Gansett Island Boxed Set Books 1-16 (Gansett Island Series)

by Marie Force

  “Just because it happened to Maddie doesn’t mean it’ll happen to you.”

  “I know that. Of course I know that, but still…”

  “I hear you, and I know it’s always a risk, but I have a good feeling about this baby of ours. He’s going to be fine. I know it.”

  “He? You sound awfully sure.”

  “I need some testosterone reinforcements around here. It’s got to be a boy.”

  “I’m picturing another frilly girly-girl who will wrap her daddy right around her little finger the way Ashleigh has.”

  “That kid does have me wrapped.”

  “Yes, she does, and I love you so much for the way you love her.”

  “She makes it easy. She’s adorable just like her mama, only smaller and less mouthy.”

  “Ha-ha,” Tiffany said, even though she knew it was true. Her daughter was the image of her without the saucy attitude. That would come later. She had no illusions about her daughter’s teenage years.

  He wrapped his strong arms around her. “You know I love your mouth and every other thing about you.”

  “I do know that. Thanks for propping me up this week.”

  “That’s my job.”

  “And you do it so well.”

  “Close your eyes and get some sleep.”

  “You don’t want to…”

  “Always. Every minute of every day I want to. But my baby mama needs sleep more than she needs me groping her.”

  “I wouldn’t mind a little groping. You wouldn’t want me to feel neglected, would you?”

  His bark of laughter made her smile. She loved to make him laugh. His laugh was one of her favorite things. “I’d never want that.” He rolled over so he was on top of her, looking down at her with amusement and love.

  Tiffany wrapped her arms and legs around him and drew him into a kiss. “I love you.”

  “Ah, baby,” he said with a sigh. “I love you so much it hurts.”

  She raised her hips, encouraging him to take what she offered. “Let’s see if we can make it feel better.”

  Shane was awake all night, thinking about Katie and Courtney and everything that had happened the day before. While Katie slept in his arms, he thought it through from every angle and knew what he needed to do. First, he had to make sure Courtney went back to the mainland, and then he had to get busy convincing Katie that he was ready for all the things he wanted with her.

  Energized by his plan, he moved slowly to get out of bed without disturbing her. He’d already disturbed her enough. Today he would prove himself to her. Shane ducked out of her room and headed for his, thankful to avoid any wandering family members as he went.

  Since it was too early to do much of anything else, he decided to go for a run and a quick swim to shake off the grogginess of the sleepless night. The hotel was quiet as he went down the stairs and out to the beach, where he ran the full length of the town beach and back again.

  When he reached the front of the Sand & Surf, he bent at the waist to catch his breath. He guzzled the bottle of water he’d brought with him and kicked off his running shoes to dive into the ocean. The cool blast of the water was a shock to his overheated body, but it helped to clarify his thinking.

  He floated for a long time before he returned to the beach, picked up his shoes and empty water bottle and headed for the stairs. Shane was only partially surprised to see Courtney sitting on the second to last step with a tall coffee in her hand and another on the step next to her.

  She handed the other one to him and scooted over to make room for him on the step. “Cream, no sugar.”

  He took the cup and sat next to her. Today her long dark curls were pulled back in a ponytail, and a headband held the wispy ends away from her pretty face. That face had haunted him for years, but not anymore.

  “It’s funny,” she said with a laugh. “When I asked your old boss where you were and he told me you were here, I thought, of course he is. He loves that island. Where else would he be?”

  Though there was much he could say to that, he chose to remain silent and let her have her say. Then he’d have his.

  “I’m so sorry for everything that happened, Shane. I hope you know how sorry I am. It was completely unfair of me to marry you when I did, knowing how sick I was. I never should’ve dragged you into the mess that was my life. But I loved you so much. Too much. I couldn’t bear the thought of losing you. I’d hoped…” She took a deep breath and a sip of her coffee. “I thought I could get it under control, and you’d never have to know. But I was incredibly naïve. I had no concept of what a vicious adversary I was up against.” She looked over at him with dark brown eyes that shimmered with emotion in the early morning light. “I heard everything you said yesterday, and I deserved every word of it. All I’m asking for is a chance to show you who I am now.”

  Her plea hung heavily in the humid air between them.

  Shane took a drink from his coffee and tried to find the words he needed. “I was so lost for so long after you left, and even a few months ago, I might’ve been willing to try again.”

  “But now you’re not.”

  “I’ve met someone else, Courtney.”

  “The woman you were with yesterday.”

  He nodded. “Her name is Katie, and she’s a really amazing person.”

  “Have you been together long?”

  “Not long at all. I met her a week ago when she came for her brother’s wedding. Her brother Owen married Laura.”

  “What happened to Justin?” Courtney asked of Laura’s longtime boyfriend and now ex-husband.

  “He never quit dating after they were married.”

  “Oh jeez.” She pushed the sand around with her foot. “So you’ve only just met Katie. It can’t be that serious with her.”

  “You’d think so, right? But we had sort of a dramatic beginning.” He told her about the near-drowning incident that started their relationship. “We’ve become very close since then, and I like how I feel when I’m with her.”

