Boyfriend By Mistake

by Elana Johnson

  “Tell me what you want,” she said, tapping on her keyboard and getting her hands in position. “And your budget. I’m sure you know it’s not very cheap to live here, but we have some great properties. Renting or buying?”

  “Whatever I can right now,” he said. “Doesn’t have to be big. It’s just me. I do have a dog, and it would be great if there was a yard or a beach or a park nearby for him.” Bo had not been happy about Gentleman being left at his house, and Shawn needed to go get the dog and get him some exercise that afternoon.

  “One bedroom,” Belle said as she tapped. “One bathroom. Yard. Park. Air conditioning?” She raised her eyebrows at the last one.

  “Definitely,” Shawn said. He’d work anywhere to be able to afford air conditioning.

  “I have a cute little house on the north side,” she said. “It’s a rental at ten-fifty a month. I have two others in apartment complexes…I don’t think you want those.” She scrolled down the screen, her eyes squinting as she scanned. “And there’s a house that just came up on Friday. Two-ten.”

  “When can we go look?” he asked. “I should’ve mentioned I’m in a bit of a housing bind.”

  “At your parent’s house?” she asked with a knowing smile.

  “Try at White Knight’s,” he said, faking a shudder, though the hotel definitely warranted one.

  The smile slipped from Belle’s face, and she reached for her phone. “Let me make some calls. No one can survive at White Knight’s for long.”

  That evening, Shawn walked into Redfin, the on-site restaurant at The Heartwood Inn. He caught sight of Gwen, Lissa’s younger sister, but she either didn’t see him or didn’t recognize him. He didn’t care. He just wanted something good to eat to celebrate the great day he’d had.

  “Just one?” the hostess asked, and he nodded.

  “Yep,” he said. “Just one.” He followed her to a tiny table next to a window that looked out over the beach. He sighed as he ordered a soda and then let his eyes drift around to the other people in the restaurant.

  He’d rented the house on the north side of the beach, mostly because it was completely remodeled and out of the way, exactly what he was looking for. He could also move in tomorrow, and that beat waiting to hear on a loan and trying to find somewhere to stay while he closed on a house.

  Not only that, he’d asked Belle about the little corner shop next to the flower shop and if it was available to rent. She’d put him in touch with the owner of the building, and Shawn had a meeting with the man in the morning.

  Lissa wanted that shop more than anything. At least in her dreams she did. Shawn needed a job, and he’d thought through all of his skills and hobbies, searching for something he could use the retail space for. He hadn’t come up with anything yet, and he’d need to start job hunting the next day too.

  But for tonight, he was going to enjoy fresh fish caught on Big Blue, and watch the waves come ashore until he couldn’t see them anymore—and try to find a way to forgive Lissa.

  If he could do that, maybe he could get her back in his life.

  As he’d gone around with Belle today, signed paperwork, and made himself a permanent resident on the island, he’d found he’d wanted to tell one person—Lissa.

  Sure, he’d called his mom and told her, and she was excited. Bo was glad he didn’t have to give up his couch anymore, and that Gentleman would be gone soon.

  But really, Shawn wanted to share the good, bad, and ugly in his life with Lissa.

  She’d forgiven him for the whole Marcy incident. He had to find a way to forgive her for thinking he could vandalize a building and frame her family for it.

  That sounded so much worse that a teenage break-up, and he simply didn’t know how to move past the hurt feelings, resentment, and anger.

  Yet, he told himself as his waitress appeared with his drink and asked, “Ready to order, Mister Newman?”

  He looked at the woman, probably a decade younger than him. “Do I know you?”

  She grinned and tucked her hair behind her ear. “No, sir. But my boss said you’re one of our VIP guests. Just trying to make you comfortable.”

  He looked past her, but he didn’t see anyone he knew. “Your boss?”

  “Yes.” She glanced over her shoulder too. “Miss Heartwood? She said to make sure you have everything you want.”

  He didn’t know which Miss Heartwood that was, but he just nodded and asked, “Was the halibut caught this morning?”

