Beth smiled at her little brother.
“Looking good, Bob. Can you get me a glass of my favorite Chardonnay?”
“You got it sis, and for you, Michael?”
“I’ll just have another of the same, thanks Bob.” Michael smiled as he raised his glass at Bob.
Beth grabbed the bar stool next to Michael and said, “Twice in one day Michael, I’m beginning to think you’re following me.” She smiled flirtatiously.
Michael smiled at her and thought, why argue with her.
“You’re right, I am following you. Glad you don’t seem to mind,” he said, as he scooted slightly closer.
Bob came by with their drinks and quickly walked away, giving his sister a knowing glance.
“So, Michael, what have you been up to since you last dropped rubber bands on our Bunsen burners in high school?”
Michael laughed out loud. He had forgotten all about that.
While working in the lab one day, Michael accidentally dropped a rubber band on one of the burners and it had smelled absolutely awful. Michael wasn’t the best of lab partners. He was a little uncoordinated but Beth always took it in stride.
“I don’t know why you didn’t just ask for a new partner, I was the absolute worst in chemistry.”
Hmm, chemistry, she thought as she sipped her chardonnay.
“But forget about me, I haven’t done anything too exciting. I’d love to hear all about you and what you’ve been up to since I saw you last?”
“Well, I’ve been cooking since this afternoon, but aside from that, not much,” she said with a twinkle in her eyes.
“Oh, so I see, that’s how it’s going to be. I, unlike you, am willing to share,” he said jokingly.
He told her about moving to New York for his undergrad. How he worked as a commodities trader for a few years, got his MBA, and now managed a hedge fund.
“I knew it,” she said. “I had you pegged as a finance guy at first glance but then, and don’t take offense to this, but after talking to you I didn’t think you seemed to be a big enough jerk to do that for a living. I always thought you’d become a writer or something.”
For the second time tonight, he couldn’t believe he was saying this. “I’m actually thinking of leaving my job and moving a little closer to home. I don’t have all the details worked out, but I want to be around for my family more than I have been.”
She looked a little surprised.
He added, “And well ... I wasn’t a big enough jerk to be able to do finance forever. So it’s time to move on.”
Beth was completely shocked. In high school, all Michael had wanted was to get out of Maine as quickly as possible — and now he wanted to come back?
“Well Michael, I think you’ll find Maine has lots to offer, that maybe you didn’t notice before,” Beth’s cheeks quickly colored.
Michael had finished up his drink and before he could even think to ask for another, Beth flagged her brother down and he was back with fresh drinks and water before Michael could think of what to say next.
“Thank you, Bob.” He nodded to Bob and clinked glasses with Beth. With the combination of the wine and the scotches he had been drinking he was starting to feel quite tipsy.
“So, Beth, what about you? I heard you had a scholarship playing basketball after high school?”
Beth told him all about how cooking was her first love when she was a child. She told about her experiences studying culinary arts, about cooking in Boston. She also told him how she got tired of the big city rat race and that she could relate to him in that way.
He nodded enthusiastically as she continued to tell him about how she came to own the Warren Inn and how it had become a real family business. Bob had done the decorating, Lisa worked in the kitchen, and even her grandmother pitched in at the reception desk from time to time. She felt like she had been rambling, but Michael was listening intently and actually looked interested in what she was saying. They talked some more about what each of them had been up to and about how much Gray Harbor had changed since they were kids.
She looked at Michael now. He was smiling and his knees were touching hers. She smiled back at him and looked down at her hands and then looked around the room for the first time in two hours. Again, they were the last ones there except for her brother. Michael noticed her looking around the bar and then took a look himself.
“Wow, looks like we closed this place down,” Michael said, as he grabbed both her hands with his.
“I’m really glad we had a chance to talk tonight. I haven’t had such a good time with someone in a very long time,” said Michael, still looking at her intently.
Her skin tingled and she had this overwhelming urge to lean over and kiss him but she didn’t want to risk breaking contact.
Bob walked over at that moment and said, “Hey, Beth and Michael. I need close up here. Michael, can I get you your check?”
Beth was about to object but then Michael caught her eye.
“I’d like to get Beth’s drinks as well, if that’s ok,” Michael reached into his wallet and pulled out his credit card and handed it to Bob. “I mean, if you don’t mind, Beth.”
How could she mind, she thought. It felt like a date and it was strange. Usually, when men met her here, they never asked for the check or thought to make the gesture since she was the owner. Michael didn’t have to, either, but she didn’t want to argue with him over this. Sometimes it was nice to just have someone want to. It was getting late but she was having such a good time she really didn’t want the night to end.
They settled the check and Michael tried to feel out the situation. Should he walk her home? Where was home? Should he call it a night and ask her to dinner?
“So, I know it’s late, but I really am not quite ready for the night to end,” he said.
Beth looked at him and reached behind the bar and grabbed the opened bottle of wine and two wine glasses.
Michael raised an eyebrow.
