Brides of Penhally Bay - Vol 2

by Various Authors

  ‘Very much so. I’m seeing her regularly and she’s determined to keep the baby while still following her dream to be a teacher,’ she told her, explaining about the aunt and uncle in Plymouth.

  ‘That’s good.’

  Chloe caught an edge in Eve’s tone and realised the other woman looked pale and strained. ‘Eve, are you all right?’

  ‘I’m fine.’ Her gaze slid away and she redirected the conversation. ‘That family. Tassie is the only one with any goodness in her.’

  ‘She’s lucky to have your care and support,’ Chloe praised, admiring of all Eve was trying to do for the troubled young girl.

  ‘Tassie’s not had much of a start in life. But even at ten she plans to be different from the rest of them, to use her brains to make a good life for herself. I want to help her.’

  Eve still looked troubled and again Chloe voiced her concern. ‘Are you sure you’re OK?’

  ‘Don’t worry, Chloe. Just a shadow from the past,’ the older woman murmured cryptically.

  Before Chloe could question her further, Oliver arrived at her side, handing her a plate of food and a drink. ‘Here we go, babe.’

  ‘Thanks.’ Chloe introduced him to Eve. The other woman seemed eager to leave, so Chloe had to let the subject drop. ‘That was strange.’

  Distracted, Oliver took a bite of his fish. ‘Hmm?’

  ‘Nothing,’ Chloe murmured, watching Eve walk away, her shoulders hunched as if she carried the weight of the world on them.

  Her worry about Eve dissipated as she and Oliver talked while enjoying their food. Afterwards, they mingled for a short time, and Chloe was supremely conscious of Oliver beside her, touching her, one hand at the hollow of her back, warm against her bare skin. The pad of his thumb dipped under the waistband of her shorts and traced tiny circles at the base of her spine…devastating, enticing, strength-sapping touches. So simple, yet so seductive. Her legs felt shaky and there was a heavy knot in her stomach. All she could think about was how wonderful the weekend had been, how amazing it was to kiss him, how much she wanted to be alone with him again, how special it had become that his voice on the phone was the last thing she had heard the last three nights before she had fallen asleep.

  ‘Ready to leave, babe?’

  His voice was a husky whisper in her ear, his warm breath fanning her skin, sending tingles of awareness through her whole body. She met his sinful dark gaze, feeling hotter than ever, and nodded. ‘Yes.’

  He bestowed on her the kind of smile that always made her breathless, then took her hand, linking their fingers. After they had said their goodbyes, he led her back along the harbour front to his car and before long they were heading out of town.

  ‘Why are we here?’ she asked a while later as Oliver pulled into the parking area at a watersports centre a short way along the coast from Penhally.

  ‘Knowing how you love motorbikes, I have an adventure planned.’

  ‘What kind of adventure?’ Anxiety gnawed in the pit of her stomach.

  He slanted her a glance, dark eyes sparkling with mischief. ‘I’m taking you jet-skiing.’

  Chloe forced herself to climb out of the car. Part of her wanted to experience the thrill of riding a jet-ski, but she couldn’t get beyond the fear that gripped her. She didn’t want her past to keep impinging on the rest of her life. In the time she had known Oliver she had faced many of her demons but… Her footsteps slowed, her heart thudded under her ribs. What was she going to do? How could she tell Oliver?

  It took a few seconds before Oliver realised that Chloe was no longer walking with him towards the beachfront office where they would pick up the two-seater jet-ski he had hired. If Chloe enjoyed their outing, he planned to buy her a present—a single-person machine like his so they could go out on the water together. He turned round, noting the paleness of her face, the shadow of fear in her wary green eyes. Hell. He’d done something wrong. Walking back, he took both her hands in his.

  ‘What’s happened?’ He searched her gaze, could feel her shaking. ‘Talk to me, babe. Tell me whatever it is you’re feeling.’

  ‘I—I’m scared. Of the water. I nearly drowned once.’

  ‘Damn, I’m sorry.’ Oliver wanted to kick himself. Instead, he wrapped her in a gentle hug. ‘I had no idea.’ He pulled back enough to look into her eyes, seeing the uncertainty in their green depths. ‘I didn’t mean to upset you.’

  ‘You haven’t. It’s not you. It’s him.’

