Kill Devil Hills: A Complete Beach Romance Series (4-Book Box Set)

by Sarah Darlington

  Just like she’d used me the first time, last night had been more of the same. I couldn’t sit here with her, with the others, for a single second longer, playing nice and pretending I wasn’t heartbroken. Without saying anything, I stood and left.

  The emotions that coursed through me as I walked were worse than the day I broke my arm and knew I’d never make it to my dream of playing baseball professionally. The hotel lobby was a blur, and my steps shaky. I shouldn’t have come on this trip. This explained everything. The way I was with women, this right here was why. Never again would I let emotions into sex.

  “Rhett! Wait!”

  My heart squeezed in my chest as a familiar voice called out my name. Without looking behind me, I knew it was Sydney. She’d followed me, and she sounded heated. But I didn’t have the energy to talk to her, or even look at her right this moment. Making it around a corner, blatantly ignoring her, I took an exit outside. The moment I hit fresh air, I sucked in a giant breath. I might have felt relief, but I knew Sydney was right behind me.

  I leaned against the side of the building. Waiting. Waiting for the storm.

  A second later she came rushing outside. The door flew open with a hell of a lot of force. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes wild and fierce, and her chest rising and falling with heavy breaths as she set her attention on me. “Did you not hear me calling?” she snapped.

  “Yes,” I said calmly, keeping my voice low. “I heard you.” No matter what, I wasn’t going to let her see how much she’d hurt me. So I remained indifferent, despite the way she was looking at me.

  “And you purposely ignored me?” she demanded.

  “Yes.”

  “Fuck you,” she uttered. “I mention Ben’s name once and that’s your reaction?”

  She’d never cursed like that in front of me. I didn’t like it. It tore at something inside me but whatever it was, I ignored it. “Let’s just go back inside. I’m tired and don’t have it in me for this sort of argument right now. Somebody wore me out last night. And frankly, princess, I’m sick to death of hearing that kid’s fucking name.”

  She narrowed her pretty eyes at me. “So this is about Ben?”

  Whether I wanted it or not, it seemed this argument was happening anyway. So much for staying calm. “It’s always been about Ben. Hasn’t it? I mean…that was the whole reason you slept with me in the first place. A one-night stand to get over the guy you loved, right? And now that he’s alive—I won’t be the replacement, only good enough for the time being, until you can finally get back to your ‘real thing.’ I heard it in your voice when you asked about him a second ago. I could hear how much you still care for him. So I’m done. Sydney, seriously, I’m done. I’m done trying to reach for something unobtainable with you. I’m the guy who likes to fuck and have a good time. This whole time I’ve been trying to be something I’m not. I’m ready to go back to being that other guy.”

  There were tears and loathing in her eyes. “So, just like that, it’s over between us?”

  “There was never an ‘us’ in the first place. And you know that. The sex was good but, really, beyond that, what did we even have?”

  When she hesitated to answer, I knew I was right. Hoping to be with her was about as useless as hoping my cover band might actually amount to something someday.

  “Come on,” I said, moving around her for the door. “We should go inside. The others are probably wondering where we went.” I grabbed the door handle, yanking open my exit.

  But before I could go inside, with my back to her now, she whispered something.

  One word. Eight letters. Two syllables.

  “Bullshit.”

  I froze.

  “That is such bullshit and you know it.”

  Sometimes it was scary how she could see right through my crap. Like right this moment. “Don’t,” I warned her, unable to turn around but also unable to keep walking forward. “Don’t go there unless…unless…” I couldn’t even finish my sentence. Unless she meant it. Unless she wanted me instead. My hand on the door started to tremble. It was a breezy, cool November day in California. But suddenly the world around me felt like fire and lava.

  “Unless what?” she uttered.

  “Unless you mean it,” I finished.

  “What if I mean it?”

  I groaned. Because she knew exactly how to torture, maim, and kill me. “I’m not sure I believe that.”

  “If you don’t then go ahead…walk away…end this.”

