by Niles, Abby
The self-disgust in his voice turned her stomach. She reached over and squeezed his hand.
He slid his palm over hers, squeezing back. “Anyway, I needed to stretch my legs, and this little store appeared around the next bend. I told the driver to stop. As I walked around, I noticed these mason jars filled with yellow liquid. A home-packaged sort of deal, where frilly lace decorated the screw cap and a simple sticker that had ‘Gleam’ written in black Magic Marker placed on front. The young lady behind the counter said it was her homemade cleaning agent, a recipe passed down from generation to generation that was really popular with the locals. Out of curiosity, I bought one and went on about my day. I didn’t think about it again until I got back home. It was an amazing product.”
“And you had to have it?”
“Oh, yeah. I saw a gold mine. Like I needed more of those. I was already extremely wealthy, but that didn’t stop me. So I drove back up, believing I’d make an offer and she’d jump right on it. These were backwood folks. They didn’t have a lot and I was offering her the world.”
“But she didn’t want to sell?”
“Adamantly refused, stating it was a family recipe that had been passed down from her great-grandmother, to her grandmother, to her mother, and then on to her. And she would one day pass it along to her daughter, and a price tag couldn’t be put on tradition. To say the least, I was stunned. Someone would willingly give up a fortune because of a tradition? How stupid—and I wasn’t above showing her how stupid it was. So I pretended to graciously accept her refusal of my offer and left. Over the next couple of weeks, I made a few trips out there. Never once bringing up the offer, just flattering her, telling her how she’d caught my eye the moment I walked into the store, being the rich city slicker who swooped in and courted the country mouse.”
“Aidan, you didn’t.”
“Oh, I did. I didn’t rush it, either. She was guarded around me, leery, with good cause, but I knew I could win her over. I was patient, letting her get used to seeing me, anticipating when I’d happen to stop in, waiting for that moment I went from being the man who wanted her family secret to the man she couldn’t wait to see. The day she welcomed me with a shy smile and eyes that wouldn’t quite reach mine, I knew I had her, and that was when I asked her out. I didn’t feel an ounce of guilt, Jaylin. Not one iota of remorse. I had a goal. Get the secret. I showered her with the finest things money could buy to do so. I believed if I showed her everything she’d missed by living in a small town, fed her fine dining, bought her fancy clothes, she’d never be able to pass up the opportunity to have it for herself.”
“What happened?”
He shook his head, as he exhaled harshly. “I had degrees, had dealt with some of the savviest businessmen in our country, and had taken them all down. It never occurred to me that a high school dropout, who had no dealings with the wolves of the world, would be so damn smart. But she was, and she became suspicious. She ended up hearing a conversation with one of my business partners. I’ll never forget the day she confronted me. It changed my life. She showed up in my office. Gone were the lavish outfits I’d bought her, the expensive jewelry. The woman who stood before me was the woman I’d met that first day at the general store.”
“Oh, wow.”
“She placed two suitcases on the floor. I later found out it was every piece of clothing and jewelry I’d ever bought her. She thanked me for reminding her who she never wanted to be. It was the first time in a long time I’d felt awful for going to any lengths to get what I wanted. I tried to apologize, but she simply said she wasn’t angry, that she only pitied me, and that I apparently held nothing sacred. Right before she walked away, she added that anyone who traded family for material things had somehow lost their way in life, and she only hoped I could one day find the path back to mine.”
“Ouch.”
“Definitely, but her parting words made me take a long hard look at myself, and I found I no longer liked who I saw. In fact, I hated who I’d become. Money was the only thing that was important to me, and I’d steamroll anything or anyone who stood in my way, including an innocent woman. I started selling my companies, one by one. The day I signed the last company away, I bought the cabin and started getting acquainted with the new me. And you know what? I like him.”
Jaylin smiled. “I like him too.” She tilted her head to the side. “What happened to the woman?”
“A couple of months after she’d left, I went back to the general store. This time I thanked her for reminding me who I didn’t want to be. She said she was glad I’d found my path. I always make sure to stop in when I’m up that way and check in on her.”
“And you work as a consultant for failing businesses now?”
“Yep. I decided to use my evil for good. Who wouldn’t want a reformed bad guy working on their side to help keep other bad guys from poaching them?”
“Yeah, I can see how there is a market for that,” she said, laughing.
The skin between his brows folded. “You really don’t think less of me?”
“Aidan, I know you’re not that man anymore. If you hadn’t pulled the kidnapping stunt, I would’ve never known you could be like that.”
“I hated being him again—especially with you. He’s gone for good, Jaylin. I promise.”
“I believed you when you said it last night and I still believe you. This story didn’t change that, it just helped me understand you better.”
“It’s a scary thought to think that if that hadn’t happened I’d have never met you.”
She forced a smile. That was what he thought was scary?
What scared her was him one day wishing he’d never laid eyes on her. That one day she’d bump into Aidan on the sidewalk and he’d look at her with nothing but detest in his eyes.
Her heart twisted at the thought. As much as she hated to admit this to herself, she’d never regret meeting Aidan, even if letting him go would be one of the hardest things she’d ever do.
