“Nothing ever changes here, does it?” he grumbled, taking a handful of nuts from the bowl on the table between them. “I think these are even the same peanuts that were here when I left Larkin Bay five years ago.”
Kara straightened in her seat. “Um, I don’t think so. I actually filled all the table bowls this morning myself,” she replied, being careful to keep her tone neutral.
Jamie nodded and leaned over the table to clasp one of Kara’s hands in his. “I didn’t mean anything nasty by it,” he said in a conciliatory tone. “It’s just so, oh, I don’t know, quiet and predictable around here sometimes. Everyone goes to bed at ten o’clock. I guess I’m just not used to that after living in the city.”
Kara frowned at him. “Do you miss it? Being in the city, I mean? Do you really think you’ll be able to live here again?”
Jamie shrugged. “I think so. I love many things about Larkin Bay, and I missed a lot of the people. It’s just that the city has a vibrancy. I like all the bustle and busyness of it.”
“I remember you couldn’t wait to leave here not so long ago,” Kara mused.
“That’s true. I wanted to make money and do business deals. I still do. It’s just now there are deals to do here in Larkin Bay too.”
“Deals? Here? Like what?”
“Well, like building high-rises, or changing the bylaws in downtown to allow for buildings to be built on the waterfront. They might even want to consider construction where the parks are now. This place doesn’t have to stay a sleepy little town forever. With the right people and the right investments, it can grow into something bigger—better too,” he replied, his quickly spoken words reflecting his excitement at the idea.
“Expansion? Here? But most of the residents are against that,” Kara said. Jamie looked annoyed for a minute before his expression cleared. Releasing her hand, he leaned back in his seat. “Well, Larkin Bay is going to grow whether the people here want it to or not, so it’s best to be in on what’s being planned so you can control what happens. That’s when you can make the most money too, so that’s where I intend to be. Everyone’s attitude will change when their home and business values increase with the growth—you’ll see.”
“You think so?” Kara asked, her creased brow showing her doubt. “Everyone here seems pretty intent on preserving the town just the way it is, and I don’t think money will change their minds. This isn’t the big city, Jamie. People aren’t so greedy here. Many of them moved here to raise their kids and get away from that kind of thinking.”
He waved a dismissive hand between them. “People may feel that way now, but as soon as they see there’s money to be made, they’ll be running to where the new developments are,” Jamie replied, folding his arms against his chest and lifting his chin confidently.
“Interesting,” Kara replied. Turning to the server hovering beside their table, she smiled and ordered herself a glass of ice water with lemon while Jamie asked for another lager. As the evening progressed, Jamie requested even more beer and Kara was reminded of how he regularly drank heavily when they were younger. Soon, the mature man Kara had been getting to know over the last few weeks was replaced by a very loud and obnoxious drunk that Kara didn’t wish to spend time with.
“I think I need to get home,” Kara finally announced to Jamie. “I have work tomorrow, and Maeve will need me fully functioning in the morning. I also want to spend some time with Rachel and Mary before they go home tonight.”
Jamie didn’t look pleased with her announcement, but he said nothing as Kara picked up her jacket and purse off the bench seat.
Smiling tightly at him, Kara slid out of her booth to make her way toward the bar to say goodbye to Mark when Jamie bounced up and grabbed her by the arm. Spinning Kara toward him, he crushed her up against his chest. “But I don’t want to leave now,” he whined as he blew his sour breath into her face. “We haven’t even really started to enjoy ourselves yet. It’s still early!”
Kara put both hands on his shirt and tried to push him away, but he just clasped her even closer to him.
“Jamie, let me go,” Kara demanded. “You’re drunk, and I need to get home to Maeve.”
“No,” he replied, grinning tightly down at her.
“I think the lady said to let her go,” commanded a deep voice from behind Kara, and Jamie let go of her so fast that she stumbled backward, where she was easily caught by Scott.
“Me catching you seems to be becoming a habit with us,” he murmured in Kara’s ear before releasing her and turning to glare at Jamie. Warily, the other man scowled back at him before taking an unsteady and menacing step forward.
“Jamie,” cautioned Kara, moving between the two men. “Scott’s right, and you’re being an idiot. Come on, let’s just go.”
Jamie stood his ground for a minute, swaying slightly as Scott glared over at him, looking furious and, Kara couldn’t help but notice, very sexy.
“Is there a problem here?” asked Mark, coming out from behind the bar to stand next to his sister.
The three men all looked at each other in silence for a long moment. “Nope, not from me. Just tell this gorilla here to leave me alone,” said Jamie, before returning to the table to pick up his jacket.
Mark raised an eyebrow at Scott. “You acting like a gorilla again?” he asked with an amused grin.
Scott shook his head and gave Mark a tight-lipped smile. “It seems like it, I guess. I was just looking out for your sister. Jamie wasn’t doing what she asked and was handling her a little roughly, so I stepped over to make sure she was okay.”
Mark’s hands tightened into fists. Turning, he gave Kara a questioning look. “Are you all right?” he asked.
“I’m fine. I’ve got this,” Kara assured her brother. Walking over to Jamie, she hooked her arm around his waist, and led him out of the bar, where she pushed him into a taxi and instructed the driver to take him back to his parents’ house.
Kara sighed as she watched the taxi holding Jamie speed off. Turning back, she reentered the bar, where Mark shot her a half smile when he saw her slide onto the stool next to Scott.
“There’s an empty booth at the back, if you guys want some privacy,” he called over.
Scott gave her a questioning look and smiled when Kara nodded in response.
“Here, take these with you,” said Mark, pushing two fresh beers across the bar toward them as they got up.
Both Scott and Kara thanked him and picked up their drinks before making their way to an empty booth.
Kara placed her beer on the table, and when she saw Scott was looking at her and smiling, she sighed softly as her stomach fluttered in response.
“Thank you for the help with Jamie,” she finally said. “He can be a handful when he drinks.”
“Are you okay? I mean, I don’t want to intrude, but I also hate to see him talking to you like that.”
“Don’t worry about it. I think after tonight, I won’t be seeing much more of Jamie unless he’s picking up Maeve.”
Scott blinked. “Oh, that’s sad. I mean, it might be for the best from what I just saw, but are you okay with that?” He then frowned. “And will Maeve be safe, being alone with him?”
Kara tilted her head to one side as she considered the question.
Am I okay?
A smile spread across her face as she realized she was. She was actually more than okay. She was feeling freer and lighter than she had in a while.
“Yeah, I’m good.” She took a long look at Scott. “I’m actually feeling much better than I have in a few weeks. I guess I didn’t realize how much Maeve’s diagnosis and Jamie coming back here was weighing on me. And yes, Jamie can be an idiot, but he’d never let anything happen to Maeve.”
“Well, that’s great, then,” Scott replied.
Kara moved closer to the table. “But how about you?” she asked, using a playful tone. “I saw Candy kissing you at the community dinner. What’s going on in your love life?”
Scott pulled back, looking gobsmacked. “You saw what? Nothing! Nothing is going on between me and Candy. I mean, we’re friends and she’s really interested in the possibility of me interviewing for the commentator position, but that’s about it.”
“But you kissed her?”
“I didn’t kiss her—she kissed me. I was as surprised as you when she did that. I pushed her away too. She landed on her butt.” He smiled. “She didn’t like that much, but I think she finally got the message. She’s stopped stalking me around town. She’s to me what Jamie is to you, part of my past.”
Kara blinked at him as she quietly considered his explanation.
“It’s true. Honest to God, I didn’t kiss her back.”
