She sank down onto the bed, humiliation and shame washing over her. She thought Richard liked her. How could she have been such a fool?
* * * *
Someone was gently brushing the tangled hair away from her face. Eyes swollen from crying slowly opened. Corbin was bent over her, and the tender look on his face robbed her of speech. She hadn’t thought he could look like that.
“Aubrey! Are you all right?” When she just continued to stare at him, he gave her a little shake. “Say something! What happened?”
She could never tell him what passed between her and Richard. Never in a million years. “You’re back early,” she managed in a pathetically weak voice.
He ignored this. “Stop playing games and tell me why I arrived home to find my front door standing open and my usually self-contained employee in bed, looking like she cried herself to sleep.”
“The door was open?” she asked huskily. She heard Richard slam it shut.
“Yes.” He stood abruptly, looking like a man at the end of his rope. “Are you going to answer my other question?” he asked softly.
“There’s nothing to tell.”
Disappointment flared in his eyes for a moment before his face relaxed into its more usual lines of indifference. “Or nothing you want to tell, is that it?”
Aubrey sat up and tried to restore some order to her appearance. Behind a curtain of hair she answered him. “However you want to put it. I don’t want to discuss it.”
“Then we won’t discuss it. I can probably figure out what happened anyway.” He walked toward the door. “Since that’s not my umbrella in the stand by the door, and you only know one other person here, the clues are pretty simple to follow. I apologize for disturbing you.”
After a shower, which in some part calmed her nerves and made her feel better, Aubrey crawled into bed. Instead of sleeping, she laid awake for hours wondering how in the world she was going to face Corbin in the morning. As much as the experience with Richard shocked her, that wasn’t what bothered her the most. It was the fact that Corbin had found her in such a state. She would have given anything to keep that incident from him.
* * * *
Surveying the sunny sky visible through her window with scant appreciation, Aubrey knew nothing would erase the embarrassment of yesterday. Not only had she made a fool of herself, but she’d also further complicated her precarious relationship with Corbin. Somehow she must put it behind her and hope he would do likewise.
Long before she reached the kitchen, the appetizing smell of bacon told her Corbin was already downstairs. He gave her the briefest of greetings before returning his attention to the pan on the stove.
“I hope you like scrambled eggs,” he said into the uncomfortable silence.
“Yes, I do, thank you.”
Taking a plate from him, she watched as he poured two cups of coffee, and then took the seat opposite her. Not able to stand the tension between them, she ventured what she considered to be a safe topic. “How was your trip?”
“Very productive. I met with the owner of a string of bed and breakfast inns in the northeast. He recently purchased three others that require major renovation. I’ve never worked so far from home before, but I like the challenge of doing something in that part of the country. In the meantime, I told him I’d put together a bid package. Obviously, I’m not the only company he’s considering.”
“How did he hear about you?”
“Through a mutual friend. If he accepts my proposal, we’ll get to do some traveling.” At her blank look, he continued. “We would move operations up there – at least temporarily. I couldn’t manage that kind of project from here.”
“Where are the inns located?”
“In Maine – right in the heart of ski country.”
For a moment, the problems of yesterday faded into the background. Aubrey’s eyes grew dreamy thinking of days spent walking along a rugged coastline and evenings sitting in front of a fireplace while outside everything was covered by a blanket of snow. “Would I get to go with you?”
Her eagerness drew a reluctant smile from him. “If you’re still here by then,” he retorted dryly.
She put down her fork. “Why wouldn’t I be here? Are you planning to fire me because I left the front door open?”
“No, I’m just thinking if I go ahead and let you go, I’ll be saving myself future problems. You’re a very disruptive person to have around.”
“Other than getting sunburn and hurting my foot, two things that could have happened to anyone, how have I been any trouble?”
“You have a convenient memory. Have you forgotten you also deleted an important file I asked you to keep and brought a cat, an animal I’ve never liked, into my house without my permission?”
Aubrey bit her lip. “I meant to tell you about Horace, but it slipped my mind.”
“It slipped your mind?” he echoed in disbelief. “How can you forget something like that?”
“It doesn’t matter because I never should have brought him here to begin with.”
“That’s the truest thing you’ve said yet.”
She played with her napkin and then put it down, pushing her plate away. “Do you want me to get rid of him?”
Corbin shook his head. “Don’t bother. If Horace becomes a problem, you can both go.”
“I’ll keep him out of your way,” Aubrey assured him. She carried her plate to the sink and would have left the room when his next words stopped her.
“By the way, Richard came by this morning to pick up his umbrella. I invited him in, but he didn’t seem anxious to stick around.”
“Why should he?” she inquired with a nonchalance that fooled no one.
“Only you know the answer to that. If his company leaves you in the condition I found you in yesterday, you might want to reconsider spending time with him. Things aren’t going to improve and could get much worse.”
Aubrey’s face went completely white. “You know nothing about it.”
“I know enough of his reputation and your inexperience to be fairly certain neither of you had a good time.”
“My inexperience? You don’t know anything about me,” she retorted angrily.
