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Reunion By The Sea
Jo Leigh
Secrets tore them apart…Can the truth bring them together? Ginny Landry’s life is devoted to two things: her daughter’s happiness and safeguarding a long-buried secret. Both of which are in jeopardy when Parker Nolan returns to Temptation Bay looking for his sister, who disappeared years ago. Ginny needs Parker to leave town—now—but can she really watch the only man she’s ever loved walk out of her life again?


Secrets tore them apart...
Can the truth bring them together?
Ginny Landry’s life is devoted to two things: her daughter’s happiness and safeguarding a long-buried secret. Both of which are in jeopardy when Parker Nolan returns to Temptation Bay looking for his sister, who disappeared years ago. Ginny needs Parker to leave town—now—but can she really watch the only man she’s ever loved walk out of her life again?
JO LEIGH is from Los Angeles and always thought she’d end up living in Manhattan. So how did she end up in Utah in a tiny town with a terrible internet connection, being bossed around by a houseful of rescued cats and dogs? What the heck, she says, predictability is boring. Jo has written more than sixty novels for Mills & Boon. Find her on Twitter, @jo_leigh (https://twitter.com/jo_leigh).
Also by Jo Leigh (#u77a666dd-d90a-57f6-8e81-eef1760cbf94)
Tempted in the City
Daring in the City
Seduced in the City
Choose Me
Have Me
Want Me
Seduce Me
Dare Me
Intrigue Me
The Navy SEAL’s Rescue
Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
Reunion by the Sea
Jo Leigh


www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
ISBN: 978-1-474-07841-2
REUNION BY THE SEA
© 2018 Jolie Kramer
Published in Great Britain 2018
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF
All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.
By payment of the required fees, you are granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right and licence to download and install this e-book on your personal computer, tablet computer, smart phone or other electronic reading device only (each a “Licensed Device”) and to access, display and read the text of this e-book on-screen on your Licensed Device. Except to the extent any of these acts shall be permitted pursuant to any mandatory provision of applicable law but no further, no part of this e-book or its text or images may be reproduced, transmitted, distributed, translated, converted or adapted for use on another file format, communicated to the public, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher.
® and ™ are trademarks owned and used by the trademark owner and/or its licensee. Trademarks marked with ® are registered with the United Kingdom Patent Office and/or the Office for Harmonisation in the Internal Market and in other countries.
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
To Debbi, for helping me every step of the way.
Contents
Cover (#u2edcc811-bd32-5eb1-97db-cf1bb46b9dbe)
Back Cover Text (#u6810d8dd-d5d2-5649-938b-c20373c37cd0)
About the Author (#u8394a9d2-7be2-5763-b5ba-dc2716277a8a)
Booklist (#ua0faa887-2be8-5d8f-a2c9-20d01e3a09f2)
Title Page (#u4d157bb9-7679-5b3f-ba4d-acb38e5d6342)
Copyright (#ub1e01eef-a218-5b80-920f-9d437454f739)
Dedication (#u444e923b-373f-5aa7-999d-574ce16bab53)
CHAPTER ONE (#u106d8d0c-d7ba-58d1-8ae4-abfba156e809)
CHAPTER TWO (#u992a1f2e-bf23-54fa-b554-bd886e294d91)
CHAPTER THREE (#u3120eaa7-a2e9-5f66-a843-d7d01999f152)
CHAPTER FOUR (#u99e1038d-1be7-53f6-8c97-011c70e5d1bf)
CHAPTER FIVE (#ue1e452ac-8249-543b-9233-87f0e85c2595)
CHAPTER SIX (#ua3f70235-94d9-5fcc-95cc-24eaa472fb8c)
CHAPTER SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER NINE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ELEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWELVE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER THIRTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FOURTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER FIFTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SIXTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER NINETEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWENTY (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE (#litres_trial_promo)
Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
About the Publisher (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER ONE (#u77a666dd-d90a-57f6-8e81-eef1760cbf94)
“COME ON, TILDA, get moving. You’re going to be late.” Ginny Landry checked the wall clock while listening to her daughter bang around in her room. “Hey, do you need any help packing?”
“No. I’ve got it.” Another thud. “Are you trying to get rid of me?”
“Of course not.” Ginny could tell by her voice Tilda was grinning. “Okay, maybe a little.” Wanting a weekend for herself—well, with three of her best friends from high school—didn’t make Ginny a bad mother. After all, a fifteen-year class reunion happened only once in a lifetime.
“I know you,” Tilda called out, moving to the edge of the stairs. “You just don’t want Kaley’s mom to come in and start gushing.”
“You’re right. That’s part of it.” Ginny walked out of the kitchen and looked up at Tilda leaning over the railing. “Where’s your bag?”
Tilda lost the grin. “I’m working on it,” she said, slipping back into her room. “Dang. You’re giving me a complex.”
“I’ll send you to therapy,” Ginny called as she walked into the living room, stopping at her piano. When she brushed the keys, her glossy fingernails caught her attention. They looked so pretty.
Yesterday she’d splurged on a mani-pedi. Because she gave piano lessons, she was always careful to keep her nails trimmed and neat, but she’d gone all out, letting the woman apply a light beigy-pink color. Ginny looked down and wiggled her matching toenails peeking out from the strappy gold sandals she’d bought for the weekend festivities. She felt so glamorous. So chic. So...not like herself. But that was the point.
It wasn’t at all that she was unhappy being a single mom, or to be living in the same house where she’d grown up. In fact, Ginny considered herself lucky. Temptation Bay had once been a small, quaint town tucked away on the Rhode Island coast and populated by generations of fishing families. But in the last couple of decades, the area had exploded with tourists, and summer people who’d bought up beachfront property and coveted lots along the bluffs that overlooked the water.
Ginny’s family home sat on nearly an acre on the northernmost bluff, thanks to the foresight of her great-grandfather. All the windows on the east side of the house faced the Atlantic Ocean and the bay. It was a privilege to have such a gorgeous view, and not one to be taken for granted.
She stood at the living room window, watching the sailboats glide across the sparkling blue water, wondering if her father ever missed it. If he ever regretted moving out all those years ago. Sure, his upscale Providence town house was close to his law office and he had a very nice view of the river, but really, there was no comparison.
Maybe she’d ask him now that they were on better terms. Well, they were speaking again, anyway.
“Hey, Mom, where are you?” Tilda’s voice came from the top of the stairs.
“In the living room.”
“Don’t you think it’s going to be kind of weird?”
Ginny turned away from the window. “What’s going to be weird?”
“Seeing all those people you went to school with.” Tilda, now wearing an oversize Roger Williams Academy T-shirt and cutoffs, stopped halfway down the stairs. “They’re all going to look old, and the guys could be balding and the—”
“Oh, for... We’re all in our early thirties. That’s hardly ancient.” She saw another grin lurking at the corners of her daughter’s mouth. “Good. You’re finished packing.” Tilda’s expression fell, and back up the stairs she went.
“You’re going camping for three days, Tilda. How much stuff do you need to take?”
“I don’t know. You’re stressing me out.”
“I’ll give you five minutes,” Ginny said, looking at the clock. “Then I’m taking over.”
“All right already. I’m almost done.”
For being extremely bright—gifted in fact—the simple act of packing had always eluded Tilda. She was just like Meg in that respect.
Ginny had been thinking of her old friend a lot lately. The reunion had brought it on, even though Meg wouldn’t be coming to Temptation Bay with the rest of their classmates. And that made Ginny incredibly sad. Ten months ago was the last time her friend had contacted her. Things hadn’t been going well for Meg. Not for a very long time. And after that last scary phone call, Ginny had the sick feeling Meg had finally used up all her luck.
Not a good time for her thoughts to be spiraling. She was determined to enjoy the weekend. This would be the first time the Fearless Four—something she, Cricket, Harlow and Jade had called themselves—would be all together since graduating from Roger Williams Academy. They’d all gone their separate ways, using Facebook to keep in touch—though not nearly as often as they’d promised.
Ginny thought she heard a car. “Ready or not, here I come,” she called up to Tilda as she hurried to peek out the long narrow window to the left of the front door.
“Wait! That wasn’t five minutes!”
“They’re here.” Ginny watched Kaley get out of the Suburban, and actually crossed her fingers, hoping and praying Sharon would stay put behind the wheel.
Nope. Kaley’s mom climbed out right behind her daughter.
Sighing, Ginny stepped back from the window so they couldn’t see her. “Did you hear me, Tilda?”
“Coming.”
“Not fast enough,” Ginny muttered. Resigned, she pasted on her hostess face. She was pretty good at it considering she’d been raised without the benefit of a mother’s guiding hand.
After the first doorbell chime, she counted to five, then opened the front door. “Kaley, Sharon, how nice to see you. Please,” she said, stepping back and holding the door open wide, “come in.”
“Hi, Ms. Landry.” Kaley twirled around as she walked past Ginny, while eyeing her up and down. “Wow, you look hot. Big plans tonight?”
Ginny laughed. “Hot?”
“Oh, Kaley, mind your manners,” Sharon said, doing her share of sizing up Ginny’s lime-green sundress.
“It’s not like I dissed her.” Kaley rolled her eyes. “Mom, you’re so out of touch.”
Well, at least she hadn’t called her mom old.
Sharon ignored her daughter and, as expected, walked straight to the living room window. “I can’t get over this view. It’s simply breathtaking.”
“You say that every time,” Kaley muttered, shaking her head and looking at Ginny. “Okay if I go up to Tilda’s room?”
The words had barely left her mouth when Tilda shouted out. “Come here, Kaley! I need help deciding on a pair of jeans.”
Frowning, Ginny stopped her. “You guys are only going camping, right?”
Kaley nodded, walking backward to the staircase. “She’s just being lame.”
Ginny had rarely experienced any trouble with Tilda. She was a model child in so many ways. And her friends were all bright, sensible kids much like Tilda. So why the niggling suspicion that something was off?
Perhaps it had nothing to do with her daughter, Ginny thought as she dutifully walked into the living room. She’d been looking forward to this weekend for months. Yes, it would be sad without Meg attending the reunion. In preparation, Ginny had given herself pep talks all week so she wouldn’t shortchange the friends who would be there or cheat herself out of enjoying some adult company for a change. A little time away from the piano wouldn’t hurt either. She’d been practicing like a madwoman for the past seven months, ever since the Rhode Island Philharmonic had invited her to be a guest soloist.
Sharon turned away from the window to smile at Ginny. “You’re so lucky you work at home. I don’t think I could drag myself away from this view,” she said, sighing. “But, then, you lead such an exciting life.”
At first Ginny was speechless, then she burst out laughing. “You have me confused with someone else.”