  Confused, he lightly rubbed his hands up and down her bare arms. ‘Him?’ he queried, trying to make sense of what she was saying.

  ‘My father.’

  When she exhaled a ragged breath, he led her off the path towards a low wall. Sitting next to her, he slipped an arm around her, his free hand holding one of hers. ‘Tell me.’

  ‘I was about seven. I never understood why he went into rages, what put sudden ideas in his head, but this day he marched me down to the rocks.’ Her fingers tightened on his and Oliver cuddled her closer, feeling icy cold despite the heat of the day. ‘I’d never swum. My mother was always scared and kept me away from the water, and though I loved the beach, I suppose her fear rubbed off on me. Something set my father off, and he said I could learn to swim or drown.’ Chloe’s voice wavered. ‘He picked me up and tossed me in. I did nearly drown. A couple of nearby fishermen pulled me out. They threatened to tell the police but my father insisted it had been an accident and persuaded them to keep quiet.’

  Horrified, he didn’t know what to say. ‘God, Chloe.’

  This was another confidence, another sign of her coming to trust him. But it was also another piece in the jigsaw that her father was responsible for the horrors of her childhood. He hated it that he had made her face something upsetting when all he had wanted was for her to have fun this weekend.

  ‘I’ll cancel the booking. We’ll go somewhere else,’ he reassured her, startled when she pushed against him, her head shaking vigorously.

  ‘No!’

  ‘Chloe?’

  She turned to face him, grasping his hand. ‘I don’t want to let him win, Oliver. I don’t want to be afraid of things because of him for the rest of my life. You’ve opened my eyes to so much recently. You must think I’m really stupid,’ she finished on a whisper, ducking her head.

  ‘That’s the very last thing I think of you.’ His heart swelled with emotion. He couldn’t bear to imagine all she had been through, couldn’t bear to consider what else her father had done to her, what more he still had to learn about her childhood. Holding her close, he stroked her hair. ‘I think you’re amazing. And I’m so proud of you. Whatever you want to do, I’m here to help. Whenever you’re ready to talk, I’m here to listen.’

  She raised her head, disbelief and hope warring in her eyes, a shaky smile hovering at her mouth, making him want to kiss her senseless. ‘Oliver?’

  ‘Yes, babe?’ He cleared his throat, his voice sounding raw to his own ears. ‘Take me jet-skiing.’

  She had to be crazy. Chloe choked down a nervous laugh. Here she was in a wetsuit and impact buoyancy vest about to face one of her nightmares. She was frightened. But she trusted Oliver—and what she had told him was true. She didn’t want to spend the rest of her life being afraid, didn’t want what Lauren had said to be true…that her father was still ruling her life from the grave. Oliver had changed her. He gave her strength and courage. She was scared, had no idea where all this might lead, but she was tired of living in the shadows.

  ‘Chloe, look at me.’ He cupped her face, raising her gaze to his. ‘You can change your mind at any time.’

  Her chest was tight and she felt sick, but she shook her head. ‘No.’

  ‘We’re going on the water, not in it. There is no way on this earth that I would let anything bad happen to you.’

  ‘I know.’ She believed it, believed the earnest sincerity in his dark eyes as they looked deeply into her own.

  ‘Trust me.’

  Feeling this was now abo
ut far more than a ride on jet-ski, she tentatively placed her hand in his, immediately feeling enveloped by his gentle strength. Oliver sat her in front of him, his arms reaching round her to the controls, cocooning her in his protective embrace.

  ‘OK?’

  She nodded, trying to bank down her fear of the water, relaxing a little as he nuzzled her, pressing a kiss to the sensitive hollow below her ear. They started slowly, easing out from the shore, the water calm and smooth along this stretch of coast, for which she was heartily thankful. It didn’t take her long to get used to the unfamiliar motion and, to her surprise, she began to enjoy it, feeling incredibly safe with Oliver watching over her. After a while he drew to a halt and they drifted for a few moments, the engine idling as they looked back towards the spectacular Cornish coastline.

  ‘All right, babe?’

  Nodding, she glanced round to smile at him. ‘I’m fine. Thank you.’

  ‘Thank you—for trusting me.’ Before she could say anything, his mouth met hers in a brief but stirring kiss. ‘Ready to move on?’

