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  “And yet you’ll always be my little boys.”

  “Dear God,” Finn said. “I need another beer.” Luckily, he could walk home from the Surf if it came to that, and he had a feeling it might with the way this night was going.

  * * *

  He’d come. Even after she’d sent him away, he’d still come to her event. The minute he walked into the room, looking sinfully handsome, everyone else had disappeared from view. He was all she could see, and dear God, she wanted him. Despite all the reasons she knew she should keep her distance, she wanted him with her whole heart and soul. She saw him, and she wanted. It was that simple.

  Except it was anything but simple. She rubbed her aching hands together, trying to remember the many reasons she had resisted him up to now. But all he’d had to do to shatter her defenses was walk into the room wearing a navy blue blazer. As she greeted guests, she felt him watching her every move, which made her body tingle with the awareness that only he had ever made happen. Why him? Why now?

  She had no idea, but her resistance had crumbled to the point of nonexistence by the time he actually spoke to her.

  “You got a hell of a turnout.”

  Stephanie’s was completely full, with people spilling into the lobby of the Surf.

  Chloe forced herself to look up at him, to make eye contact, while trying not to let on how powerfully affected she was by his mere presence. “We did. I’m thrilled.”

  “You look beautiful.”

  She’d received compliments from other men, but none greater than those three simple words from him. “You look rather beautiful yourself.”

  He unleashed that potent smile, the one that made her knees go weak from the flood of desire that rippled through her. “I ironed and everything.”

  God, he was adorable. And sexy. So damned sexy. And sweet. Her thoughts were focused exclusively on him at a time when she had other things to be concerned with. One of the volunteers came over to tell her she needed to start the program. “Off I go. I’ll see you later?” Please, yes. Please see me later.

  He nodded. “I’ll be right here when you’re finished. Come find me?”

  “I will.”

  The brief encounter left her lightheaded and off her game as she stepped up to the microphone on the stage where Owen Lawry would perform after the official part of the evening had concluded. “If I could have your attention for just a minute.” Chloe hated being the center of attention, but it was for a good cause, so she soldiered through the ordeal of public speaking. “I want to welcome you, thank you for being here and extend a huge thank-you to our sponsors, Stephanie’s Bistro, McCarthy’s Gansett Island Marina and Hotel, the Beachcomber Hotel, the Sand & Surf Hotel, the Gansett Island Ferry Company, Naughty & Nice, Ryan’s Pharmacy, Island Breeze Records, the Oar Bar, the Lobster Pot, Domenic’s, Abby’s Attic, McCarthy’s Wayfarer, McCarthy Construction and my own Curl Up & Dye Salon.”

  She reviewed the silent auction items and asked everyone to be as generous as possible to help the seasonal workers get through the off-season. “And on that note, I encourage everyone to have fun and enjoy the music provided by our own Owen Lawry.”

  The attendees gave Owen a rousing round of applause as he took the stage, strummed his guitar and launched into “Tequila Sunrise.”

  Chloe stepped off the stage, determined to make her way back to Finn as quickly as she could. Just for tonight, she would try not to think about the many reasons it was a bad idea to be so wildly attracted to a man she couldn’t have.

  * * *

  An arm came around Finn from behind, and he turned to find his cousin Laura attached to him.

  “Hi there. Your husband sounds fantastic, as always.”

  “He’s the best.”

  “You look happy tonight.”

  “I have a night off from baths and bedtime for three kids under the age of three. You’d be happy, too.”

  Amused by her glee, Finn cuffed her on the chin. “Who’s with the little animals?”

  “Sarah and Charlie,” she said, referring to Owen’s mom and her fiancé. “They’re thrilled to do baths and bedtime.”

  “My mom used to say thank goodness for grandparents.”

  “How is Auntie Deb doing?”

  “Okay, I guess. She doesn’t say much about what’s going on. Last I heard, she’s doing online dating and having some misadventures with that.”

