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  “Have you told this guy how you feel?”

  “Never. I can’t let him know because he—he’s a jerk, and he’ll use it against me.”

  “Against you?” What did that mean?

  “It’s complicated. So completely complicated.”

  “You want me to take care of him?” He was teasing, but still, no one should hurt Honor. She’d been wounded enough for an eternity by the time she’d turned eighteen. He could easily imagine what she must have gone through, sent from home to home, neglected or abused.

  “No, it’s nothing. I’ll be fine.” She came up to his chest. His shirt was dampened from her tears.

  A knock on the door caused them both to jump. Kara stood in the doorway. “Hi. I’m sorry to interrupt. Flora said to head to the study. I didn’t realize you were busy.”

  He disentangled from Honor. Heat coursed through him. How embarrassing. Kara might have the completely wrong impression of his relationship with Honor. Who knew what she might think?

  Honor seemed oblivious to the fact that it was awkward as hell. She was already marching over to Kara with an extended hand. “Hi Kara. I’m Honor. Brody’s assistant.”

  “It’s nice to meet you.” The women shook hands.

  “We’re psyched you’re here,” Honor said. Tears had vanished. She was back to “all business, all the time” Honor Sullivan.

  Brody cleared his throat. “I have to meet my trainer downstairs in five minutes. I’d like to show you your room before I go, though.”

  “Great. I’d like to put Minnie in there as soon as possible. She can’t wait to get out of the car,” Kara said. “She’s trapped in her carrier, mewing like crazy and pressing her pink nose through the air holes. It’s heartbreaking.”

  The cat. He’d forgotten the cat. Minnie. “Right. Do you want me to bring her inside?”

  “No, we can look at the room first,” Kara said.

  “I’ll help her get the kitty and unpack and everything,” Honor said. “When you’re done.”

  All these bossy women in one house might be the end of him.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Kara

  Kara followed Brody across the formal living room and up the winding staircase, admiring the dark floors, light walls, and tall ceilings. “How big is this house?” Kara asked.

  “About seven thousand square feet.” He shrugged as he said it. “It’s the biggest extravagance I’ve ever indulged in. I plan to live here the rest of my life.”

  “It’s truly stunning.” The home was spacious and airy, yet warm at the same time and impeccably decorated in shades of greens and blues that mirrored the outside.

  “When I had the house designed, I made sure to have two suites with baths put in downstairs for my parents and Flora, knowing that the stairs might be an issue at some point. My dad’s knees were bad after all his years playing. At the time, I imagined them coming for long weekends and holidays. My dad’s death took us by surprise.”

  “I’m sorry. My mom’s death was unexpected too. Car accident.”

  “And you were just ten? That’s rough.”

  “It was a long time ago,” she said.

  At the top of the stairs, he pointed to an open door. “This is the upstairs guest room and bath. My room is at the end of the hall. I hope that won’t bother you?”

  “Why would it?” Every damn reason. Knowing he was right down the hall had the potential of driving her insane with inappropriate thougths.

  “It’s so close to yours and I’m a guy, but right, it shouldn’t,” he said. “As long as you feel you have enough privacy.”

  “It’ll be fine.”

  She followed him into the guest room. Soft green paint, a black poster bed, and a creamy throw rug gave it an elegant, simple beauty. The room was larger than her Philadelphia living room and kitchen combined. Brody opened the French doors to a balcony with a small table and chairs that looked out over the ocean.

  “I don’t have beach access, but I couldn’t resist building on the cliff because of the view,” he said. “When the weather turns nice, you’ll be able to see the ocean.”

  Now it was socked in with fog. Nothing but a bay of gray greeted them.

  He gestured to the right. A fitted tarp covered a rectangular pool. “I have a balcony off my room too. I love to have coffee out there on summer mornings.” He pointed to the set of stairs from her balcony to the backyard. “If you like, you can use it for your own entrance. There might be times you don’t want my mother or Flora knowing of your entrances and exits.”