Corbin laughed. “I know enough. You’re considerate, caring and honest. You also retain too many romantic ideas for someone like him. He’s not looking for love or anything close to it.”
“What makes you think I’m looking for love?”
“If you’d been looking for anything else, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. I have an errand to run, and then I’d like to see what you were able to accomplish in my absence.”
“In spite of what you think, I did work while you were gone.”
“Have I said otherwise?”
* * * *
Aubrey hardly noticed the sea gulls swooping all around her, hoping to snare a meal on the crabs inhabiting the sand dunes. Her thoughts were centered on the mess she was making of her life. Emotionally, she was a train wreck. The loss of her parents had left her exposed, like a ship adrift on a lonely sea. She didn’t have anything or anyone to hold on to. In such a vulnerable state, it had been easy to mistake self-interest for something more.
Not only had she behaved stupidly, but she’d also proven Corbin right. Somehow he knew she yearned for romance and love, something Richard wouldn’t understand or appreciate. The memory of Corbin’s gentleness when he found her would be difficult to forget. He’d shown her more kindness than she expected or deserved. There was more to him than she thought. Underneath that sometimes hard exterior was someone much more complex.
Drawing a ragged breath, she began the walk back to the beach house. Corbin had done what he could to help her, and she’d thanked him by disregarding everything he said. The fact that he could read her so easily didn’t add to her level of comfort. She didn’t want to be pitied. She just wanted to forget this ever happened.
The house was quiet upon her return. Belatedly remembering Horace, A
ubrey went to Corbin’s office hoping he hadn’t followed his inclination and put the kitten outside. The room was empty. A quick search downstairs turned up nothing. Taking the stairs two at a time, she tried her own room next, but no luck.
Aubrey noticed Corbin’s door was ajar. She knocked lightly and waited. When he didn’t answer, she pushed the door open a few more inches. She heard the sound of water running. He must be in the shower. With any luck she could search his room and be gone without him ever knowing. Opening the door just wide enough to pass through, she paused to admire the spectacular view of the lighthouse before calling for Horace in a loud whisper.
Unlike her own room, the ceiling was sloped and just managed to accommodate a massive four poster bed made of mahogany. Aubrey was on her knees peering under the bed when a door at the opposite end of the room opened. Corbin appeared wearing a pair of black athletic shorts, a white towel wrapped around his neck. When her startled gaze left his muscular arms and chest long enough, she noticed a tiny dot of shaving cream clinging to one side of his lean cheek. A tide of color washed over her face.
He chuckled at her stunned expression. “When you come into a man’s room, you can’t be shocked at what you find.”
“I, uh, knocked, but you didn’t answer.” This sounded feeble even to her own ears.
“Were you planning to hide under my bed? I’ve never had a woman try that before, but who knows, it might work.”
Her eyes flashed with anger. “Okay, I shouldn’t have come in here – I get that. But I was getting worried about Horace. I can’t find him anywhere.”
“Lost track of your new pet already?”
Aubrey came to her feet. “Have you seen him or not?”
“When you stormed out of the house, he decided to follow me. He’s in the bathroom, tearing up the linen closet.” Corbin walked over to a tall dresser resting against the wall.
Aubrey hurried across the thick carpet. All she wanted to do was escape a situation becoming more uncomfortable by the second. When her sandals hit the tiled floor of the bathroom, she slipped and fell awkwardly on her side. More embarrassed than hurt, she instinctively pulled at the short hem of her dress.
“What are you worried about? It’s not like I haven’t seen your legs before.” Corbin lifted her gently to her feet.
The warmth of his skin seemed to burn right through the thin material of her dress. When she would have moved away, she was turned around and brought disturbingly close to him again.
“Are you hurt?”
“Just my pride,” she replied somewhat breathlessly.
“Then you’ll survive.”
“You can let me go now,” she said stiffly.
“Do you dislike me so much?” he asked softly.
Her eyes couldn’t hold his any longer. In a voice she scarcely recognized, she said, “Please don’t start your teasing remarks. I’m upset with myself. I can’t seem to do anything right anymore.”
“You do a few things very well. Like getting into trouble and ignoring good advice.”
Aubrey did look at him then. “What do you want me to say?”
“I don’t want you to say anything.” Corbin bent down and brushed his lips against her mouth. It wasn’t so much a kiss as a gentle caress, and it created a number of unwanted sensations in Aubrey.
After he drew away, she said shakily, “I hope you’re not going to make a habit of doing that.”
“I hope so, too. Once was enough.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You’re making fun of me.”
Corbin shook his head. “I don’t make fun of people. Why are you getting so upset over nothing?”
“Because you’re my boss, and I don’t want any complications.”
His smile faded and his hands dropped from her waist. “There won’t be any.”
This calm and sensible answer should have pleased her. Instead, it had the opposite effect. Aubrey picked up Horace and returned to her own room. Depositing the kitten on the bed, she went to peer into the mirror. Her fingers came up to touch her lips and then fell back slowly to her side.
She’d been kissed by two men in the last twenty-four hours, neither of whom cared anything about her. It was a lowering thought. While she knew the motivation behind Richard’s behavior, there was no explanation for Corbin’s.
