by Carol Henry
Half-brother! How the hell was he supposed to feel about a half-brother he never knew he had, and was too late to get to know. His lips tightened. He swung his legs off the stool—his feet hit the porch at the same time his eyes shot open. He sat up ramrod straight. He wasn’t angry at Sebastian—how could he be? The man probably didn’t know he existed either. No, his anger was targeted at his father—a father he’d never laid eyes on. A father who left him and his mother behind to come back to Maine to raise another family. He wished the S.O.B. was still alive so he could finally confront him.
Hell, he was angry at himself for not having the balls to confront his father years ago—while the man was still alive.
Hunter jumped over the railing and the boxwood bushes, and stormed down the street, mindless of where he was heading. Traffic was light on Main Street, a few bicyclers peddled by and waved. Hunter passively waved back, surprised when they turned their heads in his direction as they kept going. Two older men, back from fishing the docks, passed him on the sidewalk, smiled and gave a guttural ‘ayah’ with heads turned toward him as they continued walking. He nodded in return. People in Maine were certainly a friendly bunch.
After the first three blocks his strides slowed, his breathing back to normal. Why the hell had he let his mother talk him into coming to Lobster Cove? What made her think that if there was nothing here for her, there’d be anything here for him?
He kept walking until he arrived at a park across from the harbor. A black marble statue of a fisherman looking out to sea stood next to the Captain’s Library across the way. A playground was situated to the left, where he spotted Sebastian’s wife pushing a small child on the swing set. Shit. The woman had a kid. This whole deal must be even harder on her having the responsibility of soon becoming a single mom.
His gut twisted. Torn between going over and offering his sincere apology for disrupting her and her mother-in law’s heated conversation at the hospital, and walking away, he stepped off the sidewalk and headed in her direction before he changed his mind. Halfway across the grass, however, he paused. Was he about to make her situation worse? The woman didn’t need any more trouble than she apparently had dealing with a cranky mother-in-law from hell.
She turned and spotted him as he was about to change his mind and head back to his motel. Their eyes locked. The smile on her face froze. Hunter pressed forward, his awareness of her as a woman radiated deep into his core. He should have turned around—backed off and fled for cover. Their gazes never faltered, and suddenly he was at her side.
“I was walking by and saw you—wanted to apologize for intruding and creating a scene with your mother-in-law at the hospital. I hadn’t expected to meet the family at the hospital—just wanted to meet my half-brother. I’m sorry if my presence caused you any further pain. It wasn’t my intent.”
The woman was even more beautiful up close. Oh, God. Her sea-green eyes looked tired, worried. Sad. He wanted to wrap her in his arms—something that was becoming all too familiar a feeling when he was near her.
“No need to apologize. Eugenia isn’t an easy person to deal with at the best of times. Right or wrong, she’s pretty forthright. And intimidating.”
Her voice floated on the air and Hunter had to shake himself to snap out of the sappy person he was starting to become. She wasn’t his responsibility just because Sebastian was his half-brother.
She continued to swing the child in short, gentle strokes—a tiny girl the replica of her mother—strawberry-blonde hair, dazzling sea-green eyes—all smiles as she kicked her feet in the air having the time of her life. The girl was going to drive the boys crazy when she hit high school. It brought a smile to his lips. He’d love to have been around when Juelle had been a teenager.
“Is this your daughter?” He extended his hand, moved into her space—her clean, fruity scent filled his senses and he almost lost his voice.
“Yes. This is Makenzie. And I’m Juelle. Sorry, we met under tense circumstances and we weren’t formally introduced yesterday.”
Her hand in his was a mistake. What the hell was the matter with him? He had to stop this…what-ever-the-hell ‘this’ was. She belonged to Sebastian. She might just as well be wearing a sign that said Hands Off.
“Understandable. Again, I’m sorry my presence caused such a stir.”
Her name was a perfect fit. Anyone who put up with a queen bee such as Eugenia McClintock had to be a jewel. Or an angel.
“If it helps, I don’t plan to be in the area long. I’ll be out of everyone’s hair as soon as my father’s will is read next week.”
