“Of course.” Mrs. Hendricks handed him the portable phone, and he dialed a number from memory.

While Cameron completed the check-in paperwork and handed over her credit card, Will filled Nolan in on the accident.

“Yep, she ran smack into poor old Fred.” A pause. “He seemed fine, but we might want to send the doc after him in the morning to make sure.”

Glowering at him, Cameron whispered, “The car. Remember the car?”

He met her glower with a scowl. “Now, about the car.”

Finally, Cameron thought, signing on the dotted line for Mrs. Hendricks and accepting the key to her third-floor room.

Will handed the phone back to Mrs. Hendricks. “Nolan’s going to fetch the car tonight so no one hits it out on the road. He said to check in with him in the morning. The garage is across the street.” Pointing toward the front door. “That way.”

“Thank you.” Cameron forced herself to look up at him and all his beauty. “I appreciate your help.” His eyes, she realized were light brown, almost gold. Why did he have to be so spectacularly gorgeous and so outrageously cranky?

“You need help getting your stuff upstairs?”

The idea of him following her to a hotel room sent more tingling awareness rippling through her. “I can do it.”

But before the words were out of her mouth, he was already heading to the stairs with her bags. Uttering a quick thank-you to Mrs. Hendricks, Cameron scurried after him.

On the third floor, he deposited her suitcases outside Room 18. He stopped so suddenly that Cameron nearly ran into his broad back.

Turning, he caught her inches from his chest, and the awareness that had sizzled between them downstairs chose that moment to reappear. Cameron had never experienced such an overpowering need to touch another person. She rolled her hands into fists to keep from acting on the impulse.

“Listen,” he said, haltingly, “you seem like a nice enough person.”

“Wow, thanks.” Charming? Whatever.

His expression turned stormy. “What I was going to say is that things are apt to get a little heated tomorrow at the meeting. Don’t take it personally, okay? Our beef is with him, not you.”

“I’m here to do a job. Nothing about this is personal.”

“Good,” he said, apparently picking up on her double meaning as she’d hoped he would. “Let’s keep it that way.”

“Fine by me.”

“You might want to put some ice on your nose,” he said as he headed down the stairs.

Too bad he missed the gesture she made at his retreating back.

Pre-order All You Need Is Love now, and watch for Book 2, I Want to Hold Your Hand, in June 2014!

Who’s Who on Gansett Island

Who’s Who on Gansett Island

The McCarthy Family

“Big Mac” and Linda McCarthy, owners of McCarthy’s Gansett Island Marina and McCarthy’s Gansett Island Inn, are parents to: