Dream of Me: A Sweet Contemporary Romance

by Delaney Cameron

“Maybe I’m meant to be single,” she pointed out. “I don’t do very well with men.”

  He laughed shortly. “You’ve still got time to perfect your technique.”

  “I wouldn’t even know where to start.”

  “My advice is to stay away from all of it, but that’s just the disillusioned bachelor in me talking.”

  She looked at him curiously. “Why are you disillusioned?”

  “I got burned,” he admitted.

  “And that’s it?” she asked in disbelief. “You’re giving up on women because of one bad experience.”

  His smiled. “I haven’t given up on women, Aubrey. I’ve lost interest in marriage. It’s an idea most females find difficult to believe no matter how often I say it.”

  “I suppose they’re hoping to change your mind. I feel sorry for all those hearts you’ve probably broken.”

  He shook his head and stood up. “There aren’t any hearts for you to worry over. By the way, we’re going to have company for a few days. Your lovely sister apparently finds herself with a free weekend.”

  “Really? That’s unusual, but it will be nice to see her.”

  “She stays in the room next to yours when she comes. Would you mind getting it ready?”

  Aubrey said slowly, “I didn’t realize she’d been here before.”

  “Should I have mentioned it sooner?” he asked dryly.

  She bit her lip and glanced away from him. “No, but I’m surprised she didn’t. Of course, it’s none of my business either way.”

  He walked to the door. “I’m glad you realize that. For a moment, I felt the weight of your disapproval which is ridiculous in the circumstances.”

  “You did no such thing,” she denied to his departing figure.

  * * * *

  The next morning after Corbin left, Aubrey went to get Phoebe’s room ready. As she walked through the door, she couldn’t help smiling at the contrast to her own room. Here there were no pastel colors or filmy draperies, but dramatic and elegant fabrics in teal and gold cunningly blended together to create an atmosphere of sophistication. No one would mistake it for a little girl’s room.

  Though she spent the afternoon uploading and cropping pictures of the cottage renovation project, her mind was elsewhere. She was going over everything Phoebe had told her about Corbin. For the first time, she wondered at their relationship. Was there something she’d missed? More importantly, if her sister and her boss had been or still were involved, what did it matter to her? She was so lost in her thoughts she didn’t hear Corbin come in.

  “Working late on a Friday night? You’re unusually dedicated.”

  “No more than you,” she retorted irritably.

  Corbin stopped his contemplation of the stack of mail on his desk and looked at her with narrowed eyes. “What’s your point?”

  “In case you need reminding, you’re not that much older than me.”

  He laughed. “For some reason I feel like it, and isn’t that for the best? We’re not likely to have any problems keeping things on a business-like basis.”

  Aubrey suddenly remembered the kiss in the bathroom. Hadn’t they already crossed that line?

  “What’s the matter now? You look as if you’re expecting me to chase you around your desk.”

  “I do not,” she said too quickly.

  “Then stop looking at me like that.”

  “Like what?”

  “Never mind. Go take a walk and quit worrying about trivial things. I’m in the mood for Pete’s Pizza. If I call now, they’ll have it here by the time you return.”

  Aubrey wasted quite a few minutes in her room fighting the urge to cry. What was happening to her lately?

  Chapter Five

  The evening was muggy, even with a mild ocean breeze. Corbin and Aubrey enjoyed the remainder of a beautiful sunset while they waited for their guest to arrive. The sound of a fast-driven car brought their attention to the road, and two pairs of eyes focused on Phoebe’s tall figure alighting from her car. Aubrey heard her companion’s swift intake of breath and looked at him curiously. Was there something between them?

  Corbin didn’t wait for Phoebe’s approach, but went to meet her, taking both her hands into his. “You are breathtaking, as always.”

  Phoebe’s soft laughter rang out. “Hello to you, too, Corbin. May I return the compliment? I tend to forget how stunning you are in person.”

  “Aubrey seems to handle it with no problem.”

  Turning to the small figure standing like a statue behind him, Phoebe bent to give Aubrey a hug. “As she does most things. It’s good to see you both. The traffic and this heat nearly drove me insane. Could I bother you for something cold to drink?”

  “I’ll get it,” Aubrey offered and disappeared into the house. When she returned a few minutes later, drink in hand, Phoebe and Corbin had disappeared. Looking toward the water, she saw two figures walking closely together, Corbin’s arm thrown casually around Phoebe’s shoulders. Feeling downcast for no reason she could think of, Aubrey made her way back to the kitchen, absently setting the glass on the counter.

  As the minutes ticked by, and the other two failed to return, she told herself they would naturally have much to talk about. However, this logical explanation did nothing to erase the impression that her company was unwanted. As she paced back and forth, her glance repeatedly raking the shoreline, Aubrey realized it was Corbin’s apparent disregard that bothered her the most. Retreating from such an alarming train of thought, she escaped to her room.

  The sound of muted laughter reached her as she sat on her bed absently petting an ecstatic Horace. Knowing her continued absence wouldn’t go unnoticed, she made her way downstairs. Hesitating in the hall, she heard voices coming from the living room. Something quite outside her normal self made her halt just out of sight.

  “I’m glad I came; it’s nice to get away every once in a while,” Phoebe commented as she turned from the window.

  “I can think of many more interesting places you could have gone,” Corbin added dryly.