“I’m sorry about Eugenia’s outburst, but you do resemble Hunt. A lot.” She continued to push her daughter in the swing. A devilish, toothless smile lit the tot’s face. “I suspect that’s why Eugenia was so upset when you walked into the hospital room. I have a feeling she was aware Hunt had another son. The shock on her face when she spotted you said it all. Neither she nor Hunt ever mentioned another child, let alone another marriage—at least not to me.”
Hunter’s anger swelled inside his gut. He held it in. This beautiful jewel of a woman standing in front of him was an innocent bystander. Kind of like him. Except he’d been an innocent bystander for the last twenty-eight years.
“Doesn’t surprise me. He never tried to contact my mother, or me, after he left her behind in Oahu.”
“You live in Hawaii? That would account for your tan.”
He liked the glimmer in her eyes and the smile that lit up her lovely face.
“Actually, my mother is part Hawaiian, so it’s not all tan. Although, I do spend a lot of time in the sun and surf. My mother and I own the Lani Aloha Travel Agency—there’s a lot of perks escorting tourists around the islands.”
“I’ve always wanted to spend a couple of weeks on the islands, especially in the winter months. It gets pretty chilly around here, so close to the ocean.”
“Let me know if you get serious about a visit. I can arrange it.”
Makenzie started to fuss, obviously she’d had enough of the swing. Used to being around all his many cousins and their kids, he was about to go to the tyke’s aid, but held back. Instead, he stepped aside to let Juelle deal with her daughter. He was mesmerized by the scene enfolding in front of him. The curly top, red haired babe snuggled against her mother’s body, wrapping her arms around Juelle’s slender neck. Hunter’s heart raced. He had to look out at the early evening water on the harbor to rein in his libido.
The tide was on its way out for the evening—his sanity with it. How could he be jealous of a baby wrapping her arms around a mother’s neck? A woman he’d just met? A woman who belonged to another man—his half-brother? Shit. There must be some unexplained enchantment floating around in the Maine coastal breeze to whisper such images causing his libido and mind to go bonkers. And turn to mush. He shook his head, looked back at the mother and daughter. Another warm tug hit his chest. A good thing he wouldn’t be in the area long. Once Hunt McClintock’s will was read, he was out of here.
Chapter Five
Juelle was thankful for Makenzie’s interruption. She lifted her daughter from the swing and cuddled her distraught child. Hunter’s nearness had her stomach fluttering and her temperature rising. Was Eugenia right? Was Hunter a scam artist who had come to collect? Somehow it didn’t fit. He didn’t seem the sleazy sort. And he had backed off at the hospital without making a fuss.
The evening breeze off the harbor was deliciously cooling. The man was very striking—tall, tanned, his thick sable hair hung over his forehead and curled around his ears. Even his demeanor was hard to resist at first meeting. She had no business letting this man affect her like this—she was married, had a child. Her insides hummed at his closeness. She needed to get a grip. Not get tangled up with this man whom she didn’t know.
She bent over, put Makenzie down on the ground, and then hung on to her daughter’s hand, the tiny fingers clasped onto hers as the toddler wobbled over the grass to the sma
ll slide. She hadn’t expected Hunter to follow them, but he did.
“Here, let me hold her up on top of the slide and you can catch her at the bottom.”
He reached for Makenzie, but her daughter turned back in fear and grabbed on to her pant legs, as she’d done every time when meeting strangers. Juelle lifted her daughter into her arms.
“I’m sorry, she tends to be a bit shy around people she’s never met. But thanks for offering to help.”
“I’m good with kids. I swear. I have a whole bunch of cousins at home who love me.”
“Give her time. I’m sure she’ll come around.”
Juelle placed her carefully on the top platform and kept a secure hold on her as she helped Makenzie slide to the bottom.
“Here, let me try it. Maybe if you hand her to me and tell her it’s okay.”
Together they walked to the platform. Juelle made sure Makenzie was on the side next to Hunter as they walked.
“Makenzie, this here is Hunter. He’s your daddy’s brother. He’s going to hold you on top of the slide and I’ll be right on the bottom to catch you.”
