"I'd better go check outside" he said.
She looked at him blankly.
"We should listen for the latest storm update."
"What?" she asked.
"The hurricane, remember?" He slid stiffly back into his shirt.
"Yes, the hurricane" she repeated. He reached for the front door.
"Be careful' she said softly.
Aidan braced himself as he opened the door. A chilling wind whipped through his body only slightly diffusing the memory of Jamie's kisses. The rain felt like needles piercing him, and his shoulder ached as the drops bore down on him. He knew a shutter had come loose, and he had to repair it right away. He grabbed some tools from his truck and silently reminded himself to move his truck into the carport when he was done.
His lips burned with the residue of Jamie's sweet kiss, despite the cool wind. He had never behaved so recklessly before, had never been so controlled by his affection for a woman. He wondered if he should be feeling some sense of doom pervading his life.
But he didn't feel a sense of doom. He felt alive, more alive than he had in years. Jamie intrigued him, invigorated him on so many levels. It wasn't just nostalgia, nor the attraction between them, and her sharp wit and intelligence. It was the allure of a woman who was all the things he had ever wanted in a woman. And all the things he hadn't wanted. She was self-made and independent but giving, nurturing, down to earth. And a downright good kisser.
And darn temperamental.
But there was something deeper, something more significant than a mere attraction. When he was with her, it felt good to be alive. He hadn't felt that way with any woman in a long, long time.
He thought of her with Ross and found that he liked that image. He wanted to tell her Ross was his son, but he wouldn't dare risk Ross meeting her. To his knowledge, with all her digging into his professional references, Jamie knew surprisingly little about his personal life. It was obvious that she didn't know about his son or the awful circumstances of his ex-wife's death and that was a major stumbling block for him. How could he explain it to her when he couldn't explain it to Ross?
He didn't want any woman he was involved with getting close to Ross unless they were going to be around for a long, long time. As much as Jamie intrigued him, as much as he was drawn to her, the fact remained she wasn't staying around permanently. She would quickly tire of Seabrook, and her time here would turn to monthly visits and then to yearly visits until finally she would disappear forever.
Best to think of her in temporary terms. Albeit wonderful temporary terms. He would sample the delightful kisses she was so willing to share, buy Villa Milagros, which wouldn't matter to her five years from now, and then let her go without a second thought. He could do that.
Couldn't he?
He repaired the shutter, almost oblivious now to the elements that battered his body and his wounded shoulder. After moving his truck under the carport, he went into the house a much cooler, a much more subdued man than when he left.
Jamie was fiddling with the radio when she heard him slam the side door into the kitchen. Thorn's quick legs beat her to Aidan, and he was the first and only one to receive a warm greeting. Aidan Brice had changed his demeanor it seemed. He was back to his contrary self. Distant, aloof. Stoic.
"What happened?" she asked.
"A shutter came loose."
"Were you able to fix it?"
"Yeah. I also moved my truck under the carport."
"My car! It's going to get pulverized!" she said.
"Don't worry, I moved it under the carport when I went to get Thorn. It should be somewhat protected."
"Thanks."
"Don't mention it."
In a space of fifteen minutes Aidan had gone from warm kisses to cool and collected. How could he do that? She couldn't. She couldn't feel his warm, sweet kisses and then turn it off. She wanted to scream at him but instead picked up Thorn and cuddled him in her arms. She watched Aidan warily and let the emotion build up inside her.
"What's the latest bulletin about the hurricane? It's already eleven, it should be hitting in a few hours if-"
"Shut up, will you?" Please stop it!" Jamie snapped, hugging Thorn so tightly he wiggled uncomfortably in her grasp.
She let Thorn tumble out of her arms. "What games are you playing with me? You lure me here to your house like you lured me to the beach. You kiss me like it means something wonderful, and then you turn into the ice man two seconds later!"
She was shaking with anger while he was standing calmly, simply staring at her through those cool, gray eyes.
"You thought it was wonderful?"
She felt her cheeks burning. "What happened to you, Aidan?"
"I thought you wanted a fling. A purely fun Fall fling."
It took a moment to register. Horror followed and then embarrassment.
"I've changed my mind," she said flatly. He had known all this time that she was after him, and he was just playing with her. Another gust blew fiercely against the windows, rattling them. She was stuck here, alone with him in his house during a hurricane. She couldn't leave. She had to stay and face him. Face the enemy.
"Changed your mind? Women usually do," he said.
There was no missing the slight bitterness in his tone.
"What happened to you?" she asked.
He smiled a grim, humorless smile. "Ask anyone in Seabrook, they'll tell you."
"I'm asking you to tell me."
He closed the distance between them. He stood so close to her their lips almost touched. She could feel his breath against her cheek and could smell the masculine scent of mud and rain mixed with his own distinct smell. A scent that was becoming far too familiar to her.
"I'm not a man you want to get involved with, Jamie. Not for flings. Not for love."
"Listen, I really don't-"
"You like me Jamie, there's no reason to deny the truth. You like me as much as I like you." He leaned against her and kissed her forehead tenderly for one long moment.
