Dangerous Abduction (O'Connor Brothers Book 2) (6 page)

“Start what, Rina?” Stephanie was obviously gloating.

“I know what you’re thinking and it’s nothing.” Hopefully her voice sounded as firm as she meant it to be.

“For your information, I wasn’t thinking anything, but I can see very well and you’re captivated by him.” God she wanted to smack the grin off her sister’s face.

“Yes, he’s handsome and he’s a great dad, but you can forget whatever devious plan you’ve got in that brain of yours.” Marina flopped down on the couch and Stephanie stood in front of her.

“I don’t have any devious plans but I do think Cora is right about you two.” With that statement she turned and left Marina to roll her eyes.

The infamous Cora Nightingale otherwise known as Cora the Cupid. The story she’d been told was, when Cora met people, she had a gift of knowing who they were meant to be with and she made no bones about telling them. The first time Marina met the woman was at Stephanie’s wedding shower. She’d been invited because not only was she Stephanie’s boss but also John’s aunt. The woman walked right up to Marina, wrapped her arms around her and asked if she’d met John’s twin brother James. So now whenever Marina was in the company of any of the women in the O’Connor family, they’d never fail to remind her that Cora was never wrong. As if the woman had some magical power to know the future.

This was not a conversation Marina was in the mood for at the moment. Especially, with James only a few feet away. She knew her sister meant well, but Marina just wasn’t sure she was ready to jump into anything with someone that caused her to have such intense emotion. She’d promised herself that she’d never let her emotions dictate her again.

She’d almost completely relaxed when the front door burst open and in floated Nanny Betty. This was not what she needed at the moment. The O’Connor matriarch was a sweetheart, but she didn’t seem to have the buffer that made you think before you spoke. Marina knew before she could get a chance to leave that Nanny Betty was going to have her flustered, especially if she said anything in front of James.

“How are ya, ducky?” Nanny Betty’s sweet Irish lilt echoed through the room. Marina knew Nanny Betty was from the Southern Shore of Newfoundland but even if she didn’t know she’d have figured it out pretty quickly from her accent. For a tiny woman she certainly knew how to make her presence known.

“I’m good, Mrs. O’Connor. How are you?” Marina asked.

“Mrs. O’Connor was me mudder-in-law and I was taught not ta speak ill of da dead, or I’d tell ya she was a contrary old bat. Ya call me Nan or Nanny Betty.” She pulled off her coat, and Marina jumped up to help her but she quickly backed off when Nanny Betty held up her hand. “I’ve been taking off me coat fer over seventy years.”

“Nan, what are you doing here?” John walked into the living room followed by Stephanie and James.

“Why does everyone ask me dat? I came ta see ye two before ya go.” John and James both bent to kiss her cheeks as did all the O’Connor men whenever she entered the house. It was as if she was the queen and they all treated her that way.

“You know we love to see you, Nan.” Stephanie hugged the tiny woman and linked into her arm.

“It’s nice ta see ye two here together.” Nanny Betty glanced between Marina and James. Marina could feel her cheeks burn as James smiled at her.

“They were both here for supper, Nan.” John chuckled.

“Hmmmm...” Nanny Betty sat next to her and Marina knew what was coming next. “My Cora is never wrong.”

Stephanie stifled a giggle as she tucked herself into John’s side.

James seemed to be as uncomfortable with the statement as she was. Obviously, the family had kept him in the loop of Cora’s conclusion. This was going to make things even more awkward. If that was possible.

“How did you get here, Nan?” James asked, and Marina didn’t miss the quick glance he gave her. Thank God her brother-in-law could see how uncomfortable his grandmother was making her.

“I walked a’course,” Nanny Betty said.

“It’s pretty dark out there—you shouldn’t be out walking by yourself,” John said.

“Johnny, I’ve been walking around dis town since ya parents moved here and I’m not about ta stop now.” Nanny Betty pointed her boney finger at him and turned to Marina. “They’d have me in a wheelchair and locked in a room if I let them.”

