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“Because I’m desperate, Tiki. And if I push a gorgeous woman like Courtney in front of Dad, maybe he’ll remember what it’s like to have a real life.”
“And if he doesn’t?”
Rachel sighed. “Then at least I’ve shown Dad what it feels like to have someone else make decisions for him without his consent.”
“But what if your dad started stomping around like an old bull when Courtney got here and she got back on the plane and left?”
Rachel scoffed. “Do you really think I’m that stupid? I’ve been planning this day for months. I made Gil promise that under no circumstances would he let Courtney get back on that plane.”
They stopped walking when they reached the fork where the boardwalk divided. Broadway obediently sat to wait. A left turn led to Trail’s End Lodge. A right turn led to one of the more populated sections of Port Protection where Tiki lived.
Rachel shifted her book bag to her shoulder. “Well, at least wish me luck.”
“Luck?” Tiki laughed. “Forget luck, Rachel. What you need is a freaking miracle.”
Still laughing, Tiki headed off down the boardwalk.
“So not funny,” Rachel called after her.
But as Rachel headed home, the situation was becoming less funny with every step she took. Sure, she knew her dad was going to be furious with her—that was a given. She was just counting on her dad’s good manners not to make a scene with Courtney there.
Only now Tiki had put other doubts in her mind.
What if Courtney didn’t forgive her for lying? What if instead of being a saint, Courtney turned out to be some screaming psycho chick and really did flip out over what she’d done?
Rachel didn’t have to pretend a shudder.
She slowed her pace, wondering if maybe Tiki was right. Maybe she shouldn’t be in such a big hurry to get to the lodge. Maybe she should be late on purpose and give both her dad and Courtney more time to calm down.
Yes.
Maybe she should let her dad and Courtney think she was too afraid to show up. That should gain a little sympathy—hopefully, from both of them. And if her dad and Courtney were worried about her, maybe they’d be less likely to be so angry.
Pleased with her new plan, Rachel looked down at Broadway. “Want to go on a long walk, boy?”
The big dog barked and wagged his tail.
COURTNEY NIBBLED FROM the appetizer tray she’d found waiting for her when she’d come downstairs. Graham had arranged everything perfectly—even had a glass of white wine waiting for her. It had been the exact pick-me-up she needed after her long trip.
She’d been impressed by the gesture, even if catering to his guests was part of Graham’s everyday life. But who was she kidding?
Everything about Graham Morrison impressed her.
She glanced in his direction again as she finished off her last bite of cheese, and she couldn’t help but smile inwardly over the fact that he’d changed his shirt and shaved while she’d been upstairs. Her only regret was that he’d hardly said a word to her. Instead, he’d been pacing back and forth at the lodge’s front window for the past thirty minutes.
He looked at his watch for the fiftieth time, frowned and finally looked in her direction. “I’m getting worried,” he said. “Rachel should have been home by now.”
Courtney didn’t want to pooh-pooh Graham’s concern, but common sense told her Rachel was dragging her feet coming home on purpose. That’s what she would have done had she been in Rachel’s teenage shoes.
“I’m sure Rachel’s okay, Graham. Broadway wouldn’t let anything happen to her.”
She’d been trying to assure him Rachel was safe, but now he was frowning again.
And this time he was frowning at her.
“You just mentioned Broadway,” he said. “I was joking earlier, but Rachel really has told you everything about our lives here, hasn’t she?”
Courtney didn’t blame him for being upset that she knew so much about him—even the name of his dog. In his situation, she would have felt violated, too. Particularly over his journal entries. She wouldn’t bring up the e-mails again.
But maybe if she gave Graham the opportunity to ask a few questions about her, he might not feel so exposed. Deciding to give him that opportunity, Courtney left her chair and walked over to where Graham stood.
“I can understand how unsettling it must be for me to know so much about you when you know nothing about me,” she said.
Was it her imagination, or was he staring at her lips?
“So?” Courtney offered. “Is there anything you do want to ask about me, Graham?”
“Yes,” he said. “Why would a successful career woman from New York want to get involved with some deaf guy from Alaska and his bratty teenage daughter?”
