Dogwood Hill

How could this possibly be the best match for him? Even if the town didn’t come with a whole slew of emotional baggage attached, small-town living probably wasn’t right for him. He’d go stir-crazy in a month, quite probably sooner.

Sighing heavily, he came to what had to be the best decision. He’d set up an interview for tomorrow, because he’d made a commitment and commitments meant something to him. He’d even try to listen with an open heart, but his mind was already made up. He’d decline the job, wish them well, then take off right after the interview.

There were bound to be other coaching jobs, jobs that wouldn’t put him anywhere near a man he’d now convinced himself he didn’t really need to know or even meet. Thomas O’Brien was a name on a piece of paper, an important piece of paper to be sure, but meeting him wouldn’t change the fact that he’d been nothing to Aidan his entire life. At least he knew where to find him if some genetic health issue cropped up years from now.

An image of Liz crept into his head and he felt a moment’s regret. Not only was she beautiful, she had a good heart. He’d felt an instantaneous connection to her, something that rarely happened with the women who tended to flock around professional athletes. Liz was real.

Still, he couldn’t allow a momentary attraction to a woman to sway him into making a decision that was so obviously all wrong. He’d have a nice dinner, get a good night’s sleep, meet with the high school principal and then go on his way.

Satisfied with his plan, he checked the directions and headed toward The Inn at Eagle Point. As he drove along the winding road, he couldn’t help noticing the nearby bay, and once more Liz’s mention of Thomas O’Brien’s passion for that body of water slipped past his defenses. He pieced her words together with what little his mother had told him over the years and wondered what it must be like to be so idealistic that a cause mattered more than people, more than a son. If he left, he’d never know the answer to that.

“Stop it!” he muttered, as emphatic with himself as Liz had been with Archie earlier. The decision was made.

Somehow, though, it didn’t seem quite as valid as when he’d first reached it.

* * *

When Liz got home that night, Archie, Sasha and Dominique met her at the door of her little bungalow across the street from Dogwood Hill. The two terrier mixes that she’d rescued soon after coming to Chesapeake Shores might be small compared to Archie, but there was little question about who the alpha dogs were in her home. Girls ruled! After a few failed attempts to herd them, Archie had acquiesced to their dominance.

Now he sat quietly by and waited for his turn to get Liz’s attention. Then all three dogs trailed her into the kitchen, where her imperial majesty, a one-eared Siamese known as Anastasia, regarded them all with a superior look as she sat beside her kitty dish awaiting dinner. When Liz once again tried a less-expensive brand of cat food, Anastasia regarded her with an accusing look and turned up her nose.

“I don’t even know why I try,” Liz grumbled. “Other than the fact that this other stuff is going to bankrupt me.” Even so, she dumped the rejected food in the garbage and replaced it with the cat’s preferred brand.

As she looked around her small, but nicely updated kitchen, the mismatched group of strays brought a smile to Liz’s lips.

“Bree’s wrong,” she told them emphatically as she doled out more hugs and scratches behind the ears, then dished up dinner for the dogs. “You guys are all the companionship I need.”

But even as she said the words, an image of Aidan Mitchell crept in to make her blood pump just a little faster. And that was exactly why she had to stay far, far away from him.

2

Aidan was staring out the window of the restaurant at The Inn at Eagle Point with its unobstructed view of the bay, nursing his second cup of coffee after a surprisingly excellent breakfast, when a shadow loomed over the table. He looked up to find a man standing there, hand outstretched, a welcoming expression on his face.

“Mick O’Brien, son. And you’re Aidan Mitchell,” he said confidently. “Welcome to Chesapeake Shores.” Without asking, he pulled out a chair and sat. “I’ve been expecting your call since yesterday.”

For an instant Aidan couldn’t find his voice. This man was his uncle! He had absolutely no experience with extended family beyond his maternal grandparents, and no experience at all when it came to his paternal family. Obviously his decision to get out of town without crossing paths with any O’Briens hadn’t taken into account Mick O’Brien’s determination to court him for this job. Aidan wasn’t sure what his real role had been in the search for a new coach, but he’d been aggressive once Aidan had submitted his application.

