Seaside Romance

by Mia Ross

  Planting her hands on her hips, she actually growled at him, and he wisely took the hint. Tugging the pulleys he’d rigged up, he opened the curtains with the flourish of an enthusiastic summer-stock theater director.

  Lauren was speechless. Even though she’d helped with some of the design and basic construction, the end product was exponentially more than she’d anticipated. The double-sided wardrobe looked like something straight out of a fairy tale, with a huge mirror bracketed on both sides with heavy tapestries. Pulling one aside, she found rows of various-sized cubby holes and baroque-style brass hooks, just waiting for all the costumes and accessories a princess could wish for.

  Stepping up on the secure stage, the echo under her heels was the only clue that there was a huge sandbox underneath. The latches that secured it were burnished gold, making them look old and valuable when they were actually the latest in sturdy hardware.

  When she reached out and released the catch on the huge carved wall, it pivoted almost effortlessly on the clever mechanism Ben had designed for it. On the other side were the angled shelves he’d promised, in all different sizes, ready for the fleet of trucks, excavators and bulldozers she’d ordered to fill them.

  After taking it all in, she swiveled to look down at him. The look on his face was priceless, half excitement and half dread. How could he think for even a split second she wouldn’t approve of what he’d done? It told her there was a current of vulnerability under that cocky exterior, and her heart softened just a little more toward him.

  That was the ultimate in foolishness, and she quickly squashed it before it made her say something she couldn’t take back. “It’s perfect. Even better than I imagined.”

  Visibly relaxing, he let out a quick laugh. “Whew! I have to tell you, I wasn’t sure how you’d like it. I mean, I thought it was cool, but—”

  “It’s the coolest,” she assured him firmly. “Really, Ben. You’ve outdone yourself with this one, and the kids are all going to love it. I just wish you were going to be here while I’m setting up Jumping Beans.”

  She hadn’t meant to say that out loud, and from his suddenly somber expression, it had taken him completely by surprise. “So you’re going ahead with that?”

  “I talked to Cooper yesterday, and he agreed to handle the closing for me. In return for a year’s worth of drop-in child care,” she added with a wink.

  “Don’t bother,” Ben advised with a grin. “Everyone in town knows already.”

  “How? He said they just found out a few days ago.”

  “They made the mistake of telling Amelia. She’s a sweetheart, but a vault of secrets—not so much.”

  They were both laughing when the bells over the door announced a customer. Still chuckling, Lauren called out, “Be right with you!”

  She left Ben to his tweaking to greet whoever had come in for toys this morning. When she rounded the tall shelves she’d cowered behind not long ago, she stopped abruptly in midstep.

  Their visitor turned to face her with the same disarming smile he’d been wearing the first time she met him. The smile that had come dangerously close to conning her into giving up her rights to her own life forever. “Hello, Lauren. It’s good to see you.”

  Her brain had seized up like a rusty engine, but she quickly got a grip and kick-started it. “Jeremy.”

  She knew he was waiting for her to echo his “good to see you,” but it would be a cold day on Maui when that happened. His disappointed frown confirmed her suspicion, and she congratulated herself on being slightly less predictable than he remembered. She’d made it through a wild Atlantic storm in one piece, she reminded herself. She could get through this, too.

  That thought made her stand a little taller, and she came forward to where he stood, to prove she was no longer afraid of him. “What can I do for you?”

  He smirked. “Don’t you want to know how I found this jerkwater town you’re in?”

  “Not really.”

  “My paralegal is a celebrity nut,” he continued as if she hadn’t spoken. “She saw you in an online photo of Julia Stanton’s wedding and showed it to me. After that, I did some research to find out where she was, and that led me to you.”

  A snarl was working its way up from the back of her throat, and she swallowed it down so her voice would come out normally. “How clever of you.”

  “Not clever, desperate.” His customary arrogance gave way to a begging look. “Come home with me. I miss you.”

