The Hero (Thunder Point #3)(34)

While Sarah and Cooper stood in front of the arch, there were the flashes of cameras and most of the guests made their way over to congratulate them. When the receiving line was exhausted, Sarah and Cooper were first in the buffet line. A neat stack of beach blankets were stacked at each end of the long serving table and Cooper handed a plate to Sarah, grabbing a blanket at the same time. He spread it on the sand near the bottom of the stairs to the deck and soon others joined them, while still others continued to stand or spread their blankets on the other side of the band. A group of eight or ten teenagers including Landon and Eve took their blankets and set up some distance away from their parents and elders. Gina and Mac ended up beside them and when Cooper caught sight of Spencer trying to corral Austin as well as a couple of plates of food, Cooper motioned them over to join their party.

Not everyone needed blankets—there were several rocks and driftwood trunks scattered around that made for handy chairs. And before the first wave of guests had enjoyed the food, the dancing began—mostly by those people over the age of thirty. The music was not the teenagers’ style at all. Cooper’s mom and dad twirled around the sand a little bit and once the eating was mostly done, Cooper took his wife onto the outdoor dance floor.

Cooper didn’t have possession of her for long—her USCG friends and coworkers were present and wouldn’t let her rest.

After dancing with his mother and sisters, Cooper gratefully returned to the blanket, sitting down beside Spencer. He noticed that Austin had already abandoned them for Landon’s party, a safe distance away.

“I guess you couldn’t convince Rawley to come as a guest tonight,” Spencer said.

“Not a chance. I’m lucky I got him in that shirt, the only thing that identifies him as part of the wedding party. But have fun? Never.” Cooper laughed. “He’s a cautionary tale,” Cooper said, nodding at the man behind the serving table. “He’s exactly what I was destined to become if I stayed as solitary as I’d been.”

“You throw a good party,” Spencer said. “You should do beach parties regularly, even when you’re not getting married.”

“Makes sense,” he said. “I have to hand it to Carrie—she sure can pull a party together under difficult circumstances, can’t she?”

“Where’d she get that band?”

“They’re a bunch of local guys. One’s a mailman, one’s a crabber and I don’t know who the third one is. Not exactly American Bandstand, but you can’t complain about their tone, right?”

“If you like ballroom music.”

“Get out there, Spencer,” Cooper said. “Wrap your arms around something soft. Give Sarah a whirl, because after tonight you can’t touch her.”

Again Spencer laughed, shaking his head. “Yeah, I think I’ll just enjoy the view.”

“Looks like the new doc is circling a target,” Cooper said. He nodded toward the other side of the bandstand to where Scott Grant reclined on a beach blanket and Devon was kneeling in front of him, talking animatedly with her hands, making him laugh.

* * *

Spencer had seen them arrive together. They came to the beach arm in arm. Then she held his hand, pulling him all over the beach, introducing him to people he hadn’t yet met. Then they spread their blanket together.

Were they already a couple? he wondered. It would only make sense. They spent every day together. And Dr. Grant—he seemed like a pretty nice guy.

But Devon, she was something else. Her transformation since the first day he’d seen her was remarkable. She had arrived here as a skittish and shy runaway from some kind of cult or something. She didn’t know he had overheard her when she was telling—or rather, trying not to tell—Rawley that first morning. By now Rawley might know the details, but Spencer didn’t. Still, the changes in the girl were impossible to ignore. Or forget. She’d become a cute, efficient, fun-loving sprite with a quick wit and spontaneous smile that just lit up her whole face. She must be feeling safer, more confident. She had a glow about her and he was inexplicably drawn to her.

She’s a blonde, he thought. His wife had been blonde. Maybe he was just hot for blondes....

And of course, that was the last thing he was in the market for. He’d laid his young wife to rest just a few months ago, after a long and ravaging illness. Now he was concentrating on raising his son, starting a new career, making a new home. There was no room for romance, especially with a woman hiding a weird and mysterious past.

Someone approached her—one of the Coast Guard guests, he believed. He gave her a half bow that made her laugh, held out a hand and took her out in front of the bandstand to dance. There was a little more laughter, some barefoot twirling. He found himself smiling, glad she was having a good time. He couldn’t believe there was anything creepy or sinister about her—she seemed so transparent, except maybe for that part of her life she was fleeing. For no logical reason whatsoever, he was glad her flight had brought her here, because he believed this to be a safe place and populated with the kind of men who had the strength to protect her and her little girl, if that became necessary.

He shifted his gaze to Cooper, who was making the rounds, dancing with the women in his family and with friends from town. Sarah was being passed around pretty liberally as well—lots of cutting in going on out there. Then there was Gina and Mac, the newlyweds, locked together in a sweet, close sway...until they were disrupted by Mac’s aunt Lou and her steady, Joe, and partners were exchanged. But that didn’t last long—they were back together for the next song.