Once More From the Top (The Women of Willow Bay) (15 page)

“You okay?” He picked up a towel from the short pile she’d accumulated and ran it over his hair and face.

She gave him a tight smile. “Me? I’m fine.” She leaned down to stuff sunglasses, her book, and Jack’s watch into her tote.

“I can’t believe he showed up here after I’d warned him to stay away.” He glanced back at Jack, who stood a few yards away watching them warily.

“You
are
kidding, aren’t you? I can’t believe it took him this long to get here.” She trembled, fists clenched at her sides as she gave a grim laugh. “Did you honestly think he was just going to let you go and not put up some sort of fight? You’ve been a hell of a meal ticket,
Maestro
.” They stood in the sand, tension crackling between them.

Liam brushed sand from his legs and dropped the towel back on the pile. “He’s been here since Sunday. He was at the recital.”

“
What?
”

“I grabbed him when I saw him talking to Jack.” He could tell his words were not reassuring her, so he tried another tack. “I’d already fired him. I think he thought he could talk me out of it.”

“He was talking to Jack?” Her dark eyes turned almost black with emotion. “What’s he want with Jack?”

“It doesn’t matter. I sent him away.”

“Then why’s he still here?” Carrie’s voice rose. “Keep him away from my son, Liam.”

“Carrie, for God’s sake—”

“Mom, are you okay?” Jack came up behind them.

Liam swung around and barked, “
Dammit, Jack, I said go home. Now!”

When Carrie took a step back, her eyes huge, he shook his head, immediately contrite. “Oh, God. Jack, I’m sorry—”

She picked up the pile of towels and her tote and started up the beach.

Expelling a frustrated breath, he raised one finger to Jack, indicating for him to wait and went charging after her with long-legged strides. “Carrie, listen.” He grasped her upper arm and swung her gently around to face him. “I don’t know why he’s here, but he doesn’t have anything to do with
us
.” He peered into her face. “Or Jack. Now, I’ll go handle him, but you’ve gotta trust me. Are you gonna trust me, Car—” He broke off as Jack came up behind him and seized his arm.

“Let go of my mother.” His gray eyes shot fire, his lean young frame tensed. He dropped his hand when Liam glanced back at him, but stood his ground, his lips set in a firm line.

Immediately Liam released Carrie, his jaw dropping at the intensity in his son’s voice. “Jack, I–I...”

But Jack’s face was hard and his eyes, drilling into Liam’s, were frosty.
“Don’t
ever
grab her like that again.”

Reaching out to touch Jack’s shoulder, Carrie spoke in calm, soothing tones. “Jack, it’s okay. He didn’t hurt me. He wasn’t trying to hurt me. We’re okay.” She handed him the pile of towels. “Go upstairs, honey, and get changed. Go on.” She smiled and nodded toward the docks.

Jack looked over at her, then back at Liam whose gut churned as he stared aghast at his son.

“Are you sure you’re okay, Mom?”
The boy gripped the towels against his chest.

“I’m fine.” Still smiling, she reached behind her for Liam’s hand. “Go on, we’ll be up in minute.”

Jack trudged through the sand toward the marina, turning around every few yards to glance back at the two of them standing together hand in hand.

Carrie turned to Liam. “I’m sorry I was such a bitch. Marty really blindsided me.” She put her arms around him and the sun-warmed skin of her cheek heated his chest.

He pressed her head close to his heart and buried his lips in her hair. “I lost it, too. I’m sorry,” he admitted with a frustrated sigh. “It’s just that I’ve spent days getting past your defenses, and suddenly, you were all shut down again. Now I’m getting attitude from Jack.” He tipped her face back with one finger tucked under her chin. “Jesus. He really thought I was going to hurt you.”

She touched his beard, running her thumb across his lower lip. “Liam, he’s protective of me—it’s always been just the two of us. He and I have to get used to sharing each other.”

“I’d never hurt you,” he said huskily. “And I shouldn’t have snapped at Jack, dammit.”

“
He’ll be fine. Don’t worry about it, I’ll talk to him.”

“No,
I’ll
talk to him.” He dropped a quick kiss on her lips. “I guess these past few days have been like a father-son honeymoon. I never once thought about what might happen if one of us got angry or upset.” Kissing her again, he tugged his sweatshirt from her bag.

She pulled him back for another kiss. “It’s rarely a honeymoon with teenagers, even one as terrific as ours.” With a little grin, she slung the bag over her shoulder. “Please go get rid of that…
that
bastard,
and don’t be nice, okay?”

