief affair, and you’d be wise to remember that.

  Grandma Nellie turns her attention my way, and far too many sets of eyes zero in me, but it’s easy to tell they’re happy the attention isn’t on them. “It sure is nice having a female around the house,” she says, as she scoops mashed potatoes out of a bowl and passes it on.

  “It’s nice to be here,” I say, and mean it. I really do like being around these boys. I can see why my mother kept me away all those years ago. The Owens boys are a motley crew with bad reputations, but when it comes right down to it, under the tattoos and hard layers built over time, they’re all nice guys.

  Grandma Nellie winks at me. “I’m hoping one of these days I get myself a great-granddaughter to spoil.”

  “Gram,” all the guys groan in unison.

  “Mind your manners,” she says, and they all shut up. “I was talking to Jenna here.”

  Sean looks at me and mouths the words, “Sorry.”

  I just grin. “A great-granddaughter is a wonderful thing to look forward to.”

  “You’d think one of these boys would have made that happen by now.” Again they guys all groan and roll their eyes.

  “You would think,” I say and all glares are directed my way.

  In a show of protectiveness, Sean puts his arm around me, and even though he’s shielding me from his brothers and cousins, he says, “Not you, too.”

  Grandma Nellie smiles at me and my heart squeezes. My grandparents on either side died before I knew them, but I picture them all tough, yet tender, like the strong woman before me. “Us girls have to stick together.”

  “We do,” I agree.

  “Then you’ll join me for antiquing tomorrow,” she says, a statement not a question.

  Sean laughs and I shake my head at him. How is it that Grandma Nellie has a knack for getting what she wants, much like the man beside me? I laugh and say, “Sure. I would love to go antiquing with you tomorrow.”

  Grandma Nellie has a grin on her face as she digs into her pot roast, and around the table the guys do the same. I watch for a moment, a feeling of warm contentment inside my belly.

  Once the meal is done and dishes cleared, Sean says, “We need to go, Gram. Jenna needs to take Scout for a walk.”

  “Scout?”

  “Her new pup.”

  “Fine. But I’ll see you tomorrow, Jenna,” she says and I give her a hug.

  “I’ll pick you up first thing in the morning,” I say. Tomorrow is my day off, and I didn’t have any other plans other than trying figure out what the key belonged to. I know it should be my number-one priority, and it is, but sometimes it’s so easy to get caught up in this laid-back life here in Blue Bay.

  We step outside and Sean comes around my side to open the truck door for me. “Sweet, and a gen
tleman,” I say.

  “Gram’s watching, and if I didn’t open the door for you, she’d gristle me.”

  “Gristle?” I tease.

  “Believe me, you don’t want to know.” He grins, and adds, “And stop saying I’m sweet.”

  He circles the truck and I can’t seem to wipe the smile off my face. I really enjoyed getting to know his family better, even though it’s probably not in my best interest. I leave here soon and I’m not supposed to get too close.

  “What are you grinning about?” Sean asks as he climbs in beside me.

  I let my gaze move over his hard body, and a slow tremor moves through me. “Your family.”

  “I warned you.”

  I give him a little punch. “I loved them, Sean.”

  He turns to me, and a smile touches him mouth. “Yeah?”

  “Yeah.”

  “They loved you, too. Except for when you sided with Gram,” he teases.

  We both go quiet like we suddenly realize we’re tossing the “L” word around. I stare out the window as we drive through town and when we reach the cottage, and jump from the truck we can hear Scout barking at the noise from inside.

  “She’s going to make a great watchdog,” I say.

  Sean unlocks the front door, and my heart wobbles when he opens Scout’s kennel and she jumps all over him. He drops to his knees and plays with her. Sean is big and tough, yes so soft and gentle with the little pup. It’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen and if I wasn’t in love with him before this I sure would be now.

  Jesus, I’m in love with Sean.

  “You ready for your walk, girl?” he asks, and Scout’s tail is wagging so hard, she’s knocking herself off balance. As I work to catch my breath at that revelation, one I always knew but had never admitted to myself until now, I push past them and grab Scout’s leash.

  “Want to head into town?” I ask, keeping my voice light to disguise the barrage of emotions taking up residency in my heart. “Grab an ice cream?”

  Sean nods and hooks the leash to Scout, and we start up the big hill leading to the center of town. I look up at him, take in his handsome profile.

  “Sean.”

  “Yeah?”

  “What the heck is antiquing?”

  He laughs. “It’s you and Gram hitting every antique shop from here to three counties over and back again. Have fun with that.”

  I whack him. “Be nice.”

  “No way. You sided with Gram about great-grandchildren, and got what you deserve. Don’t for a minute think I’m even going to try to get you out of it.”

  I lift my head. “Fine, I was going to bring you a Starbucks back from Hope Falls, but now you can forget it. I’ll think about you as I enjoy my Americano, though.”

  Her arches a brow and shoots back with, “Are you forgetting that I like the local coffee?”

  I crinkle my nose, and swipe my tongue over my bottom lip. “Sometimes, there’s just no accounting for taste.”

  His grin is sensually wicked. “You keep talking like that, and I’m going to find you something else to do with that smart mouth of yours,” he says, and I shiver at his low, rough words.

  “Promises, promises,” I tease, and take off running.

  Sean and Scout catch up with me when I reach Sugar’s, but I’m the only one out of breath. Sean ties Scout to the lamppost outside the ice cream shop.

  I frown, and glance up and down the busy street. “Do you think she’ll be okay out here?”

  “We’re in Blue Bay, Jenna. We don’t even lock our doors around here.”

