A Sweet Mess

by Jayci Lee

  Run.

  “Good night,” she said, much louder than necessary.

  When Landon’s eyebrows drew together, Aubrey ran for her room without a backward glance. Then she locked the door behind her and fell face-first into bed with her limbs sprawled inelegantly. Aria’s singing had stripped her bare, and the scared, insecure girl inside her had stood shivering in front of Landon. That girl would’ve begged. For love. For forever.

  While her defenses were down, a breath of freedom had enticed her with glimpses of hope, but her survival instincts kicked in and yanked her back to reality. Love ends. Then what? You’ll be cast aside. Forgotten and alone. Don’t you remember how much it hurts? Please, you must never risk your heart.

  Using the words imprinted on her soul, Aubrey cajoled the lonely little girl back into her fortress. But the woman who remained needed something. She didn’t want love and forever. But she wanted the right-out-of-the-oven, burn-your-fingers hot man downstairs, who looked at her like he wanted to eat her up. The man she had feelings for. Yes, I have feelings for him. Shit. I have feelings for him. This was not good, but she couldn’t hide from it anymore. Aubrey had more-than-friends, more-than-sex feelings for Landon.

  She reached for her phone and emergency texted Tara.

  Aubrey: Code Shit Fuckity Shit.

  Tara: I thought our emergency code was Shit Shit Shit.

  Aubrey: No, we decided to use this one.

  Tara: Fine. Not important. What’s going on?

  Aubrey: Help.

  Tara: Do I need to load Jack and Alex in the car and head on up there?

  Aubrey: Yes. No. Landon activated his laser vision and nearly incinerated my clothes. I think he wants me.

  Tara:…

  Aubrey: I mean, he isn’t even pretending not to want me. Remember the “business only” deal? Well, he means business, but not business business. He means the kind of business that happens in the bedroom.

  Tara: And the shower, the kitchen, the office, the back of a car, etc. You have to broaden your horizon, my dear. So what’s the emergency?

  Aubrey: You know what the damn …

  She speed-dialed Tara. It would be much more satisfactory to shout at her with her mouth rather than her thumbs.

  “You know damn well what the emergency is. Laser eyes and burning clothes? He wrote a shitty review about Comfort Zone, but now he’s trying to set everything right. If we sleep together and people find out, they’ll think he’s only doing it because I’m screwing him. Ring a bell?”

  “And how are people going to find out? You guys have a whole private villa to frolic in. It’s the perfect setup for a secret fling. Just don’t make out in public.”

  “You.” Aubrey sighed. “Are. The. Worst.”

  “How is being realistic and logical the worst? I told you this would happen. Eyes wide open. Remember?”

  “You were supposed to skewer me with a lightsaber before something like this happened.”

  “Oh, God. That sentence is a treasure trove of puns.”

  Aubrey hung up on her cackling friend, but Tara called right back. “Listen. If you really don’t want this, you need to address it head-on and bring it to an end. No more running. Talk to him. And be honest. You want him but not enough to risk your reputation and your dream. Right?”

  “That’s the whole point. I don’t know what I want anymore. I have feelings for him, and I’m scared of wanting more than a frolic or a fling. The only thing I’m sure of is that I don’t want to want more.”

  “Oh, Bree. I can’t help with that part. You know that, right?”

  “Yes, but I’m so damn confused.”

  “I know, babe, but you can do it. Figure out what you want, then make it yours.”

  After they hung up, Aubrey tried to sort through her feelings, but the cacophony of what-ifs and buts in her head wouldn’t leave her alone. She longed for some sweet buns, which was crazy considering the amount of food she’d stuffed her face with earlier. Oh no. The food. She hadn’t cleaned up any of it. Not only was she a coward, she was a stinking slob.

  Aubrey tiptoed back to the kitchen imagining the leftovers strewn across every usable surface. She growled and stomped her foot like a petulant kindergartener. The kitchen. The dining room. Everything looked immaculate. Landon had tidied up while she was freaking out upstairs, making her the rudest guest ever. With slumped shoulders, she trudged toward the stairs then stopped.

