by Marie Force
“How come he can tell you that, but he can’t tell me?”
“Guys are weird that way.”
“No kidding. He doesn’t tell me much of anything about himself.”
“He’s had a tough go of it with women.”
“So I’ve heard—from everyone but him.”
Mac seemed to be debating whether or not he should say more.
“Will you please just tell me what you know? I can tell you’re dying to.”
“You should probably hear it from him.”
“Probably, but I’ve given him so many chances to tell me. He clams up every time.”
Mac scrubbed at the stubble on his chin. “The first one he was in love with cheated on him.”
“Oh jeez.”
“Took him totally by surprise. He found out after she cleared out his bank account and left town with the other guy.”
Tiffany ached for Blaine. No wonder he didn’t want to talk about it.
“Have you heard about Eden?”
“He’s mentioned her name, and I heard his mother ranting about how she caused him to lose his last job, but he won’t tell me how.”
“Probably because he’s still embarrassed about what happened.”
Tiffany was literally on the edge of her seat as she waited for Mac to proceed.
“He was a cop in a small Massachusetts town. He’d done quite well and had just been promoted to sergeant when Eden was busted for dealing drugs while he was working nights.”
Tiffany gasped. Even her vivid imagination couldn’t have come up with that scenario.
“No one believed he didn’t know about it, so they put him on administrative leave and set out to prove he’d been complicit. The local paper had a field day with the biggest story to hit the town in years. Basically, by the time he was able to prove he’d had nothing to do with it, his reputation was in tatters, and he had no choice but to resign.”
“God, what a nightmare.”
“Seriously. He lost the girlfriend he’d loved and trusted, and the job he’d loved, too. It was a tough time for him. We all worried about him for a long time, but then he seemed to land on his feet when he got this job.”
“Does the mayor and the council know about his past?”
Mac nodded. “That’s why they made him serve a probation period before they gave him a long-term contract.”
A lot of things suddenly made sense. This was why he was so angry about what she’d been doing at the store. He’d already had one girlfriend derail his career. He could hardly afford another similar incident. And she could see now why his mother was so upset. The realizations, one on top of the other, had her reeling. She’d never forgive herself if she caused him to lose his hard-won second chance.
“Tiffany? What’s wrong?”
“I…”
A knock on the sliding door that led to the deck drew her attention as Blaine came in. Her heart leapt at the sight of him, and she noticed right away that he looked tired and stressed and surprised to see her—and maybe a tad bit happy? It took all the fortitude she could muster not to go to him and throw herself into his arms. In that moment, she knew with absolute certainty that she would never love another man the way she loved him. And after what Mac had told her, she also knew with the same certainty that she should probably stay away from him.
“I’ll leave you two alone,” she said, brushing past Blaine on her way upstairs to find her sister.
Maddie was in the bedroom, nursing Hailey.
Tiffany’s composure broke the minute she made eye contact with her sister.
Maddie held out a hand to her. “Oh, honey, what is it?”
Tiffany crawled into bed next to her sister and covered her face with her hands. “I love him.”
“Of course you do.”
Tiffany raised her hands and looked at Maddie. “Why do you say it like that? Like you’ve known all along?”
“Because you’ve been in love with him for more than a year. You’ve only recently gotten the chance to act on it.”
“That’s not true!”
“Tiffany,” Maddie said in her best chastising mother voice, “it’s absolutely true.” Maddie ran her free hand over Tiffany’s hair. “If you love him—and he clearly loves you—why are you so miserable?”
“He doesn’t love me. He likes having sex with me.”
Maddie laughed hard enough to dislodge Hailey from her nipple. She switched the baby to the other side and got her settled.
“Why’re you laughing at me?” Tiffany asked.
“Because you’re so silly. Of course he loves you. Anyone can see that. Did you see him with Ashleigh the other night? He loves her, too.”
“He’s mad at me—and I’m mad at him. He actually wrote me a ticket for wearing a sexy sailor suit on the sidewalk.”
Maddie’s mouth fell open, and her eyes danced with mirth. “Did he really? How funny is that?”
“It’s not funny! I don’t want him thinking he can tell me what to do or throwing his badge around whenever I refuse to obey him.”
“I want you to know that I’m absolutely on your side—always—but if I pranced around town in my underwear, Mac would lose his freaking mind and do a lot worse than write me a ticket. He’d lock me to the bed and keep me there until I agreed to never do it again.”
“That’s sort of what Blaine threatened to do, too,” Tiffany grumbled.
“Because he loves you, and he doesn’t want you showing off your body to other men.”
“Why does it sound so ridiculously rational when you say it, but when he says it, I want to clobber him?”
“I have a feeling he’s a little less diplomatic about it than I am. The ticket would be Exhibit A.”
Tiffany thought about what Maddie had said. “The whole time I was married to Jim, I let him call the shots. I let him be in charge and never thought to speak up for myself until it was too late. I don’t want to make that mistake again.”
“Then find a way to compromise. Maybe you can give him what he wants without feeling like you’ve rolled over and played dead, you know?”
“I’ll think about it as soon as I get past the town council meeting on Monday.”
