From This Moment On: Heartwarming Contemporary Romance (Windswept Bay Book 1)

by Debra Clopton

  “It was more than that, wasn’t it?”

  Her chest heaved as she sucked in a hard breath and then nodded. “No one knows.”

  She’d worked so hard to hide the facts. Just like for the four years of her marriage she’d worked to hide her bruises. A lump formed in her throat.

  “How bad did he hurt you?” he asked gruffly.

  She felt a tremble start deep inside her body and radiate through her. She clenched her hands, hoping to stop the shaking from taking over. She hated this. Hated it.

  She despised being a victim. Never imagined that she would become one. Her throat tightened and she ran the tip of her tongue over dry lips as she measured her words. “I hate this. It started slowly, as the stress of his job increased. Verbally at first and then escalated to the first blow, that was immediately followed by pleas of sorrow and declarations of love.” She closed her eyes as memories exploded from their cage in the darkness. I’m so sorry, baby. I didn’t mean to do it. It was just such a stressful day. Words she’d had compassion for.

  Words and lies she’d fallen for.

  “He hit you?”

  “Yes. And I let him. He begged for forgiveness. Swore it wouldn’t happen again…”

  “But it did,” he growled.

  “It did. Over and over again. And I hid the bruises. Like a fool,” she muttered. The disgust washed over her. Wished now that she’d kept her mouth shut. Heat rushed her and she spun away from Grant, this beautiful, talented amazing man—who now knew her dirty little secret. What had she been thinking? What?

  Tears of humiliation stung her eyes and all she wanted was to run and hide. She’d felt like that for so long. And couldn’t bear knowing that he knew the truth about her now. She’d failed in so many ways.

  “Cali, honey, I’m so sorry.” He came up behind her and gently took her in his arms. “Why haven’t you told anyone?”

  “Because I’m embarrassed, for one. How could I have let that happen?” She spun and hurried down the beach. Grant was in front of her, barring her way. Through the haze of tears, she could see he was backlit with the romantic moonlight.

  “You didn’t mess anything up. He did.” He tugged her into his arms and held her.

  “I stayed. I let him tear me down, tear me apart and I stayed. How could I have done that?”

  Like he would know? She didn’t even know.

  “It’s okay,” he murmured into her hair, with a tenderness that only made her want to weep.

  And she hated crying. “Let me go. I need to go.”

  “Stay. I’m sorry this happened to you.” His hand rubbed her back, kneaded her shoulders.

  “I let it happen.” The words tore from her even as she fought to hold them back. She’d already said too much.

  “It wasn’t your fault,” he growled, shocking her with the fierce rawness of his words. “Get that out of your mind. He was the one who harmed you. You didn’t do that.”

  “I let it happen.” Her throat burned; her head throbbed.

  “No. It just happened.” He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. “Let it go.”

  It felt good to have someone to lean on just for a moment, even if she was mortified that he knew. Now she lifted her head. “I need to go. I can’t do this.”

  She stepped away, hating the pity she saw in his eyes.

  “Let me walk you back.”

  “No. I’m fine. I’d like it if you’d forget I told you this.” She swiped at her eyes, those maddening tears.

  “I want to help.”

  “No,” she said again. The word came out harsh, so she forced her nerves down and said more calmly, “There isn’t anything you can do. I just want to forget it. To move on. Rehashing it doesn’t change it. I shouldn’t have said anything. Good-night.” She left him and trudged across the sand as fast as she could go.

  “Ignoring it doesn’t mean it’s gone away,” he called after her.

  Her head was reeling and her heart hurting as she let the wind carry his words away. She wasn’t ready for this. She’d known it.

  Right now, she just needed to get away from him. Needed to think. And she couldn’t do it with him looking at her with pity in his eyes.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “That’s looking mighty fine,” Horace observed as he leaned on his ladder and studied the mural that Grant had been working on. “My grandkids will love those turtles. The way you have them looking straight at me, like I’m in the water with them and we’re studying each other, is amazing. And your seal is looking good too, Jax.”

  “Thanks,” Jax called from where he was painting a playful, yet realistic seal playing underwater.

  He’d shown up with enthusiasm about working with Grant, though he’d been uncertain how he could be of help. He’d been surprised when Grant showed him his plans and even more startled when he’d learned they were starting the mural today.

  Grant had been pleased to see Jax.

  It was going to be a good partnership. One that would boost Jax and let Grant give back and pay it forward.

  But Grant had forced every smile he’d smiled today. And every laugh. His mind had been on last night. On Cali and the humiliation she’d felt. It had taken him long into the night before he’d finally grasped what he believed Cali felt.

  He’d wanted to break her ex in half. Throw a rope around him, tie that rope to his saddle horn and pay justice the old-fashioned way, dragging him across a rock-strewn pasture full of cactus and briars.

  He’d wanted to beat the man to a pulp and if he could find him, there were no guarantees that he wouldn’t get the job done sometime in the near future. He knew Cam and probably her other brothers would fight him for the chance.

  He should have known Cam didn’t know.

  Why was she protecting her ex? To keep her brothers from getting in trouble?

