by Alexia Adams
“Twinkle!” She cringed at her mother’s use of her childhood nickname. “First your brother and his new wife, now you. This is a special month. Why didn’t you let us know you were coming?”
“I guess the pigeon didn’t make it,” Helen said as her mother enveloped her in a tight hug. Janet Winston smelled of sweat, dirt, and heaven. At the end of the day, it didn’t matter what her mother’s personal philosophy was—she was still her mother.
“Oh Mom, I got my heart broken.” She sobbed on her mother’s shoulder.
“Well, I’m not sure I’ve got a cure for a broken heart, but I’ve got some herbs that will help dull the pain,” her mother said. She was the botanist of the group, advising what was edible or not. Helen had purposefully not examined all the plants her mother grew.
“Twinkle, I thought I heard your voice.” Her dad appeared from inside the cabin, buttoning his shirt as he approached. Simon’s parents never had sex; her parents never stopped.
“I brought you some juice, Dad.” She handed the bag to her father; the tinkle as the glass bottles knocked against each other brought a huge smile to his face.
“Much appreciated, sweetheart.”
“Have you eaten?” Janet put her arms around her daughter’s shoulder and led her toward the cabin.
“I had a quick bite in the last town I went through. But if you have any of those wild mushrooms and homemade bread, I wouldn’t say no.”
“I’m sure there are some knocking around somewhere.”
Helen settled into the hand-carved wooden chair by the fireplace and watched her mother bustle about in the makeshift kitchen. Her father poured two glasses of whisky and handed one to her.
“So, want to tell your old man what happened?”
“Not really.” She wasn’t quite sure what had happened herself. During the flight and then three-hour drive, she’d replayed the scene in the hotel over and over. It had all gone horribly wrong so quickly. Bottom line was that Simon had chosen money over her.
“Here you go, Twinkle. You’ll feel better after you’ve eaten.”
Her mother handed her a plate, which Helen eyed with suspicion.
“You haven’t put any mind-altering plants in here, have you?”
“No, of course not. But if you want some…”
Helen’s reply was cut off by the unmistakable sound of shotguns being cocked. Not everyone in the commune held to her parents’ pacifist views. Her father leaped to his feet and rushed out of the cabin.
“Stay where you are, mister. This is private property,” someone shouted.
“I’m looking for Helen Winston,” Simon’s deep voice said.
Helen shot to her feet and raced outside, still clutching her dinner plate.
“It’s okay, he’s with me,” she told the assembled group of men all pointing shotguns at Simon, his hands in the air.
The group disbanded until there was only Simon, Helen, and her parents.
“Twinkle, you want to introduce us to your friend?” her father asked.
“Mom, Dad, this is Simon Lamont. Simon, these are my parents, Janet and Derek Winston.”
“Now, Twinkle…” her father said.
“Argh, they’re your legal names and I’m going to put them on your gravestones,” Helen said.
“Then we’ll be dead and won’t care,” her father added. “Go on, introduce us properly.”
“Simon, these are my parents, Sunshine and Moonbeam.”
How Simon kept a straight face she had no idea. “May I ask which is which?”
“Mother is Sunshine, Father is Moonbeam.” Helen gave him a look as though it was the most obvious thing in the world.
“We light up her life, night and day,” her mother said.
“This the guy who broke your heart?” Her dad was as straight-talking as David.
“Yup.” She nodded as Simon swallowed.
“Want me to get rid of him for you?”
Simon’s eyes pleaded with her.
“Not yet. I’ll hear him out first,” she said. Simon’s shoulders relaxed.
“Well, it’s uncivilized to talk on an empty stomach,” Helen’s mother added. She took the plate out of Helen’s hand and gestured toward the cabin. “Come in, Simon. I just made Twinkle some dinner but there’s plenty left. Are you hungry?”
“Thank you, Sunshine, that would be lovely.”
Her parents turned back to the cabin, but she stood rooted to the spot. He’d come. The question was why? Except she couldn’t bring herself to ask.
“You made good time following me.”
“Liam lent me his plane.” Simon took another step closer, then another, until barely an inch stood between them. The heat from his body, the scent of his aftershave, the sheer maleness of him intoxicated her. Or had her mother slipped something into her dinner?
“I know we have to talk. And I know you may not forgive me. But just for a moment, please, can I hold you?”
She gazed up into his eyes and her traitorous body melted against him. He’d come for her. That must mean something. For the moment, she was going to let her heart believe it meant more than something.
“Twinkle?” His lips were against her ear, his warm breath liquefying her resistance.
“As a child I loved the song ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star’. Evidently I sang it nonstop,” she said.
He pulled back, then tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. “Brilliant. I’m going to call you Twinkle from now on.”
“I don’t advise it. They’d never find your body in these woods.”
“Come on, you two. We’re losing daylight,” Moonbeam called out from inside the cabin.
