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

by Marie Force

  There was nothing left to think about when she jumped into his arms or when he lifted her into his kiss. Holding her tightly, he carried her inside and kicked the door closed behind him.

  “What’re you doing home? I thought I had to wait hours to see you.”

  “We’re at a standstill with the house, so I asked Mac if I could take another day off.” He kissed her again and then set her down on her feet. “I take it you got my notes?”

  “Yes, oh my God, Shane. I can’t believe all the things you said.”

  “Believe it. I mean every word.”

  “You really want to get a place together? We just met last week!”

  “Does that matter? We’re not kids anymore, Katie. If we want to be together, why can’t we just go for it?” He put his arms around her and nuzzled her neck. “What if there’s a thunderstorm, and I’m not there?”

  Her laughter became a moan when he rolled her earlobe between his teeth, setting every nerve ending in her body on fire for him. The thought of being with him every day filled her with the kind of euphoria she’d never felt before.

  “Katie… I want you so badly. I want you in every way that I can have you. When I thought I might’ve lost you… Tell me I haven’t lost you. Put me out of my misery.”

  “You haven’t lost me. I want you just as badly. What you wrote, the things you said…”

  “I’ve fallen completely in love with you.” He peppered her face with kisses. “Please tell me you feel the same way.”

  “I do.”

  “Why do you sound hesitant? Are you still thinking about it?”

  “I’m not hesitant about you or wanting to be with you. Not anymore. Everything you said in your notes today… They were so amazing.”

  “Then what is it? Remember when you told me to speak my mind and get it off my chest?”

  She nodded.

  He continued to kiss her while his hands explored her body. “I want you to feel that you can do the same with me. Put it out there, and let’s figure it out.”

  “I can’t talk when you’re doing that.”

  Laughing softly, he withdrew from her, dropping his hands to his sides and sighing dramatically.

  Amused, Katie got on the bed and made room for him, patting the mattress next to her.

  “Let me get this straight. I’m supposed to be in a bed with you and keep my hands to myself?”

  “Just for a short time.”

  He settled on the bed next to her, folding his hands and placing them on his chest. “I suppose I can do that.”

  “Before we talk about us, did you hear anything more about your friend Lisa?”

  “Apparently, David consulted with his colleagues in Boston, and they agree it’s too far gone for treatment other than making her as comfortable as possible.”

  “Oh God.”

  “David’s friend Jared and his wife, Lizzie, have donated nurses and equipment that will keep Lisa at home. Seamus and Carolina have offered to help with the kids, and there’s a fundraiser next week at the Beachcomber for the family.”

  “The Gansett Island community doesn’t fool around.”

  “There are good people here.”

  “What about the house?”

  “Mac and I are going to finish it and figure out what becomes of it later. It’s the least of the many concerns in this situation. It just makes me so damned sad that they aren’t going to get to live there. They were so excited about it.”

  “You made her really happy for months by making her dream come true.”

  “Still… Those poor kids. They’re so young.”

  Katie smoothed her hand over his hair. “They’re not that much younger than you were when you lost your mom.”

  “True, but I had my dad to get me through it. Who will get them through it?”

  “People will rally around them. They’ll be okay.”

  “I hope so. They’ve become important to Mac and me. We wanted to go see them today, but David said there was a lot going on there. We’ll go tomorrow.” He turned on his side and reached for her hand. “Thanks for asking.”

  “If there’s anything I can do, I hope you’ll let me know.”

  “I will.” Stroking her fingers, he looked into her eyes. “Are you going to talk to me about what you’re thinking?”

  “I’m trying to figure out how I want to say it.” She fixed her gaze on their joined hands. “I want all the things you want, but I want us to spend more time together before we decide anything for certain.”

  “Okay.”

  “Really?”

  “Really,” he said, smiling. “I want you to come with me to a cookout this weekend that my aunt and uncle are having so we can all meet my new cousin.”

  “You have a new cousin?”

  “Uh-huh. Big Mac found out recently that he fathered a daughter before he was married to Aunt Linda. Her name is Mallory, and she’s coming out to spend the week before Grant’s wedding. And then there’s the wedding… I get to bring a date, if you’re not doing anything.”

  “I’m not doing anything.”

  “Great, so that gets us through the next two weekends. What do you want to do after that?”

  “I’m sure we’ll find something to do.”

  “There’s always something going on here.”

  “I really liked all of Laura’s friends last night.”

  “It’s a fun group.”

  “I could see that. I love how the guys always crash girls’ night.”

  “And how they pretend they aren’t crashing. That’s my favorite part.” He brought her hand to his mouth and nibbled on her fingers. “Are we done talking?”

  “You’re sure you’re okay with slowing things down a little?”

  “How slow are we talking?”

  “No major life decisions for a little while.”

  “I think we need a deadline.” He thought about it for a second. “How about we give it until Grant’s wedding, and then we can talk about it again. Until then, we’re all fun and no big decisions.”

  “All fun, huh?”

  He scooted closer to her, sliding his leg between hers. “Lots of fun.”