Makenzie held back
“Hi. Makenzie. Do you want to go for a ride on the slide?”
Juelle was pleased when her daughter accepted Hunter’s invitation. He kept her secure in his hold, waiting for Juelle to get into position at the bottom. The slide was deep enough so Makenzie, and other young children, wouldn’t slip off the edges, and the length of the ride was short. Juelle squatted down ready to catch Makenzie before she hit the ground.
“Ready?” Hunter asked, as he wiggled Makenzie around the waist, making her chortle before he let go.
Makenzie giggled the entire way down the slide and clapped her hands when Juelle lifted her off at the end of the ride and twirled her around in the air, her legs kicking out behind her in joy.
“More. More,” Makenzie shouted.
“Thanks for your help.” Juelle smiled at Hunter. “I can take it from here. I’m sure you have other things to do.”
“Are you kidding? This is the most fun I’ve had since I arrived in Maine. But don’t you have somewhere else to be?”
“Not tonight. Tonight Makenzie and I are having a picnic here in the park.” She smiled, hopefully hiding her anxiety over Eugenia’s reactions to their earlier conversation. If she played her cards right, Eugenia will have retired to her room when she returned to the estate for the evening, and she wouldn’t have to face another confrontation. She couldn’t help the sigh that escaped.
“That sigh was pretty telling.” Hunter looked at her, his eyebrows raised and Juelle’s heart picked up a wicked beat. “It must be hard to deal with an unpleasant mother-in-law while having to accept the fact your husband is laying in the hospital dying.”
“It’s complicated. Like you said, this will all be over soon. In the meantime, like everyone else, we have to take it one day at a time. But with Makenzie, I have to look forward.”
“If you need a shoulder, I’m available.”
His arms were definitely big and sturdy looking. She wished he hadn’t mentioned his shoulder—it was as if he’d read her mind. His caring look had her wanting to run into his arms. She could use a comforting shoulder to lean on right about now. But Hunter McClintock’s shoulder was off limits.
“If you want to confide in me, know it will go back with me to Oahu. Your secrets will be safe. I promise.”
“That’s kind of you, but I’m fine. Really.”
Juelle spread a blanket down on the grass. She had planned on an impromptu picnic when she walked out on Eugenia, and had called ahead to Mariner’s Fish Fry to ask Mrs. Sullivan to prepare a picnic for one. The restaurant offered bag lunches for the many hikers who came through to enjoy the island’s great outdoors. It had been ready when she’d stopped in to pick it up before heading to the park.
“You can’t keep things bottled up inside.” He stood at the edge of the blanket, hands in his slacks’ pockets, looking out over the park. “It will eat you alive. I know just how toxic it can become. I never met my father, and now he’s dead, and there is no chance of that ever happening.”
“I’m sorry. It must have been hard for you, never knowing him.” Had she detected a slight catch in his voice? She wasn’t sure what to say. Was he telling her this in an effort to put her mind at ease, or get it out his own system now that he was here in Lobster Cove?
“I told myself it didn’t bother me, but I was only kidding myself. It didn’t faze me much until I was in fifth grade—sports—all boys want to share sports with their fathers.”
“I’m sorry he wasn’t there for you.” She looked up at him. Was he telling the truth? Or was Eugenia? He did resemble her father-in-law. She didn’t know what to believe.
He blinked, and then looked her in the eyes.
“You’re too generous. Here I am, trying to console you, and you’re more sympathetic about my problems which you don’t need to worry about. You have enough on your own plate. I’m sorry.”
“They are sort of connected…”
She pulled a sweater out of the diaper bag and wrapped it around Makenzie, then reached in for a box of animal crackers. Makenzie’s hands shot out, anxious for Juelle to open the box.
“Care to join us for an impromptu picnic?” She heard herself invite him, not sure why, or if it was wise. “Mrs. Sullivan always packs too much, and I wouldn’t want it to go to waste.”