  “Not sure I could handle that after what happened with Justin. I wouldn’t trust my judgment.”

  “That had nothing to do with you and everything to do with him being a douche.” Laura’s first husband had continued to troll for online dates after they were married until he’d been found out by two of her friends. “And besides, your second husband has redeemed you and your judgment.”

  She directed a loving gaze at Owen. “Yes, he certainly has.”

  Chloe made her way through the crowd, coming toward him.

  Finn’s heart skipped a beat, and he all but stopped breathing as he waited for her.

  “What’s this I see?” Laura asked.

  Finn realized he hadn’t been subtle about the way he stared at Chloe.

  “Are you and Chloe…”

  “No, we’re not.”

  “But you’d like to be?”

  He shrugged, feigning nonchalance even as every part of him stood up for a better look at her.

  Shane, Katie, Mac, Maddie, Janey and Joe joined them, and for a second, Finn lost track of Chloe in a sea of cousins and their spouses.

  “Excuse me.” He ducked between Joe and Mac on his way to meet Chloe, who was flustered and sexier than ever with her cheeks pink from excitement and heat from the room full of people. Oblivious to the fact that half his family was watching, Finn put an arm around her, as if he had the right to, and drew her into his protective embrace. “I’d say you have a huge hit on your hands.”

  “Seems like it.”

  “Want to get some air?”

  “I’d love that.”

  He guided her toward the Surf’s lobby, ignoring the prying eyes of his family members, and gave her his full attention. If this was all they were ever going to have, he planned to enjoy every single second of his time with her. With his hand on her lower back, he directed her through the lobby to the back porch. They stepped outside into a cool breeze blowing in off the ocean.

  Finn removed his blazer and draped it over her shoulders.

  She snuggled into it, taking a deep sniff.

  “Are you smelling my jacket?”

  “It smells really good, and you did a great job of warming it up for me.”

  “I aim to please you.”

  “You do.”

  Raising a brow, he said, “I do what?”

  “You please me. Greatly.”

  “Chloe…”

  “Will you hold me, Finn?”

  “You don’t ever, ever have to ask.” He put his arms around her, sliding one of them under the coat of his that she wore, and drew her into his embrace, resting his chin on the top of her head and breathing in the scent that was so uniquely hers. Everything about her just did it for him. They stood there, wrapped up in each other for a long time. Behind him, he heard voices he recognized—Slim Jackson, Alex Martinez, Tiffany Taylor.

  He tuned out everything and everyone to focus exclusively on the woman who’d somehow become the center of his universe in a few short days. As always, the air around them pulsed with possibility.

  “Come home with me tonight,” he whispered, his lips close to her ear so he wouldn’t be overheard.

  “I can’t. I have Ranger.” She drew back and looked up at him. “You could come home with me.”

  A lump in his throat made it impossible to speak, so he only nodded and then brought her back in close to him where he wanted to keep her forever. He didn’t know what had changed, but he wasn’t about to ask. Not when he had an entire night with her to look forward to. Whereas last night he’d turned down her offer of one night, tonight he
wouldn’t say no. He couldn’t say no.

  “Chloe?”

  Finn released her so she could answer the woman who had called her.

  “What’s up?”

  “Sorry to interrupt. We’re getting ready to close the silent auction. Do you want to make an announcement?”

  “Sure, I’ll be right in.” To Finn, she said, “I’ve got to go.”

  “Dance with me when you’re done?”

  “Okay.” She removed his blazer and handed it back to him. “Thanks for the loan.”

  “My pleasure.” He watched her walk away, wishing he could make the next couple of hours pass in a blink so he could be alone with her. This was actually happening. After taking a few minutes to get himself together, he went back inside to rejoin his family, which now included his uncle Mac and aunt Linda as well as his uncle Frank and his fiancée, Betsy.

  “What’s this I hear about you leaving us?” Big Mac asked, handing Finn a fresh beer.