  For the life of me, I could not take that second step inside the building. The edge I’d had in the conversation a second ago, I’d lost it when clearly she knew everything I was saying to her was complete shit. I wanted it to be true, I wanted to believe that I could walk away from her without looking back, but I just…couldn’t. And losing that edge, it now felt like she had her hand tightly around my heart. One squeeze and I would break.

  “You are so annoying,” she told me. “You know that, right?”

  “Thanks,” I said sarcastically. “I’ve never heard that one from a woman before.”

  This growl left her lips. Literally, she growled. Then she started hollering at me. “Don’t you get it, Rhett?!” I turned around to find her pacing, a little frantically, in front of me and tugging at her long hair. That passionate, fiery, hot-as-hell side she liked to keep hidden away, the side that I was starting to get to know very well during sex, had broken free. “I choose you,” she hollered at me. “Of course I still care for Ben. Some part of me is always going to care for him. Maybe I loved him. Or maybe I thought I did. But none of that matters because losing whatever this is—” She gestured between our bodies. “This…weird, annoying, frustrating thing we have…losing whatever it is scares me more than anything. The first time we were together, I’ll admit, that was only about sex. But last night, that was real. If you want to go…fine. If you’re still the guy who likes ‘to fuck and have a good time’…fine. If you don’t want me…fine. But don’t stand there thinking I’m not completely and hopelessly, one-hundred and ten percent, drowning in the deep end with you. Meanwhile, all you can do is stand there doubting me. And—”

  Every ounce of resolve inside me had shattered the moment she said I was her choice. And by this point my aggression had morphed into something else entirely. Moving closer to her, putting a stop to all her screaming, as my ears could not take another second of it, I reached for her face and pulled her to me. She stopped talking and fighting the moment our lips touched. And her response had me believing every bit of truth in her words, because she opened up to my kiss completely. Her mouth and her body were mine.

  In that second our fight was over. And ending it, feeling her in my arms again, kissing her, tasting her—it felt like I could breathe again. The best part was we’d broken past some sort of barrier. And with no walls between us, every emotion I’d ever felt with Sydney was amplified.

  Light touches quickly changed from gentle to greedy to rough.

  A moment later, I had her back pressed against the brick wall of the building, her skirt up around her waist, and my mouth moving down her neck. But as much as I wanted a repeat of last night, as much as I was dying to be inside her again, as much as she seemed to want all of that too, I knew we couldn’t do this in broad daylight. There was the sound of people and cars off in the distance. The others were waiting on us, likely to come looking for us at any moment, and as much as it killed me I couldn’t keep going.

  Pulling her skirt back into place, breaking our kiss, I took a step backward.

  She rubbed her finger over her lips, staring at me. “Wow,” she whispered.

  Damn. I was in love. There wasn’t anything sexier on this earth than that very look. I took it in and took a breath. “Sydney, sweetheart, you need to know that I’m probably always going to be the guy who likes ‘to fuck and have a good time.’ But the difference now, the difference that has been there since our first time together…the difference is you’re the only girl I want to be th
at guy with. I’m sorry for doubting you for a minute there. Sometimes it’s hard to believe a girl like you would ever choose a guy like me. As much as it might not seem like it, I do have my insecurities. Are we okay?”

  She nodded.

  I smiled. “And you still choose me?”

  “Yes,” she said, returning my smile.

  “Good. Then I am so fucking ready for this to begin.” I reached out my hand for hers. She gave it me. “Come on, princess. We should go inside before the others come looking for us.”

  CHAPTER 15:

  SYDNEY

  There were butterflies floating around in my stomach and multiplying by the second. It was all Rhett’s fault. Making this decision to be with him, on more than a physical level, was like taking a nose dive off a cliff. There was no 1-2-3 go, there was no moment of hesitation, there was only a jump and the wonderful sensation of free-falling. All I could do was hope that either the bottom would never come, or that I knew how to work the parachute before I hit ground. I hoped for the former. I didn’t want the bottom to come.

