Trapped in Tourist Town Read online

  “I can do you one better, Fran. I’m coming—and I’m bringing an extra set of hands. We’ll be there in a few minutes.”

  “Bless you, sweetheart. We’ll see you when you get here.”

  She ended the call and looked up guiltily.

  “You volunteered us for some kind of grunt work?”

  “Right on the first guess! My goodness, you’re a smart one.” Cady realized she still clutched a cell phone in each hand, her gaze going from the roses to the wine to the delicious food.

  “I can call her back and cancel. I should.” She shouldn’t have been so quick to ruin their evening. She handed Burke his phone back and shoved hers in her front pocket.

  “Don’t you dare! It sounded important and we’re not going to let this person down. If they called you to come and help out on a Saturday evening, then they were desperate.” Burke swept his napkin from his lap, swiped at his lips, and tossed it on the table before standing up. “So, where are we going and what are we doing?”

  “Kittredge Manor Nursing Home. We’re washing dishes.” She may as well have said they were scrubbing toilets, by the look that came over his face. It took supreme effort on her part not to laugh.

  “Awesome. Love that place. Let’s go.”

  “Hey, I really appreciate this. But don’t think it gets you out of answering your dad. The guy is pissed.”

  The poor guy looked miserable, though whether it had to do with washing dishes on a Saturday night or having to face his father, she couldn’t be sure. But for the moment, he was giving up his time for her. If she weren’t careful she could easily fall in love with Burke Sanders. Who was she kidding? Part of her already had.

  • • •

  “So I told you once how Auntie spent a summer in New York? She was a nanny for this rich family that lived on Central Park West.”

  Burke was more than familiar with that area of Manhattan. It was where he’d grown up. But he’d finally gotten Cady to open up to him, and he wouldn’t interrupt that for the world. He nodded.

  “She still talks about those few short months as if they were the best of her life.” Cady’s voice was soft, full of wonder and emotion.

  “I can see it in her eyes whenever she goes back there, in her memories. She loved it all. The kids she took care of, the days spent playing in the park. It was like a dream. She fell in love there too.”

  This gave him pause, and Burke looked up from the inside of the giant pot he’d been scrubbing. The tip of his nose itched and he was forced to scratch it with a huge yellow glove-encased hand. Unbeknownst to him, he’d inadvertently filled the glove with dishwater, and when he raised it to his nose, he got a shocking surprise. The front of his borrowed white apron was soaked.

  “So why didn’t she stay?”

  “Class differences. She was the nanny. He was the younger brother of her well-to-do boss.”

  “Did he love her back?”

  “Yes. Apparently they were quite mad about each other.” Cady sighed, the copper lid she’d been drying stilled in her hands.

  Ever the romantic, thought Burke.

  “But if they loved each other—”

  “It was different back then, Burke. He had a responsibility to marry within his station. Auntie says his family already had someone in mind.”

  “So she just left?”

  “Once school started again, they didn’t need her. They sent her home. Her love married a girl whose family was even richer than his and they had three children.”

  “She kept tabs? That must have been painful.”

  “I totally agree. But it’s like she just had to know.” Cady tugged the freshly scrubbed pot from Burke’s hands and began to wipe it dry.

  “He died recently. I remember when she learned about it in the paper. Auntie was just devastated. She has never stopped loving him. He was her soul mate. She never married. I guess if she couldn’t have him, she didn’t want anyone at all.”

  “So ... you’re looking to head to Manhattan to find your true love, and when you do, you’ll hang on to him no matter what the obstacles?” Burke plunged his rubber-gloved hands into the thinning bubbles of the lukewarm dishwater.

  “No, silly! I’m going to the city to carve out my own experiences. I don’t want to get to be Auntie’s age and have any regrets. I don’t want to be sitting here at Kittredge Manor on Bingo night, chatting about the good ol’ days that weren’t really all that good to begin with. I want to know that I worked my hardest to get everything I wanted—that I made it happen.”

  “You don’t have a plan on what you’ll do once you get there?”

