Summer's End (Wildflowers Book 5)

by Jill Sanders

  “No.” She closed her eyes and enjoyed the smell and feeling of him. They’d just showered together and already her mind was playing over how she could get him naked again.

  “How about we order some delivery, crawl back in that bed, and spend the entire day watching movies?” he asked her.

  She glanced up at him. “You read my mind, only…” She ran her fingers over his chest. “I wasn’t thinking of watching television.” Her eyes met his and she saw them heat with desire.

  For the past two nights, he’d pleased her, given her exactly what she’d needed, while she’d kept the one thing that he’d wanted from him.

  This time, however, when he kissed her, she felt her grip on her heart start to slip and, for the first time, she didn’t mind.

  “Aub,” he moaned against her lips.

  “No, don’t think. Just show me.” Her eyes locked with his. “Please.” Her hands were already removing the T-shirt he’d pulled on. His skin was still wet in places from his shower, and she licked the droplets off him as she fisted his shirt in her hands.

  “You’re killing me,” he groaned when she had unsnapped his jeans and lowered them on his hips.

  “Good,” she sighed as the material fell to the floor. Taking his length in her fingers, she glanced up at him, and his blue eyes searched her own. Then she ran her tongue over his length, and he reached over and wrapped her hair around his fingers, holding her, guiding her.

  She knew exactly what it would take to send him over the edge but held off, knowing this time she wanted to take the journey with him. Standing up, she nudged him backwards until the back of his legs hit the side of the bed.

  “I’m yours to command,” he said with a grin as his eyes ran over her.

  “Touch me,” she responded. She moaned when his hands gripped her hips and pulled her closer to his naked body.

  He tugged her clothes off, dropping them onto the floor as he hoisted her onto his lap and kissed her. Her hips started moving over him, rubbing her body against him as she felt herself growing more determined to enjoy what he was doing to her.

  Then she was spinning around as he flung her on the bed. She laughed and wrapped her legs and arms around him.

  “Hold onto me,” he growled against her neck as he trailed kisses over her. When he entered her, she arched and cried out his name.

  How had she allowed herself to go six months without him? Her mind kept circling back to the fact that she had to protect herself, to stop this from going too far. But as she felt herself sliding over the edge along with him, she realized it was already too late. She’d fallen long ago. Now she just had to admit it to herself and, more importantly, to him.

  “Don’t move,” Aiden said as he rolled out of bed a few moments later. “I’m going to order us some delivery.” He smiled down at her. “You stay right here and find us something to watch.” He handed her the remote to the flat screen television hanging on the opposite wall.

  She lay there, watching him pull his clothes on before he grabbed his phone and disappeared down the stairs.

  Lifting her arms above her head, she smiled up at the ceiling and stretched. How could she deny the fact that she was in love any longer? Day and night, she thought about being with Aiden. And it wasn’t just physically any longer.

  In her entire life, she’d only trusted a handful of people as much as she trusted him, her Wildflowers making up the majority of the list.

  Pulling the blankets over her, she found the remote again and flipped on the set. She frowned up at a picture of herself.

  Sitting up slightly, she turned up the volume to listen to the news report.

  “Daughter of Harold Smith was seen here chasing down Bridgett Rowlett as she tried to visit her fiancé at the hospital. Bridgett is here today with us claiming that Aubrey Smith has accused her of poisoning her fiancé and has convinced the police that she set out to murder him.” The camera panned out to focus on Bridgett, who was dressed in a simple blue dress with a dark grey jacket and a set of pearls around her neck. Her newly colored dark hair had been lightened slightly and pulled away from her face so that she looked a little older and very professional.

  “Aiden!” she called out. She knelt at the foot of the bed, pulling on her clothes as she watched the set. “She’s on the news.”

  “Who?” He came rushing in, then cursed when he noticed Bridgett. “I’m calling the detective.” He dialed his phone while Aubrey listened.