When Aidan had called the school yesterday to confirm the appointment with the principal for this morning, he’d been told yet again how eager everyone—especially the town’s founder—was to close the deal. The enthusiasm had been rewarding, but disconcerting given his determination to leave without signing on for the job.

Mick glanced around for a waiter, then stood up and grabbed a cup from a neighboring table and poured himself some coffee from the pot the waiter had left earlier. As he stirred in some sugar, Aidan surreptitiously studied him, wondering how much Mick might resemble his brother and trying to decide if he saw anything of himself in the man.

After years of wondering and getting only evasive answers from his mother when it came to his father’s identity, Aidan had finally found the O’Brien name when he’d come across his birth certificate while cleaning out his mother’s dresser after her death last summer. There were a couple of clippings about Chesapeake Shores and the bay preservation foundation, as well.

Over the years he’d been told that his father had been a good man who had important things to accomplish. His mother had never mentioned what those things might be. Those clippings she’d tucked away were the first clues he’d had.

Nor had she ever hinted that they’d parted as anything other than friends. To Aidan’s knowledge his father had never contributed a dime to his support. In fact, given his mother’s independent streak and a few indiscreet comments from his grandparents about her pride, he’d concluded that she’d never even told him about the pregnancy. Surely, though, if he’d been such a paragon, Thomas O’Brien must have suspected. Then again, Aidan had known his share of men who were capable of being oblivious to anything that didn’t fit conveniently into their plans.

So even though Anna Mitchell had tried to impart an image of a mysterious but kindly individual, resentments had simmered inside Aidan. He’d grown up wondering why he and his mom hadn’t been more important than some idealistic goal in his dad’s life. And, since his mother had never had another serious relationship to his knowledge, he had to wonder about the man who’d meant so much to her that she’d never moved on.

“You okay?” Mick asked, regarding him with concern. “You look a little pale. You’re not coming down with something, are you? We have a real good doctor here in town. I can take you by his office if you want to be checked out.”

Aidan quickly shook his head. “No, sorry. I’m fine. You just caught me by surprise. I spent yesterday getting to know the town. I gave the principal at the school a call late in the day to confirm our appointment for this morning. He must have told you I was here.”

Mick grinned. “Not necessary. There aren’t a lot of secrets in Chesapeake Shores and you’re big news. I knew five minutes after you drove into town.” He shrugged. “Besides, my daughter Jess owns this place. She gave me a call right after you checked in. I would have popped in right then, but she told me you seemed a little distracted and to give you time to relax. For once, I listened to her—and my wife—and didn’t come barging right over. To tell you the truth, Megan—that’s my wife—is usually right about these things, though if you tell her I said that, I’ll deny it.”

Aidan recalled the friendly woman at the desk. So, that had to be Jess, another O’Brien, a cousin apparently.

Before Aidan could respond, Mick glanced pointedly at his empty plate. “If you’re ready to go now, I’ll drive you over to the high school. We’re all anxious to get the ball rolling, get a contract nailed down. Then I can show you a couple of places around town that are for sale. There’s not much to rent. Buying makes more sense, anyway.”

Aidan couldn’t help wondering if Mick was such a successful architect and developer because he was part bulldozer. “There’s no offer on the table, and I haven’t agreed to anything yet,” he reminded Mick, thinking that saying no was going to prove a lot trickier than he’d anticipated.

“I think you’ll like the terms,” Mick said confidently. “It’s a great little town. The school has resources to pay you decently and get you whatever you need. The stadium’s first-rate. I did my homework and brought in a top-notch designer, since it’s beyond my area of expertise. I put my best contractors to work on it a few years back, but if there’s anything we missed, you just let me know. I’ve got some grandkids who’re going to want to play ball and I want the best for them and that includes a coach who can turn this team around. I know it’s politically correct to say that winning’s not everything, but these lopsided losses are discouraging.”

Aidan imagined that was a serious understatement. He’d studied the team’s record, not a win in the past five years. He decided to focus on the stadium, which was a real positive.

“To be honest, I’ve seen a few college and even pro stadiums that weren’t that impressive,” Aidan told him. “You did a great job.”

