Yours After Dark: Gansett Island Series, Book 20 Read online

  Yours After Dark

  Gansett Island Series, Book 20

  Marie Force

  Yours After Dark

  Gansett Island Series, Book 20

  By: Marie Force

  Published by HTJB, Inc.

  Copyright 2018. HTJB, Inc.

  Cover Design: Kristina Brinton

  E-book Layout: Holly Sullivan

  E-book Formatting Fairies

  ISBN: 978-1946136671

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  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. To obtain permission to excerpt portions of the text, please contact the author at [email protected].

  All characters in this book are fiction and figments of the author’s imagination.

  * * *

  MARIE FORCE and GANSETT ISLAND are registered trademarks with the United States Patent & Trademark Office.

  marieforce.com

  The best way to stay in touch is to subscribe to my newsletter. Go to marieforce.com and subscribe in the box on the top of the screen that asks for your name and email. If you don’t hear from me regularly, please check your spam filter and set up your email to allow my messages through to you so you never miss a new book, a chance to win great prizes or a possible appearance in your area.

  The Gansett Island Series

  Gansett Island Boxed Set, Books 1-3

  Gansett Island Boxed Set, Books 4-6

  Gansett Island Boxed Set, Books 7-9

  Gansett Island Boxed Set, Books 10-12

  Gansett Island Boxed Set, Books 13-16

  Gansett Island Boxed Set, Books 1-10.5

  Gansett Island Boxed Set, Books 1-16

  Book 1: Maid for Love

  (Maddie & Mac)

  Book 2: Fool for Love

  (Joe & Janey)

  Book 3: Ready for Love

  (Luke & Sydney)

  Book 4: Falling for Love

  (Grant & Stephanie)

  Book 5: Hoping for Love

  (Evan & Grace)

  Book 6: Season for Love

  (Owen & Laura)

  Book 7: Longing for Love

  (Blaine & Tiffany)

  Book 8: Waiting for Love

  (Adam & Abby)

  Book 9: Time for Love

  (David & Daisy)

  Book 10: Meant for Love

  (Jenny & Alex)

  Book 10.5: Chance for Love, A Gansett Island Novella (Jared & Lizzie)

  Book 11: Gansett After Dark

  (Owen & Laura)

  Book 12: Kisses After Dark

  (Shane & Katie)

  Book 13: Love After Dark

  (Paul & Hope)

  Book 14: Celebration After Dark

  (Big Mac & Linda)

  Book 15: Desire After Dark

  (Slim & Erin)

  Book 16: Light After Dark

  (Mallory & Quinn)

  Book 17: Victoria & Shannon (Episode 1)

  Book 18: Kevin & Chelsea (Episode 2)

  A Gansett Island Christmas Novella

  Book 19: Mine After Dark

  (Riley & Nikki)

  Book 20: Yours After Dark

  (Finn McCarthy)

  View the McCarthy Family Tree here.

  * * *

  View a map of Gansett Island.

  Contents

  Who’s Who on Gansett Island

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Who’s Who on Gansett Island

  **PLEASE NOTE: Updated through Mine After Dark, Book 19. May contain spoilers for those who haven’t read all the books.

  * * *

  The McCarthy Family

  * * *

  Malcom John “Big Mac” McCarthy Sr. and Linda McCarthy, owners of McCarthy’s Gansett Island Marina and McCarthy’s Gansett Island Inn, are parents to:

  * * *

  •Mallory Vaughn, daughter of Big Mac McCarthy and Diana Vaughn, deceased; engaged to Quinn James

  •Malcolm John “Mac” McCarthy Jr., married to Maddie Chester McCarthy, father to Thomas, Hailey and Malcolm John “Mac” McCarthy III

  •Grant McCarthy, screenwriter, married to Stephanie McCarthy, owner of Stephanie’s Bistro

  •Adam McCarthy, computer guru, married to Abby Callahan, owner of Abby’s Attic, father to Liam Callahan McCarthy