  Her sorbet. She’d forgotten all about it. With a burst of anticipation, Aubrey unlocked the lid and peeked into the ice cream maker. The sorbet rolled smoothly into a ball against her small spoon, and she gingerly brought the dollop to her mouth.

  By everything holy and sacred. It was the best sorbet she’d ever tasted. The Meyer lemon and honeysuckle in the Moscato shone through without overwhelming the flavor of the Muscat Blanc grapes. The texture was spot-on, firm without being icy and smooth without being gloppy, and the sweet morsel melted against her tongue into a smooth liquid without a hint of cloying stickiness.

  On autopilot, she made for Landon’s room, taking two steps at a time. She rapped on his door, her knuckles mimicking a famous woodpecker, then she shifted from foot to foot, unable to stand still. If he didn’t answer soon, she was going to start bouncing on the balls of her feet.

  When he finally opened his door, Aubrey’s knees turned to jiggly pudding. Gah. The sight of Landon shirtless and barefoot made her mouth go dry. He was dressed, or undressed, in his charcoal gray slacks and nothing else. His chiseled body could’ve been carved from marble, but her body remembered the heat of his skin, and he was anything but made of stone.

  She lifted her gaze from his naked torso and swallowed. Or tried. A cold drink would come in handy. Ooh. Her sorbet would be perfect to cool her down. Excitement blooming again, she grabbed Landon’s hand and tugged him down the stairs.

  “What—”

  “Just come.” Aubrey couldn’t tone down her ear-to-ear grin.

  Looking bewildered, Landon followed her the rest of the way without protest. Then he saw the tub of sorbet on the kitchen counter, and his confused frown transformed into a broad smile.

  “You did it, didn’t you?”

  Aubrey dipped her finger into the bowl and offered him a taste. Landon’s eyebrows rose as he stared at the sample. She reddened to the top of her head.

  “Sorry.” She tried to draw back her hand, but Landon caught her wrist and brought her finger and the sorbet to his mouth. He savored both until moist heat warmed her chilled finger.

  Lust burned through her body. She spread her other hand on his chest to stay upright, but the feel of his hard, bare chest did nothing to steady her.

  “Let me.” Her voice was a husky croak, and she coughed to clear it. “Let me make you an ice cream sandwich.”

  Landon held both her hands captive, one against his chest and the other still a breath away from his lips. He seemed to consider her offer for a moment before releasing her, then he leaned against the island to watch her move about the kitchen.

  Putting a little bit of space between them and focusing on the dessert allowed Aubrey to find some semblance of composure. With a melon baller, she added three scoops of sorbet on a cookie and then gently pressed another cookie on top. She studied the proportions and nodded in satisfaction. After making its twin, she handed Landon his ice cream sandwich and then lifted hers in a mock toast.

  “Here goes nuthin’.” They bit into their sandwiches at the same time.

  “Oh, my God.” Landon moaned, savoring his first bite. He took a second bite and shook his head slowly. He was lost in his own world—just a man and his dessert.

  He made ultimate sexy noises until his ice cream sandwich was gone. Aubrey watched intently, knowing she would pull out this memory again and again on long, lonely nights. When both of them were finished, they stood in the middle of the kitchen grinning at each other. Landon was the first to move. He came straight for her and enveloped her in a bear hug.

>   “You, Aubrey Choi, are a genius,” Landon said with earnest intensity. “That’s one of the most perfect things I’ve ever eaten.”

  “Thank you.” Happiness warmed her with its rosy glow. The quiet joy of the moment shook her more than the carnal desire that raged between them. “That means a lot to me.”

  With her hands on his shoulders, she rose to her tiptoes and kissed his cheek—a light, fleeting touch. But his muscles jerked and tightened beneath her hands. Awareness and triumphant pride burst through her, and she stepped back with a startled gasp. The taste of power made her tremble with need, and she wanted to wield it again.

  She whispered, “Good night,” and then retreated to the security of her room. Aubrey wished she could lock the door from the outside. She could easily get addicted to the heady feeling of power, and she didn’t trust herself not to march downstairs to see what else she could do to him. She squeezed her thighs together and moaned. Get. A. Grip.

