“Hullo,” the boy said. “Nice to meetcha. I’m Topher.”
“My name’s Grady. Nice to meet you, too. You here to swim laps? I’ll take the right side if you are.”
The boy shook his head. “I can’t swim, but I’m gonna learn today.” Topher puffed out his skinny chest. The kid was whip lean and had limbs like a colt and teeth that were fighting for space as the permanent ones pushed through.
“I see. You’ll be learning from Eva the lifeguard.”
“Yeah,” Topher said with some excitement. “How did you know?”
“I’m friends with her and with Farren. Do you know her?”
Big nod.
“You want to learn to float?” He had no idea why he offered, but he didn’t want to leave the boy out here alone if he couldn’t swim. He scanned the windows of all the rooms. A few had their curtains opened and he saw movement inside.
Topher grinned. “It would help if I already knew how when I get my lesson later.”
“It would,” Grady intoned seriously. “I could teach you if you want.”
“Okay.” A cloud crossed his features. “My mom will be out here soon, so that’ll be fine.” He seemed to have realized he was alone with a stranger. Grady backed up into deeper water to give the boy space.
“How about this,” Grady said. “I’ll keep swimming laps until your mom’s here and then I’ll teach you. Don’t step into the pool in case I crash into you.”
“OKAY!”
After that loud shout, Grady figured half the motel would be looking out their windows. Topher’s mom would be outside any minute.
FARREN HEARD A MUFFLED shout through the window and rolled over to see an empty expanse of rumpled bed beside her. Grady had left. She rubbed her eyes, stretched, and then looked around for a note. She slipped into her bra and panties and grabbed her pashmina off the dresser, where she’d tossed it. When she didn’t spy a note taped to the bathroom mirror, she wandered into the kitchen wrapped in her pashmina, like a towel.
Thank goodness her unit was right next door and at this time of the morning, it was unlikely anyone would be witness to her scurry home. She refused to think of it as the walk of shame. There was nothing shameful in how or where she’d slept. Grady had been gentle, loving, and affectionate. They’d laughed together, brought each other joy and had snuggled through the night. And then, they’d done it again. Heat rose to her face at the memories.
In short, Grady had been spectacular and all she’d want in a loving partner. She bit her lip at the notion. No, she couldn’t entertain words like partner. But she wasn’t cavalier about sleeping with men. The night had meant a lot to her. Grady meant a lot to her. Maybe more than a lot.
She looked out the window in the kitchen door and saw the man of the hour doing laps. He’d left coffee for her with a note stuck on the machine. A hand drawn smiley face. He didn’t need to say anything more because she felt the same.
The simple drawing had her grinning back. She watched Grady do another lap and noticed curtains were being opened in several of the units. The day was starting. Single parents didn’t have the luxury of sleeping in.
It was time to dress and hustle back to her room. She searched her heart for a shred of guilt over spending the night in Grady’s arms.
Finding nothing but contentment, Farren threw her dress on over her head, zipping it halfway up. She balled up her black pantyhose and slipped them into her clutch and then covered up with her pashmina. Slipping into her sandals by the door, she grabbed her coffee mug and headed outside. She’d done nothing more than finger comb her hair and she felt pretty sure she had mascara rimming the skin under her eyes.
Twelve feet separated their doors. The breezeway accounted for eight of those feet. When she reached the corner, she had four feet to go.
But could she make it without a witness? Of course not. Now there were two men in the pool.
Sitting poolside were three boys and a baby in a stroller. If she weren’t mistaken, two of the boys were Denny’s and the third was the one who’d asked for swim lessons. Great, that meant the other man in the pool was Denny.
His head popped up and he rubbed the water out of his eyes in time to catch sight of her as she stood at the corner hesitating. She raised her chin, stared him in the face, and gave him a brief wave before walking to her own door.
