“Sorry. Everybody knows how appropriate you are.”
She narrowed her eyes and stuck her index finger in his chest. “Shut up, Nick Santori, or I’ll never make you my special cannoli again.”
His superconfident cousin dropped to one knee and clutched at his chest as if wounded. “Don’t ever say that to me again! I’ll do anything you say.”
“Ass,” she mumbled, swiping her hand through his hair and bending down to press a kiss on his mouth.
Mark and Noelle had returned to the couch, sitting close, their hands entwined. They were watching Nick and Izzie, almost like parents watching misbehaving kids, which was pretty funny since they were all the same age. But he supposed that pretty well summed up the relationships. Nick and Izzie were playful and wicked. Mark and Noelle were tender and sweet. And all four of them were happier than Mike had ever expected to be in his entire life.
But maybe he’d been wrong about that.
“So, where’s Lindsey? Let’s get her and all go have lunch. I want to try one of these quaint little diners,” Noelle said.
He was shaking his head before she’d finished. “She won’t.”
“Why not?”
“It’s complicated.”
“Are we not good enough to meet your girlfriend?” Nick asked, just to give him grief.
“That’s not it. It’s just that there’s no privacy on the island, and we’re trying to avoid everyone talking about what’s going on between us.”
“Uh, then, cuz, you might want to close up that box and tape it shut,” said Mark.
“I wasn’t expecting company.”
“Were you gonna walk down the street with it on your shoulder to take to her place?”
“Point taken. I’d better buy some tape when I’m out.”
For now, though, he just decided to enjoy hanging out with his family. Other than spending it with Lindsey, he couldn’t think of a better way to spend the day.
They sat down again, catching up. Mike got all the news from home, enjoying hearing about his own brother, Leo, and his very pregnant wife. Hopefully he’d get back to Chicago to see them soon, before the baby came. Hell, by the time the baby was born, he might be out of a job and living who knew where.
A month ago, that might have really bothered him. Now, though...not so much. It wasn’t just the realization that Lindsey wasn’t going to be on the island much longer. He also wasn’t sure he wanted to be here, either, with or without her. This nonsense with Mrs. Franklin and the daily battles with Ollie were bad enough. There was also the whole atmosphere of having to sneak around and guard every moment of his privacy because somebody always wanted to violate it.
He’d come to Wild Boar Island searching for a certain kind of life. Now that he had it, he wasn’t sure he wanted it anymore.
“So, Mike, tell us the truth. Are you really happy living here?” asked Mark.
Mike opened his mouth, about to assure his family he was just fine. He couldn’t lie to them, though. “No, not really. I kinda hate it.”
“Oh, honey,” said Noelle, patting his hand, as if he were a kid who’d gotten his lunch money stolen.
He laughed softly. “That was an exaggeration. It’s not that bad. The people are nice.” He again thought about Mrs. Franklin, who was still carping about that damn book. “For the most part.”
“You’re not in love with your job then?” asked Nick.
“No, can’t say that I am.” He suddenly remembered what Leo had told him last month—about his cousins having some kind of business opportunity to discuss. “What did you have in mind?”
Nick and Mark exchanged a look, each of them smiling. Then they leaned forward and began to explain.
And with every word they said, Mike began to envision a completely different future than he’d ever imagined. In fact, a whole new world of possibilities opened up before his eyes.
He just wondered what it might mean for him and Lindsey, or if she’d ever want more than an affair with him.
* * *
AFTER MIKE’S CALL, Lindsey waited around the cottage for a while, wondering what to do. Their plans for the day had included another picnic. Because the summer tourists were flooding the island, that picnic was going to be on her living room floor, but still, she had been looking forward to it. Hopefully, it wouldn’t be canceled altogether and they’d at least get to have it tomorrow or Monday. Mike was working nights all weekend, but she definitely planned to fill up his days. At least, as soon as he showed up.
But the hours ticked by and he didn’t show up. When she glanced at the clock and saw it was after four, she realized the picnic plans would definitely have to be put off for another day.