“Do you know until last summer, I had never been here? I had never heard of Cape Harbor, and then all of a sudden, she’s up here every weekend we’re not together, and all I hear are stories about these people she grew up with but hadn’t seen in years. They’re a priority for her. They’re butting into our lives. Interrupting our plans.”
Graham pulled his arm free. “Again, I can’t help you.”
“I know you’re the one who came and got her in Canada. I saw you. I recognized you right away. She didn’t call her friend; she called you.”
Graham stood there. He had nothing to say to the man in front of him. No, that wasn’t exactly true. He wanted to scold him for cheating on his wife and for hurting Rennie.
“I’m right, aren’t I?”
“Eat your burger. I’ll call you a cab.”
He left Theo there and walked to the back room, where he pulled out his phone and dialed Rennie’s number.
“Hey,” she said after the second ring.
“Hey, Theo’s in the bar. He’s drunk. He’s upset. Kind of blaming all of us for ruining your relationship.”
“He came and saw me the other day at work—”
Graham interrupted her, “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Rennie was silent for a moment. “Not really anything to tell. He came and left right before you called me. He apologized. I told him how he made me feel, and I sent him on his way. I don’t know why he’s there now. He’s the past and not really worth our time.”
He thought her answer was dismissive and felt she should’ve called and told him Theo had gone to see her. Days into their relationship, and he was already upset with her. He shouldn’t feel this way. “I think he’s looking for someone to blame. He knows I picked you up from the resort.”
“Oh.”
Graham sighed. “Anyway, I wanted to let you know. I’m going to call him a cab and send him on his way. I’ll call you later.” He hung up, feeling more frustrated than ever. What in the hell was he doing trying to start a relationship with this breakup so fresh?
He went back to the bar and saw that the coffee had finished brewing. He poured Theo a cup and handed it to him. “Sober up.” He then went to the bar phone and called the local taxi service.
Theo took a drink. “I need to get her back.”
Graham shook his head. “You’re married. I think your focus needs to be on your wife.”
“She left me too.” He sounded dejected, but it was well deserved. “I’m so in love with Renee. I have to get her back. And you have to help me.”
Graham rested his hands on the edge of the counter and made eye contact with Theo. “I’m not your friend. I’m Rennie’s. If she doesn’t want to see you, there isn’t anything I can do, nor would I. What you did, what you put her through—it’s inexcusable. You put my friend in such a bad situation, and I don’t blame her for removing you from her life. Hell, I don’t blame your wife either. You need to figure your shit out and leave Rennie alone.”
He nodded toward the door when the driver walked in. “Your ride is here. Your tab is on the house, but do me a favor.”
“What’s that?” Theo asked.
“Don’t ever come back here or to Cape Harbor again. You’re not welcome.”
Theo laughed. “When she takes me back, I’ll make sure she never steps foot in this place again.”
“Good luck, man.” Graham cleared away Theo’s food and glasses and turned his back on the guy. He had a business to run and couldn’t waste any more of his time on Rennie’s ex. He had a hard enough time dealing with his thoughts in regard to her and what they were doing. Unfortunately for Graham, the negativity crept in, and he spent the rest of the night wondering what the hell he was doing, not only with his life but with Rennie.
TWENTY-NINE
Rennie stood in her kitchen looking at take-out menus. She had tossed the places Theo liked to frequent and kept her favorites. She had poured herself a glass of wine but had yet to take a drink. All week, she had been indecisive about everything, especially Graham. They hadn’t really fought, but she had been a bit of a bitch to him when he called her about Theo. The call had caught her off guard. She never expected Theo to return to Cape Harbor, let alone go into the Whale Spout. She didn’t like that and took her frustration out on Graham instead of Theo. Her doorbell rang, and she looked up, which really didn’t do her any good since she didn’t have a clear line of sight to the door. She set her wineglass down and went to answer.
“Graham,” she said his name softly. He stood there with a bouquet of flowers in his hand. “Come in.” She shut the door after him and locked it.
“Before you say anything, I want you to hear me out. I’m sorry for being snippy the other night in regard to Theo. I know you’re dealing with him the way you see fit, and I accept that. I shouldn’t have snapped. I’m sorry.”
Rennie flung her arms around Graham’s shoulders and smashed her flowers into his chest. “I’m sorry too, Graham.” She looked deep into his eyes and could easily see herself falling very hard and very fast for him. “I’m happy you’re here, but why are you here?” She laughed at her question.
“I had to see you. I didn’t want to wait until this weekend, because I have to work a ton. I gave Krista the weekend off.”
“Good—she deserves it.” Rennie took her flowers and held the smashed petals to her nose. “I think I broke them.” She held her hand out for Graham to follow her as she gave him a quick tour. She showed him her guest bedroom, the small bathroom, the living room, the kitchen and finally her bedroom.
“This is cozy.”
“I like it. Come on—I was about to order some dinner. Are you hungry?” She walked back toward the kitchen with him hot on her heels.
“Sure.”
They stood at the counter and looked at the menus together, finally settling on dim sum. Rennie placed the order while Graham wandered around her living room. When she hung up, she went to him and pulled him toward her favorite oversize stuffed chair. He sat first, and she crawled onto his lap.
“I’m happy you’re here.”
“You are?”
“Absolutely.” She caressed the side of his cheek and leaned in to kiss him. Within seconds, passion ignited between them. “I want you,” she told him, only to have him pull back.
“Can we talk?”
She could only nod, because her heart was in her throat.
Graham adjusted in the seat, turning slightly so he could look at Rennie. He smiled, but she didn’t see his eyes light up like they normally did. “I saw Grady the other day, and he said something to me that got me thinking.”
“About?”
“Us. He said it in reference to him and Monroe. Roe has always liked Grady and has cared for him a lot over the years, but he wants her to move on, because she is part of his past. I know his situation is different from ours, but we were all affected by the accident, and I fear that things between us could be residual feelings. The last thing I want for either of us is to jump two feet in and then start to backpedal because we don’t really know each other. I know Rennie Wallace from age sixteen to twenty-two, but for the past fifteen years, minus the last six months, I don’t know the Rennie sitting on my lap, and I want to know. I want to know her more than anything, but she needs to know me too. I’m not the same guy I was all those years ago.”