Willow Brook Road(113)

He took yet another deep, cleansing breath and turned toward the newspaper office. If they were going to make it, he had to trust Carrie to make the right choice. He had to have faith that she would choose him—and family and home—over flash and glamour.

But as strong as his faith in her might be, it was going to be a very long afternoon.



Mick had gone outside with his father’s pipe and was enjoying the fall afternoon, when the big black SUV drove up. His gaze narrowed as he recognized the perfectly groomed man who climbed out of the back, every hair in place, his clothes impeccable. Mick’s blood promptly came to a boil, but he could hear Megan’s voice in his head telling him to wait and see what the designer wanted before kicking him off his land and out of town.

“Mr. O’Brien?”

“That’s me,” Mick confirmed. “What can I do for you, Mr. Reynolds?”

The man’s expression didn’t register so much as a hint of surprise. Clearly he expected to be recognized wherever he went. Another black mark, in Mick’s opinion.

“I’m looking for Carrie.”

“Oh? A little late for that, isn’t it?”

The direct remark hit its target. Reynolds looked taken aback.

“Letting her leave was a foolish decision on my part,” he conceded. “I’m afraid I underestimated her value to my business.”

“But not to you?”

The man looked completely befuddled by the question, which told Mick all he needed to know. Marc Reynolds hadn’t shown up here because he’d discovered some deep, abiding love for Carrie. He was here because of what she could do for him. Well, not if Mick had anything to say about it. No man was going to get a second chance to break his girl’s heart.

“I doubt she’s interested in anything you’re offering,” Mick told him.

“Shouldn’t you let her decide that for herself?”

“More than likely,” Mick said, taking a long draw on his pipe and releasing the fragrant smoke into the air. “But I’m comfortable with telling you to get out of my town and out of my girl’s life.”

“Mick O’Brien!”

Mick winced. Unfortunately he hadn’t taken into account that Ma was inside. Apparently she’d overheard enough to guess the identity of their unwanted guest and to figure out what Mick was up to.

Marc Reynolds’s gaze immediately went to Nell, who emerged from the house and was regarding both of them with displeasure.

“You must be Carrie’s great-grandmother. Nell, isn’t that right?”

“I am.”

“I’ve heard a lot about you, about all of you. Family means the world to Carrie.”

“Now that’s the first thing we’ve agreed on,” Mick said. “Which is why she belongs right here in Chesapeake Shores.”

Ma put a hand on his shoulder. “She knows that, Mick. But she needs to be the one to explain it to Mr. Reynolds. I’d say the two of them have some unfinished business.”

Mick frowned at that. “If the man were here because he wanted to tell her he was in love with her, I might agree, but that’s not it, is it, Mr. Reynolds? He wants her to come back and be his workhorse again, the way she was before.”

“I imagine Carrie will be smart enough to understand the distinction,” Nell said. “And if it’s a job she wants to go back to, we’ll have to live with that.”

“Ma!”

Nell ignored him. “Mr. Reynolds, I think if you truly want our Carrie back working for you, you’ll need to improve your presentation. She’s not as gullible as she once was. I suggest you spend the night at the Inn at Eagle Point and put your best proposal on paper. We’ll let Carrie know you’re in town and, if she’s interested, she’ll meet you in the dining room there first thing tomorrow morning.”

“I don’t have time for this,” the designer snapped impatiently. “I’ve come all the way from New York as it is. I’m scheduled to fly to Milan tomorrow.”

“I’m sure you have an assistant who can change your travel arrangements,” Nell said mildly.

“I don’t,” he grumbled. “That’s the sort of thing that Carrie handled. The last two people in that position quit.”

“It’s so difficult to find competent help these days, isn’t it?” Nell said sympathetically. “Little wonder you’d like our Carrie back. Make sure you tell her how valuable she was to you. I’m sure that will make an impression.”

Seemingly resigned to following Nell’s suggestion, Reynolds asked, “Where’s this inn you mentioned?”