  “That’s right,” Bridgett was saying as she wiped a tear from her eyes. “My fiancé and I signed a prenuptial agreement. In his current will his entire estate is going to his daughter, Aubrey Smith. If I wanted to kill my husband”—she waved her hand in the air—“for his money, like his daughter is claiming, then wouldn’t you think I’d make sure I at least get some of the money? It just doesn’t add up. Aubrey came into town a few days ago. Until that point, my fiancé was in perfect health. Then, at our engagement party, he takes ill and she starts accusing me of poisoning him.” She wiped her eyes again. “I haven’t even been able to see him in the hospital. She chased me away.”

  Aubrey glanced over at Aiden as he spoke on the phone, relaying the news stations’ information to the police.

  “And you think that it is Miss Smith that is responsible for Harold Smith’s poisoning?” the news anchor asked.

  “Well, it would stand to reason. I mean, Harold was fine up until she showed up.” Bridgett smiled slightly. “You know, we have some history. Aubrey and I do. Her and her little friends,”

  “You’re talking about Aubrey’s friends and business partners, Zoey and Scarlett Rowlett, whose father, Jean Rowlett, you were married to?” the anchor asked.

  “Yes.” Bridgett smiled as if she was remembering the good times. “Shortly before Jean passed, his daughters convinced him to change his will. Leaving me bankrupt.” Her voice pitched slightly.

  “When you requested to come on the air, I did some quick research of my own. It appears that shortly before Jean Rowlett’s cancer diagnosis, you filed for divorce and received a hefty settlement,” the anchor said.

  Bridgett waved her hand again. “That was all Jean’s idea. He knew he was sick and didn’t want the medical bills to drag me down. We both agreed he would leave everything to me in his will. I hadn’t counted on his daughters convincing him when he was so sick to change it and leave me out altogether.” She sniffled and wiped her nose.

  “So, you’re saying that this is what Aubrey Smith is doing now?” the anchor asked.

  “She tried to kill her father. The woman should be locked up.” Bridgett’s voice rose. “Harold and I belong together.”

  “A man easily forty years your senior? It was rumored, shortly after your… relationship was made public that Harold had purchased a new luxury residence for you in Manhattan, along with several vehicles.” The anchor shifted some papers and looked directly at Bridgett. “It’s rumored that he has spent more than a million on items for you in the past month alone.”

  “That’s preposterous.” Bridgett’s face heated. “If you want to investigate anything, you should be looking into that little summer camp Aubrey and the Rowletts opened up in Florida. Where did they get the money to open it? I’ve heard they’ve sunk a few million into that junk pile.”

  Aubrey felt her entire body vibrate with anger.

  “You are of course talking about River Camps?” the anchor asked.

  “Whatever they call it. I’ve heard its nothing more than a run-down camp filled with swingers and drugs.” Bridgett waved her hand again as she smiled. “I can’t believe it’s not out of business yet.”

  At this point the news anchor turned towards the camera, which zoomed in and cut Bridgett out completely.

  “I can personally give some insight into River Camps. Some of you may know that early last year I got married. Ralph and I had heard from some friends of a wonderful new adult place we could spend our honeymoon.” The woman smiled. “We spent a wonderful two we
eks at River Camps and not only enjoyed some of their fun activities, such as boating, zip lining, and horseback riding, but also got spoiled with food from the renowned chef Isaac Andrews. We would gladly return to the beautiful resort anytime. The camp, a former elite summer camp for young women, was handed down to Elle Saunders from her grandfather, who had started the camp many years previous. Elle and her five best friends, Zoey and Scarlett Rowlett, Hannah Rodgers, daughter of Andre and Leslie Rodgers, along with Aubrey Smith, pooled their savings together to reopen the camp.” The woman turned back to Bridgett, who was staring at her with her mouth opened. “I even enjoyed taking several of Aubrey Smiths’ self-defense classes while I was there.”

  The anchor’s eyes narrowed and suddenly Aubrey remembered the woman, Cora, along with her husband, Ralph. Cora Jolett had lightened her hair since her visit, which had thrown Aubrey off.