“Well, isn’t being a member of the orchestra exciting enough for you?” Sharon laughed. “I’d be taking out an ad in the newspaper.”
“I’ve performed as a guest soloist twice,” she said carefully, not wishing to let anything slip or start a rumor. “But that’s all.”
Sharon frowned. “I heard you’re supposed to go on tour with them.”
Ginny hesitated. The director had spoken with her, but nothing was actually settled. “Where did you hear that?”
“I’m not sure. Oh, wait. It was Jane Winthrop.”
“Well, apparently Jane knows more than I do,” Ginny said, then realized she didn’t even know a Jane Winthrop.
It was tempting to ask about the woman and how she’d come about the information. Ginny decided it would be wiser to simply drop the subject. The last thing she wanted was to become fodder for gossip. She’d been there, done that after she’d dropped out of Juilliard all those years ago.
* * *
AFTER TURNING HIS rented Jeep over to the valet, Parker Nolan slipped off his aviator sunglasses. Seaside on the Bluff hadn’t existed the last time he’d been to Temptation Bay. The large showy resort had replaced a small, early-1900s’ hotel. But then, a lot had changed in fifteen years. Including him.
“Sir?”
Parker turned to the valet.
The young man—Rafael, according to his name tag—held up the black leather bag Parker had left on the floor of the passenger side. “Did you forget this? Or would you like for me to call a luggage attendant?”
“I don’t have a reservation.”
“Ah.”
Parker hadn’t expected to get a room at the last minute, and judging by all the cars and taxis crowding the porte cochere, he was right. “You know of any place that might have a vacancy?”
“We’ve got a big class reunion and a golf tournament this weekend,” Rafael said, shaking his head. “Between the two I doubt you’re going to find anything nearby.”
“What about that old turquoise motel on Highway 1. Is it still there?”
“Yeah, but the place—” He lowered his voice. “It’s kind of a dump.”
Well, that hadn’t changed. Parker dug into his pocket and gave the kid a five. “Thanks. I shouldn’t be more than a couple hours.”
Parker headed toward the glass doors, rubbing the stubble along his jaw, wondering if he shouldn’t have found a room first. He could use a shower, and definitely a shave, after the long flight. Eighteen hours ago he’d been unloading the cargo he’d delivered to a backwoods town in northern Alaska when he’d received the call sending him on this fool’s errand.
He wasn’t going to find his sister. Not here in Temptation Bay, or anywhere else. It was obvious that Meg didn’t want to be found. She hadn’t surfaced in fifteen years, not even to attend their father’s funeral. And then a year ago the random Facebook communications had ceased altogether. Parker’s assumption that his mom had finally accepted that Meg was lost to them had shattered the moment he’d answered her phone call yesterday.
It was unclear how she’d learned of the reunion, but that wasn’t important. After he followed this last shred of hope, he was going to tell her he was done. Finished. Not that she asked him very often. But this time would be the last. There was no reason to keep opening the wound. No more chasing ghosts or shadows. He and his mom had come out of hiding over thirteen years ago. She was remarried to a nice man, a dentist from Idaho who kept regular hours and put her before his job. It was time she accepted that Meg was never coming back.
At least when he’d gone to ground, he hadn’t cut himself out of his mother’s life completely. Meg, for whatever reason, had vanished without a word. He hoped it was because it was her choice, even if he wished she could have been kinder about it.
The important thing was that his mother was finally happy. Now, if she could just let go of Meg. Not forget her, but accept that maybe Meg was just like their old man. She’d had plenty of opportunities to reach out, give their mom some peace of mind. Instead, Meg’s Facebook posts had dwindled to nothing. Keeping her secrets was clearly more important to her than her family.
The open lobby was spacious, with lots of glass, and overlooked the sparkling blue waters of the bay. People were everywhere. Spread out on the suede chairs and sofas, talking, laughing, sipping cocktails. Others stood in small groups closer to the lobby bar. A short line had formed while folks waited their turn at the reception desk.
The sheer number of people in the lobby made him want to turn around and leave. What he wouldn’t give to be back in his cabin, with nothing but the stark beauty of the wilderness as his companion. Once this exercise in futility was over, he’d be better off never leaving Alaska again.
But he’d made a promise he intended to keep. With his eyes peeled, he maneuvered through the crowd, behind uniformed employees pushing carts loaded down with luggage. Off to the left of the elevators, a table was set up and manned by a smartly dressed brunette in her early thirties who flashed a blindingly bright smile and a diamond the size of Parker’s De Havilland.
Yep, she looked like a product of the Roger Williams Preparatory Academy to him. He’d never understood why Meg had wanted to go there. She hadn’t cared about her grades, or about hanging out with the future bastions of the upper class. In fact, she’d tended to thumb her nose at the type of kids who went to prep school. With the exception of Ginny Landry.
He returned the smile of a tall willowy blonde, and resisted the urge to glance back as they passed each other. She didn’t look familiar, although he didn’t expect to recognize anyone. He’d lived in Temptation Bay for only a year while attending the public high school before he’d left for Princeton.
Man, it felt like a lifetime ago.
His thoughts circled back to Ginny Landry. He wondered if she would bother showing up. Or if she was even in the country. Easy to imagine her performing somewhere in Europe, playing before the king and queen of some country that still acknowledged royalty. She’d just turned eighteen when he last saw her. He remembered since they shared the same birthday, although he was two years older.
In retrospect, at twenty, he’d still been a kid. A kid with too much responsibility to shoulder and without a clue how to handle the curveball life had thrown him. But Ginny... With all her talent and natural-born grace, it hadn’t been hard for him to picture the brilliant future she’d had waiting for her.
The woman at the desk smiled as he approached. “Are you here for the reunion?” she asked, sizing him up. Her smile wavered briefly at his worn jeans. Definitely not designer. “This is the Roger Williams registration desk.”
“Just what I was looking for.” He gave her a smile that seemed to distract her from his attire. On the left side of the table name badges were displayed alphabetically. “Any chance I can see a list of the attendees?”
“Andrea Langston. Well, I swear...” A woman rushed up from behind him as the brunette—presumably Andrea—rose to greet her.
Parker glanced at the name badges but didn’t see Meg’s or Ginny’s name. Although that didn’t tell him anything useful.
The women exchanged silly air kisses, and he saw it was the tall blonde he’d passed a minute ago.
“Andrea, I almost didn’t recognize you,” the blonde said, then slid him a smile. “Hello.”
Parker smiled back.
Just as she extended her hand, someone else caught his eye. Another blonde he’d once known.
“Excuse me,” he said, surprised at the hitch in his breathing, and headed for Ginny Landry.
CHAPTER TWO (#u77a666dd-d90a-57f6-8e81-eef1760cbf94)
“HOW IS IT you haven’t aged a bit?” Harlow said after she and Ginny hugged. “Seriously. You still look like a college kid.”
“And you still don’t know your own strength.” Laughing, Ginny rubbed her arm. Harlow had once been a world-class athlete. “Can we keep the bruising down to a minimum?”
“I’ll try.” Harlow took her by the hand and dragged her toward a table she’d secured near the lobby bar. “This place is a zoo. I don’t want to lose our spot. Have you seen anyone else yet?”
“I just got here. You?”
“Nope. Not a soul.” Harlow flagged down a server. “That is, no one I care to talk to. But I haven’t been here long either. I went straight to the room, hung up my dress for tomorrow night and left everything else. I wanted to make sure I scored a table.”
Ginny grinned. “I’m glad you have your priorities in order.”
“You got that right.” Her smile was for the waitress. “A pitcher of margaritas, please.”
Nodding, the young woman started writing. “Anything else?”
“Wait.” Ginny frowned at her friend. “Who’s that pitcher for?”
“You and me, unless Cricket or Jade shows up.”
Ginny sighed. “You’re insane.” She turned to the server, who was setting cocktail napkins on the table. “Thank you.”
The woman smiled and left.
“So, are you staying in the hotel?” Harlow asked.
“Nope. I’m only ten minutes away.”
“Well, if you get too hammered, you can always bunk with me for the night.”
“I’m not getting hammered.”
“You sure?”
“Yes.” Ginny laughed. This felt so good. In just minutes, fifteen years had disappeared. It didn’t matter that they lived on opposite coasts, or that, despite their heartfelt graduation night promises, their communication had been sporadic at best. “You look wonderful, Harlow. I mean it.”
Harlow shrugged. “I’m blonder.”
“You know what I’m saying. I’m glad the accident didn’t make you bitter.”
“Oh, honey, you didn’t see me after I realized I’d blown my shot at the Olympics. And my parents? I thought they were going to jump off a cliff.”
She and Harlow had talked shortly after the surgery on her leg, and Ginny knew that her friend had sunk into a dark place. But she hadn’t stayed there. “Come on. You’re still in fantastic shape. So, good for you. Now, tell me how you like teaching.”
“Only if you tell me the real reason you dropped out of Juilliard. I can’t believe you’re still living here and not playing a fourteen-karat-gold piano on a yacht somewhere exotic.”
“What the—” Ginny burst out laughing. “You’re not allowed to have any booze. None,” she said and turned to see what Harlow was squinting at.
The late-afternoon sun filled the lobby with natural light, but from where she was sitting, the glare made it difficult to see.
“Isn’t that Cricket?” Harlow ducked her head when someone at the next table stood and blocked her view. “In line at the reception desk?”
Ginny finally spotted her. “I’m so glad she made it. She looks great, doesn’t she?”
“Like a big-shot lawyer. Oh, no...it’s Troy what’s-his-name behind her. He thinks we’re waving at him.” Harlow sank back in her chair, averting her face. “I hope he doesn’t do something stupid like stop by...”
“Isn’t he the guy who you—”
Harlow’s glare cut her off.
“Sorry.” Ginny hid a smile and turned back to tracking Cricket.
Ginny was anxious to see her, even though they’d connected twice when Cricket had come home to visit her dad, who still lived in a shack on the beach. Of the whole gang, Cricket probably knew her the best, but even though she and the rest of her friends knew about Tilda, they didn’t know the entire reason Ginny had left Julliard.
The server delivered the pitcher and glasses, and Harlow asked her to bring one more.
“Have you heard from Jade? Do you know what time she’s arriving?”
“Late, I think.” Harlow kept her head bowed as she poured. “Where’s Cricket? Getting close?”
“She has one person ahead of her.”
“Is Troy still looking over here?”
“Nope. He’s talking to someone.”
“Good.” Harlow slid the drink to her. “What about Meg? Have you heard from her?”
Ginny’s stomach lurched, even though she’d known the question would come up. “Not for a while. I seriously doubt she’ll be here.”
“I guess we could ask Andrea. She’s checking people in and passing out name badges.”
