Christy Joy rolled her lower lip through her teeth. “If you’re sure you’ll have a safe trip home, J. Lyle, it might be best.”
“Well, of course we’ll have a safe trip,” he assured her. “My Mercedes is a big, solid sedan and less than a year old. I brought along a car seat too.”
“All right then,” Christy Joy murmured softly, and she took Twink’s hand to lead her back to her bedroom to pack a bag.
“I can’t tell you how surprised I am to find you here, Griffin,” J. Lyle continued. “How long have you known my wife?”
“A few weeks,” Griffin explained. “I’m seeing Darcy.”
J. Lyle’s eyes widened slightly, and his glance again swept Darcy’s sleep-spiked hair. “Really? I wouldn’t have thought, but then, who you date is no concern of mine.”
“No, it most certainly isn’t,” Darcy interjected sharply. “It can’t rain much longer. When the power returns, we’ll have the shop cleaned up in no time. We can come up to your place to get Twink, or would you rather bring her home yourself?”
“When the time is right, I’ll bring her back to Monarch Bay,” J. Lyle responded smoothly.
His response was too vague to please Darcy and, perplexed, she wondered what had happened to Jeremy. She quickly decided it was just as well if he stayed out of sight. Of course, she would have been happier had the captain punched out a few of J. Lyle’s sparkling white teeth, but had he risked it, the smug attorney would surely have sued in an effort to take his boat and livelihood.
That was what she really disliked about J. Lyle—there was a hint of a threat in his every word. Except for his fawning attempts to impress Griffin, he’d been as thoroughly disagreeable as always. How he’d ever remained pleasant long enough to win Christy Joy’s heart was a mystery.
Twink rejoined them carrying a pink Barbie suitcase. She was wearing a slick pink raincoat over her overalls and a pink rain hat. She appeared to be happy to be going off for a visit at her father’s home, but the door had barely closed behind them when Christy Joy burst into tears.
“I’m sorry,” she choked out. “I know he’ll take better care of her than I can here in the dark, but I miss her already.”
Jeremy climbed the stairs with a slow, deliberate step. “I didn’t want to make more trouble for you than you already have, but I swear if I ever hear that son-of-a-bitch speak to you in such a disrespectful tone again, he’ll think Popeye was a wimp.”
Christy Joy pulled a tissue from her pocket and dabbed her eyes. “Please, Jeremy, I appreciate your gallant offer, but you mustn’t touch him or he’ll squash you with a lawsuit he’ll drag out for years just to bleed you dry.”
“It would be worth it to teach him some manners,” Jeremy swore.
Christy Joy shook her head. “Oh no, it wouldn’t. Now is it my imagination, or is the rain finally slacking off?”
Griffin went by her to peer out the backdoor. “It’s still raining, but not as hard. If you have anything left to make sandwiches, let’s light a few more candles and have ourselves a party.”
Darcy doubted any of them felt in a party mood, but forty-five minutes later they were seated on the rug around Christy Joy’s coffee table toasting marshmallows over jasmine candles. They were using wooden skewers, and it took forever, but it only added to the general silliness of their mood. Darcy marveled at how easily Griffin had teased a smile from Christy Joy and, once he’d accomplished that feat, Jeremy had broken out in a grin.
Darcy consumed only half a cheese sandwich and quit eating after dripping a single gooey marshmallow into her mouth. “Damn, but these are good.”
“Thank you, ma’am,” Griffin replied. He had two marshmallows on his skewer now and turned them slowly over the flame. “This is as close to camping out as I care to get, but it’s gratifying to have my clumsy efforts rewarded.”
Christy Joy licked her fingers. “I wish we had some chocolate bars and graham crackers to make ’smores. Remind me to stock up on some, Darcy, so next time the power fails we’ll be ready.”
“Will do. Oh by the way, Griffin’s decided to extend our lease. Do you want to go for another year or five?”
“What?” Christy Joy shrieked.
Jeremy cocked his head and regarded the pianist with a decidedly skeptical glance before nodding. “That’s real good news.”
“I’d kiss you, but Darcy might object,” Christy Joy added. “I’m not going to ask why you’ve changed your mind, but it’s really appreciated.”
“You’re welcome.” Griffin winked at Darcy. “I had my reasons.”
Clearly he preferred to let Christy Joy and Jeremy believe love had prompted his generosity, and she was too relieved they weren’t bailing water to reveal the truth. “Is there enough light to play cards?” she asked instead.
“Sure,” Jeremy responded. “I’ve always loved Go Fish.”
He was joking, of course, and they all knew it. “You guys finish the marshmallows first. I want to check the doors.”
Darcy’s knee complained a bit as she rose to her feet, but she walked out smoothly. She grabbed the flashlight and carried it downstairs to survey the shop, but the floor was still dry. Grateful, she remained by the front door and scanned the street. It was so dark now she could no longer see the water flowing past, but only hear a sizzling rush.