The Beach Reads Bookshop by Lee Tobin McClain

Author:Lee Tobin McClain
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HQN Books
Published: 2023-01-23T14:22:16+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

ON THE FRIDAY night after Memorial Day, Luis approached the farmhouse, shifting a giant stuffed bear from one arm to the other.

He’d gotten it at the toy store in Pleasant Shores. Had meant to get a small token gift—after all, Willow was too young to be greedy—but he’d seen the big floppy creature and bought it on impulse. If nothing else, Willow could climb on it and take a nap.

He couldn’t resist. That was what was going on with him. Couldn’t resist delighting in the sweetness that was Willow. Also couldn’t resist Deena—thinking about her, yearning for her, wanting her. Even though those feelings resulted in him being a big, vulnerable goof carrying a five-foot teddy bear into the house.

He tapped on the front door and then walked in, eager to see both of them.

He needed to focus on Willow, learn more about how to raise her right. He’d lived the busy, stressful lifestyle he always lived in the past week, but he had to admit that its appeal had flattened. Even closing a major deal paled in comparison to getting a hug and kiss from his daughter. That was why he’d decided that this time, he’d stay on the island an extra day. He needed more time with Willow.

Not with Deena, he reminded himself. With Willow.

Dropping his small suitcase onto the floor, still carrying the bear, he walked around an empty downstairs. “Willow? Deena? Mama?”

All quiet. He looked out the window that faced the bay, now golden with the sunset.

There, in the dimming light, he could make out Deena and Willow. And...was that some guy?

He yanked open the back door, threw the bear down in a deck chair and marched toward the water. He and Deena had never talked through that kiss they’d shared last week, nor the way she’d quickly withdrawn afterward. Working together in the bookshop had been a little awkward, though fortunately, they’d been busy enough to smooth things over.

They didn’t have any kind of agreement or commitment. They weren’t dating.

But if she thought she’d go from kissing him to kissing some other guy, in the exact same place, in the space of a week—

“Hey, Luis.” Deena’s voice was perfectly pleasant. Happy, even. Willow and a similar-age boy were on a blanket in front of the pair, a bright plastic tool set between them. Both were busy banging the toys against the blue toolbox, and neither paid Luis any attention.

He saw the wine bottle between Deena and the guy and registered what else he heard in her voice. “You’ve been drinking!”

“Hey, hey now, she had one glass and so did I.” The other guy stood.

“Chill, Luis,” Deena said. “Want a glass?”

“No.” He squinted at the other man. “Grant Mosely?”

“You’re Luis, the money guy!” Grant held out a hand. “I heard you’d done well. Always knew you were going places.” His grip wasn’t overly hard. Why should it be? He had nothing to prove. He already had the woman. Luis was the interloper.

Grant turned to Deena, nodding toward Luis.

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