“Oh, Cricket is at the desk. I hope she doesn’t go straight to her room,” Ginny said, taking her first sip. The salty tartness woke up her taste buds. As for the alcohol, she’d have to watch herself. With the exception of an occasional glass of wine, she didn’t drink much at all.
“She won’t.” After a healthy sip of her margarita, Harlow sighed, then blinked at Ginny. “I can’t believe I forgot to ask... You have a daughter. She must be a teenager by now, right?”
“Oh, yes, she is.”
Harlow put out her hand and wiggled her fingers. “I know you have pictures.”
“You bet I do.” She queued her phone, then handed it over. “Millions of them, but you only have to look at the first hundred.”
Harlow’s grin turned wistful as she started the slide show. “You think you might have more kids?”
“I’d like to,” Ginny said slowly. She’d always wanted to have a family, a husband, at least two more kids. But the subject had the potential to raise questions she didn’t want to answer. “What about you?”
“Well, I’ve been saying someday for so long I’m not sure where I stand. Oh, cute.” Harlow held up the picture of Tilda in her first Halloween costume. “Are you in contact with her father?”
Ginny held in a sigh. “Nope,” she said, hoping her tone would end the topic. Harlow returned to the slide show, and Ginny looked back to check on Cricket’s progress.
Her gaze landed on a man. Tall, dark hair, muscular arms. She could only see his profile, but he looked out of place in faded jeans and a black T-shirt. He wasn’t one of the golfers, although why she felt certain of that she couldn’t say. And he sure hadn’t been one of her classmates.
He stood near the reception desk, but he wasn’t waiting in line. If he was looking for someone, he didn’t seem to be overly invested in finding them. He glanced almost negligently over the crowd, then donned a pair of aviator sunglasses.
Ginny’s heart rate picked up speed.
He reminded her of someone, although she couldn’t place him. This guy had a swimmer’s build—broad shoulders, slim waist and hips. Probably rode a motorcycle, wrestled grizzly bears for fun and opened cans with his teeth.
“Earth to Ginny.”
She jerked a look at Harlow. “What?”
“What are you doing? Did you see someone or—” Harlow gasped. “Is it Troy? Is he coming over to us?”
“No.” The mystery man was most definitely not Troy. She sneaked a peek his way again, but he was gone. She looked right then left. He’d disappeared. “Oh, here comes Cricket.”
She and Harlow stood at the same time and met her partway.
“I should’ve known I’d find you guys near the booze,” Cricket said as she reached them. She raised her brows at Ginny. “Look at you in that sexy little sundress.”
Sexy? Ginny rolled her eyes. “I’m so glad you made it,” she said, pulling Cricket into a hug. “I couldn’t believe it when I got your email yesterday.”
“Ditto for me. Now, quit hogging her.” Harlow threw her arms around both of them.
After a few seconds, Cricket made an odd gurgling noise. “Okay, you have to let me breathe,” she said. “Seriously.”
Ginny laughed and backed off first. “We better grab our seats.”
After pouring Cricket a drink, Harlow said something Ginny didn’t catch. She tried to stay with the conversation, she really did. But she was hopelessly obsessed with finding the man in the jeans and black T-shirt. It was as if he’d disappeared into thin air.
Cricket was staring at her, and so was Harlow.
Ginny blinked. “What?”
The server saved her from further humiliation when she stopped to see if Cricket wanted something besides the margarita.
No sooner had the woman moved on than Cricket asked, “What’s going on with you? Everything okay?”
“Sure.” Ginny smiled. “Other than Harlow trying to get me drunk, everything’s fine.”
“You holding out on us, Gin?” With a mischievous little smile, Harlow swept a gaze across the lobby. “You see something you like?”
Ginny almost spit out her sip of margarita. This was the last thing she needed. It didn’t matter that Harlow was only teasing. “Oh, please,” she said and looked at Cricket. “How did you manage to get a room here at the last minute? I thought they were booked.”
“They had a suite left.”
Harlow snorted. “You must be making big bucks.”
“I’m doing okay,” Cricket said, shrugging. “Not that I’m thrilled about paying that much for a suite.”
“Hey, you were always the smartest person in the class, so good for you,” Harlow said, raising her glass. “You deserve your success.”
Ginny raised her glass as well, and while Harlow cajoled Cricket into participating, Ginny stole a look at the bar.
There he was, standing at the end of the sleekly polished mahogany bar, drinking a beer. It seemed he might be looking back at her, but she couldn’t tell for sure. Not when he was still wearing those darn sunglasses.
One thing for certain, he wasn’t lacking for attention. A woman sitting on a barstool next to him was about to make her move when a blonde squeezed in between them.
He stepped aside, giving her a tight smile, along with plenty of space.
Ginny didn’t know why that made her so happy.
Her elation evaporated the second she finally realized why the mystery man seemed familiar. If she had any sense at all, she’d be running in the other direction.
* * *
PARKER WATCHED HER from behind the dark lenses of his sunglasses, wondering if she’d recognized him. It wasn’t so much the fifteen years that had passed. He simply wasn’t the same clean-cut, idealistic college student who’d wanted to fight for justice. To work in concert with his dad—his idol—and others like him, to rid the world of evil.
Good plan, until Parker had discovered it was all a load of crap.
She looked the same, had barely aged. Her dark blond hair was a few inches shorter and now skimmed her shoulders.
And that smile of hers. No woman had a better smile than Ginny Landry. Assuming that was still her last name. He didn’t see a ring on her finger, but that meant nothing these days. And with her level of talent, it was likely she was more focused on her career than a husband. Parker didn’t recognize either of the two women sitting with her. They could be friends of Meg’s as well, but he’d only met Ginny. Although it wasn’t until after his sister had disappeared that he’d gotten to know her.
“Excuse me.”
He turned to the blonde, who’d crowded him. She was the same woman he’d passed earlier, although he didn’t remember the excessive perfume that was beginning to make his eyes burn.
“I practically ran you over,” she said. “Let me at least buy you a drink.”
“No thanks.”
“Oh, come on.” She tilted her head, a seductive smile lifting her too-pink lips. “Just one?”
Parker shook his head. What was it with these prep school women? Curious to take a walk on the wild side? He tipped the beer bottle to his mouth, then went back to studying Ginny. She was looking right at him. Before he could give her a nod, she turned away.
He suppressed a smile, wondering if she’d covered up the faint sprinkling of freckles across her nose. She’d never bothered to before, even though he knew she hated them. It was kind of crazy how much he’d learned about her in those few days after Meg had gone missing. He remembered thinking how odd it was that the two had become friends. Talk about opposites.
Meg was always looking for action and, yeah, a fair amount of trouble...an obvious cry for attention, he’d realized much later. His sister had idolized their dad every bit as much as Parker had, misguided as that had proved to be. It had been his first real lesson about trust and its dangers. Hadn’t been his last.
Ginny had been like a beacon of light, trying to keep Meg from taking that final step into the darkness. In the end, it hadn’t worked. The thing about Ginny, she might look like the carefree girl next door, but she’d never had the perfect family life either. With no mother in the picture, Ginny had been raised by a nanny. Her workaholic father had been largely absent throughout her childhood. At least Parker and Meg had had their mom to rely on. She’d been there for them through a lot of rough patches. Fielding their endless questions, for which she either had no answers or wasn’t at liberty to divulge her knowledge.
Now, knowing what he did, Parker was confident his mother had been kept in the dark about her husband’s whereabouts, and what he’d been doing for most of their marriage. And to be fair, the secrecy had been for their own protection.
Dammit, Meg shouldn’t have punished her by running away. To some degree their mom had been a victim too. She wasn’t a stupid or naive person. Parker guessed that she’d fully understood the man she’d married, but no one could’ve predicted his other life would end up consuming him.
Parker set his empty bottle down, then dug out some money and laid it on the bar. By the time he looked back, Ginny was gone.
CHAPTER THREE (#u77a666dd-d90a-57f6-8e81-eef1760cbf94)
GINNY SLIPPED INTO the ladies’ room and splashed cold water on her face, trying to bring herself out of shock.
What was Parker doing here? Now—after all these years without a word, not knowing if he was dead or alive or living on the moon—he just shows up? She knew it must have to do with Meg. If the family had lost contact with her, just as Ginny had, Parker was probably hoping his sister would be at the reunion. Ginny knew his being here had nothing to do with her. And why that should hurt in the slightest was absurd. She wasn’t a starry-eyed kid anymore.
After Meg had gone missing, they’d found comfort in each other’s arms. That first time, Parker hadn’t even known Ginny was a virgin. He’d felt terrible, had come right out and told her that giving herself should have been something special...with someone she cared about and who cared for her.
Oh, how those words, spoken with heartfelt concern, had cut deep into her soul. Thankfully, she’d had the good sense not to admit that she’d fallen for him months before the night they’d made love. At eighteen, she’d known woefully little about the world beyond her narrow life, and even less about men.
Sadly, at thirty-two, she wasn’t much more enlightened. Being a young single mom who worked at home, Ginny had barely made it around the block. Tilda had kept her—
Tilda.
Ginny gripped the counter for support.
Parker couldn’t know about her. Even if he’d somehow stumbled onto Ginny’s Facebook page, he wouldn’t have seen anything incriminating. She’d been so careful about the meager information she’d posted over the years, including any pictures that would pinpoint Tilda’s age.
Staring at her reflection in the mirror, Ginny sighed. Luckily her mascara hadn’t smudged, but she looked pale. Before the girls started wondering if something was wrong, she reapplied some gloss, swept back her hair and left the restroom.
And ran straight into Parker.
Almost. He took a step back, saving them from a collision.
“Ginny...” He’d removed his sunglasses, his tanned face bringing out the striking blue of his eyes.
“Parker?”
His slow smile sent her heart into a tailspin. “I wasn’t sure you’d remember me.”
Gee, why would she? “You do look different,” she said, and went for the preemptive strike. “Is Meg with you? Is she here?” Ginny asked, forcing excitement into her voice and making a show of glancing around.
His expression barely changed. “I was about to ask you the same thing.”
“Oh. Well, now you know the answer to that.”
“My mom thought she might show up. I didn’t expect her to be here.”
That wasn’t completely true. Ginny could see in his eyes that he’d held on to some hope. She felt a twinge of guilt for using the ploy. “Did you check at the registration desk?” she asked, tucking her hair behind her ear for the again. So annoying. She’d quit that nervous habit ages ago. “You know, for the reunion, not the hotel’s.”
“I figured if anyone knew whether she was coming, it would be you.” He paused, studying her closely, clearly looking for something, but she didn’t know what. He had no reason to think she was lying. “When was the last time you saw her?”
Ginny shook her head, the sadness resting so heavily, her shoulders drooped. “Not since she disappeared.”
