Sea Glass Island (5 page)

Samantha frowned at her. “And people think I’m the drama queen in the family,” she murmured dryly, knowing the comment would only add fuel to the fire. “Will you please just listen for two seconds?”

“Go ahead,” Emily muttered.

“I agree with Gabi that the two of you are very different people. In fact, the three of us are very different women, despite a few similarities here and there. I think you started dreaming about the perfect wedding on the day you first laid eyes on Boone. When things fell apart and you went off to follow your career, that dream didn’t die. It was just put on hold.”

She took heart from the fact that Emily was still paying attention. “The minute the two of you were reunited and engaged, it’s not even a tiny bit surprising that you wanted the whole fairy-tale wedding you’d always envisioned.” She tucked a finger under Emily’s chin. “And there is nothing wrong with that, you hear me. Nothing! None of us begrudge you this moment, Em. Not even a tiny bit. Every woman should have the wedding of her dreams.”

“But Gabi said—”

Samantha interrupted. “All Gabi said was that she didn’t want this same kind of hoopla. Gabi probably doesn’t even want to take off a couple of hours from work to go down to the courthouse to get married.”

Emily giggled at that just as Samantha had hoped she would.

“You’re probably right,” Emily conceded. “She’s pretty focused on the studio these days, and the baby, and Wade. The ceremony is just some kind of technicality to get out of the way.”

“Exactly,” Samantha said. “And that’s okay, too, if it suits the two of them.”

“I suppose, even if I do think it’s kind of sad.” Emily studied her curiously. “What about you? What kind of wedding do you want?”

“I haven’t looked that far ahead,” Samantha said, her tone neutral. “After all, there’s not even a man in my life at the moment.”

“Liar,” Emily taunted. “You’ve seen every kind of wedding imaginable on those soaps you used to do from time to time. Which one struck you as the most devastatingly romantic?”

Samantha leaned back, finally relaxing now that the crisis appeared past, and gave Emily’s question some thought.

“A destination wedding,” she said eventually. “On the beach, maybe, with the wind in my hair and the sand beneath my feet.”

When she glanced at Emily, there was a sheen of tears in her eyes.

“It sounds perfect,” Emily whispered. “And it does sound like you. It needs to be at sunset, though, with all that glorious color in the sky.” She glanced over at Samantha and added, “I hope you get it.”

“One of these days, if I’m lucky,” Samantha said.

“Maybe it’ll be even sooner than you think,” Emily replied, a glint in her eyes. “And last time I looked, Sand Castle Bay was known all over as a terrific spot for a destination wedding.”

Samantha frowned at her. “Do not even go there, you hear me? Or I will take back every nice thing I just said about you.”

“I can take it,” Emily said, grinning. “It’ll be worth it to watch this thing with you and Ethan unfold. Don’t forget I was right there with the two of you today when you came back inside the restaurant. Sparks were flying all over the place. It’s a wonder Greg and I didn’t get burned.”

“Didn’t it occur to you that those sparks were anger directed your way for the meddling you did to throw us together for the second time in one day?”

Emily waved off the suggestion. “Not a chance. This was all about a man and a woman who’ve taken a real shine to each other. Pheromones, chemistry, whatever you want to call it.”

“Enough!” Samantha said, her voice rising as she tried to get the point across once and for all. “Ethan and I agreed to be friends, nothing more.”

Emily merely laughed. “I know. I can just hear the two of you being all rational and determined. I had a similar conversation with Boone when I first came back to town.” A grin spread. “I’ll tell you now exactly what you told me then.”

“What?”

“That all that denial is what’s going to make this so much fun to watch.”

“Enjoy yourself, but I think you’re going to be disappointed,” Samantha told her. “Now I have another question for you before we go back inside and you make peace with Gabi.”

“What’s that?” Emily asked, not arguing that it was up to her to apologize.

“Grandmother’s worried that there’s something else on your mind. Is there? Are you worried about the wedding? About Boone? About his nasty ex-in-laws? Anything else?”

Emily’s expression immediately shut down in a way that was more revealing than words would have been.

“Emily?” she prodded.

“I don’t know if Boone loves living in Los Angeles as much as I do,” she admitted eventually.

Samantha had wondered when that issue was going to show up. “It’s still new to him.”

