Dawn nearly moaned in public just thinking about it, her whole body consumed by a pleasant burning. Was their relationship still just a marriage of convenience, to get back at Todd, or had it developed into something more? Deep down, Dawn knew she wanted it to mean something. She wanted it to be real. The thought of having Curtis as her boyfriend was almost intoxicating. What she wouldn’t do to have him by her side forever…
“Hey! Got your head in the clouds again?” Dawn was suddenly broken from her trance as she heard a familiar voice. She looked down, the smile instantly disappearing from her face when she saw Todd standing there.
“What do you want?”
“I want to talk to you.” He was wearing nothing more than a pair of beach trunks, his otherwise handsome body on full display.
“I’m on duty.” She said, crossing her arms over her full chest. “I don’t have time to talk.”
“Aw, come on. It’ll only be a minute.” He pleaded with her. “Then I’ll leave you alone. I promise.” Dawn glanced down at him, seeing a shark tooth necklace hanging around his neck. She had given him that necklace. What was he doing wearing it, when they had broken up a year ago?
“Fine.” She huffed, climbing down. “Out with it.” She had a standoff attitude, her stance defensive.
“I wanted to tell you that I really miss you. I know we broke up a year ago, but I haven’t stopped thinking about you. I was an idiot for ever letting you go and I never forgave myself for what I said the day I left. That’s why I never bothered to call you. I figured you hated me.” He sighed, his eyes darkening with sadness. “It’s been hard without you in my life, Dawn. You used to be my rock, the person I could depend on when times were tough.”
Before Dawn could even react, he leaned forward and gave her a passionate kiss, leaving her breathless and dazed. She didn’t even have time to get her bearings and yell at him before he was gone. She blinked, trying to figure out if he had even been real or a figment of her imagination. The burning on her lips, however, told her it had been all too real. But what did he mean by kissing her like that? By telling her that he missed her? Dawn felt herself becoming angry at him, but at the same time, her heart was in shambles, trying to figure out what to make of the kiss that had just blown her away. Could it be that she wasn’t quite over him yet?
***
Dawn still hadn’t figured out what Todd’s motive was when she went to Oceanside on her day off, ready to cheer on Curtis in the quarterfinals. She felt bad for kissing another man, but at the same time, she kept reminding herself that it was just a fake marriage. Did it matter if she kissed someone else? Still, she couldn’t help but feel terrible, a tight knot forming in her stomach.
The second her feet touched the soft sand, she looked around for Curtis. The day was gloomy. Clouds hung overhead, making everything a shade darker. Still, the sun was so strong that it broke through the clouds. The ocean was rougher than usual, rising up in almost fifteen-foot waves. The thick foam crashed against the shore, deafening anyone that had dared to go to the beach that day.
Dawn finally noticed him and her heart dropped. He was leaning against his surfboard, propped up in the sand, talking to a very attractive blonde. She wore a skimpy white bikini, her skin nearly visible through the thin, wet material. Dawn could hear the sound of her giggle and it pierced through her like an arrow. The woman twirled her hair on her finger, staring at Curtis with a mesmerized look on her face. Dawn’s whole body tensed up with jealousy.
Without thinking, she stepped forward, getting between them. “Excuse me. Can I have a minute?” Curtis was a little shocked, not expecting Dawn to interrupt his conversation like that. The girl he had been talking to just gave him a concerned expression before walking away.
“Who was that?” Dawn snapped.
“Melony,” Curtis answered simply. “She’s an old friend of mine. We used to go to high school together,” he added.
“Why were you flirting with her then?” Dawn asked and moved closer, her eyes burning.
“We weren’t flirting, Dawn.” He peered into her eyes, seeing the look of suspicion there. He frowned. Was Dawn jealous of Melony? “Why would that matter?” He asked with a chuckle, trying to play it off. “Or was not talking to my friends a part of the terms and conditions?” He nudged her, trying to get her to smile, but her scowl just deepened.
“Oh, so now you’re mocking me too?” Dawn lost it. She could hardly believe it. She had trusted this man and now, it felt like her heart was being shattered into pieces all over again. She ground her teeth and did her best to hold back her tears.
“No. It’s just that our arrangement is temporary. I didn’t think it would be that big of a deal. Besides, I wasn’t even flirting in the first place.” Curtis tried to defend himself. “It’s really no biggie, Dawn, chill.” He placed a hand on her shoulder, but she jerked herself away as if his touch would burn her. He sighed. “Well, if you’re going to be that way, I think I should just leave. The tournament starts soon.” With a saddened expression, he walked by himself toward the turbulent sea.
“Fine!” She shouted, huffing and walking away. Why were all surfers such assholes?
***
After that incident, Dawn barely left her house for a few days. She couldn’t handle it. After her amazing night with Curtis, she had fallen in love with him and had been positive that he had feelings for her too. There was no way he could have been that sweet and passionate toward her and not felt a thing. She sighed and threw her pillow across the living room, feeling exasperated. When would she ever find a decent man?
