by Sarah Morgan
“No.” His fingers brushed her cheek. “It shook my trust for a little while and maybe I’m more careful because of it, but my foundations weren’t rocked in the way yours were.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “You’re not that careful. You’re here with me. A Cole. We have a reputation for being unreliable heartbreakers.”
His eyes glittered in the darkness. “Did I mention that I like to live dangerously?”
“Did I mention that I’d like you to rock my foundations?”
He raised an eyebrow and a smile touched his mouth. “Are you flirting with me again, Ms. Cole?”
“I think I might be but I still don’t have much experience. I’m working on it.”
“Happy to help you with that.” He swung her up in his arms and carried her into the cabin.
Chapter Fifteen
She who dreams is not always asleep.
—Eva
Matt and Frankie spent the next day rediscovering the island, eating ice cream from Summer Scoop and buying gifts from Something Seashore, Emily’s new gift store. Lisa was doing a brisk trade behind the counter but she gift-wrapped each of Frankie’s purchases with meticulous care.
“Normally I run Summer Scoop, but Emily wasn’t expecting to get pregnant when she set up her business, so we’re all helping out.” She measured a length of ribbon and snipped. “You’ve made some good choices here. Your friends are lucky.”
“You have beautiful things.” Frankie glanced around the store, her gaze lingering on handmade striped cushions and glass jars full of sea glass. There were so many items that tempted her, but she’d restricted herself to a basket of sea-shells that she was planning to use in floral displays, and gifts for her friends.
She wanted to buy something for Matt, but he didn’t leave her side so there was no chance of doing anything secretive. The fact that he was so protective of her didn’t irritate her the same way it did his sister. It made her feel safe, and loved.
Loved?
She frowned. Not loved. Cared for would be a better expression.
“Emily has a good eye, and she stocks the work of local artists whenever she can. Much of the stuff you see here was made on the island.” Lisa carefully packed Frankie’s purchases into a stylish linen bag. “Everyone wants to take a piece of the seashore home with them.”
In the glass cabinet in front of her was a necklace of interwoven silver starfish. It was unusual and intricate.
Lisa smiled. “Pretty, isn’t it? It’s one of Skylar’s. Do you want to take a look?” She reached for the key to the cabinet but Frankie backed away.
“I’m not a jewelry person. I’m a gardener. I spend most of my life up to my elbows in dirt. That’s the reality of my life.”
There was no place in her life for a starfish necklace, no matter how pretty. When would she wear it? It wasn’t really her, although lately her definition of what was her had changed radically.
“Unless you’re up to your neck in dirt, you could still wear a necklace under your shirt. It would be like wearing sexy underwear. Just because no one can see it, doesn’t mean it doesn’t feel good wearing it. It’s original. A one-off. You won’t find another like it.” Lisa turned as a door opened behind her and two small blond heads appeared. “Excuse me one second—these two belong to me. They’re the reality of my life.”
Frankie blinked. “Twins?”
“Double the trouble.” Lisa gave a wry smile. “Meet Summer and Harry.” She walked away to deal with the children, and Frankie reached for the bag, taking one last look into the glass cabinet.
The starfish necklace caught the light, twinkling against the bed of midnight-blue velvet, winking at her.
Ridiculous, she thought. She couldn’t begin to afford it and she certainly didn’t need it. She’d be better off buying a new pair of gardening gloves to replace the ones that were full of holes. Or a few new T-shirts.
What was it about being on vacation that made you part company with common sense?
She turned her back on it and left the store.
Matt followed a few moments later.
“That place is dangerous,” she muttered. “It should be called Mega Temptation, not Something Seashore.”
“Sometimes it’s good to give in to temptation.” He took her hand and led her away from the busy main street to one of the quieter roads. “Close your eyes.”
“Why?”
“I have a surprise for you.”
“I’ve already seen it. I was impressed.” She nudged him with her elbow. “Hey, that was more flirting. How am I doing?”
“You’re doing great. And now will you close your eyes? Humor me.”
She closed her eyes and felt his fingers brush the back of her neck and an unfamiliar weight settle on her skin. “You didn’t—” She lifted her fingers to her throat and opened her eyes. “You bought me the necklace?”
“It’s intended to be a positive reminder of the island, and our weekend.”
The weekend wasn’t something she was ever likely to forget.
“You shouldn’t have done that.”
“You don’t like it?”
“I love it.” She was stammering. Overwhelmed. “That’s not the point.”
“The fact that you love it is exactly the point. And if you’re worried that you don’t have any occasion to wear it, then don’t. I’ll take you somewhere you can wear it.”
He made her feel special. Or maybe it was the way he was looking at her that made her feel special. But underneath the euphoria that came from being with him, something else lurked. Questions. What did it mean? What happened next? “I don’t know what to say.”
“You say thank you. That’s it.”
“But—”
“You’re worried it comes with strings attached? You think I’m giving you this so that I can have my evil way with you?”
“You can do that for free.”
“Damn. If I’d known that, I wouldn’t have bothered.”
The humor in his eyes made her feel better and she stood on tiptoe and kissed him.
“Thank you.”
She wished she could switch off her brain. She wished she could stop asking herself what it all meant.
They wandered back to the harbor and when they’d had enough of dodging tourists, they visited the house where she used to live. Frankie was surprised to find it looked different from how she remembered it. The freshly painted outer walls gleamed in the hot August sunshine, and a bright red swing took pride of place in the garden. She thought of all the times she’d returned home with a sense of dread, never knowing what mood her mother would be in, and realized that the dark times had colored the house in the mind.
“It feels strange being here. It’s not how I remembered it.”
“Things rarely are.”
She stepped away from the house and breathed in the sea air. “I’m almost sorry to be going home.”
“Me, too.” Matt turned her to face him. “We can come back again anytime you like.”
We.
The word made her catch her breath.
She’d never been a we before. Or an us.
It felt as strange and unfamiliar as the light press of the necklace against her skin.
Seeing her mother’s life crumble had made her determined to forge an independent life, and she’d done that to the detriment of her relationships.
Before they left the island they made one more visit, this time to Matt’s parents.
“Aren’t they going to think it’s strange you being here and not staying with them?”
“My parents understand that I don’t want to have scorching sex under their roof, and anyway, they had a houseful of friends this weekend.”
“That’s what I remember most about your house growing up. It was always full of people and your mom was always cooking.” But she wondered what Lillian Walker would think of the fact that her son was involved with a Cole.
As it turned out his mother was a
s warm and welcoming as ever, and if she guessed at the change in their relationship, she didn’t comment.
They ate lunch in the pretty garden, home-cooked food that Lillian threw together with the effortless ease of someone who entertained regularly.
“How was the wedding?”
They talked about the day, explained what had happened with the flowers and the conversation moved from Frankie’s skill with flowers to Urban Genie.
“I worry your sister is working too hard.” Lillian glanced at Matt. “Not that she’d tell me, of course. She hides everything from us.”
“The business is growing fast and she’s working hard.” Matt didn’t lie. “But she’s happy. And she’s well. Jake keeps a close eye on her, but don’t tell her that. He tries to do it without her noticing.”
“Jake’s a good man.” Lillian served the food. “The number of times he showed up at the hospital when she was ill—I was thinking of booking him a bed.” She paused, her attention caught by Frankie’s necklace. “That’s pretty. I remember seeing it in Something Seashore.”
Frankie tensed. How did she respond to that?
How did she prevent awkward questions?
“I bought it for her,” Matt said easily, and Frankie saw his mother’s gaze linger on the necklace and then shift to her son, registering the significance.
“It’s a pretty piece,” she said. “Skylar is a talented artist. I’ve bought one of her photographs for your dad for his birthday.” And just like that the subject changed and Frankie was once again reminded that Matt’s mother was nothing like hers.
Lillian Walker respected her son’s privacy and accepted his choices.
Gradually, Frankie relaxed, soothed by the warm family atmosphere.
“We’re spending three weeks in Europe in late October.” This time it was Matt’s father who spoke. “I have to be in Italy on business, so we’re adding in a little vacation time.”
“But we’ll be back for Thanksgiving,” Lillian said quickly. “You know you’re welcome. We’d love to see you.”
Matt didn’t hesitate. “I’ll be here.”
“Frankie, I hope you’ll come, too.” Lillian’s tone was casual. “And bring Eva. How is she? I worry about her.”
They’d always made her feel like one of the family, Frankie thought. In some ways she’d felt more at home in Paige’s house than she had in her own. It was no wonder Matt had no trouble believing in love. He’d grown up with it right under his nose.
“Eva has her ups and downs but she’s doing okay.”
“She’s lucky to have you and Paige.” Lillian stood up and cleared the plates. “What time is your flight?”
“Four o’clock.”
Michael Walker raised his eyebrows. “You’ll be caught in traffic driving back into the city.”
He and Matt argued for a few minutes about the best route, and Frankie helped Lillian clear the table.
“It’s good to see you back on the island.” Lillian opened the dishwasher and started loading plates. “It must have been daunting to come back after all this time.”
Frankie wondered how she knew. “It was. But the reality wasn’t as bad as I’d anticipated.”
“I think that’s often the case with life. Sometimes it’s because we manage to inflate things in our head, but sometimos it’s because we underestimate our ability to cope.” She closed the dishwasher and straightened up. “You’re a strong woman, Frankie. And you’re very important to Matt.”
Oh God, was this a warning?
Was she saying “Don’t mess with my son”?
Was she thinking she didn’t want a Cole anywhere near the family?
“I—”
“It’s a relief for us. I try not to interfere, but I was worried that what happened with Caroline might have made him reluctant to get involved with a woman again. It’s good to see you both looking so happy. I do hope you’ll join us for Thanksgiving. I love having the whole family together.” Lillian gave her a warm hug and then left the room to finish clearing the table.
Frankie watched her through the window.
She was the one with the problem, not Matt.
