Wrecked

by J. B. Salsbury

  “I thought, you said . . .” I squirm in my seat as he kisses my neck all while grinding between my legs. “Public.”

  “Yeah, we need to get in public fast.”

  “I’ll get dressed.” My thighs ache to clamp down around his waist as he pulls from between his legs, flashing me a smile that almost knocks me off my seat.

  “Good idea.”

  He steps back and when I move he slaps me on the ass and groans.

  So maybe I don’t have the wardrobe of a fashionista on hand, but the way Aden looks at me in his T-shirt and boxers makes me feel like I’m wearing designer clothes. I keep Aden’s shirt on, loving the way it smells like his cologne, but put on my shorts. I use Aden’s toothbrush, wash my face, and pull my hair back in a ponytail. The boat’s engine fires to life as I’m coming out of the bathroom and decide to quickly make Aden’s bed before joining him at the wheel.

  “Aden!”

  The sound of an unfamiliar voice calling Aden’s name pulls me to the window.

  Aden jerks his head around to the dock with a surprised “No fuckin’ way!”

  A man with white hair climbs aboard and gives Aden a back-thumping hug. I can’t see his face with Aden’s big body blocking the view.

  “What the hell are you doing here?”

  I step outside, not wanting to be rude, and wait to be introduced. Aden must feel me close because he turns to me just as the man says, “After you told me about Jenkins I came right down. Here to pay my respects.” The man startles when he sees me and narrows his eyes.

  Aden runs a hand over his hair. “Fuck, man . . . I don’t remember calling. Sorry ’bout that.”

  My stomach plummets when it hits me who this guy is.

  “You were pretty fucked up. Thought maybe you’d accidentally drowned.”

  “Nah . . . I’m good.”

  Blood drains from my face.

  The sky spins.

  I dig my feet into the deck to keep from falling over.

  “Uncle Cal, you remember Celia?”

  This is happening. This is really happening.

  Passing myself off as Celia to everyone else seemed easy enough, but judging by the way Cal’s staring at me through tight slits I doubt Aden’s uncle will be as easy to fool.

  “Yeah, I remember Celia.” He makes no move to come closer, to give me a hug or even shake my hand, but instead stands there thickening the air between us until I choke on it.

  I cough to clear my throat. “It’s nice to see you again.”

  His eyes move from mine to study me in Aden’s shirt. His lip curls in disgust.

  “Cal. Don’t look at her like that.” Aden throws an arm over my shoulder, pulling me in close. “Whatever you think this looks like . . .” There’s a smile in his voice, but I can’t see it because my eyes are glued to the floor as my cheeks ignite. “You’re probably right.”

  “Jesus, Aden.” Cal grumbles under his breath.

  “We’re all adults here.” He kisses the side of my head and releases me to dip into the ice chest. “You want a beer?”

  When I peer up and Cal’s still staring at me, I shift inside and find a seat as far away from the men as possible, fearing a closer look will give me away.

  “Sure.” Cal follows me in and sits on a stool, propping his elbows on the small island countertop. “So, you hanging in there?”

  Aden pops the top on the bottle and places it down for his uncle while I check all the available exits and scramble for an excuse to leave. “Better now, thanks to Celia.”

  I jerk my eyes to his to find both men looking right at me. My hands knot in the hem of the shirt and I try my hardest for a convincing smile.

  “Is that right?” Cal’s scrutiny continues, and a flash of sadness crosses his expression.

  “No clue how long it would’ve taken before I finally sobered up,” Aden mumbles, and holds up a bottle of water, accentuating his point. “Cece helped me to pull my shit together.”

  “Cece. Interesting.” His words are muffled into the brown bottle as he swigs from it.

  “Just happened so quick, ya know, Jenkins.” Aden’s talking softly. “Reminded me of before. Here one second. Gone the next.”

  “Understandable.”

