The Courage To Love (Love On The North Shore) (20 page)

“Mia, I’ve enjoyed our time together. It’s been fantastic, but after this weekend that’s it. We’ll both go back to our everyday lives,” he explained, his tone calm and cool.

“It doesn’t have to be that way.” She heard her voice wobble.

Sean gave her a stiff nod. “Yeah, it does, Mia.”

“Why?” she snapped, anger replacing the unease from before. “What are you afraid of?” He wasn’t a player. Over the years she’d dated enough of them to recognize one, so something else fueled his actions now.

Color climbed up the back of his neck. “People like you and me don’t belong together. Your life is in California and mine is here.”

“I think your wrong, and unless you’re afraid, let’s give it a try. What’s the worst that could happen?” She crossed her arms as her own anger gained momentum.

“Let it go.” His tone contained a hint of anger now, too. “Why does it matter anyway? You’ve got men lining up at your door ready to step in. You’ll find someone else in no time.”

“Because I love you.” The words tumbled from her mouth this time.

Sean’s jaw dropped and he stared at her as if she’d announced she came from Mars. “No, you don’t. You just think that now. Once you get home you’ll realize I’m right.” He stood and took a few steps toward the door. “I’m going to head home.”

“Sean, can’t we talk about this? Please.”

Stopping, he turned around. “I’m sorry, Mia, really. But we’re just to different for it to work.” Grabbing his overnight bag, he turned toward the door again. “Have a safe trip home,” he said before walking out.

With the air conditioner cranked up all the way, he eased out of the parking garage and joined the heavy city traffic. Thanks to a concert at the Boston Garden and a ball game at Fenway Park, the traffic rivaled that of rush hour during the week. With no destination in mind, he headed for the highway and considered his options. Home made the most sense. The idea of returning there tonight held about as much appeal as a root canal. Ever since the truth came out, he’d avoided his mother and her constant attempts to talk.

At the same time, though, finding a room in the city for the night at a reasonable price was improbable. Even on a night with nothing going on, the task of finding a decent room under two hundred dollars would be difficult.

Merging onto the highway, he turned up the music. Even with the heavy base resonating through his body, Mia’s sudden declaration rattled around. She didn’t love him. Somehow she confused fun with love. Once she returned home, she’d reach the same conclusion herself. In another month or so she’d not even remember his name. Instead she’d spend time with another A-list actor or musician. Then she’d fly off to some exotic location for a vacation with him.

In the distance he caught site of the exit for downtown Salem. On autopilot he changed lanes. Salem would do for tonight. Tomorrow he’d go home and deal with his mother. After exiting the highway, he pulled into the parking lot for the first hotel he saw.

“Can I help you?” the woman behind the reservation desk asked when he approached.

“A room for one.” Sean pulled out his wallet and handed over his driver’s license and credit card.

“Do you prefer a king bed or two queens?” The woman looked down at the license and then her head snapped back up. “I thought you looked familiar. You were on the cover of The Star Report with Mia Troy last week.”

“If you say so,” Sean said with a shrug. “A king bed is fine.”

The woman pulled open a side drawer, the room reservation put on hold. “I have a copy right here.” She passed him the magazine. “The article inside mentions the two of you had dinner at Rialto in Boston last weekend and were seen on a swan boat together.”

Sure enough, a colored photo of them the day they’d had a picnic at the Esplanade along the Charles River took up most of the cover.

“You can keep that if you want. I’ve already read it. What’s she like?”

He handed back the magazine. He didn’t need pictures to remind him of their time together. He had plenty of memories stored away. “Nice. Do you have a room or not?”

The woman put the magazine away and glanced at her computer screen. In silence she typed away, then glanced up again. “You’re all set. The room number is on the card,” she said as she handed him a key card. “The elevator is right around the corner. A continental breakfast is served in the morning until 10:30. Enjoy your stay.”

Compared to Mia’s suite in Boston, room 403 looked like a closet; not that it mattered. It contained a bed and a television, the only two things he required tonight. Tomorrow he’d return to The Victorian Rose and his normal routine.

If everything went as planned on Monday he’d sign the papers for the old Victorian next door. Once the old house belonged to him, he’d start renovations. With some luck, next year at this time they’d open up their second bed and breakfast and he might just move in there himself.

Yeah, he’d made the right move tonight. Picking up the phone, he dialed room service. Once he placed an order for a double cheese burger with french fries and a beer, he turned on the television and forced his thoughts to the future. Unlike Mia, he had no use or love for the past. Only the future mattered.

Chapter 13

Light from the uncovered bulb bounced off the dust floating in the air. A thin layer of dirt and grime covered every surface. Some of the spindles on the main staircase appeared cracked, yet Sean didn’t see any of it. Rather the beauty and possibilities stood out.

With a groan and click, the door closed behind him. As he crossed the main entryway into what had been the sitting room, he pulled out his cell phone and punched in Mia’s number. They’d talked about this project a lot, so sharing the news with her made sense.

Stop. His finger hovered over the final digit. Their short relationship was over. He’d taken care of that over the weekend.

His chest tightened as he shoved the phone back into his pocket. Calling it quits had been the right thing. Mia evidently thought more existed between them than he did. If they kept seeing each other, it’d be giving her the wrong impression and that wasn’t fair. Besides, they lived in two different worlds. She made out with guys in front of millions of people, while he retiled bathroom floors and kept the pipes from leaking. People that different didn’t belong together anyway. She belonged with someone like his brother in-law or her co-star Mark. At the thought of her co-star, the memory of them kissing on the set flashed up. Much like it had that day, the green-eyed monster raised its head. Mia might deny it, but the guy wanted her regardless of whether or not he was engaged to someone else.

