Season for Love

by Marie Force

  “All right, then.”

  “I can’t take that kind of money from you.”

  “Ya ain’t takin’ it. Think of it as an investment. We’ll be partners. I’ll be silent, of course.”

  Evan raised an eyebrow.

  “What? I will be silent.”

  “I’ll believe that when I see it.”

  “Believe whatcha want. If yer interested in this, I’ll finance it. If you ain’t interested, no harm, no foul.”

  “I’ll need to talk to Owen.”

  “I’d expect ya would.”

  “Can I get back to you?”

  “I ain’t going nowhere.” Ned got up and put his empty coffee cup in the trash.

  “Ned?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Thank you. I’m truly overwhelmed that you would’ve given this so much thought and come up with such an…intriguing…idea.”

  Ned patted Evan’s face affectionately. “I wanna see ya back on track, boy. It ain’t nothin’.”

  “Yes, it is.”

  Ned shrugged off the praise. “Let me know whatcha decide.”

  Evan walked him to the door. “I will.” He watched Ned bound down the stairs with the pep of a man half his age. He drove off in his cab with a toot and a wave.

  Evan closed the door and leaned back against it, his heart racing with adrenaline and excitement and a healthy dose of skepticism that kept him from getting too far ahead of himself. Could they really make something like this work?

  Pushing off the door, he headed for the shower, anxious to get cleaned up and go find Grace. He needed to know what she thought of the idea before he did anything else.

  Laura awoke with a start. She’d been dreaming about falling, spinning through space with nothing to break her fall. All at once, she became aware that she was sleeping in Owen’s arms. His familiar scent and the steady beat of his heart under her ear calmed and soothed her. Then she remembered what had happened the night before, and she started to pull away from him.

  “Stay,” he whispered. “Just for a minute.”

  Reluctantly, Laura returned her head to his chest but couldn’t seem to relax into his embrace the way she usually did. At what point during the night had she moved across the bed to him? Justin was right. She couldn’t do anything by herself. Even sleep. The thought disgusted her.

  Owen ran his hand over her back in a soothing rhythm. “What’re you thinking about, Princess?”

  The nickname she’d once loved now rankled. “Nothing.”

  “Come on. I know better than that. You’re always thinking about something.”

  Laura wished that wasn’t the case. She wanted to turn off her brain and forget about the ugly encounter with Justin. The desire to unsubscribe from her thoughts reminded her of the weeks after her mother died when she’d been desperate to stop the merry-go-round of painful memories. She’d learned then that there was no way around these things, only straight through them to the other side, as painful as that might be.

  “I’m sorry about last night,” she finally said. “I totally punched out on you.”

  “Don’t be sorry, honey. I don’t want you to worry about me. Let’s focus on what you need right now, okay?”

  “You’re too good to me.”

  “We’re good to each other. That’s what it’s all about.”

  His kind words brought tears to her eyes. She closed them, trying to contain the flood.

  “Whatever he said to you,” Owen continued in a soft, soothing tone, “it doesn’t matter. He doesn’t matter and neither do his opinions. If you let him get to you, he wins.”

  “I know.” She brushed at the dampness on her face. “I need to call my dad. He’ll be wondering what happened.”

  He nudged her hand out of the way and finished the cleanup job for her. “I talked to him last night. He said to tell you to call whenever you’re ready.”

  “Thank you for thinking of that.”

  “No problem.” Owen’s lips were soft against her forehead. “Do you want to talk about it? Maybe if you let it out, you can let it go.”

  Laura didn’t want to talk about it—now or ever—but Owen had been so good and so patient. She couldn’t allow her mess to cause him unnecessary pain. “He… He implied the baby wasn’t his.”

  Owen’s entire body went rigid. “What? I hope that’s when you smacked him.”

  Laura couldn’t help but laugh. “You saw that, huh?”

  “Um, the whole place saw it—and heard it.”

  “Good. It was the least of what he deserved.”