  Chapter Fifteen

  On Monday night, Alissa sat in Olympia’s office, because she didn’t want to go home alone. She’d hung around the inn yesterday too, and she’d stayed out in the cove for an extra hour this morning, as it seemed like the tourist population swelled with each passing day. She wanted to make sure there were enough fish and shrimp for the kid’s night at the restaurant.

  That had put her behind in the bakery, but it didn’t matter. She had no one to meet. Nowhere to go. She went home for a couple of hours while the sun shone and to get the dogs out of the house, and then she went back to the inn.

  People came and went at the inn, and Alissa could sit and people watch while the time passed.

  Olympia had seen her and gestured for her to come down the hall to the office. “You should just go talk to Shawn,” her sister said.

  “I…don’t know,” she said. “You didn’t hear him, O. He was really upset.”

  “So are you,” she said as she sat on the couch with a big sigh. “I don’t even have a mistake boyfriend, but if I did and something happened, I’d go talk to him.”

  “I can’t just show up and talk to him.”

  “Why not?”

  “For one, I don’t know where he’s staying.”

  Olympia scoffed like that was a problem easily solved. “So you send a few texts and find out.”

  In all honesty, Alissa could do that and know where Shawn was in a few minutes. Her heart pulsed too many times in a single beat, and thankfully, her sister couldn’t see it. She collapsed on the couch and leaned back into the cushions.

  “I’m not going to stalk him.”

  “Your loss,” Olympia said. “And just so you know, I didn’t believe you when you said he was a mistake. I know it was only a few days, but you’ve been so much happier this week than I’ve seen you in a while.”

  Alissa wanted to argue with her, but she couldn’t. It would all be a lie anyway. It had been wonderful having someone to spend evenings with, a way to see all the island happenings in a new way, and a good reason to laugh in a way she hadn’t in a while.

  “Oh, no comeback,” Olympia said.

  “Just don’t,” Alissa said. “I’m just not sure what to do.”

  “Do? I just told you what to do.”

  “I’m going to go home.” Alissa started to stand, but Olympia held up her hand.

  “Let’s get sodas and nachos sent over,” she said. “We can eat here or go upstairs. I promise I won’t say anything else about Shawn.”

  “With pork?”

  “With pork.” Olympia smiled at her, a knowing glint in her eyes. “I’ll call the kitchen right now.” She picked up her phone and started putting in the order. “For my penthouse, please,” she added. “Two plates.”

  A long pause followed, and then she said, “Gwen?” Her eyes met Alissa’s, and there was something going on down in the kitchen. “Really? What table?”

  She scooted to the edge of the couch and held up her hand as if Alissa was going to leave now. Of course she wasn’t. She needed to know what was so interesting that Olympia had that sparkle in her eyes again.

  “Thanks, Gwen.” She hung up and stood up, her face glowing. “Guess who’s right around the corner, eating dinner at Redfin?”

  “Who?” Alissa asked.

  “Shawn. Newman.”

  “What?” Alissa felt like someone had jumped on her chest with both feet. She searched her sister’s face, sure she was lying. “Why would he come here?”

  “It
’s it obvious?” Olympia asked. “He’s hoping to see you.”

  “No.” Alissa shook her head resolutely. “No way. I never once said I came to the restaurant for dinner.”

  “The point, little sister, is that he’s here. Here.” Olympia grabbed both of Alissa’s shoulders. “Which means, Liss, that he’s not mad at you. Or the family. Or anything. Why else would he come here?”

  “He likes fish?” Alissa guessed.

  Olympia cocked her head to the side. “Does he like fish?”

  “Yes. No. I don’t know.” That about summed up how Alissa felt about everything in the moment.

  “Come on,” Olympia said. “We have to go pick up our nachos.”

  “They can’t bring them up to the penthouse?”

  “Oh, they can,” Olympia said. “I just said I’d come pick them up.” She grinned at Alissa. “And Shawn’s sitting at a table near the pick-up counter.”

  “Olympia,” Alissa said. “I’m not ready to see him.”