“Fifteen years ago.”
She nodded, without hesitation, aware that the truth was more complicated than a simple yes or no. “What about you?” she asked because he would expect her to. But she already knew the answer.
“The same.” His phone rang. Without so much as a glance he shut it off. “Meg must’ve contacted you at some point.”
“She did.”
“How?”
Ginny’s stomach lurched. She’d be honest with him, for as long as she could, but the questions were bound to get more difficult. “Through Facebook, mostly. Sometimes she called.”
“That’s more than my mom got,” he said with a snort of derision.
“Did Meg even know how to find any of you?”
Parker’s eyes narrowed. He had the audacity to look confused.
Ginny held her breath. Why on earth had she said that? And with that snarky tone of voice? Yes, he’d taken off without a word to her. Yes, it had hurt at the time. Fifteen years ago. She didn’t care anymore. But that’s not how it had just sounded.
She shot a look toward the bar, seeking an escape route, when she saw the exact moment he realized what she’d meant. Regret replaced confusion, which was so much worse.
“I’m here with friends and I need to get back.” Refusing to look up, she tried sidestepping him.
“Ginny.” He touched her arm. “Wait. Please.”
“Nice seeing you, by the way.” She drew her arm back and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. A group of inattentive golfers jabbering on about their scores had hemmed her in. “Excuse me, please,” she said to no avail.
“This way.” Parker took her by the arm and guided her around the oblivious foursome.
“Thanks,” she murmured, hoping he didn’t think that had earned him any points. “I’m sure you understand this is a busy weekend for me.”
“I do,” he said, “but I’m not going anywhere. If you find that you have some time to spare, how about we have a drink tomorrow?”
She stared blankly at him. What did he mean he wasn’t going anywhere? “How long will you be staying?”
“I haven’t decided yet. What about you?”
“Me?”
Parker smiled. “When do you leave?”
“Oh, no. I’m not—I live here.” She wanted to take the words back. He looked shocked, but of course he wouldn’t know anything about the unexpected twist her life had taken. If she’d stopped to think for two seconds, she would’ve left his misconception blessedly intact.
Questions swirled in his eyes. “You did go on to Juilliard, didn’t you?”
“Yes.” At least she didn’t have to lie about that. She spotted Connor Foley, the pompous boor most of her classmates, including she, tried to avoid. “Connor?” She waved, catching his attention. “I’m sorry, would you excuse me for a moment,” she said to Parker.
She’d taken only a few steps before Connor thwarted her escape by approaching at a fast clip.
“Ginny,” Connor said, his arms open. “Ginny Landry. How wonderful to see you.”
Ordering herself not to gag, she let him wrap her in a big hug. He smelled awful. Undoubtedly his cologne was expensive; everything he owned was top-of-the-line. His family was loaded. But Connor had always been short on class and good sense. She gave him a discreet hint that it was time to release her, and when he didn’t, she wiggled away from him.
When Connor caught her by her upper arms, she thought she saw Parker step closer. She didn’t resist, pretended everything was just fine. Maybe she was wrong and Parker wouldn’t have intervened, but she couldn’t risk him causing a fuss.
Connor leaned back and swept a gaze over her. “You look fantastic. I heard Alexandra and the rest of her gang are green with envy that you haven’t aged.” He frowned slightly. “Perhaps some Botox wouldn’t hurt. Just a touch between your brows. But that’s all.”
Ginny blinked, then burst out laughing.
Connor’s puzzled expression didn’t help, but at least he’d released her.
“Thanks for the advice,” she said, doing her absolute best to control herself. “I’ll be sure to keep that in mind. Well, it was nice seeing you.”
“Wait.” Connor stepped forward, trying to regain the distance she was putting between them. “Are you here with anyone?”
She backed right into Parker.
This time it was his hands closing around her upper arms, drawing her closer. Her back met his hard chest. “Careful, sweetheart,” he said, his voice pitched low and intimate. But not so low Connor wouldn’t hear. “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?”
For a second she couldn’t make her mouth work. The heat coming from Parker’s body seemed to envelop her, lull her into a relaxed state. His work-roughened palms slid down her bare arms. It was entirely possible the late-afternoon sun flooding the lobby was making her feel flushed, but she didn’t think so.
Just as Ginny was about to make the introductions, she realized Connor had walked away. Good grief, how long had she spaced out for?
She didn’t exactly push Parker away but she definitely made a point as she jerked back and turned to him. “Why did you say that?”
“Say what?”
“That I’m here with you.”
His eyebrows shot up. “I didn’t.”
“You implied it.”
“Sorry.” He shrugged. “I didn’t realize you liked him pawing you.”
She could still feel his warmth slipping down her spine, as if she hadn’t broken contact. Her skin tingled from the roughness of his palms. Hugging herself, she rubbed her arms, trying to erase the feel of him.
“We haven’t seen each other for a long time, and we were awfully young, so I can understand why you might make such a ridiculous comment,” she said, irritated by the smile lurking at the corners of his mouth. “However, let me assure you, I can take care of myself just fine.”
“Don’t doubt it for a second,” he said, folding his arms across his chest.
Why did he have to have so many muscles? More important, why was she reacting to them...to him? A man’s intellect was of far greater interest to her. Not that she didn’t appreciate a good-looking man.
She realized she was staring. “I really do have to go.”
“Let me give you my number.”
“Your— Why?”
“In case you have time for a drink. Unless you prefer to give me yours.”
Ginny shook her head, perhaps a bit too quickly. No, let him think she was brushing him off. Maybe then he wouldn’t stick around. But to be safe, she would make a point of getting Cricket alone to ask her about potential parental rights. She rifled through her handbag. The pen wasn’t in its usual place.
“I can put it in your phone, if you like.”
Looking up, she met his eyes. Something glinting from them sent a little shiver through her body. Her fingers brushed the pen. She pulled it out along with a credit card receipt that was blank on the back. “I’m ready,” she said, the pen poised to write.
He recited the number.
She repeated it to him and then stuck the receipt in an inside pocket. Feeling a bit more in control, she shook her hair back just as something troubling occurred to her. “Are you staying here at the resort?”
“Nope. They’re booked.”
“Right.” She tried to hide her relief. “Well, again, it was nice seeing you, Parker. Good luck finding Meg.”
His penetrating gaze made her feel completely transparent. Naked. Too vulnerable. “You have no intention of calling me, do you?”
“Would you blame me if I didn’t?” She tried to bite back the words but it was too late.
Regret flickered in his eyes. Not that Ginny cared. He knew exactly what she meant. A week after Meg’s disappearance, he and his mom had pulled their own vanishing act. Overnight their home had been stripped of everything personal. The whole community had been stunned. Rumors had spread like wildfire. That they were in witness protection had been the most popular.
All Ginny knew for certain was that her heart had shattered into too many pieces to count.
CHAPTER FOUR (#u77a666dd-d90a-57f6-8e81-eef1760cbf94)
STILL IN HER ratty old robe, Ginny left her makeup spread out across her bathroom counter and went to the kitchen to pour herself a third cup of coffee. She hoped the extra caffeine wouldn’t make her jittery, but without another dose she’d be nodding off by lunchtime.
Ha. She should be so lucky.
It had been a mistake talking to Cricket. Ginny felt awful for wasting her friend’s time. Not only had she jumped the gun, but she’d been unwilling to give Cricket all the facts. Ginny’s only excuse was that she had panicked the moment she’d seen Parker. And now, after a poor night’s sleep, she wasn’t any more ready to face the day. Just knowing he could show up at the resort at any minute wreaked havoc with her nervous system.
This was supposed to have been a fun weekend, a time to catch up and relax with her friends. Social media was great in so many ways, but nothing beat seeing everyone in person. And being able to show them more pictures of Tilda.
She’d been looking forward to the reunion for weeks.
She’d actually made peace with the fact that Meg wouldn’t be making an appearance. Once Meg had hooked up with Danny all those years ago, her fate had been sealed. So Ginny had been prepared for her absence. Parker, though...nothing could’ve prepared Ginny for him.
Her heart had actually raced with excitement, just like it had when she was eighteen. Then, as the ramifications of him finding out about Tilda had begun to sink in, panic and nerves had taken over. Now, even without adequate sleep, she realized she’d overreacted. Even if he were to meet Tilda, which she didn’t see happening, it didn’t mean he’d make the leap that he and Tilda were related.
After filling her cup and adding sugar, she leaned against the counter, staring out the window. Jade had arrived late last night. When it came to causing trouble she’d always led the pack. Ginny smiled. Her mind wouldn’t have time to wander with Jade around.
The doorbell rang.
Sighing, Ginny took another sip before going to answer it. She knew it was Rodney from next door. Practically every Saturday he conveniently hit a ball over her fence and needed to enter the property. She had no idea what was so interesting about her side of the—
It wasn’t Rodney. Through the long, narrow window she saw Parker standing at the door. And he most definitely saw her. No pretending she wasn’t home. But having the reunion as an excuse, she figured she could get rid of him quickly.
Gripping the knob, she took a deep breath and then opened the door. “Parker. This is a surprise.”
“I know,” he said, shrugging. “I would’ve called first if I’d had your number.”
And he couldn’t have taken the hint?
Instead of pointing that out, she held on to a polite smile. He wore jeans again, but they were dark blue and went well with the green polo shirt tucked in at his slim waist.
“Mind if I come in?” he asked. “I won’t stay long, and I come bearing gifts.” He held up a white paper bag, probably from Gustav’s. Great. The bakery was off-limits to her.
“Okay,” she drawled. “Honestly, I only have a few minutes. I was just on my way out.”
As she stepped back, holding the door wide, his gaze slid down the front of her body.
Wondering about the flicker of amusement in his eyes as he walked past her, she looked down at herself...
Her faded, oversize granny robe had to be a hundred years old. On the left side was a hole you could drive a truck through, and it was so long the hem dragged on the floor behind her.
She bit back a whimper.
Then, as if that wasn’t enough, she remembered that she’d made it through only half of her makeup ritual. She had to look like a stupid clown. Good. Maybe he’d leave sooner.
Ginny clutched the front of her robe, making sure there were no gaps, and gestured for him to go into the living room. Tilda always teased her about the robe, pointing out she was too old to have a security blanket. Her daughter wasn’t too far off the mark. The robe was Ginny’s go-to when she was sick or upset or just feeling a bit blue.
“I smell coffee,” Parker said. “Any chance I can get a cup?”
“Sure, although if you use cream you’re out of luck. All we have is milk.”
His brows drew together in the oddest frown. “We?”
Ginny swallowed. Hard. “My daughter,” she said, and saw him glance toward the hall. “She’s camping with friends this weekend.” Ginny cleared her throat. “I’ll go get your coffee.”