  “It’s time to head back to my real life, which has been on pause the last couple of years.” As he said the words, his gaze locked on Chloe across the room.

  “Seems to me you have a real life here.”

  “I do, but I never intended to move here forever.”

  “Neither did I when I first came here. I heard about a marina property for sale for dirt cheap, came to check it out and the rest, as they say, is history.”

  “You didn’t ever feel like you were missing out by living on an island all this time?”

  “Missing out on what?”

  “I don’t know. A bigger life, I guess?”

  “If my life on Gansett were any bigger, it would be too much. I have everything I need right here. Look, I’m not exactly unbiased in this situation. I love having you and your brother and cousins here. I love that the whole family has ended up on my island, but I also get that this life isn’t for everyone. I was just sorta hoping it would suit you long term the way it has the others.”

  “I haven’t been unhappy here. I wouldn’t want you to think that.”

  “I know you haven’t been. I pay attention, and I can see how much you love being with your brother and your cousins and us old guys, too.”

  “I really do love being around the family. There’s no shortage of entertainment.”

  Big Mac laughed. “That is for sure.” He placed his huge hand on Finn’s shoulder and gave a gentle squeeze. “All I’m going to say is that sometimes everything you want and need is right under your nose.”

  At that moment, Chloe stepped up to the microphone and asked for everyone’s attention.

  She already had his full attention. As she went down the list of silent auction items and winners, Finn never took his eyes off her, drinking in every detail. He never wanted to forget the way she looked tonight.

  Sometimes everything you want and need is right under your nose.

  He had tonight with her to look forward to. But what would tomorrow bring?

  Chapter 18

  Chloe went through the motions of running the fundraiser while ignoring the persistent aching in her hips, knees and ankles from too much time on her feet—the last three hours in heels she had no business wearing anymore.

  Everyone in attendance wanted to talk to her about something, or so it seemed. The only one she wanted to talk to was the dark-haired man in the back of the room who watched her intently even as he talked and laughed with various family members and friends.

  Every time her gaze collided with his, her body reacted the same way it did when he touched her. How did he do that with merely a look? And what was she doing agreeing to spend the night with him? She had no idea, but she could no longer bear to resist the overpowering attraction.

  Other women did one-night stands all the time. Why couldn’t she?

  Even as she had the thought, she knew that one night would never be enough. But it was all she had to offer.

  Owen returned to the stage and, propped on a stool, began strumming his guitar. “I used to live a vagabond life, traveling from one gig to another. Until I met the stunningly beautiful Laura McCarthy and wanted to put down roots for the first time in my life, right here in this hotel my grandparents ran for fifty years. This is ‘Better Together’ by Jack Johnson, for my wife, Laura, the mother of my three beautiful children and the love of my life. I am so much better when we’re together, baby.”

  With a hand over her heart, Laura pretended to swoon and then blew a kiss to her adorable husband. Chloe could only imagine what it must be like to have such a connection with a man. She’d never come close to what Laura had with Owen.

  “You promised me a dance.”

  Finn’s breath against her ear sent goose bumps skittering down her arms and made her nipples tighten.

  “So I did.”

  He led her to the dance floor, drew her into his arms, and she wrapped hers around his waist, inside the blazer.

  They were making a rather public declaration that would be the talk of Gansett Island, but she couldn’t bring herself to care. Not when she had him and the delicious scent of him to focus on.

  “I like this song.” She tried to take the focus off her out-of-control hormones. “I’ve never heard it.”

  “I like it, too. How long do you have to stay?” His gruffly stated question had her hormones on full alert.

  “I can leave any time now. The silent auction announcement was my last official duty.”

  “You want to go?”

  “Right now?”

  “I’m dying to be alone with you.”

  No man had ever said anything remotely like that to her, and it was all she could do to continue to breathe.

  “After this song.”

  “Not sure I can wait that long.” A full-body shiver rattled her and drew a tortured groan from him. “Let’s go.”