Courtney laughed. “Well, when you put it that way, it makes me wonder why myself.” She paused before she added, “You have an amazing daughter, Graham, even though you’re upset with her right now. In fact, for the past three months, Rachel has been the one bright spot in my day.”
His expression softened slightly. “Even when she was complaining about her horrible life here?” he asked.
Is that what was bothering him? Was Graham worried Rachel had aired all of their dirty laundry? If that was the problem, she could clear that misconception up real quick.
“You have my word, Graham,” Courtney said, “never once has Rachel said anything but wonderful things about you.”
He didn’t look convinced. “Only because she was trying to sell you on me.”
“Believe me,” Courtney said, “it wasn’t a hard sale.”
The words just hung there.
Courtney couldn’t take them back.
And Graham didn’t seem to know what to say.
Thankfully a loud bark defused the situation.
“Showtime,” Courtney said, moving closer to Graham and sliding her arm around his waist.
“And how far are we going to take this?” he asked.
“Far enough to be convincing until you tell her the truth.”
Graham put his arm around her shoulder. And his arm did feel good around her—too good. Courtney breathed in his scent—all manly and intoxicating. And though she knew she was only torturing herself, Courtney couldn’t help but notice how perfectly they fit together.
“Now what?” he asked, snapping her back to reality.
“Smile and look happy,” Courtney said.
BROADWAY BOUNDED THROUGH the front door first and ran straight to her father. Rachel stopped dead in her tracks. She simply couldn’t believe what she was seeing.
Her dad?
Smiling from ear to ear?
In a clutch with a woman he’d just met?
Unfreakingbelievable!
All Rachel could do was stare.
“Well, aren’t you going to say hello to Courtney?” her dad asked as if she weren’t late getting home.
“Hi,” Rachel managed, but it came out as a squeak.
“Come here, you,” Courtney said.
Before Rachel knew what was happening, Courtney flew across the room and engulfed her in a big hug. And when she let Rachel go, she stepped back and smiled.
“I’m so happy to finally meet you, Rachel,” she gushed. “You’re even prettier in person than you are in your pictures.”
“Thanks,” was all Rachel could think to say.
Although Rachel doubted Courtney really cared. Miss So-Happy-To-Meet-You had already hurried back across the room to wrap herself around dear old Dad again.
“We have every right to be angry with you, young lady,” her father said.
Rachel held her breath, expecting the worst.
What she got instead was another big smile.
“But how can we be angry,” he added, “when you’re the one responsible for bringing us together?”
“It was love at first sight,” Courtney said.
“Totally,” her dad agreed.
Huh?
Rachel couldn’t believe it. Not only was her dad still grinning like some silly buffoon, but he had just said totally for the first time in his life. Had he completely lost his mind? That was the only explanation Rachel had for his goofy behavior.
“In fact,” he said, “Courtney and I have already decided now that we’ve found each other, we don’t want to be apart for a minute. Right, Courtney?”
“Absolutely,” Courtney said, smiling up at him.
And then he kissed her.
On the mouth!
In a flash, Rachel was mentally packing her bags. She could see herself running through Central Park with Broadway. And she would take Broadway back to New York with her. Millions of people had dogs in the city no matter what her dad said.
Other images quickly filled her head.
She could order Chinese takeout any hour of the day or night—and man, how she had missed Chinese takeout. She could shop on Fifth Avenue. She could go to the Met anytime she wanted. She could see a musical on the real Broadway. And attend the Christmas tree lighting at Rockefeller Center for the first time in years. She could even be in Times Square for the big ball drop on New Year’s Eve.
Rachel was on the verge of jumping up and down. She couldn’t wait to tell Tiki. She really had been granted a freaking miracle. Finally, she could go to a regular high school with boys and girls her own age. Finally, she could experience what it was like to be a normal teenager.
“Courtney’s agreed to move to Alaska to be with us. Isn’t that great?”
“What?” Rachel shrieked.
And that’s when she saw her dad’s expression change before her eyes. Now his jaw was rigid—his smile gone. And the reaction Rachel had been expecting all along quickly followed.
“A lie isn’t so funny when you’re on the receiving end of that lie, is it, Rachel?”
