Page 90 of The Restaurant on Plum Island
“Yeah, and broke his soft hand.” Harley laughed, eyeing Alex, who was sitting with an ice pack on his swollen hand.
“My hand isn’t soft!” Alex seethed. “Hitting a punching bag is alotdifferent than hitting a jawbone.”
“I know!” Harley nodded.
“Of course you do!” Alex rolled his eyes. “But my hand isn’t soft. Anyone’s fingers would break if they connected a jaw bone as hard as I did.”
“I’ve never broken my hand punching someone,” Harley teased.
“Okay, you two,” Sam intervened and looked at Alex. “That was a brave thing you did, Alex. Do you want someone to take you to get it looked at?”
“No,” Alex was quick to say. “Maybe your niece can look it over for me when we’re back on Plum Island.”
Something in Alex’s eyes and voice when he mentioned Daniella made Ethan frown as he regarded his brother.
“Sure,” Sam said with a nod. “Speaking of Plum Island, I think you should all get back there.” He glanced out the window. “I think the neighbors are not too happy with a military chopper parked on Daphne’s lawn.”
“Yeah, and this neighborhood is really strict about its rules,” Harley commented as they all got ready to leave.
Ethan said goodbye to his daughter and brother as they hopped into the chopper with Harley and his friend. They watched as the bird lifted into the air. As it flew into the distance, Sam stood with Ethan and Carly, and a limo pulled into the driveway.
“It looks like your ride has arrived,” Sam smiled at Ethan and Carly.
“You arranged this?” Carly looked at Ethan in surprise.
“Yes.” Ethan nodded. “Harley told me that you didn’t like helicopters, so as soon as I knew you were alright, I ordered one.”
“Thank you,” Carly said with a smile. She hugged Sam. “I’ll see you back in Plum Island,” she told him. “You and I are going to talk. You’re supposed to be retired!”
“Oh, honey, I am retired.” Sam laughed. “This is me retired.”
She shook her head, kissing his cheek before sliding into the back of the limo.
“Thanks, Sam.” Ethan shook hands with him. “I’m still slightly mad at you, though.”
“I don’t blame,” Sam told him. “I’d feel the same way. I actually do feel the same way because it was Carly. But I can assure you I had every scenario covered.”
Ethan nodded and settled into the back of the limo with Carly. As the car took off, Ethan turned to her.
“I know this is probably the last thing you want right now, but would you like some champagne?” Ethan looked at the bottle cooling on ice. He pulled it out of the bucket and laughed. “It’s Harriet’s favorite.”
“Then we can’t drink it,” Carly told him. “We need to take it to her for that weird collection she has.” Her brow creased. “Is Harriet really collecting champagne to bath in it?”
“I’ve been sworn to secrecy as to the real reason,” Ethan told her.
“Mm, more secrets!” Carly muttered, making Ethan’s heart squeeze.
“Carly…” Ethan put the champagne back on ice. “So much has happened between us. There’s been so much doubt, mistrust, and deceit—“ He ran a hand through his hair. “None of which either of us orchestrated.”
“I know!” Carly agreed. “Everyone around us was keeping secrets, and the two of us weren’t keeping them. We were the secrets.” She shook her head. “Or at least that’s how I feel.”
“You couldn’t have said it better,” Ethan nodded. “I was scared to death when I realized you and Shay had been taken.” Their eyes locked. “On the way to Boston, I swore to myself if you and Shaywere okay, I’d come clean with you no matter what the cost or if you rebuffed me.”
“Oh?” Carly’s eyes widened and darkened. A teasing glint sparked off the gold flecks as her beautiful mouth curved into a smile. “And what do you want to come clean about?”
“I love you, Carly,” Ethan blurted. “I’ve loved you since I saw your first performance onAll My Heart.“ He shook his head. “I couldn’t believe it when you said you’d take part in the first movie I wrote, and after our first date, I realized how head over heels in love with you I was.”
Carly’s smile fell, and her eyes darkened as she moved closer to him. Her scent wound around him, tantalizing his senses, and his heart kicked into overdrive as his breath caught in his throat.
