“I see smoke risin’ from atop that head of yours, boy,” Jep said. “Got anything good planned?”
Eric cut him a grin. “I usually don’t have to try this hard, Jep my man.” Jep scoffed at his comment, and Eric sighed and pushed to his feet. “My Malone charms are perfected.”
“Or so you thought,” Jep added. He chuckled. “I’m goin’ to enjoy watchin’ this one unfold. Boy, you better sharpen them charms and quit bein’ so damned cocky.” He turned his gaze to the lane, in the direction of the Quinns’ river house. “I think that girl’s gonna give you a run for it.”
Eric turned his gaze, too, and smiled. He pictured Reagan all mad, sitting in a chair somewhere, fuming. “I think you’re right.”
“Usually am.” Jep peered at him. “You ain’t sweet on her, are you?”
Eric laughed. “Gramps, she’s been here a week. No, I’m not sweet on her.” He shrugged. “But we’re pretty much family now, and I’m determined to help her through this transition. She used to be...” He thought about it. “So damned crazy. Full of life and would take on any dare. I guess I don’t like her just sitting around, staring blankly at the wall.” He winked. “I’m going to make her snap out of it. Call it brotherly love.”
“Even though she hasn’t asked for your help?”
Eric nodded. “Damned right.”
“Hmm,” Jep said, giving his rocker a push. “What about Celeste?”
The mention of his ex-fiancée made Eric’s heart take a nosedive. He pretended that it didn’t bother him. “What about her?”
Jep didn’t say anything, only stared, curiously studied Eric as though seeing something no one else could see. Those bushy white brows were pulled into a frown, and he just sat there, rocking. Staring.
“I know that girl broke your heart,” his grandfather finally said. “And not so long ago, either.”
“Jep, I—” Eric began.
“Ah,” Jep interrupted, holding up a weathered hand. “I’m not tryin’ to drag up old wounds, boy. I’m just sayin’, watch it with Reagan. She’s not the one to get over Celeste with. You know, what do you kids call it these days?”
Eric stared hard at his grandfather. That’s what he thought he was doing? Putting the moves on Reagan as the rebound? Hell yeah, Celeste had stomped on his heart. Ripped it out and twisted it. Dramatic? Yup. But that’s what it had felt like. He’d asked the girl to marry him, for Christ’s sake. She’d said yes. Then the moment he’d announced he had been given transfer orders to Cassabaw, Celeste had broken the engagement. Just like that. But he wasn’t rebounding. Hell no. “Yeah, Jep,” he said, and rose. “Rebound. Copy that.”
“Rebound, that’s right. Don’t get all mad now,” Jep countered. “I’m just advisin’ you is all. Just in case your head was parked up your ass.”
Eric chuckled and shook his head. “Advice unneeded, but appreciated out of respect,” he clarified. “Celeste was months ago, Jep.” He nodded. “I’m...good. No rebound necessary.”
Jep eyed him, a white brow lifting. “I’m skeptical about that, but we’ll see.”
Eric started for the door.
“Where’re you off to?”
He glanced over his shoulder and grinned at his grandfather. “To plan round two of Mission: Hardhead Quinn.” He wagged his brows and pushed inside, and just as the screen door closed he heard his grandfather mumble.
He knew Reagan was in pain. He knew it was going to take a while for her to realize she was part of the family now, and that the Malones had one another’s backs. Always.
And as Eric flipped on the hot water for a shower, his mind raced as to just exactly how he planned on making her cooperate.
Hell. That would be half the battle. And half the fun. The only thing was, why did he care so much? Many years separated their adult lives now. Before, they’d been kids, with no hurts other than scraped knees or splinters, and no heartache. Well, that was before Reagan and Em had lost their parents in an accident.
Either way, something inside him was egging him on. Making him want to tackle the force of nature that was Reagan Quinn. She was dog-determined to have her way, which was to obviously hide from the world. For some reason, he wasn’t having it.
Reagan Quinn would in no way, shape or form be able to say no.
“NO.”
Eric Malone sighed. An amplified, overstressed one. “Why not?” he said, and was close, just on the other side of her screened door. She could make out the dark outline that was his form. “Just...why not?” he asked.
Reagan’s mind whirled. Why was he being so damned persistent? For the past several days he’d attempted to lure her into any and all sorts of activity. Lunch. Supper. Breakfast. Fishing. Boat ride. Picnic. She’d said no each and every time. It wasn’t like they knew each other, or had an invested relationship. She’d known him as a kid. She’d known him as an adult for all of a week, yet he acted as if he’d known her his whole life. Like they were...close. And they were not.
What the hell did he want with her?
Her heart wasn’t into much of anything anymore, and really, she wanted to just be left alone. She thought she’d conveyed that quite clearly. But no matter how many times she told Eric Malone no, he came back just as many with a different proposal.
“Reagan, it’s just a friendly drive to the grocery store,” Eric pushed. “You can keep me company. Give me advice, even. What do you say? You’ve got to get out at some point, right? You don’t want to stay cooped up in the house.”
“Why, yes, I most certainly want to do exactly that. I like cooped.” Besides. Friendly drive to the grocery store? What did that even mean?
Eric’s laugh came from his chest. “Nobody likes cooped, Quinn.”
“So this is purely a selfish request on your part, yes?” she asked. When he didn’t reply, she continued. “Because, in case you didn’t notice? I’m blind. I can’t see the scenery typically noticed during a friendly drive. I can’t see items on the grocery store shelves. I can’t see...you. Anything.” She shifted her weight, her hand on the screen door’s handle. “I’d basically just be sitting there. Like a hood ornament.”
Eric was silent at first; the cicadas rose from the yard. Then his laughter fell through the screen, and it was all male. Simple. Joyful. “If that’s the way you want to look at it,” he said. “Hood ornament, huh? That’s pretty funny, Reagan Rose. Almost as funny as making me talk to you through this stupid screen.”
He’d been after her the previous week—ever since she’d arrived—to drive off with him. To somewhere. Anywhere. He’d persisted, pushed, begged. Eric Malone had said anything he thought might convince her, and still she’d refused. Em had told her to just...give in and go. Perhaps if she did, he’d leave her alone. She doubted it, but it was worth a try.
“Don’t you have any friends? Girlfriends?” Reagan asked. “Being in the Coast Guard, I’m pretty sure you do. Go hang out with them. Do guy