Page 2 of Seized by Love at Seaside
He stood in the doorway of the cottage, admiring his hard work. He’d refinished the hardwood floors, renovated the kitchen, removed the old paneling, and installed drywall and decorative moldings on the first floor. With the first floor complete, the second floor seemed like a breeze. Everything about the old place already felt like home, despite the fact that he’d grown up just outside of New York City. Unlike most of his siblings, he had never felt drawn to city life. His family had visited the Cape when he was just a boy, and his love for it had stuck with him ever since.
He pulled out his cell phone to check the time. He was meeting Lizzie at seven to fix her oven, which he was sure was just a ruse, given that he was already renovating her kitchen and she had a brand-new oven. With any luck she’d finally come to her senses and would agree to go out with him. Every time he asked her out he was met with the same responses—she didn’t have time to date or she didn’t want to chance ruining their friendship. They did have an incredible friendship, but wasn’t that how people got to know each otherbeforedating?
Before heading back inside he noticed he’d missed two texts. That wasn’t surprising. He was in the habit of giving his full focus to the quality of his work and letting everything else fall to the side.
The first text was from his younger brother, Cash, who was a New York City firefighter.I’m with Jeremy. He needs a headcount for the wedding. Are you bringing a guest?
Their cousin Jeremy, an attorney, was getting married next month to his fiancée, Susan, a fashion blogger. He’d love to take Lizzie to the wedding, but the wedding was in New York, and if she wouldn’t go out on a date at the Cape, she surely wouldn’t go away overnight with him. Normally, he’d take his best friend, Sky Lacroux, to the wedding, a little no-commitment arm candy to keep the single women at bay, but she’d recently gotten engaged, which meant Blue was on his own for the wedding. He’d never been a weekend hookup kind of guy, and his life was on the Cape. The last thing he wanted was to play the flirting game with women who meant nothing to him. Not when he’d had a certain feisty little brunette with a tight body and an effervescent personality on his mind every second of the day for the last year.
He returned Cash’s text—Flying solo. Thanks for checking—knowing he’d likely spend the wedding hanging out with his family while his brothers checked out every skirt that passed and their sister, Trish, made fun of them. Not that he was opposed to checking out women, but while some of his brothers enjoyed one-night stands, Blue hadn’t been into that for quite some time. He’d not only spent the last few years watching his closest friends fall in love and get married, and more recently, start families of their own, but he’d also been hurt by an ex-girlfriend who’d thought a one-night stand that had meant nothing to her wouldn’t cut him to the bone.
Sarah Jane had been Blue’s first love. They’d come together in the innocence of their youth, both just eighteen years old, and they’d stayed together for more than a year. She’d gotten a ride home from a coworker one night when Blue had been in an evening class, and when he’d shown up at her place and caught them having sex, Sarah Jane had tried to explain.It didn’t mean anything!She’d been so wrong that even now the memory of being hurt—and of his broken trust—still stung. He’d sworn he’d never be in that position again, and it was an easy promise to keep. No long-term girlfriend left no room for agony.
The second text message was from Hunter, one of Sky’s older brothers and Blue’s buddy.Bonfire tonight. You in?
A bonfire sounded great, and assuming Lizzie was just going to turn him down again, he’d need a good distraction.Definitely, he responded, then added,Fixing Lizzie’s oven. May get there late.
A few hours later he headed back to his cabin in the woods of Wellfleet, showered, and then drove over to Lizzie’s. Blue parked in front of her house, thinking about how much he loved the feel of her place. The quintessential Cape Cod cottage exuded simple elegance.Just like her.The split-rail fence was laced with pink Knock Out roses, and the front yard had several beautiful gardens. He followed the slate walkway as it snaked through the gardens and heard Lizzie talking through the open window. Her laughter filled the air, and Blue paused to drink it in. It wasn’t the feel of her house he adored; it was Lizzie. She was everywhere.
Lizzie answered the door with her cell phone pressed to her ear, holding up one finger as she mouthed,I’m sorry. One second, and moved to the side for him to come in.
“Listen, Maddy,” she said into the phone, “don’t do anything you’re not comfortable with, okay? Promise?” She held up a finger to Blue again, and even if he hadn’t heard Madison’s name, he’d know by the protective tone of Lizzie’s voice that she was talking with her younger sister.
He tried not to let his eyes wander, but heck if he could keep from taking in her slim hips and tanned legs, revealed by a pair of sexy white cutoffs, or her smooth, lean shoulder peeking out from beneath a cream-colored, boat-neck sweater with a picture of an elephant on the front. The way the elephant hugged her curves made him a little jealous. What he wouldn’t give to be that elephant.
He should’ve taken acoldshower before coming over.
LIZZIE ENDED THE call with her sister and slipped her cell phone into her pocket.
“I’m so sorry. That was Maddy, and she has a date tonight. She was a little nervous. I worry about her. I hope she doesn’t get into a bad situation. I’m worrying over nothing, right? Please tell me I am.” She blinked up at Blue, who was looking at her with amusement in his steel-blue eyes and a crooked grin that nearly made her heart stop. She always rambled when she was nervous. Better he thought she was nervous about Maddy than because of their close proximity.
“She’s nineteen, Lizzie. She’ll be fine.”
“Right. Thank you.” She exhaled loudly, trying to calm her racing pulse from the sight of him in his skintight T-shirt. He was truly beautiful, with a face that should grace the front of every magazine in the country and a smile that could melt butter.
“So, you have an oven that needs fixing?” He lifted his toolbox and cocked a brow, and she realized she was staring at him.
Great. Way to go, Lizzie.
“Yes. This way.” She motioned for him to follow her down to the basement.
“You’re going the wrong way.”
“I have an apartment down here.” She led him to the kitchen. Even though he was handling the renovations, she’d never given him a tour of the rest of the house.
She flipped on the lights, and her kitchen lit up too brightly. Perfect for her videos, not perfect for a basement kitchen.
“Wow, that’s bright,” he said.
“A properly lit kitchen is important. You know that.” She smiled at him, hoping he’d buy that excuse.
Blue set his toolbox on the floor and eyed her laptop sitting open on the counter.
Thank goodness for power saver mode. She snagged it off the counter.
“Do you rent this space out?”
“No.” She clutched the laptop to her chest, a shield between Blue and her secret.
