LILY’S LIFE LESSON #23
Never chase a man unless he’s driving an ice cream truck.
Trace found Ben in the family den. He and Spence sat at the table, disinfecting a cut on Ben’s hand he must’ve gotten during the chaotic mess at the cove.
“How’s it going?” Trace ruffled Ben’s hair.
Ben’s lips puckered, and a crocodile tear slid down his cheek. “Did I get Lily in trouble?”
Trace drew in a breath, and he and Spence exchanged a look.
“I’m unhappy with both of you. Lily shouldn’t have taken you to the cove without me, and you know better than to go past the boathouse. You ran into water way over your head.”
“I can swim,” he said bluntly.
Trace nodded. “Yes, but it’ll take a few more summers of swimming lessons for you to swim well enough to go into deep water like you did. What if no one had been there to help you?”
Spence was still working on Ben’s hand, and he stilled. His stare was vacant like he wasn’t really seeing.
“You can’t put yourself in danger like that again, Ben.” The whole thing had almost cost Trace more than he could bear. “It’s not fair to the rest of us. Imagine how sad we’d be if something happened to you.”
“Like how sad I’d be if I’d let something happen to Waddles?”
Well, hell. For once, Trace hadn’t put himself in his son’s shoes. In Ben’s eight-year-old mind, something bad happening to one of his ducks was horrifying.
“Yes. Only it would be much worse.” Trace rubbed his jaw. “Promise me you won’t do it again.”
Ben nodded and sniffed. “I promise.”
Spence finished putting a Band-Aid on Ben’s hand. “Okay, little man.” The paleness of his face mirrored his grim tone. “You’re all set.” He stood.
“Ben, you owe Uncle Spence an apology. It was very . . . difficult for him to have to be at the cove.” Trace stumbled over his words, not knowing how much he could say before Spence lost his shit. “And then to have to go into the water to save Waddles was . . . a lot to ask.”
“Sorry, Uncle Spence,” Ben said.
Spence gave him a sad smile. “I’m just glad you’re okay.”
“Can you find Dad for me?” Trace asked with a knowing look. “We’ve got things to discuss.”
Spence nodded, gave him the signal for Let me know if you need me, and left.
When they were alone, Trace pulled his chair closer to Ben. “Son, I’d really like to know what you were thinking. What would make you take a risk like that?”
Ben swiped at his nose with the back of his hand and sniffled. “I needed to find a bigger place for the ducks to swim because they’ve gotten so big and soon they’ll be big enough to survive on their own, but Waddles still has a limp and his wing still isn’t right so I thought maybe if they had more room he could heal in time to fly away with the other ducks.” It all tumbled out at once.
Trace held up a finger. “I thought you were trying to stop Waddles from leaving.”
“No.” Ben’s tone said he had a perfectly sound reason for his thinking, which Trace hadn’t latched on to yet. “I didn’t want Waddles to leave today. Not until all the ducks can fly away together. When I was doing research for my project on how to let the ducks go, I found out Waddles might have to stay here with us forever if his leg and wing don’t heal.” He paused just long enough to take a breath. “Wouldn’t it be sad if he couldn’t live with his family?” Ben’s eyes glistened again. “Like if I had to leave you and everybody else to go live in Los Angeles. It would be horrible, so I asked Lily to help me.”
Ah, shit. Trace had been hard on Lily about the cove. The adrenaline rush from Ben rushing into deep water had still been pounding in his veins. But he knew his son better than anyone, and Ben could be a handful. He might’ve gone to find a swimming spot for the ducks even if Lily hadn’t agreed to go. Trace could see that now that he wasn’t crazy with fear.
Even if she’d lied about everything else, thank God she’d been with him.
“So you’re planning for the ducks to leave?” Trace asked, because all along he’d thought Ben would be upset over letting them go.
“Of course, Dad,” Ben said with an eye roll in his voice. “It’s part of my project. They’ll be happier in the wild because it’s where they belong.” He rubbed one thigh. “Like I’m happier here than in Los Angeles because this is where I belong. Can I go apologize to Lily now?”
Trace pinched the bridge of his nose. “Why don’t you go to the kitchen and see if Charley has a doughnut for you. I’ll walk you to Lily’s after I talk to Grandpa.” Because Trace and Ben both owed Lily an apology for what had happened at the cove, if nothing else.
Ben hopped off the chair. “I’m sorry, Dad.”
Trace squeezed his son tight. “Just promise me it won’t happen again, and we’re good.”
“Promise,” Ben said, and skipped away.
As he reached the door, Trace’s dad came in holding a file. He tweaked Ben’s nose. “You okay, pard’ner?”
“I’m going to get a doughnut.” He kept on skipping toward the kitchen.
Trace’s dad chuckled and took a seat at the table. “I just heard what happened.” His expression turned solemn. Worried.
