“No,” he said.
I returned to safer ground. “Well, I’m glad we’re friends now. I was always slightly jealous that you had all these brothers and your parents were so proud of you. When I’m with my daughter, I try to remember how I saw you and your mom.”
He swam past me, and it was like his muscles and the waters were in perfect harmony. “My mother’s a little much sometimes, but she’s great.”
I followed him. “Mine’s getting better, and we’re all trying, but it’s hard.”
He slowed down, and I pointed for us to go back. Then I wondered if I might ask him at least one personal question. We went back to shore, and as he swam beside me, I said, “When we’re in New York, maybe you can tell me what kind of woman you’re looking for, and I can help you find her.”
He brushed against my elbow, and I jumped. His simple touch rocked me. “There is no help for me.”
Because he loves me still? I dove to avoid him seeing me blush. My thoughts made no sense. As I emerged, I said, “Yeah, my husband was abusive, but he has a second girlfriend, and you’re way more handsome than he ever was. I’m sure you have more discerning taste.”
He winked, and his smile grew brighter. Heat rushed to my cheeks. He said, “Thank you. Good genes, I guess, but we need to be clear—I don’t date just anyone. I want whoever I date to be special.”
His words reverberated, and my heart beat a little faster as if he’d meant me. “Waiting for love?”
We were closer to shore when he said, “I need us both to feel the sparks. Either way, I’m completely free of entanglements right now.”
I’m not and might never be. I’d left my husband, but guilt weighed me down like an anchor. I half wondered if I would go back. Then I decided I wouldn’t even consider that thought.
As my feet touched the ground, I said, “That is surprising. How did you meet Claire?”
“Claire? The model from two years ago?”
“I didn’t read it that long ago.”
He strolled out. I hadn’t realized that water made him more delicious. Every cell in my body wanted to touch him, but I knew when I walked out, my ruined T-shirt wouldn’t cover my fat clusters. I hugged my waist as he said, “We were set up by Joel, my business partner, as she was a business client’s sister. I think we had drinks once, but the blog about my family makes us sound like players.”
“I read those posts,“ I said as he tugged his sweater over me. “So, Joel loves his wife?”
His clothes had his sandalwood-cologne smell mixed with the essence of him. I wished I could taste him again. He stepped back and tugged on his shirt, which didn’t hide much of his yummy physique. “I’d say so. It’s why I worked so hard these two weeks to give them some time.”
I shook my head. Life with Bob had never been easy. He’d slapped me for crying when we arrived in Montana, and I’d just taken it. My face burned when I went to the pastor for marriage counseling and he looked me dead in the eye and said, “Sexual intercourse is your wifely duty. Seeking pleasure for yourself and denying your husband his rights is a sin.” I doubted Arman ever used his fists to make a point or would need to go to such lengths for sex. If he kissed me, I would do anything he asked of me.
I said, “That’s good of you to give them time.”
He walked next to me, and steam inside me warmed me up. “One day, Joel will return the favor.”
I paused as we left the cave. People might see me there, though no one seemed to be around. I met his gaze. “One day soon?”
He opened my door for me. “Depends entirely on a friend.”
For a second, I could have sworn he was talking about me. I’d forgiven him for taking my private time, because being with him made me feel better. Maybe my life wasn’t destroyed after all. Working with Arman would bring him back into my life in a more permanent way, and I was grateful.
Arman
The clerk brought out our purchases and placed the bags in my trunk then waved and walked away from us. Once we were in the clear, I grabbed the bags and handed them to her. I’d picked out her new outfit fast, but in my mind, I’d seen her wearing everything.
No, that wasn’t true. I swallowed and imagined tugging those jeans off Maddie and finding a blanket to spread out for us in the cave we’d claimed as our own spot of heaven long ago. Her shoulders had traces of bruises that needed more time to disappear, and technically, she was still married. At the beach, I’d held back because I half sensed I should leave her alone, even when she looked at me like she wanted me to kiss her.
