The Ex's Confession

by L. C. Davenport

  “Sounds good to me,” Cassie said from the doorway. “I’m ready to get out of the house.”

  Locke laughed. “Let’s take the bikes. It won’t take so long that way.”

  Cassie yawned. “Do you have somewhere you need to be later on?”

  “Yeah. Rebecca and I are going dancing this afternoon.”

  “Dancing?” Elliot interrupted, his voice dangerous. Locke gave Rebecca a significant look.

  “Dancing?” Nicole squealed. “We’re going dancing? How romantic!” She put her arm through Elliot’s and beamed at him.

  “I invited Rebecca to come to dance class back on the mainland,” Locke explained. “She was kind enough to agree. You’re all welcome to come along.”

  Elliot glanced at Nicole and sighed almost inaudibly. Then, his gaze resting on Rebecca, he said, “We’d love to come.”

  “Great,” Locke said easily. “We should probably get going if we want to be back in time to change. Who’s up for an eight mile bike ride?”

  Nicole looked distinctly displeased until Locke mentioned casually, “We still have the tandems in the shed. It might be kind of fun to pedal together.”

  Her face brightening, Nicole agreed. “Let’s, Elliot. I’ll let you steer!”

  “Great,” he muttered.

  Locke tilted his head close to Rebecca’s and whispered, with what appeared to be mischievous glee, “This should be fun to watch.”

  ***

  Locke produced two tandem and two single bicycles. He grinned ruefully at Rebecca as he handed her one of the singles. “I’m afraid that’s all I have,” he said. “We could see if Elliot and Nicole would swap with us.”

  “That’s all right,” Rebecca answered, holding the other bike for him as he wheeled a tandem to Cassie and Michael. She watched as they mounted the bike, counted to three, and took off down the road, Cassie waving as they rounded the corner.

  “Have they done this before?” Locke asked, staring after them. “It usually takes a few tries before people get the hang of tandem riding.”

  Rebecca shook her head, bemused. “Not that I know of,” she answered. “But Cassie has all sorts of hidden talents. Maybe this is one of them.”

  Shrugging, Locke handed the second tandem to Elliot. “Enjoy,” he said, and stood back to watch with Rebecca.

  Elliot and Nicole managed to get the bike going without too much trouble. They started to turn down the lane when Nicole, who was back as promised, gave a sudden wrench at the steering wheel. Her abrupt movement surprised Elliot and they both lost their balance, falling onto the grass.

  Locke and Rebecca tried to muffle their laughter as they disentangled themselves from the bike. “What were you doing?” Elliot said in an incredulous voice. “Your handlebars don’t actually turn. They’re just there so you have something to hold on to.”

  “I’m sorry, Elliot,” Nicole said in a meek voice. She looked up at him through her fake eyelashes. “I’ll try to do better next time.”

  Elliot understood when she did the same thing again, but by the third spill from the bike, Rebecca could tell that his patience had reached its limit. “That’s it,” he said. “Maybe you should trade with Rebecca. That way you can steer all you want and no one will get hurt.”

  Locke gave Rebecca a significant look. “Don’t start,” she warned in a low voice.

  Nicole looked at Rebecca and back at the tandem bike. “Maybe it would work better if Nicole was in front,” Locke offered. Elliot glared at him. “It’s just an idea,” Locke said defensively.

  “Let’s try it, Elliot,” Nicole said, sounding excited. “I’m sure you’d much rather ride with me than with Rebecca.” She gave Rebecca a pitying look.

  “Let’s try it,” Elliot sighed. A minute later, they were wobbling down the street. Nicole cried out in triumph as she narrowly missed a tree. Elliot winced and glared back at Rebecca and Locke, who were both trying to appear as though nothing was humorous.

  “Shall we?” Locke said.

  Rebecca grinned and set off after the tandem riders. “That was almost as good as the horse incident yesterday,” she said as they rode along.

  Locke started to laugh. “That’s why you brought her, isn’t it? For comic relief.”

  Rebecca couldn’t help laughing with him. “I wish,” she said.

  “You’re jealous.” Locke sounded like this was old news.

  “No, I’m not.”