  “What an awful thing to say. I’m sorry you had to hear that, honey.”

  “He had me followed. He knew all about the baby, the island, the hotel. And you.”

  “Shit.” He released a long, deep breath. “Will that screw up the divorce?”

  “No more than it already is. He made all sorts of threats and demands until I mentioned my father would make his life a living hell if he didn’t sign the papers. That seemed to get his attention.”

  “Whatever it takes.”

  “It’s pathetic.”

  “What is?”

  “I am. I’m thirty-one years old and still relying on my dad to get me out of scrapes.”

  “This isn’t your garden-variety scrape, and there’s nothing wrong with taking advantage of your connections to solve a problem. That’s what anyone would do.”

  “I guess.” She wriggled free of his embrace and sat up, propping the pillows behind her.

  Lying on his side, Owen rested his head on his upturned hand and studied her. “What else?”

  “That was it.”

  “No, it wasn’t.”

  Glancing at him, she found gray eyes watching her keenly. “What do you mean?”

  “I think he said some other stuff that has you suddenly thinking our relationship is a bad idea.”

  Stricken by his insight, Laura looked away from him.

  “Ah-ha, just as I suspected.” He surprised her when he sprang to his knees, straddled her legs and reached for her hands. “Tell me.”

  Laura bit her lip and shook her head.

  With his hands on her face, he compelled her to meet his gaze. “Did I ever mention I was so good at getting secrets out of my brothers and sisters that they got together and made a pact to never lie to me, because the punishment wasn’t worth it?”

  A hint of a smile found its way to her lips. “No, I don’t think you mentioned that.”

  “I should warn you that my tactics are underhanded and dirty and involve tickling and other forms of torture.”

  “That sounds quite frightening.”

  “My skills are not to be trifled with. It would be easier—especially for you—if you tell me what I want to know so I don’t have to get rough with you.”

  Knowing he never would, knowing she was safer with him than she’d ever been with any man, Laura looked up at him. “While I’m not one to give in to intimidation tactics, I do have the baby to think about.”

  “That’s right. So you’d better start talking.”

  Reluctantly, Laura said, “He implied I can’t function without a man in my life.”

  Owen was so startled he went completely still. “Wanna run that by me one more time?”

  “In a way, he’s right. I’ve always had boyfriends. Before him, I lived with a guy for a couple of years. Before that, I lived with my dad.”

  “You’re a gorgeous, sexy, adorable woman. It’s no surprise to me that you had a lot of boyfriends.” Pausing, he added, “And why does knowing that make me insanely jealous?” He looked away from her, as if contemplating the question, before he returned his attention to her. “So let me get this straight… Because your douchebag soon-to-be-ex-husband implied that you can’t get by without a man in your life, you’re thinking you should take a step back from me to prove something to him. Do I have that right?”

  “Something like that,” she said sheepishly.

  “You’re a dope.”
<
br />   “Hey!” She never imagined she’d feel so lighthearted this morning after what had transpired the night before. Leave it to Owen.

  “Listen to me.” He glared down at her. “Are you listening?”

  “Do I have any choice?” she asked, amused by him.

  He shook his head. “You are, without a doubt, the strongest, ablest, sexiest, cleverest, funniest, sexiest—did I mention sexiest—woman I’ve ever met in my life. There is nothing, absolutely nothing, you couldn’t do or handle on your own if you had to. It’s no sign of weakness that you choose to have people you care about in your life. Anyone who implies otherwise does so because his life is empty and meaningless, and he knows what a treasure he’s losing.”

  Even though she was moved by his heartfelt words, Laura said, “You don’t have to say that stuff to make me feel better.”

  “If you imply I’m blowing smoke up your skirt, you’ll make me mad.”

  The sinister scowl he attempted made her laugh.

  Owen bent to kiss her neck, drawing a surprised gasp from her. “We had some big plans for this hotel room.”

  “I’m sorry I messed things up.”

  “You didn’t mess anything up.”