  I watch as the two men talk using short phrases I don’t totally understand but gather they’re speaking about lingering effects of Aden’s time served in the military. I make myself part of the décor, pressing back against the seat, hoping to blend into the walls, to become invisible until the opportunity to leave presents itself.

  “The bank been up your ass?”

  “I avoid them when I can, but yeah. They’re not gonna be ignored forever, Cal.”

  Aden’s uncle leans back and drums his fingers on the counter. “Might have to just sell the place. Hate it, but those back taxes are killin’ me.”

  “Celia took a peek at the books. She pointed out some areas we could cut, told me how much we’d have to pay monthly. Made sense. You never told me she was an accountant.”

  “Didn’t I?” Cal’s eyes slide to mine and the steeliness I see there confirms my worst fear.

  He knows.

  My legs move faster than my thoughts and before I’m even aware, I’m up and moving toward the bedroom.

  There’s mumbling behind me followed by the thump of heavy footsteps and the slide of the flimsy door. Grabbing my things I turn and collide with Aden’s chest.

  He grips me by my biceps. “Hey, what’s going on?”

  “I . . .” I can’t look at him so I busy my eyes searching for something I may have missed. “Forgot I promised Mrs. Jones I’d check in on her today.”

  “I’m sure she’ll understand if you don’t.”

  Gently removing myself from his hold, I turn my back on him and slip off his shirt to put on my bra. I move quickly because being naked in front of Aden feels wrong now. “I made her a promise. I can’t break it.”

  Hands shaking, I scramble with the straps when his warm hands slide up my sides only to grip the elastic and fasten the clasps for me. “You’re a good person, Celia.”

  The air in my lungs rushes out in one burst as his words increase my guilt. I bite my tongue to avoid saying that I’m far from a good person. I am the worst kind of person. I’m a liar and a fake and he really doesn’t know me at all.

  He helps me with my T-shirt and when I turn he’s standing in my way so I can’t escape. His arms are crossed over his chest and he’s looking at me with an emotion I’ve never seen from him before. A soft, almost lazy smile, his deep brown eyes communicating warmth that I can actually feel expanding in my chest.

  “I don’t want you to go.”

  I lick my lips, hoping I’m capable of words because the way his soul seems to be drinking from mine leaves me feeling weak and needy. “I made a promise—”

  “That’s not what I meant.” He takes a step forward, but his arms stay tucked away and he doesn’t touch me.

  This is good, because one touch would send the truth from my lips and my body to my knees to beg his forgiveness.

  “I want to date you.”

  “Why?” I whisper, and then immediately regret giving my innermost doubts a voice.

  His grin widens, but only slightly. “Because I like you.”

  “I’m moving back to Phoenix.”

  “I’m going to ask that you don’t.”

  Oh my God, what? He wants me to stay—not me. It’s Celia he’s fallen for.

  Fool me once. I’ll never be deceived again.

  His words from the other night flood my mind.

  Oh, Aden, if you only knew, you’d never look at me like that again.

  “I have to go.” I push past him and he makes no attempt to stop me.

  “Think about it, Cece.”

  The nickname sends my shoulders to my ears. Without a response I slide open the door, snag my purse from the couch, and with a wave to Cal I race from Aden’s boat, knowing one thing with almost absolute certainty.
/>   Cal’s going to tell Aden who I really am and the truth is going to crush him.

  TWENTY

  ADEN

  “Everything okay?”

  When I’m finally able to pull my eyes away from Celia’s retreating back after I made sure she got off the boat okay, I turn to find Cal’s staring down the dock too.

  “Yeah, she forgot she had somewhere to be.” Even I know she’s lying about that. Something spooked her, I just can’t for the life of me figure out what it was.

  “How long you two been hanging out?”

  “Little more than a week. I can see why you talked about her so much. She’s . . .” Visions of her smile, her laughter, her body moving above mine, all flood my vision. I blow out a hard breath. “She’s amazing.”

  He frowns. “Mm-hm. Celia was something special.” There’s sadness in his voice that gets my attention.