  “When are you going to be ready?”

  “I don’t know. When I have something amazing to tell him. Or show him.”

  Olympia started for the door. “What would that be?”

  “I don’t know. That’s just it, O. I can’t think of something that will get him to see me.”

  “Just you being you is what get him to see you.”

  “No,” Alissa said. “You’re wrong. Would you have done that with Hunter?”

  Olympia expression stormed, and Alissa reached out and tucked her sister’s hair behind her ear. “It’s been three years, O.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “Who’s the last man you went out with?”

  “I took over the inn,” Olympia said. “I don’t have time to date. But you, little sister, do. Now, let’s go get your guy back.”

  “Olympia,” she protested, stumbling a little as she got towed toward the door. “No.” In that moment, the motorcycle popped into her mind. “The bike.”

  “What?” her sister asked.

  “The motorcycle, O,” she said, hope and excitement filling her bit by bit. “I can fix up the motorcycle and that will get him to talk to me.”

  Her sister paused, one hand on the doorknob. “That’s actually a good idea.”

  “I just need to text Bo,” Alissa said.

  “And we need the nachos,” Olympia said. “And you can take a peek at Shawn. He’s probably crying over his halibut.”

  Alissa scoffed. “I’m sure he’s not crying. Or eating halibut.” That was her favorite fish, not his.

  “Gwen said he’d ordered the halibut,” Olympia said, opening the door. Alissa couldn’t help smiling as she followed her sister down the hall to Redfin, where Shawn did sit at a table near the window, a plate of fish and fries in front of him.

  Alissa couldn’t help staring at him while Olympia waited for the nachos, but when Shawn turned toward her as if he could feel Alissa’s gaze, she ducked behind another person waiting for their to-go order.

  Alissa sanded and buffed out the scratches and dings in the gas tank of the motorcycle, determined to get it finished this week. Her eyes itched and she kept coughing every now and then. But she was going to get this bike cleaned up and ready for the parade.

  Then she was going to figure out how to get Shawn to talk to her again. She hadn’t texted or called him, because his farewell on Saturday had sounded very final. But Alissa was well-connected around the island, and she’d heard that Shawn was still in town. She didn’t know where, and she didn’t know what his plans were.

  But the motorcycle was still at Bo’s, and she’d enlisted the man to help her work on it while Shawn wasn’t around. Bo had texted to say Shawn would be coming to get his dog on Wednesday sometime, but he wouldn’t be at the house before then.

  So while Alissa desperately needed a nap, she spent Tuesday afternoon and evening, and most of Wednesday with Gentleman and the motorcycle.

  The gas tank gleamed with the metallic red paint she’d chosen, and most of the metal had been polished and cleaned up. The seat wasn’t finished, but her fingers hurt, and she really didn’t want to get caught until she was ready to talk to Shawn.

  And she wasn’t ready yet. The motorcycle parade was now just a week away, and she sure hoped he’d be able to forgive her by then. The police had arrested Hunter Reynard in Miami, and he’d admitted to the vandalism at the high-rise.

  No more work had been done at the construction site, and rumors were circulating around the locals on the island that the project would be abandoned completely. Alissa wished she hadn’t called him when Olympia had told her to.

  She’d said so many things about him that weren’t true, and he didn’t even know it.

  Gentleman barked, and she startled. She’d worked right past the alarm she’d set for herself so she could get out of the backyard before Shawn showed up.

  The dog continued to bark, and Alissa needed to get out of there. She hurried out of the shed and got the door closed and locked, her heart pounding and pounding.

  “Hey, boy,” Shawn said just as Alissa ducked behind the shed where they’d first found the motorcycle. She pressed one hand over her mouth and one over her heartbeat, hoping he’d just take his dog and go.

  He chuckled, and she could hear Gentleman panting too. “I missed you, bud,” he said. “Have you been good for Uncle Bo? Have you?”

  Just the sound of his voice made her miss the few days they’d had together. She wanted to do all the summer activities with him, kiss him at night, and have him come out on Big Blue with her.