Trace did not want to tell his father about Lily. Because of the fantastic job she’d done at the resort, he practically believed she could walk across the water that separated the island from the mainland without getting more than the soles of her shoes wet.
“Dad.” Trace didn’t know where to begin. So he started with her name. “Does the name Scarlett Devereaux mean anything to you?”
His dad thrummed his fingers against the table. “As a matter of fact, it does. Lily listed her as a reference.”
Trace leaned forward. There was no way to put it delicately, so he decided to blurt out the truth. “Lily is Scarlett Devereaux. She lied to you. To me. To all of us. She pretended to be someone she’s not, and apparently, her father has a lot of enemies. The press has been after her. If they find out she worked here, Megan might even be able to use it. I just don’t know.” He drew in a breath to deliver the last of the story. The worst of it that would likely be a blow to his dad. “She targeted the Remington because we didn’t do a background check.” Trace hesitated. “I let her go. She’ll be leaving the island as soon as the storm blows over.”
His dad went silent, nothing but his finger-thrumming filling the room.
“Say something,” Trace insisted.
Finally, his dad leveled a stare at him. “What makes you think I didn’t do a background check on Lily?”
Trace stared at his dad. Cleared his throat but couldn’t speak.
He had nothing.
“You know the story about how I met your mother,” his dad said.
By heart. Trace waited because he had no idea where his dad was going with this.
“What I never told you boys is your mother lied on her résumé to get me to hire her.”
Trace got up and paced across the room.
“She couldn’t get a high-caliber restaurant to hire her, even though she was the best chef on the West Coast at the time. No one would give her a second glance except greasy-spoon restaurants who paid minimum wage.”
“Why didn’t you tell us?” Trace asked, pacing back to the table.
“Because you never needed to hear it until now.” His dad shrugged. “When I ran a background check on your mother . . . because I do run background checks . . . I found out she didn’t have the formal culinary education she’d listed on her résumé.” He chuckled, staring at the floor like he was reminiscing. “What she did have was grit, and I liked that. It’s what this place needed. It’s what I needed. So I didn’t tell her I knew the truth. Instead, I gave her a second interview in the kitchen. A second chance to prove herself. I let her cook for me.”
“There’s a big difference between Mom lying about culinary school and Lily—” Or whatever the hell her name was. “And someone lying about her name . . .” Trace threw his hands up. “Lying about her entire history. Hell, Dad. I don’t even know who I’m in lo—” He bit off the last words. He was not in love with Lily Barns or Scarlett Devereaux.
Except that he was.
His dad smiled. “Desperate situations make us do desperate things.” His dad told him everything he’d found out about Lily and what she’d been through because of her father. When his dad got to the death threats, Trace’s protective instincts surged.
Lily had grit all right. She’d left her home, left her family, and came to a strange place alone. Had to have been scary. But she’d poured everything she had into the resort, opened herself up to Trace and his son and the rest of the Remington yahoos.
And Trace had fired her for it.
He knew exactly who he was in love with, and her name didn’t matter. Yes, she should’ve told him everything, but he’d seen who she really was in the rest of her actions. The way she’d loved Ben. The way she’d loved Trace.
His dad’s expression was solemn. “Our biggest strengths are often our biggest weaknesses. If Lily had it to do over again, she might make different choices. I know your mother would’ve so she could’ve seen you boys grow up.” His dad gave him a thoughtful look. “You know, you’re a lot like your mom. Nothing was more important to her than being a parent.”
Trace’s throat grew thick.
“She went out in the boat that day to spend quality time with your little brothers while you and I were away for the weekend.”
And Trace had held it against her ever since, thinking it had been thoughtless and selfish of her to put herself at risk with no one home to come to her rescue. Trace had obviously been the selfish one, moping over the fact that he’d felt the obligation to take on her parenting role once she was gone.
Grief had swallowed him because he’d missed her, missed growing up with a mother, and didn’t know how to deal with the private pain he knew his brothers carried inside. So it had been easier to blame Mom for dying instead of being thankful for the years they’d had a mother who’d loved them so wholeheartedly.
Trace blew out a breath. “If you had it to do over again, would you make different choices?”
His dad didn’t hesitate. He shook his head with confidence. “Nope. I’d hire your mom, I’d fall in love with her, and I’d marry her because even though she died far too young, my life was still so much better having had her in it.”
That made Trace stop breathing for a second as he tried to picture his life without Lily. Because he couldn’t picture a life without her.
“So you followed your heart and took the same chance on Lily that you’d taken with Mom.”
His dad nodded. “Your mom’s grit is what this place has been missing since she’s been gone. I figured Lily could bring it back.”
