Page 39 of Patio Lanterns (The Blue Canoe Cottage #1)

Rick

Music blasted from the speakers in the back of Robin’s van, turning what could have been a sombre occasion into a real party. Several people were already dancing, while others loaded up plates of food and visited with each other, many of them raving about Robin’s speech.

Rick immediately wanted to go over and congratulate her on the amazing job she’d done, but decided to bide his time until the crowd surrounding her and her sisters thinned out.

Aidan walked up to him, double-fisting two beers. “Want one?”

“Sure, thanks,” Rick said, accepting one of the bottles. “By the way, I’ve got something for you too.”

“You do?”

“I’ve decided to give you the money you asked for, Aidan. I’ll transfer it to your account in the morning.”

“I take it the partnership agreement met your standards?”

“Everything appears to be there, just like you said it would be,” Rick admitted. “You were right. You do have keen business instincts.”

Aidan took a few gulps, then lowered his bottle. “I wouldn’t be so sure about that, because I’ve decided not to go into business with Polaris North after all.”

“What do you mean? Why not?”

“Because I was wrong about them. I thought they were only buying undeveloped land, but they’ve also been trying to expropriate private property from existing cottage owners. Including this one.”

Rick frowned. “I think only the government can expropriate land, but I get what you’re saying. You think Polaris North is going after the Pelletier cottage?”

“They’ve been trying to buy up the oldest and smallest properties around here to make way for lakefront estates. I can’t believe I didn’t see it until Robbie showed me the light.” He shook his head.

“She did?”

“Robbie and I grabbed a bite and talked it over last night, and this morning, I called up Polaris North demanding answers. They refused to admit anything. So, I told them that unless they’re willing to be upfront about their development practices, I was out.”

“Out?” Rick echoed. “You mean you’re willing to walk away?”

“I can’t get into business with a company that values profits above people. That’s not the brand I want.”

Rick clapped his hand on Aidan’s shoulder. “I can’t tell you how proud of you I am, son. That takes guts.”

“I’m not feeling too gutsy right now, especially when I think of how close I came to getting sucked in by Polaris North. I owe Robbie. She made me stop and think.”

Of course she did, Rick thought, because that’s how amazing she is.

“She has a way of doing that,” Rick said. “I mean, look what she accomplished in just a few minutes this evening. Now she’s got everyone talking.”

Aidan shrugged. “We may not be able to stop Polaris North, but maybe we can make it harder for them to buy up land by making people aware of what’s really going on,” he said. “So, I guess that means you’re off the hook. You and I won’t be going into business together.”

Rick smiled. “Tell you what. When you’re ready to start up your own company, count on me being your first investor.”

“I’m going to hold you to that.” Aidan beamed. “But just so you know, I wouldn’t want you to only be an investor, I’d like the benefit of your expertise. Obviously, I still have a lot to learn, and who better to learn it from than my old man?”

Rick got choked up. This was a huge breakthrough, and it suddenly seemed entirely possible that they’d be able to fix their broken relationship and start to heal old wounds that had barely scabbed over.

Aidan had shown he could do the right thing by walking away from a lucrative partnership, and it made Rick want to drop his guard and do the right thing, too.

It was time to man up and tell Aidan the truth about his involvement with Robin.

About how she’d turned his world upside down, and somehow, made everything right again.

“Son, I—”

Aidan slapped him on the back. “Hey, I’m gonna grab some chow while the line’s shorter. Catch you later?”

Rick barely managed to nod before Aidan walked away. Guess we’ll have to find time to talk. Later.

He scanned the crowd until he spotted Robin, her pink dress like a beacon in the night. His heart doubled its tempo as he made his way over, dying to tell her how freaking proud he was.

She was talking to a couple who looked familiar, but whom he did not know. He caught Robin’s eye and her face lit up. “I’m so glad you made it, Mr. Hunter.”

He smiled back at her. “So am I.”

“Hey, do you know the Koskies?” she asked him.

“I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure,” he said, extending his hand. “I’m Rick.”

“No introduction necessary, I know exactly who you are. You’re Ricky Hunter,” said the man vigorously pumping his hand. “Honey, do you know who this is? Only one of the best non-import receivers to play in the CFL in the past thirty years.”

Rick chuckled. He’d achieved some notoriety back in his playing days, but it had been years since he was recognized, and never outside of Greater Vancouver. “Well, I don’t know about that.”

“I’m Lila,” said the woman standing next to him as he shook her hand. “And this goofy knucklehead is my husband, Carl.”

“I’d heard you moved to Lake Whippoorwill, and was hoping to run into you sometime, but…” Carl paused. “Well, it’s just so great to finally meet you. Wow.”

“As you can see, Carl’s quite shy,” Lila teased, giving her husband a playful poke in the ribs. “Rick, you’re the one who did all that work on the Maple Leaf Lodge? It’s beautiful.”