  Just then, there was a commotion off screen. The camera panned out and showed two officers, including the female detective working the case, stepping up behind Bridgett.

  “Bridgett Rowlett, you’re under arrest,” the female officer said as she took Bridgett’s arms.

  “Oh my…” Aubrey leaned closer.

  Then, to everyone’s horror, including Cora’s, Bridgett shoved the female officer away, jumped over the news desk, and darted past the cameras while screaming at the top of her lungs.

  “That was… entertaining,” Aiden said when a commercial flashed onto the screen.

  “Think they caught her?” Aubrey asked, hitting the mute button.

  “They better have.” Aiden walked over and wrapped his arms around her. “I know we said we were going to spend the day in bed but…”

  “Yeah.” She sighed. “I’ll change and we can head down to the station.” She held onto him for a moment. “Aiden,” she said, glancing up at him, “tell me you never thought for a moment that I tried to poison my father. Or that I even give a damn what happens to his money, just as long as that woman doesn’t see another dime.”

  He cupped her face as their eyes met. “Not even for a second,” he said softly before kissing her.

  Chapter 22

  It was the very last place he wanted to be at the moment. Sitting in the waiting area down at the local precinct. They’d stopped off and grabbed a couple gyros from a local shop along the way to the police station.

  Halfway there, he’d gotten a call from Detective Rhodes informing him that they had Bridgett in custody and were taking her in for questioning. He let the detective know that they were on their way down there. She’d immediately informed them that there was no need, but he let her know that Aubrey had her mind set on knowing what was up after they were done with Bridgett.

  So, they sat and waited, much longer than they had planned. More than three hours later, the detective walked into the room and spotted them.

  “Well,” she said, stopping in front of the pair of them. “Why don’t you two come on back to my office. I’ll fill you in on what we have.”

  Aubrey was quiet as they followed her back to a small office through a maze of hallways.

  The detective shut the door behind them. She motioned to the chairs for them to sit. “Normally I wouldn’t fill the family members in on an active case, but since we don’t have any new information,” she said sitting down herself, “I see no harm in talking to you. I was hoping to ask the both of you a couple more questions.” She flipped open a file.

  “Tell me you still have Bridgett in custody,” Aubrey asked.

  “Of course. Even if we can’t officially charge her with poisoning your father, we have her on evading and resisting arrest,” Rhodes replied.

  Aubrey visibly relaxed back in the chair.

  “Now.” Rhodes glanced at him. “You told me that the two of you arrived on a private jet?”

  “The Costas arranged it,” Aubrey jumped in.

  Rhodes eyebrows shot up. “Costas?”

  “Owen Costa. I think the jet actually belongs to their father, Leo, or his company, Pelican Investments.” He shrugged. “Didn’t ask. We were in a hurry to get to the city, since we believed that Harold had passed away.” He picked up Aubrey’s hand in his.

  “Right.” Rhodes wrote something down in her file. “And you are staying at Isaac Andrew’s residence?”

  “He lives at River Camps,” Aubrey answered. “He only keeps this place for when he and his wife return for the holidays,” she supplied. “We didn’t even know…” She stopped and shook her head.

  “No, please.” Rhodes motioned for her to go on.

  Aubrey sighed. “We didn’t even stop to ask where we were staying. Hannah arranged everything. She and Isaac are long-time family friends.” Aubrey shrugged. “We only realized it was Isaac’s place after we arrived.” She smiled. “I called him, and he assured me he was happy he could help out during this crazy time.”

  “But when you found out that your father wasn’t dead, why stick around?” Rhodes asked.

  “As I said, I was shocked to find out about Bridgett. He said that they were hosting a party that night and…” Aubrey took a deep breath. “When my father says my attendance is required…”

  “You jump?” Rhodes asked.

  Aubrey’s eyes grew sad, and he squeezed her hand. “More like fall in line since I’ve seen what happens when I don’t. He hasn’t given me much of a choice over the years.”