  Not long ago, his dramatic plea would have gotten to her. But these days, she saw him for what he was: a spoiled rich boy accustomed to having his own way. She wasn’t a person to him, but a possession. During the long hours she’d spent with Ben and the other firmly grounded residents of Holiday Harbor, she’d learned the difference.

  “This is my home now,” she returned simply. “Have a good trip back to New York.”

  When she turned, he reached out to grab her arm. She’d expected the motion, but not her reflexive reaction to it. The old Lauren would have backpedalled to get out of his way. The new one glowered furiously and held her ground, jerking her arm free of his grasp. He was on her turf now, and she’d never back down to him—or anyone else—ever again.

  “Get out, Jeremy. I’m not yours to yank around anymore.”

  “I never—”

  “I’m pretty sure the lady just asked you to leave.”

  Lauren glanced back to find Ben leaning casually against a shelving unit full of military action figures. Arms folded, he made quite the picture standing there, apparently relaxed, but with those hard-work muscles ready to do whatever it took to send their unwelcome guest on his way. She must have been working in the toy store too long, because her main impression was that he fit right in with the commando units behind him.

  Unfortunately, Jeremy was a lawyer accustomed to dealing with corporate crooks, and he wasn’t about to be put off by the seemingly easygoing contractor. Offering a hand wrapped in a flashy gold bracelet, he gave his shark’s smile. “I didn’t realize anyone else was here. Jeremy Rutledge.”

  Ben didn’t move an inch. Still, Lauren thought he looked bigger and more intimidating than he had a moment ago. After puzzling over the shift in his appearance, she realized it was his eyes. No longer the warm blue they’d been earlier, they were a threatening mix of blue and gray that brought to mind the storm that had thrashed its way up the coast the other night.

  Any feelings she’d had for Jeremy had died long ago, but she still had no desire to watch Ben take him apart, either figuratively or literally. Hoping to dispel the palpable tension in the shop, she went to the door and opened it. “Goodbye, Jeremy.”

  He hesitated, glancing from her back to Ben, who still hadn’t moved. “Is this the new guy?”

  “Got a problem with that?” Ben demanded in a growl.

  “Actually, yes. It seems her taste in men has gone alarmingly downhill.”

  “That’s enough, Jeremy,” she ordered to make it clear she was scolding him and not her knight in shining armor. All she wanted was for him to leave, but she had no idea how to make that happen. Then inspiration struck, and she said, “I’m curious about something. Back in New York, did you ever meet up with a lawyer named Cooper Landry?”

  She was fairly confident there weren’t a dozen attorneys with that name in the Big Apple, and judging by the color draining from Jeremy’s face, he was well acquainted with the tenacious New Englander. “I did. Why?”

  Never give anything away, Lauren mused with a slight grin. That was his style, but he didn’t realize she’d learned a lot about him and now that she was no longer afraid of him, she could read him as easily as a children’s story. “He’s the mayor here now, and his office happens to be on the other side of that wall. What do you think he’d do if I called him over here to tell him about how you tried to take over my life?”

  “I did no such thing,” he insisted. “I gave you everything you asked for.”

  “You gave me everything
you thought I should have,” she corrected him calmly. “And when I didn’t want it, you tried to bully me into taking it. All I needed was for you to love me, but now I understand you didn’t know how.”

  His mouth fell open, but no sound came out. He looked like a landed fish gasping for air, and she pressed her lips into a firm line to suppress a triumphant smile. Finally, she’d outmanipulated the puppeteer who’d controlled her for far too long. It felt wonderful.

  Finally, some of the color came back into his face, and he stammered, “I had no idea you were so unhappy.”

  “I’m not anymore. Have a good trip.”

  With that, she visually dismissed him and strolled over to the counter. She checked the computer screen and began typing as if she was responding to an email. In truth, nothing had come in, but her strategy had the desired effect. After remaining by the door for a few awkward moments, Jeremy turned and left the shop without another peep.

  Once his luxury sedan had pulled away, Ben let out a low, appreciative whistle. “Very nice. Not many women can cut a guy off at the knees like that.”

