by Ruby Vincent
“Before we go, we should pack up one of those backless hospital gowns. It may come in handy.”
“Behave yourself.” I held out my arms. “Will you help me up?”
Nathan draped my arm around his shoulder. I swung my legs down to stand and he hooked under my knees and cradled me to his chest. I dropped my head on him, safe, secure, and on the edge of shattering.
All this time, it was because of him. He took the friends and lives I had to leave behind with every move. He took my safety, happiness, and any chance of a real relationship. I should’ve known he’d taken Nathan too.
“Are you crying?” Nathan asked.
“Y-yes.”
“If you’re still in pain—” He turned to carry me back to the room.
I laughed mirthlessly. “I’m not crying about this little bump on the head. It doesn’t come close.”
He slowed. “Belle... who is Malcolm?”
“The rule of fairy tales is every story must have a villain. You’ve met mine.”
THE SUN WAS SETTING on the villa. If my schedule was correct, I could put the empty living room and silence down to the movie event/date.
Nathan carried me through the quiet halls up to my room. He placed me on the bed, pulled back, and headed to the door.
“Where are you going?”
“My room.”
“Stay,” I said.
“If that’s what you want.”
Nathan crossed the room and reached for an armchair. I watched him with raised brows.
“Why are you being weird? Get over here.”
He hovered over the seat. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. We couldn’t talk in front of Hendrix. I figure you have a lot of questions.”
“Not as much as you think.” But he got up and dipped the mattress climbing in next to me. I relaxed as he pulled me close. “Just one. How can you consider giving me a second chance now that it’s clear to me how much of a monumental fuckup I am? You never cheated on me. But I did. Right in front of you.”
I burrowed in tighter, sinking deeper into the warmth and unique scent of Nathan. Cedarwood, black currants, and vanilla—though he once swore his cologne had neither. He still evoked these stolen scents and I hadn’t realized how hard I struggled not to miss them until now.
“Mal tricked you,” I said. “Like he’s done to many other people before. The man weaves lies and manipulation like a baby scribbles on the walls. You get so lost trying to make sense of the jumbled mess that you don’t know which way is up by the time you discover there’s no truth to find.”
Flipping, I faced him. “And if we’re taking stock of two years ago, I can’t blame you for not opening up to me when I didn’t either. If I had told you the truth about Mal from the beginning, none of this would’ve happened.”
“What is the truth?”
“The truth is he’s a man from my old life who won’t let go. He’s stalked me for years.”
“What does he want?”
“Me,” I said simply. “He wants to have me. Own me. Mal won’t settle for anything less than him being the center of my world. We’ve moved many times to get away from him and he comes after me each time.”
“Holy shit,” he breathed. “Why—”
“I know what you’re going to ask me,” I cut in. “But all you have to do is imagine an evil, soulless man determine to control a young woman’s life at any cost. Now imagine what it would take to stop that man.” I cupped his cheek. “I know you don’t have to try too hard.”
His throat bobbed with a hard swallow. “Mal is your colonel.”
I nodded. “He’s the reason I let myself fall for the boy who wouldn’t stick around. I told myself just one summer with you, and when you came back, I said one more. I convinced myself we could have the intimacy without the commitment and that would keep you safe.” I made a harsh noise. “I was so freaking naïve.”
“Don’t blame yourself when this is on me. You wouldn’t have lost me if I had trusted you.”
Touching my forehead to his chin, I sighed. “You had a point. All we were good at was sex. Honesty, communication, trust. Zero points in those categories.”
“But one hundred and twenty for dirty, hot bed gymnastics. Most couples don’t break thirty, so don’t sell us too short.”
I laughed. “When you put it like that, we are impressive.”
“Plus, we’ve got another one-twenty for being the person who was there when we thought we had no one. Another because you’re still the kind, generous girl who’d marry me to help a woman you’ve never met in person.”
“And you’re still the guy who’d jump into a pool to save me”—I leaned back to smile at him—“even though you’re afraid of blood.”
“That coral cut you so deep I could practically see bone,” he protested. “Any sane person would freak.”
“You’re a big baby. Admit it.”
“And you’re still the girl who only needs words to cut a man deep,” he grumbled.
“Aww,” I crooned, peppering his jaw with kisses. “I’m sorry. I can make it up to you.”
His throat bobbed again under my lips. “In the usual way?”
I licked a languid path up his neck. “It’s not a real apology unless I’m naked.”
“Holy shit, woman.” Nathan drew away. “No, wait. We can’t. You’re supposed to rest.”
“A certain coral cut me and it didn’t stop us then.” I reached for him and he took hold of me. Sitting up, he secured my hands over my head and gazed down at me.
“That coral didn’t slice your head open. How do I know this isn’t the concussion talking?” A ragged breath tore out of him. “You’re a drug I can’t quit, Belle. I accepted that somewhere around sitting in that waiting room thinking up the ways I’d murder Finn. I can deal with that. I can be yours for as long as you want to play with me.”
“Goodness,” I mumbled. “You make me sound like such a femme fatale.”
“I just need to know what you want from me,” he continued. “Let’s score points for honesty and communication.”
