by Bella Andre
He sealed his lips over hers and lifted her into his arms. Her legs naturally circled his waist, and her arms wrapped around his neck as he kissed her salty tears away.
“You’re perfect, Shell, just the way you are. Don’t change a damn thing about yourself.”
And then he carried her into the bedroom and loved away the pain and sadness until her heart was so full of him that she didn’t have room for anything else.
Chapter Twenty-one
WEDNESDAY MORNING, QUINN and Shelley had breakfast on the terrace of the resort. Shelley had been quiet most of the morning, and Quinn wondered if she was still upset about the things her mother had said to her.
Last night, when he’d found her trying to hold back tears on the front porch, his protective urges had barreled forward, urging him to pick up the phone and give her parents hell. All along he’d held out hope that her parents would relent in their pursuit to make Shelley into the woman they wanted her to be, but last night had wiped that wish clean. It broke his heart to know how much she’d struggled to be loved by the people who should love her most.
He was so glad his family seemed eager to embrace Shelley being a part of both his life and theirs.
“Are you excited about moving into the cottage tomorrow?”
She’d been looking out at the water with her chin resting on her palm and a thoughtful look in her eyes. “Super excited.”
She reached for his hand just as his phone vibrated in his pocket. He knew it had to be Rich but debated letting his partner’s call go to voicemail.
“It’s okay, Quinn. Take it.”
She must have seen the struggle on his face. “Are you sure?” The phone vibrated again.
“It’s fine. We both have to live our lives, and you’ll be going back soon, so I need to get used to it. We both do.”
He hated having her get used to anything other than waking up in his arms, but she was right. “I’ll make it quick.” He answered the call on his way across the terrace.
“Quinn,” Rich said in a harried voice, “things are getting out of hand. I’ve met everything they’re offering Joseph, but he hasn’t accepted yet. He wants more responsibility, a higher position. Short of giving him one of our jobs, we’re stuck.”
“Isn’t there anything else we can offer him? He’s been with us since the inception of the business. He’s the best at what he does. He deserves more. What are they offering him that’s more than what we are?”
While Rich explained what Joseph was being offered, Quinn walked back to Shelley and settled a hand on her shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. He wanted her to know he hadn’t forgotten about her.
It’s okay, she mouthed.
He blew her a kiss, then walked a few feet away to finish his call.
“I’ve got this covered for now,” Rich said, “but your presence is key here. Joseph trusts you more than he trusts anyone else.”
“Do what you can there and I’ll try to get things wrapped up here. And let me know if it looks like the lid is going to blow with either Joseph or the merger.”
By the time Quinn hung up, his mind was going a hundred miles an hour. He had faith in Rich’s ability to handle whatever came up with the business, but Rich was right when he said that Joseph’s trust and respect for Quinn was greater than his trust in anyone else. He rubbed the knot that was quickly forming in the back of his neck.
Shelley walked toward him and wrapped her arms around him. “Everything okay?”
“Some parts yes, some parts no.” But he didn’t like grumbling to her, especially when their time together was counting down way too fast. “Tell me something, Shell. When you’re away from work and you let yourself relax, if you’re not being productive, what are you doing? Do you ever feel like you’re just wasting time when you could be making more, doing more, working toward a bigger goal?”
She gave him a look so full of understanding that it made his heart turn over in his chest.
“No,” she said softly, “I don’t feel like that. But that’s because when I’m not working, when I’m not being productive or working toward a goal, I’m living. Enjoying. Exploring. Laughing. Hopefully I can do all of that when I’m working, too, but it’s so nice just to let go sometimes and be totally free to take in the joy and the beauty that’s all around us.”
He pulled her even closer, wondering how she made things seem so reasonable and easy when something as simple as taking in joy and beauty seemed easy to him only when he was with her.
“I wish I could harness your spirit and carry it with me all the time.”
She rested her head on his shoulder as they made their way down to the beach. “That’ll be hard to do from Annapolis.”
Therein lay the problem.
“Once I’m gone,” he said in a raw voice, “you might decide there are better, easier fish in the sea.”
“Yeah, you know me. Always looking for easy. Oh, and dumb, too, because a man who thinks for himself is such a bore. And…” She flashed a playful grin. “While we’re at it, how about a guy who doesn’t get me. That would make me feel right at home.”
Quinn was amazed at how she was always able to get him to laugh. “You have no idea what you’re getting into with me. I’m moody.”
“Yes,” she said with a nod. “I know that already.”
“I’m intense.”
Her eyes darkened with desire. “And I love it.”
He had to kiss her deep and long before saying, “I’ve also developed a really bad habit over the years of being married to my work. But I’m working on that.”
“What successful person isn’t married to their work to some degree? Especially if they love what they do. It seems to me that you’ve been able to fit in work and time for us over this past week. Or does that not count?”
He pulled her closer as they walked through the dense sand. “It counts. But,” he added as a kind of warning, “it’s also a first for me. A good first. A great first. And like I know I keep saying, I’m working on changing.”
“Change can be good sometimes,” she said slowly, “but I’m not sure why you are so convinced that you can’t have a wonderful, happy life just being the person you already are. I like who you are. Why can’t you like him a little more, too?”