“What town council meeting?”
“The one where they’re going to make me fight for my business.”
“Oh, honey,” Maddie said with genuine dismay that quickly morphed into anger. “If they want a fight, we’ll give them a fight.”
“What do you mean?” Tiffany asked, alarmed by the calculating look in her sister’s honey-colored eyes.
“You just wait and see.”
“She’s driving me crazy.” Blaine paced from one end of Mac’s living room to the other. “Every time I think I’ve finally gotten through to her, I find her dressed in something even more scandalous, and it’s all I can do not to take her over my knee right there in public and spank the living shit out of her.”
Mac busted up laughing, which only made Blaine madder. “What the heck are you laughing at?”
“You. You’re hilarious.”
“It’s not funny! How would you feel if Maddie was walking around town in her underwear?”
Mac’s smile became a frown. “A. That would never happen. B. If it did happen, I’d feel the same way you do—and I’d have no hesitation whatsoever about spanking her ass until it was bright red.”
“Then maybe you can tell me what the hell is so funny?”
“Can’t talk right now. I’m still thinking about spanking my wife.”
“Mac!”
“Sorry,” he said, not seeming the slightest bit sorry. “I’m wondering if it’s occurred to you yet why her sex-kitten act makes you so bloody mad.”
“I don’t follow.”
“Blaine…”
“I’m not in love with her, if that’s what you’re getting at.”
“No?”
“No! Half the time I want to strangle her!”
“And the other half?”
/> “I want to do stuff to her that I’m not about to tell you.”
Mac laughed—hard. “No need. I get the picture.”
Hands on his hips, anger coursing through his veins, frustration gripping his chest like a vise, Blaine stared at Mac as the truth hit him like a punch to the gut. “Oh Jesus,” he whispered. “You’re right. You’re so right.” Blaine felt foolish for needing to be led to the obvious conclusion. After all, he’d been in love before. He remembered what it felt like to have absolutely no control over his emotions.
“I usually am,” Mac said smugly.
“Shut up.” Blaine glanced up the stairs, debating whether he should go after her. He dismissed that thought the same second he had it, knowing that in his current state of mind, he’d only make things worse—if that were possible. “I cited her for public indecency the other day.”
“Always a surefire way to win a woman’s heart.”
Blaine glowered at him. “Are you this much of an asshole all the time or only after near-death experiences?”
“According to my siblings, I’m an asshole most of the time.”
“They’re absolutely right.”
Mac seemed to take that as a compliment. “So what’re you going to do?”
Blaine thought about that for a long, long moment. And then he knew exactly what he needed to do. He made for the door.
“Is that why you came over? So I could point out that you’re in love with my sister-in-law?”
Blaine stopped and turned back to his friend. “Are you feeling better?”
“I’m feeling fine and very thankful to be alive.”
“Good. I gotta go.”
“Thanks for the visit!” Mac’s laughter followed him all the way down the stairs.
Chapter 26
Tiffany wore the most demure, sexless dress she owned—one her former mother-in-law had given her—to the town council meeting. Every square inch of controversial skin was covered. Her hair was contained in a simple ponytail, and she’d gone with only a hint of mascara and a touch of lipstick. She’d been a nervous wreck all day as the hours ticked down to the seven p.m. meeting at town hall.
Arriving at six-thirty, she took a seat in the front row of chairs and wondered if Blaine would be there. As the days had gone by without a word from him, she’d gone over and over the last time she’d been with him. He’d been so mad with her, and even though Patty reported record sales from the day of the sailor-suit incident, Tiffany had already made up her mind that she was done with the provocative advertising campaign.
It wasn’t her goal to make everyone, including Blaine, mad. Her goal was to make sales inside the store, and from now on, that was where all her energy would be focused. If only they allowed her to remain open. All day, she’d tried not to think too much about what she’d do if they shut her down. She and Ashleigh would have to move to the mainland so she could get a job that paid well enough to dig her out of the enormous debt she’d incurred to open the store.
The thought of leaving their home and their family and friends nearly brought her to tears, so Tiffany pushed it to the back of her mind as people began to file in for the meeting. She turned to see if anyone she knew was there and almost fell over in shock as Mac and Maddie came in with their entire cadre of friends and family in tow. Francine and Ned, Big Mac and Linda, Evan and Grace, Grant and Stephanie, Jenny, Sydney, Luke, Owen, Laura, Sarah, Charlie, Shane, Janey, Joe, Seamus, Carolina… They kept coming and coming, filing into the rows of chairs behind Tiffany. Even the women Maddie used to work with at the hotel and the old men who hung around at the marina were there. Patty came in with Wyatt and flashed her boss a big smile and a thumbs-up.
When Maddie reached forward to squeeze Tiffany’s shoulder, the dam nearly broke. “Don’t cry,” she whispered. “And don’t worry. We won’t let them hurt you.”
“Thank you so much,” Tiffany said, reaching back to clutch her sister’s hand.
“We got your back,” Mac said.
Tiffany smiled at him, thankful for his support.
Kara and Dan came in next. His arm was in a sling, and he moved slowly and carefully until he reached the seat next to her.