  “Do you have a plan on what you’ll do to earn money in Scallop Shores?”

  “Fair enough.” He paused, unsure of how she’d take what he needed to say next. “It’s just that Manhattan is one of the most expensive places in the country to live. I just want to be sure you know what you’re getting yourself into.” He cringed, waiting for her to take offense.

  “I’ll figure something out. Thanks for looking out for me.” She giggled as she’d clearly seen him bracing for a proper set-down.

  “We’re rebels, you and I. I’m breaking the mold that my ancestors made years and years ago. I’m going to go out and see the world. I may have to occupy an apartment with a colony of cockroaches and share my Ramen noodles and brown tap water with them, but that’s going to be my choice.”

  “Sounds appetizing. Here, pack this wet noodle to take with you when you go.” Burke held up a bedraggled piece of wet spaghetti. He flung it at Cady, who squealed.

  A loud snap was the only warning Burke had before she cracked the dishtowel against his ass. Oh, it was on! He scooped up a dollop of soap bubbles hanging out near the sink drain, waiting until Cady turned to face him. He blew them into her face, where they scattered and settled in her hair. She reached around him and grabbed the long hose that served as a faucet. Aw, crap! Before he even had time to hold up his hands in surrender, she’d doused him good.

  Burke backed away, making the sign for timeout. They were both nearly breathless from laughing. Water dripped all over the floor, but the dishes were finished, stacked neatly on the counter. Grabbing a second dishtowel, he dropped it to the tiled floor and used his foot to mop up the excess water. Cady did the same with hers and, for a minute, it looked like they were doing a funny dance.

  “I think we’re done. Thanks for doing this with me, Burke. I know it’s not how you’d planned to spend your Saturday evening, but I really appreciate it.”

  “You want to thank me? I know a good way.” He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

  “Burke!” Her eyes went wide as saucers, her cheeks suddenly stained a bright pink.

  “Whoopie pies. We brought the container with us, remember?” He winked. “What were you thinking?”

  “Ooh! I can do you one better.” Cady scrambled around the industrial-sized kitchen sink and rummaged inside a cupboard at the back of the room. Spinning around, she held up a half-empty bottle of Jack Daniels.

  Now, this was his kind of woman!

  They slid to the floor, backs against the cabinets. Burke held a Tupperware container of whoopie pies in his lap and Cady opened the whiskey, took a swig, and passed the bottle to him. He cracked open the lid on the sweets and handed one to her nicely.

  Cady stuck out her tongue and licked her way around the circumference of the chocolate pie. Burke banged the back of his head against the cabinet, refusing to let out the moan that burbled just on the other side of his lips. She sucked the chocolate from the tip of one finger, grinning evilly as she caught his eye.

  “Witch!”

  “You love it.”

  “Doesn’t mean I’ll put up with it for long,” he warned.

  “What if someone were to walk in?” A saucy smile curled her lips.

  “Should have thought of that before.”

  Tossing aside the plastic container, Burke leaned over and grasped Cady’s face in both hands, claiming that sau
cy smile and the sweetness that lay behind it. He groaned into her mouth as her greedy fingers plowed through his hair, tugging just enough to hurt but not so much that he wanted her to stop. She tasted of sweet sugar and the burnt wood of Tennessee whiskey. It was far more intoxicating than the one swallow of JD that still burned his throat.

  As the kiss intensified, Burke pulled her roughly into his lap. His hands moved down to that ass he’d been dying to touch ever since Cady had sashayed out into the bakery in barely there cut-off jeans. So warm. So firm. His lips moved to the column of her neck, on his way to even greater treasures.

  “God, I didn’t realize how wet I’d gotten you.” Cady struggled in his grip.

  Panting, Burke raised his head, his sex-addled brain unable to make sense of her words.

  She was pushing against him, simultaneously plucking at her damp tank top that had soaked up excess water from his shirt.

  “Yeah. I should just take it off.” He reached for the top button, frowning when Cady covered his hands with one of hers.