  As his lips left a trail of heat on her neck, Laura arched into him, drawing him down to her. Filled with desire for him, it occurred to her that she’d intended to push him away. Leave it to him to not let her get away with that. Maybe Justin was right. Maybe she didn’t know how to be without a man. While that might be true, it was becoming more impossible by the day to imagine her life without this man.

  Chapter 15

  Owen felt her yield beneath him and was finally able to take a deep breath. She’d planned to push him away because that asshole Justin had taken a crack at her. Owen couldn’t let her do it. She meant too much to him to let anything come between them, especially a guy who’d basically called his wife a slut.

  He knew he should stop kissing her and let her up, but her skin was so soft and her natural fragrance so alluring. She was everything, everything he’d ever dreamed of and more. He wanted to tell her and show her what she’d come to mean to him. His lips moved from her neck to the V of her T-shirt, to the plump rise and fall of her breasts. He was driven by the need to cement their bond, to make her his in every way that mattered.

  “Owen,” she gasped when he found her nipple through the thin layer of cotton and rolled it between his lips. Her fingers in his hair tightened. “Owen, wait…”

  Summoning every bit of control he could muster, he looked up at her. “What, honey?”

  “I just… I need…”

  “You’re not ready.”

  As she shook her head, her bright blue eyes shimmered with tears. “I want to be, but I’m still trying to process it all.”

  “I’m sorry. I’m an insensitive clod. You’ve been through a major ordeal, and all I’m thinking about—”

  She stroked his hair and then his face. “I’m thinking about it, too. Believe me. When it happens, I want it to be the right time for us. I don’t want it to be about you comforting me. Does that make sense?”

  “Of course it does, and you’re right.” He touched his lips to hers. “Absolutely right.”

  She seemed to sag in relief that he understood.

  He gathered her close to him and knew his own relief when her arms encircled him.

  They stayed like that for a long time before he reluctantly released her. “Let’s grab showers and breakfast and head for the ferry. Maybe we can get back to the island a little sooner than planned.”

  “That sounds good.”

  “I’m telling you now, though, if it’s as rough as it was yesterday, we’re not going. Got me?”

  “I gotcha.”

  “Good.”

  As he headed for the shower, the lingering fear that she might succeed in pushing him away after all stayed with him. No, he thought. I won’t let that happen. He’d wait it out until she was ready, and then he’d tell her—and show her—how much he loved her.

  Carolina woke with strong arms wrapped around her from behind and a muscular, hairy leg between both of hers. She wanted to purr like a kitten—a very satisfied kitten. It’d been so long since she’d been in bed with a man that she’d forgotten how amazing it could be. And she’d never suspected any man could ever make her feel the way her Pete had.

  Seamus’s hand moved from her belly to cup her breast, rolling her nipple between his fingers.

  Carolina let out a moan and pushed back against his erection. How was it possible, after the night they’d shared, that she wanted him again? She started to turn toward him, but he stopped her.

  “Stay,” he said gruffly. “Like this.” He drew her leg up over his hip, and as he continued to play with her nipple, the blunt head of his cock nudged at her tender opening. “Are you sore, love?”

  “No,” she said breathless with anticipation. The position was new to her. And now that she knew the ecstasy they were capable of achieving together, she’d never admit to a tiny bit of soreness.

  His hand shifted from her breast, coasting slowly over her belly, down to where they were joined by the most tenuous of connections.

  Carolina thought she’d go mad as he slowly rocked his hips, entering her in small increments as his fingers found the heart of her desire. Her skin heated, her breath caught. She pushed back against him, seeking deeper penetration, but he wouldn’t be rushed.

  “Easy, love,” he whispered against the tingling skin on her neck. “Nice and easy.”

  He kept up steady pressure on her clitoris as he rocked into her, deeper with each stroke. Only his harsh breathing told her this slow seduction was affecting him every bit as much as it was affecting her. By the time he smoothly shifted them so she was on her knees and he was entering her fully from behind, Carolina was so primed, she exploded in the midst of his first deep thrust.

