20
Dane
I still remember the first time I saw you. I wish I’d pulled out my phone so I could have a timestamp of the moment my life changed forever. You have no idea what’s about to happen tonight, but I hope you’ll say yes and make me the happiest man alive. -E
After breakfast the following morning,I left Jen and the baby at the diner waiting on a cab to the inn. I’d argued that I should wait with them, but she’d won the battle when she countered that it’d be harder to sell the story that she was just an early-arriving guest if we pulled up at the same time.
As I crested the top of the bridge leading to the barrier island, I was overcome with a sense of home I’d never felt before. Not since the authorities raided my dad’s house when I was a teen had I felt so deeply rooted to a place on the map. And the comfort washing over me had nothing to do with the inn and everything to do with the man who waited for me behind the front desk.
I’d hoped to get into town early enough to sneak Jen and Pax into their room before slipping into bed next to Brook for at least an hour, but a bad accident had closed the interstate completely just south of Washington, D.C. Now, I’d be lucky if there was time for a stolen kiss in the alcove between customers.
My heart raced as I pulled into one of the reserved stalls beside the building. James’s car was there. Did that mean he’d come back? Probably not, since anyone who’d met the guy had to know better than to trust him to follow wherever they took him. God, I hoped I hadn’t gotten back too late and there was still time to get his signature on the paperwork so I could bail his ass out for the first and last time. I left everything in the truck; the only thing I needed was already inside.
Instead of walking in the main door, which would be a sure way to distract my boyfriend, I snuck around to the deck, spying on him through the french doors. Brook was busy checking out a family with two kids on the verge of a meltdown. As he processed their paperwork, he spoke to the kids, who were captivated by whatever story he told them. It was a sentiment I understood well. Once they waved goodbye, I quietly opened the door, hoping to sneak inside.
“You’re really here!” Brook squealed as he rounded the desk. I barely had time to brace myself as he leaped into my arms. It was hard to decipher what he was trying to say with his lips pressing repeatedly into my skin, but I got the message loud and clear.
“I told you I’d be back as soon as I could,” I reminded him. I nearly added that it sucked being away from him, even for a single night, but didn’t want to come across as a complete sap.
“I know, but you have stuff you need to do back home. I’m sorry I panicked yesterday. It’s probably nothing.”
“You were right to call me,” I reassured him. If something had happened to Brook and I hadn’t known he needed me, I’d never have forgiven myself. “Grady and I already had the apartment packed when you texted me last night. My work there is done.”
“But your dad. He was counting on you being there when he gets out. I don’t want to pull you away from your family, Dane.” Brook released me, planting his feet on the floor. As he spoke, he ran one hand through my hair and the other over my chest. God, how I wished I could drag him up to our suite for a proper reunion. Later. We could get as freaky as we wanted once I knew the inn was safe from my uncle’s lack of common sense.
I cupped Brook’s face in my hands and trailed my thumb over his high cheekbone. “It’s funny. The whole time he’s been in prison, I’ve thought about what it’d be like when he got out. I imagined my lonely, miserable self driving into the prison and explaining all the ways he’d fucked me up as we left.”
“I’d never envisioned any other scenario. I was angry, first because I thought he was this monster who’d done all the things he was accused of, and later because he refused to fight for his freedom,” I admitted, pinching the bridge of my nose. I felt as though I was talking about someone else, not my own anger that’d been a constant companion. Since the first time I’d walked into the inn, the anger had receded like the tide. Unlike the ocean, I had faith it wouldn’t come crashing back over me. “Maybe it’s better if I’m not there to pick him up. When we’re reunited, it’ll be on neutral ground. A place without any bad memories. He’s not the only one getting a fresh start.”
Brook gaped at me. “Who are you, and what have you done with my boyfriend? Youlooklike Dane Montgomery, but the words coming out of your mouth… they don’t compute.”
“Very funny.” I glanced over my shoulder to make sure we were alone before swatting Brook’s ass. “If you’d like, I can go back to being the grumpy asshole I was when I came down here. Personally I think there’s something to the idea that living near the water is good for the soul.”
“Oh, it’s the beach that did it?” Brook teased. He ran his tongue across his lower lip, and I wished I could drag him upstairs.
Unfortunately another family chose that moment to descend the staircase, so I settled for a quick peck on the cheek. “I’m going to run upstairs and shower. I want to get today over with so we can move forward.”
“That sounds like the best plan ever.” Brook let out a huge breath. “I know he’s your family, but James has made an absolute clusterfuck for all of us to clean up. I’ll be happy when he no longer has any control over the business. You think he’ll agree to sell?”
“He doesn’t really have a choice, does he?”
The family I thought was coming to check out took a detour to the breakfast room, giving us a few more minutes alone.
As much as I wanted a shower, Ineededto be close to Brook, so I pulled up a stool behind the front desk. “My bigger concern is how you’re feeling about Grady and Jen buying in. Are you still upset about that?”
Brook shrugged. “I’m irritated that I was in the dark, but it makes sense. You did what needed to be done to save the inn, and at the end of the day, it’s not fair of me to expect you to discuss how you’re going to spend your money.”
“You’re wrong about that,” I insisted. “I’m not just doing this for me. I’m doing it forus. I meant it when I said I want the inn to becomeourlegacy and you should be allowed to have your say. Maybe it’s a bit premature of me to think that way already, but it’s how I feel. And I’m done living my life waiting for everything to go wrong. For once, I’m enjoying looking into the future and seeing clear skies.”
“Awww, you’re getting all sappy on me.” Brook finished whatever he was doing on the computer, then draped his arms over my shoulders and kissed the side of my face. “Things between ushaveprogressed quickly, but I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing. It’s not up to us to question the timing when the universe puts people in our path. And that’s what happened with us. Given the choice between wondering where you see this relationship heading and knowing, even if it is a bit daunting at times, I’ll take certainty.”
“Not to be a buzzkill, but did James ever call back last night?” I needed to know, wanted time to prepare myself for how today might go down.
“He called this morning,” Brook responded. “I told him you were on your way back to town and that you wanted to meet with him this afternoon. He’s said he’d talk to ‘his friends’ and call back. I swear, it’s like living in some cheesy mobster movie with bad acting. Part of me wonders how he’ll wind up spinning this in the future to make himself out to be the victim.”
I kissed the top of Brook’s head. “Not our problem, babe. Jen should be here soon, and between the two of us, I’m confident he’ll sign over his claim, and then he’ll be free to screw up his own life, but never ours again. Were you able to find her a room?”
“Yeah, she’s going to take the one I’d blocked off for your dad. I’m not sure where we’ll put him when he gets here, but I suppose he can stay with us for a bit.”