“I like your parents.” His caress on her skin dissolved her ability to stay mad at him. Taking his hand, she led him into the cabin.
“They’re definitely different than yours,” she said as he took in the rustic cabin and primitive furniture. When his eyes met hers again there was no censure or disgust. He seemed even more at home than he’d been in his mother’s Laura Ashley-inspired sitting room.
Her father vacated his seat so Simon could sit. “Whisky?”
“Yes, please. You would not believe the day I’ve had.”
…
Sunshine handed him a plate loaded with mushrooms, some kind of salad, and two slices of homemade bread. Starving, he took a tentative mouthful, surprised at the incredible flavors that burst on his palate.
“This is fabulous,” he said between mouthfuls. Next to him, Helen ate more sedately, her eyes watching his face.
“That’s because it’s nature’s bounty. Never been near a commercial farm and had deadly chemicals sprayed all over it,” Sunshine said.
He wasn’t going to argue with her logic.
In record time, his plate was clean, and he looked up, rather guiltily. His mother would have had a stern look for his lack of manners. “Nice to see someone who appreciates wholesome food,” Moonbeam said.
“If you hurry, you’ve got just enough time to get around the ridge and watch the sunset. There’s a full moon so you won’t need a light to find your way back,” Sunshine said as she took his and Helen’s empty plates.
He stood and waited for Helen to join him. When she took his hand and led him out of the cabin, he released the breath he’d been holding. After his adventurous afternoon, courtesy of David, Simon had been seriously worried about his reception by her parents. Being met by a line of shotguns had been the least he’d expected.
Without a word, Helen led him along a narrow path to a bare outcrop of rock. The land below fell away sharply, giving the impression that he was standing on top of the world. The sky was a fiery red, a thumbnail of sun sinking slowly over the distant horizon.
“That was beautiful,” he whispered, not wanting to break the spell that held Helen at his side.
“Why are you here, Simon?” Her voice was soft as though she, too, didn’t want the magic to end.
“I came to beg your forgiveness.”
He held his breath, waiting for her response.
“What am I forgiving?”
She wasn’t going to let him off lightly.
“The fact that I got upset about the Bertram deal, that I questioned your motivations, for not trusting you.”
“I can’t believe you accused me of faking my fears to distract you from business. Do you really think I’d sink that low?”
“No. It was a reflex action. I was so scared of putting my heart on the line, of opening myself up to you when I didn’t know how you felt. The last woman I thought I loved turned out to be a two-timing bitch. When I heard about the deal I went into defensive mode. I was a complete idiot. I’m not used to telling people how I feel.” It may be low to bring up his cold childhood, but he was desperate.
“Okay, I forgive you for overreacting. Are you just here because you’ve discovered that I’ve licensed the patents to you?”
“No, I didn’t know about that until I was most of the way here. I am astounded you did that. I can’t begin to tell you what it means to me that you trust me with your career and those of your colleagues.”
“There is a condition to the licenses. You can’t sell my inventions to the military.”
“Understood. While I don’t adhere to your pacifist principles, I respect you for them.”
“Thank you.”
“And for the record, you are more important than any deal, Helen. Loving you is my ultimate achievement. In my mind, in my heart, you’re mine, and as long as I breathe no other man is going to come near you.”
She took a step back and crossed her arms. “That’s a bit possessive, Simon. I’m not an object you can claim ownership of. I’m not a company you can wheel and deal for.”
“I would never gamble with your heart. I’d do anything if you’d just say you love me again. Give me another chance to show you how much I love you.” He took a step toward her, praying she’d let him into her life again.
Her eyes searched his for the longest moment. Then a smile lit her face that rivaled the sunset for beauty.
“I love you, Simon. And I can’t imagine another man touching me, either. It appears my recovery is limited. I only feel safe with you.”
“Come home with me.” He held his hand out, waiting for her to put hers in it.
She put her hand in his, but resisted when he tried to pull her into his arms. “There’s our next problem. We live on opposite sides of the country. I know you want me in New York, but I can’t leave San Francisco just yet. As much as I love you, I still have to make sure my colleagues have jobs.”
“And I can’t take you away from there after all you’ve done to protect them. Besides, there’s no one I’ll miss in New York. Here we have Liam and Lorelei, Jason and Mandy, and if I can forgive him for today, David, and Alina. You have a network of support and love, and I want to join.”
“I think that can be arranged.” She nestled against his chest, and for the first time since she’d left the hotel that morning, he could breathe without it hurting.
He put his hands on her face, lowering his head to hers. “I love you more than all the stars in the sky, Twinkle.”
She laughed against his lips. “Call me that outside of this commune and I’ll sic David on you.”
“Oh God, do you know what he did to me?”
“I can only imagine. Tell me about it later. Kiss me now.”
“Are we playing Helen Says?”
“It is always Helen Says.”
He did as she asked. Before the kiss got out of control, he pulled back.
“Before I get carried away, I have one more merger to negotiate.”