  Rhodes leaned forward, her hands on the desk as her eyes narrowed. “Are you saying your father was abusive to you?”

  “God, no.” Aubrey frowned. “Not in the physical sense, in any way.”

  “In any sense, then?” Rhodes asked.

  Aubrey bit her bottom lip before answering. “Harold Smith was an absentee father. He threw money at anyone he thought could raise his daughter to be what he wanted.”

  “And what did he want?” Rhodes asked.

  Aubrey’s eyes locked with the other woman’s eyes. “Obedience.”

  Rhodes leaned back and crossed her arms over her chest. “Yet, shortly after his seventy-seventh birthday, he meets a woman in her mid-thirties, who for all practical purposes is a hot mess, and decides he wants to marry her. That must have pissed you off?”

  Aubrey leaned closer. “Detective, are you asking me if I poisoned my father?”

  Rhodes remained perfectly still. “Did you?”

  “No.” Aubrey sighed. “I won’t deny that I’ve thought of what life would have been like without him, but he’s the only blood I have. I didn’t want him dead.”

  “Even if he had something to do with your mother’s death?” Rhodes shocked them by asking.

  Aiden felt his stomach roll. The way the detective was questioning Aubrey made it seem like she believed Aubrey had something to do with her father’s condition.

  What had Bridgett told the police to turn the tables?

  “Detective,” he started only to have Rhodes throw up her hand to stop him.

  “I’ll get to you in a moment.” She turned back to Aubrey. “Well?”

  He could see Aubrey choosing her words carefully before she finally spoke.

  “If my father had anything to do with my mother’s death, I’d want to see the old man rot away in a cell like the one he put me in for most of my childhood. I’d want to see everything he’d worked for, everything he’d lied to get, taken away.” Aubrey held up her hands to stop the detective from talking. “No, I wouldn’t want a cent of his money. His money has always been tainted to me. Just ask any of my friends. I haven’t touched a dime of his since I’ve been out on my own. Not one cent of Harold Smith’s has ever gone into River Camps, nor will it ever. That place is pure, it’s the only place I’ve ever felt accepted or loved.” Aubrey’s eyes darted over to him for a brief moment. “I would never do anything that would put my business or my friends in jeopardy or in his debt. If you would do some looking into Bridgett’s life…”

  Rhodes held up her hands to stop Aubrey.

  “I have,” she said with a smile. �
�This”—she motioned between them—“was nothing more than a technicality.” She moved to write something else in the folder.

  “You…” Aubrey glanced at him and then back at the detective. “You don’t really think I had anything to do with poisoning my father?”

  The woman looked up from her desk. “No,” she said with a smile. “Not at all. I do believe that Bridgett is a few cards shy of a full deck. I’m having her evaluated at the moment.” Rhodes sighed and wrote something else down.

  “You think she’s mentally unfit to stand charged?” Aiden asked.

  “No, I think she is playing the victim role too well. I think she actually believes she didn’t do anything wrong. Just so both of you know where we stand, we found a bottle of alprazolam among your father’s medications. There are a few people in the house that had access to the pills, Bridgett being one of them. Her little act this morning set me off in a different direction, and I’ve been looking into your father’s legal standing. I had a nice chat with one of his lawyers just before I came and found you.”

  “And?” Aubrey asked. Her hand tightened in his.

  “Shortly after you arrived two days ago, your father called his lawyer over to the house and drew up a new will. One where you were left out completely. Everything currently goes to Bridgett. We didn’t know about it yet because it hadn’t been officially filed at the time of the poisoning.”

  Aubrey made a small noise, and he understood that it was disgust she was feeling.

  “Your father’s lawyer”—Rhodes glanced down at her notes—“Nicholas Lee claims that your father wasn’t his normal self that evening before the party. Several times he had to rehash what he was asking him to do. He’s willing to testify that Bridgett was there, pushing your father to change the will and trying to convince him that you were only trying to get your hands on his money.”

  “I don’t want his money. I never have,” Aubrey answered. “I’m perfectly happy where I am now.”