CelebrationAfterDarkKobo by Marie Force Read Free Book Online Page A

roommates know she’s staying.”
    “Sure thing. Come in.”
    Ned showed Linda to the phone, and she thanked him as he blushed profusely.
    While she made her call, Ned said to Mac, “Pretty gal ya got there.”
    “I’m going to marry her,” Mac said, keeping his gaze trained on Linda as she talked to her friend.
    “How long ya known her?”
    “About twenty-four hours now.”
    Ned snorted with laughter. “Ya got big brass ones to go along with yer lofty ideas.”
    “Including the marina that almost everyone told me I shouldn’t buy.”
    “Ya won’t regret that. Prime real estate. Took a look at it myself, but it needed way more work than I wanted ta do.”
    “Glad you approve. My dad thinks I’m insane.”
    “Yer not. Not about the marina, anyway. That gal? Ya might have yer work cut out fer ya there. She’s a fancy one.”
    “That’s okay. I’m not afraid of a little hard work.” Especially when Linda was the prize. “Who do I talk to about getting the power turned on at the marina?”
    “Ya call the power company?”
    “Yeah, they were supposed to start my service today, but so far nothing.”
    “I know a guy there. I’ll call fer ya.”
    “Thanks, Ned. I appreciate all your help.”
    “T’aint no big deal.”
    “It is to me.”  
    Linda ended her call and rejoined them.
    “All set?” Mac asked. Though he felt bad that he hadn’t been able to keep his promise to get her home tonight, he wasn’t at all sorry that she had to spend the night with him. Not one bit sorry.  
    “All set. The girls were glad to hear from me. They said they definitely would’ve called the state police if I didn’t call.” This was said with a smile that made Ned chuckle.
    “Smart gals,” Ned said. Using his thumb to point to Mac, he said, “This one’s got some big ideas.”
    “So I’ve heard,” Linda said with a smile for Ned.  
    Before she could get too cozy with Ned, Mac took her by the hand. “We’ve got to get going. Thanks again for the use of your phone.”
    “Anytime,” Ned said as he saw them out. “Hope ta see ya again, Linda.”
    “Hope so, too. Thanks for the phone.”
    “My phone is yer phone.”
    “He is so cute and sweet,” Linda said when they were back in Mac’s truck.
    He glared at her, making her giggle.  
    “Not as cute as you,” she said.
    “But he is sweeter? Is that what you’re saying?”
    “I never said those words.”
    Mac smiled at her witty comeback. “It’s okay. I like him, too. He’s been really nice to me since the first time I came over to check out the marina.”
    “What does he do?”
    “He drives a cab, which is how I met him, and he’s getting into some real estate deals, too. Nothing big, a few things here and there, but he knows this island inside and out. He’s a good friend to have.”
    “You’re really settling in here,” she said, gazing out the passenger window. The sun was a ball of fire in the late-afternoon sky, promising a spectacular sunset.
    “That’s the plan.” For the first time since he set eyes on the marina and saw his future laid out before him, he had a moment of remorse. The marina didn’t look quite as shiny to him as it had before he met her. Now that he knew she was in the world, he wanted her more than he wanted the marina, more than he wanted anything.  
    How could one day change everything? He had absolutely no experience with a woman turning his world upside down. Yes, he’d had girlfriends—one of them had even been sort of serious for a while, until he realized she had totally different goals in life than he did. Ending it with her had made sense in light of that revelation. As much as he’d liked Diana, he hadn’t needed her the way he already knew he could need Linda.
    “Mac.”
    He already loved the way his name sounded coming from her. Glancing over at her, he raised a brow in inquiry.
    “I was thinking that if it’s okay with you, I could just stay at the marina with you tonight.”
    If it’s