In fact, if it hadn’t been for all the peripheral angst attached to this particular job, it would have been a dream, no question about it. Aidan couldn’t imagine anyplace else where he’d be given carte blanche to invigorate a high school football program with whatever it took to make it successful. Those resources usually came at the college level.

Still he said, “One step at a time. Let’s have that meeting and see how it goes. You know I don’t have a track record coaching high school football. You may decide I’m not right for the job.”

“Not a chance,” Mick said. “I’ve done my homework. I know you were a leader in the locker room and not just on the field. That, along with the recommendations from your coaches, speaks highly of you.”

Aidan couldn’t help feeling flattered, but he couldn’t let himself be swayed. “Okay, let’s say I do say yes, I have one question for you in the meantime.” He was hoping the answer would solidify his resolve. The last thing any coach needed was too many bosses micromanaging his decisions.

“What’s that?” Mick asked as they walked outside into the warm spring sunshine and headed toward a large and surprisingly muddy truck that had obviously seen some time on a work site recently.

“If I take this job, exactly who do I answer to? The principal, the school board or you?”

Mick’s booming laugh filled the air. “I won’t be the person signing your checks,” he replied candidly. “That doesn’t mean that folks in town don’t tend to listen to what I have to say.”

Aidan nodded. “Good to know. Any other tips for getting along in Chesapeake Shores?”

Mick gave him a long look. “You stick around. Come to Sunday dinner at my place. All the O’Briens will be there. We’ll be happy to fill you in on everything you need to know. If you’re not already convinced, we ought to be able to seal the deal.”

Aidan’s pulse began to race. Could it possibly be that easy? A few days in town and he’d come face-to-face with his father? Could he sit at Mick O’Brien’s table and keep what he knew to himself, at least as long as it took to decide if he wanted to reveal the truth? Would he be able to look into Thomas O’Brien’s face without unleashing all the vitriol he’d stored up? A meltdown over a roast and mashed potatoes would certainly put an end to his coaching career in this obviously close-knit town.

He drew in a deep breath and made yet another of those quick decisions, this one fraught with all sorts of disturbing potential consequences. Fate had brought him here. Until he gave the school his answer, he might as well make the most of it.

He met Mick’s gaze. “I’ll do that, sir, if you’re sure it’s not an imposition.”

“Nothing my family likes better than seeing a new face at the table,” Mick assured him.

Aidan couldn’t help wondering if they’d still feel that way after his visit.

* * *

Aidan immediately liked Rob Larkin, the principal of the high school, who seemed to have no qualms at all about standing up to Mick O’Brien and taking charge of the interview. With his crew cut and preppy attire, he looked to be in his forties, but there was a steely resolve in his eyes that suggested he ran a tight ship. Mick actually sat back and let the principal run the show.

“Although your football credentials are what got you here today,” Rob said, “I’m interested in hearing what you think a high school coach’s role should be.”

Aidan leaned forward. “I had the best possible model as a coach when I was in school. He was an excellent motivator. He had strict rules—he wanted to win, but more important than either of those things, he wanted to teach the players to be better men. If I can be half as effective as he was, I’ll do a good job for you.”

Caught up in his enthusiasm for the topic, he forgot for a minute that he wasn’t 100 percent sure he really wanted this job.

“What about grades?” Rob asked him.

“At the top of my list,” Aidan said readily. “Nobody plays if they’re failing. I’ll get them whatever help they need, but I won’t tolerate them slacking off when it comes to academics.”

He saw the principal and Mick exchange a satisfied look.

“Why don’t we take a walk around the school so you can see the gym, the locker room and our equipment?” Rob suggested.

“Sure,” Aidan said, already knowing what he’d find—the absolute best of everything.

“Would you like to meet a few of the players?” Rob asked. “I can arrange to pull them from classes.”

Aidan quickly shook his head. It wouldn’t be fair to get their hopes up, and it would be harder for him to say no if he’d seen the young men who might be pinning their hopes on him.

“Another time,” he said. “But let’s take a look around.”

As they toured the school, Aidan was more and more impressed, not only with the facility, but with Rob Larkin. He was a dedicated educator, no question about it. He was also happily surprised by the principal’s interactions with the students that he witnessed. There was friendly respect on both sides.