Too frazzled to think straight, she swept a swift gaze around the room as she headed for the kitchen. Sitting on the bookshelf closest to the piano were two framed pictures of Tilda, one from when she was five and the other from her twelfth birthday. They were in plain sight. Nothing short of a miracle would stop him from looking at them, which would lead to questions Ginny didn’t want to answer.
Her hand shook as she poured him a cup, and she cursed under her breath when some of the hot brew burned her fingers.
“Here, let me get that...” His voice came from close behind.
She jerked, spilling half the coffee onto her hand and the floor. She clamped her lips together.
“I didn’t mean to startle you,” he said quietly and took the cup from her. After setting it on the counter, he picked up her hand and inspected the red skin.
“It’s nothing.”
“Do you have any ointment handy?”
He’d shaved, she realized, doing some close inspecting of her own. The dimple on his chin was more visible, and the sudden urge to rub her thumb over it had her pulling her hand back.
“It’s fine,” she said and returned the carafe to the coffee station, then went to the fridge. The second she opened it she remembered the milk was already on the counter.
“Okay to use this?”
She turned to find him holding up the kitchen rag she left draped on the dishwasher handle. She nodded and watched him crouch to wipe the coffee off the hardwood floor. “Do you clean windows too?”
Glancing up, he grinned. “With the right motivation, you bet.”
Oh, no, she wasn’t taking the bait. She gave him a slight smile and slid the small ceramic pot of sugar toward him as he rose. “Thanks,” she said, gesturing vaguely at the floor.
He eyed the nearly empty coffee carafe.
“I’d offer to make more, but I know you don’t have much time. Go ahead and finish it up. It’s still fresh.”
“I brought something from Gustav’s...”
“I guessed,” Ginny said, sighing.
Parker paused, the amusement in his eyes hard to miss. “The bag’s in the living room. Are we going back out there, or should I go get it?”
“Yes, please.”
His brows went up.
“Let’s stay here.” Maybe, just maybe, he hadn’t noticed the photos. Knowing she had a daughter was one thing. Knowing her daughter’s age, well, that was something else altogether.
She went ahead and scooped up the remainder of the beans she’d ground earlier, enough for at least half a pot. Anything from Gustav’s required coffee as an accompaniment. And not just any brew but the really good stuff, of which she was always sure to have a vast supply.
Parker returned quickly and made himself at home finding the small plates and setting them on the table along with forks and napkins.
She was dying to know what he’d brought, but she wouldn’t ask. As soon as the coffee started to brew she turned to him. He swiftly brought his gaze up to eye level. The robe...
When he pulled a chair out from the table for her, she bit her lip as she sat down. Why was this suddenly feeling like the Last Supper?
“Go ahead and open the bag,” he said, as he took a seat across from her.
“I’m not sure I should be starting the day with sugar,” she murmured, even as she reached for the sack. “I drank more alcohol last night than I typically drink in a whole year.”
“You don’t look hungover.”
Ginny peeked inside the bag and groaned. “I love anything Gustav makes, but the cardamom rolls are my absolute favorite.”
“I know.”
She frowned at his pleased smile. “How?”
“I asked.” Parker shrugged. “I figured someone behind the counter would know you.”
“I haven’t been in there for months.” Sniffing, she tore the bag open. She had no willpower when it came to all the ridiculous pastries they offered.
“Why not? Have you been touring?”
She put the roll on her plate and pushed the bag at him, her appetite diminishing suddenly. Something in his piercing blue eyes told her he already knew the answer to that question. She wouldn’t be at all surprised if he’d been asking around about her. Despite the hordes of tourists and all the summer people, the locals managed to stay tight and connected.
“Touring?” She stared right back at him. “I teach piano. Here at the house. Five days a week.”
“That’s what I heard. I just didn’t believe it.”
“Why not? I make a respectable living, and I have a number of kids who are very serious students.”
“That’s not—I’m sure that’s true.” Shaking his head, he sighed. “You had dreams, Ginny, big dreams, about Juilliard and about life after Juilliard. And rightfully so. We talked about them, remember? You’re too talented to be...giving piano lessons...”
Heat crawled up her throat and exploded in her face. The anger and hurt building inside her nearly frightened her into silence. “What about you?” she asked, holding on to her temper by a thread. “Since we’re discussing our dreams. Did you ever go on to law school? Are you the big shot, crime-fighting attorney you intended to be?”
“Come on, Ginny. I’m not criticizing you, and I’m sure not looking for an argument.” He reached across the table for her hand but she snatched it away and clasped her hands together on her lap.
“I’ll take that as a no.”
“Okay. You’re right. I didn’t go to law school. I didn’t even finish Princeton.”
Ginny had willfully done the poking. She should’ve been satisfied with his weary expression of defeat as he leaned back in his chair. Why on earth hadn’t he finished Princeton? He’d been doing well and was so excited. Had he dropped out because of Meg?
Regret lasted only until she remembered they’d been talking about her broken dreams. She hadn’t prompted the discussion, he had. And whether or not he’d meant to sound critical, how she chose to live her life was none of his business. He’d lost that right the day he’d made love to her, then disappeared just hours later without a word. At least she hadn’t brought that up.
“Well, I gotta say, that’s not how I imagined embarking on my explanation,” he said with a faint smile.
The coffee had finished brewing.
She stood up, scanning the counter until she located her cup. She grabbed it and the carafe, relieved to see her hands weren’t shaking too badly. If she let him say his piece now, maybe he’d leave. Go back to wherever it was he’d come from. At the very least, she wouldn’t have to be looking over her shoulder all weekend. Nevertheless, she wasn’t about to let this conversation go on too long.
After they each had a steaming cup in front of them, she sat down. “An explanation?”
Parker nodded. “For leaving the way I did.”
Ginny calmly took a sip—then set the cup down. “You don’t owe me anything. It was a long time ago.”
“Doesn’t matter. I do owe you, and I need to get it off my chest. So, humor me?” He gave her that sexy smile she remembered all too well.
After he’d left, how many nights had she spent weeping over that bone-melting smile that had gotten her in trouble with him in the first place. And now it was making a mockery of her defenses. Darn him.
It just wasn’t fair. She wasn’t a naive eighteen-year-old anymore and she didn’t give a fig about making him feel better... “All right, go ahead.” She dragged her gaze away to look at the wall clock. Mostly, so she wouldn’t be dazzled by that stupid smile. “You have five minutes.”
“Thank you,” he said, his voice lowered. “I mean it.”
“Four minutes and fifty-six seconds.”
His deep, raspy chuckle was almost as bad as the smile. “First, I want you to know it wasn’t my decision to leave. I didn’t have a choice.”
That tactic wouldn’t work on her. Ginny believed everyone had choices. Sometimes they weren’t popular or easy, and the consequences could be life changing. She doubted anyone understood that concept better than she did.
“My dad used to work for the DEA,” Parker said, then paused to take a quick sip of his coffee.
“Wait. Not when you all lived here. He was an insurance investigator, right? Or was it a claims adjuster?”
“Neither. He’d been working undercover for a while by the time we moved to Temptation Bay. Meg probably told you the same story we were fed.”
“I wondered why he was gone so much,” Ginny said, mostly to herself. “Meg hated it.”
“We both did. Mom too. According to what she told me later, it wasn’t a problem at first. The assignments were low-level drug busts that kept him away for a week or two at the most. Then, as he became more involved tracking down an East Coast heroine distribution ring out of Florida, his boss kept sending him deeper into the organization. Usually for months at a time. At one point he was gone almost a year.”
Ginny’s eyes widened. “How was that possible? Didn’t you question where he was?”
“Of course, but my mom covered for him. Once she said he was away for job training. Another time he was supposed to have gone to Texas to investigate a case of fraud.” Parker shrugged. “We were young when it started and got used to the absences.”
“Not Meg,” Ginny said half to herself, her gaze straying toward the window. “It bothered her a lot.” Ginny thought back to the week before her friend had disappeared, when she’d begun her downward spiral. “Was that why your parents were getting a divorce?”
Parker looked taken aback. “There hadn’t been any talk of divorce. My mom would’ve mentioned it. Personally, I wouldn’t have blamed her if she had left him,” he said. “Why do you ask?”
This time it was Ginny who was caught off guard. Mr. Nolan hadn’t just been Meg’s idol, he’d been Parker’s, as well. “About a week before Meg went missing she overheard your parents arguing. She told me your dad was having an affair and leaving for good.”
Parker’s brow furrowed. “I remember you telling me she’d heard them talking. It was the day before he left for Colombia. But I don’t think you mentioned anything about an affair.”
Holding her breath, Ginny shrugged. Unfortunately, she couldn’t remember what she’d told him and what she’d hidden at the time. “I can’t recall specifics.”
“No reason you should.” He let out a weary sigh. “Too bad he didn’t leave for good. It would’ve been better all the way around.”
Ginny hid behind her cup of coffee as pieces of the puzzle started falling into place. Studying the lines of tension bracketing Parker’s mouth, the hardness in his expression, she was still curious about his animosity toward his dad. Everything had happened so long ago but Parker looked as if he’d just awoken from the nightmare. “The night you and your mom disappeared...?”
Parker’s features eased. “The agency was afraid Dad’s cover had been blown, and that Meg’s disappearance had something to do with it.”
“You mean, they thought she’d been kidnapped?”
“Or worse. It was a while before we found out she’d just run away.”
Ginny knew there was a lot more to that story, but clearly Meg had elected not to share it with her family so neither would she. However, she still had questions. But did she dare ask? Getting him on his way was her top priority. Leaving the past in the past was her safest move. She didn’t need to slip up and say something that would raise questions she wasn’t prepared to answer. Ever.
“Ginny...” He leaned across the table and brushed his fingers over the back of her hand. “I didn’t want to leave like that. Without saying goodbye, or at least explaining what was going on. It happened so quickly, and my mom...she was a mess, and at that point I was all she had.”
Nodding, Ginny managed a smile. “You could’ve called me later...when things weren’t so crazy.” She shrugged a shoulder. “Just to tell me you were okay.”
“You’re absolutely right.”
“It doesn’t matter now. I don’t know why I said that.” Good grief. Couldn’t she listen to her own counsel? She moved her hand back and brushed the hair away from her face.
“Ginny, please...”
She stood rather abruptly. “I guess you’ll be taking off soon.” She didn’t offer him any more coffee and put her cup in the sink. “Oh, I should’ve asked...how’s your mom?”
“Happily remarried. Living in Idaho.” Parker got to his feet and must’ve noticed Ginny’s startled reaction. “The old man’s been dead for fourteen years.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” Ginny’s breath caught at the detached look on Parker’s face. A wave of sadness washed over her. The Nolans had once been a close family, despite Mr. Nolan’s frequent absences, and the senseless tragedy of the situation broke her heart.
