He reached for my hand, and I let him take it. “Tell me it isn’t too late for us, sweetheart. That we can still make this work.”
If I were a different kind of woman, maybe I would have made him beg for it, get on his knees, apologize more, but I didn’t play games like that. I didn’t want to waste any more time. We’d wasted enough.
I smiled and squeezed his hand. “It’s not too late.”
Naturally, we wound up in bed. Me with weeds in my hair and dirt on my skin. Philip said he didn’t care, that he liked the weeds and the dirt.
Early afternoon sunlight filtered through the windows, illuminating my little fairy-tale cottage like a box of jewels.
His eyes were on me the whole time, and I could see them changing colors. Light blue to a deep violet. Magical.
It wasn’t long before his clothes were on the floor, his scent all over me. Clean, musky, and familiar. His strong body moved over mine, and I pulled him in close, gasping when we came together. We moaned at the intensity, at the rightness of each other.
Later, when we were lying in bed, he trailed his fingertips down my arm. “Do you think you can ever love me again?” he asked quietly.
The room was warm and still. Even my birds were subdued. I was lying next to Philip, tucked into his side, watching dust motes float on a ray of sunlight.
“I know a lot’s happened,” he went on. “I understand if you need time.”
I lifted my head so I could see him clearly. “I don’t need time.” I reached out to touch his face. “I never stopped loving you.”
Our eyes met, and there was relief in his. “Then I’m grateful. Because you’re it for me, Claire. I’ll never love anyone else like this.”
I moved up to kiss him. He opened his mouth to me, and we explored each other. As it grew deeper, he winced.
“Are you okay?” I moved back.
“It’s my jaw. It’s still sore from getting punched.”
“Really? That was a while ago.”
“Yeah, it was.” He rolled his eyes. “It turns out Doug has a wicked right hook. Who knew?”
“Have you seen a doctor?” I asked with concern.
Philip nodded. “Apparently the bone is bruised and takes time to heal. It’s a lot better than it was, at least.”
“Does that mean we shouldn’t kiss anymore?”
He shifted position and ran his hand down to my ass. “Just the opposite. In fact, we need to be kissing as much as possible.”
“Oh really? Is this what your doctor said?”
“Not exactly. It’s my own kind of therapy.” He lowered his voice. “In fact, my therapy involves things so dirty they’ll make you blush.”
I laughed. I couldn’t help it. “And that’s supposed to help heal your jaw?”
“Trust me, I’ll feel a lot better.”
I shook my head as he grinned. So handsome. In that moment, I realized how much I’d missed him and how hard it’d been without him. As much as I’d tried to fill my days, it was never enough.
It must have shown on my face, because he asked, “What is it, sweetheart? My jaw really is okay, honest.”
I shook my head. “It’s not that. I just thought this was over between us, you know? I tried to move on, but I couldn’t.”
That quieted him. “It’s been terrible for me too. More than you can imagine.” Our eyes stayed on each other. He stroked my hip. “Come lie down on me again.”
I did as he asked, laying my body over his. Despite our difference in height, we’d always fit together so well. I could hear his heart beating, steady and true, as he caressed my back. I thought about the last few weeks apart and then remembered something. “Did you ever get the text message I sent you?”
His hand stopped on my lower back.
I lifted my head to look at him and was surprised by the raw emotion on his face. “What is it?”
He licked his lips. “I got it.”
“Was that a weird thing for me to send?”
“No, but I’m curious. Why did you send it?”
I sat up a little more. “Something important happened to me while we were apart.” I rested my hand on his chest and told him about the revelation I’d had regarding Ethan and Ivy.
His fingertips traced my skin again as he listened. “I didn’t realize you were still holding so much anger toward them.”
“I was, but I’ve forgiven them, and it’s helped me so much. I thought maybe it would help you if you could forgive your father.” I put my hand over his heart. “And I knew you’d start blaming yourself.”
“That message….” His voice shook, and he stopped talking.
“Are you all right?”
He nodded and took a deep breath. “That message was amazing. You saved my life that night.”
“I did?”
“I was in a dark place. It was a miracle.” He smiled softly. “You were my miracle.”
I stroked his hair. “What happened?”
“My father came to see me. I thought he was there for money.” He told me the rest of the story, how his dad was there to congratulate him, how he said they were alike.
“I don’t think that’s true.”
He took another breath. “For one horrible moment, I believed him.”
“So where is he now?”
“Who knows? South America probably. With all my talk of justice, I should have known he’d have funds hidden in offshore accounts. I was too caught up in the destruction I could do.”
“I’m glad he’s out of your life.”
“So am I.”
“How do you feel about him now that it’s over?”
Philip didn’t reply right away and appeared to be thinking about it. “I realize he’s a damaged person. I decided to forgive him because in some ways, he’s his own worst enemy.” He turned to me. “But to be honest, I’ll never forgive him for what he put my mom through. I can’t. I’m not made that way. The irony is I think she’s forgiven him. I think she did it years ago.”
