Page 100 of Summer Reading

“Are you kidding me?” Ben asked. “That was amazing. No one has stood up to Moira Reynolds in forever. You were spectacular.”

Well, okay then. We climbed into the car and I drove Ben back to his place. He was quiet for most of the ride. I glanced over a few times and watched him zoom in and out of the picture, studying the guitarist until the guy was mere pixels. I wondered what he was thinking and what he’d do now, but I didn’t ask. I suspected he needed a moment to think.

I parked in his driveway and we both got out of the car. He pulled my phone out of his pocket and handed it to me. “I sent the picture to my phone.”

“Good,” I said. “I know your mom isn’t being helpful, but I’ll send the picture to my dad. Maybe he remembers who the guitarist is.”

Ben’s eyes lit up with hope. “I look like him.” His voice was tentative, as if he was testing out the words.

“I think so, too,” I said.

Ben’s gaze met mine and his eyes danced with excitement. “I’m going to find him, Samwise.”

“It looks very promising,” I said. I gave in to my feelings, wrapped my arms around his neck, and hugged him tight. “I’m so happy for you, Ben.”

He lifted me up so my feet were dangling, and then he kissed me. It was deep and thorough and I was breathing heavy at the end of it.

“I would never have gotten this far without you,” he said. “I can’t ever thank you enough.”

“No need. We’re a good team, Bennett Reynolds.”

“Yes.” He kissed me. “We.” He kissed me again. “Are.” He kissed me a third time but this time he lingered. When we broke apart, I wasn’t even sure of my own name.

“I’m going to catch the ferry and drive up the Cape and pop in on my grandparents. I want to know if they recognize this guy. It’s a long shot, but I have to try.”

“Great idea,” I said. “And if I hear from my dad, I’ll let you know.”

Ben grinned and it was like getting hit in the chest with a rainbow. I had never seen him so happy, and I have to say, happy Ben was hot.

“I’ll call you,” he said. He kissed me again, pinning me up against the side of my car and plundering my mouth as his hands locked on my hips and held me still until I was a throbbing hot puddle of need. When he broke the kiss, his gaze met mine. “You amazing woman. What did I do to deserve you in my life?”

My throat closed up. No one had ever considered me a blessing. I wanted to cry. Instead I cracked a joke. “Sinned, no doubt, lots of overdue library books or something.”

He laughed, a deep belly laugh, and kissed me again. When he released me to gather my wits, I watched as he threw his leg over the motorcycle and pulled on his helmet. With a roar of the mighty engine, he shot down the driveway back to the main road. I watched until he faded from sight, feeling all of the love in my poor heart follow him on his journey.

•••

I had a few hours before I needed to pick up Tyler, so I headed home. I would text the photo of my dad from there. I drove through Oak Bluffs painfully slowly to avoid the tourists. When I arrived at my house, it wasto find a minivan parked in front. I turned in to our short driveway and parked.

I climbed up the steps to find a person seated on our porch. I jumped and put my hand over my heart. Moira rose to her feet. She was watching me with an inscrutable look on her face.

She shook her head at me. “You have no idea what you’ve done.”

I also had no idea what she meant, but a shiver of foreboding wiggled down my spine all the same. I hoped it was just Moira’s flair for the dramatic. I eased past her to the door. Given her inability to help her own son locate his father, I had no interest in hearing anything she had to say.

I almost made it. Almost. I’d unlocked it and had my hand on the doorknob when Moira called after me. “I was sorry to hear about your parents’ divorce.”

Why would she bring that up? I whipped around to face her. There was a look of triumph in her eyes.

“Your dad came to stay with me on the Cape while they were separated,” she explained. “Did you know?”

What?!I wanted to protest, to argue with her, but I was so shocked. I just stared.

“He spoke of you often,” she continued. “It was a lovely time when he stayed with me, two adults finding each other again after so many years apart. Ah, well. Have a nice day, Samantha.”

Before I could say a word, she turned, strode downthe steps, and climbed into her minivan. I stepped forward, ready to go after her, but then stopped. That’s what she wanted me to do. She was trying to instigate something. I was not falling for it.

I watched her minivan drive away, and then I locked my front door and drove straight to the library to find Em. I needed her insight and wisdom. Her humor and tact. I needed her to sit on me to keep me from driving back to Moira’s and forcing her to talk using a headlock and thumbscrews if I had to.

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