Everly’s phone buzzed. She retrieved it from her purse and frowned. It was Roland. Fresh anger sizzled through her. Should she answer it? He’d already called five or six times this morning, but she’d let it go to voicemail. Even as she thought the words, she slid her finger across the face of the phone, answering it. She couldn’t avoid him forever, and refused to be bullied by him.
“Hello,” she said tersely.
“Hey, babe.” Roland’s voice was smooth like the glassy sand nearest the water. “How are things?”
“Fine.” She sat silently, waiting for him to respond.
“Listen, we haven’t discussed this, but I would really like to spend Christmas day with you and Jordan … and, of course, your mom’s welcome to join us.”
Roland, master of mind games. She squinted in irritation. “No, that won’t be possible. I have other plans.”
“That’s too bad.” Long pause. “I’m taking a few days off work. Maybe I can stop by this afternoon and take Jordan out for some ice cream.”
It was sickening to hear him carrying on as if he didn’t know she was 5,000 miles away. “Cut the crap, Roland. I saw your boy last night.”
Longer pause followed by a nervous laugh. “Guess I can’t fool you, can I, hon?” His voice took on an edge. “You know, you could’ve just told me you were going to Hawaii for Christmas. Jordan’s my son. I have a legal right to know where he is.”
Roland liked to throw around his legal weight, reminding her he held all the cards. Keeping her voice light, she replied. “Oh? I thought you knew I was coming here.”
“No, I didn’t. Like I said, I’m taking a few days off. I can hop a plane and be there in a few hours.”
Panic ignited through her as she forced a laugh. “And I suppose you’ll bring your latest girlfriend … what’s her name? I’m sorry, but there’ve been so many, I can’t keep track of them.”
“Babe, those girls mean nothing to me. I only care about you and Jordan. You know I’ll always look after you.”
The veiled threat stabbed like an ice pick through her heart, chilling her to the core. “It’s not necessary for you to come here. Jordan and I are taking a short vacation. We’ll be back in two weeks. And that’s that. Thanks for calling, but I’ve gotta go. See ya.” She ended the call before he could say anything else.
Her phone buzzed. Roland, again! She silenced it and gazed at the horizon. With Roland’s man stuck to her like glue, it was going to be nearly impossible to find out about Mitchell. A new thought entered her head. If Mitchell were indeed alive, perhaps she could persuade him to help her escape Roland’s clutches. It was a long shot, but it offered a glimmer of hope.
“Excuse me.” She gulped when she looked up to see Mr. Perfect, standing over her. He smiled, revealing even, white teeth. “I was wondering if I could use some of your sun block for my niece. I ran out.” He held up an empty bottle.
His voice was just husky enough to titillate her senses. She’d heard of women turning to mush at the sight of muscled, Polynesian men, and now she knew why. Then again, upon closer look, he looked to be of mixed heritage. He wasn’t bulky, but tall and lean, his muscles in perfect proportion to his frame. It took effort to keep her eyes fixed on his sunglasses rather than his rock-hard abs and pecs. Her clients at the club would kill for a body like his.
Luckily, before she could make a complete imbecile of herself, she managed to find her voice. “Of course.” She rummaged around in the bottomless pit of her bag, searching for the sun block. “Here you go,” she said, holding it up like it was the prize catch of the day.
“Thanks.” He reached for it. “You have a lovely accent. Where are you from?”
“Charleston, South Carolina.” She cocked her head, studying him. “You got that from only two sentences? Impressive.”
He chuckled. “Well, you do stand out. It’s not every day I hear a Southern twang on the island.” The little girl came running up to his side. She tugged on his hand. “Uncle, can I help build sandcastles with him?” She pointed at Jordan.
“Is that all right with you?” the guy said, turning to Everly.
Uncle … so she wasn’t his daughter. She was a cutie. And so polite. “Yes, I think Jordan would like that. What’s your name?” Everly asked.
She looked down at the ground.
He put a hand on her shoulder. “Tell her,” he prompted.
“Sadie,” she said shyly.
Everly gave her an encouraging look. “That’s a pretty name.”
Sadie smiled broadly.
“I’m Everly and that’s my son Jordan.” She looked over to where he was playing. “Jordan, this is Sadie. She’s going to help you build sandcastles.”
“Okey dokey artichokey,” Jordan chimed.
Sadie sniggered at his joke and went to play with him.
“Everly,” the man said, giving her an appraising look. “It suits you.”
“Thanks.”
I’m Christian.” He motioned at the spot beside her chair. “Do you mind if I join you?”
“Not at all.” She thought he might fetch one of his chairs, but he sat down on the sand and drew up his knees, clasping his arms around them.
“I’m sorry, I only brought one chair.”
“No problem. I don’t mind sitting on the sand.”
Her chair sat low-to-the-ground, so that they were almost eye level.
“I’m assuming you’re here on vacation?”
“Yes, Jordan and I are staying a couple of weeks.”