  Putting her game face on, Aubrey strode to the shower and turned it on full blast. She stripped down, leaving her clothes in a careless heap, and stepped into the freezing cold spray. She squeaked before slapping her hand on her mouth. Still, she stood shivering under the water until her body went numb. She couldn’t succumb to the hunger that consumed her.

  If she did, her heart was as good as lost.

  * * *

  Landon stared after Aubrey as she’d made a run for her room for the second time that night. A mixture of longing and helplessness wrung his gut. He wasn’t accustomed to women running away as though he were a live grenade, and he certainly never chased anyone who didn’t want him. But his desire for Aubrey wasn’t something he could turn off with a snap. He wanted her more than anyone he’d ever met—his desire was something pure, raw, and powerful—and not having her was pushing him to the edge of sanity.

  With a resigned sigh, he reached toward the light switch when he saw Aubrey’s sorbet and cookies on the counter. He couldn’t let her hard work go to waste, so he transferred the ice cream to the freezer and stored the cookies away in an airtight container. Then he trudged to the wine cellar and grabbed a random bottle of red to keep him company while he brooded.

  The minute he stepped into his room, Landon filled his wineglass to the rim and chugged it dry like some post-workout Gatorade. Lucien would be horrified at his mistreatment of the fine wine. Landon didn’t give a damn. He had no intention of spending another night wide awake and aching.

  Having rationalized his decision to rekindle their relationship, he faced the next obstacle preventing him from ravishing the woman. Aubrey herself. She was ensnared by the same manic attraction that consumed him. He could see it in her fleeting glances and her soft gasps to his touch, but she held him at arm’s length. His gut told him it wasn’t only about her reputation. He sloshed more wine into the glass and gulped half of it down. She was afraid. Of what, he hadn’t the slightest clue. All he knew was he couldn’t bulldoze through her defenses. Hurting her was the last thing he wanted.

  Landon had to make the first move. Show her his hand, laying everything out in the open. He would tell her everything. Then she would have full control to decide as she wished.

  With anticipation lifting his spirits, Landon resolved to spend the entire next day charming Aubrey. The choice was hers, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t going to stack the odds in his favor.

  13

  “Moonstone Beach?” Aubrey squinted. “Today? I thought you’re up to your neck with work.”

  “The construction isn’t finished, and our production manager is gone for the time being. I don’t need to roam around the set like a pest when there’s nothing I could do about the delay.” Landon scratched the back of his neck. “I think you and I could both use a breather.”

  “Moonstone Beach. It does sound beautiful.” Aubrey hesitated even though the idea of a fun day with Landon was eroding away her caution. “Where’s this place again?”

  “In Cambria, a small town about an hour from here. I think you’ll like it there. It reminds me of Weldon but it’s set along the coast rather than a river.” With amusement twinkling in his eyes, Landon laid down what obviously was his trump card. “And I don’t think you’d want to miss their olallieberry pie.”

  “Olallie-what?” Aubrey burst out laughing.

  “Oh, it’s just about one of the best pies in the state.”

  “I’m intrigued.” Resisting Landon was hard enough, but when pie was added to the equation, she didn’t stand a chance. “Okay, I’m in.”

  “Good choice. I’ll see you downstairs in a few minutes. And don’t forget to grab a jacket. It’s about thirty degrees cooler over there.”

  As they neared Cambria, Landon switched off the AC and opened the windows to let in the salty air. He wasn’t kidding about the thirty-degree difference. The brisk wind spread goose bumps on Aubrey’s arms. She tugged on her cardigan without taking her eyes off the panorama. Gray clouds hung above Moonstone Beach as if signaling an impending storm, and the bleak beauty of the coastline squeezed at her heart.

  “Do you think it’ll rain?” Aubrey leaned forward in her seat to peer out the window.

  “Nope. Those clouds are permanent fixtures in these skies.”