She saw Matt’s father stand up to help his wife, in what was obviously a well-oiled routine. Partners.
Would she spend less time worrying about things going wrong, she wondered, if she’d spent more time seeing them go right?
They arrived back in Brooklyn as the sun was setting.
After the peace of Puffin Island, New York seemed frenetic. Normally Matt loved the pace and energy of the city, but right now he was wishing he was back on the island with Frankie, removed from the world in the cozy cocoon of their beachside cabin where nothing could intrude.
He’d learned more about her in the past three days than he had in twenty years.
He’d learned that she woke up early and liked her coffee strong. He’d learned that her insecurities hid depths of wild passion.
And he’d learned that she’d been carrying a secret for all of her adult life. A secret she’d shared with no one. Until now.
The significance of that wasn’t lost on him.
Sharing had deepened the intimacy and connection between them, but it had also shown him that Frankie trusted him.
As they drove through the busy streets she grew quieter and quieter.
Matt glanced at her briefly. “Have you heard from Paige and Eva?”
“They have a baby shower tonight so they’re going to be home late. I think Paige might be staying with Jake.” She sounded distracted.
Matt was pretty sure he knew what was going on in her head, but he said nothing, instead concentrating on the traffic until finally they pulled onto their leafy street in Brooklyn.
It was a sticky summer night, airless and humid, and Frankie pushed her hair back from her face. “I miss the sea breeze.”
“Me, too.” He unloaded their bags and she took hers from him.
“Thanks, Matt. I had a good time.”
“I had a good time, too.”
Outside her apartment she paused and put her bag down, the keys in her hand.
Instead of unlocking the door, she turned to him. “My place or yours?”
He’d had no intention of letting her sleep in her place, but he’d been picking his moment carefully. The fact that she’d made the decision herself gave him a rush of exhilaration. “Are you planning on seducing me?”
“I’m not sure about seduction. I am planning to do bad things to you. Does that count?”
“That depends.” He moved closer to her, trapping her between his body and the door. “How bad?”
“You’ll find out.” There was a naughty gleam in her eyes that he didn’t recognize.
“Now you’re definitely flirting.”
“How am I doing?”
“You’re doing fine.” More than fine. He was so hot he was ready to explode. He released her and picked up her bag. “My apartment. That way we can take a drink up to the roof terrace and talk.”
“You want to talk?”
“I’m trying to prove I’m not only interested in your body.”
“What if I’m only interested in yours? Would that be a problem?”
Somehow they made it up the stairs. He just managed to close the door before he started to part her from her clothing. “You’ve turned into a sex maniac, do you know that?”
“I have a lot of years to catch up on. But I could point out that you’re the one ripping at my clothes.”
“I know.” He groaned and shoved her jeans down her legs. “Any chance you could wear a dress with no underwear?”
“I’ll think about it.” She was breathless, her hand clamped behind his head as she urged his mouth down to hers.
He kissed her and lifted her at the same time, feeling her gasp against his lips as her back hit the cold of the door.
“Matt—” She was soft, tempting and unbelievably sexy and he’d never known feelings so intense.
He drove i
nto her, his hands clamped on her hips and his mouth on hers. He heard her soft moan and felt the bite of her fingers in his shoulders as she tried to angle herself to meet each thrust. But like this, she was helpless. He controlled her and it was insanely erotic, the slick velvet heat enclosing the length of him. And then he felt the first ripples of her orgasm, each intimate movement of her body connecting with his.
Her grip on his shoulders tightened and he felt his vision darken as the intensity of her orgasm sent him crashing over the edge, too.
Recovery took a while and it was later, much later, after they’d showered together and exchanged more kisses under the cooling spray of water, that they took their drinks up to the roof terrace.
Sprawled on the soft cushions, they looked out over the night skies of Manhattan.
Matt reached for the beers he’d brought up with them. “To us.” He used the word intentionally, and saw her gaze lift to his. He wondered if she was going to challenge him, but she didn’t.
“To us.” There was only the briefest hesitation in her voice and he pulled her against him and they lay together watching the twinkling lights of the buildings around them.
“I love New York City.”
“Me, too. But I saw a different side to Puffin Island this weekend. And I forgot how lovely your parents are.”
“Paige and I are lucky. When I was growing up, half of my friends used to find an excuse to loiter in my kitchen so that they could talk to my mother. She’s pretty wise.”
Frankie was silent. “Matt, that thing I told you—”
“You don’t need to worry. Everything that happens between us, stays between us.”
“I know. And I trust you.” She relaxed against him. “This is the first time in my life someone has known everything there is to know about me. It’s the first time I’ve ever been truly me with anyone.”
“And how does it feel?”
“It feels good. Turns out I like the fact that you know me. It means I can relax. And I know you, too.” She turned her head to look at him. “Unless you’re hiding some great secret you need to share with me?”
Matt didn’t answer.
He did have a secret. He had one hell of a secret, but he wasn’t ready to share it. It was far, far too soon. He was afraid that if he gave her any indication of his true feelings, he’d drive her away.