“Oh, so you’re spending Christmas here?”
“Yes.”
“Is it just the two of you?”
“Yes.” She bit back a smile. His ring finger was bare, and he was fishing about her status. She glanced at his strong, clean jaw line, which had a sexy layer of stubble. She was itching to know what he looked like underneath his sunglasses. Then she realized she was also wearing sunglasses. Glad she took the time to put on eyeliner and mascara, she nonchalantly lifted her sunglasses, placing them on her head. She glanced down at her black, two-piece swimsuit, making sure to suck in her stomach. Even though she was physically in the best shape she’d ever been, it was hard to not feel inferior compared to his chiseled physique.
“Ah, the woman behind the glasses.” A smile lifted the corners of his mouth. “You look exactly as I imagined.”
Was that a good or bad thing? She waited for him to elaborate, but he didn’t. Nor did he remove his glasses. “Are you and Sadie here on vacation?”
“No, we live here.” He pointed toward the houses behind them. “My sister Kat lives just over there.”
“I see.” She was suddenly curious to know more about him. “Do you watch Sadie often?”
He shrugged. “I help out when I can. Kat’s in the hotel business, and she travels a lot. She’s also a single mom, so Sadie spends a lot of time with me.”
She nodded, about to ask what he did for a living, but he spoke first. “Tell me about yourself … are you married?”
His bluntness was refreshing. She chuckled. “Not anymore. How about you?”
The pleased look on his face caused her insides to warm. “Nope. No wife. It’s just me.”
Unsure how to respond, she just nodded.
“What do you do for a living, Everly?”
“I’m a fitness trainer. I manage a fitness center and facilitate a training program for employees of several corporations.”
“Impressive. No wonder you’re so fit.”
Her cheeks flushed. “Thanks,” she mumbled. She wished again to see his eyes, to get a read on him. It was hard to get a feel for who he really was underneath the sunglasses. Then again, it really didn’t matter because she’d probably never see him again. And it was for the best. Her life was complicated enough as it was. Christian lived in Hawaii, a world away from her. Her ex-husband was a jealous maniac, and there was a small chance, the husband she thought was dead was still alive and living on the island. Still, it was nice, sittin
g on the beach, of one of the most beautiful places in the world, talking to this drop-dead gorgeous man who seemed interested in her. “What do you do for a living?”
He shifted uncomfortably, and she got the feeling she’d asked the wrong question. Without thinking, she touched his arm. “Are you okay?”
He gave her a strained smile. “Yeah.” He let out a breath before removing his sunglasses and placing them on his head.
She found herself staring into his very recognizable turquoise eyes. She gasped. “You’re Christian Ross! I thought you looked familiar, but I couldn’t place you … until you removed the sunglasses.” Christian was one of the biggest actors in Hollywood, starring in a string of blockbuster action movies. She searched her brain. What were the most famous ones called? They were some of Roland’s favorites, so she’d watched them with him a number of times, when they were married. “Freefall, Crossfire and …”
“Lethal Target,” he finished for her.
“Yeah, that’s right, Lethal Target. But those came out a few years ago. What have you been in recently?”
He rubbed his jaw. “I’m semi-retired.”
“Oh, it must be nice.” She regretted her words the instant she saw the crease between his brows.
“I suppose,” he huffed.
A wall went up between them. She was confused for a second, then remembered … a snippet she’d read in a magazine while getting her hair done at the beauty salon. Something about a car accident, and his girlfriend who’d been injured. No wonder he suddenly withdrew. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to touch a nerve.”
Pain flickered over his handsome face. “It’s okay.”
“That’s why you kept your sunglasses on, isn’t it? So I wouldn’t recognize you.”
“Yes,” he admitted. “It’s nice to talk to someone and just be me. Not Christian Ross the actor, just plain, old me. No expectations. No judgment.”
“I get it.” Even as she spoke the words Everly’s mind was whirling. She was sitting on a beach with Christian Ross! It took all the effort she could summon to keep a passive expression on her face as she sought for something to say that didn’t revolve around acting. “So, Christian,” she drawled, laying her accent on super thick, “considering I’m from South Carolina. And seeing how this is my first time in Hawaii. Tell me … what do you do for fun around here?”
He didn’t miss a beat. “You mean something other than going to the beach, trying to pick up on unsuspecting southern belles who’re willing to share their sun block with a complete stranger?”
She chuckled. “Yeah, something other than that.”
He scratched his head. “Hmm … let’s see. I grew up surfing and playing football. I like to garden. And I’ve been training for an Ironman.”
“An Ironman? Wow! No wonder you look like you do.” Her face flamed when she realized what she’d said. “Um … I mean that’s why you’re in such good shape.”
His eyes twinkled in amusement, thoroughly enjoying her discomfort. He winked. “Thanks.”
Sadie let out a cry and then started bawling. Christian leapt to his feet and rushed to her side. “What’s wrong?”
Everly also stood and walked to where Jordan and Sadie were playing.