I nodded. “From everything you’ve told me, I think you’re right.”
We took a shower together, and it was just like old times. I even elbowed him in the face accidentally.
“I’m so sorry!” I was horrified. “Did I hurt you?”
He held the washcloth up to his eye. “Are you kidding? It wouldn’t be a real shower if you didn’t give me at least one black eye.”
“Are you really okay? I feel terrible.”
He pulled me in close, our slick bodies pressed against each other. “Don’t worry, I’m fine.” And then he kissed me, our mouths slippery and wet. “I missed showering in a phone booth with you.”
“Me too.” I played with the hair at the nape of his neck. “And I promise I’ll be more careful where my elbows land.”
We kissed some more. His erection poked my stomach, so I stroked it for a while. His eyes were half-lidded with pleasure as he soaped my breasts. But the shower was too small to have sex. Instead, we went out to the bed, both of us steamy and damp, mingling with the hot summer air.
“I love this bed,” he said afterward, sighing with contentment. “It’s perfect. Let’s never leave it again.”
I laughed. “You and my bed should run away together.”
He glanced at me. “Where did you find this brass bed anyway? It looks like something from an old-fashioned bordello.”
“It was in the attic at Sullivan House. I guess it belonged to a former owner. Violet was going to toss it because it was old and discolored, but I polished it and brought it back to life.”
“What about all the pillows and everything?”
I smiled with embarrassment. “It’s my fantasy idea of the bed on a pirate’s ship. That’s why I set it up this way.”
“Well, I highly approve. And I’ve got pirate blood, so my approval is what matters.”
I laughed. “Do you really like it that much?”
“I do. It’s naughty as hell.” He gave me a wicked look. “I want to
ravage you every time I see you in it. But then I always want to ravage you.”
“I wonder which owner of Sullivan House had this bed,” I mused. “I should try to figure it out.”
Philip seemed distracted by something. “What time is it?” He sat up. “I need to check my phone.”
I watched him walk across the room naked, enjoying the sight. Those powerful shoulders and back tapering down to that perfect butt. “Is it something for work?”
“Sort of. I have a few things in the air right now.” He found the phone in his jeans pocket and stood there checking his messages and then texting.
I sprawled across the sheets and put my arms out. “Come back to bed,” I complained. “That’s enough work.” But that reminded me of something. “Do you mind if I get your opinion on an idea?”
“Sure, what is it?” He came back over beside me.
I sat up, and then, just because I could, I kissed him. His hair was still wet, and he smelled like himself mixed with the apple shampoo from my shower. One whiff and my heart swelled with happiness.
“I love you,” I whispered.
His eyes were steady on mine. “I love you too.”
We gazed at each other, the summer light reflecting around us.
“I’m sorry for everything,” he said. “I wish I’d listened to you from the start.”
I nodded. In truth, as hard as it was, I believed Philip had to go through what he did to bring him to the place he was now.
He ran his hand down my leg. “So what’s this thing you want my opinion on?”
“Oh, I took your advice.” I reached over for the folder on my bedside table. “I’ve decided to change the name of my maid service.”
“Interesting.”
I handed him the folder. “I came up with some name ideas. Your sister was here, and we both liked one in particular. She came up with a logo and marketing idea for it, and I think I’m going to use it.”
“What’s the new name?” he asked, opening the folder.
I took a deep breath, excited but nervous that he might shoot it down.
He glanced at me.
“Maids of Truth.” I pointed at the artwork. “Eliza had this whole superhero idea. Like a maid superhero. It works for the town, but also if I want to expand.”
Philip was quiet, studying the pages. “My sister drew these?”
“She’s a very good artist.”
Finally, he nodded. “I like it.”
“You do?”
“It’s excellent. The name and the concept go well together. It’s both eye-catching and fun.”
I was excited. “So, you really like it? You aren’t just saying that?”
He gave me a look. “Have you ever known me not to be brutally honest with my opinions?”
I laughed. “No.”
I was still bouncing on the bed in excitement when my phone buzzed. I reached over and grabbed it from my bedside table.
Violet: Could you come up to the house? There’s something I need your assistance with. It’s urgent.
“That’s weird. I just heard from Violet.”
He was watching me. “What did she say?”
“That she needs me right away, and it’s urgent.”
He nodded. “I’ll come with you.”
We both got off the bed. I walked over to my dresser and pulled out a clean T-shirt and shorts while Philip slipped his clothes back on.
After getting dressed, we headed up to the main house.
“I wonder what it could be,” I said, walking up the graveled driveway. It was late afternoon but still hot outside. The air smelled good, sweet and summery and full of promise.
Or maybe I was just happy.
Philip took my hand as we walked up, and we kept glancing at each other, smiling. It was like those few weeks apart were only a bad dream.
When I tried to open the French doors in back, I discovered they were locked.
“Let’s go around to the front,” he said.
We walked around the side, and just as we headed down the path toward the front of the house, Philip let go of my hand.
