The Sometime Bride

Chapter Seventeen



Carrie picked up her office phone and dialed. Though she quite obviously sometimes gambled with her heart, when it came to business dealings, Carrie was exceedingly cautious. Before she went and did anything involving money, she needed to make certain her hunch was accurate.

“Hello?” Jack Davis answered.

“Jack, good morning. This is Carrie, Carrie St. John.”

“Why, Carrie!” he said, sounding genuinely pleased to hear her voice. “How are you? That son of mine behaving himself? ’Cause if he’s not, I’m still available, you know.”

Carrie chuckled. “Oh Jack, you are bad.”

“Thank you, my dear. So, what can I do for you this morning? Time to start practicing our wedding march already?”

Carrie blanched before remembering she’d impetuously invited Jack to walk her down the aisle. An act she still wasn’t sorry for. Mike’s dad was adorable. “Oh no, not that. But I’ll certainly let you know.

“Actually, I was calling with a question—about Mike.”

“Mike?” Jack exclaimed. “Well, I can’t completely promise you I’ve figured that boy out. But go ahead and shoot, if you’d like. I’ll do the best that I can.”

Carrie hoped she wouldn’t disillusion her prospective father-in-law by seeming too forward. But, in for a penny, in for a pound, she told herself. “It’s about the British West Indies. The Cayman Islands, specifically.”

Jack seemed to be waiting on the other end of the line. Not commenting, just waiting for Carrie to finish. She wasn’t sure if this was good but decided to press on ahead.

“Anyhow, I realize Mike has an interest in the Caymans—”

“That so?” Jack butted in. “Didn’t know he’d discussed it with you.”

Ah, Carrie thought, then there was something to discuss, and something to her gut feeling after all. “Well, he mentioned it somewhat. Some time ago, actually. But I could tell, even at the time, how very important it was to him.”

“I think Mike’s just recently found what’s most important to him.”

Carrie colored at the compliment, despite the fact Jack couldn’t see her. “I appreciate that, really I do. And Mike is very special to me. Extra special. I hope to marry him.”

Jack was quiet for a moment before speaking. “That’s wonderful! He’s asked you, then?”

“Well, uh…not exactly. But let’s just say I see it coming.”

“Then I say, your vision’s twenty-twenty, my girl.”

That extra bit of reassurance warmed Carrie through and through. “But because I love him, Jack, I’d hate to think of Mike giving up any long-term dreams on my account.”

“Oh, now, fluff,” Jack said, huffing into the phone. “Don’t you go worrying your pretty little head over that. I never really believed the boy was going to open that dive shop anyway.”



Carrie hung up the phone after thanking him and promising Jack she’d let him know just as soon as they’d scheduled the wedding rehearsal. Wedding rehearsal? They still hadn’t invited half the guests. The ones who would fill in the slots Wilson’s missing family would have occupied. Oh well, Carrie decided, she could think of that tomorrow. Today, she had some phone-calling to do.

“Mary,” she called into the next room. “Do you have a moment to come in and make some notes?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Mary said, appearing at the threshold.

“Great,” Carrie said, her grin as wide as the big outdoors, “because we’re slightly revising our project. Ready to dive in?”



“You sure about this?” Colleen said, staring up at Mike in disbelief. “A four-bedroom house is a big investment for a bachelor.”

Mike patiently shook his head. This afternoon, not even Colleen was going to sour his mood. “Already told you, Colleen, not going to be a bachelor that much longer.”

Colleen dropped into her chair in shock. “You’re dead serious about this, aren’t you?” For the first time for as long as he could remember, Colleen lifted the dangling bifocals from her neck and shoved them up on her nose. “Shut the door, Mike.”

Mike walked to the back of Colleen’s office and closed the door, giving the two of them privacy.

“Have a seat,” she instructed when he returned.

“Now,” Colleen said once he was seated. “Tell me honestly, what kind of trouble are you in?”

“Trouble?”

“Is the girl pregnant? Because, if she is—”

“Pregnant? Holy cow! Pregnant, Colleen?”

Colleen motioned downward with her outstretched palms. “Just calm down there, Mike. You won’t be the first one on my staff who’s gotten himself into a bit of a, uh…personal pickle.”

“Colleen, I’m not asking you for money! I have enough for the down payment in my account. I’ve been saving it up for a while now for…for… Well, never mind. It’s not important anymore. What is important is that I’m not asking you for any special favors here. Only the standard cut on the price based on reduced commission since someone in this office is buying it. I don’t see the big deal. It’s accepted protocol. I’ve seen you authorize such sales at least a dozen times.”

