by Ellie Hall
Blake’s eyes hardened. “I know I dared you to stay off your phone, but you may have caught wind of the threats.”
“There are always threats. It comes with the territory—people claiming to be relatives, fans who want to marry me, and your run of the mill crazies who want locks of my hair. Rather, they did want locks of my hair. No, they want—” She stopped. She’d seen plenty online about people who’d previously adored her saying vile things about her lack of hair. They wanted her to be who she was and she feared she’d never be the same again. “I don’t need anyone to be my bodyguard, to look after me, or make a big deal of this.”
A sound of irritation issued from low in Blake’s throat. “If not me, then who’s going to look after you?”
“I’ve been looking after myself my entire life.”
He nodded as though he respected her answer but then added, “But you don’t have to do it alone.”
“Says the guy who’s hiding away on an isolated island, away from his family and friends. Who’s going to look after you?”
He staggered as though her words were like wind, blowing him back. “I don’t think anyone could handle me, but don’t worry, I got you, Cecelia.”
Each time he called her by her full name, it had a different effect. Sometimes it was like she was being scolded, others assured. At times it was like he was using a secret code that only they knew—like the real Cecelia was someone only they shared. That time it was softer, gentler and yet immovable, indisputable.
Something had shifted between them, in the air, the energy. It still crackled, but where it had been like the fiercest of flames licking and blazing, it eased to a pleasant warmth.
They were close enough for her to see his freckles. They were like snowflakes, each one different. She felt like she could melt into him. Her eyes lifted to the faint lines around his eyes and then dropped to the tremulousness in his lips.
He brought the washcloth to her face. She wiped away the makeup.
His gaze pinned her in place, causing something to squeeze in her belly. She wasn’t sure if she should run away or fall into his arms.
His mouth parted ever so slightly. Her throat was thick. If she lifted up onto her toes she could—
Her phone beeped, breaking the spell.
Chapter 8
Blake
Shaved head, saltwater-soaked, and stubborn attitude or not, Cece had worked her way into Blake’s mind. He didn’t want her there, but he recognized her sadness. It was identical to his own. Seeing her so broken almost hurt worse than the pain he’d carried from Hawk Ridge Hollow.
He wanted to bring the flirty, happy girl he’d met so many years ago back. But life happened. There was no going back. Only forward. He wasn’t sure how. So he’d dropped to his knees. He’d asked God.
The answer came in the form of forgiveness. He had to forgive himself for not being able to save his father. He hadn’t acted quickly enough during that snowstorm, but would that have made a difference? If he hadn’t turned back when he did would he still have found his father by the tree with the driving snow storm? There were so many variables beyond his control that at last, Blake surrendered. He was powerless. It wasn’t easy, but it was humbling, freeing.
During the last weeks, while Cece had watched the sunrise, walked the beach, and spent the afternoons in the mini recording studio, Blake prayed. He sought out a spiritual advisor. He read the Bible.
After the accident, he’d turned his back on faith and had a big hole in his heart ever since. As Blake learned the details of what had brought Cece to the resort, he understood that she hadn’t abandoned her beliefs despite her hardship. It gave him hope. Slowly, he recognized that there was only one way to heal.
Cece had returned to him for a reason, without knowing it, she taught him a lesson. He’d run away because of guilt; whatever she was trying to escape, wasn’t his business, but she didn’t have to be alone like he was, withdrawn and becoming bitter.
Being around her made him want to be better. He had his hair cut, shaved, and was finally able to look himself in the eye. All thanks to prayer and thanks to her.
The night before, he’d managed to convince her to take off her makeup, revealing her bright skin, her golden smile, and her stormy eyes. Despite a series of texts from Jaxon, all of which she’d answered, they’d eaten dinner together.
She’d talked about having writer's block and finally experiencing a breakthrough. Over the weeks that he’d kept distant, he’d heard her crying, and he’d heard her singing. The music studio wasn’t entirely soundproof. He wanted to give her the space she needed, but he also wanted to take care of her and make sure she knew that she wasn’t alone.
The next morning, he wrapped on her cabana door. From inside, he heard shuffling. She opened the door, looking sleepy, disheveled, and totally cute. Her short hair stuck out in odd directions. He had the overwhelming desire to kiss the tufts then move to her forehead, to her cheeks, to her chin, then around to her lips.
“Hi,” she said. “Back so soon?”
He shook himself and blinked a few times. “Okay, time to come out of your cave,” he said.
“I came out of the cabana last night for dinner.”
“You came out long enough for us to decide to have dinner delivered.” His thoughts snagged on the word us. It was a strange concept. He’d never been in a serious relationship, part of an us, a we. He was the kind of guy who hooked up then took off. Cece made him want to stick around.
They’d eaten dinner on the patio of her cabana, listening to the ocean, the cicadas, and each other and he hadn’t wanted to leave. It seemed like she didn’t want to either. So he made plans for them. He knew how easy it was to get stuck—to finally find comfort amidst the struggle and want to remain there. But doing so also posed a risk. She needed to prove to herself she could handle life outside the cocoon she’d carefully constructed. Plus, he wanted to show her around and for that, they needed to take the yacht.
