Dad's E-Mail Order Bride (13 page)

Courtney’s only request had been that Hal and Peg would stay a few days to show her exactly what her responsibilities would be when it came to running the store. But as Hal had joked, the store basically ran itself. All Courtney had to do was be there to keep it open and keep the folks in Port Protection happy.

Of course, there was one person in Port Protection who wasn’t happy. But Graham would have to get over it. She was staying. It was her decision. And as he’d been so careful to point out on the walk back to the lodge after his party, it wasn’t any of Graham’s business where she spent her summer.

Unfortunately, there was someone in New York who would consider it her business. And when Courtney told that someone she was going to be one less vice president until September, Courtney feared her mother would
never
get over it.

But Courtney couldn’t back down now.

She needed this three-month hiatus. It was a chance to figure out what she did want to do with the rest of her life. Maybe she’d go back to her old life. Maybe not. But at least whatever she decided would be her choice to make.

Courtney sighed and checked her watch again.

For the past thirty minutes she’d been sitting on the bed in the room that would be hers for the summer, holding Peg’s portable phone and waiting patiently for the perfect time to call. Her mother ran her life with the same precision she ran the agency, and her daily schedule was as rigid as her office policies.

In exactly one minute it would be three o’clock Eastern time. That meant Lisa Woods would be at her desk, her afternoon cup of herbal tea in front of her, going over the daily reports she required from each of her department heads.

Courtney took a deep breath and punched in the number for her mother’s private line. It didn’t surprise Courtney when her call was answered on the first ring.

“Why does caller ID say you’re still in Alaska?” her mother demanded without even saying hello.

“Because I canceled my flight this morning, Mother,” Courtney said calmly. “I’ve decided to stay here for the summer.”

The silence was deafening.

“And do what?” her mother finally asked. “Throw your life away over some man.”

“I thought you would understand,” Courtney said. “You threw your life away over some man once.”

A sharp gasp was followed by her mother saying, “I was twenty and stupid! What’s your excuse?”

“I don’t need an excuse,” Courtney said. “I’ve made my decision. I’m staying for the summer.”

“What about your obligations here, Courtney? Do you really expect me to unload your responsibilities onto someone else while you take the summer off?”

“I haven’t taken a vacation in years. I’ve earned the time off.”

“Then don’t expect me to hold your position with the agency until you decide to come home,” her mother said. The chill in her tone would have broken a weaker person.

“I guess I’m your daughter, after all,” Courtney told her. “I’m not backing down any more than you did when your father threatened you with the same thing.”

A loud click ended the call.

Courtney sat there, feeling guilty for being so harsh with her mother, yet knowing she hadn’t had a choice. The only thing her mother responded to was a blunt and to-the-point approach. Had Courtney started out with an apology, she would have been cut off at the knees.

A soft knock brought Courtney’s chin up.

Standing at the door, Peg said, “Everything okay?”

“Yes,” Courtney said, putting on a brave smile.

“Then let’s go downstairs,” Peg said. “I have a bottle of champagne begging for a good reason to open it. And I can’t think of a better way to celebrate me going to Seattle and you spending your summer here.”

Celebrate.

Courtney did need to celebrate her freedom from her life in New York—freedom she hadn’t even known she wanted until she arrived in Port Protection. Funny how spending time with Graham and Rachel had changed things, making Courtney realize how pointless her life had become.

Sure, she could brainstorm a new campaign. She could schmooze important clients with the best of them. She could even rake in a multimillion dollar account. But at the end of the day she still went home alone.

Would anyone actually miss her back in New York?

Even her mother?

Not really.

Life would go on as usual without her.

Even Beth, who had begged Courtney to stop being stupid and come home when Courtney called earlier to break the news. Courtney hadn’t missed how cheerful Beth had become once Courtney pointed out Beth would have the apartment to herself for the summer.

Here in Port Protection, Courtney was needed.

Peg and Hal needed her to run the store. Rachel needed her to get through the summer. And Graham needed her, whether he knew it or not.

Graham needed her to shake things up. To get his mind off things he couldn’t change. And get his focus on the things he could change.

That’s why she’d laid everything right out in the open before she left the lodge. She wanted Graham, flaws and all. And she’d wanted Graham to know that. What Graham did with that information was up to him. But at least she was willing to stay and fight for what she wanted.

“Weakness is your worst enemy,” her mother had always preached. “Boldness is your best friend.”

She’d been bold with Graham.

And now she’d been bold with her mother.

One day maybe both of them would respect her for it.

Well, too bad for him.

Rachel was thrilled. Her problem was going to be getting her dad to agree she could start working for Courtney at the store next week when school let out.

Rachel cleared her throat. Her dad still refused to look up. She walked into his office anyway.

“I need to talk to you for a minute, Dad.”