“But Sand Castle Bay is in his blood.”

“Has he said anything about coming back?”

“No, and I thought when he moved out there to open this restaurant, it would be okay.”

“Maybe it will be. Ask him what he’s feeling.”

“I’m half afraid to. What if he wants me to move back here, after all?”

“What if he does? What will you do?”

Emily sighed and regarded Samantha with a bleak expression. “I honestly have no idea.”

“Then, sweetie, you need to talk to him now, before this wedding.”

Emily shook her head. “No, absolutely not.”

“But—”

“No,” Emily repeated, then stood up. “We need to go back inside. I have some fence-mending to do.”

She took off for the house, leaving Samantha to stare after her, far more worried now than she’d been when she’d come outside.

* * *

On Sunday evening, Cora Jane looked around the backyard with satisfaction. With the help of Jerry, Gabi, Wade and Samantha, it had been turned into a showcase of tiny lights, huge pots of colorful summer flowers and tables laden with food and gifts for Emily’s bridal shower.

Samantha draped an arm around her shoulders. “You’ve outdone yourself, Grandmother.”

Cora Jane glanced up, blinking back unexpected tears. “I can’t believe the first of my girls is getting married in less than two weeks. I’ve waited for this for so long.” She gave Samantha a pointed look. “I thought you’d be the first, you know.”

“Just because I’m older?”

“No, because boys were flocking around from the time you hit your teens, and I know for a fact it was no different when you got to New York. Every time we spoke, you mentioned one man or another.”

Samantha shrugged. “None of them stuck. I want to find what Em has with Boone or what Gabi’s found with Wade. I guess the Castle women are all romantics at heart. We want the happily-ever-after. At least I was smart enough not to settle for less than that.”

Cora Jane nodded approvingly. “You know, I think your daddy always sold you short. He thought just because you wanted to be an actress, you were flighty or something, but your mama and I always knew better. You’ve got a good, level head on your shoulders. You know what’s important. And you’ll find the right man. There’s not a doubt in my mind.”

Samantha gave her a hug. “Thanks for your faith in me. As for Dad, he hasn’t exactly been attuned to any of us and the skills we possess.”

“No, he hasn’t,” Cora Jane said. “I do think he’s coming around, though.” She glanced across the lawn to where Sam was conferring with Jerry over the grill. “Look at him. Not only is he here, but he’s really trying to fit in.”

“How’d you pull that off, especially for a bridal shower on a Sunday night? Tomorrow’s a workday, after all. I can practically hear him making a million and one excuses for not coming.”

Cora Jane chuckled. “Probably double that, but I trumped ’em all. I told him to be here. That it was an order from his mother and I’d be disappointed in him if he didn’t show up for his daughter’s big evening.”

“Good for you. I know it means a lot to Em that he came. But aren’t he and Jerry going to feel like odd men out at a party crowded with women?”

“Oh, the party isn’t just for women,” Cora Jane said blithely. “Emily wouldn’t hear of that. There will be plenty of men around, too.”

She saw the quick rise of understanding in Samantha’s eyes and then the deepening of the color in her cheeks. “I imagine Ethan’s on this coed guest list,” she said stiffly.

“Of course,” Cora Jane responded. “The entire wedding party was invited.”

“Of course they were,” Samantha said, shaking her head. “You and Emily don’t give up, do you?”

“I have no idea what you mean,” Cora Jane insisted, trying out the innocent look she’d had years to practice, but still hadn’t exactly perfected. Judging from Samantha’s skeptical reaction, it wasn’t terribly effective this time, either.

“Do you have any idea how much you and Emily are humiliating me?” Samantha asked. “Ethan’s going to get the idea that I’m desperate or something.”

“Oh, honey bun, there’s no chance of that,” Cora Jane assured her. “Any man looking at you is only going to wonder why no one has had the sense to snap you up. You’re beautiful and, even more important, you have this huge heart. You’re smart and talented and quick-witted. Any man would be lucky to have a chance with you. And a smart man wouldn’t blow that chance.”

Samantha looked pained by the recitation of her attributes, but by the end she was grinning. “So you’re saying if Ethan doesn’t take you up on this golden opportunity you’re throwing his way, then he’s a dolt?”