Denny had been on the swim team for a year or two in high school. She’d forgotten that about him. She’d forgotten a lot, it seemed. His need for attention. His selfishness and how easily he acted out when he didn’t get his own way. Selective memory. She’d wanted her high school sweetheart to always be sweet. But nothing could be further from reality. He’d proven himself faithless, selfish, and callow. She only hoped he was honest when he said from now on his children would come first.
She frowned and looked over her shoulder at him. Could a person change those ugly personality traits or were they embedded to the bone? Had she been giving him the benefit of the doubt for the sake of his children?
The unanswerable question sat in her mind as she caught sight of Grady lifting the boy who wanted to learn to swim into the shallow end. Topher, his name was Topher, and his mom’s name was Val. She smiled as she stood for a moment to watch.
Grady set Topher on his feet in the shallows and got him to put his face in the water. She saw bubbles rise as Grady encouraged him to blow air out through his nose.
Denny went back to his laps and his sons shouted encouragement to Topher as their feet dangled in the water.
GRADY HELPED TOPHER get used to water being in his face and then lifted the boy into his arms. He settled him on his outstretched arms so that he could feel the water beneath his body. “Good, you’re doing really good,” he assured the boy.
Farren had looked rumpled and kissable as she’d crept out his private door. He hadn’t missed the exchange of looks and waves with Denny. But she’d raised her chin and owned the moment, and he couldn’t be prouder of her.
For all her ambition and verve, she was a small-town girl with values some might say were old-fashioned. He called them charming and right for her. She’d given herself to him freely and honestly and he’d accepted what she’d offered. His heart had melted a little more with each caress.
Last night had been delicate, heated, and sweet. She had laid claim. Calm, sweet, kind Farren Parks had laid him to waste. Delicately, so at first, he didn’t see it. Didn’t realize she had him in a powerful grip. And he wanted it again. He wanted her again. Being with Farren had renewed him. Sure, it had been a long time since Veronica. But Farren had made him a new man. Different from before. Again, the word complete rolled through his mind.
Since she’d pounded on his door and peered into his window looking fierce and determined, he’d changed. He told himself he was kinder, more open, and unexpectedly even-tempered, but he was likely lying to himself.
Whatever. As long as Farren believed the same lie, he was good.
“Mom, Mom, look!” Topher yelled when his mother came to stand poolside. His mother was wrapped in a terry robe that had seen better days and looked like she’d just woken. She yawned and smiled at them.
“I see,” she said in a morning rough voice with a big smile. “You’re floating.” She mouthed a thank you to Grady over the sound of Topher’s excited chatter.
“And Grady’s gonna let go of me any minute now. But it’s okay if I sink, ‘cause I can hold my breath.”
“Great!” She clapped, looking thrilled.
“He’s doing super,” the other kids on the pool deck called. Denny’s kids, he assumed. The girl with red ringlets bouncing on her head clapped her hands and giggled, drawing Topher’s mother’s attention.
She bent down and cooed at the child while Denny drew up beside her. He swiped his hands over his head to clear the water. The smile he gave Topher’s mom looked predatory.
Grady could be biased, but Denny prowled, looking for opportunities. And this sleepy-eyed, comfort-oozing woman
was now in the prowler’s sights.
Topher kicked his legs and brought Grady back to his purpose. Taking the hint, Grady lowered his arms a couple of inches so that he was barely supporting the boy.
Denny was speaking to Topher’s mother, and she responded with shy smiles while a blush bloomed on her cheeks. She distractedly smoothed her bedhead while Denny’s daughter giggled.
“Mom! Lookit me,” Topher called, interrupting the chat at the edge of the pool.
Denny walked back to join Grady and the boy.
“Did you have a good time last night?” Grady asked the other man. Did he really need to remind the man that he’d been cozying up to a different woman after dinner?
“Yeah,” he said. “I paid our sitters to stay longer, and we hit the beach for an hour of private time.” His smile turned lecherous as he recalled his apparent success with his dinner companion. “I guess it’s cheaper for you since you don’t have kids, right? And neither does Farren.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I mean it looks like you beat me to it with her. But no worries, there. I messed up back in the day and shouldn’t have thought she’d take me back without a penalty.” He shrugged as if losing out on Farren was easy. As if Farren spending the night with Grady was out of spite.