  “Keep that in mind,” she commented airily, sending him a mock warning glare.

  “Yes, ma’am.” He ambled over to the counter, pausing on the side opposite her. “Would you really do that? Call Cooper, I mean.”

  Lauren mulled that over for a second, then nodded. “Actually, I’m gonna do better than that. I’ll have him file a restraining order against Jeremy. That way, if he ever gets the bright idea to come up here again, he’ll think twice about it.”

  “Don’t you both have to go in front of a judge for something like that?”

  “Probably, but even starting the paperwork will send the message that I’m serious about keeping him away from me. If he tests me, he won’t like the result. And neither will the partners at his firm,” she added with more than a little venom.

  A slow, admiring smile brightened Ben’s face. “Good for you.”

  Very good for her, she thought proudly. Holiday Harbor was her home, and she wasn’t going to live in fear of Jeremy showing up out of the blue like that in the future. She’d overcome her old reticence and defeated him on her own. The knowledge that she could do it again made her feel stronger than she ever had.

  “Thanks for the backup, by the way. Most people assume I’m a fragile girl who needs to be taken care of, so I really appreciate you letting me fight my own battle.”

  The grin widened, and mischief twinkled in his eyes. “No problem, Rapunzel.”

  She knew he was ribbing her, so she laughed. “Of course, it went better with a big, nasty guy lurking in the background.”

  “Nasty? Is that how I looked?”

  “Actually, you looked like you wanted to rip him apart with your bare hands,” she informed him with a grateful smile. “If I didn’t know you as well as I do, I’d have been pretty terrified.”

  “But you do know me.” Reaching across the counter, he gently took her hands in his strong, capable ones. His bemused expression had given way to a warm gaze, and he added, “I’d never do anything to hurt you, Lauren. You have my word on that.”

  His promise was made with a blend of affection and something else Lauren needed a few moments to identify: respect. That was when she recognized that while other people here viewed her the same way, no one in New York ever had. Or in Philly, she reluctantly admitted. Oh, some of them might like her well enough, but even her own parents had never seen her as a mature, capable person. She was a pretty girl with a bright personality and a murky future. Nothing more, nothing less.

  What was different now? she wondered. Even before the question finished forming in her mind, she knew the answer. It was faith. Now that she’d reconnected with God, she’d tapped into a vein of strength she’d always had inside her but had never utilized. Beyond that, she knew He’d given her a brain so she could use it to make her life what He’d meant for it to be.

  Gazing at the man who’d taught her what it meant to truly care for someone, she smiled. “I know that, Ben, and it means a lot to me.”

  You mean a lot to me, she nearly blurted before stopping herself.

  “I’m real glad to hear that. I’d say shedding Jeremy for good calls for a celebration.”

  “Like what?”

  Pulling his hands away, he crossed his arms on the counter with a mischievous grin. “Well, since I’m your boyfriend now,” his eyes twinkled merrily at the joke, “I’ve got a few ideas.”

  “I’m sure.” Unable to resist this irresistible man any longer, she rested her arms on the other side of the divider and leaned toward him. “Like what?”

  “Dinner at The Crow’s Nest. My treat.”

  “Are you finally asking me out on a real date, after all this time?”

  “Seeing as you just gave your ex the official boot, I figured it’s okay.” Cocking his head in that pose she’d come to adore, he fixed her with a warm, promising smile. “Whattya say?”

  “Does any woman over twenty and breathing ever say no to you?”

  Squinting up at the ceiling, he made a show of considering her question very seriously. But when he met her gaze, his eyes crinkled with humor. “Nope.”

  Letting out a melodramatic sigh, Lauren went along. “Well, I’d hate to be the one to break your streak.”

  “Thanks. I appreciate that.”

  With a quick kiss on her cheek, he sauntered out the door whistling an upbeat song she vaguely recognized as a Beach Boys tune. Probably because she’d called him that earlier, she decided with a smile. As she watched him go, she shook her head with a sigh.