“Shouldn’t take long. I’ll be up in a few.” With one last kiss, he strode up the beach toward his boat and what he knew would be another ugly confrontation.

TWENTY-TWO

Liam stormed into the
Allegro
’s salon, ready to take on his former agent. He rather hoped Tony and Will weren’t around because they’d probably stop him from beating the crap out of Marty, which was his fondest desire at the moment. “You son of a bitch.”

Marty was alone, ensconced on the deep-cushioned sofa, calmly sipping whiskey from a heavy crystal glass. When Liam stalked in, he simply raised one black brow.

His unruffled demeanor irritated Liam even more. “What the hell are you still doing here?”

“I could ask you the same question.” Amber liquid splashed over the rim of the glass as Marty swirled the ice. His next words proved he wasn’t as cool as he seemed. “What the hell are
you
trying to do to your goddammed career? Fuck it up completely?”

“Give it up, will you? Peter told me you deposited the check. Contracts are null and void. We’re done.” Liam strode to the bar and pulled a beer from the small refrigerator.

“Man, don’t do this.”

“Too late, it’s done.” Liam took a long drink, letting the cold liquid cool his temper before he spoke again. “Look, I’m sorry, but we’ve run our course. Thanks for everything you did for me. I suggest you go back to Malibu and take care of the rest of your clients.” He paused and then jerked his head toward the door. “Come within a mile of me or my son again, and I promise you, I
will
get that restraining order.”

With an exaggerated sigh, Marty drained his glass. “You’re such a fuckin’ loser, Reilly.” When he stopped at the door, his face twisted in an ugly sneer. “Enjoy your retirement,
Daddy
. Your career is dead. Oh, and you’ll be hearing from my attorney. We’re not done.”

Liam shrugged. “Good-bye, Marty.”

* * * *

Carrie brushed her sandy feet against the sun-warmed wood of the dock, glancing over her shoulder at the
Allegro
as she started up the steps to the apartment. Jack’s playing drifted out before she got halfway up the stairs. He was running scales with feverish intensity. As she got to the deck, he started into a crashing chord sequence.

Good Lord.

That furious playing? It was a sure sign he was upset.

Dressed in shorts and a T-shirt, he sat at the piano, his bare feet working the pedals as his fingers raced over the keys.

Shouldering the canvas bag, she crossed over to him and ran a hand through his still-damp hair. “Did you hang your wet suit on the rack?”

He nodded before abruptly changing tempo to a slow, rather melancholy melody that she didn’t recognize.

“Is that one of yours?” she asked on her way to the laundry room behind the kitchen.

He nodded again. His hair hung in his face, hiding his eyes.

Back in the kitchen, she pulled a foil-wrapped casserole dish from the refrigerator and switched on the oven. “I like it, it’s pretty.” Passing behind him on her way up the stairs, she stopped for a second to read the notes over his shoulder. “I’m going to get a quick shower, babe. Then we’ll have supper. Will you stick that casserole in when the oven beeps?”

He nodded once more.

Experience had taught her to let him play it out. He’d talk when he was ready, but not before. She slipped into the shower, washed quickly, shampooed her short curls, and then dried off with a fluffy towel. The music had stopped downstairs.

Liam must not be here yet, I don’t hear voices.

Wrapping up in a thick terry robe, she opened the bathroom door to find Jack sitting on the edge of her bed, tracing the pattern of the old quilt with his finger.

His eyes clouded with apprehension when they met hers. “Is he in charge now?” His lower lip trembled ever so slightly.

Carrie sat down on the bed next to him. “Oh, come on, Jack.”

“What’s he pissy with me for?” He ran his hand over his face in a gesture that reminded her of his father. “He can’t just come in here and take over. Can he?”

“He was upset about Marty. He really didn’t mean to be short with you.”

“Well, he was.”

“Hey, you don’t get this upset when
I’m
short with you.”

“You’re my mother, it’s different.”

She peered into his face. “He’s your father. How’s it different?”

With a fifteen-year-old’s look of exasperation, he shrugged. “I don’t know. He’s only been around a little while and…” He hesitated. “It’s just different, okay?”

“Honey, these past few days have been like a... a fairy tale. Real life was bound to creep in. You know, things can’t be sunshine and fun all the time. Liam’s a human being. And he’s new at this parent thing. Give him a break.”

“Who’s Marty anyway? I think he tried to talk to me at the recital, but Liam interrupted.” He shoved his hair out of his eyes. “What’s Liam’s problem with him?”