Cora Jane chuckled. “Well, I might have put it a bit more diplomatically, but yes, that’s exactly what I’d conclude. Just so you know, though, I think Ethan is an awfully smart man. Now go inside and put on something pretty.”

Samantha looked down at her capris and the colorful matching blouse that even Cora Jane recognized as coming from a famed New York designer’s summer collection. She’d seen an ad for it in
Vogue
or one of those other fashion magazines that the girls had left lying around the house.

“Prettier than this?” Samantha inquired doubtfully.

“I’m thinking a sundress,” Cora Jane said. “One that shows a little cleavage.”

“Grandmother!”

Cora Jane wasn’t bothered by the dismay she heard in Samantha’s voice. She merely held her gaze. “Can you think of a better way to let a man know what he’s missing?”

This time Samantha groaned, but she turned and headed for the house. Of course, it was anybody’s guess if she’d come back wearing that sundress Cora Jane had recommended or something that covered her from head to toe. The girl did have a perverse streak that kicked in when she’d been pushed too far. Cora Jane realized that she might have tiptoed a little too close to that particular boundary, but she still had high hopes that the evening would end with one more breach in those walls of defenses those two young people had around their hearts.

5

“W
ould you get a move on?” Boone called out as he paced Ethan’s living room. “We’re going to be late. If we are, Emily will have a cow.”

“You could go on without me,” Ethan called back. “I’m perfectly capable of driving myself over to Cora Jane’s.”

“But the question is, will you?” Boone replied. “I’ve been getting the distinct sense that you’re not exactly getting with the program. One of my assignments for tonight is to make sure you show up and play nice.”

Ethan walked out of his bedroom, a scowl firmly in place. “If, by that, you mean that I haven’t tumbled straight into bed with the maid of honor, then you’re right. I’m not getting with the program. Has it occurred to any of you that Samantha is no happier about this matchmaking scheme than I am? You’re humiliating her.”

For just an instant, Boone looked nonplused. “Seriously?”

“Seriously. My God, man, you’re all but offering her up like a sacrifice in some ancient ritual. I’m surprised she hasn’t packed her bags and flown back to New York.”

“She’d never do that to Emily,” Boone said, though he looked vaguely shaken by Ethan’s assessment. “At least I don’t think she would.”

“You said there was some sort of issue between the two of them. Can you see any possible way that this is helping, rather than making things worse? How would you feel if I kept pushing somebody on you after you’d declared you had no interest?”

Ethan realized he’d taken the debate one step too far when amusement sparkled in Boone’s eyes.

“You did your share of pushing when Emily and I were trying to put things back together and you thought we were getting offtrack.”

“Entirely different,” Ethan claimed. “You were meant to be together. That much was clear even to someone as antiromance as I am.”

“And you and Samantha aren’t meant to be?”

“We aren’t,” Ethan said adamantly. “As my friend, you certainly are well aware of my stance on relationships and love. I’m a nonbeliever.”

“You’re just scared,” Boone countered.

Ethan gave him a scowl that should have shaken him to his core.

Instead, Boone looked amused. “Okay, let’s say you’re not terrified of taking a risk. What makes you think you know what she’s thinking? Exactly how much time have you spent with her?”

“Come on, Boone. It’s plain as day. We couldn’t be any more different. She’s a glamorous actress living in New York. I’m a small-town, one-legged doctor,” he said with brutal honesty. “It just doesn’t compute.”

The expression in Boone’s eyes turned surprisingly angry. “If I ever hear you sell yourself short like that again, I swear I will knock you off that good leg of yours and pummel some sense into you.”

“Just being realistic,” Ethan said, though he was admittedly a little touched by Boone’s quick and vehement defense. For a guy who’d once looked up at Ethan as if he were some sort of hero, Boone didn’t seem the least bit shy about calling it as he saw it now. He was the kind of friend a man needed, even if Ethan wondered whether or not he deserved it.

“Nonsense,” Boone declared. “Give the woman a chance. That’s all any of us are asking. What’s the worst-case scenario? You’ll have spent a couple of weeks in the company of a very sexy woman. No harm, no foul.”

Since a similar thought had crossed Ethan’s mind, he could hardly muster a believable argument against the casual interlude Boone was describing. It just felt wrong, though. Someone was bound to get hurt. No matter how innocently things started, in his experience someone
always
got hurt.

