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AT THE END OF THE DINNER at nine-thirty, Farren and Eva shepherded the diners out of the restaurant. Eva drifted away into the crowd and Delphine was nowhere to be seen. Farren had Grady all to herself.
As they exited the hotel, and spilled into the cooling night air, Grady grasped Farren’s hand and raised it to his lips for a kiss. “From the smiles I’d say the night was a wild success.”
“Thank you,” she gushed, thrilled with the dinner and the way his lips felt on her knuckles. He was pulling out all the stops. Anyone looking on would believe he was interested in her. For real interested, not just putting on a show. “Dinner went better than I hoped. And some people stayed back to have a drink at the bar.”
Being this close to the ocean meant the darkness had cooled the air and the breeze that curled around the building made her shiver.
“Here, let me,” he said, offering to drape her shoulders with her shawl. He stood behind her and settled the soft knit pashmina across her shoulders. “Did you know you have dimples back here?”
She felt his thumbs press behind her shoulder blades. “Yes,” she said through a light chuckle. “I know not everyone does, but they run in the family. Until I was twelve, I assumed everyone had them.” The way he cupped her shoulders felt comforting and she wanted it to go on and on. But someone burst out into laughter and drew everyone’s attention as the group strolled along.
“Thank you.” She folded the shawl carefully around her corsage to keep from crushing it. “I’m thrilled to see people pairing off for the walk home.” More than one couple held hands, smiling into their partners’ faces. Farren’s heart soared when she realized what she’d brought into their lives.
Grady jerked his head toward where Denny walked with the last woman he’d been sitting with. They weren’t holding hands, but their heads were bent together as if sharing secrets.
“It looks as if your friend has found someone interesting,” Grady commented drily.
“Yes, that’s Mackenzie Fairfield. She has a daughter who’s thirteen.” And she’d been single for a year. A teacher, Mackenzie felt guilty for her divorce and the effect it was having on her daughter. They’d taken a few minutes together to chat while they’d been on the walkway to the beach this morning. “I’m not sure looking for a new relationship is a good idea right now,” Farren mused aloud. She was echoing what Mackenzie had said to her earlier, so Farren was surprised at the clear signals the other woman was giving Denny.
“Denny’s ready and if she is, too, then so be it,” Grady said firmly. “And a connection doesn’t always last. Some of them end after one night.”
She cut him a glance. “I guess.” But she made a mental note to chat with Mackenzie. Farren had no right to tell the woman what she knew of Denny’s history, but she could encourage her to ask a few questions. “But a one-night stand is difficult with children in your motel room,” she remarked.
Grady chuckled. “And since the sitters are only hired until eleven, it would have to be a quickie.”
Farren bumped her shoulder to his and laughed. She drew to a stop to look up into his laughing eyes. “Maybe we should offer rooms by the hour next time.”
“I do believe the wine has gone to your head, Ms. Parks.”
“You think?”
Grady threw back his head and laughed hard enough to draw glances, but the conversation had taken such a silly turn, she joined him. She needed the release, she realized, as the laughter dispersed and left her spent. She wiped her damp lashes as Grady flung his arm across her shoulders and drew her into a one-armed side hug.
Pure affection radiated from his eyes into hers and they shared a long moment of humor.
They strolled the block leisurely, glancing into store windows full of T-shirts, swimsuits, and beach towels. They passed souvenir shops and Main Street Hardware, where Jake Hooper had every size of flag a person could want. She suspected he’d sold out his handheld ones today. Everyone at the parade had been waving them.
She felt mellow and generous. Maybe Grady was right, and the wine had loosened her up. Or maybe it was the man she was with. Grady had become a friend and confidant in the last weeks.
“Thank you for all your help.” She glanced at the man who still held her close as they strolled together. “Your advice and kindnesses have helped me achieve my dreams. This summer will lay the groundwork for a great year for Singles Fest and without your help and guidance, I don’t know if that would’ve happened.” His heat kept her warm, while his sex-deep voice made her tremble inside.
“Aw, shucks,” he teased. “I couldn’t resist you, Farren. You had me the first time you came rapping on my windows and peering into my house. The determination in your face was fierce and I knew you wouldn’t fail. It’s been fun watching you succeed.” He sobered. “Not to mention, I needed the kick in the butt you gave me to get out of my house and back into my life.”