Beth had a slightly devilish grin on her lips. “Follow me,” she said. Wow, she thought to herself as Michael followed her out the back door of the Tavern. She had some serious liquid confidence tonight. The summer air was still warm and felt nice on her skin, but she was comfortable in her oxford shirt and jeans. They walked through the plush grass to a private corner of the Inn’s yard. There were two Adirondack chairs there. Perfect for stargazing, and other activities best left to the moonlight, thought Beth.
They had walked in silence, and in silence Beth gestured for Michael to sit. She poured them each a glass of wine and then settled into her chair. Michael sipped his glass of wine and stared at her intently.
Michael took another sip of his wine and then placed it aside. He decided she was too far away, he needed to close the gap between them. He pulled his chair around so that he was directly in front of her and their knees were touching. He was on the edge of his seat, wondering what he should do next.
“I’m nervous,” she blurted.
Beth’s statement caught Michael off guard, but it also made him smile. “You don’t say.” His tone was low and amused and he was watching her intently. “And why is that?”
“Because I’m trying to figure out if this is a good idea or not, and you’re looking at me,” she said as she watched him with a mixture of anticipation, desire and heat that was unfamiliar. She wanted him. Michael’s movement interrupted her thoughts. He had leaned forward and he was looking at her intensely.
The silence between them had turned so absolute that all Michael could hear was the wind whistling behind him and if he listened carefully, he could hear Beth’s heart beating almost as fast as his own. She leaned closer and reached across and grabbed his hands in hers.
All the blood in his body rushed straight to his groin. Despite all the years it had been, one thing had not changed. All Beth had to do was look at him and his body would respond.
Their eyes connected in the semi-darkness and held. He leaned in and their lips met
, molding together, tongues tangling, the heat building between them. They stayed like that for many moments until Beth rose and sat in Michael's lap, feeling his hardness. She smiled and kissed him.
Michael responded with a groan and his arms encircled her and his hands roamed over her body, encountering what he thought was far too many layers of material.
“These need to come off,” Michael said breaking the silence and he began to unbutton her oxford shirt all while kissing her neck and then her lips.
Beth let out a soft moan. It had been a long time since she had been kissed like this and who would have ever thought she’d be kissing Michael! He certainly had changed since high school, she thought, as her hands roamed his body. His back was like one large muscle, his shoulders broad, despite his lean frame. His chest muscles and stomach muscles were tight. His arms were strong and she liked how they felt circling around her. She was feeling warm inside and had a desire deep inside to do more than just kiss. This was getting intense. Beth wasn’t sure she was ready for this — it had been such a long time since she had been with someone and that fact made her nervous.
Beth removed her arms from where they were resting around Michael's neck and placed them on his chest, then she pushed him away lightly, and then more forcefully, bringing their kiss to an end.
Michael looked into to her eyes,
She sighed. “I should get you home.”
Michael looked crestfallen. She didn’t want to hurt him but this was just moving too fast. On top of that, tomorrow was the first night of the bike tour at the Inn and it was her chance to impress them and get a contract booking that could lead to some press and reviews that could help her grow the Inn. It was all too much to risk for a man who was likely leaving in two weeks.
“Is everything okay, Beth? Did I do something wrong? I hope you don’t think I was trying to push for anything we’re both not ready for.” He looked at her, searching her eyes, to see what she was thinking, what she was feeling.
“No, you didn’t do anything wrong, and I didn’t think that. It’s just that—“ how was she going to word this? Michael was great, he was good-looking, smart, successful, nice, sexy, sincere … basically everything she would normally want in a man. But there were no guarantee he would be here in two weeks. Not that she needed a guarantee. But she couldn’t risk a great business opportunity for a fling. And frankly, she was tired of being left. First her parents, then her sister, and then strings of boyfriends.
“It’s just that I have a big day at the Inn tomorrow and a special tasting menu to prepare and …”
Michael interrupted her before she could finish, “Say no more. You have an important day tomorrow and I don’t want to get in the way. But maybe we can go out one night, or one afternoon? Whatever works best with your schedule here at the Inn?”
She looked hesitant, but something in her eyes gave Michael hope that tonight wasn’t a lark.
“You don’t have to tell me now. Let it marinate, okay? I’d really like to see you again.”
It was hard to say no to that sexy smile. She felt her whole body grow warm. She leaned in and gave him a quick kiss on the lips and smiled at him before standing up.
Michael was confused but he also understood. He was always so focused on his career and would never let a woman get in the way of his work — it seemed like Beth was the same way. It’s funny how sometimes the very thing that draws you to someone is the thing that could keep you away from them. But he wasn’t going to give up, they had something and maybe it was only physical but maybe that was all either of them could handle now, anyway.
Chapter 9
Argghh ... the world was ending. At least that’s how Michael felt. He had way too much the drink the night before. Drinking that much was never worth it the next day, he thought. However, it was all worth it for the moments he and Beth had shared behind the Inn. He wasn’t sure if she would want to see him again but he knew what he wanted and he intended to go after it. Beth was intriguing — she was smart, funny, driven, and attractive — something he had yet to find within one woman. But he needed to put her out of his mind for the day, since it was going to be a busy one.
