Summer at the Shore (Seashell Bay Book 2) Page 26

  Capstone chuckled. “Low blow, Butler. Low blow.”

  Well, enough with the pleasantries. “I haven’t changed my mind, Cap, if that’s what you’re calling about.”

  “Never thought you would. But if you shut up and listen a minute, you might want to hear about a conversation I had with HQ late yesterday.”

  “Okay, I’m listening,” he said cautiously.

  “HQ thinks you’re too valuable an asset to give up on. Don’t ask me why,” Capstone said with a snort. “I’m just a grunt so I didn’t question the West Coast high and mighty.”

  “That would be a first,” Ryan scoffed.

  His controller chuckled. “Shut up and listen, Butler. When the ops director asked if there was anything we could do to change your mind, I told him there was only one thing that might tempt you, and it wasn’t more money. It was a combat-training role.”

  His heart started pounding like he was under fire on a rooftop in Ramadi. Had Cap somehow managed to talk HQ into it? A position at the company’s national training center near San Antonio, Texas, was exactly what he’d wanted.

  “So after I told them that, the brass went off to examine their navels,” Capstone said. “Last night, the director called and said they’re willing to transfer you to the NTC, but only if you sign back on for a minimum three-year stretch. The guy slated for the job got T-boned in San Diego a couple of days ago and won’t be working for a real long time, if ever. They had another operator in mind for the job, but when I told them about your situation, they came up with this offer.”

  Jesus. Ryan sank down on the bed, barely able to process. He’d never expected this and had completely written off a transfer—it was a promotion, actually—to the training center. Did Double Shield really want him to stay that badly? It was fucking amazing to learn that they apparently did.

  “Holy shit, Cap, I don’t know what to say. It’s such a bolt out of the blue, especially after everything we’d talked about.”

  Capstone snorted again. “Tell me about it. I figured it was worth a shot to try the idea out on HQ. I knew they were high on you. Hell, they ought to be after all my performance evaluations. There was a whole lot of luck involved, but I have to say the bastards surprised me too.”

  “Yeah.” His brain worked double time to process the implications of the offer. When he glanced down at the crisply made bed, he had a sudden and vivid image of how beautiful and peaceful Morgan had looked sleeping there this morning. Finally relaxed, finally happy. His throat tightened.

  Shit.

  “Besides the three-year commitment, there’s one other catch,” Capstone said.

  Ryan’s grip on the phone tightened. “There always is.”

  “It’s not a big one. It’s just that they need you there Monday. I know you wanted to be off all summer, but they won’t budge on that, pal. They’ve got an instructor training class ready to go, so you need to be there by Sunday at the latest.”

  “No flexibility at all?” Ryan knew there wouldn’t be, but the words just came out. He needed more time to think.

  “Zero. You don’t show, they’ll promote the other guy.”

  Ryan’s stomach was twisted like a tangled trapline. After everything he’d said to Morgan, how could he take off that soon? Talk about bailing out—on the inn, on Sabrina, and especially on Morgan.

  “You’d better say yes,” Capstone said, “or I’m going to look like a first class dickhead to HQ since I went to bat for you.”

  The job was exactly what Ryan wanted. He didn’t have to think about that part because it had been on his mind for months. Transferring to a training role was the only way to stay in the game but not live the kind of nomadic life that no longer made sense to him.

  But he had to think hard about Morgan and what he was going to say to her.

  “I appreciate everything you’ve done, Cap,” he said. “But I’ll need a little time to think.”

  “Jesus Christ, Butler, isn’t this exactly what you wanted?” Capstone thundered. “Guys kill for these opportunities.”

  “Just give me a day, okay?” Ryan countered. “One freaking day. I made commitments to people here, and I have to get out of them.”

  Capstone cursed under his breath. “Okay, you’ve got twenty-four hours, not a damn minute more. I can lie and say that I couldn’t get through to you today or some other bullshit thing, but tomorrow is the best I can do. Otherwise, it’ll look like you’re not serious, and they’ll probably pull the offer. You know how they are at HQ. They never screw around. We’re all just cogs in the machine.”