  The very thought of her suffering at the hands of the man she’d trusted turned his stomach. And he hadn’t decided the best way to handle the situation.

  He was giving her space and he was doing the only thing he knew to do for her at this moment: paint her murals.

  “You look like you’re a thousand miles away,” Horace said. “You all right?”

  “Yeah, I’m fine. I think it’s time to call it a day, though. Thanks for helping set up, Horace.”

  “No problem at all. You boys keep up the good work. My wife’s probably got supper ready so I’m heading home. Might bring her by tomorrow to see the progress.” He studied Grant with perceptive eyes. Shooting a glance Jax’s way and seeing him moving away to clean his brush, he looked at Grant. “I didn’t see Cali come by all day. You two have a spat?”

  “Didn’t you say your wife was waiting?”

  Horace’s expression said he’d gotten his answer. “She’s a good little gal, our Cali. Hurts when she thinks no one is watching. You go easy on her heart. It’s a tender, precious thing.”

  “I know. I’m not planning on hurting her.”

  “But someone has. So go careful.”

  Floored, Grant watched the little man in his tan uniform walk away. He saw what no one else had figured out and Grant wondered how.

  “Jax, I’m calling it a day.”

  “Me too,” Jax called from where he was cleaning his brushes. “Thanks for this opportunity. I’m proud of that, even if it’s not as good as yours.” He nodded toward his seal.

  “Your work is excellent. Own it, man.”

  Jax laughed. “Easy for you to say. I painted that mural on the side of the wall just for the heck of it. I never took it seriously. To tell you the truth, this is still freaking me out a little bit that I’m actually painting with you. But, I like it. You’re a good guy.”

  After Jax left, Grant went looking for Cali. He’d given her space all day, but now it was time. He had to make sure she was all right.

  Did she plan to hide from this for the rest of her life? He was trying to understand but he didn’t. Why had she stayed? She was a strong woman; he just d
idn’t get it. Never had understood why women stayed in those situations. But he wanted to.

  He knew he had to if there was going to be more between them and that was what he wanted. He just hoped she did.

  Cali was walking out of the office, where she’d been hiding all day, buried in plans for a wedding, a fifty-year anniversary party, and details for a small mini conference that had just booked for next month.

  She was grateful for so much to do today considering avoiding Grant was high on her list and hiding out at home wasn’t an option. Shar was busy with the sea turtle hospital today and that kept her away from the resort, a small miracle because Cali wasn’t up to her sister’s meddling today.

  And Shar would have been suspicious if Cali hadn’t been down there watching Grant paint. But Cali couldn’t be around Grant today, so she was thankful Shar was not here.

  She read the last row of numbers she’d typed into the spreadsheet and realized she’d typed them wrong. Her concentration was shot but like she’d done all day, she erased the numbers and retyped them very carefully.

  She wondered how the painting was looking. He’d been at it all day, or so she’d heard. Thoughts of him brought back the vivid remembrance of his kisses last night. Kissing him had been enough to put her into a tailspin but then, unloading all of her sordid past…it was just too much. What had she been thinking?

  She hated the way she’d felt trapped in her marriage, hated the way she’d felt afterward too, looking back and asking herself why she hadn’t left sooner.

  It would have been best to keep it all buried in the past. But no, she’d told Grant.

  Jillian came into the office and hurried to her desk. She’d been working in the gardens all day, trying to make certain her crew had everything perfect for next week’s wedding.

  “How’s it going?” Cali asked, pausing her work on the computer.

  “Fine. I just found the most wonderful fountain for the wedding garden. I’m about to head over to look at it in person and arrange for its delivery. Want to come?”

  “No, better not. I still have some calls to make.”

  Jillian leaned against her desk. “Did you have fun last night? Everyone really liked Grant. Mom was charmed.”

  Who wouldn’t be? “I had a good time. He did too. He’s intimidated by our big family.”

  “Ha! Proves we’ve been right when we tagged him as smart and talented the day he arrived. Have you been by to see the mural?” Jillian asked.

  “No, I’ve been busy here in the office. If he needs me, he knows to call.” She hoped that would satisfy Jillian. Questions appeared in her sister’s eyes.

  “I can’t believe you didn’t go peek. I just came that way and it’s rough at the moment but taking shape. He’s also normal and not obsessed like before. He told me this one is shaping up in sections. A gorgeous sea turtle and a seal are pretty much finished and they look fabulous. Jax is really talented.”

  “I know, he is.” Disbelieving and relieved at the same time that she wasn’t getting the third degree about not going to see the mural, Cali jumped on Jax and pushed the conversation toward him. “Grant really wants to help him give some support and recognition his way.”

  “I love that. Okay, I’ve got to run. I’m supposed to look at the fountain in thirty minutes.” She started toward the door and then paused. “You sure you’re okay? You seem quiet.”

  “I’m fine. Please stop worrying about me.”

  “Okay, okay. Ta-ta for now. See you tomorrow.”

  And then she was gone. Curiosity burned through Cali. What did the mural look like?

  She checked her watch. It was almost five, so maybe they had called it a day and he’d gone to his room.

