Page 82 of Coming Home to You
“Really?”I ask, surprised.
He nods.“Look, I get why you had to leave, Beck, we all did.All you ever wanted growing up was to be one of those cops you saw on TV.Working in this town, doing what Finn does, that was never going to work for you.”Pop stops and helps himself to a beer now before continuing.“Which is not to say this job doesn’t come with it’s own responsibilities and problems, it does, trust me I know.But I get why you had to go to Boston for yours.My question now is, what next?You gonna try and get a transfer to the Rockport police?”
I grin at Pop, knowing this could very easily go either way, what I’m about to say next.“Nah,” I say, laughing.“Pretty sure Finn and I would kill each other if I did that.”
Pop chuckles.“Yeah, undoubtedly,” he says.“So what are you going to do?”
I run a hand through my hair and meet my dad’s stare.“Well, I thought I might finally kick you into retirement,” I say grinning at him.“And run this place.”
A couple of hours later, I’m wandering over to the inn to meet up with Kelsey.I’d texted her earlier to find out when she was finishing and to let her know that I was in town, talking to my dad, so I’d meet up with her before she came home.She was curious about me meeting with Pop, especially as she’d said she was planning on bringing lunch home with her.I’d been vague about why, promising to explain everything when I met her.
I smile as I think back over this afternoon’s events.Pop had burst out laughing when I’d told him my plans for the future.Slapping me on the shoulder again and saying, “I take it back,thisis the smartest decision you’ve ever made.”
I’d raised my eyebrows in shock, expecting a bigger fight from him about this.“You’re okay with all this?”I asked him, gesturing around the pub.“I thought this place was your baby.”
“It is,” he’d said, laughing as he poured us both a shot of Jameson.“But I’ve been wanting to retire for years now.It’s been tough with Finn as chief and no one else to take over,” he’d said.“This place belongs in the family and I didn’t want to hand it over to just anyone.”
Pop’s words had been both a wake up call and a kick in the gut, as all the years I’d basically ignored my family came rushing back.
“Pop…” I’d said, standing.
“Beck,” he’d said, holding up a hand.“It’s okay.You’re here now and that’s what counts.”
I hadn’t said anything, instead walking around to the other side of the bar and pulling my dad into a tight hug.“Thank you, Pop,” I’d said.“Thank you.”
When he’d pulled back, he’d been smiling at me.“Right then, let’s get something to eat and start talking about what you’re gonna do with the place.”
After that, it had all been easy.Pop’s plans for renovations were, like Finn and Kelsey had said, amazing.In addition to redoing the entire interior, he also wanted to create an outdoor beer garden and expand on the kitchen.Get a chef in to offer something more than the basic snacks the current guy provided.
It was a smart move, especially given O’Loughlin’s was a favorite amongst both the locals and the tourists.With everything in place, I thought we could potentially do it all over the winter months and have it up and running by the time summer came around next year.I was looking forward to it.
Telling Ryan and my boss however, that was another story.
I knew the captain would potentially understand, but I’d yet to call him, wanting to square things away with Ryan first.He was still in town for a couple of days, so I thought I’d talk to Kels first and then see about telling my friend, and partner, that we’d no longer be working together anymore.
“Hey, baby,” I say as the front door of the inn flies open and Kelsey comes to greet me.
“Hey,” she says, wrapping her arms around my neck and planting a hard kiss on my mouth.
“Miss me,” I say, grinning at her.
“Mmmm,” she says.“I did.”
I pull her against me, grinding my hips against hers so she can see what she’s already doing to me.“I’ve got a surprise for you,” I whisper, my mouth at her ear.
Kelsey bursts out laughing.“I hate to say it, babe,” she says, her eyes sparkling.“But as much as I love your big, sexy cock, it isn’t exactly a surprise to me anymore.”
I burst out laughing, smacking her on the ass as I press my ever-hardening dick against her.“Oh I don’t know about that, babe,” I say, kissing her neck.“I’ve still got a few tricks up my sleeve.”
Kelsey laughs again until I silence her with my mouth on hers, kissing her long and deep, right in front of the inn.I have no idea who’s watching us right now, and for the first time in forever, I don’t fucking care.I could care less if this town gossips about us anymore, as long as everyone is clear that Kelsey is mine, and mine only, then all is good.
“So what’s this surprise then?”she eventually says, pulling away to get a look at the bag I’m carrying.
“You’ll find out,” I say, taking her hand in mine as I lead her down to the beach.
We walk in silence, the afternoon sun, shining down on us and warming our skin.It takes a few minutes to reach the spot, but as soon as we find it, Kelsey grins.
“I haven’t been here in ages,” she says, sitting down in our secluded little spot in the dunes.