Rachel balled her fists together. He was using his serious father-knows-best voice. She hated when he did that.
“And save yourself the trouble of thinking up any more schemes,” he warned. “We are not moving back to New York under any circumstances. And that’s final.”
For one brief second, Rachel truly hated her father.
“You can’t control my life forever!” Rachel screamed back at him. “When I turn eighteen I will move to New York City. And I’ll never come back to this miserable place again. Ever. That’s final!”
Sobbing, Rachel ran from the room.
Faithfully, Broadway trotted after her.
CHAPTER FIVE
COURTNEY FLINCHED WHEN a door slammed in the distance. Slowly, she and Graham untangled themselves, then quickly stepped away from each other.
“That went well, didn’t it?” was all he said.
He didn’t mention that second kiss.
Neither did Courtney. She’d analyze the kiss later. At the moment, her only concern was Rachel.
“I had no idea Rachel would be so upset when I talked you into teasing her, Graham. I need to go apologize.”
“Apologize? Don’t be ridiculous. Rachel’s the one who needs to apologize to you.”
“And I’m sure Rachel will,” Courtney said. “But I’m not very proud of myself right now for making her cry.”
He started to object again, but Courtney stopped him.
“Please, let me talk to her. If you don’t, it’s going to be a miserable weekend for all of us.”
Graham kept staring at her.
Courtney held his gaze.
“Go through the kitchen,” he finally said, pointing across the great room to the saloon-style doors. “There’s a hallway off the kitchen. Rachel’s bedroom door is the first door on the right.”
“Thank you,” Courtney told him sincerely.
“But when you’re through talking to her,” he said, “tell Rachel I want to see her in my office. No excuses.”
Courtney nodded and started toward the kitchen. When she reached the hallway, she could have found Rachel’s room without Graham’s directions. Broadway was stretched out on the floor, guarding the door.
Courtney bent and gave the big dog’s head a fond pat. And only after Broadway wagged his tail in permission did she stand up and place a gentle knock above a sign that read: Teenzilla Inside—Enter at Your Own Risk.
The first knock failed to produce a response.
Courtney knocked again. “Rachel, it’s Courtney. Can I come in for a minute?”
“Go away!”
This time Courtney turned the doorknob and Broadway saw his chance. By the time Courtney stepped inside the room, Broadway had already launched himself onto the bed beside his mistress.
Rachel’s tearstained face made Courtney wince.
“I owe you an apology, Rachel. It was my idea to play a joke on you, not your father’s. It was a mean thing to do and I’m sorry.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Rachel said, swiping at her eyes with the back of her hand. “I played a mean joke on you. I deserved it.”
Courtney walked across the room. Without being invited, she sat on the edge of Rachel’s bed. “If it makes any difference, I’m still glad I came. I wouldn’t have missed meeting you for anything.”
Rachel’s chin came up. “Really?”
“Really,” Courtney said, reaching for her hand. “After all, you and I have more or less been dating for three months now.”
That comment at least got a half smile out of her. Then Rachel’s face clouded over again, reminding Courtney how much she looked like her father. Same ink-black hair. Same brown eyes with the same hint of sadness if you looked closely enough.
Rachel sniffed and said, “Dad’s really pissed at me, isn’t he?”
Courtney nodded. “And I’m afraid I only made things worse. I’m sorry, Rachel. I printed out some of the e-mails you sent me that I thought were from your dad.”
Rachel gasped. “And you showed them to him?”
“Sorry.”
Rachel flopped back against her pillow with a loud groan. “Now he really is going to kill me. I took stuff from his journal.”
“I know. Graham told me,” Courtney said. “And I hope you realize how wrong that was. Everyone deserves the right to privacy.”
Rachel sat up. “And what about my rights? Every day Dad keeps me here he’s violating my right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
Courtney smiled knowingly. “How’d you do on your American history test, by the way?”
“Aced it, of course,” Rachel said, but her tone was still surly.
“Do you really hate living here so much?”
“Wouldn’t you?”
Courtney shrugged. “Actually, I think living here might be a nice change from the city.”
Rachel snorted. “Yeah, but we’re not talking about a nice change. Dad would keep me here permanently if he could.”
