Sweet Surrender

by Jill Sanders

  “You’re deep in thought,” Calvin said to her as he set a tray of cheese and crackers on the table.

  Taking up one, she shrugged. “Thinking about my parents.”

  He stilled as his eyes ran over her. “And?”

  She shrugged as she chewed, then reached for the glass of wine he’d given her before she’d started setting the table. After taking a sip, she answered.

  “I was just thinking how I feel more at home here than I do in my childhood home.”

  He walked over and wrapped his arms around her. “I know how that feels.” He kissed the top of her head. “I’m happy you feel comfortable here.” He chuckled. “Everyone feels comfortable here. I think it’s the place.” He glanced around.

  She laughed. “No, it’s the company.”

  He smiled down at her. “Come on, dinner’s ready.” He stepped back and then pulled out a chair for her.

  She sat as he carried out a tray of grilled chicken covered in a honey barbeque sauce sitting on rice and vegetables. The meal looked amazing.

  “Wow, this looks great,” she said as he set it in the middle of the table, then took a seat next to her.

  “Don’t get too excited. This is one of the five meals I know how to make.” He wiggled his eyebrows causing her to laugh.

  “That’s better than the three I know.” She held up her fingers. “Grilled cheese, mac and cheese, and—my all-time favorite—carryout.”

  He shook his head. “I remember living in the city, a carryout restaurant on every corner. Where else could you have Chinese one night and Middle Eastern food the next?” He sighed. “Those were the days. I had Adam teach me a few basic meals so I could survive. Not that we don’t have some good choices in town.”

  “I get it. Sometimes you just want a quiet meal at home.” She glanced around.

  Last night, she had been too busy with him to really get a good look at the home.

  A row of windows faced off towards the water, letting streaks of bright colors from the sunset stream into the dining room and living room. The kitchen was on the far end of the main floor, closest to the road. The stairs sat directly in the middle of the home and went up to the three bedrooms. The master had the same view overlooking the water.

  She’d peeked her head into the other rooms while he’d been downstairs. He’d turned one into an office and the other was a guest bedroom.

  Narrow stairs led up to the third floor. She didn’t know what was up there since she didn’t want to snoop. Nor had she been downstairs to the basement or the garage.

  “You got quiet.” He motioned with his fork.

  “I was just thinking about this place. You know, when I got my first record deal, I rented a small place downtown.” She laughed. “I’m still there.” She shook her head and took another bite.

  “City living is different. This is the first place I put down roots.” He motioned around. “Sarah and Lilly took over with the decorations. I gave them input here or there, but for the most part…” He tilted his head as he looked at the painting hanging over his fireplace. She followed his gaze and smiled. “I like everything they chose.”

  “Is that an Allison Jordan painting?” she asked, wanting to get up and inspect the painting of a small crisp white dingy floating in dark waters.

  “It is.” He smiled. “My one contribution. I bought it a few years back at an auction.” He sighed. “I’ve always admired great art.”

  “Me too.” She’d finished her meal, so she set her fork down and crossed the room. She could just get lost in the scene. Why was the small craft so far out in the deep water? Was there someone lying in the bow of the boat? Resting or suffering?

  Suddenly, she realized she was the small boat. Floating in a sea of uncertainty, alone. Her eyes stung as tears threatened to surface. How had she allowed her life to get to this place?

  When she’d lived with Ben and Sarah after moving in with them in high school, she’d turned things around. She’d no longer felt lonely as she had under her parents’ rule.

  Ben and Sarah had shown her what a family should be. Then she’d followed her dream out west and lost that insight into what she could have. What she could be.

  Not that she didn’t like her singing career. She just hated being in LA amongst all the pretentious people in their never-ending battle to be on top.

  When the threats had started, the first thing she’d thought of was to run home to her brother and Sarah. Now, she was beginning to think that she’d dug herself in such a deep hole, there was no place she could go to escape the clutches of the madman.

  She jumped slightly when Calvin’s hands rested on her shoulder.

  “I love that her paintings leave so much to your imagination.” He sighed as he wrapped his arms around her. He turned her towards him and frowned down at her. “Hey, are you okay?”

  She nodded and laid her head against his shoulder. “I guess it’s just getting to me. The intrusion.” She closed her eyes and let his sexy scent consume her.

  “I’m sorry,” he said into her hair. “I don’t know what it’s like to have my things destroyed. I’m here.” He ran his hands up and down her back.

  “It’s not about the things.” She leaned back slightly and looked up into his eyes. She knew she could trust him as much as she trusted her brother and Sarah.

  “It’s me,” she said pointing to the boat. He waited, quietly, until she continued. “I’m the dingy floating out in the rough ocean. With no set path. No help in sight.” She closed her eyes as tears slid down her cheeks. “The waves crashing against me, tossing me every direction except for the one I want to go.”

  His arms tightened around her. “You aren’t alone.” He kissed the top of her head. “I’m here. Ben and Sarah are here for you.”

  She nodded. “Here.” She pulled back and looked up at him. “Not in LA.”

  He gently reached up and wiped the tears from her face. “Then why go back?”