“Okay. That’s not too much to ask.” I propped myself up and a sharp spike went through my head. Nathan may be right about postponing the bed gymnastics. “Help me, please.”
He grasped my pillow, and moved it and me against the headboard. He placed it on my lap and then himself on top of it. His weight was comfortable and solid on top of me, soothing better than an Advil.
“I meant what I said about starting over—despite knowing it’s not that simple between us anymore. If you won’t marry me...”
Nathan shook his head. Once.
“It means you’ll have to focus on finding someone else,” I finished. “I’m sure you can find a girl who’d marry you just for the privilege of being Mrs. Prince, but it’s too much to ask her to watch you be in love with someone else all summer. Most women can deal with being business partners. Not a lot want to be second best.”
“What does that mean for us?”
“I think it means—and this is me going for full honesty—that we’d keep it quiet like me and Preston.”
“You and Preston,” he repeated slowly.
“He and I talked about everything.”
“Does he know about Malcolm?”
I cringed as I did at every mention of his name. “I told him my story but said it was someone else’s. Afterward, we talked about this summer and what we both wanted. He has to marry Delilah. He said it’s not right to expect me to stay away from other guys since we can’t have a future together.” I tapped the tip of his nose. “But you want some more truth? I made peace with not having a future with any guy a long time ago. What was the point of hoping when Mal would never stand by and watch me be happy with someone else?
“It’s a handful of times I ignored that question for a guy I knew was worth it. Two of those times were you.” I lifted my shoulders. “I want to be with you, Nathan. Even if we only have the summer. Even though I’m falling
for Preston too. In spite of you walking off this island with someone else. It’s you.”
I finished on a wave of uncertainty. Preston was his best friend and I was essentially asking him to share me. “Say something.”
Nathan pushed up his lips, eyes rolling to the ceiling. “Okay.”
“Okay? Okay what?”
“Okay,” he said. “You want me. Okay.”
“Okay?”
“Okay.”
“We have to stop saying that word,” I burst out.
He chuckled. “You can share me with every damn guy here, Belle. If it’s really cool with you and Preston, then it’s cool with me too.”
“Nathan, think about this. It’s not the exes-with-benefits package. I don’t want us to be like we were before. It may not be fair, but I can’t handle any less than the real thing.”
“Good because your ass was getting it.”
I let out an exasperated groan—though a smile quirked my lips. “It’s going to hurt when we say goodbye for a third time. Likely knock us on our asses for good.”
“It killed me to say goodbye to my dad, my grandmother, and, in many ways, my mom. But I wouldn’t trade a second with them for less pain now. It’s how you know you had people in your life who were worth a damn. There’s a lot of lonely bastards out there who’d give anything to have someone to miss. And every single one of them would line up to have their heart broken by you.”
I sniffed, eyes welling up. “I don’t feel like I’m offering you something that’s worth it. You’ve taken on enough pain to last twelve lifetimes.”
“Exactly.” Nathan laced my wringing hands through his. “Aren’t I due one last summer in love with you?”
Tears ran down my cheeks, catching and racing down the happy curve of my mouth. “I will need a rain check on the hot, monkey sex. My head is killing me. But count it down, in the next couple of days, I’m going to screw the mess out of you.”
“I accept these terms.” Nathan’s nose skimmed my chest, moving up to capture my greens in his browns. “Feel up to a kiss?”
“I think I can work through the pain—”
Nathan ended my sentence on his lips. Cupping his neck, I opened myself to him, tongues tangling to scramble my aching brain. Shivers rippled up and down my flesh, awakening the parts of me impatiently waiting for Nathan to finish what we started on the balcony. He pressed against me, digging his erection into my leg. As always, our bodies were in sync.
I rubbed him through his jeans. Nathan broke our kiss with an audible pop.
“Just can’t keep your hands off me, can you?” He pecked me just under my bandage. “If you don’t behave yourself, I’m sleeping on the chair.”
“I’ll behave.”
Nathan laid us both down and tucked the covers to my chin. I hid my smirk in my pillow as I wiggled my ass against him, teasing a groan.
“Fuck. I’m in for a long night.”
I WOKE ALONE THE NEXT morning.
“Nathan?”
Blearily, I sought the clock and noticed a slip of white beneath it.
Belle,
Hitched a ride with Hendrix into town to get a new phone. Didn’t want to wake you. We’ll keep misbehaving when I get back.
Three sentences and I was grinning like a fool.
Nathan was very firm the night before—in and out of his pants—and wouldn’t let me take things further. He held my wandering hands to my chest, kissed my shoulder, and whispered sweet things in my ear until I fell asleep.
The only thing sweeter would’ve been waking to him next to me. I’d make that happen tomorrow morning.
A knock lifted my head.
“Belle? Belle, are you awake?” Rosalie called through the wood. “We’ve brought up your breakfast.”
“One second.”
I went to the bathroom, slipped on a robe, and ran a quick brush through my hair. I opened the door to we.
Carter walked in behind Rosalie, carrying the tray.
“Scrambled eggs, fruit, and toast,” she said. “The doctor recommended simple meals until you’re back on your feet. How are you feeling, Belle?”
