A San Diego Romance

by Kianna Alexander

  Chapter 15

  Chris eased away from her, sensing her growing anger. He didn’t think it was a good idea to go on with this conversation, because it would only lead to trouble. Her manner and her line of questioning told him she had no knowledge about the true reason their relationship had ended, and he didn’t think she wanted to hear it now.

  She fixed him with a hard stare. “I’m waiting, Chris.”

  He tried to de-escalate the conversation, hoping he could move it to more pleasant topics. “Eliza, it’s water under the bridge. I don’t think...”

  “Tell me!” She all but shouted the words.

  He sighed, realizing she wouldn’t relent in her insistence on knowing the truth. “Your dad told me I had two choices. I could walk away from you, or he would see to it that my architecture career never got off the ground.”

  She blinked several times. “You’re not serious.”

  He nodded. “I am. The Colonel was very clear that he thought I was a distraction to you, and that I needed to get out of your life, or he’d make mine a living hell. I couldn’t afford to have my career quashed before I even got it off the ground.”

  She fell silent, her lips tight.

  “He knows so many people in high positions, Eliza. Executives, government officials, captains of industry. I knew if I didn’t do what he said, he’d make good on his threat. Think about it, Eliza. Have you ever known the Colonel to renege on his word?”

  She snorted a dry, bitter laugh. “No. I sure haven’t.”

  “Then you understand why I...”

  She cut him off, scooting away from him and climbing to her feet. “Oh, I understand perfectly. I understand that you and my parents got together and planned my life for me. That you three decided what would be best for me without any input from me.” Her beautiful face twisted into a mixture of fury and heartbreak.

  His felt his heart squeeze inside his chest as he watched the tears sliding down her cheeks. “Eliza, please.”

  “Please what, Chris?” She started pacing the floor. “I don’t know who I’m angrier with, you, for not standing up to my dad, or my parents for doing this mess.” She stopped pacing for a moment, looking at him pointedly. “And why am I just hearing this now? Why didn’t you tell me back then why you were leaving?”

  “What difference would it have made?” He got up, walked over to where she stood in the center of the living room. “You needed your family. You needed to finish school and make your dreams come true. What you didn’t need was an older man getting in the way of all that.”

  Her eyes turned cold then.

  He reached out to touch her, and she dodged him.

  Tears still standing in her eyes, she said in a low, incredulous voice, “That wasn’t your decision to make, Chris.”

  He backed off, sensing she needed space.

  “I think you should go.”

  “Eliza. Baby, please, let me try to explain.” He tried to look into her eyes, but saw only a fleeting glimpse of her turmoil before she turned her back to him.

  “I don’t want to hear it, Chris.” She didn’t even bother to turn around. “I need time to think.”

  “Baby...”

  “Just. Get. Out.”

  Seeing the tense set of her shoulders, he sighed. It didn’t matter what he had to say, she wasn’t going to receive any of it. Knowing there wasn’t anything else he could say or do, he went to the door and opened it. “Eliza,” he said quietly. “I love you.”

  She didn’t respond.

  A few silent moments later, he walked out of the cottage, closing the door behind him.

  He’d taken two steps when he heard the door latch behind him, followed by the muffled sounds of her sobs.

  Feeling like a total jackass, he trudged to his car.

  * * *

  Saturday night, an exhausted Eliza made her last rounds of the store. She would close within the hour, and the weekend crowd of Ellicott’s shoppers had thinned to a trickle. While she normally hated it when there was a slump in business, she didn’t mind now. The store had been jumping all day, and she’d been on her feet for five straight hours. Her tired feet and aching back begged for a break from all the work she’d put in.