Once again, she was my exception to every rule. She’d stayed in the car while I shopped. That night, I wanted to ensure that she was happy and laughing. But I needed to figure out if I should just call it quits and walk away. I wasn’t sure what I’d do next, but either way, I was enchanted.
I pointed to the bags. “So, you can change in the back seat or get out and head into the store.”
She squeezed between the seats and climbed into the back. “The back seat is fine. Thanks for the jeans.”
“I always pay my debts.”
She unpacked the jeans, a pink flowered shirt like the one she’d worn the first time I met her, and new underwear. She lowered her head. “You didn’t owe me.”
I looked away, afraid she’d refuse the clothing. I stared straight ahead. “I ruined your old pants, and honestly, I wanted to see you in skinny jeans.”
She let out a small sigh that might have been a chuckle. “Well, that word doesn’t describe me.”
“Agreed.” I heard her stop and glanced in the mirror as my heart raced. I hadn’t meant to insult her, and she might have taken it the wrong way, so I said quickly, “Your curves are sexy.” I’d thought about her a lot since we met again, and she was the only woman I still wanted.
She didn’t say a word as she dressed. Then she climbed to the front of the car. “I… I’m set now.”
I didn’t want her to rush off, so I said, “So, let’s get a burger and complete reenacting our first date before I take you home.”
She buckled her seat belt. “Is that what this was to you?”
I started the car. “Minus the kissing, this is how we spent many of our summer days.”
She leaned back. “True. I needed this.”
I peeled out of the parking lot and headed to George’s, a shack on the beach that had great views and burgers. When we were kids, we’d stuck to soda, but now, it might be nice to have a beer or a glass of wine or a cocktail with her. I kept my voice low. “And I think I needed to see you again.”
Her eyes fluttered wider. “Really?”
Honesty was good, always. As I drove us to the restaurant, I said, “I always wondered if the reason you stuck in my mind as being perfect was because you refused to have sex with me.”
She let out a giggle and pressed her hand to her heart. “What?”
I parked the car where we could see the ocean. “That sounded awful.”
Since she first disappeared from my life, I’d dated plenty of women. Beautiful women who liked the size of my bank account or the sheen of my car. They were always ready for the next move. It was exhausting.
“It’s nice to talk,” I said.
She opened her own door and hopped out before I had a chance to be a gentleman. I jumped out to join her as she said, “Talking is how people communicate.”
She patted my arm, and my skin burned for a long minute after that simple touch. Then I held my head up as I realized she wasn’t upset with me. I walked beside her into the restaurant. “It’s one way people communicate, but I’ve found even the most successful women our age don’t always want to just talk.”
We went to a table overlooking the ocean, and she scooted into the wooden booth and picked up the two-sided plastic menu. “It’s all I can offer, but you’ve made me curious.”
Getting a cheeseburger with everything was fine with me, so I flipped open the menu with the alcohol choices. I pushed it toward her, and our hand
s brushed. “About…?”
“So, tell me, how is it you are not married yet?”
Sparks rushed through me. I couldn’t leave her alone. “I just never met anyone like you again.”
She blushed and held my eyes for just a second before waving her hand between us as if trying to wipe away the truth of what I’d said. “You always were a smooth talker, Arman.” She turned to her menu, and the moment passed. She reviewed the menu until the waitress came. She chose a white wine, I ordered the bottle, and she asked for cheeseburger, plain.
“And for you, sir?”
“I’ll have the California burger. Extra avocado.”
When the waitress was gone, we sat in silence before I asked, “Remember when Cyrus was stung by the jellyfish?”
“Yeah, and he begged you, I mean literally begged you, to pee on his leg.” She smiled, and a small laugh escaped her, and just like that, the tension melted. “I’ve missed the beach. I’m glad Aurora can have it now.”