The shingle guys would be arriving that morning and Jonah would be supervising them. Michael would probably have to tell his mother about what he and Annie had discovered about Malone’s Market. He wasn’t planning on visiting his Dad that day but it was certainly weighing on him. And to top it off, he was babysitting. Some vacation. He looked over at the alarm clock and jumped up. It was already six forty-five! Annie would be here any minute. He shot out of bed and in a matter of five minutes, he had showered and pulled on jeans with a navy blue t-shirt, a brown belt, sunglasses, and his brown boat shoes. He quickly looked at himself in the mirror. He had stubble but he knew he’d have no time to shave with Annie on the way. He grabbed his wallet and keys and by the time he hit the bottom of the stairs, Annie was knocking on the door.
He opened it and before he could say a word, Annie said, “God, you like hell!”
Michael growled at her and simply said, “Need coffee,” as he pulled on his sunglasses.
“Ah-Ah, little brother, details, details!”
They both walked to the car and Michael got in on the passenger side. He buckled in before saying, “Not much to tell. We were having a great time chatting, we even kissed—”
“Whoa! Not much to tell. Sounds like a lot to me,” Annie said, as she started the car and pulled out of the driveway to head to the market.
“Yeah, I know. She just, you know, hit the breaks fast and basically said she’s busy with work. I don’t know, we’ll see. I’ll give her a little space. Anyway, now how about that coffee?”
They pulled into the Dunkin Donuts and each got a coffee. Michael also opted for a chocolate glazed donut, something his trainer would have killed him for. He also hadn’t worked out once since he got there almost six days ago. That needed to change. He’d planned to finally put on those running shoes he’d brought with him and workout. He sipped his coffee as Annie drove and by the time they got to Malone’s Market, he felt almost human again. She promised him that they would be continuing the conversation about his night later that afternoon before his babysitting duty began.
He and Annie agreed that he’d be spending all day in the office. He’d try to get a filing system going and pay the most important bills he could. In the afternoon, they’d speak to their mother. Michael also needed to think about when he was going to face his Dad again. It had only been two days but it felt like an eternity.
When Michael walked in, he waved to the cashiers, including his sister Judy, and then he headed up the stairs, still sipping his coffee. When he got to his father's office, he saw someone else was already there and the computer was on. It was his mother and it looked like she was crying. She turned around as she heard Michael approach.
“So, I was right, but I had no idea how right I was.” She had opened up his spreadsheet with the profit and loss calculations. “Michael, what are we going to do? I think this just might be what caused your father's stroke. I can’t believe he didn’t share any of this with me. I could have helped. I don’t know how, but maybe I could have convinced him to slow down on the improvements — oh, it’s just such a mess.”
She began to sob.
Michael crossed the room and set down his coffee. Today of all days and first thing in the morning, too. He put his arms around his mother and held her while she cried. They stood there for a while until Marty broke the connection and wiped her eyes with her sleeve.
“It’s all making sense now, Michael. I am so angry with him. Why couldn’t he share this with us, why couldn’t he ask for help? He is just so goddamned stubborn.”
Michael was beginning to think his father knew exactly what had happened, but he couldn’t say that. Instead, he said, “Mom, sometimes when you encounter stuff like this and you’re in it, you can’t see just how bad it really is. I know we can save Malone’s Market, though, i
f Dad will let me help. I actually think if we all helped and put our ideas together as a family, we can really make things work.”
Marty sighed but then a look of determination crossed her face. “Write up your ideas, son. We’re going to talk to your father about this and let’s see how many months we can make it until we come up with a formal plan.”
“Mom, I can help a little. I can pay—”
“Michael, no. Don’t think I didn’t realize what you’ve already paid for at the house. Although I appreciate that, this is too much to ask and even too much money for you to put up. Unless ...” she paused and had a thoughtful look on her face. “Unless you become a partner in the business ... and that’s not something I think you’ve ever had an interest in. And that would be something everyone, including your Dad, would need to think about ... but that could really work ... just think of it as an investment.”
Become a partner! That was not something that had even crossed Michael’s mind. He guessed he was enjoying himself this week but being here permanently would be difficult, especially once his Dad was back. Michael suddenly felt scared, what if his father didn’t come back? He really did need to go speak with him, and he needed to do it alone.
“Mom, I’m not really sure how I would feel about all of that, but I do know I want to help and that I do care about the fate of the business. Let me take a look at all of the finances and come up with a plan. It might take me a few days but I think I have some ideas and I would love to sit with all of you: you, Annie, Jonah, and Judy, and see what all your thoughts are. I think everyone could really have good ideas and talents we haven’t tapped into. For instance, why haven’t we made a website when we have Jonah here? Why aren’t we serving your delicious lobster rolls to the public — if you ask me, depriving the public of those is a crime.”
Marty smiled for the first time that morning and punched Michael on the shoulder. “Flattery will get you everywhere!”
He smiled at his mother and said, “Okay, well I guess I better get to it, especially since I’m ducking out early today to get some supplies for babysitting the boys.”
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