It’s none of my business. Whatever Mia did from now on didn’t concern him, just like nothing he did affected her anymore.

After one quick walk through the house, Sean switched off the lights and crossed the yard back to The Victorian Rose. Accustomed to entering through the back kitchen door, he didn’t even consider that his mother would be in there working.

“You’re home.” His mother stood at the counter rolling out a pie crust. “I thought you’d be in the city. Doesn’t Mia leave in the morning? She called today to say congratulations. I really like her. I’m glad you two have been spending time together.”

“I had business with the bank today.” Sean grabbed a can of soda from the refrigerator. “Besides, we ended things this weekend.”

The rolling pin stopped. “Why? You were having so much fun together. You were happier than I’ve seen you in a long time with her.”

With a snap, the can opened, and he took a long swig before he spoke. “We had fun; now it’s over. End of story.”

His mom picked up the rolling pin and pointed it at him. “Sean O’Brien you’re as bad as your sister was. Look how much happier she is since she met Jake.”

Counting to ten, he pushed down his aggravation. “Ma, Charlie was afraid of relationships. I’m not afraid. I’m just not interested in continuing things with Mia. We’re too different. I don’t want to talk about it anymore. It’s done.”

“You’re making a mistake,” she said with a deep sigh and a shake of her head.

“Are Charlie and Jake still coming up next month?” Sean snagged an oatmeal cookie off a plate.

“As far as I know,” she answered as she went back to rolling out her pie crust. “I saw some lights on next door. Do you think I should call the police or did they finally sell that house?”

He took another swig from his soda. “It was just me over there.”

The rolling pin stopped again. “What?” Maureen asked, her voice several octaves higher than normal.

“I told you my plans, Ma. I signed the official paperwork today. It’s officially ours.”

A loud whack on the counter caused him to miss his cookie altogether and his teeth sank into his tongue. The salty taste of blood mixed with oatmeal in his mouth and he swallowed.

“You knew my feeling about that.” His mom planted both her fists on her hips and glared up at him.

“I’ll be good for business, Ma. You’ll see. As it is we turn away guests because we’re booked. Now that won’t happen.”

Maureen advanced closer. “You’re not the only one who has been making plans for the business. I wanted to tell you before, but you’ve been ignoring me lately.”

Can you blame me? Even now anger simmered at the mere thought of their last conversation.

“Sherbrooke Enterprises is trying something new and Dylan contacted me. The Victorian Rose and another bed and breakfast in Newport are going to be the pilot locations.”

A desert contained more moisture then his mouth at the moment and he couldn’t speak as he waited for her to continue.

“Starting in the fall The Victorian Rose will be officially run by Sherbrooke Enterprises.”

All the air in his lungs rushed out. “You sold the house?” No, she wouldn’t do that. She’d grown up in this house, raised her children in this house. The bed and breakfast was their bread and butter so to speak.

“No, I joined in a partnership. They will handle the maintenance and the day-to-day operations in return for part of the profits. But I maintain ownership.”

Sean dropped into a chair. “Ma, we talked about expanding. You knew I was working with the bank.”

A frown appeared on his mom’s face. “We never agreed on it. I told you I was against it from the start, but you ignored me.”

“I can’t believe you did this. You’ll have to pull out of the deal. Let them find another place. Maybe one of the bed and breakfasts in Salem instead. There are several over there they can pick from.”

Taking a seat across from him, she patted his fist. “It’s done Sean. And it’ll be good for all of us. Especially you.”

Bullshit. “You mean good for you and Ray.” Once again his mother’s involvement with Ray Larson upset his life.

“True. I plan to move into Ray’s house soon. The manager Sherbrooke Enterprises hires will live in my apartment. But I did this more for you. Now you can do anything you want. You won’t be stuck here with me. You can make the house next door yours, or move out of North Salem and start over somewhere else. Use that degree you earned.”

Surprise must have appeared on his face because his mom smiled at him. “I know about the master’s degree you earned and the graduation ceremony you skipped. I saw the letter on your desk when I dusted a few weeks ago. You should have gone to the graduation. I would have loved to see you walk across the stage.”

The weight of his mom’s hand over his grew heavy. “You shouldn’t have done this Ma. I could have run things alone while you moved in with Ray.”

Leaning forward she placed both hands on his face. “I did this for you more than anyone else. Sean, it’s time you start your life. I know you put your life on hold after your father left. Without you I don’t know how I would’ve survived, and you’ll never know how much that means to me. But now I’m taking charge and being the parent I should’ve been back then.”

Tears welled up in her eyes as she spoke. “Your sister is happy and settled. I want the same thing for you. It may not seem like it now, but this is the best thing for you. You’ll see.”

With a jerk he pulled away and stood. “Whatever, Ma.” He needed space from his mother before he exploded. Already his frustration approached a boiling point, a few more words out of his mother’s mouth and he might not be able to control his temper.

The purple sky from earlier now contained stars and a large full moon. Mounting his Harley, he revved the engine, then pulled onto the road. With no destination in mind, he drove the familiar roads through town until he hit the highway.

Sean drove out toward the western part of the state and then south into Connecticut. After he crossed into Connecticut he drove along the northern most part of the state until he hit Interstate 84 which took him back onto the Mass pike.

By the time he reached the base of Wachusett Mountain, the first rays of sunlight filled the sky. Confident police wouldn’t be in the area, he accelerated and followed the road to the summit. Once at the top, he parked and pulled off his helmet. A breeze blew across his face, the cool air a welcome treat after wearing the helmet for so long.

From the woods at the edge of the parking lot, leaves rustled and a few twigs snapped as everything came awake with the rising sun. Parking his butt on a large flat boulder, he stared out over the lush green vista.