by Jenna Brandt
“Then I think you have your answer.”
“I have to admit, I didn’t expect to be talking about God and my faith with you,” Nicole stated with surprise. “I figured just about anything else other than that.”
“I guess it’s just an easy way for me not to talk about the elephant in the room. What a mess I’ve caused us,” Ethan stated, lowering his head into his hands.
“It’s not your fault,” Nicole comforted. Reaching out, she placed her hand on his shoulder.
“I’m so sorry, for all of it. I didn’t want you to find out about Tinley this way. I was waiting for the right moment to tell you,” Ethan admitted.
“It doesn’t matter. I already knew. My friend, Cindy, told me about her yesterday. Before you get mad, she noticed my ring while I was at the grocery store, but she swore not to say anything. I believe she didn’t.”
“If you say she’s trustworthy, I believe you. I can tell you’re a good judge of character, which makes me wonder, what do you think of me? What are they saying?”
Ethan took in a deep breath and held it. He wasn’t sure why it mattered, but he cared what Nicole thought about him.
“From what I’ve seen, you’re a kind person, and you don’t have a mean bone in your body. Maybe a little entitled, but not the type that takes advantage of people. I definitely don’t believe you’re the type of guy that abuses women. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t thinking clearly when I accepted your offer. I was too caught up in saving this place. I should have looked into your past, but now that we’re married, I’m glad I didn’t. I think it would have tainted my view of you. Without knowing your past, I was able to get to know you for you. I like who I’ve gotten to know.”
“You don’t know how glad I am to hear that,” Ethan confessed. “Your opinion means a great deal to me.”
“I’m sorry everyone is judging you. It’s got to be hard having complete strangers analyzing your every move. You’ve dealt with it your whole life. I’ve been dealing with it for one morning, and I want to rip my hair out.”
“It’s been difficult, to say the least. Every relationship I’ve ever had, the paparazzi has tracked it and passed judgment on it. I’ll be honest, I was a serial dater. I dated a lot of women that were pretty awful, but Tinley was the worst of them all. She’s a liar and manipulator. I’m not sure why, but she was able to get under my skin in a way that was completely unhealthy. She was toxic for me. It took all of this to make me see it though. I don’t know if I would have ever gotten clear of her if it hadn’t happened. And if it hadn’t happened, I never would have met you. I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to have you in my life,” Ethan admitted, turning his head to look at her.
Nicole looked gorgeous with her strawberry blonde hair tucked behind her ears. Her hands were in her lap, and she was picking at the fingernail polish on the tips.
Ethan reached out and pulled her face up so that their eyes would meet. He couldn’t help but be captivated by the beautiful, green pools. His lips came towards hers, and this time, her lips parted, inviting him to kiss her.
The moment their lips touched, it was like a fire was set ablaze. Ethan pulled her towards him as he deepened the kiss, pressing his hand at the back of her neck and letting his fingers tangle in her hair. She wrapped her arms around his neck, letting herself fold into his embrace.
Nicole pulled back, slightly out of breath. “That was…unexpected.”
“Not for me. I’ve been wanting to do that for a while,” Ethan confessed. “I don’t know how it’s happening, Nicole, but I’m starting to develop real feelings for you.”
Before she could respond, her phone rang. Nicole glanced down at it and said, “I have to take this. It’s Cindy.”
Ethan wanted to stop Nicole from taking the call. He wanted to pull her back into his arms, and kiss all their worries away. He knew, however, it wasn’t right, and he knew it wouldn’t work. They were going to have to face his past, hopefully together.
After Cindy helped distract the few paparazzi hanging around Nicole’s house, the couple snuck in without anyone seeing. Nicole wasn’t sure how she was going to feel having Ethan in her home, but surprisingly it felt natural.
“I really like your place,” Ethan stated, looking around the small cottage.
Nicole placed her purse on the couch and smiled. “It’s not much, but it’s mine. Plus, it reminds me of my parents, so that’s an added bonus. I haven’t changed much other than the master bedroom.”
