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

by Marie Force

  “Congratulations,” Slim said. “Happy for you.”

  “Thanks.”

  “You’re awfully sure she’ll say yes,” Alex said.

  David shot him a disdainful look. “If I wasn’t sure of her answer, I never would’ve told you yahoos.”

  “That hurts me,” Alex said gravely.

  “So guess what Hope got for Christmas.” Paul said after David finally missed a shot and their team got a turn. He lined up to put the eleven ball in a corner pocket.

  “What?” Alex asked.

  “Airline tickets to Vegas. The three of us are leaving tomorrow for three days there and then a week in San Francisco.”

  “Hey, that’s cool,” Alex said. “Good time of year to get away.”

  “Great time of year to tie the knot, too,” Paul said nonchalantly.

  Alex stared at his brother, agog. “Wait. What?”

  “You heard me,” Paul said, amused by his brother’s reaction. “We’re going to Vegas to get married.”

  “Get outta here,” Slim said. “That’s awesome.” If things kept up this way, he’d be the last single man standing before long.

  “Very cool,” David said. “Was she surprised?”

  “About the trip, yes, but not about the getting-married part. We’ve been talking about doing it here, but I thought it would be more fun to get away. We’ll have a party in the spring to celebrate.”

  Alex gawked at his brother, seeming stunned by his news.

  “What?” Paul asked him. “You aren’t mad, are you?”

  “I’d kinda like to be there when you get married.”

  “Then why don’t you and Jenny come with us?”

  Alex seemed to think that over for about two seconds. “Don’t mind if we do.”

  “I don’t mind at all. We’d love to have you.”

  “All this talk of weddings is going to make Slim jealous,” David said.

  Slim’s first impulse was usually to cringe when people used the words wedding and Slim in the same sentence, but after the nights he’d spent wrapped up in Erin’s arms, the thought of it didn’t seem as repulsive as it once would have.

  “It’s okay,” Slim said, affecting a grave expression. “I think I can handle it.”

  His dad had told him a long time ago that someday he’d meet a woman who would make settling down seem like the most natural thing in the world. Slim had spent most of his life in skeptical disbelief that it would happen to him as women passed through his life without sticking.

  Until now.

  Was Erin the woman his dad had told him he’d find? He couldn’t say for sure yet, but he felt more “settled” in her presence than he had with any other woman he’d known before her. That much was for certain. At times, he had to remind himself he’d known her only a couple of months and not years. He was so comfortable with her, it was easy to forget their relationship was still new in many ways.

  Up until a few days ago, it had been a nice friendship with the possibility of more. Now it was so much more, and he still had no idea where it was leading. The good news was nothing had to be decided immediately, but a week from now when it was time for him to head south again, he hoped they’d be ready to make a decision or two about the path forward.

  He wanted her in his life. It was that simple. And he wanted her badly enough to play by her rules for the time being.

  Just as David sank the eight ball in the corner pocket, Jenny called them upstairs for dinner.

  “We never stood a chance against him,” Slim said to Alex. “We got hustled.”

  “I want to be on his team next time,” Alex said.

  “Now don’t fight over me, boys,” David said, grinning. “It’s Christmas.”

  They trooped upstairs, still sparring about the pool game.

  “Daisy,” Alex said, “you ought to know that your boyfriend is a hustler.”

  Daisy put her arms around David. “Aww, did you kick their butts, honey?”

  “I put a hurt on them.”

  “That’s my guy.” She kissed him square on the mouth.

  “Ugh,” Alex said. “Get a room.”

  “Can we choose any room we want upstairs?” David asked, waggling his brows at Alex.

  “Not at my house. Gross.”

  “Alex, come help me with dinner and leave David alone,” Jenny said.

  “He humiliated me at my own pool table on the first day,” Alex said. “I’d think you’d have more sympathy for your husband.”

  “I’ll massage your wounded ego later. For now, I have people to feed.”

  Slim laughed at Jenny’s saucy reply.

  “He’s still such a baby,” Paul said.

  “I heard that, asshole,” Alex called from the kitchen.

  “Shut it,” Jenny said while the others laughed.

  Baby, Paul mouthed.

  Slim smiled at Paul while Hope placed a hand over his mouth. Their bickering made Slim miss Jack. He was long overdue for a visit with his brother’s family, and he’d love to bring Erin with him.

  “Leave your brother alone,” Hope said.

  “He invited himself and his wife on our trip,” Paul told her when she’d removed her hand.

  “Oh yay! That’s great. We’ll have so much fun.”

  Paul hooked his arm around her waist and drew her in close to him. “As long as I get to marry you, I’ll put up with him crashing our party.”

  Hope’s smile lit up her pretty face.

  Jenny came rushing out of the kitchen and threw herself at Hope. “You’re getting married! And we’re going with you! Oh my God! This is huge! When were you going to tell me?”

  “I was waiting for Paul to tell Alex.”

  “We’re going to be sisters!” Jenny said, tears making her eyes shine.

  The two women clung to each other.

  Slim glanced at Erin in time to see a stricken expression on her face. Ah, damn. Jenny was supposed to have been her sister, too. He crossed the room to Erin, put his arm around her and let her know he understood.