  “You implying now that she’s been sleeping with me she’s no longer special, Cal?” My pulse starts to thrum in my veins.

  My uncle’s never been the type to judge anyone, but he loves Celia, and he knows I’m fucked up. I can see why he’d be disappointed, hell, even I know Cece’s too good for me. But I’m his fucking flesh and blood.

  “You’ve known her a week.”

  “She’s more than just a fuck buddy, if that’s what you’re implying.”

  “Aden, think about it.” He props his elbows on the counter. “You’re only replacing one addiction for another.”

  “That’s bullshit, Cal.”

  “You said it yourself, she cleaned you up, took your mind off losing Jenks.”

  “Yeah, but . . .” I fist my hands, my mouth watering for a beer, but I push back the urge. “That doesn’t mean I’m using her for sex.”

  “Really?” He shrugs and leans forward on his forearms. Challenging. “Tell me what you know about her.”

  “She’s smart, compassionate, patient, and although she’s scared of almost everything she’ll walk through her fears with me.”

  His frown deepens.

  “I’m serious, Cal. This woman, when I’m showing her something new and helping her through whatever she’s afraid of, the way she lights up . . . When she comes alive like that it makes me feel useful again.”

  “You care about her or you just like the way she makes you feel?”

  “I care about her because of the way she makes me feel.”

  “And you think that’s fair to her?”

  “I don’t fucking know.” Feeling cornered by his questioning my pulse kicks behind my ribs. “We’ve been together for a week, how the fuck should I know?”

  “Look . . .” He rubs his eyes. “I’ve been driving all morning. I’m gonna head over to my place and crash before I start dealing with all this bullshit bank stuff.” He stands and tosses his beer into the garbage.

  “I’ll get cleaned up and meet you over there in a few hours.”

  He smiles, but again the expression communicates more sadness than anything. “Sounds good.”

  He passes through the back door and I stare at nothing, the whole time my mind turning over Cal’s words.

  I asked her to consider staying because I love the way I feel when we’re together. But what do I have to offer a woman like Celia? In one week I’ve managed to unleash all my demons on her. And yet . . . she keeps coming back. I’m being selfish and when the time comes I should just let her go.

  The problem is, I don’t think I can.

  SAWYER

  I’ve made more progress on boxing Celia’s things in the last two hours than I have the entire time I’ve been in San Diego. With the threat of Cal telling Aden about who I really am I’ve never been in a bigger hurry to get this done and get back to Phoenix and far away from Aden Colt.

  My chest aches at the idea of not having him in my life, which is ridiculous. I’m not some lovesick girl with inflated ideas about life and relationships. If my twenty-four years have taught me anything it’s that shit happens frequently and I have a bull’s-eye on my back.

  Time’s up, Sawyer.

  Come clean and confess, or get the hell out as soon as possible.

  God, what was I thinking!

  I grit my teeth remembering the promises I made my sister. That damn quarter, taking chances, but all I’ve managed to do is create a web of lies I can’t get out of without hurting someone I care deeply for.

  After moving all the boxes to the front of the cottage I pull out the small yellow pages and dial the number for the shipping company who is responsible for getting all Celia’s things back to my parents.

  “Crosscountry Express, how can I help you?”

  “Hi, I’m . . .” I look around to make sure no one’s standing outside the open windows. “Sawyer Forrester. I arranged for you guys to ship some boxes back to Phoenix for me?”

  “Yeah, I see it here. Pickup in Ocean Beach. We have it down for the fifth?”

  “Yeah, but they’re ready now. Is there any way they can be taken sooner?”

  “Ohh, no can do. Tomorrow’s the Fourth.”

  “So?”

  She huffs in my ear. “We’ll be closed for the holiday.”

  I rub my forehead, feeling completely dense. “Fourth of July, right. I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”

  “If you’d called yesterday I could’ve had the guys pick up the boxes today, but they’re booked for the afternoon. I’m sorry.”

  “I understand. We’ll stick with the fifth.”

