Chapter 15
“You’re taking the job,” Blaine said to Deacon after the McCarthys left his office.
“Why? So you can keep tabs on my every move? You’d love that, wouldn’t you?”
“Someone needs to keep tabs on you so you don’t end up back in jail.”
Deacon rolled his eyes. “You say that like I’m a jailhouse regular.”
“For all I know, you could be. I haven’t heard a word from you in months, and then you call in the middle of the night, needing me to pull some strings for you with cops.”
“Sorry to bother you.”
“You didn’t bother me! But what the fuck is going on with you, Deac? Aren’t we a little past the age of bar fights?”
“Maybe you are now that you’re all domesticated.”
“Happened long before I got married. In case you’ve forgotten, I’ve been a cop for a while now.”
“Like you’d ever let any of us forget.”
Blaine had to resist the urge to punch the smug smile off his younger brother’s face. “Don’t turn this around on me. What’re you doing fighting in a bar?”
“I told you. Some dude was hassling a woman. I asked him to knock it off. He didn’t want to, and we got into it.”
“Who was the woman?”
“One of the waitresses.”
“Someone you know?”
Deacon shrugged. “We’ve hung out.”
“In other words, you’ve slept with her and didn’t want any other guy talking to her.”
“It wasn’t like that. She’s a nice girl. A hardworking single mom.”
“The kid isn’t yours, is it?”
“For fuck’s sake, Blaine. The kid is not mine. I like her, and I didn’t like the way that douche was talking to her. It was that simple.”
“Did they arrest him, too?”
“Nope.”
“How come?”
“Everyone said I jumped him. They didn’t hear what he said to her.”
Hands on hips, Blaine studied the face that had always been far too handsome.
Deacon had had women throwing themselves at him from the time he was a teenager, including the mother of one of his friends.
Deacon had left the island the day after his eighteenth birthday and had rarely returned, not even for Blaine’s wedding.
Deacon was the Taylor family’s black sheep, or so their mother liked to say.
Blaine didn’t think the label was fair. Deacon had marched to the beat of his own drum, for sure, but to Blaine’s knowledge, he’d never been in any trouble—until now.
The chief of police in the town where his brother had been arrested had agreed to drop the charges if Blaine personally took custody of him and removed him from the area for the time being.
That was how Deacon had landed in Blaine’s office on Gansett Island.
Deacon picked up a framed photo of Tiffany and the girls from Blaine’s desk. “Now that you have me here, brother dear, whatever will you do with me?”
Blaine snatched the photo from him and put it back where it belonged.
“I told you—you’re going to be Gansett’s new harbor master for the season, and when the summer is over, we’ll see.
” His brother had worked as the harbor master for one of the towns in Cape Cod the previous year, and his certifications were up-to-date.
Having him here would solve one of Blaine’s pressing concerns.
The mayor had been on him about filling the position, and with Race Week signifying the unofficial start to boating season on Gansett, Deacon’s arrival was very well timed, even if his brother was probably going to be a huge pain in his ass.
“So you plan to hold me hostage here for the summer, keep me out of trouble and let me go after Labor Day, if I behave?”
“Something like that.”
“And where am I going to live during my captivity?”
“In the garage apartment at my place.”
“Oh, awesome. So you’ll be able to keep tabs on me round the clock. This is like the summer camp from hell.”
“Cut the crap, Deacon. I have no desire to keep tabs on you, but unless you want an assault charge and possible conviction on your record, you’re here to stay for the summer.”
“Does that stick up your ass ever get uncomfortable? I’d imagine it would start to hurt after a while.”
Again, Blaine wanted to punch him, but he resisted the urge. “Feel free to take the next ferry back to the mainland. I’ll give Chief Overmeyer a call and let him know you’re no longer in my custody.”
“You’d just love that, wouldn’t you?”
“What I’d love is to go home to my wife and daughters, who I haven’t seen in more than twenty-four hours, thanks to your shenanigans.”
“You’re such a family man. It’s touching.”
“You might want to try it one of these days.”
“Eww, gross.” Deacon shuddered dramatically. “No way. You can’t put a collar on me.” He tugged on the neck of his shirt. “It would kill me.”
Blaine rolled his eyes. “Marriage is the single best thing to ever happen to me. I highly recommend it.”