She was undoing the buttons on his shirt. He sucked in a breath as she ran her hands over his chest. “And what would that be?” Her head lowered and she licked his nipple.
“Helen Twinkle Winston, will you marry me?”
She raised her head; another beautiful smile crossed her face in the moonlight, quickly replaced by an impish grin. “I’ll think about it. I feel now it’s fair to remind you that I’m a hard-ass negotiator.”
“You’re going to keep me on my toes for the rest of my life, aren’t you?”
“Yup.”
“Thank God,” he said against her lips before taking them in a blistering kiss. He poured the frustration of the past week and the anguish of the day into his embrace. Crushing her against him to make sure she was real.
He raised his head and looked around the area. Everywhere was hard or prickly.
As if reading his mind, she said, “Ever made love in a hammock under the stars?”
“No.” She took his hand and led him along another path to a clearing. A cotton hammock was strung between two posts. Twinkling stars peppered the sky with such brilliance Simon let out a long sigh.
“How about in a natural hot spring, as day breaks over the horizon?”
“You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“I never kid about intimacy. On the flight from New York to London I thought about places we could make love if I got the chance to introduce you to my parents.”
She popped open a trunk that was resting against a rock a few feet away and pulled out a couple of blankets, spreading one over the hammock. Then she lit a few glass jars littered about the place.
“Bug repellant. You don’t want to get bitten anywhere sensitive,” she said, noting his interest.
He took a step toward her. “Won’t your parents worry when we don’t come back right away?” The last thing he needed was to get on the bad side of any more Winstons, even if their names were Moonbeam and Sunshine.
“Trust me, my parents are probably doing the exact same thing we are. They’re undoubtedly praying that we don’t come back anytime soon.”
She pulled her shirt over her head and unclipped her bra. Her skin glowed in the moonlight. The cool night air tightened her nipples to hard buds. He ripped off his clothes, a couple of buttons disappearing into the night. As he was about to climb onto the hammock she put a hand on his arm.
“You go on top this time.”
He searched her eyes in the dim light: no panic, no fear, just love. Then she grabbed his butt and pulled him to her.
“Oh God, what am I getting myself into? A brother who hacks secure systems with ease, parents who live in a commune and go at it like rabbits, and a woman who turns my knees to water with a smile.”
“I haven’t agreed to marry you yet. You can still renegotiate the offer. Perhaps go for a woman selected by your mother.”
“No way. I’ll just have to work at taming you.”
“You can try, pirate. You can try.”
Epilogue
Helen stepped through the glass doorway, navy blue chiffon floating around her legs. Lorelei, Mandy, and Alina followed her into the crowded room. It was the grand opening ceremony for Lamont Holdings’ new corporate headquarters. And Simon had spared no expense in celebrating his relocation to San Francisco.
For the past six months, they’d been dividing their time between the two coasts, but their inevitable busy work schedules meant they were apart more than either wanted.
The four men who had been waiting for the arrival of their women rushed over to them.
“You ladies are gorgeous,” Simon said, never taking his eyes off Helen.
“Why, thank you, Mr. Lamont,” Mandy replied, cheekily. She did a pirouette in her black silk dress. Lorelei rubbed her baby bump as if it was the reason for her beauty, and Alina smiled shyly. Helen slowly turned so Simon could get a full look at her naked back; one single curl rested on her bare skin, the rest piled on top of her head. Having finally worked up the courage to wear the beautiful gown in public, she was going to make the most of the night. It was the last challenge she had to overcome on her road to recovery.
“The dress is beautiful, you even more so,” Simon said into her ear after kissing her cheek in greeting.
“You look pretty good yourself, even without the parrot and eye patch.” The picture she�
�d drawn of him when they first met now hung framed on the wall of his office.
“How do you like my new ship?” He gestured around the open, marble-tiled lobby.
“It’s very nice. I’m sure you’ll be happy here.”
“I’m only happy in your arms. I’ll survive here.” He gave her one of his devastating smiles.
“You’re such a smooth talker, I never know when you’re serious,” Helen chided him.
He put both arms around her, pulling her tight against him, not caring that hundreds of his employees were watching. “I am deadly serious about marrying you. When are you going to say yes?”
“Ask me again tonight when we’re alone. I think you’ll get the answer you want.” She stood on tiptoes and kissed him on the lips.
The pirate had found his treasure.
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About the Author
Alexia once traveled the world, meeting new people, experiencing new sights and tastes. She has lived in Canada, New Zealand, Australia, England, and France, and also spent time in Panama and Russia. When life demanded that she stay rooted in one place, she took to vicarious voyages through the characters she created in her romance novels. Her stories reflect her love of travel and feature locations as diverse as the wind-swept prairies of Canada to hot and humid cities in Asia. Discover other books written by Alexia or read her blog on inspirational destinations, Journey to Love, http://Alexia-Adams.com.
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