  “It’s better this way. No one in their right mind would willingly leave town before the Fourth of July.”

  “I wouldn’t know,” I say absently while trying to figure out how I’ll be able to avoid Aden for another day.

  “The fireworks go off on the pier and everyone paddles out on surfboards to watch. It’s incredible.”

  “In the ocean? At night?”

  She laughs. “You’re funny.”

  Yeah, and she’s crazy if she thinks I’d sit on a surfboard with my feet dangling like an earthworm appetizer into the dark waters at night. “I’ll have everything ready on the fifth, then.”

  “Sure thing. We’ll be there early.”

  I hit END and toss my phone on the couch. Looking around the room there’s nothing but boxes, bare walls, and barren furniture. And I’m stuck for two more days.

  There’s no way I’ll be able to avoid Aden for that long.

  I chew my lip, my palms sweating and my pulse racing. A hotel. I’ll go to a hotel.

  A knock on the door nearly sends me through the roof as my nerves seem to crack and fizzle beneath my skin.

  I don’t want to see anyone. Can’t bear opening the door to see the questions in Aden’s eyes, or worse, the anger of betrayal.

  “I know you’re in there.”

  My stomach threatens to heave at the sound of Cal’s stern voice as he calls me out. If only I could turn to liquid and melt off the couch and into the floor—

  Another knock.

  Shit!

  “I have a key. Don’t make me use it.”

  My shoulders slump and I push off the couch. This is happening. May as well get it over with. Tears spring to my eyes when I think how something that started out so innocent is about to blow up in my face. There’s no way I’ll be able to walk away from this without emotional shrapnel.

  I unlock and crack open the door only to be met by his scolding stare. “Hey.”

  He doesn’t take his cold dark eyes off mine. “Mind if I come in?”

  I step back, bringing the door with me, hiding behind it as if the wood can protect me from his chastisement.

  Steady steps carry him in and across the tight space, his eyes scanning the boxes and the walls. He’s not a small man and even in a Hawaiian print shirt, shorts, and flip-flops he’s intimidating. He doesn’t seem angry, his body language not giving off irritation as much as grief.

  I say nothing. There’s just nothing to say. He must think the absolute worst of me and no matter how many ways I
flip the story around in my head it all leads to the same conclusion. I lied to and deceived someone he loves.

  “She didn’t make it?”

  My eyes dart to his. “I’m . . . what?”

  “Your sister. Celia. She’s . . .” He swallows and the lump in his throat bobs. “Dead.”

  “No, she’s not.” Dead. I can’t bring myself to say the word.

  He tilts his head and studies me. “Then . . .” He swings an arm around, motioning to the boxes. “Why are you here packing up her stuff?”

  I run my fingers across my lips and wonder how honest I should be. Cal and Celia were close, and she assured me no one knew she was sick.

  “You know?”

  He looks down at me and the stern set of his jaw reminds me of Aden. “She confided in me shortly before she left. Made me promise I wouldn’t say a word.”

  I motion for him to sit and then hesitantly move to the opposite end of the couch to sit on the edge. “She told me no one knew. She asked me to come pack up her stuff and . . .” As I line up my excuse in my head it sounds ridiculous, but it’s the truth so I share, “Pretend I was her.”

  “And how’s that working out for ya?” There’s no humor in his voice, but rather a parental reprimand that has me curling in on myself.

  I knew this was a bad idea, but I couldn’t say no to my sick sister!

  “It’s working well, no one seems to know I’m not her.”

  “Including Aden.”

  “Yes.” Shame soaks me in regret. “Including him.”

  He nods and leans forward to rest his elbows on his knees. “You need to tell him.”

  “I can’t. He’ll hate me.”

  He eyes me. “He cares about you.”

  “I didn’t mean for that to happen—”

  “Too bad. It did, and he deserves to know who you really are, Sawyer.”

  I startle at his use of my name. “She talked about me?”

  He chuckles and nods. “She spoke of you a few times.”