And if a cold reception was her possible future, she needed to grab what time she had left with him and make the most of it.
She hopped up from the chair. “Walk along the beach with me.”
He smiled, not even hesitating to stand. It made her feel awful. He never wavered, knew without a shadow of a doubt they were meant to be together, and a part of her wished she could have the same certainty.
As they started off down the sand, Aidan grasped her hand. The feel of his warm palm against hers tugged at another piece of her. For now, he was hers. The wind whipped a strand of hair that had worked its way out of her pigtails into her face and she tucked it behind her ear, leaning her body closer to Aidan, just absorbing his strength, his presence. It was so easy to do, as if he was supposed to help keep her anchored, help her through the whipping winds of life.
Unnerved by her thoughts, she concentrated on the water lapping over her toes. “It’s gorgeous here. How did you find it?”
“I’ve rented it a few times in the past.”
A wave of jealousy even more violent than the one she’d felt during his story swept through her. Had he brought another woman here? Treated her the same? She looked up at him.
The smug, satisfied expression on his face made her wish she hadn’t been so transparent.
“You’re the only woman I’ve ever brought here, Jaylin. You’ll always be the only woman I bring here.”
Her breath caught at his words. “Why?”
He shrugged. “This is my own little piece of paradise. I’ve never had the urge to share it with anyone else. But you’re my mate, and if we can’t have a future together, I want memories of you on this island, so when I do come back, I can feel like I’m with you again.”
Tears pricked her eyes. So he still knew that when they returned home they’d go their separate ways, had accepted it. It should have made her feel relief, but an ugly lump had formed in her stomach.
Why did this have to be so hard? Why did he have to be everything
she was terrified of?
All she could get out past the thickness in her throat was, “Thank you for bringing me here, then.”
The smile he gave her was tender, as were the eyes that looked down on her. “Thank you for being here with me.”
He glanced off to the horizon, his throat working as he swallowed. Was he thinking about the helicopter that would return and bring an end to the bubble they had created here? The end of them?
She closed her eyes. It was all there again. The feelings. The wanting. The wishing. It was time for a different distraction, and if he wanted memories of her, she wanted to give him some that didn’t revolve around the bedroom, wanted to give him memories that when he stood on this beach, would make a small smile play at his mouth. And she’d lock those memories away inside herself as well, so when she thought of her time here with him, she’d also have that same smile on her face.
Slapping his ass, she tore off down the beach. “Tag, you’re it.”
She looked behind her to see a bewildered expression on his face that made her laugh before he shook his head and took off after her. She squealed, splashing through the waves as the distance between them closed. Seconds later, Aidan grabbed her up in his arms, a bright smile on his face. The smile she wanted him to have when he thought back to this moment.
“Got you,” he said.
That he did. In more ways than one.
As he waded deeper into the ocean, a mischievous twinkle entered his eyes, sending her thoughts away. She wrapped her arms tighter around his neck. “Uh-uh. Don’t even think about it.”
“What?” he asked innocently.
“Aidan, I swear— Oh!”
Warm water enveloped her body. Her feet made contact with the sandy floor and she popped back up, gasping. Wiping the salty water from her eyes, she surveyed the area. Aidan had moved to deeper water, treading on top, laughing. She pushed off the floor and with strong overhand strokes swam toward him.
“I’ll show you,” she said as she reached him.
She popped up, placed both hands on top of his head, and pushed down. He went under.
Easily. Too easily, actually. The ass.
If he wanted to placate her, then so be it, she’d dunk his butt.
She swam for the shore. As soon as the water came to her waist, she started running for the beach. Loud splashes came from behind her. Shrieking, she ran even faster.
A sharp stinging radiated up her leg and shocked the glee from her. She screamed and stumbled away from the source. Losing her balance, she landed on her butt in shallow water and cradled her shin, moaning.
“Jaylin!” Within seconds, Aidan had her swept up in his arms and was jogging toward the chairs.
Tears blinded her vision at the burning sensation. It felt as though someone had poured acid on her leg. “Jesus, Aidan, it hurts.”
“Shh, baby.” He placed her on the chair and lifted her leg in his hands. Three long red lines marred her skin, wrapping around the bottom half of her calf and ankle. “Shit. Jellyfish.”
Gathering her back in his arms, he hurried up the staircase leading to the house. He shoved open the door with his shoulder before entering their bedroom and placing her on a chair outside on the private deck. Without a word, he turned and left. His shoulders rigid, body shaking with barely restrained emotion.
Grimacing against the radiating throb, she didn’t have the energy to worry about his sudden change in behavior. She knew what had brought it on, and there really wasn’t anything she could do to stop it.
A few seconds later, Aidan came back and pulled a seat directly in front of her. Even though his face was drawn in harsh, angry lines, he gently cupped the back of her knee and propped her leg on his thigh. After unscrewing a bottle of vinegar, he poured a liberal amount on the wound. The sting didn’t disappear, but it did lessen some.
