“I win,” she said, breathier than she meant. She straightened, holding her ground and ignoring the way her nipples pebbled beneath her bra.
“Oh no.” He moved into her, the scent of ocean and spice surrounding her. “I’m behaving. You’re the one who isn’t.”
He was all solid male. She swallowed, keeping her composure. “I’ve kept my hands to myself.”
“Then what was that kiss earlier?” His hand landed on her hip and pulled her into him. She arched, her body acting on its own accord and ignoring the warning from her brain.
“It was just a thank you.”
“Do you thank everyone with a kiss like that?”
With one hand holding her securely, the other trailed down the curve of her neck, shooting goosebumps along her spine.
“Someone might see us,” she said.
“I don’t care.”
“I do.”
At her words, he released his hold and stepped back. Hurt passed through his eyes, but he blinked it away. “We should go.”
Before she could say another word, he was already in the car.
The drive to Scoops wasn’t long, but it felt like an eternity with the silence and tension that spread between them. She didn’t know what he wanted from her. She had specifically told him what they shared was a one-time thing, even if his touch ignited something inside her she didn’t know existed.
It was better for the two of them this way. If she allowed them to succumb to their desires, it would become more than sex. It already had. She remembered their night together, the way he looked deep into her soul, made her feel wanted and beautiful, while guiding her along a path of ecstasy she’d never known before. It was an intense experience that left her heated and wet every time she thought about it.
She couldn’t allow someone to have that much power over her.
When he put the car in park, Krissy jumped out, breathing in the tension free air. Her eyes immediately landed on a tall figure on the far side of the building.
“Hi, can I help you?” she asked. It wasn’t strange for people to walk through the area, even though the shop was closed for another few weeks. But after the vandalism, she wasn’t taking chances.
The man in a black suit turned around. His red tie matched the red on his cheeks, and he offered a smile. “Hi there,” he said, walking toward her.
Tony got out of the car and stepped beside her, angling his body as if he was ready to protect her if it came to that. Not that it would. Now as the man moved closer, Krissy could see he was in his late forties to early fifties. He moved with a confidence that was earned and not faked.
“My name is Richard Dupont. I was looking for the owner.”
“That would be me.”
“Perfect.” He reached into his pocket, and Tony tensed beside her. Mr. Dupont pulled out a business card, handing it over to her. “I own The Dupont Group. We’re a full-service real estate development group and I am willing to give you top dollar for this location.”
Krissy offered a smile but shook her head. “I’m sorry, the property is not for sale.”
“Aren’t you curious to hear my offer?”
“No, I’m sorry. There’s no number you can give me that will have me change my mind.”
“A million and a quarter dollars,” he said without skipping a beat.
A million dollars. That kind of money could set her up for life, but what would she do then? Scoops was her life, and she promised Aunt Doris she would preserve her legacy.
Her glasses slid down her nose as she glanced at the card. She pushed the frames into place as she met Mr. Dupont’s gaze. Matching his confidence, she handed Mr. Dupont his card back. “I’m sorry, but like I said. I’m not interested in selling.”
“Is it more money you want? I mean, you drive a hard bargain, but I can talk to my financial board and see what we can do. This is a prime location.”
Tony stepped forward. “The lady said she wasn’t interested, so please respect her wishes and leave.”
Mr. Dupont held his hands up. “Keep the card. In case you change your mind.”
“I won’t,” she said.
“We’ll see about that.” He walked across the parking lot to a bright red Ferrari. With a rev of the engine, he drove out of the parking lot.
“What the hell was that about?” Tony asked, and Krissy shrugged.
“He’s not the first developer to show up and probably won’t be the last. This is a huge lot, and Scoops only takes up a small portion of it. If they knocked down the building, they could put up a row of condos that could sell for top dollar with us being so close to town and the water.”
“You won’t sell.”
“No, which is why my aunt left Scoops to me and not to anyone else in our family. Anyone else would have sold it for the first offer. She knew I’d preserve the legacy. I’m hoping once I get this place approved to be a historical landmark, they’ll finally leave me alone.” She glanced at the car. “Let’s get the supplies then we can get home.”
“Why, you have plans?”
“No, but I don’t want to keep you. You’ve already spent your entire morning with me, I’m sure you have better things to do.”
“Nothing is better than spending time with you.”
She laughed despite herself. “You’re full of lines, aren’t you?”
“Are they lines if I’m speaking the truth?” The dark orbs he called eyes pinned her in place, and she sucked in a ragged breath.
“Don’t look at me like that,” she said, her voice a breathy mess.
He pivoted toward her, reaching up and tucking her hair behind her ear. “Why not?”
“I believe you just lost the bet.”
“Oh sweetheart, I lost the bet the minute I made it.”
“So… then you can’t kiss me.” She backed up and stumbled over a rock. Tony’s hand darted out, righting her.”
“You’re right. Besides, the next time I kiss you, it’s not going to be because of some bet, but because you want me.”
Krissy swallowed and widened the divide between them before Tony realized that regardless of her fears, she did want him.