“One woman in your bed for the rest of your life? No way, Jose. That’s not for me.”
“If it’s the right woman, you won’t ever want anyone else.”
Deacon waggled his brows. “Variety is the spice of my life.”
“If you cause one second of trouble on my island this summer, I’ll send you back to face the music, you hear me?”
“Yes, sir,” Deacon said sarcastically. “I hear you loud and clear. I think they heard you on Martha’s Vineyard.”
“Let’s go.”
Blaine drove them home in his department-issued SUV, dodging traffic and pedestrians as they went through a town that came back to life during Race Week each spring.
It wouldn’t slow down again until after Labor Day.
Summer was Blaine’s favorite and least favorite time of year—his favorite because of the warm weather and outdoor time with family and friends.
It was his least favorite because the huge influx of tourists that came to the island to party often took him away from his family at the best time of the year.
“How do you stand being stuck here year-round? When we were kids, all we talked about was getting the hell out of here.”
“It’s different now.”
“How so?”
Tiffany. Ashleigh. Addie. That was how, but he wasn’t about to say that to Deacon after the way he’d disparaged marriage and commitment. “It just is. You might see it after you’re here awhile.”
“Doubtful. I’m already counting the days until I can go back to my real life.”
Blaine ignored him and focused on driving, dying to see his girls after one day without them.
And yes, he knew that was ridiculous, but so be it.
He loved them madly and had missed them.
He pulled into the long driveway that led to home and tooted the horn the way he did every night.
How old would Ashleigh be, he wondered, before she no longer ran out to greet him after work?
He got out of the driver’s side just in time to catch the five-year-old when she launched off the stairs and into his arms. “Hey, bug.” Hugging her tightly, he breathed in the fresh strawberry scent of her hair that came from the same shampoo her mother used. “How you doing?”
“Good. Where ya been?”
“You know where I’ve been.” She knew everything that went on. He and Tiff joked that she’d been born with the soul of a thirty-year-old. And even though he was “only” her stepfather, he adored every precocious inch of her.
“Did you find your brother?”
“I sure did. That’s him over there.” He turned her so she could see Deacon. “Ashleigh, meet Deacon. Deacon, this is Ashleigh.”
She burrowed her face into Blaine’s neck, going shy as she always did with new people. “He looks like you.”
“I do not,” Deacon said. “He is way uglier than I am.”
Before Blaine could chastise him, Ashleigh giggled.
“Hey.” Blaine gave her a playful shake. “He’s not funny.”
“Yes, he is.”
“Yes, I am,” Deacon said.
Tiffany came out with Addie on her hip, and Blaine’s heart melted at the sight of them.
All three of his girls had dark hair and exquisite faces.
The girls were the image of their mother, who was the sexiest, smartest, sassiest, funniest, most adorable woman he’d ever met.
That he was married to her still amazed him.
Forgetting all about his pain-in-the-ass brother, Blaine carried Ashleigh up the stairs to hug and kiss his wife and baby girl.
Addie bounced in her mother’s arms as she tried to get to him. “Dadadadada.”
“Someone missed her daddy,” Blaine said, taking her from Tiffany and holding both girls.
“We all missed Daddy.” Tiffany looked up at him with the green eyes that had slayed him from the first time he ever saw her.
Back then, she’d still been married to that asshole Jim Sturgil.
Blaine had thought he would die of impatience waiting for her to be divorced.
And now that she was his… How many hours until bedtime? Too many.
He kissed her quickly. “Daddy missed you, too.”
Deacon cleared his throat. “Don’t let me interrupt.”
Blaine was going to kill him before this summer was up. No question about it. “Tiffany, meet my brother, Deacon. Deacon, my wife, Tiffany, and our daughter Adeline. We call her Addie.”
Tiffany leaned around Blaine so she could see Deacon. “Nice to finally meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Deacon came up the stairs. “I’m sure you have. All good, I hope?”
“Ummm.”
Deacon laughed. “Believe half of what you hear.”
Though it was the last thing he wanted to do, Blaine released Tiffany, kissed both girls, put Ashleigh down, handed Addie to her mom and took Deacon by the arm. “Let me show you where you’re staying.”
“I guess I’ll be seeing you around,” Deacon said to Tiffany.
“I made dinner. You’re welcome to join us.”
“No, he isn’t,” Blaine said.