Trace rubbed his eyes. If he’d expected honesty from Lily, he needed to do a little fessing up himself. He’d made his share of mistakes as a parent. Lily had never been a parent, yet she’d outshined just about everyone he knew when it came to bonding with Ben. Giving her another chance hadn’t entered Trace’s mind at the cove, but she deserved one.
He, on the other hand, wasn’t so sure he deserved one.
“Having her at the resort could blow back on us and hurt my custody case.” Trace was thinking out loud because there was no one he trusted more for advice than his father. “But she’s important to me, and she’s important to Ben. What kind of person would I be”—what kind of example would he set for his son?—“if I’m not willing to fight for someone we care about?” Someone he loved.
“We’ll deal with it like we always do,” his dad said.
Yes, each of the Remingtons had been through hell, but they’d always had each other to lean on.
Instead of being there for Lily, Trace had let her down as much as everyone else in her life.
He shot toward the door. “Gotta go. Thanks, Dad,” he said over a shoulder. He widened his stride to reach the kitchen. He and Ben had to beat it to Lily’s cottage because they both had some apologizing to do.
He blew through the kitchen door to find Ben gobbling up a doughnut.
Charley had the landline handset to her ear. “Trace is right here.” She shoved the phone in his chest. “It’s Mabel McGill.”
He refused to grab the handset. “I don’t have time.”
Charley covered the receiver. “It’s about Lily.”
Trace wrinkled his forehead and took the phone. “Ms. McGill?”
“Yes, hon.” Her scratchy voice came through the line. “Lily wanted me to let you know you can pick up your bicycle and swimming pool at the terminal.”
WTH? This had to be a bad dream. “I don’t understand.”
Her laugh was interrupted by a smoky cough. “She rode a bicycle here and dragged her luggage in the pool.”
Trace’s heart raced like the howling wind brought on by the storm. “Lily was at the ferry crossing?”
“Yes, dear, but she’s gone now. She caught the last ferry before we shut it down. So you can come get the bike and pool.” Ms. McGill didn’t seem to think it was the least bit strange. “She said they belong to you. Although, the pool isn’t in the greatest shape.”
Trace bet it wasn’t. “Thanks for calling, Ms. McGill.” He slammed down the phone.
He stopped to give Ben a kiss on top of his head, then looked at Charley. “I have to find a way to the Cape. Take care of him while I’m gone?”
Charley nodded. “Be careful.”
Trace didn’t just walk, he ran. He was going to get to Lily, come hail or stormy waters.
“Ooooh. God.” Lily’s moan echoed through the face rest of the massage chair at the Cape Celeste commuter airport. Why not go out the same way she’d come in? It was the first time she’d left the island since she’d arrived and had plenty of time to let Yin, her favorite airport masseuse, work out the knots in her back and shoulders. The storm had shut down the airport, and the next flight out wouldn’t leave for at least a few hours.
Yin used the base of her palm to dig into a wicked spasm between Lily’s shoulder blades, and she nearly whimpered. But then the pain melted away along with the spasm, and she moaned, “Ooooh. Yes.” Who cared what people thought? The airport was virtually empty because of the storm, anyway.
She was a woman who’d just rolled the dice and lost at love. Big. She was going to treat herself right before leaving with her tail between her legs. Anyone who didn’t like her moaning, well, they could bite her.
Yin’s magical fingers distracted Lily enough to keep her tears in check. She would not let the dam she’d held back since Trace fired her at the cove burst. She’d known he’d be hurt. Known his reaction wouldn’t be good. Known getting fired was a distinct possibility.
It still sucked.
“Ahhhh,” she moaned again as Yin went to work on a spasm in her neck.
She didn’t ask Trace to forgive her because she had no right to. She’d hoped he’d offer his forgiveness anyway because that’s what she’d do for someone she loved desperately. Loved madly. Loved with her whole heart. She loved him enough to let him go, though. Chasing him, begging him, asking him for anything would’ve only added to her humiliation, since he’d obviously had no intention of accepting her apology.
She made a mental note to add Never chase a man unless he’s driving an ice cream truck to her list of life lessons.
But then, she hadn’t paid much attention to her life lessons, had she?
Obviously, she sucked at picking the right guy to fall in love with. Getting fired by her boss the first time wasn’t enough for her to learn the lesson. She had to go and do it all over again.
She let out a heavy sigh that whistled through the headrest.
“You tight,” Yin said. “Lot of stress.”
Lily had heard that before, not so long ago.
“Need vacation,” Yin said.
Ha! Actually, Lily needed a job so she could pay for the vacation. And it was a bummer that the only job she really wanted was the one she’d just lost in the most beautiful vacation spot on the continent.
Well, at least her mother would be happy that her baby girl, Scarlett, was coming home.
Yin pressed her enchanted thumbs into Lily’s shoulders, and she moaned loudly. So loud, in fact, that Lin said, “Need boyfriend too.”