  Seamus rode out her climax and continued to pump into her.

  She couldn’t believe it when she came again. This time he went with her, straining against her until they fell together in a boneless, gasping heap on the bed.

  “Lord, woman,” he said, his lips vibrating against her back. “You’re amazing.”

  Carolina, who was focusing on drawing air into her lungs, couldn’t seem to form a coherent thought, the same reaction she’d had the other three times. His gifted hands had wrought astonishing reactions, reactions she wouldn’t have thought she was still capable of at this age. The pulsing aftershocks in the place where they were joined were proof that she was more than capable, which was a revelation in and of itself.

  Floating on a cloud of contentment and satisfaction, Carolina allowed herself to doze for a few minutes. And then she’d have to drag herself out of this heavenly bed and go home to the island with the memories of a one-night interlude with a sexy Irishman to sustain her during the long, cold winter.

  She woke a short time later when her cell phone rang in the kitchen.

  Seamus kissed her shoulder, finally withdrew from her and got up. “Don’t move. I’ll grab it for ya, love.”

  Without his body to warm her, Carolina dove deeper into the flannel sheets and down comforter she’d helped Joe choose for his guest room. She was on her way back to sleep when Seamus returned.

  “It was Joe. I didn’t get there in time.”

  At the mention of her son’s name, Carolina was instantly awake and instantly guilty. She sat up and tucked the covers under her arms to cover her breasts. She took the phone from Seamus without meeting his gaze but let her eyes travel over his finely muscled chest, rippling abs and below to—

  The phone rang again, and Carolina’s face burned with embarrassment.

  “I’ll make some coffee while you talk to your boy.” He walked out of the room, treating her to a view of his finely shaped posterior, which bore the scratches she’d inflicted the night before.

  Horrified by the proof of the fiery passion they’d shared, she cleared her throat, ho
ping she wouldn’t sound guilty and suspicious while talking to her son. “Hi, honey,” she said, smoothing the comforter with her free hand.

  “Hey, where were you?”

  “I didn’t hear the phone,” she said, swallowing the huge lump that suddenly formed in her throat.

  “Did you make it to the island?”

  “Not exactly.” She was sick with guilt. What in the world had she been thinking going to bed with a man only two years older than her son? Somewhere across the ocean in Ireland was the mother who’d given birth to Seamus, and Carolina couldn’t help but wonder what she’d have to say about what her son had been up to during the night.

  “Oh no?” Joe said. “What happened?”

  “The weather was awful. Seamus called off the ferries after the three-thirty boat from the island had a particularly rough crossing.” She nearly choked on the name of the man she’d taken as a lover, the man who worked for her son. What the hell was I thinking?

  “Sounds like a good call. So where’d you stay last night?”

  When her eyes burned with tears, she closed them. “In your guest room.”

  “Everything all right, Mom? You sound kinda funny.”

  Alarmed, Carolina said, “Oh, sure, everything’s fine.”

  “I hope Seamus took good care of you.”

  Carolina’s entire body heated when she thought of how well Seamus had taken care of her. “Yes, of course he did.” She very nearly choked on the words. “He was very…hospitable.” Cringing, she closed her eyes. Desperate to get the focus off her, she said, “So, what’s going on?”

  “Well, it turns out you were right. Janey’s pregnant. Congratulations, Grandma.”

  As the word “grandma” registered, Seamus appeared in the doorway, still naked as the day he was born. He leaned against the doorframe, sipping a mug of coffee and watching her intently.

  “Mom? Are you there?”

  “Yes, honey, that’s wonderful news! How did Janey take it?”

  “Better than expected. It probably helped that I was clearly elated over it.”

  Forcing her eyes off the hunk of man in the doorway, Carolina pictured her son’s handsome face and forced herself to focus on the significant conversation. She imagined his elation over the baby was similar to his sheer joy on the day he married the love of his life. “I’m so happy for both of you. You’ll be wonderful parents.”