  Ryan figured if he couldn’t make up his mind in twenty-four hours, he didn’t really want the job, did he? “That’ll do, Cap. And thanks a lot.”

  “You’re not very fucking welcome,” Cap growled. “Just make sure you call me first thing tomorrow.”

  “Count on it.”

  Ryan clicked off and stared blankly at the wall for what seemed like an eternity before he could even start to sort out his spinning thoughts. The moment his controller had dangled the training job, he’d almost screamed “yes” into the phone, thanking his lucky stars for an opportunity he’d wanted so badly. But for some reason, he hadn’t been able to pull the trigger. Something had held him back, and that something was clearly the woman who had been with him in this bed last night—the woman he’d have to say good-bye to, maybe forever, if he headed to Texas.

  One thing he knew for sure—that good-bye was going to be a lot rougher than he’d have ever believed possible.

  He had twenty-four hours to make a decision, but deep down he knew he’d already made it.

  Morgan sipped green tea from a tiny porcelain cup as she studied her sister across the little café table. Sabrina was devouring her Thai ginger noodles while Morgan was barely picking at her stir-fry vegetables and rice. One bite in, she’d discovered she had little appetite, probably because she’d learned that she could never be sure how her sister was going to react to any change in life circumstances. Her nerves were just a bit too jittery to make food appealing.

  Energized after another awesome night in Ryan’s arms, she’d picked up Sabrina at Golden Sunset and caught the eight forty boat into Portland. Less than an hour later, they were browsing the showroom at Down East Weather Vanes and talking to the owner about a custom-made vane—one featuring a lobster boat. She’d left a photo of Miss Annie for use as a model and couldn’t wait to see Lily’s face the first time she looked up at the B&B’s roof and recognized the little replica of her boat.

  Morgan wanted the new vane to be a visible symbol of Golden Sunset’s new beginning and a tribute to her best friend.

  Back in Portland, as they were strolling up the hill to the vegetarian bistro Sabrina picked for lunch, Morgan had decided to deliver her news there. She was pretty sure Sabrina would be happy, but if it turned out not to be the case, at least she figured her sister would be less likely to make a scene at a restaurant.

  “At the rate we’re going, I think our Labor Day reopening promotion is going to bring us a full house,” Morgan said to lead off the discussion. “Inquiries are already coming in even though the online ads just started.”

  She’d received three e-mails so far, two asking for more details to supplement the sketchy information she’d provided about kayak tours in the ads.

  “Great,” Sabrina said. “But what about Ryan? Any more news?”

  “About him leaving?” Morgan said, though she knew exactly what her sister was asking.

  Sabrina gave her a wry smile.

  Morgan wasn’t sure how to convey what Ryan had told her because she wasn’t sure what it meant. She didn’t want to get her sister’s hopes up only to have them smashed again when he decided to take off. “Well, for one thing, he just told his company that he’s not coming back.”

  “Yay!” Sabrina said, punching her fist into the air. Then her elated look quickly morphed into a frown. “But I guess that doesn’t mean he’s staying here, does it?”


  Morgan tried hard to keep both her expression and her voice neutral. “He only said that he’s going to take it one day at a time.”

  Sabrina looked disgusted. “Then you’ll just need to work harder on him,” she said, putting down her chopsticks. “It’s so obvious we need Ryan. I’m not sure we can do it without him, Morgan.”

  Though Morgan didn’t think her sister meant that as a criticism of her, it bugged her to think that Sabrina didn’t believe they could carry on their father’s legacy by themselves. Because she’d finally started to believe they truly could.

  And wasn’t that a nice bit of irony? She was the one who’d wanted to sell the place and take Sabrina back with her to Pickle River, and now Morgan felt totally invested in making a go of it. She couldn’t help wondering how much of that she could chalk up to Ryan’s presence.

  “I sure hope we can,” she answered. “In fact, I’m starting to get more confident that the B&B can make it now. And don’t forget that Ryan said he won’t leave until he gets the kayak operation up and running.”