Trying to ease her mind, she went on Facebook, browsing through her news feed. She suddenly stopped when she saw Todd’s most recent post. Off to the Oceanside finals! Looking forward to bringing the trophy home! Dawn thought back to what Todd had said to her on the beach. Had it been true? Had he really missed her? Dawn scrolled down a bit more, noticing the comments. A girl named April said: Good luck out there, baby. Can’t wait to see you tonight! Below that was Todd’s response. I hope you’re ready for me after I win this competition, you’ll be having the night of your life.
Dawn nearly dropped her phone. It had all been a lie. Her mouth felt incredibly dry as she read it over and over, feeling her heart tighten. To think she had almost believed him. She had let him get inside of her head, making her question herself. She had been such a fool. Her eyes filled with tears and she was about to turn off her phone in rage, when she noticed Curtis’ picture at the bottom of her screen, sharing his own pre-finals thoughts.
To everyone in my hometown of San Diego, wish me the best of luck today. I hope to win the trophy for our city, but most of all, I hope I will have one special girl cheering on the sidelines today. Nothing would make me happier than to see her smiling face on the shore, yelling out my name like she did at the qualifiers. Dawn’s eyes grew to the size of the moon as she read the post. Could it be that he was talking about her? Her heart skipped a beat and in that moment, she realized just how stupid a mistake she had made. She had allowed her insecurities to get the best of her.
“I have to make this right…” She whispered to herself, suddenly getting up and grabbing her car keys. She sped through the busy city streets and made it to the beach, parking illegally just so she could get there it in time for the tournament.
The beach was abuzz with energy. It was jam-packed with spectators, watching the Oceanside Tournament finals getting underway. “Folks! We have a great show for you today. All-Star Todd Jackson, world-renowned for his surfing skills is going up against Curtis Shawn, a San Diego local who has yet to get a trophy to his name, but by no means does that decrease his chances. Wish both of our competitors the best of luck and let’s get started!”
Both Curtis and Todd stepped toward the water, their boards under their arms. Todd glanced over at Curtis, giving him a malicious look. Curtis just smiled, showing good sportsmanship.
They bobbed on their board, riding the rough surf, waiting for the
perfect wave. Dawn made her way to the front of the crowd, holding her breath, her sight locked on Curtis. Her heart was racing a mile a minute as she prayed for his victory.
Suddenly, a large wave approached them and Dawn watched as Curtis steadied himself, getting ready to ride it. Todd beat him to it, however, whipping out in front and gliding along the top, amazing the crowd. Curtis was obviously a little thrown off as he wobbled a bit but managed to regain his footing, entering the pipe and disappearing between it.
The whole crowd gasped as the end of the pipe started to close, getting smaller and smaller until they were certain no one could emerge from it. Suddenly, Curtis appeared, flaring his board upwards and catching the end of the wave to do a quick spin, followed by a flawless landing. The crowd erupted with applause. Dawn couldn’t hold herself back as she screamed at the top of her lungs.
Curtis’ eyes grew big at the shout, instantly recognizing it. He spotted her among the crowd, her auburn hair easy to spot. His heart sped up in his chest as he became distracted by her beauty, just gliding along the water, not paying any attention to his surroundings. Suddenly, a large wave formed behind him, breaking right in front of him. He was pulled under, his body engulfed by the white foam.
A quiet hush surrounded the crowd as they waited for him to emerge from the water, but he never did. Dawn’s eyes grew big and her eyes sunk. She looked over at the lifeguards, but they didn’t move. Without a moment of hesitation, she dove into the water, clothes and all, in the direction of where she had last seen him. With burning eyes, she searched everywhere, looking for him under the water. Just when she thought she would have to come up for air, she spotted him. She dived deeper, ignoring her burning lungs and grabbed hold of him, pulling him toward the surface.
She pinned him to her body, mustering all of her strength to drag him through the water. When they both surfaced, they coughed and gasped for air. Curtis looked at her wide-eyed, his lips a light shade of blue. “You saved me…” He whispered, his arms wrapped around her, their bodies bobbing in the rough water. “Even though you were mad at me…”
Dawn couldn’t believe her ears. He had actually admitted she had saved him. Without thinking, she lunged forward, kissing him hard. Their kiss intensified as their passion and emotions flowed through their lips. Once they finally pulled away the crowd cheered louder than ever. They looked over, noticing that everyone was smiling at them, seeing the brave act of love as something inspiring and noteworthy.
“Of course I saved you… I love you, Curtis. You’re the best thing that has ever happened to me. Even though we aren’t really married, I still fell for you and I didn’t want to see you with some other girl. I wanted you to be with me. I still do…” She whispered softly, looking at him, her blue eyes imploring him to believe her. “I’m so sorry.”
At that moment, Curtis didn’t care about the crowd, the trophy, or even Todd Jackson. All he cared about was Dawn. He cupped her face and kissed her lips once more. “Marry me?” He asked, his eyes genuine.
“You mean for real?” Dawn stammered in disbelief.
“Yes. I don’t know if I’ll win the tournament now that I’ve wiped out, but at least tell me I’ve won your heart.” He said softly, brushing a bit of her hair out of her eyes.
Dawn felt herself melt at his touch. “You’ve won it a thousand times over. For the rest of time.”