  “We have a lot of years invested, Shane. I can’t see how a few days with her would trump all that time.”

  “It might not make sense to anyone else, but it makes sense to us. I want to be with her. I’m sorry if that’s not what you want to hear, but there’s just too much water under the bridge between us. There’s no going back to who we were before.”

  She covered her mouth to muffle the sound of a sob that seemed to come from deep inside her. “Everything I did was to protect you.”

  “And I appreciate that. More than you know. But it’s over, Courtney.”

  Bending her head, she continued to sob softly. “If you hadn’t met Katie, would you give me another chance?”

  He thought about that for a long moment. “No,” he said. “We’ve been over for a long time, as far as I’m concerned. I’m sorry if hearing that hurts your feelings, but it’s the truth.” After another quiet minute, he said, “I think you should go home.”

  “I don’t really have a home anymore.”

  “I’ve continued to pay the rent on the apartment. It’s all yours if you want it.”

  She wiped the tears from her face. “You’re not going back to Providence?”

  “Nope. I’m staying here.”

  “But your stuff…”

  “Everything I need is here.” With those truthful words came a powerful sense of peace that finally set him free from the past. “Take the apartment, Courtney. Start over. I’ll pay the rent for another year.”

  “You don’t have to do that.”

  “I know I don’t, but I will. Do you still have a key?”

  “Yeah, I do.” She glanced at him. “You were always too good for me, Shane.”

  “It wasn’t all bad. I’m choosing to remember the good times and let the rest go.”

  She stood, so he did, too. “Thanks for seeing me and talking to me. I wouldn’t have blamed you if you’d told me to go to hell.”

  “Take care of yourself.”
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br />   “You, too.” She surprised him with a hug that he returned reluctantly. Then she headed up the stairs and out of his life.

  Feeling lighter and freer than he had in years, Shane sat on the stair to finish his coffee. A long time later, he went up the stairs and into the hotel, where Adele was working at the front desk.

  “Did you get drafted?” he asked Katie’s grandmother.

  “I volunteered. I’ve still got some game.”

  “I have no doubt,” he said with a laugh.

  “Heard there was a spot of trouble yesterday between you and my girl.”

  “Unfortunately, you heard right.”

  “What’re you doing about it?”

  Rather than be intimidated by the gauntlet she threw down, Shane decided to recruit her to help his cause. He leaned on the counter that sat above the reception desk. “Here’s what I’m thinking.”

  Chapter 31

  The sun streaming through her windows woke Katie. She blinked several times as she came awake with the scent of Shane’s cologne clinging to the sheets. He’d come to her during the storm, she remembered with a flutter of butterflies in her belly. Over and over she heard the words he’d said to her the night before on Luke and Sydney’s deck…

  Judging by the way I felt earlier when I had no idea where to look for you, it’s quite possible that I actually love you, and I know for damned sure I want to be with you.

  “I want to be with you, too,” she whispered to the humid morning sea air that floated through her open windows.

  As she lay in bed and tried to puzzle her way through all the emotions running around inside her, she heard a rustling sound in the hallway before an envelope appeared under her door.

  Katie jumped out of bed, wincing when her sore foot connected with the floor. She bent to pick up the envelope and tore it open to find Sand & Surf stationery and distinctly masculine handwriting.

  Good morning, sweet Katie,

  I’ve never been more thankful for thunder and lightning, because it gave me an excuse to hold you while you slept. I wish it didn’t scare you so much, but know that I’ll always hold you when the thunder comes.

  You said you need time to think, so please think about this: You’re the only one I want. There’s no one else but you.

  Love,

  Shane

  With his letter in hand, Katie went to the door and threw it open, looking for him in the hallway, but no one was there. She went back for her robe, pulled it on with trembling hands and went down the hall to knock on his door.

  No answer.

  When she turned back toward her room, Owen was coming out of his apartment. “Morning.”

  “Morning.”

  “Everything okay?”

  “I was just looking for Shane. Have you seen him this morning?”

  “He stopped by to play with Holden, but he’s gone to meet Mac at the house they’re building. Did you hear about the woman who was supposed to get the house?”

  “I did. It’s so sad.”

  “It sure is. They’ve got to figure out next steps with the house and how they can help her and her kids.”

  Katie wasn’t surprised to learn that Shane wanted to help.

  “What’s that?” Owen asked of the letter.

  “Oh, um, just a note from Shane.”

  “I thought you were taking some time apart.”

  “We are.”

  “So why is he sending you notes?”

  “Because he had something he needed to tell me.” She folded the letter and put it in the pocket of her robe. “You said Holden is up. Is he available for playing with aunts or does he only prefer uncles?”

  “He doesn’t have much experience with aunts.”

  “Well, we need to remedy that.”

  While Owen took care of some errands away from the hotel, Katie went to visit with Holden and Laura, who made coffee and breakfast for Katie, despite her objections. “You’re pregnant with twins,” Katie said. “I should be waiting on you.”

  “Nonsense. I finally feel human again after months of morning sickness.” She put a plate of French toast on the table. “And besides, I need to eat, too.”