  Because every time Rhett looked into my eyes, I felt giddy and excited. We were walking back through the hotel, glued to one another, hand-in-hand, and we were never going to make it to the others because we kept stopping along the way for little, stolen kisses.

  “Stop, Rhett,” I told him when it happened for a third time, halfheartedly pushing him away. “I’m worried about Georgina, about Noah telling her Ben’s alive. What if she reacts badly to the news that he’s not actually dead? We need to get back to the others. We should be there for them.”

  “I know,” he said, putting a pause to our fun and taking a step away. “I’m worried too.”

  “And we can’t tell them about us.”

  An immediately scowl came to his face. “Why?” he asked slowly.

  I didn’t want to upset him. We were finally getting along and on the same page. But we had to do this my way. “Honestly…” Jeez, there was no easy way to say this. So I blurted it out. “Because my brother hates you.”

  He chuckled. “Well, that was apparent the moment he hit me in the face because of one little kiss. You know, I had the worst black-eye for nearly two weeks because of him. But what does everyone else have to do with that?”

  I squeezed his hand. He just needed to trust me on this one. “Because…we can’t tell other people until I tell him. And you’re going to have to find a way to make him like you. Somehow. My brother is my family.”

  “Okay,” he said easily, surprising me. “Done. I’ll do whatever it takes.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Yes, Sydney. I just got you. I’m not going to screw this thing between us up five minutes in. Or ever. So, c’mon.” Now he was tugging me across the lobby. The moment we were in eye-shot of the others, he dropped my hand, increased the distance between our bodies, and the happiness that had been on his face completely disappeared. Indifference, boredom, and a little bit of distaste remained in its place. Talk about scary—the way he could do that. Maybe Nate West wasn’t the only actor in the room. I tried to match his emotion, but I think trying only made me look like a constipated bitch.

  “What happened?” Georgina whispered to me immediately. She’d rejoined the group. Not only that, she seemed a hell of a lot better than I ever expected.

  “Rhett and I got into an argument.”

  “What did he say?” she wanted to know.

  “Nothing. Nothing worth repeating.” My eyes darted past Georgina to Rhett. He glanced at me at that very moment. Maybe his face showed nothing but discontent, but his eyes said opposite. We were good. Better than good. And I couldn’t wait for the next time we could be alone together. There was still so much I wanted to say to him. But, alas, that time would have to wait. “How are you?” I asked Georgina, returning my focus to her. “How do you feel about Ben?”

  “Really good.” She smiled. “My brother is alive! Why does everyone expect me to be upset? And we’re going to Disneyland. This is going to be the best day.”

  I guess our plans had changed. Disneyland was still on the agenda. And I guess Georgina was much stronger than any of us, except maybe Noah, gave her credit for.

  * * *

  Disneyland was amazing. The rides, the atmosphere, the characters, the food—all of it was more fun than I ever could have guessed. I’d never been. Paris. London. Rome. I’d been around the world and back, but I’d never been to an amusement park before. Somehow that seemed wrong, probably a testament to my strange childhood. But, either way, that wrong had now been corrected today.

  Luce had left the group earlier, deciding to spend the day with her uncle who lived in town, so there was no tension coming from that angle. I had to wonder if that decision was about me. I also had to wonder if she had feelings for Rhett. These were questions I couldn’t ask. At least, not yet. Meanwhile, Georgina was exceptionally happy and every time we spoke she only seemed excited about seeing her brother again. Which was good. I was happy for her. As for Rhett and I…well, even if no one else knew, we were also in a really great place.

  I think.

  He was an expert at the whole ‘ignore-me-all-day’ thing.

  The one time he spoke more than a few words to me was to tell me to put sunscreen on, which turned into a slight argument, because obviously I wasn’t about to let him boss me around when everyone else thought we weren’t getting along. Yes, I was blonde. Yes, I had fair skin. Yes, I had a tendency to burn. But no, I didn’t need the reminder. And I was very quick to tell him that. Then again, even if I’d complained, it was nice knowing he was thinking about me and trying to look out for my wellbeing.