The Maddie I knew had loved to laugh. Her tight smile and constrained laugh made me wonder what her life had really been like. The food came, and we ate. I wanted all of her, and that included her trust, so I would go slowly.
She stared at me a few times, and my skin tingled. It seemed like she had something to say to me, but we mostly talked about our lives as carefree teenagers. Once we finished, she put her napkin down. “The sun’s going down. I should get home.”
We took a last few sips, and she slid out of her bench. I followed her. “Maddie, can we go out tomorrow?”
She playfully bounced into my side. “Recreating more dates?”
Now, that was a good idea. We’d had good times as teenagers, but as adults, there was more to do. I placed my hand on her back as we breezed out the wooden door. The summer air was warm. “We’re just getting to know each other.”
“Agreed, and I’m in.”
I opened her door and tapped it. “I’ll pick you up at ten, then.”
“Sounds perfect.”
Inside, my chest expanded. I needed to be on track to win her heart because she had mine. I drove her back to her home.
As I turned off the engine, she hopped out. “Have a good evening.”
“You too,” I said.
If she’d waited, I would have opened her door, but she took off. She probably needed time, so I would wait. She was worth waiting for.
Chapter Five
Madeleine
The blinds on the windows of my old room needed serious dusting. My mother hadn’t changed my room, which was odd. I’d thought my parents were glad to see me married, but maybe that had just been my father. That day, I decided to clean, even though I probably wouldn’t be my mother’s guest for long.
I picked up my phone and opened the electronic document then clicked the button and signed my name. Done. I would tell Aurora we were moving to the city and take her to those museums in her dream book.
Then my phone rang. Adrenaline rushed through me as I saw the familiar number. He’d discovered we were gone. I buried my head between my knees then decided to answer.
He didn’t say hello. Instead, he shouted, “Where are you?”
“We had no place to go, Bob.” Tears pooled in my eyes as I remembered the last time we’d been in the same room and he’d sucker punched me in the gut for telling him I knew about his girlfriend.
“I’m sorry about what happened, Madeleine. I’ll never hurt you again.”
I narrowed my eyes. I’d heard that before. “You have Evelyn now.”
“I broke it off with her because I want you back.”
I shook. This wasn’t the life for me. “I’m going to get a divorce.”
“You can’t,” he said.
I hung up. I wouldn’t go back to him and have him break the rest of my body and soul. Life didn’t consist of waiting for the next mistake. It was time to live my life, and part of that meant showing my daughter it was okay to have dreams of her own. Her life didn’t begin and end with pleasing a husband. If she didn’t want to ever marry or have children, that was her decision to make.
As I showered, I thought about Arman. Seeing him every day would be delicious and sweeter than a freshly made cupcake. The water felt great, and in the warm steam, I thought that if I’d taken control of my life years before, maybe he’d be more to me than a boss and a friend.
I finished cleaning up and headed downstairs. My daughter was on her old phone, and I handed her mine so she could see the confirmation email. I went to make myself a coffee.
As I poured water for the machine, my mother called from the garage door, “Can you drop off an order for me?”
I gave her a thumbs-up, quickly made myself a to-go cup, and headed to the truck. She’d let us crash at her house, and helping her out was easy. I opened the passenger seat and grabbed the receipt, and my eyes widened as I saw what my mother’s order was.
I marched back to the open garage and asked, “You want me to go to the Norouzi family?”
She finished sorting the plants she’d pulled from the ground and put into pots that she’d lined up. “To the gardener. They wanted some of my salmon ranunculus bulbs for their walkway.”
I bounced on my feet as I headed out and I tossed the keys in the air. Arman was staying with his parents for the long weekend. I would see him that day no matter what.
I headed into the house to get my phone then sat next to my daughter on the couch. “You okay, Aurora?”
“Dad called you.” She handed me back my phone.
I winced, then I hoped she hadn’t seen me do that. “I told him I wanted a divorce.”
She let out a breath. “I’m staying with you.”