  “Slow down, cowboy. This isn’t the time or place.” The look in her eyes suggested there would, eventually, be a perfect time and place.

  Sliding out of his lap, Cady slumped down beside him once more. They sat side by side, chests rising and falling rapidly. Burke didn’t dare move. Even his teeth ached from how badly he wanted this woman.

  “What are we going to do?” Her voice was still breathy.

  “F—” She placed a finger over his mouth before he could finish the word.

  “About the text you got from your dad, Burke. What are we going to do about that?”

  She was going to kill him. Only Cady could dash cold water on him, both literally and figuratively. Burke closed his eyes, resigning himself to the fact that they were no longer talking about them.

  “I’ve ignored him this long. He’s a smart guy. Eventually he’ll get the message.”

  “You know you owe him an explanation. And he deserves to hear it from you face to face.”

  Just because she was right did not make her words any easier to hear. Burke thumped his head against the cabinet again for good measure.

  “I could take a puddle jumper out of Port Kitt. Be back in town before dinner.”

  “Or you could take me with you, show me a real night out on the town.”

  “Hey, I was trying for special. That dinner, the roses—” Again, a finger across his lips was all she needed to shut him up.

  “Were all beautiful and incredibly special and I love the thought behind them, even if it meant you were groveling.” Cady wrinkled her nose, an irrepressible grin making her eyes dance. “Okay, I may have liked that part the most.”

  “Perhaps I was mistaken. Could be you aren’t so different from the women I knew in the city.” Burke chuckled, jerking back as she punched him in the arm.

  “Have to grovel often?”

  “I plead the Fifth.”

  This time he was faster, and caught her tiny fist in one of his hands. He pried the fingers open, one by one, until her fleshy palm was revealed. Raising Cady’s hand to his mouth, Burke maintained eye contact. He kissed the center of her palm, his lips lingering, and tongue darting out to taste the skin. He wanted to roar, beat his chest in manly conquest at her gasp.

  A trip to the city was looking downright appealing. Especially if it included an overnight stay. Burke kissed his way up Cady’s wrist, enjoying the tinkling sound of her giggles. He’d never invited a woman to spend the night at his place before. He refused to dwell on just how big this was. Or how scared he was that this visit would only cement her resolve to leave Scallop Shores.

  Chapter 11

  “What do you think?” Cady held up two silky nighties for consideration. The pale pink gown was a simple sheath, beautiful without being too in-your-face. The black one was much more revealing with plunging lacy bra cups. The length barely covered her butt

  “Innocent flower or sultry vixen?”

  Amanda rubbed at her lower back, arching to stretch out the muscles as she lowered herself to Cady’s bed. She shot her friend a contemplative look, chewing on her bottom lip as she carefully chose her words.

  “You guys have an understanding, right? This is just for fun? No one gets hurt?”

  “Yeah, of course. I mean, we haven’t exactly had a conversation about it. ‘Hey, just FYI, we aren’t in a relationship. Don’t go getting attached or anything.’”

  “It’s just that, the more time you spend with Burke, the more you talk about him. And the fact that he was able to hurt you so badly in front of everyone at the bakery, well, that kind of tells me that you’re already in over your head.”

  “Nothing is happening between Burke and me. Nothing can happen. We want different things.” Cady dropped the silky nightgowns on the foot of the bed and turned to the open drawer.

  “The funny thing is, Burke is the one wanting the white picket fence, the house, all of that. I’m the one wanting freedom and fun times, excitement.”

  “You don’t think you could talk him into staying in the city? He could find a job at a different magazine, one that wouldn’t have him traveling all the time.”

  Though there had been no need, Burke had asked Cady not to mention his parents to anyone. He was just starting to become involved in the community and he didn’t want everyone to look at him differently because he was the heir to a multi-billion-dollar hotel dynasty. Fitting in here, in town, was important to him. He was discovering a sense of belonging in this small town that he’d never had in the city. No, she wouldn’t be able to talk him into staying in New York. And she didn’t want to.

  “This is his dream, Amanda. If anyone knows what it’s like to chase after dreams, it’s me. I just want him to be happy.”