  •Evan McCarthy, owner of Island Breeze Records, married to Grace Ryan McCarthy, owner of Ryan’s Pharmacy

  •Janey McCarthy Cantrell, married to Joe Cantrell, owner of the Gansett Island Ferry Company; mother of Peter Joseph “P.J.” and Vivienne Cantrell

  Judge Frank McCarthy, brother to “Big Mac” and Kevin McCarthy, father to:

  * * *

  •Laura McCarthy Lawry, married to Owen Lawry, mother of Holden Newsome, Joanna Sarah Lawry and Jonathan Russell Lawry

  •Shane McCarthy, engaged to Katie Lawry

  * * *

  Dr. Kevin McCarthy, married to Chelsea Rose, brother to Big Mac and Frank McCarthy. Psychiatrist. Father to:

  * * *

  •Riley McCarthy, son of Kevin and Deb McCarthy, dating Nikki Stokes

  •Finn McCarthy, son of Kevin and Deb McCarthy

  * * *

  McCarthy Friends & Family

  * * *

  •Chelsea Rose, married to Kevin McCarthy, bartender at the Beachcomber

  •Deb McCarthy, ex-wife of Kevin McCarthy; mother of Riley and Finn McCarthy

  •Luke Harris, co-owner of McCarthys Gansett Island Marina, married to Sydney Donovan, father of Lillian Alice "Lily" Harris

  •Sydney Donovan, interior decorator, married to Luke Harris; mother of Lillian Alice "Lily" Harris

  •Ned Saunders, best friend to Big Mac McCarthy; married to Francine Chester Saunders, mother of Maddie McCarthy and Tiffany Taylor; Gansett Island cab driver and land baron

  •Francine Chester Saunders, mother of Maddie McCarthy and Tiffany Taylor; married to Ned Saunders

  •Tiffany Taylor, married to Police Chief Blaine Taylor; mother to Ashleigh Sturgil and Adeline “Addie” Taylor, owner of Naughty & Nice

  •Blaine Taylor, married to Tiffany Taylor; stepfather to Ashleigh Sturgil; father to Adeline “Addie” Francine Taylor, Gansett Island police chief

  •Bobby Chester, estranged father of Maddie McCarthy and Tiffany Taylor, ex-husband of Francine Saunders

  •Jim Sturgil, ex-husband of Tiffany Taylor, father to Ashleigh Sturgil

  •Seamus O’Grady, manager of the Gansett Island Ferry Company; married to Carolina Cantrell; a
doptive father of Kyle and Jackson Chandler

  •Carolina Cantrell O’Grady, married to Seamus O’Grady, mother of Joe Cantrell, grandmother to P.J. and Vivienne Cantrell; adoptive mother of Kyle and Jackson Chandler

  •Lisa Chandler, neighbor to Seamus and Carolina O’Grady, deceased

  •Kyle Chandler, son of Lisa; adoptive son of Seamus and Carolina O’Grady

  •Jackson Chandler, son of Lisa; adoptive son of Seamus and Carolina O’Grady

  •Dan Torrington, married to Kara Ballard, celebrity lawyer and friend to Grant McCarthy

  •Kara Ballard Torrington, married to Dan Torrington, operator of Ballard’s Launch Service

  •Dr. Cal Maitland, former island doctor and ex-fiancé of Abby Callahan

  •Charlie Grandchamp, stepfather of Stephanie Logan, engaged to Sarah Lawry

  •Sarah Lawry, mother of Owen, Katie, Julia, John, Josh, Cindy, Jeff Lawry, engaged to Charlie Grandchamp

  •Katie Lawry, sister of Owen Lawry, daughter of Sarah Lawry, twin to Julia Lawry, engaged to Shane McCarthy

  •Mark Lawry, father of Owen, Katie, Julia, John, Josh, Cindy, Jeff Lawry; ex-husband of Sarah Lawry

  •Julia Lawry, sister of Owen Lawry and Katie Lawry; daughter of Sarah Lawry; twin to Katie