Chapter 5
Taco Tuesday was Krissy’s favorite night of the week. It was when she and her two best friends got together to drink margaritas, eat tacos, and catch up on each other’s lives. They used to be a weekly tradition, but with Ella spending half the year in California, they were growing fewer and farther between.
Krissy set up the orange ceramic pitcher and started on the margaritas so they’d be ready for when the girls arrived. The meat was already cooking on the stove and the oven was preheating. She was ahead of the game, getting it all done, only because the second she stopped being busy, the second she gave herself to think, her mind immediately drifted to Tony.
She’d known him almost her entire life, and never before had he crept in her thoughts as often as he did now. She’d go weeks, months, never thinking about him, and now she couldn’t go more than an hour. Back then she didn’t see him as a man, though. He’d been Ella’s little brother, but now… Now he was a hot-blooded male who sent her into a spiral of desire, made her question her fears, and wonder if there was more to relationships than broken promises and heartbreak.
Her cheeks flushed as she thought to their night together, and she quickly hit the button on the blender to try and drown out her thoughts.
“Are you trying to turn that into liquid again?” Ella’s voice rose above the blender, and Krissy, noticing the ice was very well blended, released the button.
“Hey!” Krissy said, flashing an upbeat smile and letting Tony’s face dissipate from her mind.
Ella held up a bag. “I brought lobster courtesy of my grandfather.”
Krissy’s head tilted as she took the bag. “He wouldn’t let you leave unless you took it, huh?”
“You know it. He doesn’t seem to grasp the concept that it’s Taco Tuesday and not Lobster Tuesday.”
“That’s because every day to him is a lobster day.” Owning one of the most successful lobster roll joints on the boardwalk, the older Moretti dedicated his life to the crustacean.
“Between him and Joe, my lobster intake is at capacity for the year.”
Krissy laughed. “You’re the one dating your grandpa’s rival.” Lucas’ grandpa, Joe, owned the lobster roll place across the boardwalk. The two had been known rivals for decades until Ella and Lucas fell in love and all but forced the two to call a truce.
“They’re not rivals any more. More like friendly competition.” Ella waved her hand then grabbed a block of cheese and the grater. “Any leads on who might have vandalized Scoops?”
“I haven’t heard from Reid. I figured if he found anything out, he’d get in touch.” She’d watched the surveillance video three times, but Reid had been right. Whoever vandalized the place spray painted the cameras first, making sure to not get caught on camera. She’d hoped she’d see a hand with a ring or a tattoo, a sleeve with a familiar color, something to give her a direction to look in. But she was still exactly where she had been since day one.
“Tony told me you got all the supplies so he can get started on repairing the damage.”
At Tony’s name, heat surged through Krissy’s chest, creeping up her neck and into her cheeks. “Yes.” She turned to the cabinet, taking down three margarita glasses, then moved to where the limes were on the counter, and focused her face down as she sliced.
“I wanted to thank you for dancing with him at the wedding.”
“Oh. You don’t need to thank me.” If she only knew what had happened after the dancing, she wouldn’t be thanking her. She’d probably insist Krissy keep all the sordid details to herself just as she did to Cami when it came to Enzo.
“I worry about him, you know. He locks himself in his studio so much, cutting himself off from the world. It has to be lonely.”
“He still goes out with Garrett.” Garrett and Tony had been best friends for as long as Krissy could remember and she’d seen them out on occasion, grabbing a beer.
“I know.” Ella pinched a bit of cheese and dropped it into her mouth. “I still worry, though. I just don’t want him to become a recluse.”
“I don’t think you have to worry about that. He’s passionate about his work just like you are.” Ella was an up-and-coming interior designer who was growing her portfolio in both California and Maine. She of all people should understand that. “Besides, he came out today and he’ll be painting Scoops over the next couple of weeks, so you’re worrying for no reason.”
“You’re right.” Krissy handed her a margarita, and she gratefully accepted. Ella took a sip and smiled. “For so long, Tony and Grandpa were my life. I made sure they ate, their laundry was done, and they were getting enough sleep. Being gone—”
“Is what you always wanted.”
“I know, but I thought coming home, they’d still need me, and well… they don’t.”
“It’s not that they don’t need you. It’s just that they’re capable of all those things. I think you leaving, while it sucked, has been good. You all got a chance to spread your wings a little on your own.”
Krissy wasn’t going to say that Tony wasn’t a kid anymore and that he was all man. No. She didn’t want to bring attention to the fact that she had noticed.
“Hello!” Cami’s voice floated down the hallway toward the kitchen. “You better not be drinking without me.”
Cami breezed into the room, her strawberry red hair styled in beach waves sat just on her shoulders. She wore a blazer over a white t-shirt that carried the logo of her coffee shop, The Local Bean.
Krissy handed her a margarita as she put her bag down. Cami gave her a wink and she took a big sip of the cold cocktail. “Mmm so good.” She flopped into a chair and put the glass on the table. “Sorry, I’m late. Enzo wouldn’t let me go.” A sly smile spread across her face, and Ella let out a disapproving moan.
“I’m thrilled that you and my brother are disgustingly happy, but I don’t need to know about your sexcapades.”
“Sexcapades.” Cami barked out a laugh. “Definitely deserved a standing ovation.”