  She’d spent half of Thursday night sobbing into a wad of tissues. One of the greatest heartaches of her life had been caused by her parents’ meddling and Chris’s going along with their wishes. All these years, she’d been wondering what she said, what she did, that had made Chris break things off with her the way he had. Now, to find out it hadn’t even been about her but about what her father wanted for her filled her with a mixture of anger and sadness. Her right to make a major decision in her life had been taken away from her by the people she loved most. They’d stolen her autonomy, choosing to treat her like a child instead of a capable, reasonable adult. Discovering the way they’d dismissed her feelings and opinions had left her devastated and humiliated.

  Friday morning, after she awakened, she’d washed her tear-streaked face, revived her puffy eyes and headed to the store. Other than the twelve hours the store had been closed since then, she’d been in the boutique ever since. It wasn’t like her to work this hard on the weekend, and truthfully, she didn’t need to. She had a manager she trusted to handle things, and a competent staff. The great people working for her enabled her to spend her weekends any way she wanted, and usually, she’d have been at the harbor soaking up the sunshine, or at home curled up with a good book.

  This weekend was different, though, and she knew why. She had both a broken heart and a wicked sense of betrayal to grapple with. The only way she knew how to push through the pain she felt was to keep busy. Here in her store, among her staff and the beautiful clothes, shoes and accessories she’d carefully curated, she felt a measure of safety. The boutique served as a kind of physical buffer against her emotional turmoil.

  Eliza ceased her pacing, coming to a stop behind the counter. Leaning her side against the edge, she exhaled. Even as she caught her breath, her eyes darted around the store. Did I forget anything?

  Coretta walked up then. After studying Eliza’s expression for a moment, she remarked, “If you’re looking for something else to do, there’s nothing left, boss lady.”

  She sighed. “It’s that obvious, huh?”

  Chuckling, Coretta nodded. “Yep. What I don’t know is why you’re wasting your weekend here in the first place. You know good and well that me and the staff can hold things down here while you get some rest.”

  “I know. Trust me, it’s not a lack of faith in you that brought me here.”

  Coretta nodded. “I can tell. But I’m not going to press. It’s not my place to get in your business. If you want to be here, it’s not like I’m gonna try to send you home.”

  Eliza gave her a half smile. “I appreciate that.”

  “But I will tell you that you’re out of luck on finding any more busy work, unless a customer comes in.”

  As Coretta turned to walk away, the bell over the door rang.

  “Looks like you’re in luck. I’ll let you take this one, boss lady.” Coretta winked as she disappeared into the stockroom.

  Eliza turned toward the entrance and felt a shock wave of surprise go through her when she saw the familiar figure approaching the counter. “Jojo? What are you doing here?”

  Jojo, clad in a Kendrick Lamar T-shirt, blue jeans and sneakers, wore a serious expression as she stopped on the other side of the counter. “Hi, Miss Eliza. I was hoping I could talk to you for a minute.”

  “Sure, I suppose.” She stopped for a moment, studied Jojo. “Who brought you here?”

  “My friend Maddie’s mom. She and Maddie are waiting in the car outside.”

  Eliza felt her brow crease. “Do your parents know you’re here?”

  “No. But they know I’m with Maddie and her mom. Can
we please talk? It won’t take long, I promise.”

  Eliza didn’t really know about all this, but the youngster seemed so earnest in her plea. “All right. Let’s go sit down.” She gestured to the overstuffed ottomans set up near the fitting rooms. They walked over, taking seats on adjacent ottomans. “So, what’s this about, honey?”

  “I know you’re mad at my Dad. But could you please take him back?”

  Surprised for the second time by this sweet young girl, Eliza tilted her head to one side. “That’s why you came all the way over here?”

  Jojo nodded. “I know it’s probably not my place to get involved in this. But I felt like I had to at least try.”

  “I’m going to be honest with you, Jojo. I’m not really sure why you’d try to get us back together.”

  Jojo looked confused. “What do you mean?”

  “Your dad told me about the sculpture at the gallery, and why you vandalized it. If you were jealous of the time your dad spent working, then why are you okay with him spending so much time with me?”