“So she’s not pregnant?” Colleen asked, as if she hadn’t heard a word.

“Give us a couple of months,” Mike said, settling back in his chair.

“How much is the house?” Colleen asked, sighing and eyeing him quizzically.

“Two-forty.”

Colleen raised her eyebrows. “Joint mortgage?”

“Absolutely not,” Mike told her. “This one has to be all mine.” His to own and his to give away—with a full heart, Mike thought with a deep inner peace that spread from his heart to his belly.



Carrie couldn’t believe her luck. There was a small store for sale just at the edge of trendy Seven Mile Beach. With all the major resort hotels nearby, the location couldn’t have been more perfect. The shop, just outside of George Town, was even guaranteed docking privileges. It couldn’t have been more perfect. Of course, as the store had formerly served as a knickknack-and-jewelry shop, they’d have some remodeling to do. Probably plenty of remodeling to do, given the bargain-basement price of the property, Carrie decided.

Still, if the appraiser she’d contacted at the Grand Cayman bank came back with the report Carrie expected, the place was a steal. An investment waiting to happen. Carrie’s palms moistened at the possibilities. She couldn’t wait to see the look on Mike’s face.

And yet, she’d have to proceed cautiously. Make certain he didn’t mistake this for some kind of handout and become offended. But Carrie had never planned to give him the money, only loan it—on a long-term repayment, low-interest basis like she had for each of her other clients. It could give him the chance he needed, if he wasn’t too darn proud to accept it.

Carrie paused at that last thought, considering. What if he became furious at her intrusion? What if he accused her of trying to run his life? What if he truly couldn’t see that this was no sort of manipulation; it was a gift from the heart?

Carrie slouched back against her high-backed leather chair and spun to face the window. She supposed it all depended on timing. First, they had to get beyond that proposal part, so Mike wouldn’t think she was trying to buy his affections. But when, oh when, was that proposal part ever going to waltz along?

Mike had said to trust him. But for how long?

She wondered if he’d even considered the wedding angle, or if he’d find using her premade arrangements tacky. To Carrie, it just seemed a terrible waste to let all that planning and expense go, just to reinvent the wheel.

Well, they would sort all of that out soon enough. First things first. She’d found the ideal property for Mike’s dive shop, and if she didn’t move on it quickly, somebody else would, she knew. The location was just too hot.

And, if after all her trouble, Mike hated the idea? Had completely changed his mind, and no longer wanted to move to the Caymans? Well, then, she’d just have to cross that bridge when she came to it. The shop would be a surprise, a wedding gift. And if he didn’t care for it, Carrie would just have to find someone else, another entrepreneur, to take advantage of the opportunity. But that wouldn’t happen. She was sure of it. Once Mike was advised of all the particulars, he was going to be over the moon.



Mike sat at his desk mooning over a picture of the house he was about to purchase and wondering how soon it would be available for occupancy. Colleen had already phoned the owners with his offer and would be letting him know that detail along with their counteroffer, when it came.

Now, if he could preoccupy—and be in within a month—that would be even better. He’d asked Colleen to inquire about the possibility. Mike couldn’t wait to get started on a life with Carrie. Real stroke of luck she already had the wedding arranged. Though they hadn’t talked it over officially, he guessed since he hadn’t proposed “officially,” Mike assumed that was what they would do. Go ahead and use the facilities and services Carrie had already arranged. She’d never canceled them, as she’d threatened to do earlier. Grandma Russell had told him so. It made his heart spring-dive just to think she’d forgone canceling those arrangements because she’d held out hope for a future with him. With him! And, holy cow, it was happening.

The house he’d found was perfect, so perfect that…

Mike stopped congratulating himself as his blood ran cold. Oh my goodness. What if he’d done the wrong thing? What if Carrie became incensed at him making such a major decision for the two of them? Without even consulting her first?

What if she didn’t even want to live in Virginia but had someplace else in mind entirely? They hadn’t even had a chance to discuss those kinds of future plans. Mike had just seen the house, the white picket fence and—whammy! He’d gone and done something huge, something impetuous, something nearly irrevocable. Holy cow. Mike blew a hard breath and sat back against his chair as fear settled into his belly.

Surely, Carrie wouldn’t fault him for a wedding gift? Yes, that was what he’d call it. And, if she didn’t like it…? Well, though they couldn’t exactly return it, they could surely work something out. Find renters, resell after a while. But Mike didn’t want to resell. He absolutely loved the place. And Carrie would too. He just knew it.