“Yes, he is. Come over in half an hour, Deacon.”
Blaine perp-walked his brother down the stairs and across the driveway to the apartment over the garage that also doubled as Tiffany’s dance studio. Since opening the Naughty & Nice boutique, she didn’t give lessons anymore, but she and Ashleigh still used the space to practice from time to time.
He threw open the door to the apartment, and the fresh scent that greeted them indicated that Tiffany had cleaned it ahead of their arrival. “You can thank my wife for cleaning the place for you.”
“That was nice of her.”
“The bedroom is back there. Bathroom over there. Hopefully, a free place to stay here will make it so you can keep your apartment on the mainland.”
“You’ve thought of everything, haven’t you?”
“Would you rather I left you to rot in jail?”
“Is that a rhetorical question?”
Blaine reached his limit. “I’m going to see my family. Come to dinner if you want. Don’t come if you don’t want to. Show up for work at eight in the morning. Stay out of trouble. Or I’ll send you back to face the charges.”
Before Deacon could respond, Blaine was out the door and down the stairs. He crossed the yard and stepped into the cool comfort of his own home, leaned against the door, closed his eyes and released a deep breath.
He smelled her sweet strawberry scent before he felt or heard her.
“That bad?” Tiffany asked as she wrapped her arms around him and rested her head on his chest.
That was all it took to make everything better. He held her tight against him, breathing her in and letting go of the stress of the last two days. He’d done what he could for his brother. “He likes to push my buttons.”
“Sounds like a sibling.”
“He’s exceptionally good at it.”
Tiffany laughed.
“You can’t find him funny and sleep with me, too. You got me?”
“Yeah, babe. I got you. Don’t leave again, though, okay? I hate sleeping alone.”
Blaine groaned and pressed his erection against her soft belly. “How many hours until bedtime?”
“Way too many.”
“I’m not going to make it. What’re the girls doing?”
“Watching Dora.”
“Oh, I love Dora.” They had joked that their girls would sit through a nuclear bomb if Dora was on the TV. Blaine grabbed Tiffany’s hand and led her to the half-bath off the kitchen.
“Um, what’re you doing?”
“This.” Leaving the door cracked open so they could hear the kids, he turned and pulled her into a hot kiss that made his head spin with desire. His hands moved over her, wanting to touch all of her, as if he hadn’t seen her in weeks rather than just a day.
She broke the kiss, breathing hard. “Blaine.”
“I need you.”
“Later.”
“Now.”
“We can’t.” Her nervous laughter thrilled him. Everything about her thrilled him.
“Yes, we can.” He pulled her shorts and panties down.
“Blaine!”
“Shh. They’re watching Dora. It’s fine.”
“Close the door.”
He wanted to fist-bump the air when he realized she was on board. Ashleigh wouldn’t let anything happen to Addie in the two minutes this was going to take. He was so primed, he’d be surprised if it took that long.
Tiffany tugged at the button to his uniform pants, growling with frustration when it didn’t come loose.
“Easy, baby. I got it.” He freed himself from his pants, wrapped an arm around her waist, lifted her and pushed into her heat, his head falling back as he tried not to lose control too quickly. Every damned time was like the first time all over again. “God, I love you.”
She tightened her arms around his neck. “I love you, too.”
After that, there were no more words, just the desperate pleasure he’d found only with her. Deacon could have his variety. Blaine wanted her—and only her—for the rest of his life.
“Blaine,” she said, gasping.
He knew that sound. It meant she was close. Reaching between them, he pressed his fingers to her clit and pushed her over the edge into an orgasm that took him with her. Holy fuck.
She laughed as she kissed him. “You’re crazy.”
“About you, baby.”
“Mommy! Addie is poopy!”
“Duty calls. Let me go.”
“Only because I have to.” He lifted her off him and set her gently on her feet.
Tiffany opened the door an inch. “I’ll be right there.”
They cleaned up quickly and got dressed.
“This reminds me of the early days,” she said. “Remember that time against the wall in the store?”
“I remember everything.” He gave her a lingering kiss. “Every single thing. And in case I forget to tell you, thanks for putting up with my asshole brother for the summer.”
“I’m sure he’ll be fine.”
“I wish I could be so sure.” Blaine had a feeling that having Deacon around for the summer was going to be anything but smooth sailing.