Busted (Promise Harbor Wedding)(52)

Hayley didn’t bother pointing out that it was the last house on a dead-end street. Not exactly a high visibility area.

“We didn’t even show the house. The work isn’t finished.”

Bernice frowned. “I don’t believe the new owner is worried about it being a fixer-upper. Matt’s been looking after all the details if you want to talk to him.”

Recognizing the stubborn tilt of Bernice’s chin, Hayley pivoted back around. “Yeah, I’ll do that.” She’d wanted Matt to handle that side of the sale, but she’d expected him to at least keep her in the loop. Why hadn’t he told her that someone had put in an offer on the house, let alone that he’d accepted it?

The sound of a car pulling up stopped Hayley before she reached the steps.

Her mother emerged from the vehicle, looking more tired than Hayley could remember her being in a long time. Losing Gramps had reminded all of them what it had been like to lose Hayley’s dad, and it would take time to smooth over the old wounds.

“I guess I’m a little late.”

Bernice gave the two of them a wave before getting into her car and driving away.

“You knew about this?”

Her mother nodded.

“Why didn’t you or Matt tell me? I need more time to get stuff done. How long until the new owner moves in?”

“As soon as possible, I imagine.”

The same crippling sense of loss tried to surface, and Hayley ruthlessly shoved it down, but it trickled into her voice anyway. “I’m not ready to let it go, Mom.” She hadn’t even had time to get used to Gramps being gone and now she had to walk away from the house?

Her mother held out a key.

Deciding it was lack of sleep that made it hard to understand what was happening, Hayley shook her head. “Is that your copy? Shouldn’t you have given it to Bernice while she was here?”

“It’s all yours, Hayley.”

“I don’t understand.”

“I may have promised your grandfather I wouldn’t pay his medical bills, but I never promised I wouldn’t buy the house he was so determined to sell before he died.”

She stared at her mother, not following. “You bought it? Mom, you don’t have that kind of money.”

“I’ve done pretty well with the money your father left me, and thanks to Eric, it’s been very well invested. He’s a pretty smart man.”

Not liking the sudden change in direction the conversation was taking, Hayley stopped her there. “Mom—”

“He’s not the right one for you, I know.” She wrapped her arms around Hayley. “I just want you to be happy. You deserve that.” She glanced up at the house. “Your grandfather would be happy that it’s yours now.”

Although she was smiling, a tear escaped Hayley’s eye. It wouldn’t fill the empty place in her heart after losing her grandfather—nothing would—but it felt like a step in the right direction.

“I heard about Cody. It’s a shame. And he broke into all those places to get money for Kyle’s surgery?”

That detail hadn’t been released, but clearly someone had been talking. Hard to keep much under wraps in the harbor.

Her mother’s phone rang, and she fished it out of her purse. “Hello?” She frowned, then handed Hayley the phone. “It’s for you.”

Hayley recognized her partner’s voice right away. “Tried your cell and Matt’s before he suggested I call your mom’s.”

“Did something happen with Cody?”

“No. Everything’s fine on that front. We’ve got a bit of a problem down by town hall. A disturbance. I need you to check it out.”

“Why me?” There had to be officers patrolling who could look after it.

“You’re the only one anybody trusts to handle it,” he answered cryptically. “Keep me posted.”

She frowned. “No problem.” Hayley hung up and handed the phone back to her mother. “Something’s come up. I have to go.” She hugged her again, a little tighter. “Thank you.”

Hayley waited until her mother left, then grabbed her bag from inside the house. Gavin had disappeared, but she could hear him in the kitchen. “I’ll be back shortly. With breakfast,” she called out, knowing there wasn’t much in the way of food in the house.

The drive downtown took longer than usual. Traffic was backed up half a mile from town hall, and although the sun was beating down on everyone, no one seemed particularly frustrated by the delay. Weird.

She took a side street that got her within a couple blocks of town hall and went the rest of the way on foot. She heard the rumbling engine first, then stared at the machine inching its way along.

Some idiot was driving the Zamboni up the middle of Main Street, and he was…wearing a bear costume?

Oh god. He wouldn’t.

The crowd gathered around like they were watching a float in a parade only slowed her down for a few seconds. She stepped in front of the Zamboni’s path.

“Are you out of your mind?”

The engine idled, then stopped, and the oversize bear climbed down. “For the last year and a half, actually.”

“So you figured you’d cap it off by getting arrested again?” Unbelievable.

“Had to get your attention somehow. You weren’t returning my calls.”

“I was going to.” Eventually. But what could he possibly have to say that was important enough he felt the need to pull a stunt like this?

At least fifty people surrounded them. Some were tourists likely exploring the nearby parks and historical grounds, while others were locals no doubt drawn by the sight of the Zamboni cruising around town on an unseasonably hot June morning.

“I didn’t understand a word of that,” she said, unable to make out whatever he’d said through the mascot costume.

He pulled off the bear head. “I said, I’m not taking the job with the Sentinels.”

“You got a better offer?” she guessed. Getting back into the NHL was all he wanted.

“You might say that.”

“With who?” Would he be closer to Promise Harbor? Had the Boston team offered him a job or maybe one of the New York clubs?

“A smaller hockey team, but one that has a lot of promise. I hear the assistant coach is handy with a Taser.”

She blinked. “You’re staying here?”

“If you’ll have me.” He pulled her forward, startling a laugh out of her as she bumped into the ridiculous bear suit. “I’m crazy about you, Hayley Stone. These paws are good for more than just starting a fight. I want to fix that house up with you and coach those kids. And I want to work for myself.”

“What about hockey? Your dream?” He’d been pretty clear about that during their argument outside Stone’s.

“I’ve found a new one. One I want to share with the woman I’m in love with.”

Happiness crept in, and she instinctively shied away from it, half expecting it to be ripped away before she’d barely wrapped her mind around what he was saying. “You left.” He loved her and had left at the worse possible moment.

“It was a mistake, but I don’t regret it entirely. I can’t,” he rushed to add when she would have argued. “I had to go or I wouldn’t have realized just how much I had to lose. I’m sorry I wasn’t there with you when he died.” He cupped her cheek. “I’d give anything to take that back.”

“You don’t get to just walk away again. If things come up or dreams change, we figure them out together.” She already loved him, but putting her heart completely in his hands if there was a chance he could change his mind…

“I’m not leaving, Hayley. Not this town. And not you. You’re stuck with me.”

She looked at him in the ridiculous mascot costume, a handful of feet away from a Zamboni of all things, and felt her heart swell until it threatened to balloon right through the walls of her chest.

He dropped his forehead to hers. “Our first kiss was an accident that we never told anyone about. This time I want the whole damn town to know how I feel about you.” He cradled her jaw, giving her time to pull away if this wasn’t what she wanted.

She smiled. “Then what’s the holdup, Knight?”

His answering grin, so slow and sexy, would have melted her on the spot if he hadn’t kissed her right then. Whoever had stuck around—probably to see if she was going to arrest him—hooted and whistled, and a few joked about them getting a room.

She’d get around to telling them all to move along just as soon as she had her fill of Jackson. She parted her lips, welcoming the hungry slant of his mouth, and looped her arms around his neck, more afraid of what she’d miss out on by not loving him than losing him.

“Damn, this suit is hot. How in the hell did you wear it in that closet?”