“Okay!” Ella got up and took a long sip from her glass. “Moving on. Please.”
Cami motioned to Krissy. “Did you—”
Krissy held up the knife she was using to slice avocado. “Cami, if you ask me if I preheated the oven, I will cut you.”
Cami shrugged and took another sip of her margarita. “Just checking.”
Krissy rolled her eyes then squeezed fresh lime over the avocado. “I had someone else offer to buy Scoops,” Krissy said, steering the conversation away from men in general.
“How much did they offer you this time?” Cami asked.
Krissy grabbed the tray with the shells, slid them in the oven and set the timer. “A million and a quarter.”
Cami let out a low whistle. “That’s a lot of money.”
“It is, but I’m still not selling.”
“Good for you.” Cami held her glass up and tilted it toward Krissy. “For standing your ground and not letting some rich businessman persuade you with big numbers.”
“I couldn’t image Willow Cove without Scoops,” Ella said. “Every time I come back from California, I’m not home until I see that big old ice cream building.”
“It’s a staple,” Cami said. “Any word from the historical department about getting it declared a landmark?”
“Not yet. I’m just sitting around, waiting on phone calls on multiple fronts.”
“Guessing, you haven’t heard anything from Reid?” Cami asked.
Ella bumped her shoulder to Cami in passing as she placed a bowl of shredded cheese on the table. “If you were here on time, you would already know the answer to that.”
“Do I have to remind you that—”
“Ella’s hand flung up. “Please no.”
The timer on the oven buzzed, and using her chicken shaped potholder, Krissy took the shells out, placing the baking sheet on top of the stove. Ella’s phone rang, and she held it up. “This is a potential client. I have to take it. Don’t wait for me.” She answered and headed toward the front of the house. Cami’s gaze swung to Krissy, her eyebrow arching over her margarita.
Krissy put the plates on the table and stopped. “What?”
“Heard you were spending time with Tony today.”
She kept her face neutral. “He’s helping me fix up the paint damage. You know that.”
“Mmm hmm.”
Krissy pressed her lips together, hoping Cami would let it go, but she had a better chance of getting hit by lightning.
“Just like at the wedding you helped him with his button, yet the two of you were MIA until morning.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I think you do.”
Krissy should have known her secretive one-night stand would never be a secret. There were too many people at the wedding, and if Cami had noticed, how many others had?
“It was nothing.”
“Then why are you blushing?”
Krissy’s hands flung to her cheeks and neck, and she rubbed at the traitorous skin, cursing her inability to control the spread of crimson.
“I only wonder if you’re going to follow suit and keep this relationship a secret like the rest of us did?”
“It’s not a relationship,” Krissy snapped, then straightened her shoulders in an attempt to ground her emotions.
“Just sex then.” Cami held her hands up when Krissy glared at her. “Nothing wrong with that. I’m with a Moretti, and if he’s anything like his older brother, can’t blame you.” Cami bit her lip, and Krissy sighed, slumping into her chair.
“I was drunk and lonely, and it was only supposed to be a one-night thing.”
“But you can’t resist his good looks and charm?”
Krissy propped her elbows on the table and leaned forward. “When did that happen? He�
�s always been Ella’s little brother, and now he’s this gorgeous creature.”
Cami laughed. “A gorgeous creature who has been in love with you for years.” She sprinkled cheese on top of her taco. “If you ask me, you can’t get better than that. He’ll be loyal, worship the ground you walk on.”
“It’s not that easy, and you know it. Ella was okay with you and Enzo, but Enzo is older. Ella didn’t help take care of him growing up.”
“Ella took care of everyone. Besides, it’s only a two-year difference. It’s not like he’s ten years younger than us. We practically had the same friends growing up, anyway. You’re overthinking it and making excuses.”
“I just didn’t plan…”
“Oh, sweetie, something like this is never planned, but you might as well enjoy it while you can.”
She bit her lip and debated if she should change the subject. But it felt good finally talking to someone about the complicated emotions she’d been battling. “I don’t want to hurt him.” And most of all she didn’t want to get hurt either.
“Then don’t.”
“You know that’s not how things work.”
Cami put her taco down and leveled her with a gaze. “You always accused me of avoiding relationships, and you were right. But I took a chance on Enzo, and I have no regrets. Maybe it’s time you realize that just like me, you’re avoiding relationships, too, and just maybe it’s time to open yourself up to someone.”
The thought froze her in fear. Giving someone that much power over her, allowing herself to love and trust someone else completely was terrifying. “I don’t think I can.”
She’d be lonely for the rest of her life, but at least she wouldn’t be broken.
“You’re not your mom, Krissy. You would never just abandon ship like she did.”
Krissy watched the heartache her dad had endured when Mom up and left one day out of the blue. It was the reason Krissy never stayed in a relationship too long. She didn’t want to be her mom, but more than that… she didn’t want to wind up like her dad. Those years before her stepmom came into their life had been rough.
Dad had been a broken shell of a man despite his attempts to hide it. Krissy never wanted to allow someone to be her whole world. She knew how easily that fantasy could end in the blink of an eye.
Childhood Dream Page 6