  •Dr. David Lawrence, Gansett Island doctor, former fiancé of Janey McCarthy Cantrell; engaged to Daisy Babson

  •Daisy Babson Lawrence, friend of Maddie McCarthy’s, housekeeping manager at McCarthy’s Gansett Island Inn; engaged to Dr. David Lawrence

  •Tobias Fitzgerald Jackson Jr., goes by “Slim,” Gansett Island pilot; engaged to Erin Barton

  •Erin Barton, engaged to Tobias “Slim” Fitzgerald Jackson Jr.; twin to the late Toby Barton, who was engaged to Jenny Wilks Martinez; former lighthouse keeper

  •Jenny Wilks Martinez, married to Alex Martinez, mother of George Alexander Martinez II

  •Alex Martinez, married to Jenny Wilks Martinez, father of George Alexander Martinez II, brother of Paul. Co-owner of Martinez Lawn & Garden

  •Paul Martinez, married to Hope Russell, stepfather to Ethan Russell. Co-owner of Martinez Lawn & Garden; member of Gansett Town Council; brother of Alex Martinez

  •Hope Russell, mother of Ethan Russell; married to Paul Martinez

  •Ethan Russell, son of Hope Russell; stepson to Paul Martinez

  •Marion Martinez, mother of Paul and Alex Martinez

  •Jared James, resident billionaire, co-owner of The Chesterfield; married to Lizzie James

  •Elisabeth “Lizzie” James, co-owner of The Chesterfield; married to Jared James

  •Mason Johns, island fire chief

  •Truck Henry, Daisy Babson’s abusive ex-boyfriend

  •Victoria Stevens, living with Shannon O’Grady. Gansett Island midwife.

  •Shannon O’Grady, living with Victoria Stevens. Employed by Gansett Island Ferry Company. Cousin to Seamus O’Grady

  •Rebecca, owner of the South Harbor Diner

  •Doc Potter, island veterinarian

  •Chloe Dennis, owner of the Curl Up and Dye Salon

  •Nikki Stokes, dating Riley McCarthy

  •Jordan Stokes, twin sister of Riley Stokes

  •Evelyn Hopper, grandmother of Nikki and Jordan Stokes; owner of Eastward Look house

  * * *

  The Children of Gansett Island

  •Thomas McCarthy, son of Maddie McCarthy; adopted son of Mac McCarthy

  •Hailey McCarthy, daughter of Maddie and Mac McCarthy

  •Connor McCarthy, deceased son of Maddie and Mac McCarthy

  •Malcolm John “Mac” McCarthy III, son of Maddie and Mac McCarthy

  •Ashleigh Sturgil, daughter of Tiffany Taylor and Jim Sturgil, stepdaughter to Blaine Taylor

  •Adeline Francine Taylor, daughter of Blaine and Tiffany Taylor

  •Holden Newsome, son of Laura McCarthy and ex-husband, Justin Newsome, stepson to Owen Lawry

  •Joanna Sarah Lawry, daughter of Owen and Laura Lawry

  •Jonathan Russell Lowry, son of Owen and Laura Lawry

  •Peter Joseph “P.J.” Cantrell, son of Joe and Janey Cantrell

  •Vivienne Cantrell, daughter of Joe and Janey Cantrell

  •George Alexander Martinez II, son of Alex and Jenny Martinez

  •Lillian Alice "Lily" Harris, daughter of Luke and Sydney Harris

  •Liam Callahan McCarthy, son of Adam and Abby McCarthy

  Chapter 1

  “What in the name of hell is on your head?”

  Arriving to work slightly hungover and in bad need of coffee, Finn McCarthy ignored the question from his brother, Riley. Finn had forgotten to buy coffee—again—and had gone without this morning. Living alone sucked. Before his dad and Riley moved out, one of them had bought the coffee. Now he had to do it, and he never remembered it until he woke up late and realized he’d forgotten. Again.

  Riley wasn’t giving up. “Hello?”