To her amazement, he sat cross-legged on the edge of the blanket, picked up one of the crackers Makenzie dropped, and handed it to her. Her daughter threw her head back, smiled up at Hunter, and then clutched the cracker and shoved it into her mouth. Apparently, she was now familiar enough with Hunter that she was no longer afraid of him. The ride down the slide did the trick.
“She’s a beautiful child. Looks just like you.”
Juelle didn’t know how to respond. Reminded of what Eugenia had accused her of not too long ago, she bowed her head to hide the resentment she’d suffered at her mother-in-law’s words. Had Hunter visited his half-brother after they left? Had he noticed Makenzie didn’t look much like her father? Would he think Makenzie wasn’t Sebastian’s? Did it matter?
“Thank you. There’s chicken salad sandwiches and blueberry muffins enough for an army. Help yourself.”
Juelle uncovered the plastic container with the sandwiches and the plastic wrap with the muffins and held them out to him. He reached in, withdrew a blueberry muffin, and bit into it.
“Mmmm. Delicious. Tastes homemade.”
“They are. Dawn Sullivan bakes them daily. There’s ice tea in the thermos. I don’t mind sharing.”
Hunter helped himself to one of the sandwiches and didn’t hesitate to dig in.
“You’ll have to let me repay the favor while I’m in town—take you to lunch.”
Sandwich halfway to her mouth, Juelle sighed, put her sandwich down, and shook her head. “We’ll see. Sebastian is…”
He raised his left brow above an inquisitive eye, waiting for her to continue.
“It’s complicated. I’m not sure that would be a good idea. I’ve had a lot on my mind lately, but thanks for the invitation.”
“I did overhear what the doctor said in regard to Sebastian’s life support. Have you made a decision yet?” He shook his head and looked away. “Sorry, that was insensitive of me. I didn’t mean to upset you again. Forget I asked.”
“No, no, that’s okay. I haven’t made a decision, yet.” She heard her own voice crack, but still couldn’t get the notion that he was only there to collect from the estate out of her mind. “In fact, I told Eugenia she should be the one to make the decision. I thought I was doing the right thing.” She handed Makenzie a small bottle of milk.
“How did that go?”
“About a well as expected. She accused me of shifting the blame for ending Sebastian’s life on to her shoulders so I wouldn’t feel guilty.”
“The witch.”
Juelle’s laugh s
ounded more like a gasp. She concurred with his description, but kept her opinion to herself. She liked his lopsided grin—her insides melted.
“What? Don’t tell me you think she’s right? I’ve only met the woman once, but I certainly don’t want to be on the receiving end of another one of her tirades, not that I couldn’t handle it. But there is usually no wining when someone has a bee in their bonnet.”
She didn’t tell him the rest. That Eugenia had told her to leave, to get out of the house. As much as she was happy to comply, she had nowhere to go at the moment. She made a half-hearted attempt to eat her sandwich. As delicious as it was, she no longer had any desire for food. Besides, she was sure once Eugenia settled down, she’d change her mind and find some trumped up reason for her to remain at the McClintock Estate with Makenzie.
“I’m sorry. I should go. I’ve imposed enough as it is.” He swiped the napkin across his mouth.
Juelle couldn’t take her eyes off his lips. They were full, rather defined for a man’s. She figured whoever was on the receiving end of one of his kisses would have no trouble knowing she’d been thoroughly kissed. He probably had scores of beach beauties standing in line back home. She wondered if he had a girlfriend back home—she noticed he wasn’t wearing a ring.
“Thanks for sharing.”
She shook her thoughts away as he stood, ready to leave. What was the matter with her? She was a married woman for God’s sake. Her husband was lying in the hospital at death’s door. She stood, her hands hanging at her sides, unsure of how to respond to this man.
“If you need anything, anything at all, give me a call.” He handed her a card with his cell number on it, and then leaned down and rubbed his large, muscular hand over the top of Makenzie’s curls, giving them a muss. Makenzie giggled.
Juelle grasped the card as if it was her link to life and looked down at it. Next to the palm trees was his name—Hunter McClintock, Lani Aloha Travel Agency, and below that was his cell number in bold letters in the center. She’d give anything this very minute to be swept away to a warm tropical island and be able to leave all her troubles behind.