"But it's not right for us, you know that," he whispered. "We have two different lives, far more different than you realize. I am tempted by you, yes." He looked into her eyes and cupped her face in his hands as he lightly brushed her lips. "Heaven knows I want to be with you but I have other obligations and so do you. I have to keep reminding myself that," he said.
He let her go then, taking a step back, away from her. The shallow Palm Beach designer out for a fling. That's how he saw her. Could she blame him after what he overheard?
"I know you've had a lot of tragedy in your life. Everyone has but-"
"No, it's more than that. I don't know why you came back to Seabrook, but this town is not untouched by crime and corruption. It's just as susceptible as Miami or Palm Beach. Here it's just hidden under the guise of small-town charm. You are probably safer in the city. At least you know what to expect there. Here you don't know what's hit you until it's too late."
"Then why do you stay here?" What she really wanted to know was what happened with his ex-wife, but he wasn't ready to tell her.
His smile was unexpected, genuine and all too fleeting. "Because it's home."
Home.
She looked at him, at the tragic beauty of him and realized for the first time she was dealing with a truly tormented man. A man who had some very deep hurts to overcome. Maybe he was right. They had moved on to markedly different lives and there was too much history between them for a fling. No sense in opening up all those feelings, only to be once again torn away from Aidan. She couldn't endure losing him again.
"I'm going to take a shower."
Aidan watched her go without betraying a trace of emotion. It was for the best. He was protecting her from future heartache. What he had told her was true, they were not right for each other. Their time had come and gone fifteen years ago.
He had to keep away, despite this lingering chemistry between them, despite the fact that when she was gone, he missed her face, her voice,
her smile. Every time he saw her, he wanted to her in his arms, wanted to kiss her, cuddle with her, just bask in her presence. He had never felt that in his life. Not with Lauren, not with anyone. Feeling this emotion, this passion was far too dangerous for a man like him. A man whose life was marred by grief and loss.
He had to protect Ross, and he had to protect himself from feeling, from falling for her. Jamie definitely stirred his emotions and nearly destroyed his will to resist her.
He could hear the wind's low howling outside, the rain's constant thumping on the roof, and he turned the radio up to drown out his thoughts of what could have been, to numb those old feelings for a woman who would never be his.
He couldn't believe it when he heard the announcement. The hurricane would barely skim the coast of Seabrook. It was hitting about 125 miles directly north of them. They would receive copious amounts of rain and strong winds but no hurricane was going to bring their houses down tonight. They were safe, for now.
He called Jo and Ross to tell them he would be staying in Seabrook for the night. Ross was content. A few of his school friends were in the same hotel, and it was like one big party for the kids. He hung up the phone feeling less guilty.
Aidan ran his hand through his damp, muddied hair and realized he needed a shower as well. He was covered in mud and dirt, and his clothes were soaking wet. He went upstairs to the master bedroom, slipped off his clothes and stepped into the steamy confines of the shower. He let the water wash away the night and carry away the scent of the tempting woman who he'd left alone downstairs.
~
Jamie was blinded by embarrassment and frustration when she peeled her clothes off and left them in a pile on the bathroom floor. Now that she was clean and calmer, she realized she had no clothes to change into and the ones on the floor were too damp to wear.
She wrapped an oversized robe she'd found in the bathroom around her and stepped out into the hallway. Thorn was sleeping peacefully on a rug in the hallway, despite the incessant noise from the storm's winds. Jamie heard the sound of running water and figured Aidan must be showering too.
She followed the sound to the top of the stairs and into a dimly lit bedroom. Light and steam poured through the cracked door of the adjoining bathroom. She stood quietly outside the door. The shower grew silent, and she was torn between letting Aidan know her presence or to turn away. Her courage failed her. She started to turn around when his towering figure appeared in the doorway wearing a pair of sweat pants and no shirt.
The light from behind him illuminated his body like a Greek god. His sleek muscles danced in the steamy light. She stood in awe, unable to utter a single word. She felt as though she would melt into a pool of rubber right at his feet.
She exhaled a slow sigh. "I… um… need something to wear. My clothes are all dirty," she said. She felt grateful for the diffused light in the room.
The sound of her voice melted Aidan's former resolve. She watched him from the safe distance of the doorway, smart girl. She looked beautiful in the dim, dappled light, all rosy cheeked and glowing from her shower, though with closer examination he realized she was more likely blushing.
A sudden crash of thunder vibrated through the house and a slice of lightening followed. The electricity blinked off leaving Aidan and Jamie standing in complete and utter darkness.
"Aidan?" Jamie's voice was fearful through the blackness.
"Stay where you are" he said.
"It's here isn't it? The hurricane is-"
Her voice was trembling. "No, it's not going to hit us. It's going to hit about eighty miles north of us. We'll get some damage but we're safe for now. Don't worry."
He was trying to keep things on a practical level, trying to forget the breathtaking woman standing in the dark a few feet away from him. He stepped toward her and reached out to comfort her. She grabbed his hand anxiously and pulled him toward her.
"I'm afraid of the dark," she whispered as if admitting to the most heinous of crimes.