  She leaned her head into his chest in a moment of silent unity that did funny things to his insides. What the hell was that? He was hungry, and the smells coming from the kitchen were making his stomach growl. That was all it was.

  But when he looked down to find Erin gazing up at him with affection and appreciation and a million other things he couldn’t easily identify, he knew it was far more than hunger. It was something else, something altogether new.

  The moment was broken when Jared, Lizzie and Quinn came in the front door, apologizing for being late and bearing side dishes that they handed over to Jenny.

  “You’re not late,” she said. “You’re just in time for dinner.”

  Quinn handed Jenny a bottle of wine. “Thanks for having me.”

  “We’re so glad you could join us. How are you enjoying the island so far?”

  “It’s beautiful, but a little quiet for my liking.”

  “Wait until summer,” Paul said. “You won’t believe it’s the same place.”

  “That’s what everyone tells me,” Quinn said. “But how do you not go nuts out here in the winter?”

  “Oh, we find ways to keep ourselves entertained,” Paul said, smiling at Hope.

  Her entire face turned bright red as she swatted him. “Knock it off.”

  “I see how it is,” Quinn said, using his thumb to point to Jared and Lizzie, “living with these two. They ‘disappear’ frequently.”

  “We do not!” Lizzie said.

  “Um, yeah, we do, babe,” Jared replied, earning a glare from his wife.

  “On that note,” Jenny said, “let’s eat.”

  Slim held a chair at the dining room table for Erin, who was far more subdued than usual. He reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze.

  She sent him a grateful smile, but he sensed she was unsettled. He couldn’t wait to be alone with her again later when he’d try to get her to talk about it.

  Erin felt foolish
for allowing such a simple thing to send her reeling, but witnessing Jenny’s joyful celebration with Hope had felt like a punch to the gut. Jenny was to have been her sister, and while Erin was truly happy for Hope and Paul—and Alex and Jenny by extension—the incident was just another reminder of what’d been lost.

  And now she could feel herself falling into the black hole of despair that struck at the oddest of times, like today when she’d been having a really great day with people she adored. All it took was one sentence, one comment, one second to change the dynamic for her.

  She ought to be used to it by now, having suffered through frequent mini-crises since Toby died, but she was never prepared for the darkness to swoop in to remind her that while her life and Jenny’s had somehow moved forward, Toby was gone forever.

  Slim’s hand wrapped around hers was a comfort until he was forced to release her to take the serving dish that Paul passed to him.

  Jenny served a delicious meal of tenderloin, red bliss potatoes, asparagus, mixed vegetables and freshly baked bread, but Erin couldn’t get anything past the lump in her throat. She dabbed at her lips and mumbled an “excuse me” before she got up and went to the bathroom in the hallway to try to get herself together.

  The last thing she wanted was to ruin Jenny’s first Christmas with her new husband and family with reminders about a past they’d both sooner forget than dwell on, especially on a holiday.

  Life is for the living. That was what Toby would say if he were here to see her melting down over him more than fourteen years after his death. They’d lost their grandmother a few years before he died, and when Erin said she felt guilty for rarely visiting her gravesite, that had been Toby’s reply. He’d said their grandmother wouldn’t want them to feel guilty about not going to the cemetery, because they’d been devoted to her in life, which was what really mattered.

  Erin reached for a tissue from the box on the counter and dabbed at her eyes, hoping she could get this situation under control so she wouldn’t have to reappear with red eyes. She took a deep breath, held it for a long count and then released it. Earlier in the day, she’d talked to her parents, who were visiting with her other grandmother for Christmas.

  Over the years, they’d gotten out of the habit of making a big deal of holidays, because it was just too painful. They preferred to spend time together on regular days that weren’t so fraught with memories and regrets and family expectations.

  A soft knock sounded on the door. “Er? You okay?”

  Erin checked her appearance in the mirror and took another deep breath before she opened the door to Jenny, forcing a smile for her friend’s benefit. “Hey, sorry. I’m fine.”

  Jenny took a careful look at Erin, tilting her head. “No, you’re not. What is it?”

  “Oh, the usual holiday thing,” she said, affecting nonchalance. “I just had a little moment, but I’m fine now.”

  “You don’t have to pretend with me,” Jenny said softly.

  “I don’t want to ruin our lovely day.”

  “You’re not ruining anything. It sneaks up sometimes when we least expect it. Happened to me last night.”

  “Really?” Erin was ashamed to realize she’d assumed Jenny was so happy with Alex that she rarely thought of Toby anymore.

  Jenny stepped into the room and closed the door. “I think of him every single day,” she said softly in response to Erin’s unspoken thought. “Nothing could ever change that.”

  “I didn’t mean to imply—”

  “Erin, honey, I know you didn’t. It’s only natural for people to think I’ve moved on with Alex. I’m happy again, so why would I dwell on the grief of the past? But you and I both know it’s not that simple.” As she rested her hand over her heart, her eyes filled with tears. “He will always be with me. Always.” Jenny cleared her throat and took the tissue Erin handed her. “Do you remember at our wedding when Alex and I lit three candles and then the unity candle?”