  She’d been asking herself that same question since stepping off the ferry at the resort. The only thing left for her in California were items she could easily have shipped back here or replaced.

  Sure, she had a few commitments. She had to go in at the end of the month to finish her next album, and for some photo shoots, music videos, and other promotional appearances. But the more she thought it through, the more she realized she could travel across the country for those events.

  “You’re right.” She sighed and leaned up to kiss him.

  He turned her slightly. “Don’t you see it?” He nodded to the painting. “The hope? After all, that’s what this piece is called. Hope.”

  She shook her head, but then she stilled and tilted her head. There, in the distance of the painting off to the far right of the dingy, was a single ray of sunshine shining on a green shoreline. The dingy was even pointing in the right direction, the currents in the dark water moving towards the landmass.

  Since she had already opened up a little, she figured she better tell him the rest. Moving over to the sofa, she sat down and waited until he sat beside her.

  “I’ve been getting emails and calls…” She took a deep breath.

  “You told me…” When she shook her head, he grew silent. “Okay,” he said slowly.

  “Threats. Credible ones. At least the police think they are. Enough that they suggested I take some time away. To stay someplace safe.”

  He waited for her to say more, but she didn’t know what to say. Instead, she pulled out her phone and opened her messages and showed him. She sat silently beside him while he read the disturbing messages, more than a dozen of them.

  Messages about someone’s desire to chop her up. To tear her to pieces. To listen to her scream as they drained the blood from her body.

  “I feel sick.” He closed his eyes and handed her back her phone. “Why didn’t you tell us about these earlier?”

  “Because the police are handling it.” She shrugged and set her phone down on the coffee table. “The
y have a task force… or whatever, to try to track down whoever sent them. Since they officially crossed the line into…” She shook her head and didn’t want to say the words. “Disturbing.”

  “Disturbing?” He stood up suddenly and paced in front of the fireplace. “That doesn’t come close to what those messages are.” He turned suddenly. “Psychopathic does.” He moved back to her. “You need a full force of security on you.” He glanced around the house.

  She could see fear and concern as he looked around his safe space suddenly as if they were out in the open in the middle of a war.

  “Calvin.” She stood up and wrapped her arms around him. “I can’t hide forever.” She took his face into her hands and leaned up to kiss him. “The police have assured me that they will catch whoever sent these.”

  “Oh my god.” He stilled even further. “Do you think whoever broke into your rooms last night and cut your things up with garden shears…”

  To stop him from building up the worry even further, she kissed him again, this time pouring all of her feelings into it until she felt him relax against her lips. “Let’s not worry anymore for today. We’re safe here.” She looked up at him. “No one can touch me.” She smiled. “Except you.” She leaned in and kissed him, then took his hand in hers. “Take me upstairs.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  The worry he had for Bella was still playing in his mind as her lips moved over his. Then she reached for him and he forgot everything except her, here and now.

  Lifting her into his arms, he carried her up the stairs as she tugged at his clothes, laughing when he had to stop in the middle of the stairs to yank off his pants.

  “Here.” She almost growled it out. “Please, I don’t want to wait.” She turned away from him, placing her hands on the banister on the small landing.

  She glanced over her shoulder at him, and her tongue darted out and licked her bottom lip as her eyes ran slowly over him. He couldn’t explain the powerful burst of lust that hit him while she looked at him with such desire.

  Suddenly, he was yanking her pants off her hips. He sheathed himself and pushed her even further until she held onto the banister, her backside facing his desire as he plunged into her. She arched back as she cried out his name.

  “Yes, please, Calvin.” She jerked closer to him. His hands gripped her hips as she started moving, building his desire until he was almost blind with it.

  Leaning forward, he gripped her breasts as she arched against his bare chest. His mouth nipped at her neck, her earlobes, until she cried out and he felt her tighten around him with her release.

  Still, he wanted more. Needed more. Hoisting her up into his arms, he carried her lax body the rest of the way up to his bed. Laying her down gently, he waited until her eyes fluttered opened and focused on him.

  “This matters,” he said as he slowly slid into her.

  “Yes,” she agreed and wrapped her arms around him.

  He bent down and kissed her, pouring everything he was into the kiss.

  “You matter,” he said as he felt himself slide.

  He waited until he heard her breathing level and knew she was asleep before slipping out of bed to head downstairs and make sure he’d locked every door, every window. He quietly put the dishes in the dishwasher and started it. He noticed her phone sitting on the coffee table and took it upstairs. He plugged it in on her side of the bed, then crawled into the bed next to her and covered them both, pulling her into his arms.

  First thing in the morning he was going to have a talk with Ben. He knew Bella had been hiding the extent of her dilemma from her brother. Ben had warned him not to hurt Bella, and he had no intention of doing so. Ever.

  But that didn’t mean the actions she’d taken in keeping her secrets hadn’t hurt her brother and family.

  When his alarm went off, he started to roll over, only to come up short when he realized the entire right side of his body was asleep.

  Groaning, he peered out one eye and saw the messy mass of hair and smiled. “Morning,” he said when she shifted, wrapping his arm tighter around her.