  “Great going, Lauren,” she chided herself out loud. “Now you’ve really done it.”

  * * *

  “I don’t see what the big deal is,” Eric muttered while Ben finished getting ready for his date with Lauren. “It’s just dinner.”

  “It’s a big deal because when I met her, she wouldn’t get within five feet of me,” Ben explained patiently. Now that he’d gotten a firsthand view of Jeremy Rutledge, he was convinced that Lauren’s fear of him had been completely justified. The slimy attorney was the worst example of male heavy-handedness, and recalling their tense encounter made Ben angry all over again. “She trusts me, and I don’t want to mess that up.”

  Eric remained quiet for a minute, then he made an “aha” kind of noise and chuckled. “You’re in love with her.”

  “What? Of course not.” Even to his own ears, Ben’s protest sounded almost violent, and he dialed it back a notch. “But she’s kinda fragile, and I don’t want to do anything to send her back into her shell again.”

  “You mean like rescuing her from drowning in one of those old sea caves? Your biggest worry’s probably how to keep her from figuring out you’re more Clark Kent than Superman.”

  Making a face, Ben whipped one of his mismatched socks at his sarcastic houseguest. “Thanks a lot.”

  “You gotta watch that hero stuff, little brother,” Eric cautioned as he strode from the room. “It’s gonna get you in trouble one of these days.”

  Unfortunately, that day seemed to be today, Ben mused while he settled the collar of his striped button-down and assessed his reflection. In spite of his wholehearted intention to keep his distance from Julia’s gorgeous but perplexing visitor, he’d managed to bungle his way closer and closer.

  And now, with the deadline for starting on Davy’s crew rapidly approaching, Ben was seriously torn about taking the job. If he stayed in Holiday Harbor, he could work on the Jumping Beans rehab with Lauren and make the name Thomas and Sons a reality again. After tonight, he’d have a better idea if things between Lauren and him could really go anywhere, or if this was all just his imagination.

  In all honesty, he wasn’t sure which option suited him better. His instincts told him a lasting relationship with Lauren would be amazing but complicated. Restoring old buildings—his dream for as long as he could remember—would be rewarding and much easier to manage.

  As he tr
otted downstairs and out to his truck, he couldn’t help wondering why Eric had immediately gone to the “in love” assessment. For weeks now, folks all over town who’d known him his entire life had clumsily attempted to entangle him with their lovely visitor. Did they see something between the two of them that he didn’t? Or was it just wishful thinking on their part because they assumed he was lonely? Since he didn’t have an answer for either question, he put them aside and made the short drive to Toyland.

  Lauren was waiting for him, sitting in the shade of a leafy oak on one of the park benches out front of Toyland. When he parked and got out, her face swung toward him, and the incredible smile she gave him nearly knocked the breath out of him.

  With each step he took toward her, Boston faded a little more into the background, taking his professional dreams right along with it. Lauren might end up being everything he’d ever need, but to find out, he’d have to give up the one thing he’d always wanted. And if things went sour between them, he and his broken heart would be right back where they started, stuck in a dead-end job in a small town whose biggest claim to fame was that it was too stubborn to be washed out to sea.

  Dressed to the nines in a slim black cocktail dress and heels, she looked better suited to Manhattan than Maine, and he marveled at the changes in her since she arrived. They had nothing to do with makeup or clothes, and he quickly pegged the major difference: confidence. Now she had all of it she needed, and it made her even more beautiful than ever.

  When it occurred to him he was standing on the sidewalk basically gawking at her, he called up a crooked grin. “Sorry to be staring. You look fantastic.”

  That got him the sparkling laugh she used so rarely. “Thank you. I was hoping it wasn’t because I had on two different earrings.”

  “You’re wearing earrings?” he teased, happy to hear that laugh again. “It’s a good thing I’ve got a six-foot level behind the driver’s seat. When the guys at the restaurant get a look at you, I’m gonna need something to fight ’em off with.”

  “I think you already did that today,” she reminded him with a grateful smile.