  Cady scuffed across the worn carpet to the tiny opening that served as a closet. Reaching into the corner, she pulled out an old L.L. Bean tote bag and carried it to the bed. The straps were bright red, her initials embroidered in matching thread across the front.

  Amanda laughed in delight. “You still have that old thing? I remember when you used to stuff it with Barbies and Beanie Babies when you came over for sleepovers.”

  “To be replaced in later years with nail polish and teeny bopper magazines.” Cady chuckled.

  “I used to try to get you to talk about what it would be like when we were married, raising our babies together. Our girls were going to have matching outfits, remember?”

  “I remember that you knew you were going to marry Chase as far back as second grade. We were what, eight years old? You wanted me to marry Foster. One big happy family.”

  “It could have been,” Amanda muttered.

  “You know I love Dimples, right?” Cady referred to the nickname she’d given Amanda’s brother years ago.

  “But he lives in Scallop Shores and is therefore out of the running.” Her friend sighed. They’d had this conversation many times.

  “Look at you, though. You got Chase. You’re having his baby. All your plans are coming true.” Cady wiggled her brows and grinned wide. “You had your wicked night. Now it’s time for mine.” Sticking her tongue out at her friend, she unzipped the tote bag and peered inside.

  “Ah yes, and what a night it was.” Amanda’s deep chuckle told her more than she wanted to know.

  Cady stuck her fingers in her ears. “La, la, la. No details. I don’t want to think about my brother doing nasty things to my best friend.”

  “Your poor brother is getting nothing but the brush-off lately, so it’s good for both of us to be able to remember what put this little one in my belly.”

  “Aw, poor little Chase. He never was very good at being told no.”

  “He’s inviting Burke to the poker game next week. He loves to torture the guy, but I think Chase really likes him.”

  Cady paused, midway between the dresser and the bed, a stack of shirts in her hands. Her brother was making nice with Burke. Damned if that didn’t make her all teary. She cou
ldn’t look at Amanda, knowing that the other woman would feed off her emotions and it wouldn’t be long before they were both blubbering idiots. And for no other reason than Chase was making an effort to include Burke in the community.

  “That’s awesome. They’ll have a great time.” She stuck her head in the closet again and pretended to study her choices, taking a moment to get herself under control.

  “Will it be weird to come home for visits? Or will you maybe want to come home more often, now that Burke will be here?” The hopeful lilt to Amanda’s voice left no question which answer she wished for.

  “I hadn’t even thought about that yet. I should probably leave town before I think about coming home for visits.” She turned slightly and threw a wink over her shoulder.

  Right now she didn’t want to think about her impending move. She didn’t want to think about life without her friends, her family, or Burke. She wanted to live in the moment. She wanted to think about her trip with Burke, pretending that it was more about getting to see the city she wanted so much to move to and not about spending time with a man who was starting to become a necessary part of her life.

  Cady needed this trip. It would be good to regain her focus, build up her excitement. Just her and Burke on a whirlwind tour of his stomping grounds. She’d get to see him in his element. The preppy, GQ guy who’d first walked into her bakery and snagged her interest. Except Burke had changed a lot since their first meeting. He was really fitting in and finding his place as a local. And for the first time in her life, Cady found herself falling for a resident of Scallop Shores.

  • • •

  There was no backing out now. Burke had made an appointment to meet with his father at ten o’clock the following morning. The fact that he’d had to make an appointment to be seen made his decision that much easier. He’d booked a couple of tickets for a puddle jumper leaving out of an old Air Force base-turned-commercial airfield in Port Kitt. This time tomorrow, he and Cady would be up above the clouds.

  But for now, he sat at his makeshift desk and worked on his latest article. Meredith was loving the off-the-beaten-path angle, and Burke felt more than a little guilty at taking full credit, since he’d never gotten around to officially asking to hire Cady on as his assistant. This week he was writing about a small mom-and-pop business that rented out boats, canoes, and kayaks by the hour to folks looking to spend a little time on Scallop Shores River.