  Sabrina shot her a skeptical look. “You’re absolutely sure he won’t?”

  “That’s what he told me. What do you want me to do, get him to sign it in blood?” she said with a smile.

  “Yeah, that would be good,” Sabrina said with a little smile of her own. Then she started fiddling with her chopsticks.

  Morgan recognized the signs. “What is it, honey?”

  Sabrina looked a little guilty and a lot nervous. “If things do turn out okay at Golden Sunset, are you going to head back to Pickle River like you originally planned?”

  “Actually, no, I’m not. That was the other thing I wanted to tell you today. I’ve decided to quit my job, sell my house, and move back here.”

  Sabrina’s eyes went wide. “You have? Oh my God, Morgan, that’s awesome. I . . . I don’t know what to say.” Her blue eyes started to go a little teary.

  “Just say you’re happy.”

  “Hell, yes, I’m happy! And if Ryan stays, I know we can make the new Golden Sunset a success. What a team we’ll make!”

  If only. “Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves, okay? We don’t know yet about Ryan and, as for me, I’m only going to be part-time at the B&B.” She hesitated a moment, clearing her throat. “So we need to talk about that.”

  Sabrina’s gaze narrowed. “Part-time? What exactly does that mean?”

  “It means I’m still going to teach. I’m just planning on doing it here in Portland instead of Pickle River, and part-time instead of full-time. I’m going to try to get work as a substitute teacher in the city.”

  “Oh.” Sabrina looked deflated.

  Here comes the tricky part. “I’m sure we can make it work, especially since I won’t teach during the summer. But it’ll mean that you’ll have to take on a little more responsibility.”

  Sabrina stared at her and then pushed her plate away. “It’s fine to say that, but you know there are things I just can’t do. I wish I could, but . . .”

  Morgan shook her head. “I’m not talking about taking responsibility for keeping the books and paying bills and promotion or any of that. I mean you can do stuff like ordering supplies and arranging for deliveries. And you’ll have to spend more time taking care of the guests when I’m gone for the day.” She smiled to take the edge off. “No more hiding out in the kitchen.”

  Sabrina’s gaze darted sideways. “I don’t know . . .”

  Morgan took her hand. “Honey, you’re definitely ready. I’ve watched you come out of your shell a little more each day, and now I can tell that you’re starting to enjoy spending time with the guests. And I’m sure you’re ready for me to gradually pass on some of the administrative work too. Really, it’s the only way we can make it work, because I need to keep teaching. Sabrina, as much as I love the inn and the island, I can’t imagine never having a classroom full of kids again. It would rip my heart out.”

  Her sister slowly nodded. “Since Dad died, every time you talked about your kids and your school it scared the shit out of me because I know how much it means to you. It made me think you’d never stay in Seashell Bay, no matter what happened. I felt like my heart was being ripped out too.”

  “But now?”

  “Well, I’m okay, I guess. And I understand how much you love it. It’s like how I love the inn.” Sabrina blew out a breath and smiled. “Hey, even if you are only part-time at Golden Sunset, you’ll still be living with me and working with me. I really, really hope Ryan sticks around, but even if he doesn’t, I’m just so freaking happy that you’re staying.”

  Morgan pulled her chair right next to her sister’s. “You’d better give me a big hug right now, ’cause I really need one.”

  Sabrina hugged her as if her life depended on it. “I love you so much,” she whispered in Morgan’s ear. “Thank you for not giving up on me.”

  Chapter 25

  Morgan had secretly hoped that Ryan might be waiting for them as the ferry nudged against the Seashell Bay dock. It made no sense since he’d know her truck was parked at the landing. But that hadn’t stopped her from hoping that he’d be there, eager to be with her and help them with their stuff.

  How girlie can you get, Morgan?

  She chided herself for being a dope, even as she scanned the length of the pier for any sign of him. Maybe it was because the day had gone so well that she’d indulged in a little wishful thinking. Everything finally felt like it was coming together after a long time of feeling like it was all coming apart.

  “It was awesome to spend the whole day with you in the city,” Sabrina said as they lugged their purchases to the parking lot. “We won’t have many chances to get away together once we reopen.”