  Locke raised his eyebrows and shook his head. “You two are hopeless,” he said. “You’re jealous of Nicole, Elliot’s jealous of me, and you’re both wishing for something you already have. Just tell the boy you like him and get on with it.”

  “That’s easy for you to say,” Rebecca retorted. “Maybe you should go after Nicole and spare us both the trouble.”

  “Fat chance of that happening,” Locke said. “When I choose to fall in love again, it will be with a woman who has more sense than Nicole Tanner.

  Halfway around the island, Locke started wondering what had happened to their pair of mismatched lovebirds. “We should have caught up with them by now,” he said in a worried voice, checking his cell phone for messages. “I hope something hasn’t happened to them.”

  “I’m sure they’re fine,” Rebecca said lightly, trying to banish the image of Nicole and Elliot embracing on the beach from her mind. “Why don’t you just call Elliot if you’re still concerned?”

  “That’s not a bad idea.” He slowed to a stop and flipped open his phone, and then paused before dialing. “Unless you think I could be interrupting something.”

  Rebecca tried not to look bothered. “Not at all,” she said.

  Locke laughed and ruffled her hair. “I’m just giving you a hard time,” he said. A few seconds later, he was on the phone with Elliot. “Where are you, man? Have you fallen into the lake?”

  He listened for a moment and then started to laugh. “You’re kidding… Do you want some help?… No problem. I’ll be there in a few minutes.” He stuffed the phone in his pocket and shook his head in disbelief. “Evidently, Nicole steered them down a path to the beach, against Elliot’s better judgment. She wasn’t paying attention to where they were going and guided them right into the lake.”

  Rebecca tried not to smile. “I’m sure Elliot was thrilled about that.”

  “Oh, he sounded thrilled, that’s for sure. Thrilled that I was going to take Nicole back to the house and get her out of his hair. Do you want to go back to the house?” He turned the bike around and looked at her expectantly.

  Rebecca hesitated. She really didn’t want to deal with a shrieking Nicole if she didn’t have to. “No, I think I’ll sit here for a while and then finish the circuit. I’ll see you in a while.”

  Locke grimaced. “You’ll be missing all the fun.” He started back the way they had come. “Think of me while you’re enjoying the quiet,” he called as he pedaled away.

  Rebecca didn’t mind being left alone. She loved the time she was spending with Cassie and Michael, and appreciated all they were doing for her. But once in a while it was great to be by herself for a change. She let her mind focus on the view in front of her, watching the waves break on the shore and listening to the sounds of the birds and the wind soughing through the trees. It was so calm and peaceful. She felt like she was the only person on the island.

  After a long time, she roused herself and got back on the bike. If she was late, Locke would tease her unmercifully, she thought as she started back down the road. She’d better hurry. She had been pedaling for only a few minutes when the quiet was instantly broken by a loud popping sound. And without warning, Rebecca found herself on the pavement with the bike on top of her, her hands and knees stinging.

  She sat there for a minute, trying to figure out what had happened. Had she hit something? Had the wheel fallen off? She winced when she tried to move.

  “Are you all right, Miss?”

  Rebecca looked up to see the most perfect man she had ever seen. He was tall. Tall
er even than Elliot, and his face showed concern as he bent over to help her to her feet. “Miss?”

  “I’m fine,” Rebecca said faintly. She was sure she looked ridiculous and tried to stop staring. Her eyes refused to obey. The man’s eyes crinkled with laugh lines as he pulled her to her feet and inspected her bike. “Looks like you’ve got a flat tire,” he said matter-of-factly, and started rummaging through a bag strapped to the back of his own bike. “You’re lucky I came along when I did,” he said, flashing a perfect smile at her. “I happen to be an expert at tire repair.”

  “Thank you,” Rebecca managed. Was she in some sort of crazy dream? Charming men never came to her rescue. Usually she was the one doing the rescuing. It was strange to be on the other end.

  The man looked at her for a long moment, his eyes trailing down her body slowly. “I’m sorry,” he said as he dusted his hands on his shorts. “I haven’t introduced myself. My name is Aaron.”

  He held out his hand to shake hers. She could feel herself blushing at his look of admiration. “I’m Rebecca Done.”