“Hey, you okay?” In seconds Parker was at her side.
“Yes, I’m fine. It’s just—I can’t begin to imagine all the pain you and your mom went through. And for nothing. So much could’ve been avoided if only Meg had said something.” He was standing close, his rugged good looks and musky scent emphasizing how different he was from the earnest, clean-cut young man she’d fallen for all those years ago.
“Sure, Meg lit the match by taking off like she did, but there was more to it.” Bitterness tinged Parker’s voice. “Turns out Dad, the big hero, wasn’t the man we all thought he was.”
Ginny didn’t know what that meant but she wasn’t about to ask him now. Her stomach churned when she realized she’d played a part in all the devastation. In her misguided loyalty to Meg, she hadn’t been entirely forthcoming with Parker and the police about what she’d known at the time. It wasn’t much, and probably wouldn’t have mattered in the long run, but still... “Did Meg’s disappearance have anything to do with you dropping out of Princeton?”
Something about the set of Parker’s shoulders, the flicker of disappointment and defeat in his eyes before the mask slipped back into place, made her want to hold him close, offer him comfort. The impulse was beyond insane. That hadn’t turned out so well the last time. Knowing she could’ve made things worse by her silence had her stomach clenching.
“Nothing went the way I planned after all that happened. But it’s worked out fine. Now I have different expectations and a lot fewer disappointments.”
The trace of rancor in his tone made her feel even worse. If only she’d said something. Anything. Light-headed suddenly, Ginny swayed a little and used the counter for support.
Parker put his arms around her. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I think the coffee might not be agreeing with me.” She didn’t resist. It felt good being held by him again. Too good, she thought as she laid her cheek against the warmth of his chest. Only because she couldn’t look into his eyes. At least that’s what she told herself.
“I didn’t mean to hurt you,” he whispered, his arms tightening ever so gently. “I was young, angry and stupid. And too self-absorbed. I should’ve called.”
Ginny didn’t dare move. Or speak. Tears stung the backs of her eyes. She refused to let them fall though. Thinking she heard the front door open, she stiffened.
“Don’t get out the shotgun. It’s just me.”
Tilda.
CHAPTER FIVE (#u77a666dd-d90a-57f6-8e81-eef1760cbf94)
PANIC SHADOWED GINNY’S EYES as she shrugged off his arms and stepped back, bumping into the counter. Parker had heard the door and immediately gave her some space.
“Tilda?” Ginny’s voice broke. “What are you doing here?”
“Um...” The girl entered the kitchen and slowed to a stop when she saw Parker. “I live here?”
“You’re supposed to be camping. Why aren’t you with Kaley and her family?”
The teen was tall and slim, her long dark hair pulled back into a ponytail that fell past her shoulders. Her big brown eyes went wide with surprise as her gaze bounced from Ginny to Parker. “Kaley’s brother had an allergic reaction to something and had to go to urgent care.”
“So the trip is canceled?”
“No. That happened yesterday. We’re on our way to Sunset Pond now.” She blinked at Parker, then gave him a little smile. “Hi.”
Ginny cleared her throat. “Oh, Parker, this is my daughter. Tilda, this is Parker Nolan.”
“Any relationship to Meg?”
He offered her his hand, which she shook with a firm grip. “I’m her brother.”
Tilda’s grin widened. “I haven’t gotten to meet her yet, but Mom talks about her a lot. And she has tons of pictures of them from high school...” She trailed off, frowning, and turned to Ginny. “Did Meg make it for the reunion?”
Ginny shook her head.
“I was hoping she might be here, so I figured I’d show up and surprise her,” Parker said with a shrug, wondering how much Ginny had told her daughter. “Guess the joke’s on me.”
Tilda gave him a closer look. “Did you go to Roger Williams too?”
He almost smiled at her lack of subtlety. And here he’d even shaved. “Nope.”
The girl was quite a bit older than she was in the picture he’d seen in the living room. Fifteen maybe? No, she had to be younger since Ginny—
His chest tightened. He studied Tilda more intently. She didn’t resemble Ginny, which didn’t necessarily mean anything. She didn’t look like him either, though her crooked smile reminded him of Meg. But that was really reaching. The math though. Numbers didn’t lie.
To have a kid this age meant Ginny would have been with someone else shortly after Parker left. He’d never seen her as the type to do something like that, but then they hadn’t known each other long. He hated to think it might have been a rebound mistake.
“I still don’t know why you’re here,” Ginny said, just as he’d been about to ask Tilda her age.
“I forgot something.”
“Ah, what a surprise.” Ginny seemed jumpy, fisting the front of her shabby robe. Being caught in their semicompromising situation could account for her nerves. But her face should’ve been pink, not ashen.
Tilda’s gaze settled on Ginny’s hand, then lowered all the way down her robe. “Mom!” She moved closer to Ginny. “Are you serious?” she said, her hushed voice loud enough for Parker to hear.
He might’ve laughed if his mind hadn’t been racing in several directions at once.
A horn honked.
They both glanced toward the window. Then Ginny gave her daughter a stern look. “Are Kaley and her mom waiting in the car for you?”
“Oops.” Tilda backed up. “I need to get my phone charger, then I’m outta here.” She sent her mom an eye signal that had something to do with the ugly robe, then she smiled at Parker. “Nice meeting you,” she said and took off.
“I can’t believe the time.” Ginny’s gaze lingered on the wall clock long enough for him to know she was avoiding him. “At the risk of sounding rude, I’ve got to get moving. I’m already late and I still need to get dressed.”
“No problem. I didn’t mean to keep you.” He retrieved his cup from the table and took it to the sink.
“Oh, please, leave it. I feel terrible rushing you as it is. It’s just that we have a few scheduled events and I haven’t seen my old gang for ages. Anyway, I’m sure you’re anxious to be on your way.” She was rushing her words, clearly eager for him to leave, and that made him suspicious. “I don’t know if you heard about the storm headed up the coast. You know how awful the winds can be this time of year. I’d hate to see you stranded because your flight was canceled.”
Parker knew about the storm. If it hit land this far north, and that was a big if, the weather bureau predicted it wouldn’t happen until next week.
“Thanks for your concern,” he said, “but I’m in no hurry. Besides, what about having that drink we talked about?”
“Did we?”
Parker smiled. “Tell you what, your friends will only be here for...what...two more days? You go have fun with them. I’ll entertain myself, visit some of my old haunts, then we can meet up after everyone’s left. How does that sound?”
“I work for a living. It was hard squeezing in the reunion. I can’t just—”
“That sounds like a great idea.” Tilda stuck her head into the kitchen. “She never goes out. Ever. Okay, I’ve got my charger and we’re off. See you on Monday.”
Ginny’s glare included both of them.
Parker waited until he heard the front door close. “Tilda’s a smart kid. Very pretty too.”
Avoiding his eyes, Ginny opened the dishwasher, forcing him to back up. She put both cups on the top rack and closed it.
“How old is she?”
After washing her hands and drying them, she muttered, “Thirteen.”
He watched her hang up the towel, her hand trembling, and in that moment he knew. “Is she mine?”
Ginny straightened and faced him. Her eyes and voice clear as could be. “No. She isn’t.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“What you believe is irrelevant. It’s the truth.”
If he hadn’t seen the girl and then Ginny’s reaction with his own eyes, he probably would’ve believed her. “Is she really thirteen?”
Ginny let out a sigh. “No. Fourteen. I lied because I knew you’d think exactly what you’re thinking, which would turn into a big hassle for nothing.” She shook her head. “I swear to you, Tilda isn’t yours.”
Parker frowned. They’d used protection, he’d made sure of that. But something wasn’t adding up here. Before he could open his mouth, she walked past him toward the hallway.
She stopped, looked back. “By the way, this doesn’t give you the right to ask any personal questions about my dating history after you left town. Now, I really do need to get going and so do you.”
He had to admit, she was being calm now. But he sure hadn’t imagined her nervousness earlier. “So I’m supposed to just take your word for it?”
“Yes.”
“Mind if I see her birth certificate?”
She lifted a brow. “Yes, actually, I do.”
“Why? You have nothing to hide, right?”
Staring at him, Ginny tilted her head slightly. “Even if you were her father, do you honestly think I’d name a man who’d suddenly disappeared without a word? No letter. No phone call. Nothing. A man who could’ve been dead for all I knew.”
“Ah, so this is payback?”
“Not at all. I’m just pointing out the facts.”
“I’ve already explained to you why I couldn’t make contact at the time.”
“And I answered your question. Tilda isn’t your daughter.” Ginny held his gaze without blinking or giving any indication she was lying. “But she is mine. And I won’t allow you to disrupt her life in any way. Have I made myself clear?”
Parker studied her determined green eyes, the lush shape of her mouth, waiting for her to falter. She was a rock. Generally he was good at reading people, and rarely found reason to second-guess himself. But he was starting to do just that. Whatever had made Ginny nervous earlier might’ve had nothing to do with her daughter. Yet something still bothered him.
Finally he nodded. “I’m sure you understand why I had to ask.”
“I do. Just as you must understand my first duty is to protect Tilda. She’s a sweet, compassionate girl and gifted student with a bright future ahead of her. The last thing she needs is an emotional upheaval that would only lead to disappointment.”
“Does she know her father?” Parker saw the fire reignite in her eyes. “And yes, I know it’s none of my business.”
Ginny smiled a little. “No, it’s not. And no, she doesn’t know him. Now, I hope you have a safe trip back to wherever it is you live.”
For a second he’d thought she might be softening. “I have to say, you sure are anxious to get rid of me.” He walked toward her and she seemed to shrink back, into the hall. She didn’t look all that confident now. He stopped short, not wanting to spook her further. Ironically, he’d been heading for the front door, about to give her what she wanted. “Do you hate me that much?”
“I don’t hate you, Parker.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “Actually, I’m glad you came. The not knowing was hard. It’s been a while since I’ve thought about you and that last night before you left, at least consciously, but it feels good to have some closure.”
He put his hand out to her. She looked at it, hesitant, confusion swirling in her eyes, then she laid her palm on his. “I’m sorry I caused you any pain,” he said, tugging her closer.
“I don’t know what you’re expecting but—”
“Expectations are for suckers.” He’d learned that the hard way, but the lesson had stuck. “Just one drink, okay? I promise not to grill you, and I’d like to catch up before I leave. You name the time and place.”
She gazed up at him, her confusion giving way to a flicker of excitement. He hoped it was more about the electricity that still arced between them than about him mentioning leaving. “Maybe,” she said. “That’s the best I can do.”