I turned to him, but to my astonishment, he swooped in and plucked me right off the ground.
“Aaah! What are you doing?”
He grinned. “You’ll see.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck as he carried me to the front door.
“I’m perfectly capable of walking myself, you know.”
“Yes, but I want to carry you over the threshold.”
I stared at him mystified. “Why?”
He didn’t reply. I liked being carried by him. It reminded me of the day we first met. “Are you going to steal my phone again?”
He laughed heartily. “Not this time.”
When we reached the front door to Sullivan House, it must have already been unlatched, because he pushed it open with his foot.
After walking inside, he gently put me down. I was a little flustered. We were in the great room, but I didn’t see any sign of Violet.
Philip was eyeing me with barely contained excitement. “Violet’s not here. It’s just the two of us.”
“What do you mean?” I looked around the room. “Is something going on?”
“Yes, there is.” He led me over to a table that had a vase of wildflowers on it. Right next to it were some documents with a pen. And next to that was a small gift box with a red ribbon.
I looked at it questioningly.
“This is for you.” He handed me the box.
My adrenaline skyrocketed. Was he proposing? But the box looked too big for a ring. I opened it, and inside I found a key. “What is this?”
“It’s your new key. Sullivan House is now completely yours, Claire.”
My head jerked up. “What are you talking about?”
“I bought out Violet’s half, and I’m gifting it to you. She’s already deeded the house in your name. Just sign the papers and it’s yours.”
“Seriously?” My eyes widened. “How did you manage all this?”
He rubbed his jaw. “I have to admit, I had a little help from Sam. He’s the one who told me Violet put the house up for sale.”
“Sam?” I thought of that day he came to see me.
He nodded. “So I contacted her, and she agreed to let me buy her out.”
“Philip, it’s incredibly thoughtful, and I appreciate it.” I put the key back inside the box and closed it. “But you know I can’t accept a gift like this. I’m sorry, but it’s too much.”
“I thought you might say that.” He took a deep breath. “How about accepting it as a wedding present?”
My heart stopped. “A wedding present?”
He took my hand. “I want to marry you, Claire. Tell me you’ll be my wife.” His eyes met mine, and he seemed nervous. “Please say you’ll marry me, sweetheart.”
I was stunned into silence. I never thought I’d get married again. Especially not to someone this wonderful. “Yes, I will,” I said, finally finding my voice. I couldn’t contain my smile. “I’ll marry you.”
He pulled me in close, and we hugged each other tight. “I don’t know how I ever lived without you,” he said. “But I never want to again.”
“But, Philip, are you sure you want to do this?” I asked when we pulled apart.
He gave me an incredulous look. “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”
“You’ll have to move to Truth Harbor. I don’t want to live in the city.”
He chuckled. “Maybe you haven’t noticed, but I’m crazy in love with you. I’ll live anywhere you want. Hell, we can even live in that tiny fairy-tale cottage of yours.”
I could see he meant it.
“I might hold you to that,” I teased.
“I don’t care. I want to be with you, my pirate princess. Always.”
Epilogue
~ Philip ~
Seven Months Later
“It feels like I’ve learned a new language,” I said, gazing
out at the turquoise waters of the Caribbean. “If you’d asked me a week ago, I never could have told you what aft was, or bowlines, or halyards, or how to hoist a mainsail.”
Claire smiled. “You’re picking it up fast. I guess that pirate blood of yours is good for more than just drinking rum.”
It was true. I felt remarkably at ease on the water. Not quite like Claire, who had grown up sailing, but surprisingly comfortable. Now that I’d experienced it, I planned to make it a permanent part of my life.
The sun was getting low in the sky as we tied our rented sailboat to a mooring ball off the coast of St. John’s for the night. We’d picked up supplies in town yesterday and were eating dinner on the boat tonight. Tomorrow we were planning to sail over to the British Virgin Islands.
It’d been an incredible honeymoon. Every day an adventure. Some days we sailed, while others were spent swimming and snorkeling in these crystal blue waters, or exploring the various towns and beaches.
Before flying here, I married Claire at a small chapel in Truth Harbor with only close family and friends around us. Afterward, we had a large reception at Sullivan House and invited everyone. It was a lively party, with Doug and Daphne announcing their own engagement. They’d asked us in advance if it was all right. I was glad my cousin found the love of his life in the same way I found mine.
Because that was what Claire was. The love of my life.
I watched her check the lines once more while I stood behind the helm. It usually took us a few tries to get moored, but tonight we got it on the first go-round.
“That was easy,” she said, coming over to me. “I think we’re finally getting it down. I hope the ones in the BVI are the same.”
I nodded, unable to take my eyes off her. She wore her hair in braids to please me and looked so damn pretty. She had on a crocheted white string bikini top and shorts. I’d bought her half a dozen string bikinis before we left for our honeymoon. I couldn’t help myself. Her skin was tan despite all the sunblock we lathered on every day, and her cheeks and the bridge of her nose were pink and peeling.
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