A sting started behind Lily’s eyes at the thought.
But then her phone dinged with a text. Probably her mother, because no one else on earth would be texting Lily at the moment.
She ignored it and let Yin work her magic.
Another ding had one of Lily’s eyes cracking open. Her purse was on the floor next to her chair, so she searched without looking and found her phone. She slid it under the headrest to read the text, and her breath caught.
We need to talk.
A hairline crack formed in Lily’s dam. Her thumbs flew over the keys, and she sniffed the tears back.
There’s nothing left to say.
I have a lot to say.
She was sure he did, and none of it would be good.
Not now. Maybe soon.
If he wanted to vent his pain and anger toward her, she’d let him, but she needed to put some time and distance between them first.
Her phone didn’t ding again.
Yin used her forearm to work the muscles in Lily’s lower back.
“That feels better than-”
“I’ll pay quadruple, plus a big tip for what she’s getting,” a familiar fluid voice said, just as a pair of suede hiking boots appeared under her headrest.
The deep masculine sound swelled and swirled inside her, making her insides tingle and her toes curl. Lily’s voice caught in her throat, and she couldn’t move without losing it.
“Wait your turn,” Yin said to him. “No other masseuse here today. Not enough customers.”
The boots disappeared, but the chair next to Lily creaked under the Voice’s weight. Because, oh yes, that beautiful silky voice couldn’t belong to anyone else.
“Enjoy your trip to this part of the country?” the Voice asked.
Lily could not look up. She couldn’t. Not without knocking a hole in that dam of tears the size of a cannonball. “Um,” her voice cracked. “Yes. Very much. Until today.”
“Meet any interesting people?”
“Yes. Some were more than interesting.” Her voice got croakier.
“Any worth sticking around for?” the Voice asked.
Lily’s head popped up.
Trace sat on the edge of the chair next to her, leaning in her direction with his elbows propped on his knees. “Because I know a few people who really want you to stay. For good, if you still want to.”
The dam broke, and Lily let the tears flow. “I’m so sorry.”
Trace reached over and took her hand in his, stroking her fingers. “I’m the one who’s sorry, babe. When you love someone, you don’t ask them to leave just because they made a mistake.”
She sat up and wiped her eyes.
Yin looked from Lily to Trace then back to Lily. “I take break.” She disappeared.
He kept stroking the length of her fingers with his. One swipe, then another, his calloused fingers warming her soul. “You’re willing to give me another chance?” she asked.
“If you’re willing to give me one. But I do have one condition.” A smile curved onto his lips. “Promise you’ll give up your obsession with transportation that ends with cycle,” he teased.
She threw her head back and laughed.
Trace pulled her into his lap and caressed her cheek. “I love you.” He smoothed a stray lock of hair from her forehead. “And so does Ben.” His eyes were as soft and silky as his tone.
Joy pushed out the sadness in her heart. “I love you too.” She leaned her forehead against his. “And Ben too. But I don’t want to stay if it’s going to hurt either one of you.”
“You were barely gone from the island an hour, and I felt like part of me had been torn away. I can’t imagine living a lifetime without you, and Ben would never forgive me.” He brought her hand to his lips and placed a gentle kiss on the inside of her wrist. “I want you to stay at the Remington. Make it your home. Make it your job.” He placed another feathery kiss on her wrist that sent a tingle skating up her arm.
“What about the media?” she asked. “It’s only a matter of time before they find out where I’ve been. It could hurt your custody case, and it could hurt the resort.”
“I’ve watched you solve every problem in your path. We’ll figure this one out together.” He placed a soft, slow kiss on her lips. “I’m yours, Lily . . .”
Her breath caught.
“Or, uh, Scarlett?” he corrected.
“I’d love it if you’d keep calling me Lily.” She smiled and placed a kiss on his lips. “My grandmother called me Lily, and I loved it.”
He pressed another sweet kiss to her lips. “I’m hoping you could change your name one more time.”
A wrinkle appeared across her forehead.
“I like Lily Remington.” He smiled. “It has a special ring to it.”
“You make me feel special,” she breathed against his mouth.
His eyes dilated. “Let’s get your luggage and go so I can make you feel really special.”
“There’ll be no making me feel special until tomorrow when Ben’s at school,” she scolded.
Trace shook his head. “We’re getting a hotel room because my plane is at the resort, and the ferry is shut down until the storm passes.”
She leaned back to give him a questioning look. “How did you get here?”
He winked, and the sexy pilot she’d met right there in the same spot the day she’d arrived was back. “I have a friend in the coast guard. He owed me.”
Lily threw her arms around Trace’s neck and kissed him until neither one of them could breathe. Because only a man desperately in love would hitch a ride with the coast guard to stop his woman from leaving.