Marina couldn’t help but laugh as the older woman glared at John. In the times she’d been around the family, she’d seen Nanny Betty give one of the family members ‘the look’ as they called it. It always worked, even on all the large men in the family. Marina wondered if she should take lessons from the older woman to make sure she kept Danny in line.

Marina was ready to go home. She was wound up tighter than a drum from being around James and dodging Stephanie’s subtle hints as well as Nanny Betty’s not so subtle ones. She was in the foyer helping Danny with his jacket as the front door opened and she stared into the face of yet another gorgeous O’Connor brother. Nick smiled at her but his smile didn’t give her the same intense reaction she got when James smiled at her.

“Hi, Unca Nick.” Danny bolted right to him and jumped into Nick’s arms. He truly loved John’s brothers.

“Hey there, Dan the man.” Nick tossed him into the air. “Are you here to spend time with Uncle John and Aunt Stephanie before they go on vacation?”

“Yep, and they gonna bring me back a surprise,” he boasted.

“Lucky you.” Nick chuckled as he put Danny down and before Marina could catch him Danny ran back into the living room.

“Danny!” Marina groaned and glanced at Nick.

“I’m guessing he doesn’t want to go because Mason is here. I saw James’ truck outside.” Nick smiled again. He really was a great-looking guy with the same blue eyes and dimples but he didn’t give her the butterflies in her stomach or make her pulse race. Not that she wanted to have that reaction, but it just forced her to admit that the way James made her feel was not because she’d been celibate for so long.

“Yeah, and your grandmother.” She sighed and followed Nick into the living room.

“Let me guess, she walked from home?” Nick rolled his eyes.

“You know her very well.” Marina chuckled.

She finally managed to drag Danny out through the front door once he finished hugging everyone for the fourth time and promised Nanny Betty he would come help her make cookies soon. He started to whine as she buckled him into his car seat, proving that her son was up way past bedtime. As she settled herself in the car she glanced up to see Nick and John lugging suitcases out to Nick’s truck.

She pulled on her seatbelt and then put the key in the ignition. She turned it and nothing happened. She tried again but the car growled a bit and then nothing. She tried once more just to be sure, but still nothing.
This is just what I need right now
. Marina got out of the car and pulled Danny out of his car seat. Marina walked back into the house as Stephanie was putting on her coat.

“My car won’t start,” Marina explained when Stephanie stared at her.

“What’s wrong with it?” Stephanie asked.

“I just said it won’t start. It thinks about it, but then nothing.” Marina didn’t mean to sound nasty but she was tired and sexually frustrated.

She followed Stephanie into the living room where James was helping Mason with his coat and talking to John and Nick. All three men glanced in her direction.

“Rina’s car won’t start,” Stephanie explained.

“I’ll take a look at it,” John replied. Marina tossed him the keys as he passed her.

“Let me give you a hand.” James followed him.

“Yeah, ’cause two cops know how to fix a car.” Nick chuckled as he trailed behind them.

“Don’t ya worry, ducky. Jimmy will figure it out,” Nanny Betty said as she pulled on her coat.

A few minutes later, they walked back into the house. Their diagnosis, a problem with the starter. Marina had no idea what that meant, but she did know it meant she had to call a cab for a two-minute drive. There was no way Danny was going to walk home.

“I’ll call the garage tomorrow to pick it up.” Marina put her phone to her ear. “I need a cab...” Nanny Betty snatched her phone from her hand.

“Never mind, we don’t need a cab. Thanks anyway.” She handed her back the phone. “Jimmy can drop you and Danny off.” Of course it made sense. They lived on the same street.

“I can’t ask him to do that.” Marina’s heart thumped in her chest. Stephanie’s house was only two minutes away from hers by car but being in the close confines of his truck was going to drive her hormones into overdrive.

“It’s not like I’m going out of my way and besides, I’m not arguing with Nan, but you can go ahead and try.” He smiled as he lifted Mason into his arms. The man had to stop smiling or she was going to melt into a puddle on the floor.

“No thanks,” Marina said and besides Nanny Betty had already told Danny he was going for a ride in James’ truck. Danny would have a fit if she said no and besides she was just too tired to argue with anyone right now. She pulled the car seat out of the back seat and James took it out of her hands.