“Only because he loves you, Rachel. And he wants to keep you safe.”
“I’m sick and tired of being safe!”
But neither of them mentioned what had led up to Graham moving them to Alaska. It was easier to talk about things like that on the phone than it was in person. The phone provided the barrier a person needed to keep anyone else from seeing their pain.
In one of their more serious conversations, Rachel had told Courtney that her mother had been shot and killed in a robbery outside their apartment building when Rachel was only ten. She’d said Graham had quit his brokerage firm on Wall Street, put their apartment on Park Avenue up for sale and had moved them to Alaska immediately after the funeral, despite strong objections from Graham’s parents and his in-laws.
In fact, now that Courtney thought about it, not once had losing his wife been mentioned in any of the e-mails that were supposedly from Graham—another red flag that should have warned her something wasn’t right. Instead, Courtney had assumed talking about the tragedy was still too painful for him.
But now Courtney understood.
Rachel hadn’t tried to express her father’s feelings because she had no idea how her father felt about her mother’s death. Graham obviously hadn’t shared those feelings with his daughter.
“You don’t really agree that Dad should keep me here all through high school, do you?”
The question pulled Courtney back from her thoughts.
“Something could happen to me right here in Port Protection, you know. I could get eaten by a bear. Or attacked by a wolf. Or I could drown if a whale turned the skiff over and spend eternity in a watery grave at the bottom of the ocean. I could even have my eyes pecked out by a hungry eagle.”
Rachel sighed a dramatic sigh.
“Or,” she said with a pitiful look on her face, “I can continue to die a slow and painful death the way I’m doing now.”
Courtney had to laugh. “You certainly know how to paint a grim picture.”
“Living here is a grim picture,” Rachel mumbled.
“Then let’s change that. At least for this weekend. I came for a party. And I’m not going to let you or your dad cheat me out of that. You’ve told me so much about all of the colorful characters in Port Protection, I’m really going to be upset if I’ve come all this way and I never get to meet them.”
Finally, Rachel smiled.
“Like Snag Horton with his big gold front tooth?”
“Yes,” Courtney said. “I want to meet Snag.”
“And what about Fat Man Jack?”
Courtney laughed. “Were you teasing me? Or did he really have to have a special boat built to hold him?”
“Wouldn’t you if you weighed six hundred pounds?”
“I’d love to meet Fat Man Jack,” Courtney said. “And your friend Tiki.”
“You’re really going to love Tiki’s parents,” Rachel said. “Tiki’s dad has been my dad’s best friend since they were kids when dad spent all his summers here. Yanoo doesn’t say much, but you’ll like him. And Tiki’s mom is way cool like you. Hanya really gets Tiki just like you understand me.”
“And your adopted grandparents are still okay with you having your dad’s party at their general store?”
Rachel nodded. “I told Peg and Hal we’d come early tomorrow and put up all the decorations.”
“We aren’t going to have a party or your surprise dinner tonight unless you go make peace with your dad. He wants to see you in his office as soon as we finish talking.”
“Great,” Rachel grumbled. “I can’t wait.”
“You owe your dad a huge apology, Rachel,” Courtney said. “And you know it.”
A deep sigh escaped Rachel’s lips.
“And he could have been nasty to me, but he wasn’t.”
Rachel rolled her eyes.
“And if I didn’t adore you, I could have been nasty about this whole situation, too,” Courtney reminded her. “Do you realize how embarrassed I was when your dad had no idea I even existed?”
“Okay, okay.” Rachel groaned. “I’ll go make peace with Dad. But only because I owe it to you.”
Courtney reached out and gave Rachel a big hug.
To Courtney’s relief, Rachel hugged her back.
“Could you do me one more favor?”
Rachel nodded.
“Do you still have any of the e-mails on file that I thought I was sending to your dad?”
Rachel got up from the bed and walked over to her dresser. Seconds later, she pulled out a folder from her bottom dresser drawer. “I was afraid Dad might catch me, so I always printed them out before I erased them and waited to read them later.”
“Devious of you,” Courtney said, “but perfect for what I have in mind. Would you give them to your dad for me?”