“I thought you might need your lawyer.”
“You shouldn’t even be out of bed!” Tiffany cried.
“Thank you,” Kara said. “I couldn’t agree more.”
“Ladies,” Dan said, dismissing their concerns with the sweep of his hand. “I wouldn’t have missed this for the world.”
Over his shoulder, Tiffany saw Jim glaring at her as if he couldn’t wait to savor her defeat. That alone would’ve been enough for her to fight like a tomcat but having all her friends and family behind her made her realize she didn’t need Jim or the anger or the bitterness he caused anymore. He no longer had the power to hurt her. She and her daughter were well loved, and that was all she needed.
As she had that thought, Blaine came in, looking ridiculously sexy in his uniform. As he shook hands and joked around with Mac and the other McCarthys, Tiffany was filled with yearning. She’d missed him more than she’d realized and wondered if he’d missed her at all. That he never glanced her way as he took a seat in the front row on the other side told her he was probably relieved to be rid of her and the threat she posed to his career.
The other side of the aisle filled with a variety of stern-looking older people who probably couldn’t wait to air their disapproval of her store. Tiffany wondered if Blaine’s mother was among them. Then Verna Upton came in with several of her friends in tow and buoyed Tiffany’s spirits with a friendly wave as the mayor gaveled the meeting to order.
While the council moved swiftly through the first part of their agenda, Tiffany battled out-of-control nerves. Her entire life hinged on the outcome of this meeting, and despite the show of support behind her, the council might not be swayed. If that happened—
“Royal, you added the matter of the Naughty & Nice shop to the agenda,” Mayor Upton said.
Royal cleared his throat and directed his attention to Tiffany. “Mrs. Sturgil.”
“Objection.” Jim jumped to his feet. “She’s no longer Mrs. Sturgil.”
“Sit down, Mr. Sturgil,” the mayor said disdainfully. “This isn’t a courtroom, and you’re out of line.”
“Douchebag,” Mac muttered, nearly making Tiffany giggle.
Apparently, Maddie wasn’t as strong and tittered with laughter.
“Ms. Sturgil, please move to the microphone,” Royal said.
With every eye in the crowded room on her, Tiffany got up and walked to the microphone located in the center aisle.
“You’re the owner and proprietor of the boutique, Naughty & Nice, on Ocean Road?” Royal asked.
“I am.”
“And what do you sell in this boutique?”
With her hands tightly clasped at her waist, Tiffany cleared her throat and fought to keep the nerves out of her voice. “Gifts, candles, lotions, underwear, lingerie and other novelty items.”
“Would you please describe these novelty items?”
A male voice rang out from the back of the room. “Dildos and vibrators!”
Nervous laughter rippled through the crowd.
Tiffany felt her face get very warm and probably very red.
“Please contain your outbursts, or I’ll clear the room,” Mayor Upton said sternly.
“Ms. Sturgil?” Royal said.
“I sell a number of products designed to enhance sexual pleasure.” She’d spent all day working out that rather innocuous way to say “sex toys” without using the words sex toys.
“And why was it that you felt Gansett Island needed a store such as yours?”
Relieved that he hadn’t asked her to elaborate on her products, Tiffany was pleased he’d posed that particular question. “Because I believe we had more than enough T-shirt and souvenir shops, and my research showed that stores such as mine were very successful in other tourist towns. I can provide the council with sales d
ata from similar stores in Newport, Nantucket and Mystic, if you are interested.”
“I’d be very interested,” Royal said. The other council members nodded in agreement.
Tiffany returned to her seat and retrieved the copies she’d made earlier in the day that showed significant revenues from the other stores and distributed them to each member. Returning to the microphone, she said, “I realize this is something very different in our town, but judging by our early data, I expect the store will do quite well in its current location. Our business has more than doubled during Race Week, and we hope that will continue throughout the season.”
“About your advertising strategies—”
Tiffany held up a hand to stop him. “I’ve reconsidered my strategies and will be going in a different direction in the future.”
A buzz of chatter cut through the audience.
“And that direction won’t include public indecency?” Royal asked.
“Your definition of indecency and mine differ, but it will not include women in skimpy outfits outside the store.”
“Very good. Now I’ll open the floor to anyone who wishes to speak on this matter.”
She walked away feeling like she’d done a good job defending her store, but by the time Tiffany returned to her seat, a long line had formed behind the microphone.
Blaine bided his time as one detractor after another questioned the town council’s judgment, morals, ethics and values by allowing a store like Tiffany’s in their town. Unfortunately, only the mayor and Royal seemed to be supportive of Tiffany. The other five members were nodding in approval of the comments from Tiffany’s foes.
When Linda McCarthy approached the microphone, Blaine held his breath. He wasn’t sure if she’d be for or against the shop.
“I have patronized Ms. Sturgil’s store,” Linda said to startled gasps from her children and others in the audience. “The merchandise is sexy but tasteful and the more adult items are kept in a separate area. There’s absolutely nothing indecent about the store, and with all the legitimate problems this town has, I can’t believe the council is wasting its time on this.”