  Sensing that there was more than one meaning to his words, Chloe’s insides fluttered in nervous excitement. ‘Yes,’ she told him shyly, earning herself the kind of dimpled smile that would have weakened her knees had she not already been sitting down.

  ‘Faster?’

  ‘Faster,’ she agreed, feeling warm and giddy with happiness at his carefree laugh and the glowing approval in his eyes.

  They had a fun time. It was exhilarating, riding with Oliver, the spray hitting their faces. And always she felt safe, never sensing he was taking risks or trying to play the macho show-off. When they finally arrived back at the shore, Oliver slipped off, holding her steady and seeing her gently onto dry land. Then she did something she had never done in her life. She spontaneously hugged him, carried along by pure joy and emotion, the freedom from a part of her past that had held her back for so long. Could she now move on and let go of the other chains that bound her?

  She couldn’t think about that now because Oliver’s arms closed around her, holding her close, making her all too aware of him, the strength of his athletic body pressed against her, the heady masculine scent of him. Her smile faded at the look in his eyes…intense, fiery hunger. Then his head lowered, his mouth taking hers, and she surrendered to the magic of his kiss.

  ‘I hear you’re something of a hero.’

  Oliver’s eyes opened at Chloe’s words and he smiled tiredly. ‘Hardly.’

  He’d been more relieved than ever to leave work, dash to the flat for a quick shower and change of clothes, and then meet up with Chloe to enjoy a quiet meal at her cottage before relaxing on the sofa. Taking her hand, he shifted his position and drew her towards him, encouraging her to sit on his lap facing him, her legs straddling his. Grateful to hold her close, he breathed in the familiar scent of sunshine and fresh, fruity apples, feeling settled and grounded with her in his arms. Meeting her gaze, he saw the concern in her green eyes as she brushed a wayward fall of hair back from his face before resting her hands on his shoulders. He was encouraged that she was so comfortable with the new intimacy that had continued to build after their passionate kiss following their jet ski outing several days ago.

  ‘I came back from house calls—one of which was to Avril Harvey, by the way, and she and her daughter are doing fine—to hear you’d had a run-in with Nick,’ she prompted.

  ‘That’s good news about the Harveys.’ His smile faded as he answered the other part of her comment. ‘As for Nick, he didn’t want me going out to see Henry Ryall, said we’d wasted enough time on the man, that there was nothing wrong with him.’

  Chloe frowned. ‘That doesn’t sound like Nick. He can be difficult, but he puts patients first.’

  ‘I know.’ Oliver’s frown mirrored Chloe’s. Nick was still stressed and edgy. Clearly the problem with Kate had not been resolved. ‘Anyway, he’s been out to Henry’s farm more than once in the last month, so have Dragan and Adam. No one found anything wrong with him. They’d all done everything by the book, there was no reason to believe that Henry was sick,’ he admitted, recalling Nick’s arguments. ‘The consensus of opinion was that Henry was sad and lonely having recently lost his wife…’

  ‘But?’ Chloe raised an eyebrow, as if knowing that wouldn’t be good enough for him.

  ‘I don’t like writing people off too soon. And I can’t explain it, but I had a hunch, one I didn’t want to ignore. Nick told me to go and waste my time if I wanted to.’

  ‘You were right, though, and it wasn’t a waste of time.’

  Sighing, Oliver ran his hands down her back to her delectable rear end, pulling her even closer. ‘It was a complete fluke that I happened to be there at that precise moment.’

  ‘Having weak tea and stale biscuits,’ Chloe teased, making him smile. He’d discovered Henry’s infamous idea of ‘refreshments’ for himself.

  ‘I’d checked Henry’s notes, spoken with Dragan, Adam and Nick. Henry had reported banging his head twice in the same place in the last weeks, but they’d all done the right examinations and checks and could find nothing wrong with him,’ he explained, the fingers of one hand finding the gap between the waistband of her jeans and the bottom of her shirt, enjoying the feel of satiny skin. ‘Henry couldn’t give a clear picture of what was wrong, just that things weren’t right, that he felt foggy and was still having headaches. He seemed fine when I first got there and I thought maybe Nick was right and I was wasting my time.’

  ‘But you weren’t?’

  ‘No. I did the same examinations, checked the reaction of his pupils, tested if he could balance on one leg, walk in a straight line, could touch the end of his nose with one finger with his eyes shut…all the usual things. I monitored his blood pressure and gave him a thorough health check. There was no sign of anything amiss.’

