She parked her bike in the driveway and grabbed the doggy sling from the basket, staring at the cottage. His front door and shutters were blue, reminding her of the umbrella in the backyard. She remembered him peering out of the shower, and her heart stumbled. Tank had told her that Brant had sat in front of her house all night, and that had done her in. She knew Tank did things like that, but she’d never met anyone else who would.
As she climbed the porch, Tank’s voice ran through her mind. I like him, Cait. I trust him. Tank didn’t trust easily, and his respect for Brant validated that cutting ties was the right thing to do, no matter how much it hurt. Brant deserved to be with someone easier, with less freak-out potential. Someone who knew how to be in a relationship.
I can do this. I have to do this.
She took a deep breath, clutching the sling to her stomach, and knocked. The door flew open, and Rowan’s daughter, Joni, stood before her wearing a scuba mask that covered her eyes and nose, a pink bathing suit, a rainbow tutu, and red rain boots decorated with yellow flowers, throwing Cait totally off-kilter.
“Mermaid!” Joni threw her arms around Cait’s waist, hugging her tight. She’d been calling Cait Mermaid since the day they’d met. Joni’s flair for creative nicknames and funky clothes was as wild as the imaginative stories she told. Rowan claimed that Joni had been making up stories since she’d learned to talk. Joni tilted her pretty little face up, her fine brown hair brushing her chin, and said, “You’re just in time for our under-the-sea dinner at Aunt Pickle’s house!”
“Cait? What’re you doing here?” Brant’s sister Randi, a petite brunette, came to the door dressed in a bikini top and shorts and wearing a scuba mask like Joni.
“I found her feeding the giraffes in the zoo,” Joni exclaimed.
“Did you?” Randi grinned at her niece.
Cait wondered if she had the wrong cottage. “I was . . . um . . . I came to return something to Brant, but I must have the wrong cottage. I saw his truck and—”
“No you don’t. This is Uncle Doodle’s house!” Joni exclaimed. “Come on. I’ll take you to him.” She grabbed Cait’s hand and tugged her toward the street.
Cait’s brain finally kicked into gear, and she stopped walking. “It’s okay. I’ll just leave this on his porch.”
Randi closed the door behind her, carrying a canvas bag over her shoulder, and looped her arm with Cait’s. “Don’t be silly. You’re here. You might as well join us for a barbecue at my place. But you need a mask.”
“A mask?” Cait was confused. “I don’t need—”
“We’re going underwater. See?” Joni pointed to the street.
She realized this was one of Joni’s elaborate stories.
“I have an extra one. Here you go.” Randi pretended to hand Cait a mask.
“Wait! We’re so silly! Mermaid doesn’t need a mask. She has gills,” Joni said, and they dragged Cait across the street, Joni and Randi pretending to do a one-armed breaststroke while holding Cait hostage between them. “Wiggle your tail, Mermaid!”
As they neared the cottage across the street, a cacophony of voices and music came into focus. Cait needed to get out of this crazy mixed-up situation, stat! “My tail is broken. I should go.”
“Don’t worry. Uncle Tootsie will fix it! He can fix anything,” Joni said as Randi opened the gate to the backyard.
“Uncle Tootsie?” Cait repeated.
“My brother Jamison,” Randi said as they entered the backyard.
Scrappy ran over barking loudly as several sets of eyes locked on them. In the space of a second, Cait realized she’d interrupted a family gathering. Brant’s parents, Roddy and Gail, were standing across the yard talking with an older couple. Roddy wore a snorkeling mask, and the older woman he was with had a purple inflatable ring around her stomach with a dolphin head in the front and a tail in the back, and the white-haired man wore a Hawaiian shirt and several leis around his neck. Rowan stood by the grill with Tessa, who was wearing yellow water wings. Cait’s eyes swept over an enormous table set for dinner and another table littered with refreshments. But she didn’t see Brant anywhere.
She had to get out of there. “I should be go—”
“Uncle Doodle!” Joni hollered. “Mermaid is here to see you, and she needs Uncle Tootsie to fix her tail!” She ran toward the open patio doors just as Brant and a tall, handsome guy with glasses and wavy hair walked out.
Brant’s eyes locked on Cait, sending her already rampant pulse into a frenzy and turning those nasty hornets back into butterflies. How was it possible to feel so much for a man she wasn’t even going out with? She was vaguely aware of Gail and Tessa calling out to her. But Cait had tunnel vision, seeing only the confused happiness in Brant’s eyes as he closed the distance between them. Their connection was more intense than ever, buzzing with electricity, making her want to run to him. But she couldn’t. She was there to apologize, explain, and put an end to whatever this was between them.
“What a great surprise!” Tessa said.
“Right? I’m glad she’s here, too,” Randi added.
“It’s lovely to see you. Jamison, come meet Cait!” Gail hollered. “Those are Roddy’s parents over there, Freddy and Millie.”
Rowan shouted, “How’s it going, Cait?”
I can’t breathe, but I’m still standing. She lifted her hand to wave, or at least she thought she did. She still couldn’t take her eyes off Brant.
Joni stepped between Cait and Brant, holding Scrappy, who was wearing an orange bikini, and beamed up at Cait. “Look! Scrappy fit in my doll’s bathing suit. And guess what? Daddy’s grilling whale dogs, crab burgers, eel kabobs, and shark meat for dinner!”
“Uh-huh,” Cait managed, unable to get a word out for the emotions stacking up inside her. Seeing Brant was torture, and the thought of losing Scrappy, too, nearly sent her over the edge.
“What are you doing here?” Brant’s eyes remained trained on her, as if he couldn’t look away, either. “I thought you weren’t coming back until later tonight.”
“We found her at the zoo!” Joni exclaimed. “She’s having dinner with us.”
“Jojo, I could use your help over here,” Rowan shouted, and Joni scampered off.
Gail pulled Jamison closer and said, “Cait, this is our son Jamison. He’s in for the evening. I’m glad you’ll have a chance to get to know him.”
Cait glanced at Brant’s serious-looking brother, who was wearing a Deckvest like the one she’d worn on Brant’s yacht, but as she said, “Hi,” her eyes were drawn back to the man she wished she’d never sent away.
“It’s nice to meet you. How do you know Brant?” Jamison asked.
“Abby introduced them,” Tessa answered.
Brant tore his eyes from Cait, as if he’d only just noticed they were surrounded by his family. “Would you mind if I talked with Cait for a second before you scare her off?”
“Where are our manners?” Gail said kindly. “Of course, honey. Why don’t you get our guest a drink?”
“A drink. Good idea.” Brant took Cait by the arm, leading her to the other side of the yard. He stood close, and she realized he was wearing his bathing suit, an open Hawaiian shirt like Roddy wore, and two leis around his neck. “I’ve wanted to reach out to you every minute since last night. I’m happy to see you, but you’re back early. Is everything okay?”