When he didn’t answer right away, she pulled them to a stop on the sand and pressed her palms to his chest. He loved when she did that. Those two spots, one over his heart, the other over his muscles, were hers. She totally owned him.
“Let me ask you this,” she said. “What if I decide to go back to Maryland instead of moving my business here to the island?”
“Then I’ll find a way to spend most of my time there.”
“Okay, bad example. What if I go to dinner tonight at your parents’ house and fall madly in love with your brother Ethan and decide to sail away to live on his boat with him?”
His gut churned and a scowl replaced his grin.
“See?” She smiled up at him. “You know it’s a silly thought, something that would never happen in a million years, but you still can’t help reacting to it. Your face is all frowny, and you look dejected. It’s really quite cute. Like an angry toddler.”
“Toddler?” He grabbed her ribs, and she squealed.
“Don’t tickle me. I’m making a point.”
“Then make it already, and let’s leave Ethan out of it.” Especially since jealousy was still clawing at his nerves at even the mere thought of his brother touching Shelley.
“Okay, but you’re so cute when you’re jealous.” But then she stopped laughing and grew serious again. “All I’m saying is that if you allow yourself to be seeded with doubt, it weighs you down. Shoulda, coulda, woulda does no good. The only thing that ever works is to believe in yourself. And if that feels too difficult sometimes, then you can believe in me, because I have total faith in you. I have never lived my life afraid of what-ifs, and I’m not going to start now.”
Shelley’s faith in him moved Qu
inn in a way nothing else ever had. No big deal, no big payout, no big award had ever brought him such pleasure.
Or such happiness.
“I love you, Shelley.”
The words came directly from his heart. It didn’t matter that they’d met less than a week ago or that the logistics of having a relationship both on and off the island were messy.
All that mattered was what he felt for the beautiful woman standing in front of him.
And when she looked at him with her entire heart and soul open to him on her beautiful face and said, “I love you, too,” then kissed him without holding any of her passion—or joy—back, it was difficult to remember why he’d ever had any doubts at all.
Chapter Twenty-two
QUINN AND SHELLEY spent the afternoon exploring the island. Quinn took her to see the lighthouse, and they had lunch at a little café overlooking the water. They drove by the aquarium, and he showed her the rocky cliff where he, his brothers, and their friends used to hang out as teenagers. And the whole time, there were kisses, caresses, and whispered promises of all the wonderful ways he was planning to give her pleasure tonight.
After the call from Rich, she’d expected him to tell her that he was going to head back to Maryland early, but what he had said was a million times better.
He loves me.
And she loved him, too. With all her heart.
While Quinn was with his family, signing papers for the resort, Shelley took a walk to see the cottage she’d rented one more time before finalizing the rental agreement and moving in the next day. It was a beautiful, sunny afternoon, and there was a gentle breeze coming off the water. Up on the dunes, the breeze was stronger. She couldn’t wait to move in, open all the windows, and feel that breeze in every room.
As she headed back down the beach with her heart beating a little faster, she thought about how angry Quinn had been over the things her mother had said. He cared so much, so fast, and it meant everything to her that he did. Especially because she cared just as much about him and his happiness.
On the beach there were a bevy of flat rocks by her feet. Aunt Marla had tried to teach her to skip rocks every summer, but she’d never been able to master the flick of her wrist. Shelley picked up a flat rock, turned her hand sideways and tried to skip it. It splashed into the water a few feet away and sank.
Picking up a handful of pebbles, she simply tossed them into the water, smiling as they plunked like raindrops.
“Now, that’s more like it,” Shelley said, laughing as she did it again.
A short while later, she was surprised to turn and find she wasn’t alone on the beach anymore. Didi crouched beside Chandler Rockwell’s wheelchair, and he was leaning over the side, watching his nurse clear the sand around the wheel. He was grumbling something Shelley couldn’t hear.
“Is everything okay?”
Didi shaded her eyes from the sun and squinted up at her. “Shelley, hi. Nice to see you again. I seem to have hit a rock beneath the sand.” Didi clapped her hands together and shook off the sand. “There, that should do it.”
Shelley smiled at Chandler. “Hello, Mr. Rockwell. How are you today?”
He squinted against the sun. “You’re that Walters girl. You’ve been spending time with my grandson Quinn, haven’t you?”
Shelley wondered if he knew her parents or had heard about her from Quinn’s family. She decided to err on the side of caution.
“Yes, I am, and yes, I have. But please don’t judge me by my family.”
His long fingers curled around the arms of the wheelchair. Shelley imagined his large bony hands had once been as strong and agile as Quinn’s. He set a steady dark gaze on Shelley. She shifted her footing under his scrutiny.
“Then how should I judge you?”
His words were slightly cutting, and Shelley got the impression that they were supposed to sound like that. Shelley felt sorry for Didi, having to stand by while he made such sharp comments. But the look in Didi’s eyes wasn’t one of cowering to the old man’s harshness. It was one of obvious support aimed at Shelley.
Shelley met his steely gaze again. “By my actions. And by how much I care for your amazing grandson.”