  “Right. We wouldn’t want Flora and your mother to know about my wild nights.”

  “You’re young and beautiful. You should have wild nights.” He ran his hands through his hair. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”

  “Don’t worry about it.” Despite her intentions to the contrary, her heart soared. He thought she was beautiful.

  “Will the room be all right?” he asked.

  “I suppose.” She smiled. “I’ve always liked to rough it.”

  He laughed. “Great.”

  THE SUN BROKE THROUGH thick cloud cover as Kara and Honor walked out to her car to fetch the cat. Minnie mewed loud declarations of great discomfort when Kara opened the door and grabbed the carrier from the floorboard.

  “She won’t stop crying,” Kara said. “She hates this thing ever since the flight out here. She actually hissed at me when I put her in it.” She held up her hand. “And scratched me.”

  “Poor kitty. She’s probably traumatized from the plane ride.”

  Honor spoke to Minnie in a soothing tone. “Don’t worry, kitty. You’re going to be happy here.” A pitiful pink nose pushed through one of the air holes.

  Kara opened the trunk and took out her two suitcases.

  “This is it?” Honor asked.

  “I’m a minimalist.” Kara left it at that. No need to explain.

  Honor pulled up the handles on both suitcases. “I’ll take these. You just take care of kitty.”

  They crossed the driveway and into the house. As Kara followed Honor’s impossibly cute little body up the stairs, Honor barraged her with questions. Where was she from, how was the flight out, was she homesick, did she plan on staying in Cliffside Bay?

  “I’m saving for a house of my own,” Kara said. “This position’s ideal.” Ideal? She sounded like an old lady. She felt like an old lady. It was this girl and her sun-kissed hair and tanned skin. Kara wasn’t sure what she had expected Brody’s assistant to look like, but it wasn’t this doe-eyed blond with pouty lips that made her both adorable and sexy at the same time. How old was she? She looked seventeen.

  Kara didn’t care for this. No, she did not. This was a ridiculous reaction. More than ridiculous. I’ve known the guy for a day. He’s my boss. But the fact that Honor had been wrapped in Brody’s arms when she’d arrived had jarred her. Was it jealousy? Or disdain? Was this girl his assistant or something more? It is none of my concern. I have no claim to him.

  When they reached the room, Honor wheeled the suitcases over to the dressers and plopped into the easy chair. “It’s so cool you’re here. I’ve been dying for more girlfriends. What made you move across the country?” Honor brushed a strand of hair from out of her eyes.

  Why did everyone in this town ask the same darn question?

  “Bad breakup.” Kara set the carrier on the floor near the bed and opened the door. Minnie might take a moment to come out now that there was a stranger in the room.

  “Dude, that’s the worst.”

  Dude? California was weird.

  “One of my besties was just ghosted,” Honor said. “The guy just disappeared. In her bed one minute, gone the next. Which is why I stay clear of any hint of a relationship. I don’t need the drama. Men hurt me enough when I was a kid, and I certainly don’t need it now.”

  Kara didn’t know what to say. Was this girl for real? She sounded like a guy. “I had a great group of girlfriends at home.”

/>   “Lucky. Women can be awful.”

  “I guess so,” Kara said as she pulled up the shades. Fog hovered over the water, but a hint of blue broke through.

  “I’ll introduce you to my friend Violet. She’s dope, even though she’s so granola it makes me want to start buying more shoes.”

  “Sure. Thanks.” What did shoes have to do with granola? California. “Did you grow up here?”

  “I moved here about five years ago when my great-aunt, who I’d never heard from in my life, died and left me her house here in town. I grew up in foster homes and had no idea she even existed. Apparently, she knew about me.”

  “How old were you when you went into the system?” Kara asked.

  “Six. I couldn’t be adopted because my mother was still alive. Technically alive, but not able to care for me. Crackhead. So I bounced around. Experienced the usual foster parents’ horror show.”

  Kara didn’t need to ask to know what that meant. She was aware of what happened to little girls without protection. “I’m sorry.”

