texting him the minute we hang up. Do me a favor when you get there and check in with Seamus. Make sure he’s not running our business into the ground.”
“Oh, I’d love to. He’s such a sweetheart. You couldn’t have hired a better steward to handle the ferries while you’re in Ohio with Janey.”
“He’s been a godsend for sure, but he’s full of big ideas on how we can grow the business. He exhausts me.”
Carolina laughed. “You know you’ll have to keep him on when you get back to the island. You’ll break his heart if you let him go.”
“I’ve already thought the same thing. It certainly doesn’t suck to have someone competent to lean on so I can have a life, especially now.”
“You’ve worked like a madman running that business on your own for your entire adult life. If anyone has earned a break, it’s you.”
“Thanks for that.” She’d kept the books for years after his grandfather died, until Joe hired an accountant and freed her up to pursue her own passion. He’d retained her on the company’s payroll and health insurance, however, a move that continued to be a point of contention between them. Since his grandfather had left the business to both of them, Joe wasn’t budging on either of those things.
“How’s the painting going?” she asked.
“Great. It’s nice to have time to indulge, as you would say.”
“And your class? How’s that working out?”
“I love it,” he said, still amazed that Janey had submitted an application for him to teach a first-year painting class at Ohio State and only told him about it when the school called about an interview.
“I bet you’re a wonderful teacher.”
“I don’t know about that. It’s fun, though.”
“Good. Well, I need to run and start packing. The more I think of spending the winter on the island, the more excited I get. It’s been years since I’ve been out there in the off-season. It used to be my favorite time of year there.”
“I remember. We thought you were nuts.”
“Sticks and stones, darling. Let me know how the pregnancy test works out.”
“I will,” Joe said with a sinking feeling. Janey wouldn’t actually kill him, but he doubted she’d be thrilled to be pregnant with so much school still to go before she got her degree.
Owen came awake slowly, the sensual memories from the night before hitting him one after the other, each more exciting than the one before. Laura was pressed against him, sleeping soundly in his arms. He hadn’t planned to stay, but when she fell asleep, he hadn’t wanted to disturb her.
Keep telling yourself that, you opportunistic asshole . In truth, a team of mules and ten men couldn’t have dragged him away from her lush softness. He took a quick inventory and realized her hand was tucked into the back of the jeans he’d left on out of sheer self-preservation. Her leg was between his, and her baby bump was resting against his belly.
The baby chose that moment to let him know it was awake, and Owen was breathless as he felt the ripple of movement against his skin. The miracle of it, the miracle of her, of what had been decided between them, was almost too much for him to process. He’d laid himself bare to her in a way he’d never done with any other woman. While he normally would’ve been embarrassed recalling the deeply personal thoughts he’d shared with her, he wasn’t embarrassed. Rather, he was exhilarated and relieved that she finally knew the full depths of his devotion to her.
He’d stopped short of telling her he loved her. He was saving that for after she resolved things with her estranged husband. There would be plenty of time after that obstacle was cleared for declarations of love.
Unable to resist the opportunity to touch her, he ran his hand lightly over her back as he breathed in her sweet scent. When he reached the waistband of her yoga pants, he hesitated for a second before letting his fingers venture the slightest bit inside.
“Oh, I’d love to. He’s such a sweetheart. You couldn’t have hired a better steward to handle the ferries while you’re in Ohio with Janey.”
“He’s been a godsend for sure, but he’s full of big ideas on how we can grow the business. He exhausts me.”
Carolina laughed. “You know you’ll have to keep him on when you get back to the island. You’ll break his heart if you let him go.”
“I’ve already thought the same thing. It certainly doesn’t suck to have someone competent to lean on so I can have a life, especially now.”
“You’ve worked like a madman running that business on your own for your entire adult life. If anyone has earned a break, it’s you.”
“Thanks for that.” She’d kept the books for years after his grandfather died, until Joe hired an accountant and freed her up to pursue her own passion. He’d retained her on the company’s payroll and health insurance, however, a move that continued to be a point of contention between them. Since his grandfather had left the business to both of them, Joe wasn’t budging on either of those things.
“How’s the painting going?” she asked.
“Great. It’s nice to have time to indulge, as you would say.”
“And your class? How’s that working out?”
“I love it,” he said, still amazed that Janey had submitted an application for him to teach a first-year painting class at Ohio State and only told him about it when the school called about an interview.
“I bet you’re a wonderful teacher.”
“I don’t know about that. It’s fun, though.”
“Good. Well, I need to run and start packing. The more I think of spending the winter on the island, the more excited I get. It’s been years since I’ve been out there in the off-season. It used to be my favorite time of year there.”
“I remember. We thought you were nuts.”
“Sticks and stones, darling. Let me know how the pregnancy test works out.”
“I will,” Joe said with a sinking feeling. Janey wouldn’t actually kill him, but he doubted she’d be thrilled to be pregnant with so much school still to go before she got her degree.
Owen came awake slowly, the sensual memories from the night before hitting him one after the other, each more exciting than the one before. Laura was pressed against him, sleeping soundly in his arms. He hadn’t planned to stay, but when she fell asleep, he hadn’t wanted to disturb her.
Keep telling yourself that, you opportunistic asshole . In truth, a team of mules and ten men couldn’t have dragged him away from her lush softness. He took a quick inventory and realized her hand was tucked into the back of the jeans he’d left on out of sheer self-preservation. Her leg was between his, and her baby bump was resting against his belly.
The baby chose that moment to let him know it was awake, and Owen was breathless as he felt the ripple of movement against his skin. The miracle of it, the miracle of her, of what had been decided between them, was almost too much for him to process. He’d laid himself bare to her in a way he’d never done with any other woman. While he normally would’ve been embarrassed recalling the deeply personal thoughts he’d shared with her, he wasn’t embarrassed. Rather, he was exhilarated and relieved that she finally knew the full depths of his devotion to her.
He’d stopped short of telling her he loved her. He was saving that for after she resolved things with her estranged husband. There would be plenty of time after that obstacle was cleared for declarations of love.
Unable to resist the opportunity to touch her, he ran his hand lightly over her back as he breathed in her sweet scent. When he reached the waistband of her yoga pants, he hesitated for a second before letting his fingers venture the slightest bit inside.
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