  “It’s true, I didn’t like that Dad was always working. And he did spend a lot of time with you. But with you, it’s different.”

  “How so?” Eliza listened intently, eager to hear the answer.

  “It’s just that Dad was so happy when you were around. Now that you’re mad at him, he’s miserable. All he’s done is sit on the pool deck, staring into the water. He’s a mess.”

  Something tugged at Eliza’s heart as she listened to Jojo describe her father’s manner over the last couple of days. She could imagine him, silent and despondent, sitting by the pool just as his daughter described him. She could also see the concern in Jojo’s eyes; it was obviously that concern that had brought her here to plead his case. She sighed. “I don’t know, Jojo. Relationships can be complicated sometimes, in ways you don’t understand just yet. It’s not so simple as just taking him back.”

  With her brown eyes wide and hopeful, Jojo took a deep breath. “I get that. But if Dad was willing to give me a second chance after I messed up Mr. Jace’s sculpture, couldn’t you at least try to give him a second chance, too?”

  Try as she might, Eliza couldn’t muster a good argument against Jojo’s words. Maybe it was the logic behind what she’d said or the pleading look in the young girl’s eyes. Maybe it was both. All Eliza knew was that she still loved Chris, and beyond that, she genuinely liked his bright, determined daughter.

  Jojo gave her a small smile. “So, what do you say, Ms. Eliza?”

  Eliza returned her smile. “I’ll come over to see him tomorrow. How’s that?”

  Jojo’s expression brightened, her smile widening to a grin. “Sounds great.”

  Chapter 16

  Late Sunday morning, Chris sat on the pool deck at his house, looking out over the mountains. The day was somewhat cool and hazy, which meant his view was obstructed by the fog hanging over the city. He didn’t care, though. He hadn’t come out on his deck to enjoy the view. It was his weekend with the kids, and he’d come out on the deck for the solitude.

  Parts of him felt guilty about not spending time with the twins. Not that they seemed to mind. In the past, they’d loved playing board games with their dad, or spending time watching movies or television shows together. Now, as the twins embarked on their teenage years, they seemed more interested in their electronic devices and social media accounts than playing Scrabble with Dad. Their disinterest usually bothered him, but this weekend, it played right into his desire to be alone.

  Still, he couldn’t help being affected by Jojo’s words about wanting more time with him. Raising teenagers confounded him most of the time, but he did his best to see to their needs without it costing him his sanity. Rather than overanalyze, he just tried to meet his children’s’ needs, even though they seemed to change moment to moment.

  For now, though, Eliza consumed his mind. The three days since Eliza had kicked him out of her cottage, and out of her life, had been hellish. He’d gone through the days like a zombie, barely eating, spending his waking hours on the pool deck. Something about being near the water offered him a measure of comfort, though he didn’t think anything would fully mend the ache in his chest.

  He glanced to his right at the lounger that matched the one he reclined in. He could almost see her there, stretched out in nothing but his T-shirt. He closed his eyes against the memory, because he missed her so much, it physically hurt.

  His traitorous mind took advantage of his eyes being closed, and he imagined her atop him, as she had been the morning after they’d first made love. He could almost feel the weight of her body straddling his; the sweetness of her kiss. He could swear he felt her fingertips stroke his jawline. The sensation was so real, his eyes popped open.

  He nearly fell off the lounger when he saw Eliza standing over him. He blinked a few times to see if she would disappear. But when she touched his cheek again, he knew she was real. Clasping his hand over hers, he spoke her name. “Eliza.”

  “Hi. Jack let me in.” She offered a small smile. Her eyes raked over his body, encased in an old, faded T-shirt and blue sweatpants. “Wow. Jojo was right. You’re looking pretty damn pitiful.”

  He knew she’d just dissed him, but he was so happy she’d come over, he didn’t care. “Jojo?”

  She nodded. “She came to the boutique last night. Told me you were miserable without me and asked me to please take you back. It was very endearing.”