It seemed the students all knew Mick, too, and their easy camaraderie with such an important man spoke well of Mick’s relationship with all of the town’s residents. Aidan couldn’t help wondering if Thomas, with his lofty ideals, related half as well to average folks.

When they’d made their way back to the principal’s office, Rob said, “There’s one other thing I should mention. In addition to teaching a few physical education classes, you’d also be expected to handle one after-school activity. Coach Gentry loved the outdoors, so he organized a group that spent time cleaning up the bay. He worked closely with Mick’s brother Thomas on that project. We’d like you to continue that. It’s important to get these kids to appreciate the environment, to understand that there’s a whole big world outside of sports.”

Work with Thomas—his father? Aidan wasn’t sure he could do that. He swallowed hard and tried not to let his immediate reaction show. There was no point in making an issue of it now, since he didn’t intend to take the job. He needed to nod and let it go.

“Of course,” he said. “If I stay, I understand that an after-school activity beyond coaching would be part of the job. It sounds like a worthy cause.”

“Not much matters more around here,” Mick chimed in. “You’ll see. Just get my brother started when you meet him on Sunday. He’ll talk your ear off.” He leveled a look at Aidan. “So, do we have a deal? A five-year contract. We know it’s going to take time, though none of us would be unhappy to have a winning record a lot sooner than that.”

“I’d like some time to think about it,” Aidan said, clearly startling Rob Larkin and stunning Mick.

“What’s to think about?” Mick asked, a hint of indignation in his voice. “Opportunities like this don’t come along every day. Most schools wouldn’t give you half that long to make a difference.”

“I know that, and I appreciate it,” Aidan told him. “But Chesapeake Shores is a big change for me. I want to be sure it can be mutually beneficial. That long-term deal is a sweet one for me, but I’m not so sure it’s in your best interests. After all, this is my first coaching job. I could be terrible. And Chesapeake Shores is a big change from New York. It might not be the best fit for me. Let’s all give it some more thought.”

“Of course,” Rob said, before Mick could step in. “It is an adjustment. I came here from DC, so I know. For me, it’s been a welcome change, but it’s not right for everyone.” He glanced at Mick. “It’s no reflection on the town.”

“Of course not,” Aidan said.

Mick seemed to take his cue from the principal. “We’ll talk some more on Sunday,” he said eventually. “I’ll drive you back over to the inn now.”

“That’s okay. It’s not that far. I’d like to walk, if you don’t mind.” He stood up and shook Rob’s hand. “It was very nice meeting you.”

“You, too. I hope we’ll have the opportunity to work together.”

“Thanks for the ride over, Mr. O’Brien.”

“That’s Mick, son. I’ll see you on Sunday. Just ask Jess for directions.”

“I’ll do that.”

Outside, on another glorious spring day that showed off the town’s best attributes of blue skies and sparkling water, Aidan drew in a deep breath. Saying no was going to be a whole lot harder than he’d ever anticipated. The size of the town and the length of that contract were still issues, but the real hang-up was the prospect of getting closer to a man he’d dreamed about for years, but wasn’t really sure he wanted to know. That was especially ironic now that the possibility seemed within reach.

* * *

Liz wasn’t surprised when she spotted Aidan walking up the driveway to Mick’s for Sunday dinner. Nor was she especially startled when Bree pulled her aside and asked if she’d mind sitting next to the newcomer at the table.

“He’s bound to feel more comfortable if there’s a familiar face nearby,” Bree said. “Someone other than my father needs to take him under their wing. Since you two have met and you’re a recent newcomer to town, you’re the obvious choice.”

“And of course that’s the only reason you’ve chosen me for the job,” Liz remarked, her skepticism plain.

Bree gave her a look that was all innocence. “Of course. What other reason could there be?”

Bree glanced across the room and watched as Mick led Aidan around making introductions to his family. Liz couldn’t seem to keep her gaze off him, either. With Bree’s siblings and their spouses in the room, grandchildren underfoot everywhere, plus a couple of nephews and their families, it was bound to be a little overwhelming for anyone.

“He’s looking a little shell-shocked already,” Bree commented.

