Some Kind of Wonderful (Puffin Island 2)

“I don’t know.”

She saw the tension in his jaw and his shoulders and sensed his frustration. “Lucky he has you,” she said calmly. “That must help.”

“How the hell does it help?” His voice was raw. “I can’t fix his joints.”

“No, but you can be there for him when he needs it and that’s worth a lot. When life gets bumpy, sometimes the only thing that helps is knowing your friends and family are there to support you.”

Zach shot her a look. “I’m not his family. We’re not related.”

And yet you took time off to go with him to the hospital.

She wondered how, after all these years, he could possibly think that he wasn’t part of the Law family. She felt an ache in her chest because she knew, despite everything, he was still afraid to let anyone in. And then she thought about Zach’s real family, the one who had treated him so badly he’d been afraid to sleep at night. Maybe when you’d grown up with the bad, you didn’t ever dare trust the good not to disappear. “Celia and Philip think of you as a son. They’re there for you. They’ve had your back since that first day you arrived here. In fact I think you’d be surprised by how many people have your back.” Having planted that thought, she picked up the basket. “I hope you packed plenty of food, because I’m starving.”

Without looking back, she walked along the dock and took the path that curved towards a beach.

Did he really not believe his presence made a difference to Celia and Philip?

Why wasn’t he offering to help Philip with the camp given that he had the necessary skills?

The questions ran through her head until it was hard to keep them inside.

She forced herself to keep her mouth shut and instead studied the view.

Far in the distance she could see the mainland and Bar Harbor.

“This is incredible.” She sat down on a rock and anchored her hair with her hand. “So how did you meet the guy that owns this place? You said his name was Frederick something?”

Zach sat down next to her. “He was a friend of someone I worked for in Alaska. The guy owns a drilling company specializing in Alaskan oil-field construction. Divides his time between Alaska and Houston.” He opened the cooler and then the basket. “Help yourself.”

She looked down at the pretty green-and-white-spotted napkins and laughed. “No way did you put those there.”

“You’re right, I didn’t.”

Brittany reached into the basket and raised her eyebrows. “Heart-shaped chocolates?”

“Didn’t put those there, either.”

“So who packed the food?”

“It’s Ocean Club takeout.”

“I didn’t think the Ocean Club did takeout.”

“I called Ryan and pulled in a favor.” He handed her a plate and removed chicken from the cooler.

“Ryan packed heart-shaped chocolates? Doesn’t sound like him.”

“He was out sailing with Alec and Lizzy so he delegated to Kirsti.”

Brittany laughed. “Now I understand where the chocolate hearts came from.” She nibbled the chicken. “You do know Kirsti is the biggest matchmaker on the island? These chocolates are supposed to be a romantic gesture.”

“If I want to have sex with a woman, chocolate doesn’t play a part.” His gaze dropped to her mouth and her heart bumped a little harder.

“It could do. Chocolate would soften me up.” She scooped her hair back, fighting a losing battle with the breeze. “I know I look a mess. It’s your fault. You told me to grab a sweater for a flight around the bay. If I’d known we were having a fancy picnic I would have dressed up and done something with my hair.”

“You always look beautiful. Last thing at night, first thing in the morning, angry and happy.”

It was like missing a step. Her insides jumped and tumbled. “Well, that’s—” Her voice was husky. “Thank you. But I don’t look beautiful when I’ve been crying so hard my face looks like a strawberry.”