Of all the things she and Grady had discussed, the painful stuff had been mostly off limits. The world knew of his grief, of course, but she and he hadn’t spent time on that. She knew he’d hidden away in Last Chance Beach and that he’d found a new interest in Singles Fest. That much was plain when he’d fixed up the walkway and painted the playground equipment.
For reasons of his own, Grady had embraced her business idea and— conveniently for him —Farren and her new business had prevented more matchmaking from his sister.
When he returned to New York and O’Hara Enterprises for good, they’d tell Delphine their relationship had run its course. No harm, no foul.
She’d miss him, though. More than she wanted to.
But that was the way of things for her. Men liked her. A lot. But never enough. And after a while they moved on. Moved away to bigger things.
A loud pop heralded the first of the fireworks over the ocean and the group stopped to stare in awe as a sparkly explosion overhead rained down yellow and blue and purple starlets of color.
“Ooh! Aah.” The universal sound of delight rose from the people around them, as she felt for Grady’s hand. She clasped it and gazed skyward, the lights obliterating the stars in the black night sky.
* * *
FARREN’S WARM HAND in his, her eyes alight with the colors of the rainbow overhead, made Grady want to drag her into his arms and hold her the way a man holds a woman he cares for.
And he did care for Farren. Maybe more than he should. Maybe more than she’d accept. Especially with Denny back in Last Chance Beach and clearly looking for a new woman. His children needed a mother and there’d be no one better than Farren.
She was sweet, kind, genuinely liked children and loved the idea of family. Most women her age were well on the way to having all that for themselves. He wondered, as he looked at her shining, happy face, if Denny had broken her when he’d left her behind.
But would she give her first love a second chance if he asked? Or would she want to start something new and fresh with Grady?
Something real. They’d come to know each other over these last weeks. She was still one of the prettiest women he’d ever met. Her figure was softly rounded and perfect in his eyes. And he loved her little teasing comments and witty banter. She could tease him out of a dark mood and her smile made his heart answer with another.
Farren Parks was the real deal. But, aside from college, she’d never left her hometown to spread her wings. Apparently, had never wanted to. Still, was New York so far away?
Maybe not in miles, but in attitude and action, the Big Apple might as well be on Mars.
He looked along the street. This strip was still inhabited by mom-and-pop stores, even if those moms and pops were younger and more hip. Last Chance Beach was changing, growing and he liked the controlled growth.
It could be fun to watch a quiet corner slowly wake and stretch to its full potential. His great-aunt had loved this place. Her motel had financed different family businesses over decades. Lending seed money to nephews and nieces had become a side-line for the savvy woman. By the time her investments had paid off, another family member would come up with another business idea and everyone turned to the bank of Aunt Ellen.
He and she had had a special rapport and the motel came to him when she passed. He suspected that she’d also intended for him to continue the family loans as needed.
Maybe that’s why he’d let Farren talk him into using the Landseer for her clients. He’d been paying Ellen’s kindness forward.
There came one last flurry of loud pops overhead, and the red, white, and blue canopy of sparkling stars heralded the end of the show. Short, sweet, and gorgeous, like Farren.
Her hand wasn’t enough to hold. He wanted Farren in his arms. He tugged, her arms wrapped around his waist, and he held her close. She smelled so good, felt so right, sighed as if her heart was in it.
When his hands wandered down her back to settle on her softness, she hugged him harder. Her eyes lit with happy success. They could’ve been the only two people on the street for all the notice he took of anyone else.
He dipped his head and his lips found home on hers. She parted for him and deepened the kiss. The sweet woman in his arms held a secret fire that licked up his sides and landed in his chest and then moved south. Her tongue touched his lips and he opened, fully engaged now. Hopeful as a teenage boy.
“Farren,” he groaned against her mouth and heard her say his name, too.
He lifted his head. Her shawl had slipped, and her exposed shoulders gleamed in the light from a storefront sign. The multi-colored material of her shawl brought out the red in her pouty lips. Her shoulders were smooth and rounded and had teased him all evening. He’d wanted to trace the contours with his fingertip and when he’d seen the dimples on the back, he’d wanted to kiss them.
Was there such a thing as a shoulder fetish? He gave a mental shrug. If there wasn’t, there should be.
“You know I’m the only one at the motel without children in my room?”
“Is that an invitation Ms. Parks?” His voice had gone gravel-deep with need.
“Do you want it to be?”
“Don’t doubt it for a moment.”