“Much better. Thank you.”
I followed as Carter set the food out on the balcony. I thought I saw him looking at me over the tea mug. I flicked to him but he was fixed on his task.
“Of course you’re excused from events for the rest of the week. Your team will handle the remainder of the party preparations.”
“I did get the deejay,” I said. “Booked and set to arrive an hour before the party. I’m sure I’ll be fine by Friday, so I can help with the setup.”
“You mustn’t push yourself.” Rosalie glanced at Carter pouring the hot water. “Belle, can we speak over here for a moment?” She led the way to the opposite corner of the room. “I want to apologize personally for what happened yesterday.”
“It wasn’t your fault.”
“I take responsibility either way.” She gestured for us to sit on my bed. “Choosing a partner is usually a private process. The average person doesn’t have dozens of people watching them make one of the biggest decisions of their lives. I understand and I try to give you as much freedom and privacy as possible. As a consequence, I wasn’t there to intervene.”
“Immature idiots with chicken soup for brains will always stir up consequences,” I said. “But if this is heading where I think it is, you don’t have to bring in more people to watch us on my account. I don’t agree with much around here, but I am with you that it’s harder to make an adult decision when everyone is treating you like a child. We don’t need more babysitters.”
Rosalie tipped her head, fixing me with a level gaze. “I’m not so much concerned with what the others need as I am with you. I’ve spoken with your mother. She and I agree more security is a good idea.”
I cut eyes to Carter. He was still fussing with my food, but it certainly didn’t take that long to clear a tray and go.
“I won’t say no to more security,” I replied, dropping my voice. “But not at my breakfast table or following me around. We’ve had issues with bribes and guards betraying me in the past. I’m just as likely to look at them suspiciously as I do shadowed figures darting around corners.”
“It turns my stomach that anyone would do such a thing.” Her curled lips backed her up. “Yes, your mother explained this to me as well. No one will be assigned to you. I’m hiring more people to circle the perimeter. Keep an eye on those going on and off the property. I’ve also hired a lifeguard. The degrees of desire to be here vary, but your sense of safety should not.”
“Thank you.”
Rosalie Desai championed the community and their control over our marriages, while I would be happy to harpoon this ninety-five-year tradition and dance as it sinks into the sea. Regardless, she cared about us in her way. She wouldn’t let anyone hurt me for the collective wealth of the community. I don’t take trust like that lightly.
She patted my knee. “I must go. Call if you need anything. My number is in your packet.”
“I will.”
Rosalie got to her feet. “Carter, dear. I’m sure it’s fine.”
“I need to talk to Belle. I’ll be down in a minute.”
She swept out, leaving us alone. It didn’t occur to her that Carter might be another one I need protection from.
Do I? I thought as I met him on the balcony. What do we have left to fight about?
“Carter, I—”
He touched my forehead—fingers light as he skimmed the edge of my bandage. My sentence died in my throat. I hadn’t seen that look on his face, brows crinkled and eyes searching, for a long time.
“Are you okay?”
I rested my hand over his. “I’m fine. A few days in bed and I’ll be good as new.”
“If you’re fine, what were you and Rosalie whispering about?”
“She’s rethinking her decision to let us have so much free rein.”
“What does that mean?” Carter’s thu
mb was still stroking my cheek. It was doing dangerous things to my body temperature. “Chaperones and curfews?”
“It means more security patrolling and a lifeguard in case someone else decides to drown me.”
He chuckled. “Hate to say it, but it’s not a bad idea. You don’t want to be the one calling up members of the community to say their kid’s been put in the hospital.”
“Pretty sure Hendrix is taking a few days in bed to recover too.”
“Yeah, he is. The dame doesn’t play. I’ve got a thousand bucks on her meeting Finn at the hangar and handling him. He’ll never be seen again.”
We cracked up.
“She is fierce, isn’t she?”
Amusement danced in his eyes. “Remember when I dumped those chemicals on you in science class and ruined your new dress? You tackled me over the desk and we both landed in detention. Your mom showed up, pulled me aside, and said if I didn’t learn to behave as a gentleman, she’d wring the ears off my head and wear them as an example to every boy who dares to mess with you. I’m still crapping my pants.”
My mouth fell open. “She did not say that.”
“Oh, she did. What is it with Adler women and delivering threats with a smile on their face?”
“It’s our gift.”
“Sit,” he said, dropping his hand. “Eat. It’s getting cold.”
I sat. I hadn’t eaten anything since the morning before. I was too queasy to try the hospital food. I drizzled honey in my tea as Carter claimed the seat across from me.
“I wasn’t expecting that a cracked head would be the catalyst for Nathan and me finally talking,” I began. “But I’d have believed that better than it getting you to laugh and joke with me again.”
Gazing over the sea, a faint smile cracked his face. “Laughing and joking about our history of being at each other’s throats.”
“We weren’t always. You were my best friend. I used to whine to the dame about her not letting me sleep over your house like everyone else got to do with their best friends.”
“To be fair, it’s probably because she picked up on the massive crush I had on you.”
My tea went down the wrong pipe. Coughing and hacking, I wheezed under Carter pounding my back. “Y-you did not.”