Shelley held her breath for a beat, unsure of what to expect. But in the space of a breath, the muscles in Chandler’s jaw softened and his grip on the wheelchair eased slightly. He harrumphed and motioned for Didi to wheel him away...but for a split second, Shelley swore she saw appreciation in his eyes.
“I hope to see you again soon, Shelley,” Didi said with a smile, before heading back up the beach with Chandler.
Maybe the old man didn’t have a heart of stone after all.
Maybe, like the gristmill, and even Quinn, all Chandler Rockwell needed was the right kind of affection to reveal a kinder side of him. Or maybe he really was a curmudgeonly old bastard. But even in the brief interaction she’d had with Griffin, she believed in her heart that the fruit couldn’t fall far from the tree. Somewhere beneath Chandler’s gruff exterior had to be a nicer man.
In any case, Chandler’s body might be failing, but his mind was clearly still very sharp. And it didn’t evade her that Quinn’s careful consideration before speaking mirrored Chandler’s, much more so than Griffin’s easy nature, which she’d witnessed at Sierra’s restaurant.
The longer she thought about it, the more Quinn seemed like a mix of the two men. She’d seen Quinn’s carefree side, and she’d definitely noticed that he was his own worst critic, always worrying that he’d hurt her.
Once she was back inside her cottage, she picked up the champagne bottle with the candle he’d made for her and set it beside the flowers he’d left on her doorstep. They’d started to wilt, but she knew she’d keep them until the petals fell off.
You’re the perfect mix of sexy, fun boyfriend and powerful businessman, Quinn Rockwell. I hope one day you can see that, too.
There were myriad details she needed to take care of to get her life in order. Starting with a call to Taryn to let her know she’d changed her flight.
“Hey there, girlfriend.”
Shelley smiled at the sound of Taryn’s voice. “I wanted to let you know that I delayed my flight for two weeks. I’m still waiting to hear if the property I want to buy for the café is going to come through, but I should know within a week, and I’ve rented a cute cottage that overlooks the bay. I can’t wait for you to come visit.”
“You can count on it, and soon, since I’m already halfway done with the island dress I promised you. Did you talk to your monster…I mean mother about it?”
“Yes, and she was perfectly rotten.”
“Aw, Shell. I’m sorry, but you didn’t really expect anything different, did you?”
“No, I didn’t.” But the little girl in her apparently had still held out hope for a miracle. “I’m not going to let her ruin my excitement, though. I know I’m doing the right thing. Oh, and thanks for telling your mom, who then told mine. What were you thinking?”
“Yikes. I forgot that slipped when we were talking. I’m really sorry, Shell. I should have been more careful.”
“It’s okay. I probably would have put it off for weeks. You just tore the Band-Aid off all at once, most likely saving me weeks of stressing over doing it.”
“I hate that your mother can make you feel so bad,” Taryn said, “but then again, we both know my mother went to the same school of snooty behavior as yours. And just so I know if I need to keep my mouth shut again, have you told Casey yet? Is she okay continuing to manage your coffee shop for another two weeks and then closing up shop when you move the business to Rockwell Island?”
“I’m actually going to call her next. It’ll take a little while to get the shop set up here, so she’ll have some time to get used to the idea and find another job. Who knows? Maybe she’ll want to come to the island, too.”
“Especially if you can find her a hot guy to fall for. How is Mr. Sexy, by the way?”
A dreamy sigh esca
ped before Shelley could stop it.
“Did you just do one of those swoony sighs that we always make fun of?”
Shelley didn't even feel the least bit bad about it as she said, “I sure did.”
“Who are you, and what have you done with my best friend?”
“I know it seems crazy, Taryn, but...I love him. So much. From the tippy top of my head to the ends of my toes. I love the way he looks at me. I love the way he kisses me. I love the passion he has for his work. I love the careful way he makes decisions. His family is here and I really like them, too. Everything just feels so right.”
“Wow.” Taryn was silent for a long moment. “I’ve never heard you say any of those things about anyone.”
“I know it hit fast, but now I think that must be what true love does. Just hits you from out of the blue and leaves you breathless.”
“I don’t know if true love will ever come my way, but breathless sounds pretty fun,” Taryn said, a hint of longing in her voice. “How many brothers did you say he has?”
“Three, all gorgeous, of course, and lots of cousins, too.”
“Well, hopefully you two will leave a little of that Rockwell love magic for the rest of us.”
Right then Shelley felt so happy that she was not only positive there was more than enough love for everyone...she was also sure that magic was exactly the right word for it.
Chapter Twenty-three
WHEN SHELLEY AND Quinn arrived at his parents’ house for dinner that night, his cell phone dinged with an incoming text and he immediately reached into his pocket for it.
“Do you ever take a break from answering your phone?” She knew this might be a touchy subject, but she really did wonder if he ever took a complete mental break from it all.
His brows knitted together as he paused with his hand still in his pocket. “Not usually, no.” He turned to look her in the eye. “Do you even have a phone with you?”
She smiled as she repeated his answer. “Not usually, no.”
He was laughing as he walked around to Shelley’s door and helped her from the car. “Thank you.”