  “I can’t say I noticed that.”

  “Well, we did, and the third candle was for Toby. Alex suggested it. He never loses sight of the fact that he got his happy ending because someone else died.”

  “That’s… That’s a wonderful tribute.”

  “His picture is still on the bedside table in the room I share with my husband.” She took a small step closer to Erin. “And you, my dear, darling friend, will always be my sister, no matter how many new sisters I may acquire along the way.”

  “I’m a jealous cow,” Erin said, sniffing through her tears. She should’ve known Jenny would tune in to what had set her off.

  Jenny laughed. “No, you’re the loyal and wonderful sister of my heart who understands my journey better than just about anyone else ever could.”

  “I love Hope. She’s awesome.”

  “Yes, she is, and I couldn’t be happier for her and Paul and Ethan. She’s going to be a wonderful addition to my family, but she could never take your place in my family or my heart. You’re right there next to Toby, two of the most important people in my life.”

  Erin hugged her, and they clung to each other the way they had during the horrible days, weeks, months and years that followed Toby’s death. “I’m sorry to rain on your first Christmas with Alex. I’ve been a bit of a basket case lately.”

  “You’re not raining on anything, and you’re not a basket case. You’re falling in love with a wonderful man, and if I know you at all, you’re fighting it tooth and nail.”

  “I’m not falling in love. I’m in lust. That’s all it is.”

  “Funny, that’s what I said about Alex, and now here I am with his ring on my finger and knocked up with his kid.”

  Erin gasped. “Oh my God! You are? You’re pregnant?”

  Smiling at her reaction, Jenny said, “Three months.”

  “You didn’t tell me!”

  “We haven’t told anyone, but I wanted you to know.”

  Erin hugged her again. “This is such amazing news. I’m so happy for you guys.”

  “Thanks, we’re thrilled. But don’t think my news gets you off the hook on falling in love. I see the way you look at him and the way he looks at you. I’ve never seen you look at anyone else the way you look at him, not even Mitch.”

  “This… He… We…” Erin groaned in frustration while Jenny laughed.

  “He’s got you stuttering.”

  “Among other things,” Erin muttered.

  “Can I give you one teeny, tiny piece of advice?”

  “Can I stop you?”

  Laughing, Jenny put her hands on Erin’s shoulders, compelling Erin to look at her. “When Alex and I were first together, I was a disaster. All I did was try to deny what was happening because it was too much too soon. I’d learned the hard way not to take chances, you know?”

  “I know all too well.”

  “But there was something about him. Something different. And he refused to let me cop out of what was happening between us.”

  “Sounds like Slim.”

  “Letting it happen with Alex is the best thing I’ve done since I lost Toby. I want you to find your happily ever after, too, Er. And I think he could be it.”

  “I don’t know if I’m ready for all the things he could be.”

  “You’re never ready for something like this, but I’d hate to see you have regrets if you wimp out and let him get away.”

  “Wimp out?”

  “Isn’t that what you’d be doing if you don’t at least try to make it work with him?”

  “You don’t pull any punches.”

  “When have I ever pulled punches? I want you to be happy, and in order for that to happen, you have to take a chance. You have to. Isn’t that what you’re always telling the women who write to you?”

  “Don’t throw my own words back in my face,” Erin said, smiling.

  “You know I’m right.”

  They were interrupted by another knock.

  “Your guy or mine?” Jenny asked. “What do you think?”


  “Probably yours.”

  “I say yours, but let’s find out.” Jenny opened the door to Slim and sent Erin a smug look.

  “Everything all right in there, ladies?” he asked, his eyes laser focused on Erin.

  “Yes, we’re good,” she said.

  “Take a minute.” Jenny kissed her cheek before she left the room, patting Slim’s arm on the way by.

  “Sorry,” Erin said. “I just needed a minute. I’m okay now.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “Yeah.”

  With his hands propped on the doorframe, he said, “When Jenny said that to Hope about being sisters… I’ve only seen that expression on your face once before, the day Jenny married Alex at the lighthouse.”

  Unnerved by his assessment, she crossed her arms. “You’re awfully insightful.”

  He flashed the irrepressible grin that she found so sexy. “Pilots and bartenders, sweetheart. I’ve been telling you that for months now.”

  Erin went to him, put her hands on his chest and kissed him. “Thank you for coming to check on me. Let’s go finish dinner.”

  “You want to skip the McCarthys’ later?”

  “Not at all. I’m fine. I promise.” She thought he would step back to let her pass, but instead, he wrapped his arms around her. Snuggled into his warm embrace, breathing in his appealing scent, Erin relaxed ever so slightly. He made her feel like nothing bad would happen if he continued to hold her this way. “Let’s go finish dinner.”

  He kissed the top of her head and released her, but kept his hand on her back as they returned to the dining room, where the others carried on as if nothing had happened, which was exactly what she needed.

  Erin loved these people. She truly did. And she was beginning to love Slim, too.

  Chapter 13

  Kevin cooked a turkey that turned out sort of dry. His sons would eat anything, so he wasn’t too worried about impressing them. No, he was far more concerned about making sure Chelsea had a nice dinner.