Seabreeze Shores

Chapter 1-3

“She did.” His hands were warm on her neck. “Mmm. Keep that up, and I’ll keep you around forever,” Ivy said, relaxing into his arms.

Bennett chuckled. “Wish I’d known this was all it took. Could’ve saved us a lot of time.”

“I think we’re right where we’re meant to be.” After Jeremy’s death, Ivy wasn’t sure she’d ever marry again, but Bennett was different.

She’d had a crush on him when they were teenagers before she left to attend university in Boston. They’d hardly known each other then, and they were still learning about each other now—and all their little quirks and preferences. They’d married just before Ivy’s parents left on their voyage last summer.

Bennett kissed her cheek. “If Shelly is going home, I can take her back before we get too settled.”

“Let her be. I think she’s down for the night. She told me she hasn’t slept much for days.”

“Will Mitch come to get her tonight?”

Ivy stretched. “I don’t know, but I’m sure they spoke. He planned to work late on the house. It’s probably better if she sleeps here.”

Bennett took a breath to speak but then seemed to think better of it and glanced away.

Something in his silence stirred her. “You don’t agree?”

“If I were Mitch, I wouldn’t like it.”

“But those two are different. They make up their own rules.”

“It’s not about rules.” Bennett ran his hand over his closely cropped hair.

“Are you concerned about them?”

Bennett raised his brow. “Should I be?”

“Well, no. I mean, I don’t think so. Unless you think you should talk to Mitch again about the room addition.”

He grinned. “I’ll take that as a strong hint.”

Ivy bristled at his choice of words. “I’m asking you.”

“I told you, I’ll try.”

That didn’t sound as definitive as she would have liked, but she let it go. “Just so you know, Imani and Gilda and Poppy want to surprise Shelly with a baby shower—or a party—let’s not call it a baby shower. Please don’t let that get around yet, but we’ll want you to plan something with Mitch—like working on that room addition.”

“You’ll have to invite Darla, or she’ll feel left out.”

Ivy’s neighbor wasn’t known for her discretion, especially at Java Beach, the hotbed of local gossip in Summer Beach. “Okay, I’ll swear her to secrecy and threaten to cut off her banana nut bread supply.”

“You’re not a woman to cross, Ivy Bay Dylan. Or should I say, Mrs. Mayor?”

Ivy gave an exaggerated shrug, trying not to let him get to her. “Is that the best you can do? Nan calls me her ‘First Lady.’ I think you should, too,” she added in an attempt to tease him. Bennett’s receptionist at City Hall was a force in Summer Beach. She and her husband owned Antique Times in the village.

Bennett laughed as he threaded his fingers through Ivy’s hair, massaging her scalp. “That’s another one you’ll have to swear to secrecy.”

Feeling the weight of the day, Ivy tried to relax into his touch, but she was still worried about Shelly. Her health, their birth plan, the construction—now, even a surprise party. All this on top of the spa week they’d started advertising before Shelly had known she was pregnant. “I had no idea a baby shower would have to be a clandestine operation.”

Bennett waggled his eyebrows. “That’s Summer Beach for you. We keep a close eye on our residents. Especially the new ones.” A slow smile spread on his face. “How about a glass of wine with me?”

Usually, Ivy would welcome that. As she shook her head, she chewed the edge of her lip. Bennett was the key to bringing Mitch to his senses, and Ivy felt like he’d minimized her request. She had to make sure he would deal with Mitch.

“Not tonight,” Ivy said, tamping down her concern. “Baby showers aside, you will talk to Mitch, won’t you? I’m worried about Shelly—and the health of her baby. Being older, she’s at a higher risk for pregnancy. If anything happened to her, I’d never forgive myself.” She blew out a breath. “Neither would my parents. I’m responsible for her while they’re gone.”

Bennett chuckled and kissed her forehead. “I’m pretty sure they would. And Shelly is a grown woman.”

“That’s not the point. I’m really concerned about her health.”

“I hear you,” Bennett said lightly. “I’ll try to reason with him. That’s the best I can do. You know how proud Mitch is about making his own decisions.”

“This is no time for infernal masculine pride,” Ivy snapped, feeling her blood pressure rise. “Mitch has got to stop this nonsense and take care of his wife. If he doesn’t, I’ll make sure she stays here at the house where I can look after her.”

Frowning, Bennett pulled back. “Ivy, be careful about getting between them.”

“I don’t care. I’ll do what’s right for her.”

“Even if it hurts their marriage—and right before the baby is born? This is supposed to be a happy time for them.”

“Well, it’s not turning out that way. Mitch wants her to have the baby in a kiddie pool filled with dirty saltwater at the house. Do you think that’s safe, especially at her age?”

Bennett raked a hand over his stubbled chin. “My sister used a midwife when she had my nephew. She was fine, and so was Logan.”

“Well, good for her, but Sunny and I would have died if I hadn’t been at a hospital.”

Bennett held up his hands. “Okay, I get it, but that decision should be between Shelly and her doctor.”

“Exactly. And I think Mitch is influencing her. He wants to say that their baby came out surfing. But this isn’t a joke.”

“And you think I can fix these problems? I’m not Superman, sweetheart.”

“I’ll say.” With fear for her sister pushing anger through her veins like molten lava, Ivy pushed up from the couch. “Mitch looks up to you like an older brother. You could talk some sense into him,” Ivy said, punctuating her words with a finger. “Otherwise, Shelly is staying right here.”

As Ivy charged into the bedroom, she heard Bennett call to her, but she didn’t stop. It was late, she was exhausted from work and worry, and her husband wasn’t taking this situation as seriously as he needed to.

She peeled off her clothes, wriggled into a nightgown, and slid into bed, pulling the covers over her head. Bennett opened the door, but she ignored him. The responsibility she felt for Shelly in her parents’ absence was a heavy burden.

If Bennett didn’t understand the seriousness of this situation, then she had other things to consider. Yet, a small thought crept into her mind. Had she been too hard on her husband?