Parker nodded. “It’s more than I deserve.” He lowered his head, and before she could protest, he planted a quick kiss on her forehead. Then he continued on to the front door before he did something stupid.
If anyone knew why he wanted to see her again he wished they’d explain it to him. He’d made his apology. Got his answer about her daughter. He should be relieved. His life was in Alaska. He was never going to leave there. The rest of the world revolved just fine without him. And luckily, he’d managed to find some peace in his life. Everything about living in his cabin, miles from civilization, suited him to a T. It was safe, free of emotional entanglements, less messy.
He and his business partner Mark Schwartz flew cargo, primarily to the outlying districts and small villages near waterways. They both flew out of Fairbanks, although they rarely ran into each other. Mark did most of the Anchorage deliveries. Parker liked delivering to the outliers.
He’d be a fool to allow anyone or anything to rob him of that life. Including the feelings building inside him. He’d felt the spark long before seeing it in Ginny’s eyes seconds ago. He’d thought about her over the years, generally with a mixture of fondness and shame. But the ache to hold her in his arms again, that was unexpected. And dangerous. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt her again.
Ginny hadn’t changed. She was a smart, compassionate, beautiful woman who deserved a good man, someone to share her life with and help raise her daughter. Someone a lot better than him.
* * *
GINNY STARED AT all the new cosmetics spread across her bathroom counter, defeat settling in every fiber of her being. Eyeliner pencils, a stupidly big eyeshadow palette, tubes of tinted moisturizers, highlighting sticks and a few other items she’d already forgotten how and where to apply. Did women really use all this stuff? Or did the saleswoman at the makeup counter know a sucker when she saw one?
It had been very expensive and now Ginny wondered how she was going to manage putting it to use when her hands were still shaking. She really needed to calm down.
Parker had left five minutes ago. And she honestly believed he no longer thought Tilda was his child. If he pressed, she had the consent to adoption Meg had given her. It was as good as a power of attorney, and had been witnessed by a social worker, who’d explained Meg needed it in order to give the baby up for adoption. The father’s name had never been on any documents.
It wasn’t until after several weeks—when Ginny had bonded completely with Tilda—that she considered adopting Tilda herself. She’d even spoken to an attorney about it, but the man had had concerns about the paperwork Meg had given her, and Ginny had been too nervous to move forward and have things blow up in her face.
By that time, Tilda had felt like her own daughter, and that hadn’t changed in all these years. But she still had that paper in her safe, and she’d use it if she had to. She just hoped it wouldn’t come to that.
If Ginny chose not to meet Parker for a drink and didn’t bother to call, she was sure that would be the end of it. She’d never see him again. Which was her goal, despite the ache in her heart.
How could she still feel anything for him? Anything but disdain was nuts. He could’ve contacted her once he and his mom were in the clear. But he hadn’t.
Determined to put all thoughts of Parker aside for her big night at the reunion, she faced the makeup once again. Unfortunately, her exuberance waned as she picked up the gray liner pencil that promised a sultry, smoky-eyed look. Ginny recalled it involved a lot of smudging. Not gonna happen—she was sure she’d end up looking like a racoon. Maybe she should just bag up the lot and return to the store for some help from the saleswoman. Before she could decide, the phone rang.
“Dad?”
“Ginny. I wasn’t sure I’d catch you at home. Isn’t this your big reunion weekend?”
She couldn’t imagine how he knew that...certainly not from her. “It is.”
“I hope you’re enjoying yourself.” He paused, probably wondering what came next during a normal parent-child phone call. “How’s Tilda?”
Okay, this was getting weirder by the second. “Um, she’s fine. She’s gone camping with a friend.”
“By themselves?”
As if he cared. Ginny quashed the thought. Lately he’d been trying to mend the rift between them. The least she could do was meet him partway. “No, the whole family went.”
“Well, good, I’m glad you have the weekend to yourself. Did your old gang show up?”
“Most of them, yes. It’s fun seeing everyone. I’ve recognized quite a few people. One charmer told me I could use a bit of Botox between my eyebrows.”
Her dad barked out a laugh that had her head spinning. When had she last heard that sound come from him? Ten years? Fourteen? “Don’t listen to that nonsense,” he said. “You’re a beautiful young woman just the way you are.”
Ginny blinked. His words brought a lump to her throat. What was going on? “Dad? Is everything all right?”
“With me? Of course, I’m fine. Perhaps mellowing with age, as they say,” he said with a trace of amusement. “By the way, I heard Tilda made the dean’s list.”
Startled at first, Ginny quickly realized it wasn’t at all odd for him to know about the goings-on at Roger Williams Preparatory Academy. He and most of his cronies were alumni, including the current headmaster. Truly the “old boys club.”
“Yes, she’s doing very well.”
“I must admit, I thought you were wrong in allowing her to skip the third grade. However, I imagine she would’ve been quite bored. It seems she has a head for science.” He paused. “Honestly, Ginny, I wish you’d told me she was in an accelerated program. I’m very proud of that granddaughter of mine.”
Ginny held her tongue. He should’ve been proud of her regardless. Ginny wasn’t surprised though. This was a well-worn theme in his life. If she had stayed at Juilliard she would’ve been the apple of her father’s eye. Not an outcast.
“Yes, I’m proud of her, as well. Funny you brought up her skipping a grade. At the rate she’s going she’ll graduate early and then be off to college. I’m sure going to miss her.”
“Nonsense. You must do what’s right for the child.”
“I didn’t say I would hold her back. Although if she wasn’t at an appropriate maturity level, I wouldn’t hesitate to do just that.” Ginny’s brusque tone was met with silence. She never spoke to her dad like that. She cleared her throat. “Tilda’s SAT scores should get her a scholarship, especially now that we know MIT has her on their radar. So I don’t think I’ll have to worry about shelling out exorbitant tuition.”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, you know I’ll take care of my granddaughter’s college expenses.”
Ginny waited, holding her breath, half expecting him to give her a list of conditions. The offer was an amazing turnaround on his part, and she felt equal parts gratitude and resentment. If Tilda had been an average student, would they even be having this conversation? Would they be on speaking terms at all? Plus, she knew that if he were to pay Tilda’s tuition he would insist on full input as to which university she attended.
“Thank you, Dad. That’s very generous of you,” Ginny said, choosing her words carefully. “We’ll discuss it later. I’m running a little late here.”
“All right, I didn’t mean to keep you. Give my best to Tilda.”
Out of pure selfishness, Ginny sometimes wished she hadn’t let Tilda skip third grade. She couldn’t imagine living in the house without her. They’d been through so much together. But she would never clip Tilda’s wings, or do anything that would hinder her very bright future.
Anyway, if things went well with the Rhode Island Philharmonic, Ginny would have very little time to miss anyone. She’d have a second chance at a career—not the one she could have had. There’d be no Carnegie Hall in her future. Though if she did well, there was a good chance of steady work in smaller venues, which would be just fine with her.
But that presented another problem. At thirty-two, she still had time to have babies of her own. She’d been honest with Harlow... Ginny truly did want to have a bigger family. And she wanted to experience all of motherhood...the aches and pains of pregnancy, giving birth, all of it.
Oh, Tilda would always be hers. Ginny couldn’t possibly love her more. But she knew Tilda would be thrilled with a little brother or sister, and Ginny longed for a partner to share her life, and the laughter of children to fill her house and her heart.
CHAPTER SIX (#u77a666dd-d90a-57f6-8e81-eef1760cbf94)
THE MOTEL MADE Parker’s cabin feel like a palace—before he’d installed the indoor plumbing. But he’d stayed in worse. At least the TV worked, although it wasn’t loud enough to compete with the soothing sound of the stone’s-throw highway serenade keeping him from getting a nap at all. It wouldn’t be so bad if he’d gotten some rest last night, but nope. He’d grown used to the calls of moose, bears, wolves, the squeal of hawks and higher calls of elk.
So he thought about Ginny. Not just Ginny from this morning, with her torn robe and half-done makeup, but Ginny from the night they’d come together for comfort.
He’d spent a lot of years regretting that he’d let things go so far, and just as many that he hadn’t come back to find her, to explain why he’d left so suddenly. But he’d known she was headed for big things, and his own life plans had diminished to less than wishful thinking.
Nothing could have shocked him more than finding out she’d stayed in Temptation Bay and taught piano from her family home. Except that she’d had a child.
Although Ginny had convinced him that Tilda wasn’t his, he couldn’t seem to shake the idea that Ginny was hiding something. It bothered him that he was making decisions based on a girl he’d known briefly years ago. Even though they’d been more than acquaintances, they hadn’t been friends, not in the way he understood the concept. They’d shared a common loss. His sister running off had made Ginny doubt herself and what she’d meant to Meg. Finding his sister gone had made his father’s absence so much harder for Parker to accept.
The idea that he believed he would have known if Ginny had lied to him was a conceit he had no business entertaining. Tilda could be his. What seemed clear was that whether he was the girl’s father or not, Ginny had no interest in letting him into their lives.
Truthfully, he wasn’t sure whether to be angry or grateful.
Maybe she had slept with some dark-eyed stranger the day after he and his mom had been forced to leave. Although that was as hard to believe as Meg wanting to come home.
Facing reality head-on was all that had saved his sanity after his father’s betrayal. And it was a lot easier to admit the truth when the nearest neighbor lived across three rivers.
He turned on his side and punched the pillow, although he felt certain the pillow had given up the fight hours ago. The ring of his cell phone was a welcome distraction. That it was Denali Wildrose screaming through his smartphone as if they were talking on two cans tied by a string made it a mixed blessing.
“Where you at?” Denali asked, his tone as gnarly as his calloused hands.
“I’m away. Mark is bringing your supplies.”
“Who’s that? Your partner?”
“Yep. You’ve met him.”
Denali grunted. “He’s late.”
“I can’t do anything about it from here.”
“Anchorage?”
“Nope. Rhode Island.”
“What? Who you got down there?” The old-timer didn’t trust anyone who wasn’t Native American. But Denali was a good man. Had six kids. Raised them all on his own after a boulder had killed his wife during an earthquake. But he was getting on in years and odder by the day.
“What else did you need, Kaskae?” Parker asked. “It takes time to get to Hoonah, and he’s got double the work since I’m not there.”
“That doesn’t make my stomach stop grumbling. We can’t cook nothing before we get that part for the oven.”
“Light a fire. You’ve got a perfectly good camp stove right outside your back door.”
“Okay, okay. You be back next week?”
“I hope so.” Parker said, although he wouldn’t swear to it. Not yet.
“What business you got in the Lower 48, anyway?”
“The none-of-your-business kind.”
Denali snorted. “You ain’t sick are ya?”
“No. It’s family stuff, okay? I’ll be back as soon as I can. And don’t give Mark a hard time. He’s doing me a favor.”