  “Why are you sorry? You didn’t do it to me.” Honor shrugged. “Anyway, I don’t think about it much. Move forward. That’s my motto. No use to look back, especially when you have it as good as I do. I’ve been with Brody for five years. Nora put the two of us together after I graduated from college. He and I clicked right away.” She grinned. “I keep him out of trouble.”

  A degree? How had she managed that, given her situation? There was more to Honor Sullivan than a pretty face. Grudgingly, Kara couldn’t help but like her.

  Minnie poked her head out of the carrier and meowed. Kara sat down on the floor and pulled her into her lap. Minnie started to purr, but her green eyes were fixed on the stranger in the room.

  “She’s so cute. Can I pet her?” Honor asked.

  “She’s not the greatest with strangers,” Kara said. “So, let her sniff your fingers first.”

  Honor crept over to where they sat and did as instructed. Minnie continued to glare at her warily, but allowed Honor to pet the top of her head before bolting from Kara’s lap and running into the bathroom.

  They both laughed.

  “She reminds me of myself,” Honor said. “A tad skittish.”

  “You know how cats are,” Kara said.

  “Smart.”

  “That’s one way to put it. This one hates men, too. She’ll take one look at Brody and never come out of the bathroom.”

  “Who could blame her? He probably looks like a giant to her.”

  “Yes, probably.”

  Honor wrapped her arms around her knees, still sitting on the floor. “Listen, a couple of us are going out this weekend. There’s a band at The Oar. Dancing and debauchery. It’s really fun. You want to come?”

  “I guess so. If you don’t mind me tagging along.”

  “Are you kidding? We’re thrilled to have a new resident in Cliffside Bay that doesn’t use a walker.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Brody

  Brody led Kara down the east wing hallway to his mother’s suite. He’d hoped it was just Kara’s clingy dress from the day before that had distracted him from rational thought. No such luck. Today she wore loose jeans and a long-sleeved, blue t-shirt and looked just as fantastic. She jumbled his thoughts. Even a punishing workout couldn’t swipe her from his mind.

  When they reached his mother’s suite, he hesitated before knocking. “As a warning, the painkillers have her totally loopy. I have no idea what she might say.”

  “I’m a nurse. I’ve heard everything,” Kara said.

  He tapped on the door. “Mom, it’s me. You awake?”

  “Yes, come on in.”

  Motioning for Kara to follow him, he walked into the room. Shades on the windows were drawn low, letting only a strip of gray February light into the room. The television played one of the Masterpiece Theatre serials his mother loved, but was turned so low he doubted she could hear it. She was in bed with a placid, glazed expression. Several pillows propped up her head and shoulders. Her legs, both the broken and the unbroken, rested on top of the comforter, but her torso was covered with a thick blanket. The room smelled of the fresh lilies he’d had delivered that morning.

  “Mom, this is Kara Eaton.”

  “Hi Kara.” His mother used the remote to turn off the television.

  Kara walked over to the bed. “It’s good to meet you, Mrs. Mullen. How are you feeling? Are the pain meds doing their job?”

  “I can’t feel a thing. Not a darned thing.”

  “It’s the meds. Just give in to it and rest. That’s what your body needs.” Kara adjusted the blanket to cover his mother’s shoulders. “Are you warm enough? Shall I get you another blanket?”

  “I’m fine, thank you.”

  Kara perched on the side of the bed. “Until you’re up and about, don’t hesitate to call on me night or day.”

  “Aren’t you a doll? Hells bells, you’re so pretty. Give me your hands.”

  Kara did so. His mother patted them with her own.

  “No ring. Excellent.” She turned her gaze back to Brody. His neck flushed with heat. Please, no. Don’t say it.

  She said it.

  “Brody’s in need of a wife.”

  Need of a wife? She read way too many English novels and watched way too many English television programs. “Mom, please, let’s not go into that.”

  His mother ignored him. “Brody refuses to date anyone worthy of his attention. Instead, it’s an actress or a model here and there. During the off-season, mind you. No women during the playing season. He thinks sex messes with his game.”

