Page 143 of Summer with the Single Dad

Bennett and Justine exchanged looks. What an odd thing to just come out and say.

“Let me buy you a tiny house, or a trailer, or something, Justine. If you’re not ready to move into Bennett’s house, let me help you. I have the money. Let me help you guys. Let me also help you with your dream.”

Her throat grew tight and those tears that stung the backs of her eyes now fell with abandon down her cheeks. Never in a million years did she ever think she could be this happy or feel this cared for.

Smiling, she hiccupped a sob and nodded. “Yes. Let’s figure it out. I want to stay. I want to work, live, and love here.”

Bennett wrapped his arms around her, but she pushed him away. “I’m covered in blood.”

He glanced down. “Right. Go change. We have a party to attend.”

“A party?” Brooke asked.

He grinned at her. “Yep. Courtesy of Dr. Douchebag and his not wife.”

Brooke and Justine exchanged confused, but excited looks. Then Brooke clapped her hands together. “Oh, I can’t wait for this story.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

The music at the pub was pumping when they pulled through the security gate back on the property. Justine rode with Bennett where he gave her the rundown of what had happened at the wedding.

She was gobsmacked. And unfortunately, really happy.

Karma, baby. It was a real thing.

They parked up top in the driveway, but neither of them got out. He reached for her hand across the bench seat of his truck.

“I’m sorry,” he said, giving her fingers a squeeze. “I’m sorry for adding to your confusion and strife. For making you question how I feel about you. How much I want you.” His mouth turned down into a frown and he glanced at their hands. “It might look like I’ve got my shit together, but I don’t. Or at least, I didn’t when Carla died. I was lost. She was an incredible, patient mother, and the girls took her death really hard. I had to mask a lot of my own grief and rally for them, help them make sense of things.” He lifted his gaze again.

“And seeing how close you’ve become with them in such a short amount of time has been wonderful, but it’s also made me worry. I know you said you wanted to move here, but it was so sudden that maybe you’d change your mind and leave. Breaking their hearts. Breaking mine.” He swallowed. “I didn’t think you were actually serious about moving to the island, particularly because the logistics are stacked against you. But then I realized how I can help you achieve that goal. And that by doing so, it might help convince you to stay—if you want to. I want to help you. If this island—this life—is what you want, then I want to help you. We all deserve joy. We all deserve for our dreams to come true. And I’m sorry if I tried to stifle and deter yours.”

Her tears had only just dried up and now he was saying all the wonderful things again to bring them back. “I do want to move here. But I don’t want to put you out or cramp your style. I don’t want to be a burden.”

“You’re anything but a burden. You are … a blessing. A breath of fresh air, and we all need more fresh air.”

That made her smile even wider. “I’m not done finding myself.”

“That’s okay. I’m forty-two and not sure I really know who I am either.”

“You’re Bennett McEvoy. Mr. Seriously wonderful.”

“And you’re Dr. Justine Brazeau. Badass surgeon, amazing cake-baker, and outdoor-sex-against-trees enthusiast.”

That made her snort. “I guess I am.”

“If I have to rent another trailer, I will. Or you can stay in cabin five. Lord Fancypants and his Demoness won’t be consummating their nuptials in there anymore.”

“Yeah, I suppose not. Huh? The wedding from hell that never was.”

Brooke pulled in beside them and climbed out of her car. Smiling like happy, lovesick fools, Bennett and Justine climbed out of his truck too. “Sounds like a real rager,” she said with a grin. “Is that where Clint is?”

“Even the kids are down there,” Bennett confirmed. “We’ve invited a bunch of islanders. A few wedding guests stuck around, but most made a run for it after shit hit the fan.”

Brooke sidled up to Bennett. “Okay, I need to hear everything.”

Even though she’d already heard the story on the drive home, Justine was no-less stunned the second time she heard it. Her and Brooke’s jaws hung open by the time they reached the pub doors.

When Bennett swung them open, the music volume was like a punch to the ears.

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