“I wish I could take it away, Jaylin,” he whispered in a tormented voice. He was so tense. On edge.
She had no idea what to say to make him relax, so she went with, “You are helping.”
“You know what I mean.”
Yeah, she did. He wanted to help by healing her, but the type of wound prevented that. Maybe she needed to make light of the situation. “Hey, it’s just a sting. If I ever get bitten by a shark, you’ll really come in handy.”
He scowled at her. “That’s not funny.”
She pursed her lips. So much for using humor to get him to chill.
As he used a pair of tweezers to remove the remaining tentacles attached to her skin, she touched his hand to get his attention, and he looked up at her.
“Aidan, without you here I would have been writhing around in pain. Just because you can’t lick the skin to mend it doesn’t mean you’re worthless. I had no idea vinegar helped take the sting out.”
He lowered his head. “I don’t like seeing you in pain.”
“I don’t like being in it, but that isn’t your fault.”
He didn’t say anything, just went to work tweezing. When he was finished, he placed her foot on the ground, then stood, walked into the bedroom, and disappeared into the bathroom. Moments later, the sounds of running water filled the air. When he returned, he asked, “You’re feeling okay, right? No nausea, light-headedness?”
“I’m fine. Stop worrying.”
Another scowl, a flash of blue, and Jaylin knew they were treading into uh-oh territory. She limped toward him, wanting to see the blue fade from his eyes. “I’m fine. Seriously. A hot bath and I’ll be good as new.”
“I never should’ve chased you.”
Oh, for God’s sake. She cupped his face between her hands. “I wanted you to chase me or I wouldn’t have run. So if we’re going to play the blame game, it’s my fault for starting it in the first place.”
The blue slowly faded from his eyes. “Let’s get you in that bath. It’s going to be hot. It has to be.”
Hot was an understatement. Just south of scalding was more like it, but surprisingly enough it did ease the throb in her leg. Aidan sat at the lip of the tub behind her and rubbed her shoulders. She leaned her head back. “You could join me.”
He shook his head. “I’ll stay here.”
She’d see about that. He needed to be distracted. More so than she did. She sat up and untied the back of her bikini and dropped it on the floor with a splat.
“What are you doing?’
Ignoring him, she slipped deeper into the water, until her nipples bobbed on top. They were tight, waiting. A growl vibrated from behind her. She bit back a smile. In an instant, he was at the edge of the tub by her side, eyes latched on the stiff peaks. She arched her back just a fraction to bring them farther above surface, before relaxing them back under.
She was shocked when he let out a string of curses, and stormed from the room.
Chapter Nine
Aidan grabbed two fistfuls of his hair and tugged, sucking a noisy breath between clenched teeth as he stalked back and forth across the living room. His beast also paced in sharp, short strides, with its head low and a growl constantly vibrating inside Aidan’s chest. A warning of how close he was to losing it. Being near her right now was not an option.
A rational mind would know he was overreacting, that her wound was insignificant, but he was anything but rational at the moment, and hadn’t been since Jaylin had screamed in pain.
He could still feel the way her piercing shriek had cleaved right through him, making the cougar charge forward, tense, ears flat, ready to protect.
How the fear had almost consumed him.
Over a jellyfish sting.
If he felt like this over something so small, what would happen if she had a serious injury?
Something life-threatening.
He cringed away from even thinking about it. He didn’t want to remember how human she really was. How easily she could be taken from him.
What he needed was someone to ground him back in reality. Help him see the forest for the trees, because if he didn
’t, he was at risk of doing something stupid.
His cell phone had lost signal somewhere over the Caribbean, but he always kept a satellite phone nearby just in case of an emergency, and right now felt like a pretty good time to use it.
He grabbed the phone he kept in the drawer of the end table and then stepped outside onto the deck.
He quickly dialed Britton’s cell phone number. Two rings later, his friend answered with a very Brit-like, “Yo!”
Just hearing his friend helped some of the tension ease. “It’s Aidan.”
“Hey, man! What’s up?”
“I wanted to check in on Liam.” Such a lie, and he felt like a failure for needing to reach out to his friends to keep him from letting his beast control him.
A snort came through the line. “What’s he got to complain about? He’s waited on hand and foot by that old woman and is back at your cabin.”
“I thought he was staying at your place.”
“Yeah, that lasted about an hour, then he forced me to come here and camp out in your room. What’s Liam’s deal with my humble abode anyway?”
“Other than being small?”
“It’s not small. It’s quaint. And perfect for me.”
A small smile came to Aidan’s lips. Maybe calling was the best thing he could’ve done. The pressure in his chest had lessened, and he could finally breathe without feeling like it was through a wet paper sack. “How’s he been though?”
“Talking to that therapist everyday on Skype. But you didn’t really call from the gorgeous tropics with that gorgeous mate of yours to ask about Liam. What’s wrong?”
“Jaylin got hurt.”
“Bad?”
“No. Stung by a jellyfish.”
“The risks of going to the tropics, I guess. But why the call? Sure a sting is a bitch to deal with, but I don’t see why it’s got your panties in a wad. She’s fine, right?”