“He was his agent for years.” She tried to decide how much of the story her son needed.

Just the basics. If Liam wants him to know more about the rocky relationship he had with his former agent,
he
can tell him.

“There’s a long list of issues between them,”
she continued. “Bottom line is your dad fired him last week. I think Marty might be here to try to get his job back.”

“Dad should stick with Will. He’s cool.”

“
Dad?
”

Jack shrugged again. “I don’t know... just trying it out.” He let one finger follow the stitching in the quilt, keeping his eyes downcast. “Can I ask you a question?”

“Sure. Ask me anything.” She tousled his hair affectionately.

“Were you
ever
going to tell me about him?”

This wasn’t the question she was expecting. Her belly clenched, and when he lifted his head to meet her gaze, she simply stared at him for a long moment. “I’d planned on it,” she said finally, her voice soft.

“When?” His eyes bored into hers.

With great difficulty, she resisted the urge to look away from his steady gaze. “I don’t know. I’ve been a coward for a long time. But I hope I could have stepped up, told you the truth... eventually. Eliot took care of it, so I guess we’ll never know, will we?”

“Maybe I should have asked you sooner.” He stared down at his hands.

Carrie put her finger under his chin and made him face her again. “No, baby, this was
all me
, not you. My job. Not ever yours. I’m so sorry I wussed out on you.”

“It’s okay. Really it is. But what’s going to happen now?”

“In the next five minutes?” she teased. “Supper, I think.”

“No, I mean... you know... you and Liam? I–I think he’s hot for you.” Color rose in his cheeks. “He watches you all the time.”

“He does?”

Jack had been so wrapped up getting acquainted with his father, she was surprised he’d even noticed anything else. They’d been deliberately holding their own feelings and desires in check while he and Liam got to know one another. Liam was sleeping on the boat, and they’d barely exchanged a few kisses—and never in front of Jack.

“Yeah, he looks at you like a guy who’s been in prison for ten years and you’re like... like, I don’t know... some hot woman a guy his age would find attractive.” Jack laid back on the bed, his bare feet dangling over the edge.

“Wow, thanks.” She gave him a wry smile. “Who would that be exactly?”

“Dunno.” Staring at the skylight above her bed, he pursed his lips.

“How about Angelina Jolie?” she offered, hoping for a smile.

He cleared his throat, then rolled his eyes. “Sure, yeah. That’s exactly who I was thinking of.” When she wrinkled her nose at him, he tucked his hands behind his head, gazing at her thoughtfully. “I saw you kissing down on the beach. Does that mean you guys are back together?”

“Yeah, we are.”

“You mean you’re like... dating?” His brow furrowed.

“More than that, actually.” Warmth flooded her as she thought about Liam’s proposal and the ring waiting in the box on the dresser. “Liam asked me to marry him.”

Jack sat up, his eyes round with wonder. Then they narrowed. “Are you in love with him?”

“I’ve
always
been in love with him. But I never imagined being with him again.”

“Is he the reason guys like Jeff and that other guy—Max Whatsis—never got anywhere with you?” He bent his head down to peer into her eyes.

“Yep.”

“Wow,” Jack whispered. And then a little bit louder. “Wow. So,
are
you going to marry him?”

“What do
you
think about that?”

Emotions played across his young face. He sat quietly for a moment before he bolted up. Crossing to the window, he stared out at the tall pines behind the boathouse. “Things sure would be different, wouldn’t they?”

“You’d have the regulation number of parents.” She wished he’d turn around. She really needed to see his face.

“Would we have to move? Or would he come here when he wasn’t out touring?” He was still speaking to the window. “What would happen to us?”

Carrie crossed over to stand next to him. “I don’t know. We haven’t gotten that far yet.”

A long sigh slipped out. “I know he never meant to hurt you, Mom. I got pissed because he yelled at me.” He stared down at the rug before turning to face her. “He was all upset about that Marty guy, and I acted like
a douche to him. I shouldn’t have done that.”

“He understands.” She brushed his hair back from his face and thought—apropos of nothing at all—
the kid really needs a haircut.
“But it’d be nice if you apologized.”

“I will when he gets up here.” Jack started for the door. “I like him, I think he’s awesome. If you want to marry him, you should do it.”

She smiled at him. “I love you, Jack.”

“Love you
, too.” He sprinted down the stairs.

“Hey. Did you put the casserole in?” she called after him.

“Yeah.” His voice carried up the stairs.

The sound of the piano began again as he played his own elaborate version of an old Beatles tune.