Ready for Love (29 page)

“Sure looked like it to me—and everyone else—when you were holding hands with him.”

Francine glowered at her younger daughter. “People on this island need to mind their own damned business.”

“When have you ever known that to happen?” Tiffany asked.

“How are you feeling, Maddie?” Francine asked, turning her back on Tiffany.

“I’m fine but on bed rest for the remainder of the pregnancy.”

“Don’t worry,” Francine said. “I’ll help with Thomas. We both will, right, Tiffany?”

“Of course we will. Now, tell us about your boyfriend.”

Francine threw up her hands and said, “Ugh!”

“Mac thinks the world of him,” Maddie said. “He’s like a beloved uncle to all the McCarthy kids. In fact, Mac bought our house from him.”

Francine’s eyes went wide. “He did not own that big house!”

“Mom, he owns half this island.”

Francine laughed. “You’re mistaking him for someone else. He drives a cab.”

“That’s only his hobby. Real estate is his business.”

Francine had apparently been shocked speechless.

“Way to go, Mom,” Tiffany said.

“I, um, I have to go,” Francine said. “I’ll check on you tomorrow.” She rushed out of the room.

“Was it something we said?” Tiffany asked in a teasing tone.

“Go after her,” Maddie said. “Make sure she’s okay.”

“All right, I’m going.”

“Thanks for coming, and keep me posted on the situation with Jim.”

Tiffany’s smile faded at the reminder of her marital problems. “I will.”

Francine found Ned waiting for her outside in the clinic parking lot, leaning against the dilapidated woody station wagon he used for a cab. Everything about him was dilapidated, so how was she supposed to believe that he actually
owned
half the island?

As she walked toward him, he didn’t seem to blink, but he did smile as if he was delighted to see her. How silly was that? She’d seen him just half an hour ago. But since then, everything had changed, and she was still processing what Maddie had told her.

“Is it true?” she asked, wincing inside because she hadn’t intended to blurt it right out like that. But damn it, she wanted to know.

“Is what true?”

“That you own half this island?” In the darkness, she couldn’t be entirely sure, but she swore he blushed. “
More than half?
”

He shrugged sheepishly. “I dunno. Hardly keep track.”

Francine blew out a long deep breath. “So then what’s all this?” she asked, gesturing to the cab.

“Gets me outta the house. Meet a lotta nice people. Get ta know who’s a’comin and who’s a’goin.”

“Did you really sell that big house to Mac?”

“Yep.”

“How did you. . . where did you. . .”

“Bought the first one ’bout thirty-five or so years ago. Fixed it up a bit, sold it for a profit. Bought another one. Even rich people who can afford houses out here fall on hard times every now and again. Took a few off their hands like the one I sold ta Mac.” He shrugged again. “Didn’t plan it. Just kinda happened, ’tis all.”

“Who’s the real Ned? The cab driver or the real estate tycoon?”

He winced at the word tycoon. “Both, I suspect. Ya got a problem with it?”

She was still trying to process it all. “No, no problem.”

“Francine,” he said, reaching for her hands and bringing her closer to him. “Money is nice to have—”

“I wouldn’t know. I’ve never had any.”

“It’s nice to have,” he continued, “but it can’t buy happiness. Being with you again these last coupla days has made me happier than all the money I’ve made with my houses ever could.”

“It has?” she asked, her voice suddenly squeaky.

He nodded. “Come ’ere and gimme a kiss.”

Her face went hot, and her mind went stupid. She glanced over her shoulder and saw Tiffany scurrying away.

Ned stood to his full height and gave her hands a little tug that had her almost tumbling into his chest. He caught her, wrapped his arms around her, and before she could anticipate his next move, his lips were on hers, sweet, gentle and persuasive. His beard was soft against her face, and somehow her arms found their way around his neck to encourage him to keep kissing her.

It had been a long, lonely time since a man had kissed her so tenderly. Maybe since the last time she’d kissed Ned.

He finally broke the kiss. Looking as stunned as she felt, he stared at her for a breathless moment. “Let’s get you home.”

Since Francine didn’t trust herself to speak, she let him guide her into his cab for the ride home.

Luke insisted on driving them to dinner at her parents’ house. After spending much of the day with his foot elevated and on ice, he was going stir-crazy. But that was the least of his concerns. Ever since the night before when she’d arrived with Thomas, Sydney had been distant. Something was clearly bothering her, but he couldn’t get her to sit still long enough to talk to her about it.

She’d fussed over Thomas until Mac picked him up, and then she announced she was tired and went to bed. Even though they’d slept in the same bed, they may as well have been in separate houses. He’d awoken to a note that said she’d gone to check on Buddy and to help Maddie. She had been out most of the day, returning in time to shower and change for dinner. The silence between them was deafening to Luke, and all of a sudden he couldn’t take it anymore. He pulled the truck off the road and brought it to a stop.

Sydney looked over at him. “What?”

“I might ask you the same thing. What’s going on, Syd?”

“Nothing.”

Luke wanted to yell and scream, but that was so not his style. “What happened yesterday that caused you to shut down on me?”

Her eyes widened and her lips pursed, but she stayed silent.

“We’re not moving until you tell me what the hell is going on.”

“We’ll be late.”

“If you’re worried about that, start talking.”

She crossed her arms, and her face was set in a mulish expression he would’ve found cute if he hadn’t been so concerned about what was bothering her.

“Syd. Talk to me.”

She spun around in her seat. “Were you ever going to tell me you’re a part owner of McCarthy’s now?”

Okay, he hadn’t seen that coming. “Eventually. I guess.”