Ethan moved into the living room and sat down in one of the chairs. “I am so tired. I can’t believe what a day we’ve had.”
“It’s definitely been a whirlwind. You must be starving. I know I am. I probably have some pasta and marinara sauce in my pantry I can cook.”
“I’m a sucker for spaghetti. Sounds great.”
Nicole made her way into the kitchen and searched around, finding just enough items to make a meal. She started with putting the pot of water on the stove, then went to work on the sauce, adding her own seasonings as an extra touch. Next, she pulled some frozen garlic bread from the freezer, put it on a tray, and popped it in the oven while she let the noodles cook in the boiling water.
“I wish I had some salad, but I took over all my fresh ingredients to your house when I moved in,” Nicole explained from the kitchen.
“That’s okay,” she heard Ethan mumble from the other room.
She peeked around the corner and noticed that Ethan’s eyes were closed and his head was resting on the back of the chair. The poor guy was so tired he was falling asleep.
She tiptoed into the living room and pulled a blanket from the edge of the couch. She draped it across Ethan’s body, but as she backed up from him, his arm stretched out and his hand grabbed her wrist.
He pulled her towards him, mumbling, “I want to kiss you again.”
“You don’t know what you’re saying. You’re half asleep,” she whispered back, but part of her hoped he was telling the truth.
Ever since he’d kissed her at the lighthouse, Nicole couldn’t think of anything else. She wasn’t sure when or how, but things were shifting between the two of them.
His eyes snapped open and he stated clearly, “I am serious, Nicole. I can’t get enough of you.”
He pulled her towards him, gathering her into his lap. His lips claimed hers, this time more powerful than before. Nicole could feel her heart speed up as she wrapped her arms around his neck again. She leaned into the kiss, wanting it as much as Ethan.
The timer dinged from the kitchen, interrupting the moment. Reluctantly, Nicole whispered, “I have to get that before the house catches on fire.”
“If I wasn’t so hungry, I would take my chances,” Ethan whispered back. “To be continued,” he said, tapping her lips with the tip of his finger.
Nicole stood up making her way into the kitchen with Ethan following behind.
“What can I do to help?” Ethan offered.
“Why don’t you grab plates out of that cupboard,” she said, gesturing to the one above him.
Ethan did as she requested, pulling out two plates and setting them on the counter.
Nicole finished draining the noodles and put them in a bowl, then poured the sauce over it. She scooped out a serving for each of them, adding a piece of bread to each plate.
She took the plates over to the kitchen table, then grabbed forks and napkins for both of them.
“You sure are sweet to do all this,” Ethan stated with a smile. “I can’t remember the last time someone other than a chef cooked for me.”
“Well, I figure I owe you from last night. Your chicken and rice dish was delicious.”
“Thanks, I enjoyed cooking for you.”
After finishing their meal, they cleaned up and headed down the hallway to get ready for bed. Nicole guided him to the second door and opened it.
“You can stay in here,” she offered.
Ethan glanced inside and inquired with surprise, “This is the
master bedroom, right? You don’t stay in it?”
She shook her head. “It still feels like my parents. It’s just easier to stay in my old bedroom. I did turn the master into a guest room in case anyone decided to stay with me.”
He nodded, heading into the room. Before she could shut the door, he leaned through the threshold and kissed her lips. “I just had to do that one more time before I fell asleep.”
“Goodnight, Ethan,” Nicole said, trying not to show how much she liked the kiss. If she let him know, she wouldn’t be returning to her own room tonight.
She pulled the door shut behind her, then went next door. As her head hit the pillow, she couldn’t help but dwell on the kisses they’d shared throughout the day.
Chapter 7
The press’ obsession with Ethan and Nicole had died down over the next two days, allowing them to head back to his place. Though Ethan had enjoyed his time at Nicole’s house, he was ready for a set of new clothes.