“He’s got shifty eyes, that one.”
“Either deal with it or he can skip you this week,” Parker said, imagining the old guy’s eyes bugging out of his head. “Your choice.”
“What’s the matter with you? I gotta eat, don’t I? So does Elmo,” Denali sputtered. “By the way, he needs the other food. He won’t eat the chunky kind.”
“That cat eats better than I do. Call Mark and he’ll get it out to you if I’m not there to do it myself.”
“Don’t stay out there too long. Too much noise’ll rot your brain.”
“Right.”
“Now I have to call everybody and tell ’em you ain’t coming.”
“You do that. And tell them to be nice to Mark.”
“If he’s still shoppin’, tell him to throw in some Tongass Forest cookies. The big box.”
“I wouldn’t count on it.”
A grunt was the only response Parker got before Denali disconnected.
* * *
IT HAD TAKEN about an hour, but Ginny had finally relaxed. Catching up with her old friends felt like a tonic. Which was good, because the tea they were drinking hadn’t done the trick.
Gosh, they all looked so beautiful and carefree in their colorful sundresses, and their laughter was a time machine, taking her back to the days when these girls had been her only real break from piano practice and study. Well, these girls plus Meg.
If only...
Harlow lifted her glass. “Old friends are the best.”
Everyone nodded as they toasted, and Ginny couldn’t help picturing Meg at the table. Although she hadn’t been too tight with the others, they’d always made her feel welcome.
As Ginny lowered her glass, she did a quick sweep of the bar area, making sure Parker hadn’t suddenly popped by. She had no business being distracted while she had the rare opportunity to be with her gang. From this moment forward, she wasn’t going to do a thing but be present.
“Guess who’s here this weekend,” Harlow said, looking at Jade. “Fletcher Preston.”
Jade winced. “So, what do I care?”
Cricket and Harlow laughed.
Ginny smiled, wishing being “present” made it easier to forget about Parker.
“You were into him all of junior year,” Harlow said, as the waitress came to the table with a fresh pitcher of tea.
“At least you’re not denying it,” Ginny said, while Jade poured.
“No.” Jade grunted. “Men are dopes.”
Cricket and Harlow grinned. “Not all men.”
“Most men.”
Sipping her tea, Harlow looked around at the packed tables. “There’s someone in LA that I’ve been kind of seeing. No one special though. Another teacher. Science and math. You’d like him, Jade.”
“Just because I’m a chemist doesn’t mean I instantly bond with all other science nerds. Especially the men—superior jerks.”
“Now this is like old times,” Ginny said. “Remember Tommy Zico? That creep? Is he here? I didn’t see his name...” She gave in to the pull of scoping out the lobby again.
Harlow shuddered. “I hope not.”
“Well, how about that?” Ginny said. “Cricket. Check out who’s at the activity board.”
Jade followed Cricket’s gaze. “I’ll take him to go, please.”
It was Wyatt, the bartender from the local watering hole, Sam’s Sugar Shack. She and Cricket had met him yesterday when she’d asked Cricket for legal advice regarding Tilda...without actually mentioning names or admitting the advice was for her. He looked even scruffier, wearing a sweat-stained T-shirt over running shorts, his stubble darker, his hair a mess. Ginny had to admit, he looked hot.
“Wait a minute,” Jade said. “Cricket? He’s so not your type.”
“You don’t even know what my type is.”
“Uh, corporate. Silk tie. Penthouse apartment. Porsche.”
“You’re so wrong.” Cricket quickly polished off her drink and dropped her napkin on the table. “Don’t get into too much trouble while I’m gone.”
“Why, you hogging him all for yourself?”
“Very possibly.” She tugged her dress down, then headed his way.
Ginny’s anxiety level rose at least two notches. Seeing Wyatt reminded her that Parker could be anywhere in the crowded lobby. She guessed there was no true break from reality. “Hey, I’ve got an idea,” she leaned closer to the others. “How about we go to Sam’s and get away from the reunion crowd for a bit?”
“I’m in,” Jade said, still watching the action at the activity board. “That’s probably where all the guys who aren’t from Roger Williams are.”
“Good point.” Harlow put down her glass. “The mere idea of running into that blowhard Frank Geary gives me hives. I saw him yesterday, and he tried to talk my ear off.”
“Well, that’s a nightmare no one needs.” Jade said.
Ginny laid some money on the table. “Do you guys think we should tell Cricket where we’re going?”
“I don’t think she’ll care.” Jade nodded toward the activity board. The two looked pretty cozy already. “Come on, I’d like to see Sam’s now that I’m legal.”
Harlow and Ginny both laughed.
“What?” Jade’s voice was the epitome of innocence.
Harlow snorted. “As if being underage ever stopped you.”
After they settled the check, Ginny led the way to the beach. Being outside was a relief. It was hot, yes, but the ocean breeze coming off the bay felt like heaven.
“I got dibs on anyone who remotely resembles the bartender,” Jade said.
Harlow stopped so suddenly Ginny almost ran into her. “Are you nuts? You can’t have dibs before we even walk in.”
“Who says?”
Harlow towered over Jade, but there was fierceness in both their eyes. They’d had enough challenges in their lives that Ginny already knew they could hold their own against the rest of the world. She’d always envied their gumption. Cricket’s too. Ginny had been more of a follower in the beginning. It was Meg who’d made her believe she could stand her ground. Always before, she’d been cowed by her father, who’d had a knack for finding her weak spots and exploiting them.
Meg had had his number from the first time she’d come over to Ginny’s. If it hadn’t been for her friend’s unwavering belief in shy little Ginny, she’d never have had the courage to leave Juilliard and care for Tilda despite her father’s vehement disapproval.
“Okay, fine,” Jade said. “We get to the table and if we like the same guy, I’ll arm wrestle you for him.”
Harlow laughed. “You little pip-squeak. There’s no way you’ll win.”
“Oh, really? We’ll just see about that.”
Ginny had clearly missed some of the conversation, but the two of them were now speed-walking to Sam’s. Ginny had to hustle to catch up, anxious now to see the outcome of this World Wrestling Federation mash-up. She giggled as they went up the few stairs to the popular hangout, while Jade and Harlow egged each other on.
“Wow, this place hasn’t changed a bit,” Harlow said as she glanced around at the funky decor, with hanging piñatas and bikini tops dangling over the tables and wicker chairs, assorted bric-a-brac like Hula-Hoops and license plates hung on the walls and from the ceiling. Hula girls bobbled in the center of every table. Even the uniforms—short denim cutoffs and cropped T-shirts with the bar’s logo—hadn’t been updated...ever.
“Hey, you guys.” Jade had already slipped into the thick of the crowd. “I’ve got a table. Come on.”
The place was packed with tourists, and it took Ginny a minute to get through the crowd but she finally took her seat.
Jade signaled the waitress. “This was a genius idea. We’ve hit the mother lode. Check out the guy by the jukebox.”
“I’m pretty sure half the bar heard you.” Ginny leaned in, keeping her voice low.
After Harlow ordered a pitcher of margaritas, Jade put her hand over Ginny’s. “Sweetie, it’s okay to loosen up every once in a while. You’re not seeing anyone, am I right?”
“With Tilda around? I don’t even remember the last guy who asked me out.”
“Well, don’t you worry. There are plenty of men here this weekend. We’ll fix you up.”
“I don’t know. I think you guys are bad influences on me. I was always stuck behind a piano, remember?”
“And the night of the junior prom when you were out until one in the morning? Your father almost sent you to a nunnery.”
Ginny groaned. “Jade, you know perfectly well we really did have a flat tire. It was you and Harlow who kept staying out past curfew.”
“Oh, girl, what you’ve missed out on. Tonight’s your chance to make up for lost time.” Jade watched a far-too-cocky golfer sashay past their table. “I promise I’ll find you someone decent.”
“Oh, I don’t need any help,” she said, “I already have someone in mind.”
Both women widened their eyes. “Who?”
Ginny was instantly sorry she’d teased them. She wasn’t thinking clearly. Too much was going on, and she’d been completely caught off guard after Parker had shown up. Maybe she should meet up with him before the dinner. Get it over with. Send him on his way.
But something about him was making it hard to do the smart thing. It didn’t seem possible that they could still have the chemistry they’d shared so long ago. Too much water under the bridge. Surely he had another woman in his life. Besides, nothing meaningful could come of the two of them. Not with Tilda in the picture.
“Ginny? You okay?” Harlow stared with concern.
“I’m fine. I’ve been thinking about Meg a lot, and it’s distracting, you know? I haven’t heard from her in a while, and I feel like we’re losing touch.” She’d never tell her friends anything about Meg’s real situation. That even if she were alive, she must be in hiding, or under Danny’s thumb. She knew Meg wouldn’t want her to share that information.
“Yeah, you guys were close,” Jade said. “I always liked her, even though she could be crazier than me. I kind of figured that we canceled each other out. It was that, or we’d end up driving each other nuts with our...eccentricities.”
Harlow let out a laugh. “That’s one way of saying you were a lunatic.”
“Gee, thanks.” Jade took a very large drink of her margarita, then dabbed her lips with a napkin. “You have to admit, the two of us made that uptight school a heck of a lot more interesting. Meg sure did have some great moves, aside from getting Miss Piano Practice out from behind the keyboard more than I could.”
“Miss Piano Practice?” Ginny hadn’t heard that one, and she didn’t like it one bit. “Did you guys really call me that?”
“Not until today,” Harlow said. “And that was all Jade.”
“We love you, Ginny, you know that.” Jade grinned. “We’d never diss you. Even when you had to cancel all the time.”
“Well, yeah, I did. Which wasn’t easy. But I might, and I stress the word might, be touring with the Rhode Island Philharmonic.”
“What! Are you kidding?” Jade rushed on. “You waited this long to tell us?”
Harlow’s mouth dropped open. Then she started firing questions—when, where, how they could get tickets.
“It’s not happening right away,” Ginny said, shushing their exuberance. “I’m not going on tour while Tilda’s still at Roger Williams. She still comes first.”
“But that’s fantastic. See? Who says you can’t have your cake and eat it too?”
Ginny smiled, still carrying a bit of doubt about sharing the news. Normally, she preferred to remain cautiously optimistic, knowing all too well that the best-laid plans could turn on a dime. “I hope it turns out. I’ve been working with them, doing a couple of guest spots.”
“Of course it’ll turn out.” Harlow lifted her glass. “To dreams coming true.”
Ginny clicked her glass to theirs. “Maybe it’s turning out that we’re all getting what we need instead of what we wanted.” Ginny smiled, even though she couldn’t shake the feeling that Parker showing up out of the blue was the last thing she needed.

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