  Katie released his hand so she could caress his face. “What you said before about how you feel about me…”

  “About how I’ve fallen in love with you? That?”

  “Yes,” she said with a nervous laugh, “that.”

  “What about it?”

  “This is all so new to me. I’m not sure what that feels like.”

  “Could I tell you what it feels like to me?”

  She nodded.

  “It’s hard to describe in words because we’re talking about a feeling, so bear with me, okay?” With his gaze fixed over her shoulder, he seemed to be choosing his words carefully, and Katie was on pins and needles waiting to hear what he would say. “Last night, when I couldn’t find you and Owen wouldn’t tell me where you’d gone, I was out of my mind. I felt like I was going crazy or something, knowing you were nearby and that I’d hurt you badly enough to make you cry. When I heard that, I would’ve given everything I have to be able to touch you and hold you and tell you how much I care about you and how badly I want to be with you. I had to wait hours—hours and hours—knowing you were upset because of me.

  “And then when I walked into Luke’s house and saw you there, everything that was wound up inside of me settled. Even though nothing had been resolved between us, I felt calm because you were there. I could see you and touch you and talk to you. It was like everything I needed to survive was right there in one beautiful, sweet package. That’s what it feels like to me.” He shifted his gaze to her face. “Why are you crying?”

  “Because,” she said, wiping the tears from her cheeks, “that was the most incredible thing anyone has ever said to me.”

  “I mean it when I say I’m crazy about you.”

  Katie reached for him, and their lips came together in a passionate kiss. Her mouth opened to his tongue nat
urally, as if she’d been kissing him for years rather than days. She couldn’t get close enough to him. Under his T-shirt, she caressed the warm skin on his back and loved that he trembled from her touch.

  Breaking the kiss, he reached for the back of his shirt and pulled it over his head, baring his gorgeous chest to her appreciative gaze. “Your turn.” He pulled on her tank and helped her get it off. “Everything. Hurry.”

  They pulled at clothes that refused to cooperate, making Katie laugh at the groan of frustration that came from him. “Goddamn it.” His shorts were stuck on the work boots he’d never taken off.

  Katie couldn’t stop laughing.

  “You’re definitely laughing at me this time.”

  “I can’t help it. Who forgets to take off their boots?”

  “It’s because you’ve got all the blood in my entire body traveling to one central place. I’m light-headed and woozy.”

  Still wearing her bra and panties, Katie sat up on her knees. “Allow me to assist you.” She took her time untying his boots and removing them and his socks. The boots landed with a loud thunk on the floor.

  “Someone downstairs is saying ‘There’s Shane McCarthy’s boots landing on the floor in the middle of the day.’”

  “No one is saying that.” Katie removed his shorts and boxers, tossing them to the floor as well. Then she took a good long look at the naked man in her bed, licking her lips in anticipation of what was to come. Before her eyes, his erection lengthened, stretching past his belly button. She ran her hands from his shins to his thighs, which quivered in reaction.

  His head came up off the pillow. “Katie… Come up here so I can touch you.”

  “In a minute.”

  He flopped back down, groaning as he went.

  Katie bit her lip to keep from laughing at his distress. She bent her head and began to kiss his stomach, using her tongue to outline each cut of his abdominal muscles.

  He fisted handfuls of her hair, directing her to where he wanted her.

  “Tell me how you like it.”

  “Anything you do I’ll love.”

  She looked up at him. “Anything?”

  “Anything at all.”

  “Like this?” She wrapped her hand around the hot, soft skin that covered his shaft and began to stroke him, slowly at first, watching him to determine what he liked.

  His hips came off the bed, which she took as a good sign. Since his eyes were closed, she was able to surprise him when she took him into her mouth.

  “Ahh, God, Katie… Yes, like that. Suck on me.”

  She did as he asked, drawing him into her mouth as far as she could while continuing to stroke him. Going on instinct alone, she added her tongue, which drew a sharp inhale from him.

  “Katie… Baby, you have to stop, or I’ll come in your mouth.”

  She drew back from him reluctantly, leaving him gasping for air.

  The next thing she knew, he had turned them so he was on top and poised to enter her. He pulled away so abruptly, Katie cried out in dismay.

  “Condom,” he said through gritted teeth as he reached for his shorts on the floor and nearly fell off the bed. “Don’t laugh.”

  “I’m trying not to.”

  He rolled on the condom as he returned to her. “You’re laughing.”

  “I can’t help it. You almost fell out of bed.”

  “It’s your fault for getting me so fired up I can’t function.”

  “I did that?”

  “Don’t pull that innocent act on me. You know exactly what you do to me.”

  “Tell me… I want to know.”

  Shane gathered her into his arms, his muscular body pressed against hers. “You’ve got me completely addicted to you. Your sweetness, your laughter, your softness.” As he spoke, he began to enter her slowly, whispering into her ear, “Your tight, wet heat. I like talking to you as much as I like doing this.” He gave her more, making Katie moan from the overwhelming pleasure that overtook her. “God, Katie…

  “You make me wonder how I survived for so long without you. Without this.”

