Gansett After Dark by Marie Force Read Free Book Online Page A

and his family.
    “We heard something about a party here today,” Joe said. He carried his newborn son, P.J., in an infant car seat that he put on the kitchen table.  
    “Are we the first ones here?” Janey asked.
    “You are.” Caro greeted them both with hugs before she turned her full attention to her adorable grandson. Born by emergency C-section several weeks premature, he’d spent more than a month in the hospital until he’d finally been released to come home to Gansett. “How’s my baby today?”
    “He’s doing great.” Joe unbuckled the straps and freed the baby, handing him right over to his grandmother. “He’s eating well and sleeping a lot.”
    Carolina gazed down at the tiny face, the feathery brows, the miniature lips, the light dusting of blond hair. He was the most gorgeous thing she’d seen since she held his father in her arms. “That’s exactly what he should be doing.”
    Seamus appeared at her shoulder, leaning in to kiss P.J.’s forehead. “There’s my new best mate.” The lilting tone of Ireland in his voice had become music to her ears over the last ten months.  
    “Is there anything we can do to help get ready for the party?” Janey asked, helping herself to a pickle from an open jar on the counter.
    Carolina exchanged glances with Seamus. He nodded, encouraging her to share their news with the two most important people in their lives. “There is one thing you could do for us today.”
    “What’s that?” Joe asked, still focused almost entirely on the baby.
    “You could stand up for us.”
    That got her son’s attention. “Stand up for you?” Joe’s gaze shifted from his mother to Seamus and then back to her. “You wanna run that by me one more time?”
    “The party today,” Seamus said, “is actually a wedding. We didn’t want to make a big thing of it—”
    Janey let out a shriek that startled her son. “Oh my God! Are you serious ? You’re getting married ?”
    “We’re getting married,” Carolina said. “And we’d like the two of you to be our witnesses. If you’re willing, that is.”
    Joe and Janey looked at each other, and for a brief moment, Carolina couldn’t tell what they were thinking. Waiting for them to say something made her feel nervous for the first time that day. Then she felt Seamus’s hand on her back, and the simple gesture calmed and centered her. No matter what, he was right there with her, and they were in this together.
    “Of course we’ll be your witnesses,” Joe said as Janey nodded in agreement.
    “We’d love to.” Janey hugged them both. “Thank you so much for asking us.”
    Seamus shook hands with Joe. “Who else would we ask?”
    “Wow, I can’t believe this,” Joe said. “A surprise wedding. Everyone will be blown away.”
    “We didn’t want the fuss and the gifts and the months of planning,” Seamus said. “We just want to be married.”
    “What about your family?” Janey asked.
    “Shannon will represent them,” Seamus said of his cousin who’d come to Gansett earlier in the summer with Seamus’s mother and then decided to stay for a while. “We talked to my parents in Ireland yesterday, and they’re over the moon. My mum loves Caro and couldn’t be happier for us. And speaking of my family, I could use a week off at the end of the season so I can take my new wife home to meet them.”
    “Done,” Joe said. “I’m jealous. I’d love to go to Ireland someday.”
    “I’d be happy to take you,” Seamus replied. “If we can find someone to cover the ferries for both of us.”
    Joe glanced at P.J. “I’m going to be a little busy for the next few years, but I’ll take you up on that at some point.”
    “Any time.”
    “There’s one other thing,” Seamus said to Joe. “I’ve been trying to convince your mum to sign a piece of paper that Dan Torrington drew up for me.”
    “Seamus,” Carolina said.  
    “What kind of paper?” Joe asked.
    “A prenuptial agreement,” Seamus