And it hit Grady hard. His arms tensed and Topher felt it.
“Am I okay?” The kid asked, sounding nervous.
“Sure, you are. I’m letting go now and you’ll be fine.” The boy’s body dropped a bit, but he kept his face out of the water. “Good boy,” Grady said, as he stepped back slowly, giving Topher room to move his arms and kick his legs.
His mother clapped. “You’ll do great with your lesson later,” she called.
Other doors in the units were opening as more guests were rousing. Several parents held steaming mugs and settled into their chairs in front of their windows. Some were joining others as children began heading toward the pool or the playground. Not only were people partnering up, but new friendships were being made.
His quiet time in the pool was over, but he was in no hurry to disappear into his house. He looked at Farren’s door, wondering if she expected him to check in with her. She may not appreciate the public display.
Grady pulled himself up to sit on the edge of the pool. Denny wheeled his daughter’s stroller over to where Grady sat. Denny’s boys had run off with friends to the playground.
Topher splashed and practiced on his own. Grady kept watch as the boy showed more confidence.
“About Farren,” Denny began. “It’s true we have a history, but it wasn’t a big thing for me at the time. She was sweet and nice and kind. A great girl. But I wanted a bit of wild and when I headed off for college, I found what I was looking for. And then, after I got married, I found it again.”
“You cheated.” Grady frowned. Farren had dodged a bullet with Denny. He hoped she knew it.
“More than simple cheating. I’m not proud of what I did. I’ve messed up a lot of lives. And I’m glad, for her sake, that Farren’s wasn’t one of them. She’s doing great.” The other man cleared his throat. “The oldest boy is with my wife. My legal one. The other kids are from my common-law wife. I understand now that basically, I’m a bigamist. I had two families at the same time.”
Grady turned his head to stare at the other man, barely keeping his mouth from dropping open.
Denny blew out a long breath and looked to the sky. “That’s the first time I’ve ever said the word aloud. Bigamist. It doesn’t sound as destructive as it is. And I never thought of what had happened as bigamy.”
“Not what had happened. What you did. There’s a difference.”
Denny nodded. “I’ve had the difference explained plenty.”
Grady sat frozen, staring at Farren’s door, hoping she’d stay inside and never have to look at Denny again. He wanted to protect her from hearing any of this. Did she know? Had she heard? And those boys of his. This happy little girl in the stroller. What would they make of their father?
Thoughts raced and turned and crawled over each other, until he realized Denny expected something from him. A response of some kind. Something other than pure disgust.
“I assumed she told you about me,” Denny was saying.
“No, she didn’t. But you’re right, Farren is good and kind.” That was probably the reason she hadn’t shared. He felt like a fool for being jealous.
“Everyone in Last Chance Beach knows,” Denny said. “The locals, I mean. I shouldn’t have come here, but it’s time for my children to know each other and this seemed like a safe place.”
Grady had nothing to say. His thoughts swirled as he stared into the pool. What could he say to a guy who’d messed up so royally?
The quiet of the morning was gone and it was time to check in with Farren. He felt as if they had a lot to talk about. But as he made to rise, Denny spoke again.
“Farren was way too good for me back in school. I knew she wanted us to go to the same college, to plan our lives, but I didn’t care. I used her and left her.” He shook his head. “It feels like someone else did that, not me. Not the guy who’s learned his lesson.” He was blinking rapidly, and Grady made sure to look away, toward the office. Denny needed to collect himself.
After a long moment of two strangers staring into the middle distance, a protective streak rose and Grady bit out his next words. “You thought you could come back here and what? Take her off the shelf. Wind her up like a doll.”
Except Grady had met her by then, had spent a month of evenings talking with her. Just talking. His heart warmed. Those late-night calls had meant a lot to him. And to her.