  The conversation in the car dwindled as a pensive mood overtook them. The waves were breaking mercilessly against the jagged cliffs surrounding the beach, and the morning fog layered a poignant sadness to the scene. Even after parking the car, they sat ensconced in the warm silence for a few extra minutes.

  “Ready to find out why they call this Moonstone Beach?” Landon asked.

  Aubrey shook herself out of her reverie and beamed at him. She was suddenly giddy with excitement. A whole day with Landon. And what an amazing start to their day.

  Moonstone Beach was covered with colorful coin-size stones that glistened and beckoned to them as the waves washed over them. The spell of the poignant beauty refused to release her, and Aubrey stood staring out at the ocean, watching the soft break of the waves on the beach. Despite her light jacket, she couldn’t stop shivering against the chill of the breeze.

  When Landon put his arm around her and pulled her close, Aubrey nestled against him, unwilling to fight the wonder of the moment. They stood still with the gusty breeze tousling their hair, and she felt at one with him—as though their connection was as ancient as the ocean and the stony cliffs carved by the waves.

  A force greater than her insecurity was at work between them, and she couldn’t fight against it anymore. At the very least, she had to face the truth—she yearned for more. Aubrey wanted to share moments like this with Landon year after year. She wanted him to be hers and hers alone.

  Want. Want. Want. More. More. More.

  The little seed of more planted itself deep in her heart, and the contentment she’d forced on herself withered and crumbled. Even if she did nothing with her newfound truth, she would stop running from herself.

  “Do I have time to pilfer some of these moonstones?” She forced a carefree smile on her face.

  “Take all the time you need.”

  She collected the beautiful stones—pink heart-shaped stones, clear azure stones, warm bronze stones, and a myriad of others in amazing colors. Soon the stones started toppling out of her cupped palm, and Aubrey frowned in frustration. When her attempts to rebuild the stone tower failed, Landon took the stones from her hand, chuckling low in his chest.

  “I had no idea you’re so greedy.”

  Aubrey rolled her eyes at him. “I’m only greedy when it involves pretty, free moonstones.”

  She returned her focus to the task at hand and didn’t stop until both of Landon’s jacket pockets were weighed down with her collection. “Okay. I think I’m done.”

  “Good.” Landon pointed to his drooping jacket. “My pockets have reached maximum capacity.”

  “Moonstone picking is hard work.” Aubrey stood up with a sheepish grin and stretched her back. “I’m starving.”

 
; “I know the perfect remedy.” Landon took her arm and led her to the car.

  At first glance, the restaurant looked about as big as a walk-in closet at the villa, but when the hostess led them to their table, Aubrey saw that there was a whole garden at the back dedicated to serving its patrons alfresco.

  Abundant green foliage wove through the pergolas and arches, and sunlight streamed in through the dense leaves. The garden was decorated with shimmery giant butterflies and chubby colorful mushrooms, giving it a dash of whimsy.

  Taking her seat at the table, Aubrey smiled at Landon. “I see you’ve brought me to an enchanted garden.”

  “And you fit right in,” Landon said with an appreciative glance.

  “I’ll take that as a compliment.” When she had her blush under control, she took another good look around the garden. “Maybe I should just drink some morning dew for lunch.”

  “I’d expect nothing less from a fay.” His tone was light, but the heat in his gaze made her shiver with awareness.

  Then her stomach rumbled uproariously as though saying She is no ethereal fairy, mister.

  “My tummy disagrees with the whole dew-for-lunch idea.”

  “We’ll have to find you something more substantial.”

  Her rich salmon bisque and the brightly flavored lamb curry burrito were definitely more substantial and satisfying than morning dew. While she’d never drunk morning dew, she assumed it tasted pretty much like condensation on a glass of a cold drink.

  The bite she snagged from Landon’s lobster enchiladas was also amazing. The generous bites of lobster were chewy without being rubbery, and the enchilada sauce had a smoky kick to it to prevent the dish from becoming too rich.

  “This trip was a great idea. I don’t think I’ll forget it anytime soon.” Sitting with a full stomach in the sun-warmed garden turned Aubrey into a happy Buddha.