“I’d never be happy without you.”
Her lips curved higher. “I’m great, and I’m happy we’re moving to the city.”
I kissed her forehead. Luck was finally on our side. I put my phone back in the pocket of my new jeans. “Me too. We’ll do something you want every weekend.”
She met my eyes and didn’t blink. “Sounds good. Look, today, I’m going with the kids next door to the beach.”
The Solomons lived next door. I hadn’t seen them since we showed up here. I narrowed my gaze. “You didn’t mention them.”
She shrugged. “You seem happy, and you said to treat this like a vacation.”
My daughter had a better head on her shoulders than I’d ever had, so I said, “Okay, have fun, and call if you need something.”
She waved me off and continued texting on her phone, and I grabbed the keys and headed to the truck. The engine turned on with a roar. I tugged the throttle and drove through town. As a girl, I’d been happy to escape to the beach, and it was nice that my daughter now had that chance. Leaving Bob had been worth it.
As I drove to the hill and glanced up at the huge mansion on the bluff, I smiled. Arman’s life and my life were nothing alike. I remembered as a girl believing he was blessed. His parents had pushed him to be a doctor, but he had other plans. They didn’t fight him or berate him. Instead, they let him decide his life and provided him with a cushion so he would never face fallout of failure. I’d envied him for having a family who loved him without question. If I’d had more belief in myself, I would have left mine years before and lived a very different life from the one I had.
I headed to the Norouzis’ garden shed and unloaded the flowers. Fred, the gardener, came in while I was putting them in his work space, and he joined me. Once we were done, he said, “Thanks for pitching in.”
Pitching in was my job that day. I nodded. “No worries.”
He wiped his dirty hands on a rag and pointed me to the sink and paper towels. “You’re expected at the main house.”
“Sounds fine.” I cleaned the soil off my hands then walked the backyard path toward the main house. The patio outside was set up like they’d just had breakfast, and the croissants still smelled warm and fresh. My mouth watered as I headed inside.
The grand room had been r
edecorated since the last time I’d been there. Even the chandelier was new. The sight of handwoven silk rugs made me reach down and remove my shoes. Arman’s family never wore shoes in their home, as they had some belief about germs, so I left mine outside the French doors of the patio.
As I finished, I glanced up into the kind brown eyes of the mother I’d always half wanted. She held out both her arms and hugged me. “Madeleine, it’s nice to see you.”
I hugged her and closed my eyes. She’d been my idol growing up. She was always happy and had such interesting stories from her work as an interior designer for her Hollywood and New York clients. Most importantly, she had the answers to any questions. She always knew what to do.
As she let me go, I said, “You too, Mrs. Norouzi.”
She directed us outside again and pointed me toward the croissants as if she’d read my mind earlier. “We’re all adults now, Madeleine. Please call me Roxanne.”
I rocked on my feet. “I just dropped off my mother’s plants.”
She handed me a plate and took one for herself. “My son will never forgive me if I let you go before he comes down. He decided to oversleep.”
I took some fruit and a croissant since they were already there. Sampling her chef’s food was a treat. We took a seat, and she took out her carafe and poured us each a cup of black tea. “Would you like sugar?”
The reddish cubes of sugar with hints of saffron inside them were delicious. I hadn’t had this in years. “I shouldn’t stay. I’m not dressed for your home.”
She reached out and placed her hands on mine. “You absolutely should. It’s refreshing to see you. Now that Joel—Arman’s brother, best friend, and business partner—is married, I’m hoping he’ll be next to settle down and you two will start dating again.”
Technically, I was still married. My shoulders slumped. He’d said he was free, but maybe we were friends because someone else had his heart. I stirred my tea. “‘Dating’ is a strong word.”
She leaned closer and asked with a huge smile on her face, “Why? Because you’re a divorced mother?”
Honey Bun: Virgin Cove Trillionaire Single Brothers Page 4