  Maybe she could just go down and take a peek. She didn’t have to go all the way over to the courtyard to see it. She could stop at the swan bridge and be able to view it just fine.

  Before she could talk herself out of it, Cali headed out of the office and down the back staircase that led out to a private employee entrance that opened into the courtyard beside the swan lagoon.

  She walked along the path and over the small bridge. People were everywhere, so that was good—okay, so she felt like a child sneaking around, but her curiosity had her moving forward until she could see the wall. She halted; her hand went to her throat. Even from this distance, she could see the blue background and the seal and turtle. It was going to be outstanding.

  “Well, hey there, stranger.”

  Cali yelped and spun toward Grant. He’d come up behind her and stood there on the swan bridge, looking as good as an ice cream cone on a hot day.

  “Didn’t mean to startle you.”

  Her heart thundered and momentarily she wondered why in the world she would even try to hide from this man. “I came to look.”

  He wasn’t smiling. Just looking at her, as if searching for something. Her mind more than likely considering he probably thought she’d lost it last night.

  “It’s gorgeous.” She pulled her gaze from him to focus on the painting.

  “Are you all right? I thought you’d come down earlier.”

  He moved closer to her and her traitorous body reacted to his nearness as warmth flooded through her. “I had a lot of important work to do.”

  His expression tensed. “I thought the mural was important. I thought you’d want to make sure I was painting something you approved of.”

  “And I thought you got your inspiration and painted what you wanted. That was the impression you gave me when you first arrived.”

  “And you made it clear you had ideas. I’m hoping—” He rubbed his neck, looking away from her momentarily before he cut back to her. “What are we doing, Cali? I don’t want to skirt the issues. I’m worried about you. I care about you.”

  Her heart stumbled and then raced. “I can’t do this, Grant. You heard what I went through. I’m not ready for a relationship. I can’t—”

  “I’m not ready for you to avoid me.”

  The solid statement and certainty of his words and voice stopped her denial. They stared at each other, silence and tension straining between them. Cali’s heart squeezed tightly and then thundered in her chest.

  “I didn’t avoid you. I just needed some space after last night.”

  “I kissed you before I understood what you’d been through. I hope you know that I wouldn’t do anything to harm you.”

  “I want to believe that but can one ever truly know that about someone?”

  “It’s called trust. And he took that from you. I want to give it back to you. I’d never hurt you. I’m not him.” Disgust rang in his words.

  “I’m not ready and I don’t think I ever will be.” The words sounded stale to her ears as her gaze took in every line and contour of Grant’s face.

  His jaw hardened at her words. “I thought a lot about what you went through and I can see how trusting someone new would be an issue. An understandable issue. But I wouldn’t hurt you, Cali.”

  Her heart clutched. Did he really understand? She gave a slight nod.

  “Cali, I’m not your ex. Just remember that. Now, how about I show you the painting?”

  She nodded. His determination was a definite attraction. “Lead the way.”

  He smiled. “I plan to.”

  She was certain he wasn’t talking about the painting as he turned and took the lead across the courtyard. She watched him walk away, lean hips and strong back and arms she still remembered the feel of embracing her…and she stepped out and followed him.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Two days after he’d started the mural at the pool, it was finished. Grant studied it with a critical eye, as he always did, looking for anything that needed attention. He’d worked hard on it, with Jax beside him.

  “I like it.” Jax stood beside Grant. “And the kids dig it too.”

  That was the part Grant loved: watching the kids enjoy his work. They were out of the pool, touching the animals with their fingertips
as they oohed and aahed over it. Their parents had all told him and Jax how much they loved it. Many of those who’d watched them begin it were sad to leave before they saw the finished product, but those who’d happened to check in that first day he’d started were able to see the entire process and were enthusiastic about having been there for the entire project.

  “Thanks for your help, Jax. You’re bringing joy to those kids and many more to come.”

  “I like the feeling.” Satisfaction resonated in his words.

  “So you’re ready to tackle the exterior wall?”

  “Hey, you say jump and I jump. I’m more than ready.”

  “You sound like me when I got the bug. We’ll start in two days. Take the weekend off. I’m sure you have things to tend to at the lagoon.”

  “I do. And I need to spend some time with my girl. Speaking of, there she is. I’ll catch you in two days.” He grinned and jogged off to sweep up the young woman Grant had met a few days ago. They looked young and happy as they walked back into the resort.

  He wished his and Cali’s relationship could be so easy.

  As he’d promised, Grant had pulled back and was taking his time. He understood that he had to build trust with Cali if he had any shot at winning her over.

  “I like the turtles.” Shar came up behind him.

  “Thanks. I hear you’re very involved in saving turtles.”

  “I am. I’m on my way there now. We’re taking a recovered turtle and releasing it back into the ocean this afternoon, so I’m really excited.”

  “I was in the Florida Keys last year and just happened to be on the Bahia Honda Beach when the Marathon Key Turtle Hospital came out and released a recovered sea turtle. It was a really inspiring moment. People were everywhere. And when they released it and it swam into the water, everyone cheered.”