He smiled covertly in the darkness. He lifted her chin up toward his face. "I'm going to get some candles, okay?" She murmured something that sounded like agreement in response. He stepped away from her, but she held on to him fiercely, stopping him.
"Don't leave me alone" she pleaded.
"They're right here in the drawer, Jamie. I'm not going to leave you." He refused to examine a deeper meaning in his words. He gave her hands a reassuring squeeze and let go. She waited silently in the darkness.
He found the candles and matches and set them up on the dresser. He lit them one by one, taking his time to grab a tee shirt from the bedside drawer. He slid the shirt over his head, then bracing, he turned back to face Jamie. He knew he was close to giving in, to throwing caution to the wind. Or more like hurling it at a hurricane. He thought of the gulf of differences that separated them. He thought of Villa Milagros, his dead brother and unfaithful ex-wife. He thought of his devastating past that was linked to Conrad Malcolm and Jamie's unexplained connection to him. He thought of her city life, her demanding career and his responsibilities as a single father.
But there was nothing, nothing in the world that could obliterate the feelings, the affection, the yearning Jamie created in him. A word, a sigh, a gesture was all it would take to completely destroy his resolve.
She held her hand out to him in the glittering candlelight. "Aidan," she said softly.
It was all he needed. "Jamie, I need to tell you-"
She drew him towards her and touched her finger against his lips. "No more words," she whispered.
He cradled her face in his palms and kissed her so tenderly, so sweetly, she thought she might die of bliss. With that one soul shattering kiss, he took their hearts to a place from which neither of them could return.
Chapter Nine
Jamie awoke the next morning feeling oddly triumphant and content. She had successfully crushed the boundaries of the almighty Aidan's defenses and broken the bonds of his resistance, but who had come out victorious? His kisses left her heart raw. full of longing and far too open.
She lay alone in Aidan's guest room her mind racing. The room was still dark on account of the hurricane shutters covering the windows. Jamie rose and made her way to the bathroom. She switched the light on, which was blessedly functioning now and took a shower, letting the hot water sink into her.
She had much to do today and number one on her agenda was to make it clear to Conrad to leave her alone. Initially, she'd been flattered by his proposal. How foolish. The man was a certifiable nut job. Conrad's odd, violent tendencies had initially stunned her. Now she found them chillingly frightening.
She came out of the bathroom and found her clothes laundered and laying out on the bed. She smiled at Aidan's thoughtfulness. After last night's kisses, maybe he would come around about Villa Milagros too. He had to. There were other properties he could develop. He had to understand what was at stake. She would have to tell him.
She dressed and went downstairs into the kitchen. Aidan had removed a few of the shutters, and the day was bright and sunny. She watched him out the kitchen window playing with Thorn. The man did have a side to him that was relaxed and fun. She poured herself a cup of coffee as the two of them rushed through the door. He kissed her lightly, and she felt her cheeks burn slightly as she caught his sparkling eyes roaming her lips possessively. She, conservative career woman, had shared a lot of passionate kisses with Aidan last night. No doubt that amused him.
She shyly reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Good Morning."
He kissed her again, lingering this time.
"Good Afternoon, sleepy head" he said as he pulled away. "It's after noon."
Noon? She'd never slept past eight in her life! "Why didn't you wake me?" She was slightly embarrassed.
"I figured you needed the sleep."
He touched his forehead to hers and let her go. He poured her cup full of more steaming coffee. She took a sip, needing it desperately to hel
p her wake up and bring her down to earth. She sat down at the breakfast table, and Thorn jumped against her knees happily. She scooped the puppy into her lap.
"How's your shoulder feeling?"
His smile was mischievous. "Battered. It'll heal. I had an excellent nurse dress my wound."
A familiar grin passed between them, and Jamie found that she liked the feeling it gave her.
"I've got a million things to do today," she said lightly.
Aidan looked at her and a grim expression moved across his face. "Make that a million and one," he said.
"What do you mean?"
"Your cottage sustained some serious roof damage during the storm. It's not safe to stay there until I can get my men to fix it."
"When did you see it?"
"This morning, while you were sleeping, I went out to inspect the damage in the neighborhood."
"And Villa Milagros? Did you check on that too?" she asked, a little grudgingly. "I suppose if it's been blown away, that would save you the trouble."
He bent down to pat Thorn's head, ignoring the question.
She didn't know why she had blurted it out. She was feeling much too content to bring up such a divisive subject. But the house was so very important to her; she had to know how it had fared.
He bent down and kissed her forehead affectionately. "We'll figure it all out later," he said.
He busied himself cleaning the kitchen while Jamie drained her coffee cup and put Thorn on the floor. She had to go to Palm Beach, but she didn't want to leave. She felt at home here in Aidan's house. She was afraid once she'd left, last night would be forgotten, like some sort of casual one-time date. It curdled her blood to think that was all it was to him. And she didn't want to admit, to remember that was how she had planned it. What a fool she had been.
But first she had to check on Villa Milagros and her Palm Beach Condo. Well, initially she had to inspect her cottage in Seabrook. If it were as bad as Aidan said it was, she would have to find a place to stay while the repairs were made. She wasn't ready to return to her Palm Beach condo.
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