  “Nooo,” she sighed and tried to hold onto him. “Call in sick. The wedding was canceled.”

  He chuckled. “We still have guests. Actually, the groom is scheduled to leave this morning, and I wanted to make sure he has the proper send-off.”

  “I’ll come with…” She started to roll away.

  “No, don’t. Your brother should be here by the time I leave. You’re going to spend the day with them.” He rolled her over until she was tucked underneath him. “And you’re going to tell them everything.”

  She tensed, but then sighed and nodded. “Okay.”

  “Good.” He leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her lips. “Now, I have less than half an hour to shower.” He started moving against her and felt her warm up to him.

  “A lot can happen in half an hour,” she purred.

  When Calvin let Ben in the back door, Bella was dressed in another pair of yoga pants along with one of his sweatshirts, eating toast and sipping coffee while she sat at his breakfast bar.

  “Morning.” Her brother walked in and set a box of donuts on the counter.

  “My savior.” She set the toast down and reached for the box.

  “I thought you’d want something sugary this morning,” Ben said, handing Calvin a to-go cup of coffee.

  Calvin stopped himself from walking over and placing a kiss on Bella’s lips before leaving. Instead, he reached in the box and took a donut for himself.

  “See you later,” he said as he started to walk away. Then Bella reached out, gripped his tie, and pulled him down until she brushed a soft kiss over his lips.

  “Oh my god.” Ben groaned. “Don’t ever do that in front of me again.”

  “Shut up. You kiss Sarah all the time in front of me. It’s practically the same thing.” She smiled up at him. “Have a good day. Don’t kill Fredrick.”

  He chuckled. “No promises,” he said as he left. But before he walked out, he turned to her. “Show him the messages. All of them,” he said with a frown.

  Bella nodded, her smile slipping slightly.

  “What messages?” Ben asked as Calvin shut the door behind him.

  He knew Ben wouldn’t let Bella be alone again while she was in town. She’d told him that she’d agreed to move back to Silver Cove after her commitments at the end of the month. Now, he just needed to convince her to move in with him instead of trying to get her own place.

  Moving around that morning getting ready, just seeing her things in his closet and bathroom drawers made the place feel more like home than anything he’d ever done to the house.

  Having her sit across from him on the kitchen bar while he’d downed his first cup of coffee and packed his lunch had brightened his morning. Falling asleep with her in his arms, making love to her into the late hours of the night, knowing that she would be there when he got off work. She’d embedded herself into his very core, and he didn’t think he could breathe easily without knowing she was there.

  Since the wedding event was canceled, most of the guests who hadn’t left the evening before would be leaving today. Including, or so he’d been told by Brock, Fredrick Stafford. The guy had posted bail around midnight last night.

  When Calvin stepped through the front door, he knew instantly it was going to be a long day. There was a line of guests trying to check out. Heather and Stacey were working the front counter and when they noticed him, they smiled.

  “Here’s the manager now,” Stacey said with a sigh of relief.

  An hour later, they’d checked everyone out and had assured them they would get refunds for the next two nights. He was about to head back to his office when Brock and Eric walked in.

  Eric and Stacey were another stable couple Calvin enjoyed being around. This time, however, he could tell Eric was on official business.

  “Got a moment?” Brock asked him.

  “Sure.” He nodded towards his offi
ce. The three of them started heading up the stairs. “Stacey, if you need me…”

  The woman waved at him and then winked at her husband.

  “What’s this about?” he asked as he shut his office door.

  “We got a call early this morning,” Brock started. “Has Fredrick Stafford checked out yet?”

  “No,” Calvin answered with a frown. “I was waiting around downstairs so I could handle him personally.”

  “We found his rental car not far from the docks. The tires are slashed, and the inside is pretty messed up,” Eric said.

  “Car accident?” he asked.

  “Nope, it’s destroyed just the same though,” Brock answered.

  “Okay, so someone broke into it?”

  “Could be. There was blood inside,” Brock added. “Plenty of it. That’s why we’re looking for the man. The rental company wants to know what happened.” He glanced towards the door. “Any chance we could take a look in his room?”

  Calvin felt his stomach roll. “Sure.” He stood up and the three of them headed back downstairs, where he had Stacey make him another key for the door and confirmed that the man hadn’t checked out while they’d been upstairs.

  He opened the door and waited for the two men to enter before stepping inside himself.

  “Looks like his stuff is gone,” Brock said.

  Sure enough, the room was empty. It hadn’t been cleaned yet, but he could see it was void of any personal effects.

  “He hasn’t checked out?” Brock turned to him.

  Calvin frowned and shook his head. “After yesterday, I wouldn’t be surprised if he snuck out in the middle of the night. What time did you say he made bail?”

  “Just past midnight,” Eric answered.

  “Just for the record… You were where last night?” Brock asked.

  Calvin sighed. “At home. Bella stayed with me. I texted Ben shortly after midnight to have him stay with Bella today.” He pulled out his phone. “You can probably check the cell towers…”

  “No need.” Brock waved him off. “Just had to cross all the T’s. You know. The guy probably banged up the rental car himself out of anger.” He shook his head. “A man like that… loose cannon.”