  Aaron’s eyebrows raised in astonishment. “You wouldn’t happen to be Rebecca Anne Done from Chicago, would you?”

  How did this perfect man know her full name? She was sure she’d remember if they had ever met before. “Yes, I am,” she said. “Do we know each other?”

  Aaron threw his head back and laughed. “You know of me,” he said, gripping her hand tighter. She tried not to wince at the burn in her palms. “I’m Aaron Sharpe. Faye Webb is my mother’s best friend.”

  This was Aaron Sharpe? The guy she’d been avoiding like the plague for at least ten years? What had she been thinking? “I’ve heard a lot about you,” she said, smiling up at him. “I have to confess I’ve been trying to dodge this meeting since I was in middle school.”

  Aaron grinned back at her. “I have, too,” he admitted, “although I can’t see why I would do that to myself. You look much more…” His eyes swept down her body again before continuing, “…palatable than I was expecting.”

  Rebecca blushed and looked down. “Thanks for the rescue,” she said.

  “I’m not finished yet. Let me fix that tire for you so you can get back to wherever you’re staying. They should refund your money, you know. You’re lucky you weren’t hurt.”

  Rebecca hoped he hadn’t noticed her skinned hands and knees. He was just starting to fix the tire when her phone buzzed in her pocket. Jen’s number was flashing on the screen. “I’m sorry,” she said, “but I need to get this. Do you mind?”

  “Not at all,” Aaron said easily. “Take your time. This may take a few minutes, anyway.”

  Giving him a grateful smile, Rebecca flipped open her phone. “Hey, Jen,” she said as she walked away. “You’ll never guess who I just ran into.”

  “Hey, Rebecca.” To her surprise Scott’s voice sounded in her ear.

  “Scott! What’s up? Is Jen all right?”

  “Don’t get your knickers all bunched up,” Scott said, laughter in his voice. “I’m borrowing her phone because it’s the only one that has your number on it. I have news for you.”

  Rebecca sat down on a rock by the side of the road, keeping Aaron in her view. She was having a hard time focusing on Scott’s words. This was not the same sort of man Faye had set her up with, she thought. If she had agreed to go out with him when they were younger, she could have saved herself years of ridiculous blind dates. “What news?” she asked absently, watching Aaron as he bent over the bike.

  “About your father. What kind of news did you think I’d have?”

  Rebecca jerked to attention. “What have you discovered?”

  “I don’t have a lot of time to talk right now. Jen’s lost her charger again, and the phone’s almost out of battery. But you were right; someone has been tampering with his accounts.”

  “Do you know who it is?”

  “Not yet. I’m going to have to dig a lot deeper to get that figured out. I don’t suppose you’d hire a private investigator?”

  Rebecca put her head in her hands. A detective would cost her entire first years’ salary and then some. “I don’t have the money to do that,” she said. A hand fell on her shoulder and she looked up to see Aaron standing over her, his face a mask of concern.

  “Is there a problem?” he whispered.

  She shook her head and tried to smile. “I didn’t think so,” Scott said. He sighed heavily. “I guess it’s all up to me then. I may have to involve the police at some point, though. That could make things uncomfortable for William. But you never know; I could come up with nothing. So there’s no point in worrying about it.”

  Rebecca took a deep breath. “No, don’t get the police involved unless you absolutely have no other choice. William is difficult enough without added stress. He’d go ballistic if a police officer showed up at his door.”

  “You got it. Now, I hope you’re enjoying your vacation. Don’t worry your pretty little head about all this mess. I’ve got you covered. Ouch!” Scott suddenly yelped. “What did you do that for, you horrid woman?”

  “What are you talking about?” Rebecca asked, baffled.

  “Oh, sorry. I was talking to Jen. She pinched me when I said that part about your pretty little head.” Rebecca could hear pages turning in the background. “Hey, I almost forgot. Does the name–”

  The line went dead, leaving Rebecca repeating, “Scott? Scott?” She snapped the phone shut with a sigh when there was no answer. There was no use calling back; she’d have to hope he’d leave her an email.

  She stood to put the phone back in her pocket and observed Aaron, who seemed deep in thought. “I couldn’t help overhearing part of your conversation,” he said slowly, as if he were trying to figure something out. “Is everything all right at home? Do you need to call someone back?”