  “What is what?” Finn choked back a yawn and tried to remember if he’d brushed his teeth before he left the house. He had, hadn’t he?

  Riley stepped closer to him, boasting the freshly fucked look that had made Finn want to stab him more than once in the months since his brother moved in with Nikki. “That.” Riley pointed to the top of Finn’s head. “What is that?”

  Finn had no idea what he was talking about until he reached up and encountered the lump of hair he’d secured with a rubber band to keep it out of his face.

  Their cousin Shane joined them. “It’s a man bun, and it looks ridiculous.”

  Riley, that asshole, busted up laughing. “What the hell is a man bun?”

  “That.” Shane pointed to Finn’s head. “Is a man bun. They’re all the rage.”

  Riley couldn’t stop laughing. He laughed so hard, he howled, while Finn prayed that his cousin Mac would bring coffee the way he did most days.

  Thankfully, Mac walked into the Wayfarer a minute later with his business partner, Luke Harris, right behind him. And was that a tray of coffee Mac was carrying? Yes! “What’s so funny?”

  “Finn has a man bun,” Shane said.

  “And it looks ridiculous,” Riley added.

  Finn stole one of the coffees and took a big sip. Ahhh, pure bliss. “There’s nowhere to get it cut out here.”

  “Go see Chloe at the Curl Up and Dye,” Mac said.

  “I don’t get my hair cut in salons,” Finn said disdainfully. “I go to barber shops, and there isn’t one on this island.”

  “The way I see it,” Riley said, “if it’s a choice between a man bun or a salon, I’m choosing the salon every time.”

  “The way I see it,” Finn said, “no one asked you.”

  “Wait till Dad, Uncle Mac and Uncle Frank see the man bun.” Riley started laughing again. “I gotta get a picture so we can show them in case they miss it.” The bastard whipped his phone out and had the picture before Finn could react or turn away. That picture would haunt him for the rest of his life.

  Maybe the guys were right—a salon was preferable to putting up with this bullshit. His hair had gotten so long, it was either restrain it or wear a hat to keep it out of his face. Hats annoyed him when he was working, so he’d grabbed a rubber band to contain it without a thought to what it might look like. Apparently, that had been a mistake.

  Today, they were finishing up the shingling on the exterior of the Wayfarer, which was due to open in a couple of weeks. They were on track to meet the aggressive deadline Mac had set for the project and had turned the interior over to Nikki, the general manager. She and the team she’d hired over the last few months would be loading in furniture this week, setting up hotel rooms and the dining room, hanging wall art and making finishing touches ahead of the grand opening on Memorial Day weekend.

  On Saturday of that weekend, the Wayfarer would host its first major event—the wedding reception of Shane and his fiancée, Katie Lawry. They’d joked that they were the guin
ea pigs to test out whether the McCarthy family’s latest Gansett Island business venture was ready for prime time. The day after the wedding, Finn’s famous cousin Evan McCarthy would headline the outdoor stage at the grand opening to the public.

  So far, the Wayfarer was a huge hit, with Nikki reporting that the hotel was sold out for the summer and ten other weddings were already booked. That was what they wanted to hear. Each family member had a stake in the business—some bigger than others—but everyone had put something into his uncle Big Mac’s latest venture so they could all be owners. Finn was proud of the work they’d done to bring the old place back to life and even prouder of being part of something the family had done together.

  Before going outside to get to work, Finn slathered sunscreen all over his face, neck and arms, gathered his nail gun and a ladder and followed the others to the scaffolding that was set up on the north side of the huge building they’d spent the winter renovating. They’d done a damned good job, if he said so himself.

  With the end in sight, Finn was making plans to move to the mainland after almost two years on Gansett Island. It’d been fun to hang with the family for a couple of years, to see his father and brother fall in love with women Finn liked and respected and to be part of Mac’s construction company. But it was time to get back to his real life, and that wasn’t going to happen on a tiny island located off the southern coast of mainland Rhode Island.