“I’ll catch up with you later at your place,” Nicole said, turning the key in the lock to her front door. “I need to go check-in at work. We’re supposed to be prepping for back to school.”
“Sounds good. I’ll make lunch. It will be ready when you get home,” Ethan offered before kissing Nicole goodbye.
He hopped in his Ferrari and drove the short distance to his house. As he approached the gate, he glanced around to see if he saw anyone lurking. Grateful there wasn’t anyone, he opened the gate and drove inside.
Ethan parked his car in the garage, then grabbed his bag and headed inside. He took a quick shower, changed his clothes, and entered the kitchen to start preparing the midday meal.
A knock at the door startled him, causing him to wonder how anyone was able to get past the gate. Hesitantly, Ethan made his way to the front of the house.
As he approached the front door, a second knock, louder and more rapid, came crashing down on the front door. Through the window, the unwelcome silhouette of Tinley came into view. What on earth was she doing here?
Letting out a heavy sigh, Ethan opened the door. “How did you find me, Tinley?”
“Are you kidding me? It’s all over the news where you’re at and what you’ve been up to. I have to say, I’m really disappointed in you, Ethan.”
“You’re disappointed in me, Tinley? You must be joking. You let everyone think I hurt you, and you know that’s absolutely not true.”
“You did hurt me,” Tinley said, placing her hand on the front of his chest, “but I forgive you.”
“Don’t play games with me, Tinley,” he said, removing her hand from his chest. “I can’t believe you let them think I abused you. I’ve never done that to you, Tinley, not once. Where did those bruises come from, anyway?”
“Oh, it’s a funny story actually,” she said, leaning against the doorframe. “I was taking a striptease class, a surprise I planned for you when you finally returned home. I fell off the pole.”
Somehow that didn’t surprise Ethan. Tinley was always doing something inappropriate and outlandish to get his attention. A striptease class sounded right in her wheelhouse of seduction techniques, but it didn’t work on him anymore.
“I’m not even sure how you got past my gate, but you need to leave, Tinley,” Ethan demanded, pointing towards the street.
“You used the same code for everything, Ethan. You should know by now, you can’t hide anything from me,” she said, moving close to him again.
“How much more clear do I need to make it; you can’t be here when Nicole gets home.”
“Who? That little twit of a woman you’re going around calling your wife? Who cares if she sees us together. You were mine first, and you’ll always be mine.”
“That’s not true. I’ve realized there’s a difference between infatuation and love. I was obsessed with being with you, but I never loved you, Tinley. I also know you never loved me either. You’re not capable of love. We had a toxic relationship, and I don’t want that anymore. I’m happy with my wife, Nicole.”
“I don’t believe you,” Tinley said with a firm shake of her head. “You’re just punishing me, but it’s gone on long enough. I’m taking you back.”
Without Ethan being able to stop it, Tinley pushed her body against his, wrapped her hand around the back of his neck, and pulled his head down towards her, forcing his mouth to meet her own.
“What’s going on here?” he heard Nicole accuse with anger. His blood ran cold as he heard the hurt in her voice.
Tinley swiveled around, her eyes rounding with surprise for a moment before she smirked at Nicole. “I came here to get my man. Believe me, it’s what he wants.”
“Is that true, Ethan? Do you want that?” Nicole asked, worried she had been mistaken about her husband and the man he was.
Nicole didn’t think he would cheat on her. She believed him when he said he cared for her, but was he telling the truth? Even though their marriage was fake, she thought he would refrain from seeing other women, let alone Tinley. How did the other woman get through the gate? It had kept out all the paparazzi and other islanders, so did he let Tinley in?
“Of course, it isn’t,” Ethan stated in denial. “I told you that I’m done with Tinley.”
“I want to believe you, Ethan, but you weren’t pushing her away when I got home.”