  “Don’t you have to say goodbye to your family?”

  “If I do that, we’ll be here another hour, and that’s not an option. It’s okay. They won’t care.” He took a gentle hold of her hand, always mindful of her swollen knuckles, and led her out of Stephanie’s. They were on their way to a clean escape when Riley emerged from the men’s room in the lobby and spotted them.

  “Leaving so soon, kids?”

  Finn grimaced. “Chloe has to work early.”

  “Is that your story, and you’re sticking to it?”

  “Bye, Riley.” Placing his hand on her lower back, he guided Chloe out the hotel’s front door, placing his coat over her shoulders once again.

  “Thank you. I forgot to bring a sweater.”

  “Did I tell you how incredible you look tonight?”

  Chloe’s face flushed with heat. “You might’ve mentioned something about that earlier.”

  “Well, it bears repeating.”

  “Thank you.”

  “It’s really not fair,” he said.

  “What isn’t?”

  “You being so stunningly beautiful when I’m trying to honor your wishes and keep my distance.” He put his arm around her shoulders and matched his stride to her much slower one. “You’ve got me turned upside down and inside out, Chloe.”

  “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to do that to you.”

  “I’ve never been in a situation like this one before.”

  “What’s different about it?”

  “Everything is different. Everything.” In the parking lot, he steered her toward his truck. “I’ll bring you back to get your car in the morning.” He opened the passenger door, helped her in and studied her in that intent, all-consuming way of his. Leaning in, he said, “The way I want you is different. The way I think about you is different. The way I feel when I’m with you is different. Even the way I feel when I’m not with you is different.”

  Chloe’s heart beat so fast, she feared it might burst from her chest. She raised a hand, placed it on his face and drew him into a kiss.

  The needy sound that came from the back of his throat was like a shot of gas on the already
out-of-control wildfire that burned between them. Their kiss escalated so quickly, she forgot where she was or that anyone might see them kissing. She turned her head to break the kiss. “It’s different for me, too.”

  He took a shuddering deep breath. “Let’s go.”

  As he drove them to her house, he reached across the center console, palm up, inviting her to hold his hand. Chloe appreciated that he did that, rather than taking hold of her sore hand and hurting her. She rested hers on top of his, palm to palm, which was somehow more erotic than full-on sex with other men had been.

  This man was different. She wanted to trust him with the truth of her diagnosis but wouldn’t because she didn’t feel comfortable telling anyone, even him. Protecting her business was her top priority. She couldn’t afford to take any risks that would endanger the flimsy security net beneath her.

  If her condition got to the point where she couldn’t work at all, she would have to apply for disability.

  And why was she falling into that rabbit hole when she was headed home to spend the night with the sexiest man in the universe? She had far better things to do tonight than dread her uncertain future.

  “You okay?” he asked after a long silence.

  “Uh-huh.”

  “If you’ve changed your mind about tonight, it’s okay to say so.”

  “I haven’t.”

  “Oh good,” he said, exhaling dramatically.

  She rubbed her hand against his. “Does that mean you haven’t changed your mind either?”

  “Um, no. I haven’t changed my mind.”

  Chloe laughed at his quick reply.

  He looked over at her. “I like that.”

  “What?”

  “The sound of your laughter. It makes me happy to hear it.”

  “I haven’t had a lot to laugh about lately. Thanks for giving me reason to.”

  After another period of silence, he said, “You know… I’ve been told I’m a pretty good listener. If you want to talk about whatever’s weighing on you, I’m right here.”

  God, she was tempted. It would be so easy to spill her guts to the sweet, sexy guy who made it so easy to trust him. He wouldn’t tell anyone. She knew that for sure, but she didn’t want him to know either. She didn’t want his pity or even his empathy, and she sure as hell didn’t want him feeling obligated to her in any way. “That’s very sweet of you, but it’s the last thing in the world I want to talk about.”