  Chris decided then and there that his daughter could have whatever she wanted for Christmas. “I didn’t send her.”

  “I know. She came on her own. She really loves you, Chris, and I have to say, I was touched by her concern for you.”

  So am I. He felt a smile tilt his lips, the first one he’d felt in days. “Listen, Eliza. I’m so glad you came. I just want to tell you again how sorry I am about...”

  She placed her index finger over his lips, effectively silencing him. “You already apologized, and I forgive you.”

  “Because of Jojo?” He wished he could snatch the question back, but he had to know.

  She shook her head. “No. Because I understand why you did what you did. You were right about Dad—he’s got a lot of friends in high places. He probably could have carried out his threat to keep your career from getting off the ground.”

  He sighed, feeling relieved but still repentant. “Still. I should have stood up for you. For our love.”

  She tapped his leg. “Scoot over.”

  He folded his legs up, and she sat on the end of the lounger. “Do you remember what you said, about what us staying together back then might have meant for our career accomplishments?”

  “Yeah, I remember.”

  “You were right about that, too.” She gestured to their surroundings with her hands. “I mean, look at this place. You live on the side of a freaking mountain, and you’re responsible for some of the most beautiful buildings around the country and the world. There’s no way I would have wanted to stand in the way of you achieving all this.”

  He felt his heart turn over in his chest. He was so taken aback, he didn’t know what to say.

  “Don’t you see, Chris? You’re amazing. Your talent has taken you everywhere.” She grabbed his hand. “In a way, it even led you back to me.”

  She was right, and her insight impressed him. He would never have been invited to join Prescott George if not for his success in architecture. His joining the organization and working his way up the ranks to become president of his chapter were what led him to be in the offices the day Eliza had walked back into his life.

  He couldn’t remember ever feeling so happy, not since the day the twins were born. “Does that mean you’ll give me another chance?”

  “Yes.” She grinned, then leaned over for his kiss.

  He wove his fingers into the silken weight of her hair, keeping her ne
ar while their tongues mated. An hour ago, he’d thought he’d lost her. Kissing her now felt like a gift, and he enjoyed every moment of the contact. When he finally released her, she looked a little dazed.

  “I’m going to have to have it out with my parents, and I’m not looking forward to it.” She sighed.

  “I’ll bet. Do you want me to go with you?”

  “Nah. I’ll handle it on my own.” She ran a hand through her hair. “It’s not going to be easy, but it’s the adult thing to do. I guess it’s like Dad always says. Life was better in the old days.”

  Hearing that phrase raised his brow. “Did you say, life was better in the old days?”

  “Yeah. Dad says it all the time.”

  He narrowed his eyes. He’d seen that exact phrase in one of the newspaper articles reporting negatively about Prescott George. Holy crap. Is the Colonel involved in this?

  She frowned, apparently noticing the change in his demeanor. “What’s wrong, Chris?”

  “It’s just that one of the so-called anonymous sources that’s spoken to the papers has used that phrase.”

  “Wow.” Her eyes widened. “Until a few days ago, I never would have imagined my Dad to be so manipulative. But now, I don’t know. I’ve definitely heard him and some of the old-timers grumbling about how things used to be at Prescott George.”

  “Well, I’m obviously going to have to look into this.”

  She waved him off. “I’ll do it. Besides, I have to talk to him anyway. I’ll let you know what I find out.”

  He nodded. If Eliza wanted to handle the situation with her father, he wouldn’t stand in her way.

  “I don’t want to talk about this serious stuff anymore. That’s not why I came over.” Her expression changed then, and a wicked gleam came into her eyes. “So...how much longer are the twins going to be here?”

  He smiled, knowing exactly why she’d asked that. Glancing at his gold wristwatch, he said, “Sheila will pick them up in the next couple of hours.”

  “Cool. I can wait.” She winked, then got up from the lounger and started walking toward the door.