“That’s right, he wasn’t. That should tell you something—like you’re a fool to think he can really get over me. He might have told you he wanted to, but it’s never going to happen. We’ve broken up more times than I can count, but he always comes back to me,” Tinley declared with triumph. “You should leave while you still have some dignity.”
Nicole rushed past them, forcing herself not to smack the smug look off Tinley’s perfect face. She hurried to her room, grabbed her bag from under the bed, and threw her belongings in it.
Ethan must have gotten rid of Tinley, because he arrived at her room alone begging her not to leave. “Don’t do this, Nicole. It’s what Tinley wants. I’m telling you, it’s over between us.”
Nicole wanted to believe him, but between all the bad press and rumors about him, mixed with what she just witnessed, Nicole couldn’t take that chance. It was better to cut her losses before it was too late. Flashes of the lighthouse came to mind, and she faltered. What was she going to do about it? Could she turn her back on it? If she didn’t get the money from Ethan, she would lose the lighthouse. She didn’t have enough time to get the money any other way. Though she didn’t like it, she couldn’t end their agreement.
“Look, I still need the money, so I’m going to keep up my end of the bargain, but I can’t keep living with you in this house. It’s mixing everything up.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means you have a perfectly good guesthouse on the property, so I’m moving into it, but as far as whatever was developing between you and me—let me be clear—that’s over. This is strictly business from here on out.”
Without waiting for him to respond, Nicole took off and headed out back and over to the guesthouse.
She unpacked her bag, but the moment it was done, she couldn’t stick around thinking about Ethan and what happened. She jumped in her Toyota and started driving. Without realizing it, she ended up parked outside the Angel Island Church.
Nicole looked at the white chapel, and debated about going inside. Part of her desperately wanted the comfort she used to find inside, but the other part that was still hurt over her parents’ death made her stay in the car.
There was a soft, tapping at her window, that caused her to jerk her head to the side. Pastor Gordon was standing there looking at her with a smile on his face. She rolled down the window, letting him ask, “Do you want to come inside, Nicole?”
She opened the door and climbed out, following the elderly gray-haired man inside without saying a word. They made their way to the front where Pastor Gordon took a seat in one of the pews, then gestured for Nicole to join him.
“What’s
going on, Nicole? Does this have to do with all the stories about you and that young man, Mr. Winthrop, that are circulating on the internet?”
She nodded. “I thought I knew him, Pastor Gordon, but I’m wondering now if I was wrong.”
“You don’t have to go into details, Nicole, but did he hurt you like he did that woman covered in bruises? If he did, I will call the sheriff and he’ll be arrested. We don’t put up with that sort of behavior around here.”
“No, it was nothing like that. He’s never physically hurt me. As a matter of fact, he’s always been kind to me and treated me with respect.”
“Then what’s wrong?” Pastor Gordon inquired. “Why are you so upset?”
Nicole had been asking herself the same question for the past hour. If this was all just a business arrangement, why did it hurt to see him kissing Tinley? Why had she cried since the moment she got in her car? Simple, she was falling for Ethan Winthrop, and the thought that it was one-sided terrified her.
“I’m upset because I care about him, Pastor Gordon, and I don’t know if he feels the same.”
“Have you talked about it?”
“Yes, he told me he did.”
“And has he done anything to contradict that?”
Besides kiss his ex-girlfriend right in front of me, she wanted to blurt out. But that really wasn’t fair of her to accuse him of that. She hadn’t been there for the whole ordeal. Was it possible she misinterpreted what happened? Could he have been innocent in the kiss, and all of it was Tinley’s doing? From what Nicole knew of the other woman, she was manipulative and deceitful, so shouldn’t she put her trust in Ethan, who had done nothing to prove he was dishonest?
“No, he hasn’t,” Nicole confessed.
“Do you think that maybe this has more to do with your misgivings about trusting someone than it does about the man you married? I know how devastated you were after your parents’ deaths—and how you turned away from almost everyone. Are you afraid to love someone again because you don’t want to lose anyone else?”