  “Smells great.”

  “It’s one of your grandmother’s recipes.”

  Katie picked up Holden and put him in his high chair and laughed at the way he grabbed fistfuls of the Cheerios Laura put on his tray.

  During the hour she spent with Laura and Holden, she reached repeatedly into her pocket to make sure Shane’s letter was still there.

  “I suppose I ought to get downstairs to relieve Adele before she quits as my chief volunteer,” Laura said after they’d eaten the French toast, cleaned the kitchen and gotten Holden dressed.

  “I’m sure she’s loving it. She told me how much she’s missed it.”

  “Owen and I are still stunned by their amazing wedding gift.”

  “The hotel is in good hands with the two of you. We all think so.”

  “I’m so glad to hear that. We love it here. We’d been thinking about moving to a bigger place, but I think we might knock down a wall to make room for the babies and stay put.”

  “You’ve certainly got the best view in town.”

  “That we do.”

  Katie rinsed out her coffee mug and put it on the drainer to dry. “Thanks so much for breakfast and the playtime with Holden.”

  “It was our pleasure. He’s here any time you need a playmate.”

  Katie went back to her own room and found another letter on the floor inside her door. Once again, she tore open the envelope and devoured the note.

  Dear sweet Katie,

  More food for thought… I saw Courtney this morning. She waylaid me after my run on the beach and again tried to convince me to give her another chance. I told her I’ve met someone else, and I’m happy with her. (HER = YOU, of course.) She tried to convince me that five years trumps five days every time. But not this time. She’s gone back to Providence to pick up the pieces of her life. I’m staying here. With you. If you’ll have me.

  Love,

  Shane

  Katie covered her mouth with her hand and reread the note over and over. He’d sent Courtney away—again. He hadn’t changed his mind or decided to go back to his ex-wife. The relief she felt at that news took her breath away as she headed for the shower.

  She emerged wrapped in towels to another note under her door. Since she knew he’d left for work, he must’ve gotten someone to deliver them for him.

  Like the others, the envelope was shredded in her haste to read what he’d written.

  Dear sweet Katie,

  While you do your thinking, here’s what I’m thinking about… I dream about your soft skin and the pleasure I’ve found in your arms. I dream about how it felt to lose myself in you. I was reborn with you. I can’t wait to hold you and make love to you again.

  Love,

  Shane

  Katie was on fire for him. She wanted him right now, but it was only ten o’clock. He wouldn’t be home for hours. The thought of that made her moan. She was still standing there thinking about him when another letter arrived. She ran for the door and threw it open, scaring the hell out of her grandfather.

  “Poppy! What’re you doing?”

  “Um, I… ah, your grandmother asked me to bring up this note that was left for you downstairs.”

  “Are there more?”

  “A couple more.”

  “I’m coming down.”

  “In a towel?”

  That’s when Katie remembered she wasn’t dressed, which only added to her grandfather’s discomfort. “Be right there.” She closed the door and tore open the envelope.

  Dear sweet Katie,

  Another thing I’m thinking about… I’m so glad we didn’t drown that day at the beach. I would’ve been so sad if I’d missed the chance to know you. You make me hopeful again. I had given up on so many things, and you led me back into the light. Don’t give up on me.

  L
ove,

  Shane

  She was going to spontaneously combust long before five o’clock. After she threw on shorts and a tank top and added the new letter to the growing pile on her desk, she went downstairs, moving as fast as she could on her injured foot.

  “Give it up, Gram,” Katie said to Adele when she found her grandmother still working the reception desk.

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “Too late. I caught your messenger outside my door. You’re busted. I want the rest of them.”

  “I’m afraid that’s not possible. I’m under strict instructions, so you’ll have to wait in your room for any future deliveries.”

  “That’s not fair!”

  “What’s not fair?” Sarah asked as she came in the main door.

  “Gram has letters for me from Shane, and she won’t give them to me.”

  “Mother, are you tormenting your granddaughter?”

  “Not at all. I’m assisting a lovely young man who asked me to do him a favor. He was very precise in his directions.”

  “Sounds like you have to wait, honey,” Sarah said.

  “Ugh!” Katie went back upstairs to await the next note, which arrived a very long hour later, once again delivered by her grandfather. “How many more are there?”

  “I don’t know. Don’t shoot the messenger.”

  “Love you, Poppy.”

  “Love you, too, pumpkin. For what it’s worth, he seems like a nice guy.”

  “He is.”

  “Don’t let me keep you. Go see what he has to say. You know you’re dying to.”

  “I am!” With a smile for her grandfather, Katie stepped into her room, closed the door and tore open the envelope.

  Dear sweet Katie,

  More food for thought… Since we’re both sticking around on Gansett this winter, how about we get a place together? One with a fireplace. I love fires in the winter. Do you? Are you convinced yet that I’m serious about you? Do you believe me when I tell you you’re the only one I want?

  Love,

  Shane

  “Oh God, Shane. You’re killing me.” Hoping to catch her grandfather making another delivery, she threw open the door and gasped when she found Shane standing there.