“Not exactly. It’ll take time, but Farren’s worth waiting for. She’s sympathetic and if it weren’t for you, she’d be more agreeable to seeing me after this weekend.” Denny turned and sized him up.
“You said earlier you were glad you didn’t mess up her life. But you want to have another chance to screw with her? Break her heart?” His voice went hard. What he’d really like to do was grab this jerk by the collar and—but since Denny wasn’t wearing a shirt—and Grady wasn’t a violent man—he controlled himself.
“No. But with Farren, I can fix my life. She could help me with my kids, be a good stepmom. Be an agreeable wife.” Denny shrugged. “If you don’t want to take her to New York with you, then let me know. Do a guy a favor.”
Do a guy a favor. “Right. Do you a favor and ruin a perfectly wonderful woman.” He ground out the words. This— this! — was the information Farren had held back about Denny. The bigamy, the mess he’d made for his sons to clean up. They were old enough to understand that their father had betrayed them and their mothers. Red Ringlets was too young to be angry. A blessing for her.
“Hey, you’ll be leaving soon,” Denny whined. His eyes assessed him and clearly missed Grady’s boiling rage. Maybe he was used to the reaction and was numb to it. “A business likes yours needs babysitting. If you take Farren with you, she’ll be alone all the time.” He shook his head sadly. Then he opened his hands to the obvious. “With me, she’ll have a family, a man who comes home at night. She deserves the best and what’s better than a guy who’s lost it all once and learned from his mistakes?”
He couldn’t commit murder, so Grady got to his feet. He leaned down to the toddler in her stroller and waved his index finger in her face to get a grin. She giggled. “Good luck, kid. You’re going to need it. And steer clear of any boys who remind you of dear old dad.”
He needed to shower off the idea of Denny Bracken making a serious play for Farren and decide how to move forward with her himself.
Chapter Twenty
THE SHOT HE’D TAKEN at Denny as Grady left the pool, rang true. That happy, pretty, little girl had a sorry excuse for a father and would likely judge men by Denny’s behavior if her father didn’t change. But some men couldn’t live without cheating. They were selfish, uncaring, and refused to take responsibility for their destructiv
e actions.
He shook his head as he relived Denny’s body language and tone of voice during his confession. Not for a second did Grady believe Denny had learned how to be faithful. But he’d put on a good show of contrition. He was sure Farren had seen a similar version.
He strode into his bedroom, relived some of the exquisite moments he’d spent with Farren, then hit the shower to wash off the chlorine from the pool. Maybe he should’ve gone to see her immediately, but he needed to clear his head after Denny’s startling confession. He wasn’t sure why Denny had confided the truth, except that it bolstered the idea that he’d learned his lesson. If Denny wasn’t hiding anything, then maybe Farren would trust him more easily.
But the jerk had a point about O’Hara Enterprises. Grady had been lucky these last months. Clients had understood he’d suffered a shock losing Veronica the way he had. And his agents and staff had stepped up like soldiers to handle the day-to-day. But the business was suffering from his lack of attention. Sure, he’d been online overseeing things, but it had gone on too long.
His month in New York had been a grind and more than once he’d had to take a flight. Putting out fires sometimes meant he had to be face to face. He was good at reading people, seeing what they really wanted whether that meant their ego stroked, or money saved, or to win. Video conferences were great for standard stuff, but some of his clients expected his personal attention. Now that some time had passed since Veronica’s death, their patience had worn thin.
Grady stepped out of the shower to the sound of his phone pinging. And pinging again. Messages were coming in one after the other.
As he toweled off, he ran over what Farren had said about Denny. Sometimes she seemed sympathetic to him and other times, like last night when he’d been chatting and flirting with the single mom, she’d seemed wary and on alert. She hadn’t liked that he’d been so engaged in the game with Mackenzie Fairfield, but Grady wasn’t sure why. Was spending the night with Grady a form of revenge for Denny’s flirting?
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