  Looking puzzled, Chloe sat back and watched him. ‘So what happened?’

  ‘We were talking, I was getting ready to leave, and suddenly Henry’s mouth was moving but no sound was coming out.’ He shook his head, still unable to believe the timing of it, wondering what would have happened had Henry been alone and unable to raise help. ‘One moment he was speaking normally, the next he was looking bemused and frightened, unable to speak.’

  ‘Wow.’ Chloe’s eyes widened in amazement.

  Smiling, Oliver tucked a strand of hair that had escaped her braid back behind her ear. ‘It was bizarre. But something I’d seen before. I took Henry straight to hospital, they did a CT scan and discovered a small bleed in his brain. He’s having an operation to repair it and he should make a good recovery.’

  ‘How could that happen?’

  ‘Sometimes with a head injury you can have this slow, tiny bleed that causes no outward symptoms for a time. It didn’t help that Henry hit his head twice in the same place in rapid succession. No one could have known. There was nothing to alert Dragan, Adam or Nick, no reason for them to send Henry for further tests. As I said, it was pure chance I happened to be there.’

  Chloe dropped a kiss on his mouth. ‘I’m glad you were. Lucky Henry. And I hope Nick was apologetic.’

  ‘He was.’ Oliver couldn’t resist giving her another kiss before he continued. ‘To be fair, he waited on at the surgery for me to get back from St Piran to talk about it. That’s why I was late.’

  ‘I’m just glad Henry is going to be all right.’

  ‘Me, too.’ He raised his free hand to cup her face. ‘And I’m glad to be here with you now.’ Brushing the pad of his thumb along the fullness of her lower lip, he held her gaze. ‘I desperately want to kiss you.’

  Creamy cheeks turned rosy as she flushed and her voice was breathy. ‘Do you?’

  ‘Oh, yeah!’

  ‘OK.’ She smiled, sinking against him. Her mouth was honey sweet, so eager and welcoming that he was instantly lost, his control on the ragged edge.

  Chloe couldn’t hold back a whimper of needy excitement as she lost herself in the tast
e and feel and scent of Oliver. They had spent every moment they could together since the jet-ski outing on Sunday, and she was feeling closer to him than ever. As well as increasingly frustrated when he kept calling a halt to their ever more passionate kisses before she wanted to stop. She was impatient for more…she just wasn’t sure what more was, or how to persuade Oliver she was ready. He was so determined to take things slowly. She was also unsure what all this meant to him. His care seemed genuine but, as she had mentioned to Kate, was she just a diversion for Oliver? Did he plan to stay in Penhally Bay?

  Reluctantly, she pulled back from the kiss, seeing his eyes darken with a desire that matched her own. One of his hands rested on her back under her shirt, sending heat permeating throughout her body. She wanted his hand to move. Wanted to touch him, too. Licking her lips, noting the flare of response in his eyes as he watched her, she shifted even closer, bringing their bodies more intimately into contact. Her own eyes widened as she felt the undeniable evidence of his arousal. Nervous, not sure how far she wanted to take this, she hesitated.

  ‘Chloe?’ Oliver’s voice was rough and she was excited that she could affect him like this.

  ‘About my lessons.’

  A smile dimpled his cheek but the hungry look in his eyes didn’t fade. Her pulse skittered as his fingers began a gentle caress up and down her spine. ‘You’re not enjoying them?’

  ‘You have to know I am,’ she protested, unable to prevent herself pouting at him.

  A chuckle rumbled from his chest. ‘But?’

  ‘I’m ready to move on to a more advanced level.’

  ‘I see.’ The fingers on her back stilled for a moment. ‘And what do you expect the next steps to be?’

  Faced with the intensity of his gaze and the smoky roughness of his voice, some of her nerve deserted her. ‘Um…I don’t know. I just feel…’

  ‘Tell me what you feel, babe,’ he encouraged when she paused, distracting her by nibbling along her jaw.

  ‘When you kiss me and touch me, I feel all tingly and achy and heavy.’ Long, thick lashes lifted and she couldn’t look away from the heat in his dark gaze. She swallowed, searching for the right words to explain. ‘I don’t want you to stop as soon as you do. I need you to touch me in other places…and I want to touch you, too.’