“We’re going to Coral Cove,” he’d said.
“I didn’t sign up for any excursions.”
“This isn’t a cruise ship.”
“Then what’s that?” She pointed over his shoulder.
“That’s the yacht for day trips. The superyacht is for longer getaways, but it’s docked in the south of France.” He knew he sounded slightly arrogant but felt like rubbing it in as payback for all her diva-ways.
“Why do you have a yacht? Two yachts?” She set her jaw defiantly as if there was no reasonable answer.
“Why don’t you have a yacht?” His eyes crinkled as he tried to keep a straight face.
She rolled her eyes at his teasing.
He used humor to try to ease the pressure between them because it had returned, full force since they’d parted on less than friendly terms by the pool. “The yacht is for when I want to get away.”
“Why would you need to get away if you already have a private island?”
“If you haven’t noticed, I’ve been trying to escape for a long time.” It felt odd and uncomfortable to speak so plainly, but the truth had set him free and she needed to know that was possible.
“But you’re here now.”
“Not for long. We’re going scuba diving.”
“I can’t—” Her eyes widened with concern.
“We’ll be tethered together.” He belatedly realized that would only tighten the tension between them.
She shifted on her feet. “I have stuff to do. I’ve been writing again and—”
“You’ve been wallowing.” It seemed she was in a better place than when she’d arrived, but he’d promised that he had her back, that he wouldn’t let her slip under the proverbial water. What better way to do that to than scuba diving? He definitely saw the irony. But how else to overcome fears than by facing them. That’s what he was doing by forcing himself to spend time with her. Though that was a truth that would remain unspoken.
“I thought you were just supposed to make sure t
he drones or whatever didn’t come after me as my self-appointed bodyguard.”
The truth was, Lizzie had specifically hired him to look after her. Maybe Cece didn’t know the extent of the threats against her, but her team did and they’d kept him informed—the latest was a string of emails getting more and more desperate, threatening. Since she was already in a fragile place, he imagined that her team didn’t want to upset her further.
“I also want to make sure you make it off this island in one piece.”
“And scuba diving will somehow ensure that?” Her hip cocked and her hand flew to it.
“No, I want to make sure you have fun.”
“So I’ll leave a positive review on your website?” She lifted an eyebrow severely.
“We don’t have a website.”
“You’re too good for internet real estate?” She scoffed.
“We’re too exclusive.”
She folded her hands in front of her chest and huffed. “I don’t get my hair wet with salt water. It’s not good for it.” She sighed and dipped her head. “Oh.” Her face clouded and she backed into the cabana.
Blake crossed the threshold, but he’d lost her as she realized anew that she’d shaved off her hair. But he knew it wasn’t purely about that. Rather, what its absence signified. She curled up on the couch. He sat beside her, sinking the cushion. He was careful not to let her soft, tanned skin brush his. There was no telling what kind of electric shock that would set off.
Nevertheless, he wanted to take her into his arms, hold her, and assure her that she would be okay. Until his transformation that week through prayer and God’s work on his heart, he wouldn’t have been able to promise her that. The only thing she could do was face the truth.
“Your hair will grow back but your sister won’t come back.”
She bolted to sitting. “I know that, Blake. That’s the problem.”
“No, the problem is wishing she would when it’s impossible.” He softened his tone when her brow furrowed. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“With you? No.”
“I’m here if you change your mind. Even though she’s gone, you don’t have to forget her.”
Cece sniffled. A beat passed. “That’s what I’m afraid of. That I’ll forget the sound of her voice, her laugh, the jokes we used to share. That’s she’ll fade from my mind. She was always so cheerful and positive. She loved life, people, and well, hair. She was younger than me by two years and full of energy, but always so wise. I listened to everything she said. We even used to play this game what would Serena say?” She paused and took a steadying breath.
Blake lifted his eyebrows as if to say see, talking about her is good.
“Cake for breakfast? No. Dessert first? Yes.”
“I can get behind that.”
“Stay up way too late at a club? No. Stay up way too late reading or talking or stargazing? Yes.”
“I think I would’ve got along with her well.”
Cece smiled sadly.
“Let me guess, you listened to everything she said except shaving off your hair.”
“Except that.” Cece’s lips quirked almost like she wanted to smile. “She’d have loved it here,” she said after a beat.
“Would she have told you to get your hair wet?”
The tight pain in Cece’s face softened and she almost smiled. “Yes.”
“Then let’s go.”
Cece was reluctant, particularly about the scuba diving part, but Blake finally convinced her.
After they got onboard the yacht, she commented, “You named your boat Flew the Coop?”
“My father thought it was funny since our last name is Hawkins. Hawks, birds, coops, I guess.” He let out a long exhale. “My parents had a nasty divorce. She left him for someone younger, richer.”
“I thought you guys were rich?”
“Yeah, one of the wealthiest families in the world,” he answered, stating a fact and not meaning to be smug about it. “But my mother wanted fame. Anyway, I never thought of it before, but I suppose naming the boat this was a little dig at her. Dad was devastated, as you can imagine, and the origin of this place here was his hideaway after everything that went down. Later, we figured other people might need a similar refuge so we created the resort as we know it.”