For two little boys who seemed to be so tired a few minutes earlier, Mason and Danny were making it difficult to buckle them into their seats. They enjoyed spending time together and got along really well.

Once Marina was buckled in herself, James pulled out of the driveway with a honk to his brother. Stephanie and Nanny Betty waved from the doorway with huge grins on their faces. Marina rolled her eyes because she knew exactly what was going through both of their minds.

“I’ve got to drop into the store on the way home. I hope you don’t mind.” James made a left-hand turn off Sunset Street, down Sandcastle Road and on to Beach Street. It was the only road in Hopedale that didn’t have any homes on it. Probably because Hopedale Beach ran the entire length of the street. It was one of the prettiest places she’d ever seen, and during the summer she spent a lot of time there with Danny.

It wasn’t a sandy beach like those you see in the tropical places she read about because it was covered in beach rocks. Danny enjoyed going there to search through the rocks to find the perfect one to add to his collection. Something he started right after his first trip to the beach and now he kept them in a large box under his bed. It didn’t matter to her if he brought home one rock or a hundred because it was relaxing to sit there and listen to the roar of the ocean, but now that winter was around the corner, the beach wasn’t the best place to go. The breeze that blew in off the water was bitterly cold.

James pulled onto Harbour Drive where all the main businesses lined the harbour front. There was one small grocery store, a fine dining restaurant that belonged to James’ cousin Isabelle, two night clubs or at least Hopedale’s version of nightclubs, an Irish pub called Jack’s place that was owned by another member of the O’Connor family. The rest of the businesses were an ice cream shop, theater, a coffee shop, drug store and a gas station. There were also a few buildings that were vacant. That was the extent of Hopedale’s business district.

“I’ll be right back.” James stepped out of the truck. “Did you need anything while I’m inside?” Marina shook her head and James closed the door. Her gaze followed him as he dashed across the parking lot and disappeared into the grocery store. Marina leaned her head back against the seat and watched the people walk down the street, most of them with smiles and looks of contentment on their faces. As if they didn’t have a worry in the world, and it was one of the things she loved about the small community, because although each one of them could be going through some bad times, it didn’t matter, most of the population of Hopedale were friendly and stood by each other.  It was probably why the O’Connors were so close, since they were born and raised in the town.

James walked out of the grocery store and back to the truck. As he settled into his seat, she studied his profile. His full lips seemed to get most of her attention, and she wondered what it would be like to kiss him, just once. Her attention moved to his hands as they gripped the steering wheel. They appeared strong, and she ached so badly to feel him touch her that she had to squeeze her legs together. She really needed to stop before she drove herself crazy, because being with James O’Connor was an impossible fantasy. Her past was still too fresh in her mind, and giving herself freely to anyone seemed impossible. That wouldn’t be fair to him.

“Marina?” James waved his hand in front of her face.

“Huh.” She glanced up to see the only traffic light in Hopedale was red.

“I asked if you want to take the boys for some ice cream before you go home.” The light turned green and James proceeded through the intersection.

“It’s getting kinda late.” She needed to get home and away from him, because he muddled her brain to the point she was pretty close to completely embarrassing herself.

“Maybe another time.” He sounded disappointed but she was probably reading more into it.

The rest of the way home was relatively quiet since the boys had dozed off. The soft sound of country music floated from the radio through the cab of the truck and she felt her own eyes getting heavy as they turned onto Hart Street.

“What the hell?” James pulled his truck in behind a police cruiser parked in front of her house.

“What’s going on?” Marina leaned forward as James pulled his truck across the street.

“Stay there and let me find out.” James was out of the truck before she could respond. His command kind of took her off guard but to her surprise it didn’t give her that sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. The one she got whenever Marc gave her a demand.

She watched as he ran across the road and was met by one of the officers standing in her driveway as another walked out of the house and stood next to James. He towered over the first one, but the second was about the same height. Marina realized the shorter one was female and when the woman touched James on the arm, Marina’s whole body tensed. Being jealous over a woman touching James was ridiculous. He was single and the burning sensation in her stomach had nothing to do with the thought of someone making a play for James.