“I remember what that was like,” Liz acknowledged. Even now, after being included for several Sunday and holiday meals, she needed the occasional time-out to get her bearings. “Okay, I’ll do what I can to keep Aidan from running for the hills. Mick really does want this job to work out, doesn’t he?”

“He’s gotten a little obsessed about it,” Bree conceded. “Especially since Aidan didn’t sign on the dotted line right off the bat. Dad’s not used to anyone holding out, especially when money’s not the issue. It’s frustrating him.” Bree grinned. “Mom thinks it’s good for him. The rest of us are just wondering where Aidan got the backbone to stand up to him. We might ask for lessons.”

Liz gave Bree a pointed look. “I might want a couple of those lessons myself.”

Though it was evident Bree got her message, she merely waved it off. “Stop. You know I’m just giving you a push in the direction you want to go, anyway.” Then she literally gave Liz a gentle shove. “Go. Save him.”

Liz crossed the room and caught Aidan’s eye. “Could I speak to you a moment?”

Mick gave her a startled look that quickly turned speculative. “We can talk more later,” he told Aidan at once. “Never turn down a pretty woman’s invitation.”

Aidan regarded her with an expression of relief. “Thank you,” he said as Mick moved away.

“I wasn’t sure you needed rescuing, but I recall how I felt after my first half hour with a houseful of O’Briens. Would you like a little fresh air?”

“I’d love some,” Aidan admitted, following her outside to a porch lined with rockers and Adirondack chairs facing the bay.

Liz gestured toward the chairs. “We could sit here or we could walk. Dinner’s not for another half hour and since most of the kids are outside playing, Nell always rings a very loud bell to get everyone’s attention.”

“Then let’s walk,” Aidan said. As they reached the edge of the wide expanse of lawn and stood looking out at the bay, he turned to her. “Who’s Nell? I don’t think I’ve met her. Mick’s wife is Megan, right?”

“Exactly. Nell is Mick’s mother. This may be his house, but, trust me, when it comes to meals, she’s in charge. And her food is worth whatever chaos guests might have to deal with.”

“You must be a regular,” he said. “How’d that happen?”

“I take in stray animals. The O’Briens take in stray residents. Bree brought me home one Sunday right after I opened my shop and I’ve been coming ever since. Not every week, but enough to feel more or less comfortable with the intrusive questions and well-meant advice.”

She studied him as he stood beside her, hands shoved in his pockets, his well-toned shoulders looking oddly tense. “You’re not nervous about all this, are you? It’s clear you have the upper hand. Mick really wants you to accept this job. Or is that the problem? Are you feeling pressured?”

“Of course not,” he scoffed. “It might be my first coaching job, but I have the credentials. I’m up to it. I’m just not convinced it’s the right fit.”

“Why is that?” she asked, startled. “You don’t like Chesapeake Shores?”

“I’m sure it’s a great little town,” he responded.

“Little being the operative word, I imagine,” she said, taking offense on behalf of the town. “This is not some backwoods community in the middle of nowhere. We have great people and great restaurants. We have a playwright whose work had been produced on Broadway, Mick’s daughter Bree, in fact. We have a top country music songwriter, too, and her husband is a Grammy-winning singer. They keep a home here and come back from Nashville whenever they can.”

Aidan smiled. “Do you belong to the Chamber of Commerce?”

“Yes, of course, but I’m telling you this so you’ll understand that Chesapeake Shores is a wonderful place to live, even if it’s not New York.”

“I never meant to imply that it wasn’t,” Aidan told her. “It just may not be right for me. We’ll have to see.”

Liz didn’t entirely believe his declaration of open-mindedness, but she had no idea why. Nor did she think these nerves she sensed were about his capability as a coach or whether the town was a good fit for him. Still, she let the subject drop.

“Have you met the whole family?” she asked instead.

He relaxed a little and laughed. “I have no idea. I met what seemed like a hundred people in there. Is that all of them?”

“I think most of Mick’s immediate family was there, but his brother Jeff and his family were just coming up the walk when we came outside. Come to think of it, I didn’t see Jo—that’s Jeff’s wife—with them. I don’t think I saw Thomas inside, but he could have been in the kitchen with Nell or somewhere in the yard playing catch with his son and some of the other kids.”