“I love you so much, Dawn.”
*****
THE END
Artsy Billionaire’s Curator Bride
The red Land Rover meandered slowly down the narrow, beaten track. Red-tiled rooftops sitting precariously on a precipice were discernible from afar, their whitewashed walls decorated by laundry flapping in the wind. Further back, a bell tower peeked out above the houses, competing with the snow-capped mountain in the distance.
The sound of tires crunching against the gravel alerted the residents of the visitor. A group of men watched silently, but with palpable curiosity, as the vehicle slowed down and then came to a full stop beside the ditch that lined both sides of the road.
Weather-beaten faces followed the movement of the man as he exited the car.
“Turista,” one of the men muttered, as he blew cheroot smoke into the wind. The others nodded their heads in agreement, noting the camera that was slung across his chest.
The aviator glasses caught the sun’s reflection as the new arrival looked all around him. “Buongiorno,” he said, hailing the group watching his every move.
He approached the old timers with the gait of someone in control. This was no ordinary tourist, they thought. He resembled the wealthy landowners of the north, with his blonde hair blowing in the wind. But the accent told them he was a foreigner who had learned their language.
He introduced himself and, after some pleasantries, told them about his business.
“Sto cercando… I am looking for, il pittore…the painter?”
The men nodded excitedly among themselves and pointed to a trail down the road.
“Grazie…” he said, smiling at them warmly before heading that way.
He knocked on the door of a rundown cottage. It was the only house in the small lane. A heavy woman with hair pulled back into a tight bun answered the door. The expression on her face turned to sadness when she heard the reason for his visit.
She narrated an incredible tale, sometimes gesticulating wildly while she spoke, other times wiping away her tears with an apron. A short silence followed the end of the story while she composed herself.
“Mi dispiace, Signora…I am sorry; I didn’t know,” he said, then added, “…so all his paintings are gone? He only kept one? May I see it please?”
She left, and returned with a rolled-up piece of canvas, which she handed to him. He unfolded it gently and inhaled sharply in surprise.
The lines, shapes, color and texture were breathtaking. But it was the painter’s mood that captivated him. There was an alternating contrast of happiness and sadness, expectation and despair, remembrance and mourning – the outpourings of a tortured soul.
His decision was instantaneous. He wanted it, badly. She hesitated at first, but when he explained what his intentions were for the artwork, she agreed wholeheartedly. He paid her a generous amount, more than the price it would ever command if it were sold on the street.
Back inside his car, he unrolled the canvas once more and stared closely at the bridal painting. A deep, unexplained hunger burst forward from his soul.
He wondered if he would ever find someone who would look at him the way the bride in the painting was looking at him, via the simple means of oil and pigments.
***
The weatherman had said it was going to rain later that day.
But Lane Sheridan, ever the optimist, had snubbed the advice. The azure sky above had given no hint that it would transform into the cascading torrent outside the window of the Stromm Art Gallery that she now pressed her nose against.
“Rain, rain, please go away,” she murmured.
Lane fiddled with the satchel containing her research notes and sighed audibly. She barely had 45 minutes to get to her night classes at Columbia University. Working by day at the Stromm Gallery gave her a distinct advantage over her colleagues in the Art History course. Her thesis was due in four weeks and graduation in six. She looked forward to the title of Assistant Curator after that. Katherine Stromm, owner and curator of Strom Gallery, had given her word. Lane had no reason to doubt her. They had worked together for 6 years, since a shy and reticent Lane had first asked to be taken on as an intern.
There had been something about the brown haired, green-eyed neophyte that struck Katherine. She had been timid, yet armed with surprising mischievousness, and Katherine had been pleased to discover that Lane also had a familiarity with art that belied her youthful appearance.
Under Katherine’s wing, the newbie developed an eye for detail and the ability to discern a good painting whose value would increase over the years. Lane was great wit
h research and a quick learner. When she graduated from college, Katherine took her back with open arms.
The Stromm Gallery was worth billions and had links to museums and galleries all over the world. Lately, Lane had been managing it in an unofficial capacity. Katherine had fallen ill and the added responsibility couldn’t have been more ill timed. Between running the gallery and her night classes, Lane had very little time to do anything else. But she was not complaining. She knew that her position as assistant curator was a step closer to her ultimate dream of becoming a curator.
But it was the hefty income increase that sat at the forefront of her psyche. Lane needed it for her sister Sarah’s education. Orphaned at a young age, Lane had vowed that Sarah would have the best education that she could provide. That propelled her intensely. Sarah didn’t have to know that her high school tuition at a private school had caused Lane to wallow in debt, but college was looming and Lane was struggling to keep up. That meant passing up on a pair of Ferragamo shoes that were on 70 per cent discount. Anticipating better wages was reason enough for Lane to endure night school, even if her body sometimes screamed for a break.
Hang in there, Lane. This shall pass. It finally slowed down to a trickle and Lane sighed in relief. She gave the gallery a cursory glance, before heading out the door.
***
Lane tottered as the heel of her shoe sunk into the muddy earth. The weather was gray and somber.
The Billionaire's Fake Marriage (A Romance Collection Boxed Set) Page 7