“And you also sought the refuge that he’d created after he passed.”
Blake nodded as he signaled the captain and then gestured Cece join him on the deck.
“That’s some sad irony.” She gazed back at the island as she sat down and the boat motored away.
“His death destroyed me.” Blake lowered into a chair on the sleek deck of the yacht.
“But you’re still standing.”
“Sitting, actually.”
She smirked.
“I wanted to run as fast and as far as I could from how much it hurt. After the divorce, Dad was sad for sure but still believed in marriage. He fought to get her back, but we weren’t enough for her to return, I guess.”
“Most people would tell you that probably isn’t true. That you were enough.” Cece dipped her head. “I happen to believe that.”
“Yeah.” What was it about her that made him go so deep? Until she’d arrived, he did everything he could to avoid thinking about the past to escape emotions. It was like she brought it all to the surface, daring him to look at it then let it go.
He went on to tell her about the terms of his father’s will. “In order to receive my inheritance and share in the family business, my brothers and I have to find true love and marry even though my mother divorced him.” He hadn’t spoken about it since the falling out with his brother’s at Fratelli’s Pizza in Hawk Ridge Hollow.
“Do you believe in marriage?” Cece’s question floated to him as the yacht sailed through the water.
That was definitely one of his off-limits topics. “I don’t know. A couple of my brothers are finally tying the knot—one with a girl he’d been with for years.”
Just then Cece’s breath caught. She pointed to the water.
A pair of dolphins leaped and dove then again, swimming parallel to the boat.
“They’re amazing.” She watched them until they disappeared below the water. She discretely wiped her eyes behind her sunglasses. “Dolphins were Serena’s favorite. She wore a necklace with a dolphin charm.” Her head tilted to the sky and then back to the water. “While I’m here, living it up, I feel like she’s missing out.”
Blake shook his head. “No, Cecelia, she’s here with you.” He whistled to the deckhand and the boat slowed. He tossed Cece a daring smile, tore off his shirt, then dove into the water.
“What are you—?” Her voice faded as he dropped into the crystal blue sea.
“Come on,” he called. “Let’s swim with the dolphins.”
“I’m not jumping in.”
“It’s warm and the cove is just over there.”
She shook her head.
“I dare you.”
In moments, there was a splash and then she surfaced. The water beaded on her short hair. It had grown in a bit since she’d been on the island.
They bobbed in the sunshine for a moment then Blake motioned for them to swim to the side of the boat where a deckhand lowered a jet ski.
“What are we doing? Are we going yachting, jet skiing, or scuba diving?”
“How about all of the above?”
They climbed onto the jet ski. Blake revved it before telling her to hold on tight. Her arms encircled him, gripping the muscles of his chest. He felt her warm, smooth skin against his. He fought the urge to let himself enjoy it. Gunning the engine, they zipped off.
They circled the yacht then buzzed past a nearby island. The wind whipped in Blake’s face, but Cece was snuggly behind him. It was the closest he’d been to a woman in years. He left his bad boy ways on the mainland. But it wasn’t that alone that made his skin hum with electricity, it was her. Cece lit up something in him that he couldn’t explain.
>
When they finally slowed, he called over his shoulder, “What do you think?”
“I think you like to go fast.”
“No cars on the island so I get my need for speed when I can.” He laughed and then directed the jet ski back toward the waiting boat. When they got back on board, he said, “Now that we’ve seen the surface, ready to go below?” He smiled encouragingly.
“Do I have a choice?” But her smile told him she was having fun and would go along with it.
As they got outfitted in the scuba gear, Blake reviewed safety and taught her how to deal with the change in pressure. He assured her they’d be tethered together the whole time. She asked a dozen questions before they dunked under.
The visibility was perfect. They swept past seahorses hiding in the long and swaying turtle grass and swam toward the reef. A school of triggerfish darted toward them then away.
By the reef, a grumpy old grouper looked at them as if to ask what are you doing here? But the color, the quiet, and the weightlessness all reminded him exactly why. It was peaceful and that’s what Cece needed in her life. A reminder of how vast and miraculous and peaceful life could be.
They continued to explore the reef and Blake even pointed out part of a shipwreck that he’d discovered there a few years previous. He’d had a team check it out, but it wasn’t anything worth salvaging, just an interesting part of the landscape.
When they neared their air limits, they made the ascent. When Cece popped off her mask her grin was as wide as the sea. “That was amazing.”
“So you’re glad I didn’t give you a choice about coming out with me today.”
She splashed him. “I’m not even going to give you the pleasure of telling you my answer.”
“But I was right.” He winked.
They got back on the boat and as they settled in, Blake felt like everything in his life was right. But he knew, deep down, that letting himself get closer to Cece was wrong, dangerous. His father may have believed in relationships and marriage, but he didn’t. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust women. He didn’t trust himself. He was always the one to run, to leave. And Cece had suffered enough. He couldn’t do that to her. He was better off alone.