  “Oh, the glamorous, twenty-four-seven life of B&B owners, right? At least ones that can’t afford hired help.”

  “It’s pretty sweet, actually,” Sabrina said. “We don’t have to take orders from some dumb boss. And as a bonus, I get to spend lots of time with my sister.”

  That comment alone made Morgan feel like all the struggle and angst she’d endured along the way had been worthwhile. “I feel exactly the same way,” she said.

  “I’ve been thinking a lot lately about your idea to rename the place,” Sabrina said. “And I guess I’ve changed my mind about that.”

  Morgan stared at her sister. “Really?”

  Sabrina gave a quick nod. “How about calling it The Merrifield Inn? I think Dad would like that. It would be a nice way of honoring his memory, don’t you think?”

  “I absolutely love it,” Morgan said, her heart overflowing. “It’s a fabulous idea.”

  Morgan gave Sabrina a long, heartfelt hug and then they loaded the stuff into the truck and drove the short distance to the B&B. Morgan’s heart did a silly flip when she spotted Ryan’s dumpy, old golf cart in the driveway, simply because it was his.

  She had it so bad.

  Sabrina pointed down the slope to the beach. “Ryan’s been out in his kayak again.”

  Shading her eyes, Morgan turned her gaze and saw Ryan slowly climbing the path. He wore only navy swim trunks and sunglasses. Against the ocean backdrop, with the sun behind him, he was like a freaking bronzed sun god rising up out of the azure sea. Just looking at him made every muscle in her body go weak.

  “I’ll take this stuff inside,” Sabrina said. “I’m sure you two will want to . . . uh, talk.” Her sister grabbed the various bags containing their shopping haul and disappeared into the annex.

  As Morgan started down the path to meet Ryan, tendrils of anxiety whispered through her. Even from a distance, she could tell something was wrong. Though he was smiling, it wasn’t the sunny smile she’d gotten used to, nor even the wry one when he was about to tease her or make fun of himself. No, this smile was tentative, maybe even worried.

  She sucked it up and gave him a big smile as he came up to her.

  “Sabrina and I had a wonderful day,” she said after h
is hello kiss. “The weather vane place is going to custom make us an awesome lobster boat, and I’m getting it painted in Lily’s colors. They said it’d be ready on Friday, so I was hoping maybe you could put it up over the weekend?” Realizing she was babbling, she stopped and took a deep breath. “How was your day?”

  “Okay.” Ryan let her go and eased away. “Can we go for a walk on the beach and talk?”

  Oh, shit.

  Now he was looking grim. And in her experience, when somebody said they wanted to talk, it meant nothing good was in store. Morgan instinctively looked down at her feet. Her low heels weren’t really suitable for strolling on the pebble-laden beach, but she wasn’t about to waste time running into the house for sandals or sneakers. Not with him looking like he had a parcel of bad news to deliver.

  “What’s going on, Ryan?” she said impatiently.

  “Wait a minute and I’ll tell you everything.”

  Everything. Ugh.

  Ryan reached down and grasped her hand, leading her quickly down to the beach. Still holding on to her, he didn’t say anything for a few moments as they started to pick their way across the seaweed and driftwood-laden mixture of sand and small pebbles. Though it had been hot again today, the breeze off the ocean made it feel cool. Maybe that was why Morgan had a sudden chill.

  “I got a call early this morning. Right after my run,” he said.

  “From Double Shield?” she guessed. Had to be.

  Ryan nodded. “From Cap. My controller.”

  It blasted through her in an instant, like a hurricane. My God, he’s going to tell me he’s going back. There was barely a shred of doubt in her mind. “He was trying to talk you into coming back, wasn’t he?”

  “He told me the brass at HQ didn’t want to lose me,” Ryan said, staring off in the direction of a lobster boat that was hauling traps a couple of hundred yards offshore. Then he turned his gaze back to her, shoving his sunglasses up on his head. His expression was somber but determined. “They’re offering me a combat training position in Texas. A three-year contract for now, but it could be a long-term thing.”