“And if one of us winds up getting hurt?” he asked Boone. “Are you going to carve out my heart if it’s Samantha who gets burned?”

“I’m pretty sure Samantha can take care of herself.” Boone leveled a curious look at him. “Are you thinking that could happen to you, though? Are you more attracted to Samantha than I realized?”

“Absolutely not,” Ethan said, probably a little too forcefully. “I’m just saying it could happen to either one of us. Do you and Emily and Cora Jane and whoever else is involved in this romantic conspiracy want to take responsibility for that? Because if you push and things blow up, that’s on you, too.”

“I think we’re all looking at the upside,” Boone said. “We’re very big on happy endings these days.”

Ethan shook his head. “Yeah, you would be, but not all of us are that lucky, pal. I speak from experience. Maybe you should leave this alone and stop tampering with fate.”

Just then B.J., Boone’s son, walked inside, a scowl on his face. “Are you guys ever coming? Emily just called your cell phone, Dad. I think she’s getting ticked off because we’re not there.”

Ethan grinned at the sudden panic on the groom’s face. “And maybe
that’s
the relationship you should be focusing on,” he advised his friend. “That’s all I’m saying.”

“Okay, yeah. I get it,” Boone said.

But even though his words sounded sincere enough, Ethan had a hunch the meddling was far from over.

* * *

Samantha was very much aware of Ethan standing across the lawn all alone, a can of soda in his hand. He looked as if he’d rather be just about any place other than a bridal shower overrun by eager matchmakers. She could relate. Since she was probably the only one there who could, she crossed the yard to join him, taking two fresh glasses of champagne with her.

“You look as if you’re in need of this,” she commented.

He lifted a brow. “I don’t think champagne is the answer.”

“Then what is?” she asked, downing the last of her own drink. She’d discovered that two glasses was just the right amount to create a happy little buzz. Three was apparently one too many, she concluded as she wobbled slightly.

He gave her a wry look. “Keeping my mind on full alert.”

“Ah, to avoid all the devious scheming going on around here tonight,” she concluded.

“Exactly.”

“Want to go for a walk, instead? I think I might be the tiniest bit tipsy. A walk would be good.”

“It will also lend fodder to the family gossip mill,” he suggested.

She airily waved off the warning. “Oh, so what? We’re tougher than that.”

He smiled. “If you say so.”

They’d walked down the driveway and started around the block when she paused and twirled around. It made her head spin, which was unfortunate, but she managed to stay upright with Ethan’s steady hand on her elbow.

“You okay?” he asked worriedly. “Any particular reason you decided to do that twirl?”

“I was showing off my dress. Do you like it? Grandmother thought you might.”

She watched as Ethan’s gaze dipped to the cleavage displayed by the dress’s neckline. There was no mistaking the heated reaction as his gaze lingered. She giggled.

“She was right. You do like it, don’t you? Especially the neckline. I’ve absolutely got to give that woman more credit. She is very, very wise. And sneaky.” She bobbed her head. “Yep, she is definitely sneaky.”

Ethan sighed. “Exactly how tipsy are you, Samantha?”

“Not tipsy,” she insisted. “That’s not possible. I can hold my liquor. I’ve only had three, or maybe four, glasses of champagne.” She glanced at the empty glass in her hand. “Could be five. I just finished the one I brought for you.”

“Have you eaten today?”

She thought about it. She couldn’t recall having anything since the bowl of cereal and yogurt she’d had for breakfast. “Not so much.”

“Then let’s get you back to the party and get some food into you.”

“More champagne would be lovely,” she told him.

“I don’t think so.”

“Okay,” she said compliantly, clearly startling him. Surprising him felt good. She couldn’t help wondering what he thought of her, especially after all the interfering attempts to push them together. “Am I pitiful, Ethan?”

He stared at her with a shocked expression. “Absolutely not. Why would you ask something like that?”

“Because no one in my family seems to think I can find a man on my own.”

“Then that would have to make me pitiful, too, since I’m the one they’ve targeted for you. Do you think I’m pitiful?”

She shook her head so hard it took another unfortunate spin. “You’ve very, very brave and sexy.” She smiled at him. “I always thought so, you know. Still do.”