  He’d never done that, and she almost jumped out from her hiding spot. Shawn’s voice faded, and she felt his presence leave the backyard. She slumped against the shed, thinking at least she hadn’t been caught.

  Her hands felt rough, and she went back into the shed to make sure everything was back where it should be and that the plastic covered the motorcycle, just in case Shawn came looking. Sure, he could take it off and see someone had been here working on the bike. But she didn’t think he would.

  Bo said he’d found a place and was moving in. He wouldn’t tell her where it was, and Alissa didn’t need to turn into a stalker to see Shawn. He went by Redfin every evening, according to Gwen.

  Her sister had been texting her more than normal, everything about what Shawn ordered to what he wore, and Alissa wanted to know why he kept going back to Redfin. She wanted to know what he was going to do in Carter’s Cove to make his living, and she wanted to know if he thought about her at all.

  All the same things she’d once wondered about him before, when he’d chosen Marcy over her.

  She realized now she should’ve fought for him back then. At least gone and talked to him instead of shutting herself into her bedroom and pretending like everything was okay.

  Her phone rang, and she hurried to pull it out of her pocket so she could silence it.

  “Mack,” she said in a near-whisper. “Is the seat ready?”

  “Yep,” he said. “I can’t get it out to the island until Monday, though.”

  “Monday?” The seat was all she needed to finish the motorcycle, and the parade was on Tuesday. A Monday delivery would work, but what if Shawn wouldn’t take her back after that? They’d miss the parade.

  “Can I come pick it up?” she asked.

  “Sure,” Mack said. “You know where I am.”

  “What time do you close?”

  “Six.”

  Alissa wasn’t entirely sure what time it was, and getting off the island was a challenge in the summer. But she had to try. “If I don’t come today, I’ll be there tomorrow,” she said.

  “Great. See ya, Liss.”

  Liss.

  She hung up and looked at her phone to check the time. Almost three-thirty. It could take an hour to get off the island, and that was with a ferry ticket and no tourists. Determined to go first-thing tomorrow after stocking the bakery, Lissa left through Bo’s back gate, where she’d left the bicycle
she’d rented from him for the week.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Shawn exhaled heavily, looking around the house he’d rented. He’d gotten everything moved in, and the house stocked with groceries, and now he faced a weekend without Lissa. There were plenty of activities to keep him busy, and he didn’t want to do a single one of them without her.

  Gentleman had already claimed the couch, and Shawn wondered what he’d do with all of his furniture from his place in Miami.

  Feeling reckless, he pulled out his phone and texted Marty, his real estate agent. All the furnishings can go with the apartment.

  All of them?

  I’ll come clean out my clothes and a few things, he texted. But I found a great cottage here, and it’s furnished.

  Yes, some of his stuff was nicer—a lot nicer. But he didn’t care. It would cost a fortune to get the bigger items across on the ferry, and it would be extremely difficult with all the tourists coming over from the mainland.

  The ferry ride took about thirty minutes, and there were plenty of beach towns up and down the coast of South Carolina. But there was nowhere like Carter’s Cove island, and Shawn said, “Come on, Gent. Let’s check out the back.”

  He went out the back door, where he had a stretch of grass before the sand started. A fence separated the two areas, and this beach wasn’t nearly as commercial as the ones on the south and east side of the island. The rocks were bigger, and the swells of dunes a little rougher, and Gentleman seemed very interested in exploring them.

  Shawn chuckled as the dog started sniffing around, and he sat on the bottom step as he watched Gentleman. He thought of Alissa, and what she’d think of this place, and if she could park Big Blue down at the beach.

  He’d been thinking about her for days now, and it had taken every ounce of willpower he possessed to stay away from the bakery in the mornings. He’d wanted to go in the moment they opened and watch that door for Alissa for hours.

  He hadn’t. And he wanted a medal for it.

  Gentleman barked at the same time the doorbell rang. Shawn gripped the railing and pulled himself up. “Who’s here?” he asked the dog as he streaked past and ran through the back door. Probably one of the neighbors who’d noticed someone had moved in.