Chapter Four
No more was said about Horace, and Aubrey tried to keep the kitten with her as much as possible. This proved to be a challenging task. Despite receiving no encouragement, Horace gravitated to wherever Corbin happened to be in the house. Aubrey didn’t know whether to be annoyed or amused by his obvious preference for the enemy’s company.
On the day Paul was to return, Corbin received a phone call while they were eating breakfast. Whoever it was hadn’t imparted good news if his heavy frown was anything to go by. Aubrey knew better than to ask; she would find out soon enough. She disappeared into the office to finish editing an article Corbin was submitting to the local newspaper. She hadn’t been working long before he joined her.
“Paul won’t be returning today or any day in the foreseeable future.”
Aubrey threw him a teasing glance. “You don’t seem to have much luck with your male employees.”
“Paul’s been with me for five years. That’s a decent track record. Anyway, his brother needs help opening a new restaurant, and he’s ideal for that type of work. There’s nothing he can’t do.”
“That won’t take too long. He’ll be back.”
Corbin smiled faintly, remembering Paul’s observation that Aubrey was more than capable of running the house in his absence. The man must be out of his mind. “What do we do in the meantime?”
“Call an agency. There must be a few in Savannah.”
He started pacing the floor, pausing only long enough to send her an irritated glance. “This isn’t just a business; it’s my home. Do you have any idea how hard it is to find someone you can trust to have in your house? Someone who won’t invade your privacy or worse, gossip about you to everyone in the neighborhood? It took me months to find Paul.”
“Then you’ll have to make do with me.”
“You’ll be stretching yourself very thin.”
“I’m willing to give it a try. Just don’t expect gourmet meals.”
“Prepare yourself for the worst. Once word gets out that Paul’s gone, no one will believe we’re not involved.”
Aubrey surprised him by laughing. “Don’t worry; once they see us together, they’ll know there’s nothing going on.”
“The people who are prone to talk about such things don’t care what the true nature of our relationship is. They only see an opportunity to turn it into a good story.”
“Well, they’ll have to do a lot of inventing because we won’t be giving them much to go on.”
A reluctant grin twitched the corners of his mouth. “As long as you know what you’re up against. I have an appointment in town this afternoon. Would you be interested in riding along? I can drop you along the riverfront and you can shop or sightsee.”
“I’d love to come. I’ve been dying to get back over to Savannah.”
* * * *
Aubrey found the view of the busy harbor enchanting. She could have sat for hours watching the fishing fleet dock, unloading their fresh catch to the eager interest of the tourists making their way along the riverfront. Just behind her a chili contest was in progress, and a band was playing jazz to the delight of the growing crowd.
Corbin arranged to meet her for an early dinner at one of the restaurants located in the historic district. Having spent a few hours browsing through several floors of an antique store, she decided to visit the candy shop famous for its homemade fudge. As she entered the shop, one of the employees was pouring a batch of molten chocolate onto a marble surface to cool. The heavenly smell induced a swarm of memories from Aubrey’s childhood.
Every holiday had been marked by a candy-making session in her family’s roomy kitchen. No one turned d
own a box of Abby Sommers’ homemade truffles. As she watched the fudge being smoothed into shape with a long spatula, Aubrey’s heart ached. Phoebe hadn’t understood why she kept dozens of plastic molds and a faded apron. These were all she had of those precious moments with her mother.
When she left the shop, a pink-striped bag dangled from her fingers. It might spoil her dinner, but she was going to enjoy every bite of the square of warm fudge in her hand.
* * * *
Corbin concluded his business and drove to the restaurant. He was early, but he had some papers to study that would pass the time until Aubrey arrived. A waitress who couldn’t have been more than eighteen showed him to a table near the window. The flirtatious comments and glances she tossed to him were more annoying than amusing. He sent her off with an order for coffee and pointedly turned his attention to the activities taking place outside.
Like Aubrey, he found himself watching the boats as they slowly entered the harbor. It was a scene he’d watched with enjoyment many times, but today it didn’t hold his interest. His restless gaze swept through the crowd until he caught sight of the figure he’d unconsciously been seeking.
Aubrey was making her way along the cobblestone street. On her face was the sweet smile he was finding more appealing each time he saw it. In the late afternoon sun, her hair shone like pure silk. Corbin felt a stirring of his senses that was as undesired as it was impractical. This wasn’t the first time this sort of thing had happened where Aubrey was concerned, and its repetition at this particular time was annoying.
The bustling street below him slowly faded and was replaced by a grey and lilac bedroom. Would he ever forget that rainy afternoon? Her beautiful hair had been everywhere; its satiny softness covering the pillow, her face and once he got close enough, his own skin. With a shake of his head, he tried to dispel the disturbing images taking possession of his mind.
Corbin didn’t want to think about the events of that day. Enough time had been spent dwelling on something he wished had never happened. Removing his glance from the window, he opened the menu lying unheeded in front of him.
Dream of Me: A Sweet Contemporary Romance Page 6