Something in his expression seemed to soften at her words. “That’s nice,” he said. “But I’m not going to hold you accountable for anything you might say tonight. You’re a little looped.”

“Not looped,” she told him. “Just unin— What’s that word?
Uninhibited,
that’s it. I’m uninhibited.” She wobbled a little. “It’s kinda nice.”

“And dangerous,” Ethan muttered under his breath.

“Dangerous,” Samantha echoed, pleased. “I like that. Don’t you?”

“Not so much,” he said. “The truth is, you scare me to death.”

“How come?” she asked, honestly wanting to know how she could possibly scare a man who’d been through everything Ethan had been through. Scary and dangerous sounded much better than pitiful.

“Maybe it’s better if I don’t tell you that,” he said. “It could come back to bite me in the butt.”

“How?”

“Women have been known to take advantage of a man’s vulnerabilities,” he said.

“And you’re vulnerable to me?” she asked.

“Unfortunately, it seems I am.”

She beamed at him. “That’s nice,” she said. “I’m glad you like me, Ethan, ’cause I really, really like you. Always have.” Even as she spoke, she sank down on the grass right where she’d been standing. “I think I’ll sleep now.”

Ethan stood there for a heartbeat, his amusement unmistakable. But then she felt herself being scooped into his arms and carried somewhere. To his bed would be nice, she thought before falling soundly asleep.

* * *

“How’s your head?” Gabi inquired even as she handed over a glass of water and a couple of aspirins to Samantha.

The sunlight streaming in through the bedroom window made her head pound. “That depends. Am I dead?”

“No, I’m pretty sure you just wish you were,” her sister said, amusement threading through her voice. “Just how much did you drink last night?”

“No idea,” Samantha admitted. “How big a fool did I make of myself?”

“You’ll have to ask Ethan that. He was with you when you crashed.”

Samantha buried her face in her hands. “Oh, sweet heaven! He must think I’m awful.”

“I’m not sure what he thinks, but I don’t think awful is on the list. He looked smitten and unhappy as hell about it, to be honest.”

Samantha looked down and realized she was once again wearing his football jersey. “Please tell me he did not put this on me.”

“Nope. I did that with a little help from Emily. You were pretty much deadweight by then. And Ethan was looking a little shell-shocked. What on earth did you say to him before you crashed?”

Samantha racked her brain, but nothing specific came to mind. Surely she hadn’t said anything about how desperately she’d been hoping he’d take her to bed. Sweet heaven, what if she had?

“Oh God,” she murmured, holding her head.

“What?” Gabi demanded. “Have you remembered something?”

“Not exactly. I just remember thinking it would be really nice if he carried me off to his bed, but I don’t think I actually said that.”

A grin spread across Gabi’s face. “But you’re not sure?”

“Afraid not. The man is going to think I’m a stalker, isn’t he? He’s going to forget all about the meddlers—Emily, Boone, Grandmother—and conclude that I’m behind everything they’re doing.”

“So what if he does? Liking the man and letting him know it is not so terrible.”

“You don’t think it’s just a little bit pathetic?”

Gabi gave her an impatient look. “Let’s think about this for a minute. You’re gorgeous. You have a successful career as an actress and model. You’re smart. I’m not seeing the downside of this for Ethan.”

“He doesn’t want me,” Samantha replied. “He’s made that abundantly clear. Chasing after him anyway just makes me look desperate.” She gave Gabi a plaintive look. “I don’t want him to see me as desperate. Can you think of any man on earth who wouldn’t be completely turned off by that?”

“And you don’t want Ethan to be turned off?” Gabi said, amusement dancing in her eyes.

“Of course not,” Samantha said before she considered the implication.

“So Grandmother and Emily have been right from the beginning,” she concluded. “This old crush of yours hasn’t faded away.”

Samantha frowned. “What’s your point?”

“That you, my dear, hungover sister, are in a heap of trouble. Those two will never let up now.”

“And you?” Samantha asked warily, hoping for one person who’d back her up.

“I’m on your side,” Gabi confirmed, then blew it by adding, “Which puts me on their side, too.”

“Traitor,” Samantha accused. “Couldn’t you at least be neutral, like Switzerland?”