Sadie pointed an accusing finger at Jordan. “He threw sand in my eyes!”
Christian’s face turned a shade darker. “What?”
Everly looked at Jordan in disbelief. “Did you throw sand at Sadie?”
Jordan’s lower lip trembled. “I didn’t mean to.”
“How could you do that?” Christian demanded.
Jordan erupted into tears. “I-it was an accident,” he stammered. “I was digging out a big rock. It was hard to get around it, and the sand came up.” He looked at Everly with pleading eyes. “I’m sorry, Mommy. I’m sorry!”
Sadie rubbed her eyes, wailing. “It burns!”
Everly rushed over to her bag and grabbed a bottle of water. Then she darted back. “Flush her eyes with this.”
Christian cupped his hands, and Everly poured water into them. He splashed the water into Sadie’s eyes. All the while, she screamed. Everly poured more water into Christian’s hands, and he repeated the process. Finally, Sadie stopped wailing but was still crying in soft gulps.
Anger twisted over Christian’s face as he glared at Jordan. “This is unacceptable. You were being a menace.”
For a second, Everly didn’t think she’d heard him correctly. A menace? Had he really just said that? She bristled like a soaked cat. “How dare you pass judgment on my son, when you don’t know the first thing about him. He said it was an accident.”
He let out an incredulous laugh. “And you believe him?”
She squared her shoulders, looking Christian in the eye. “Yes, I do.” She turned to Jordan. “Now, apologize to Sadie.”
Jordan shook his head no and buried it in Everly’s waist. “I didn’t mean to hurt her,” he cried.
“Jordan,” she said firmly, attempting to extricate him from her waist, “even though it was an accident, you still need to apologize.”
Christian shot her a blistering look. “I believe he’s done enough.”
She rocked back. What a jerk! Par for the course. She should’ve known Christian was too good to be true. “Yep, I believe you’re right,” she snapped. “Let’s go!”
Jordan drew back from her, his eyes wide. “But I wanna stay at the beach.”
“We’re leaving … now!”
Jordan melted into tears. “Please, Mommy. Let’s stay. I didn’t mean to hurt Sadie. I promise, I didn’t.”
Everly’s cheeks stung from the heat of embarrassment as she turned her back on him and started shoving the sand toys into the bag. Jordan threw himself down on the sand and started squalling like he was dying. She glanced at Christian, who looked amused. When he chuckled, her anger rose to new heights. Her hand flew to her hip, and she thrust out her chest, ready to spar. “You know what you can do, Mr. High and Mighty! You can take your stupid grin and stick it where the sun don’t shine!”
Christian’s jaw dropped.
She stomped over to where she’d been sitting and packed everything away in record time. Jordan was still making a show of crying, but it was obvious from his whiny tone that his heart wasn’t in it. Christian and Sadie just stood there, watching. Of all the times for Jordan to pitch a fit! Why did it have to be now? Everly wanted to wipe that smug expression off Christian’s face and shove him headfirst into the sand.
“Let’s go, Jordan,” she commanded in her most authoritative voice. Any other time, she would’ve simply picked him up and carried him, despite the kicking and screaming, but she couldn’t because her hands were loaded with beach paraphernalia. She could tell from the look on Jordan’s face he was determined to make this a power struggle. He knew she was humiliated and wanted to leave quickly. She gave him a steely look. “I’m leaving. Unless you want to be left out here alone, I suggest you come too.”
Christian was surprised. “You’re just going to leave him here?”
She glanced at Jordan, who was hanging on every word. The only way to establish clear boundaries was to press forward. “It’s his choice. Leave with me now or stay here alone.” She winced inwardly. This could end badly. There was no way she was going to leave Jordan out here alone; but now that she’d said it, she had to at least try and follow through. She turned on her heel and began walking toward the beach house. When Jordan finally got up and trudged along behind her, she was relieved.
So much for a day of R&R at the beach!
3
“I’m sorry, man. I’ve given it a lot of thought, and I’m just not up to doing another Jase Scott movie right now.” Christian gripped the phone, preparing himself for the backlash that was sure to follow. Not only was Boston Andrews his agent, but also a close friend. Boston ran a talent agency in L.A. and started representing Christian years ago, when he first went into acting. The two weathered their fair share of storms in the cutthroat,
Hollywood industry before attaining unprecedented success when Christian landed the leading role of Jase Scott in the wildly popular action series about a rogue CIA Agent. From the moment Christian first read the screenplay, he knew he was a shoo-in for the role. And as an added bonus, he was able to do his own stunts. Freefall, the first movie in the series, had catapulted him to stardom overnight. After Lethal Target and Crossfire came out, he soared to the top of the A-List, becoming a Hollywood favorite, akin to the caliber of Tom Cruise and Robert Downey, Jr. The amount of money he was paid per movie was staggering, which is why Boston had been begging him to do another.
Love on the Rebound (Hawaii Billionaire Romance) Page 2