  “Right.” Sometimes I forget that I’m a long way from home, and Blue Bay is like a completely different universe. Still, that doesn’t mean I should let my guard down, the way I’ve been doing lately. I take that moment to look over my shoulder.

  Sean opens the door and ushers me inside. The delicious scent of waffle cone hits as we enter the store. I order a chunky monkey and Sean gets chocolate, and a small doggy bowl full of vanilla for Scout. Scout is yipping as we come out, obviously excited for her first ice cream. Sean feeds her a bit and she starts to hop around.

  I laugh. “Great, now she’s hyped up on sugar,” I say. “We’ll never get any sleep tonight.”

  Sean eyes me, his gaze dropping to my tongue as I lick my cone. The muscles along his jaw tighten, and heat flashes in the depths of his gaze. “I don’t think sleep is on the agenda anyway.” A quiver moves through me, and I grab his hand.

  “Come on, let’s walk.”

  We enjoy our cones as we head toward the bus station, the key in my back pocket practically burning a hole in my jeans. I’ve yet to see if it opens a locker at the station—the only place I haven’t tried yet—but I’m not sure that’s wise at the moment.

  I touch my back pocket, feel the outline of the key. Sean sees an old friend across the street, and waves, but the friend has other ideas. He darts between cars and stops us.

  “Hey, Graham,” Sean says. “Long time. This is Jenna.”

  I exchange pleasantries with Graham, who reminds me of an insurance salesman. Sean is about to push past him, but Graham decides he wants to talk about old times with Sean, even though I can’t image they shared a history. It does, however allow me to disappear for a second. I quickly excuse myself, letting Sean know I’m going to dart into the bus station to use the washroom.

  He looks mortified that I’m leaving him alone with Graham, but he’s a big boy and can handle himself. Not wanting to lie, I dart to the washroom and when I come out I step up to the rows of lockers. I pull the key from my back pocket. I wish it had a number on it. That would probably make the search that much easier.

  I try a few different locks, and when it gets stuck in one, my heart races. The last thing I want to do is break if off in one of the locks. It holds the secret to my father’s death. I’m certain of it.

  “Everything okay?” Sean asks, his voice right there at my back. Jeez, I hadn’t even heard him approach.

  I turn and his brows are pulled together, perplexed. “Yeah, I just got my key stuck.”

  “Here.” His big hand closes over the key and after a few jiggles, he frees it. He looks over the key, examines it carefully. His face is sober, harsh, his eyes deadly as they meet mine. “What’s with this key, anyway?”

  I shrug and make light. “Nothing really. Just found it and I’m curious about it, I guess.”

  He stares at me for a long time, his body hard, lethal, like he’s itching for a fight. I try not to fidget. I really hate lying to him, but under the circumstances I have no choice.

  “Jenna—”

  “We should probably get back. Poor Scout looks exhausted.”

  Sean glances down at the pup, who is laid out at his feet. He scoops her up and we walk back to the house. Both of us a little quieter. When we get inside and my heart swells with the things I feel for Sean as he settles Scout into her bed. Needing a moment, I make my way to the bathroom for a shower.

  I turn the water on, and when footsteps herald Sean’s approach, I spin. His gaze drops to my mouth and moving with purpose he tugs off his shirt. He steps up to me, touches me with intimate recognition. Warmth floods my system and my breath quickens. I touch him, my hands roaming, unable to get enough. I know I’m in too deep with him, and despite every alarm bell ringing in warning, I can’t help but want him. I step into the shower, crook my finger, and whisper, “What was that you said about finding another use for my smart mouth?”

  Chapter Thirteen: Summer

  “What do you think of this piece?” Gram asks. She lowers herself into an old rocking chair, and runs her weathered fingers over the shiny wood, a small smile on her face like the piece takes her back in time.

  “I think it’s beautiful. You should get it.”

  “I had a chair just like this. Used to rock the grandbabies to sleep.” She chuckles and pushes back and forth as if she’s cradling them now. “But after my own boys, and eight grandkids, the old thing fell apart.”r />
  “Gram,” I say—she insisted I call her that. “What was Sean’s dad like?” I ask since she opened the door for discussion.

  She smiles, and looks past my shoulders like she’s deep in thought. “He was a good boy growing up, and turned into a fine man. He loved all his boys, despite their antics.” She rolls her eyes, and gives a little laugh. “Those kids,” she begins. “Well let’s just say they old saying, ‘boys will be boys’ definitely applies to them.”

  I laugh. “Poster boys for authority issues,” I add and when she turns those intelligent green eyes on me I realize my slip. “I mean . . . that’s what Summer told me.”

  She nods. “Sean always did have a thing for that girl.”

  “He did?” My pulse leaps. “How do you know that?” I ask, my words a little too quick, giving away a little too much.

  “A grandmother knows these things, child.” She exhales slowly, and the action reminds me of Sean. “But back to Sean’s dad: he was particularly hard on Sean.”

  “Because he was the oldest?”

  She nods, her green eyes a bit glossy. “He wanted him to set an example for the others. Said he was too soft, like his mother, and wanted to toughen him up.” Sadness moves over her face. “All it did was drive Sean away. I didn’t always agree with Carl’s methods, but he meant well and had one thing right. There isn’t an Owens boy who doesn’t take after their mother and she was a good woman.”

  “Sean is a good man.”

  “The best.”

  I’m not sure how much I should be saying, but the overwhelming urge to better understand Sean and his father’s relationship tugs at me. The floorboards creak as I take a step, and run my hand over an antique dresser, I catch my reflection in the mirror, and fix my hair. Gram meets my gaze and I say, “I think Sean holds lot of guilt.”