  After Disney, Ellie, Noah, and Georgina were planning on heading over to Carrie Stone’s house, the elderly women that Ben had been living with for the past nine months, to have dinner. It had been scheduled and Ben knew Ellie and Noah were coming, but he had no idea they were bringing Georgina along too. Which, hopefully, wouldn’t be too much of a shocker for him. Rhett and I had been invited, although neither of us had accepted. There really was no need for Rhett to go. Obviously. As for me…it was still too soon. I couldn’t see him again when Georgina still hadn’t. That didn’t feel right. Plus, after my afternoon with Rhett, I was no longer sure if I even could see him. I’d meant every word I’d said to Rhett, but that didn’t mean seeing Ben again would be easy.

  So I couldn’t.

  At least for today.

  And that meant the others were taking me and Rhett back to the hotel, where who the hell knows what was about to happen between us next? The whole day had felt like a pause of sorts. Like our conversation and all the feelings from earlier, were on hold, waiting for our next moment alone to pick right back up where they’d left off. And judging from the way those moments had ended…I knew whatever was coming next would be intense.

  Rhett seemed unaffected by this inevitable fact. Or at least, he was really good at keeping up the charade that we weren’t completely ready to rip each other’s clothes off the second we were alone again. The entire drive across the city he’d been talking about Nate West while Nate was fast asleep in the middle seat. I almost wanted to tell him to stop and to just let the guy sleep in peace, but I think talking was how Rhett distracted himself sometimes, so I let it be.

  “He’s totally into you,” Rhett whispered to Ellie. “You do realize that, right Ellie May?”

  Without making a sound, she turned around and punched Rhett in the upper arm. I guess she didn’t like his ‘Ellie May’ nickname. I didn’t blame her.

  “Ouch, woman,” he groaned. “I just wanted to make sure you told him you like the ladies and that he knows he’s barking up the wrong tree. He’s a nice guy and all, but don’t let him pressure you just because he’s Nate West.”

  “I’m still so embarrassed,” Georgina huffed softly from the front seat. “Asking him all those questions earlier about what he did for a job. Why didn’t one of you stop me? I didn’t know who he was and I feel like such
an ass.”

  It had taken Georgie half the day to figure out who Nate really was. No one had said anything, not even Noah, because it had been pretty hilarious watching her talk to him like he was a regular guy.

  “It was cute,” Noah told her. “Too cute to stop.”

  She sighed and buried her face in her hands. But then she turned around to say to Ellie, “I hate to say it, but I agree with Rhett…he likes you. What’s going on?”

  “Nothing,” Ellie quickly said. “He knows I’m a lesbian. And thanks for your concern, you too Rhett, but I’m not someone who can be easily pressured. Don’t you already know that about me?”

  “Sure. Sure,” was Rhett’s only response.

  We reached the hotel, where the others left us. Stepping out of the SUV, the chilly night air took my breath away. The day had been so warm, the night now such a contrast, and I wasn’t dressed for this type of cold. We said goodbye to the others and then I followed Rhett into the building.

  The lobby was bright, empty, and quiet. The elevators weren’t far. We said nothing to one another as we both headed in that direction, the sounds of our shoes echoing through the big, open room. At the elevator doors, I pushed the up button and we waited.

  “Did you have fun today?” he asked, breaking our silence.

  “Yes. Did you?”

  He shot me this sideways look that had my heart speeding up. “Almost. But it was pure torture being a dick to you all day,” he admitted. He pressed the sleeves of the gray thermal shirt he wore up to his elbows and then immediately tugged them back down into place.

  He was fidgeting. It was cute.

  But…he really hadn’t been a dick to me at all today. He really hadn’t been anything—not mean, not nice, just sort of there. “And I thought you were being your regular self all day,” I joked.