He finally leaned back in his chair, staring at her. “If what you have to say has anything to do with Courtney, I’m not interested.”

Rachel didn’t intend to be put off. “It’s more about me than it is about Courtney. She offered me a job at The Wooden Nickel. I really want to do that, Dad.”

“And what about your job here?” he reminded her. “Did you forget the new responsibilities you’ve acquired as part of the punishment I promised you?”

“No, I didn’t forget,” Rachel said. “I can keep up with all the laundry and clean the bedrooms and change the sheets in the morning when we have guests. And I can work for Courtney in the afternoons. And on the days when we don’t have guests, I can work whenever Courtney needs me.”

“That’s a busy schedule, Rachel.”

“That’s the whole idea, Dad. You know how much I hate having nothing to do in the summer. It makes me crazy.”

He looked at her a few seconds more before he said, “Your chores here come first. As long as you remember that, you can work for Courtney if you want.”

“Sweet,” Rachel said. “Thanks, Dad.”

She couldn’t believe it had been so easy. Because, honestly, she’d expected a flat-out no.

She’d obviously caught him in a good mood. And since her father was being agreeable at the moment, Rachel decided to run something else by him that she wanted to do.

“If it’s okay, I also want Broadway to stay with Courtney for the summer. I think she’ll feel safer at night with him there for protection.”

He laughed. “And how do you plan to accomplish that? Broadway isn’t going to stay with Courtney. Not unless you chain him.”

Rachel gasped. “I’d never chain Broadway. And he will stay with Courtney, Dad. We’ve already had a long talk about it. Broadway understands. He’ll do whatever I tell him.”

“Twenty bucks says Broadway will beat you back home the second you try to leave him.”

“Make it one hundred bucks and you have a deal.”

“You don’t have one hundred dollars, Rachel.”

Rachel grinned. “I will when I win the bet.”

She leaned across his desk with her hand out. They shook on the deal. “I love you, Dad. And I’m really glad you aren’t acting like a jerk because Courtney’s staying.”

“Why would I act like a jerk? It’s nothing to me if Courtney stays.”

“I know,” Rachel said, “but I’m still glad you aren’t acting all weird like. I know things didn’t go well when you took her on the tour of the island.”

He sat straight up in his chair. “Did Courtney tell you that?”

“No. But I’m not stupid. I knew something was wrong the minute you guys got back.”

He shook his head. “You’re mistaken. Nothing went wrong.”

“Yeah, that’s what Courtney said, too. That’s why I don’t believe either of you.”

He frowned. “Do you want to work for Courtney this summer?”

Rachel rolled her eyes. “You know I do.”

He pointed to the door. “Then let me get some work done before I change my mind. I have an early day tomorrow.”

Rachel knew better than to push him. She blew him a kiss and left his office. She didn’t care what her Dad or Courtney claimed. Something had happened between them when they were alone on Sunday.

Rachel hoped whatever the big deal between them was, it wouldn’t keep them from becoming closer over the summer. Now that Courtney was staying, Rachel wasn’t going to give up the idea that her dad and Courtney would somehow fall in love and get married. And if they did, Rachel wouldn’t even care if they never moved back to New York City—she’d still have a mom.

A mom she could talk to about anything.

A mom who really listened to her.

And a mom who already cared more about her than her real mother ever had.

When he thought about it, he decided maybe this situation was better for both of them. There wouldn’t be any doubts now. Courtney would see he was right and realize how ill-suited she was for a life in secluded Port Protection. And he wouldn’t spend the rest of his life wondering if he’d made a big mistake by not asking her to stay.

He would make sure never to be alone with her again. Not under any circumstances.

But Graham would keep an eye on her. Rachel was responsible for Courtney coming to Port Protection. And according to her own words, he was responsible for Courtney staying.

That meant Graham had an obligation to ensure nothing happened to Courtney. Whether she believed it or not, living in the wilds of Alaska wasn’t easy. You had to stay on your toes. You had to stay aware of your surroundings. And you had to be prepared to defend yourself against the elements and the wildlife, if necessary.

There were other dangers just as serious.

When word spread that a sexy single blonde was running The Wooden Nickel for the summer, every single man on the island would make it a point to pay a visit to Port Protection. Courtney was going to need someone to watch her back, keep her safe from the riffraff that came knocking on her door.

Graham was the only man for the job.

But he’d stay in the background where he belonged.

While out on the water today, he’d had a lot of time to think. Him alone in one skiff, guiding his three guests from Idaho in another skiff to the best fishing spots. He’d come to the conclusion that as long as he remained indifferent to Courtney, she’d eventually give up her notion that he was going to change his mind.

He wouldn’t be rude. And he wouldn’t be a jerk as Rachel had feared.

He’d simply be himself—
not
interested.