Rachel looked concerned. “But why?”
“Because I wrote those e-mails thinking I was writing them to your dad. And Graham has the right to see them.”
Rachel grinned. “Tell me the truth. Are you crushin’ on my dad, Courtney?”
“I’m just trying to even the score a little. I know a lot about Graham. It’s only fair he should have a chance to know who I am. If he wants to know anything about me, of course,” Courtney added quickly.
“Adults are so weird,” Rachel said. “But whatever.”
“And one more thing,” Courtney said. “I know you want to dress up for dinner tonight, but I really wouldn’t push your dad about that. I think he’s had enough of both of us for one day. Let’s just concentrate on making him the really nice dinner you’ve planned.”
Rachel shook her head. “No way. We are dressing up for dinner. And Dad will just have to get over it.”
GRAHAM LEANED BACK in his chair, his feet propped up on his desk. He’d been waiting for Rachel for—he checked his watch—thirty-five minutes now. If she didn’t show up soon, he’d walk down the hall and get her himself.
He still wasn’t sure how he felt about Courtney’s obvious affection for his daughter. She’d defended Rachel at every turn. And though Graham admired Courtney for doing that, it puzzled him.
What was the common bond there?
She skirted around the question when he’d asked earlier, saying only that Rachel had been a bright spot in her day. Not that he questioned her honesty. She’d already proven she was blunt enough to tell him how she felt.
Like telling him he wasn’t a hard sale. Graham smiled, thinking about it.
Until he looked down at his watch again. Five o’clock already. If Rachel didn’t get her butt in gear soon, they were going to be having her big surprise birthday dinner for breakfast.
Rachel’s planning dinner was another mystery to Graham. His daughter had never shown any interest in the kitchen. Not even when her mother was alive.
A wave of guilt suddenly washed over him. He wasn’t being fair, and Graham knew it. Rachel never had the opportunity to have any time in the kitchen with her mother and Julia hadn’t been the in-the-kitchen type.
In fact, both of their careers had been so demanding they’d always had a live-in housekeeper even when they were first married—him the new face on Wall Street, Julia the brilliant new prosecuting attorney determined to make a name for herself. And later, after Rachel was born, a daytime nanny had been added to the staff to care for the child who didn’t quite fit in with a busy and successful couple’s schedules.
And that’s what Graham didn’t understand about Rachel’s damn insistence to return to New York. Why would Rachel want to go back to a life like that? A life so busy you had no time for family? Seeing each other only in passing? Losing sight of yourself and the people most important to you?
Well, not him—not ever.
What had appeared to be the good life on the surface had been far from perfect, regardless of the happy childhood memories Rachel had about living across the street from Central Park. He’d never tarnish those memories. Just as he’d never tell Rachel that her parents’ marriage had been on shaky ground from the very beginning.
As with the rest of his past life, he and Julia had sort of happened to each other. They’d both moved in the same social circle, and their parents had been good friends. Marriage had seemed like the next logical step, and they’d taken it. But their marriage had always been based more on what everyone else expected of them than on any true love for each other.
Sadly, it had taken Julia’s death before Graham realized what a meaningless life he had fallen into. He’d had his priorities completely out of order. He’d placed his career and the almighty dollar above his ten-year-old daughter, whose care had been the responsibility of a long string of housekeepers and nannies instead of her own parents.
He’d failed at marriage.
He would not fail as a father.
He’d left New York and never looked back. And he’d come to the one place where he’d always felt centered even as a kid, thanks to his grandfather Morrison. His grandfather had been an unpretentious man who firmly believed that nature and the simple things in life fed a person’s soul and shaped their true character.
Graham had wanted Rachel to experience those same values. And he knew Rachel had been happy the first couple of years, when having her father’s full attention had been a novelty instead of a curse. Graham also knew most of Rachel’s attitude about being stuck in Port Protection now was simply her being a teenager. Still, the thought of Rachel returning to New York turned Graham inside out.
He wanted to keep her safe.
And not only from the type of crime everyone faced living in a large city. Graham wanted to keep Rachel safe from getting caught up in the whole gotta-have-it-all-regardless-of-the-cost madness that skewed a person’s outlook on life.