He nodded. “Actually, my son Aidan did a lot of it before I moved in. He’s a contractor specializing in custom builds and renovations.”

“Good to know,” Carl said. “Because we might have some renovations of our own soon.”

“Really?” Robin asked. “Does that mean you’ve reconsidered selling your place?”

Lila nodded. “You’ve given us plenty to think about. Safe to say we’ll be taking our time to weigh all the options instead of jumping on the first offer to come our way in forty years.”

Rick could still feel Carl staring at him. As odd as it was to encounter a fan, it was also flattering to know that his small degree of fame hadn’t completely faded into oblivion.

“You must have a ton of stories from your gridiron days,” Carl said.

“Oh, he does,” Robin said.

“Actually, we have the neighbours over a few times during the season to watch the Argos. We set up a big screen on the deck, load up the grill. Sort of a backyard tailgating party. You’ve gotta join us sometime.”

“Both of you, I hope,” Lila said, her eyes moving from Robin to Rick.

“That sounds like fun,” Robin answered for them both as if they were already a couple. He liked it.

“Sure does,” Rick agreed. “Can’t wait.”

“Hot damn, wait ‘til I tell the guys,” Carl said, reaching out to pump Rick’s hand again. “It was nice meeting you. Maybe we could grab a beer sometime.”

“Yeah, let’s definitely do that.”

“Don’t be a stranger,” Lila said, giving a little wave as they walked away.

Smiling, Robin looked up at Rick. “Look at you, making new friends at the lake.”

“Look at me? You’re positively glowing,” he said, absorbing her radiance. “How do you feel right now?”

“Like a weight has been lifted.” She tossed her head back and laughed, giddy and carefree. “Like I could fly.”

“That eulogy was incredible, Robin. I mean it. Not only did you do your mother proud and prove to your sisters that you’re a force to be reckoned with, but you may have also single-handedly saved Lake Whippoorwill.”

She waved it off. “I just spoke from the heart.”

“And by doing that, you said some very powerful things that resonated with people,” he said. “Twice in one evening, as a matter of fact.”

Her eyes met his. “Is that why you decided to come after all?”

“I came to tell you that I’m sorry. I should’ve trusted your heart, and mine,” he said. “I think I got so wrapped up in being discarded, that I lost sight of how much I have to hold on to.”

“Next time you’re feeling that way, come talk to me first, okay?”

“I will,” he said. “And I’m sorry for overthinking things. You’ve made me see that we need to live in the moment, enjoy what’s right in front of us, and focus on the present instead of getting stuck on what might happen.”

“That makes me happy,” she said.

“You make me happy,” he said, reaching down to lace his fingers through hers.

A thrill of excitement ran through him to be doing something so forbidden, yet came so naturally.

Being openly affectionate with Robin in front of nearly all of Lake Whippoorwill might have seemed reckless yesterday, but tonight, with his heart feeling so full, such a deliberate and loving act of defiance had never felt so right.

“I want to take this adventure with you.”

Robin looked down to where their hands were joined together. “You sure?”

“Positive.” With every breath, he drew more confidence. “Would you like to dance with me?”

She looked up at him, her beautiful eyes shining. “Very much.”

Wrapping his arm around her waist, he pulled her in close and clasped her hand to his chest. His heart truly was in her hands.

Closing his eyes, he indulged his senses as they memorized the moment—the smell of her soft, fragrant hair, sweet like gardenias, the heated curve of her cheek, the heavenly feel of her supple breasts pressed to his chest. He leaned into letting go, losing himself to the sensual feel of her body moving in rhythm with his.

It was as intimate as they could get while fully clothed in a sea of people.

As she pressed in tighter, her hips grazed his fly, garnering an instant response from his dick.

So naughty. He sucked in a breath, summoning the strength not to reach down and squeeze her ass through her dress.

“You’re coming home with me tonight,” he whispered close to her ear. “And when we get there, I’m going to take my sweet time touching you, teasing you, tasting you. I’m going to make it so good for you that the neighbours are going to need a cigarette.”

“Mmm…” she moaned as she rolled her hips against him. “Let’s go.”

“Now?” He gasped. “But we can’t leave the party yet.”

“This thing will go on until the wee hours,” she said. “No one will miss us if we slip away for a bit.”

Rick looked around. Several pairs of eyes were now upon them, and he thought he picked up on murmuring too. Not surprising, holding Robin in his arms had drawn some attention.

“You want me, or don’t you, Big Rick?” she asked, seductively swiping her tongue across her lip, slicking it with promise.

If ever there was a time to live in the moment, this was it.

“Oh hell, yeah.” He grabbed Robin by the hand and pulled her through the throng of partiers, eager to finally get her alone.