“No, you weren’t.”

“Wait, so you’ve been all frosty to me because you heard that from someone other than me?”

“Why didn’t you tell me? We had all those conversations about your life, our possible life together, and never once did you see fit to tell me that you’re not exactly what you pretend to be.”

“And what is it that I pretend to be?”

“Just a guy who works the docks and fixes up boats. Simple. Uncomplicated.”

“I
am
that guy, Syd. I’ve always been that guy.”

“You
own
the business!”

“Only part of it, and only for the last year or so. It’s no big deal.”

“It’s a huge big deal. That you kept it from me makes me wonder if I know you at all.”

“Sydney, Jesus, you know me better than anyone else in this world. I’ve shown you parts of me that no one else has ever seen. How can you say you don’t know me?”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because.”

“You have to do better than that.”

“I didn’t want it to be a factor in whether you decide to stay.”

“What does that mean?”

“I wanted you to want me for
me
, not because of what I have.”

Her mouth fell open. “Oh my God. You haven’t forgiven me. All that talk about clean slates, and you’re expecting me to do exactly what I did before!”

“That’s not true. But money is important to you. You come in my house and all you see is the threadbare furniture and that nothing has changed. You assume it’s because I can’t afford to get new stuff. But the truth is, I don’t care if it’s old. It still works, so why would I replace it? I didn’t tell you about the business because it hasn’t given me anything I didn’t already have. For years Mr. McCarthy has paid me a year-round salary to work six months a year because he said he couldn’t run the place without me.”

“Luke—”

“Who do you think was keeping the business going before Mac came home?” Luke gripped the steering wheel and stared out the window. “I own my house. I own my truck. I live simply. Even before the partnership, I made plenty of money, and I only spend a fraction of it, not because I’m worried about spending it, but because I have everything I need. Last year someone offered me a million dollars for my property—as is. Of course I declined, but he gave me his card in case I change my mind.” Looking over at her, he said, “I’m not without means, Syd.” He couldn’t remember a time when he’d made such an impassioned speech, but for some reason, he felt like he was suddenly fighting for his life.

“I don’t know where you got the idea I care about any of that.”

“You married the guy who could keep you in the lifestyle you’d become accustomed to. Don’t tell me you don’t care about money.”

“Maybe I used to, but that’s not what I care about now. Apparently, you don’t think too much of me if you think money matters more to me than you do.”

“The thing is, I have no idea what matters most to you. Is it me? Is it what we have together? Is it your life in Boston? I’d really like to know.”

Her hands were folded so tightly in her lap that her knuckles had turned white.

He covered them with his hand. “What matters most to me is you. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about McCarthy’s. I should have.”

“I’m sorry you felt I was such a money-grubbing bitch that it would matter so much to me.”

Shocked, he stared at her. “I never said that! You’re twisting my words all around.”

“Am I?”

“Yes! I don’t think you’re a money-grubbing anything.” He paused for a moment, hoping to contain the swell of fear and despair that threatened to overtake him at the thought of losing her again. “I spent a lot of years living with the knowledge that I wasn’t good enough for you the first time around. This time, I wanted to be good enough. Just the way I am. What you see is what you get.”

She stared off into the encroaching darkness.

Luke’s heart beat hard as he waited for her to say something. Anything. “Syd.”

“You’ve certainly given me a lot to think about.”

“What does that mean?”

“Just what I said. I need to think.”

“For how long?”

“For as long as it takes.”

“Do you still want to go to dinner?”

“Yes, let’s go. My parents are waiting for us.”

Luke started the truck, but he wondered how he’d manage to eat when all he could think about was the cold block of dread that had settled in his gut. Had he just totally blown it with her? Again?

Sydney’s head was spinning during the dinner with her parents. Because they’d obviously gone to some considerable trouble with the meal and were trying to make Luke feel welcome, Sydney was doing her best to remain engaged, even though her heart was aching after their roadside conversation.

Maybe they’d been deluding themselves that they could get past what’d happened years ago and make their second chance work out better than the first one did. After what he’d said earlier, it was clear to Sydney that Luke hadn’t completely forgiven her for leaving him without a word or for marrying Seth. He was waiting for her to leave him again.

“Syd?” His deep voice interrupted her thoughts.

She looked up at the three faces watching her with concern and realized her best efforts to remain engaged had failed miserably.

“Everything okay, honey?” her mother asked.

From across the table, Luke studied Sydney intently.

She met his gaze when she said, “Yes, everything’s fine.” Was that relief she saw on his face?

“Sydney’s upset with me because I failed to tell her I’m now a part owner of McCarthy’s Marina,” Luke said, his gaze locked on her.

Well, he was full of surprises tonight.

“She found out from someone else, which was wrong of me. I should’ve told her myself.”

“Oh,” Mary Alice said. “Well.”

“So you’re a partner,” Allan said.

Luke nodded. “When Mac came into the business, he didn’t want the full responsibility, so Mr. McCarthy made us partners and retained a small share for himself.”

“Congratulations,” Allan said. “That’s a very successful business.”

“Yes, it is.”

Watching the exchange, Sydney saw her father looking at Luke with newfound respect. Right in that moment, she got why he hadn’t told her. He hadn’t wanted it to matter to her the same way it clearly mattered to her dad.

Sydney’s heart ached as she understood how worried he was that she would leave him again—or that she would stay for the wrong reasons. Everything became crystal clear to her as she studied his adorably handsome face across the table. The minute they were alone, she would put his mind at ease. There was nowhere else she wanted to be than with him. Why bother to fight it anymore?