  “Even if I did, I can’t,” she said. “His wife’s cell phone is dead and the charger has gone missing. Thanks for offering to help, though. I appreciate it.”

  “Well, we are old acquaintances of sorts. If Faye found out that I hadn’t helped you, she’d have my hide. Are you sure there’s nothing I can do? I can try to track down this… who were you talking to again?”

  “Scott Tennant. He’s my best friend’s husband; he’s been looking into something at home for me. Don’t worry; I’ll catch up to him at home. It’s nothing that can’t wait a few more days.” She lapsed into silence. She sensed that he wanted to hear more details. But her father’s financial woes were hardly something you discussed with a man you met just minutes before, no matter how charming. Even if your aunt had tried to set you up on a blind date with him.

  After a few seconds Aaron lifted her chin with his finger. “Thanks for saving my bike,” she said faintly without really thinking about what she was saying.

  From this close, Rebecca could see the flecks of green in his perfect, blue eyes. His gaze focused on her lips and he smiled. “I often aid damsels in distress,” he said softly. “It was my pleasure.”

  “Rebecca is no damsel in distress.” Elliot’s voice came from behind them. Aaron’s hand fell from her face when she turned in surprise. Elliot was leaning against Locke’s bike. He looked wet, sandy, and extremely irritated–like he had been in a fight with a sea serpent and had been soundly beaten.

  “What happened to you?” she exclaimed. “And what are you doing here? I thought you’d be back at the house.”

  “Nicole happened. Never, ever get on a bicycle with her. Nicole shouldn’t be allowed to steer anything with wheels. She wonders how she hasn’t passed her driving test.” Noticing he had ignored her second question, Rebecca looked at him closely. He looked furious. “Who’s your friend?” Elliot jerked his head in Aaron’s direction.

  Rebecca stepped closer to Elliot without thinking about it. “Elliot Winters, this is Aaron Sharpe. Aaron, Elliot. Elliot was a friend of mine back in high school,” she explained to Aaron. “We’re here with my sister and some of her husband’s family.” />
  Elliot stiffened when she said Aaron’s name, and he shook Aaron’s offered hand as quickly as possible. Aaron winced at the strength of Elliot’s grip. “Sharpe,” Elliot said shortly before turning his attention to Rebecca.

  “Locke took Nicole back to the house on the tandem. She was frantic enough about the state of her hair not to notice that she wasn’t in charge of steering anymore. We should probably get going so we’re not late for our dance lesson.”

  Rebecca raised her eyebrows at his word choice but let it pass when she saw his expression. He had evidently had a very trying morning.

  “That must be my cue to leave,” Aaron said. He took her hand in his and leaned forward to kiss her on the cheek. “I’ll call you when we both return to Chicago,” he promised. “I’m sure Faye won’t object to giving me your number again.” His eyes flicked to Elliot before resting on her face.

  “That would be fantastic.” She avoided Elliot’s gaze. “It was great to finally meet you.”

  Aaron grinned. “The pleasure was all mine.” Then he mounted his bike and rode away, pulling out his cell phone as he went.

  Elliot stared at him for a long moment before he spoke. “So that’s the famous Aaron Sharpe,” he finally muttered. “He’s not at all what I imagined.”

  Rebecca thought about Aaron’s good looks and charm and couldn’t help but agree. “Me neither,” she sighed. “I was picturing something more along the lines of Elmer Fudd. Definitely not that.” Her eyes followed Aaron down the road until he disappeared around a corner.

  Elliot started to move past her when he stopped and grabbed her hand. “What happened to you?” he demanded, looking at her skinned hands and knees. “I can’t leave you alone for five minutes before you’re hurt and some strange guy is fawning all over you.” He pushed her down on the rock and knelt down to inspect her bloody knees. He made a sound of disgust and tried to wipe it clean with his dirty shirt. “What happened?” he repeated.

  Rebecca was starting to get irritated by his attitude. “I had a flat tire and Aaron rode by just after I fell over. I can take care of myself, you know,” she snapped, seeing the incredulous look on his face. “Aaron fixed my tire for me, we chatted for a few minutes, and that was all. You don’t need to get all bothered.”