  “Mom!” Could he just melt into the floor?

  “He says he isn’t the marrying type, but that’s not true. He’s exactly the marrying type. He just needs the right woman. He wants what my husband and I had, even if he’s too stubborn to realize it. He says women confuse his brain. Have you ever heard something so ridiculous?”

  “Mom, there’s no reason to share all our dirty laundry in the first five minutes.” Please, just stop talking. He had no idea his mother knew about the no sex rule. Had Lance told her? He and the other Dogs were the only ones who knew about it. Or so he’d thought.

  “I’m sure he’ll find someone when he’s ready.” Kara fussed with the blanket. “They say timing’s everything.”

  His mother persisted, her voice faint and dry like she’d just walked across the desert. “It’s my fault he’s this way. He learned from me to give up everything for your work. He inherited Simon’s talent and my drive. I always told him, ‘Work harder than you think you can,’ and goodness if he didn’t. If he continues this way, he’s going to end up alone. He’ll be one of those old men with a toupee and a sports car—with a girl young enough to be his daughter.”

  “Oh, my God. Mom. Stop.”

  Kara flashed Brody an embarrassed smile, obviously trying to lessen the awkwardness. “Well, for now, his hard work has made him the best quarterback in the league. As much as it pains me to admit it. I’m a Raptors fan.”

  “Raptors?” His mother giggled. “How did he let you in the house?”

  “Mom, she’s from Philly. We’ll have to overlook her momentary lapse in judgment.”

  “But you’re a football fan?” She fixed her gaze on Kara like a seagull staring down a kid with a pretzel on the beach.

  Kara swept her long hair onto one shoulder and looked toward the window. A shadow passed over her face. “My mother and I used to watch Raptors games together. Before she passed away, that is. It’s not just the game for me, but a way to stay connected to her.”

  “When did you lose her?” his mother asked.

  “I was ten.”

  “How terrible to lose her when you were so young.” She patted Kara’s hand.

  “It was a long time ago,” Kara said.

  He heard the pain in her voice. Some grief never left.

  Like they’d been speaking of it all along, his mother launched into a story of a trip
to Philadelphia when he and Lance were young.

  “We went to see the Liberty Bell. My husband loved that bell.” To his horror, his mother’s eyes filled with tears. “He was a patriot, Kara, and so black and white about life—God, country, family, football. He always said I was so much smarter than him, but that wasn’t true. He could hold his own during an argument and never get mad or personal. He was easygoing, like my son Lance. This son here—not so much.”

  “Mom. Really?”

  “It never occurred to me that he’d die before me. Isn’t that strange?”

  Kara handed his mother a tissue. “Not strange at all. You loved him. You wanted him to be with you forever.”

  “If I could just have one more day with him. But then I’d just want one more.”

  Kara smiled. “A love like that is rare, Mrs. Mullen.”

  “Is it?” His mother blinked.

  “I think so,” Kara said. “It’s what we all want.”

  “He was the big man on campus when I met him. The quarterback of the football team and I didn’t even know who he was. I knew zero about football. My parents were academics. They’d escaped Poland just before the war broke out. Our house was quite serious. No time for games.” His mother giggled again. These meds made her laugh and cry in equal measure. “Isn’t that ironic?”

  “It sounds like a wonderful love story,” Kara said.

  Brody could recite his parents’ love story from both their perspectives. Yet, he never tired of hearing it told.

  “I’m sorry I’m talking so much,” his mother said to Kara. “It’s these drugs. I can’t seem to filter anything. Every thought just spills right out.”

  “No need to apologize. It’s good for our health to talk about our feelings and memories. Anytime you want to talk about your husband, feel free. My parents didn’t have a love story or many happy memories, so I’ll look forward to hearing yours as we get to know each other.” Kara poured a glass of water from the pitcher on the bedside table. “But for now, you need to drink lots of fluids and rest.” She reached under the pillows and lifted his mother up so she could take a sip of water.