  After that, there were no more words as they moved together. It was different this time. Katie couldn’t deny there was a deeper connection between them now. And as she came apart in his arms, she accepted she was lost to him. Completely and totally lost. She’d given him everything, her heart, her body and her soul.

  Chapter 32

  News traveled fast in a small town. Seamus heard about Lisa’s grim diagnosis while waiting in line to pay for coffee at the diner. The words “lung cancer” and “too far gone for treatment” struck him like individual blows to the gut. He barely stopped his cup from crashing to the floor.

  Outside the diner, he called Joe.

  “Hey, what’s up?” Joe asked when he answered on the fifth ring.

  “I need a favor.”

  “Sure.”

  “I know it’s last minute, but can you take my eleven and two o’clock runs today?” Seamus hated to ask him, because Joe had a new baby at home, but he also hated the thought of those two little boys coping with such a devastating blow without all the support they could muster.

  “Is everything okay?”

  “Just heard some grim news about a neighbor. You know Lisa, who lives next door to us?”

  “Of course. What’s wrong?”

  “Late-stage lung cancer.”

  “Oh my God. That’s horrible.”

  “Your mom and I have been helping out with the kids. I feel like I need to be there today in case they need anything.”

  “Definitely. I’ve got you covered. Go do what you need to do.”

  “Thanks, Joe. Sorry for the late notice.”

  “It’s no problem. We weren’t doing anything today. Just the usual baby gazing.”

  “I appreciate the help.”

  “Keep me posted on what’s going on.”

  “I will.” Seamus stashed the phone in his pocket and headed for the office to let his staff know he was going home and Joe was covering for him. Driving to the house, all he could think about was those two little boys and what would become of them when they lost their mother.

  He’d been six when his grandmother, his father’s mother, got sick and died somewhat suddenly. The loss of someone who was part of his everyday life had traumatized him, but he’d had his parents to get him through it. Jackson and Kyle had no one.

  Why the thought of that hurt him so much, he couldn’t say. When and how their problem had become his he also couldn’t say. All he knew was that he had to do something to help them.

  As Seamus approached his house, he saw David Lawrence leaving Lisa’s driveway. He slowed to a stop and waited for David to pull up next to him. “I came as soon as I heard what’s going on,” Seamus said. “How is she?”

  “Overwhelmed,” David said, seeming overwhelmed himself.

  “There’s nothing that can be done?”

  David only shook his head.

  “Where’re the kids?”

  “At home for now. Jared and Lizzie James have pulled off a minor miracle and brought a whole team of people out here to tend to her and the kids.”

  “What happens to them?” Seamus asked, relieved to hear some immediate help had arrived. “After?”

  “We haven’t gotten that far. She’s still absorbing the news.”

  Seamus nodded in understanding. “You’ll let me know if there’s anything we can do to help?”

  “I will. I’ve got to get back to the clinic, but I’ll check in later.”

  “See you then.” Seamus pulled up to the house he shared with his lovely bride and was relieved to see Carolina’s car in the driveway. He got out of the truck and went inside, where she had set up her beads on the kitchen table. Under normal circumstances, he loved to watch her create her masterpieces.

  She looked up when he came in, her brows furrowed in puzzlement. “What’re you doing here? You’re on the eleven.”

  “Joe’s taking my runs to
day.”

  “How come?”

  He dropped into a chair and reached for her hand.

  “What’s wrong? You’re scaring me.”

  “Lisa… She’s in a bad way. Lung cancer.”

  “What? Oh no! Oh, that poor girl and those poor kids!” Tears filled her lovely eyes. “How did you hear?”

  “I was at the diner, and people were talking about it. I just saw David… I asked him if there’s anything that can be done. All he could do was shake his head.”

  “So awful.”

  “Those kids have no one else, love. I don’t know how they came to be so alone in the world, but they are.”

  “It’s heartbreaking.”

  He took a deep breath and looked her in the eye. “We could step up for them.”

  “How do you mean?”

  “Take them in. Give them a home. After…”

  “You’re serious.”

  “Only if you’re on board, too. It’s a huge big deal and a lot to ask. You’ve already raised your son, so I’ll understand if you don’t have it in you to do this. I can’t explain the why of it, but as soon as I heard the news, I had this feeling come over me that I had to do something for those kids.”

  “You are so good,” she said with a loving smile. “All bluster and blarney with the softest heart there ever was.”

  He scowled at her even as his soft heart skipped a beat from the way she looked at him. “It’s a lot to ask of you, love.”

  “No, it really isn’t. They’re wonderful boys who’ve been dealt an awful hand. And you’re absolutely right that we could and should step up for them. But it’s quite possible Lisa has made other arrangements in case something happened to her. I don’t want you to get your hopes up only to have them dashed.”

  “I want to see them taken care of. However that happens is fine, as long as it happens.”

  “All we can do is offer. It’ll be up to her in the end.”

  “Let’s go over there and see what we can do right now. There’ll be time for that conversation when the initial shock wears off.” When she stood to join him, he took a moment to hug her. “Thank you for this. No matter what happens, I appreciate that you didn’t tell me I was nuts to even suggest it.”