  “Was I that obvious?” she asked with a grin.

  “I’m glad to see you no matter what your motive.”

  “I’ve been curious about this arrangement,” she admitted. “You were so resistant to having a female in the house.”

  “There’s no use in me denying that; I still feel that way.”

  Phoebe came to sit across from him. “If Aubrey’s so terrible, why is she still here?”

  “Because my options are limited,” Corbin retorted.

  “Your company hasn’t gone under so she can’t be too much of a distraction, and from what I’ve seen of your latest article, she appears to have had a positive influence on your writing.”

  “If you’re waiting for me to say that sending Aubrey to me was a stroke of genius for which I’ll never be able to repay you, you’re wasting your time. She does her work and leaves me alone to do mine.”

  Phoebe threw him a speculative glance. “I was never worried about her ability to do the work.”

  Corbin’s heavy brows rose in surprise. “What was your worry?”

  “Her reaction to you. On the surface, you’re the stuff romantic dreams are made of. It wouldn’t take much effort on your part to have her thinking she was in love, and I know how little patience you have for that sort of thing.”

  He hid a smile. It wasn’t Aubrey who was having romantic dreams. “You’re right, but luckily, Aubrey appears immune to my so-called attractions.”

  “As I’ve mentioned before, you must not be trying very hard.”

  “I’m not trying at all, Phoebe.”

  This piece of arrogance made the eavesdropper in the hallway wish she was near enough to do him an injury.

  Phoebe laughed. “Okay, I get the point. In any case, Aubrey falling for you would be the worst thing that could happen – for both of you.”

  “I couldn’t agree more.”

  Aubrey quietly retraced her steps, not wanting t
o hear any more. Filled with equal measures of embarrassment and anger, she wished she’d remained upstairs in happy ignorance of that revealing conversation. It was disconcerting to discover in what light each of them viewed her.

  Phoebe’s comments weren’t all that surprising; being five years older, she fell easily into the role of ‘protector’ of Aubrey’s interests. It was Corbin’s cold summation of their relationship that was the major source of her disappointment. She’d come to believe that they shared a guarded sort of friendship based on mutual respect and liking, but his detached comments blotted out this illusion. She meant nothing to him, nothing at all.

  “Aubrey, may I come in?”

  The words startled her. “Just a minute,” she called out in a voice she hoped sounded normal. Frantically, she dragged her hair into a ponytail and pinched some color into her pale cheeks. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door.

  “Why are you hiding up here?” Corbin asked.

  “I’m not hiding. I have a headache.”

  “That was sudden.”

  She was subjected to a long, uncomfortable look. Turning away quickly, anything to put some distance between them, she tripped. As he reached out to catch her, Aubrey remembered his careless words to Phoebe: I’m not trying at all. She instinctively pulled away from him. If he noticed her reaction, he didn’t comment.

  “Apparently, you’ve forgotten how to walk, too. Let me get some Advil.”

  This was the problem with lying. One wasn’t enough; you had to keep going deeper and deeper. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll be okay.”

  He brushed this aside. “It’s been a long day. Why don’t you get ready for bed? I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

  Here was the “treat her like a child” routine again, but if she didn’t do as he asked, there would be even more questions. When he returned, she was sitting on the edge of the bed brushing her hair.

  “Here you go.” He handed her two tablets and a glass of water and waited to make sure she took them.

  Aubrey felt his fingers moving the hair away from her face. Again she felt annoyance. By his own admission, he was barely tolerating her presence. Why was he being so nice to her?

  “Have you always had long hair?” he asked with a strange intonation in his voice.

  “As long as I can remember,” she answered quietly.

  He allowed it to run through his fingers several times. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything to compare with it,” he added softly. Abruptly, his hand dropped, and he turned to the door. “I’ll tell Phoebe you’re not feeling well. See you in the morning.”

  She drew a long, exasperated breath once the door closed behind him. Why was she wasting time trying to understand Corbin’s motivations? If she hadn’t heard the conversation downstairs, she wouldn’t have thought anything about his actions. She turned off the lamp and climbed into bed. The best thing she could do was forget it and carry on as she’d done before.

  * * * *

  The next morning her doubts and confusion of the previous evening didn’t seem nearly as vivid or important. Downstairs in the kitchen, she prepared breakfast. She was checking a pan of biscuits when Corbin appeared.

  “Feeling better?” he asked.

  “Yes, thank you.” She placed the biscuits and sausage on the table. “Should one of us get Phoebe?”

  “It’s not going to be me. If I remember right, she’s not a morning person,” Corbin answered as he poured coffee, adding liberal amounts of cream. “The two of you couldn’t be more different.”

  She knew which of them he preferred. “I’m sorry I’m not more like her.”

  “I wasn’t implying you’re in any way inferior. Don’t be so quick to take offense.”

  What was she supposed to say to that? With a murmured excuse, she went upstairs, knocking softly on Phoebe’s door. “Breakfast is ready if you’re interested,” she called out in a falsely cheerful voice.

  What sounded like a shoe hit the door. “Go away,” Phoebe replied in a grumpy voice.

  When Aubrey told Corbin, he laughed and passed her the plate of biscuits. “Hey, it’s her loss, right? I’m going to be busy this morning. I’ve got some modifications to make to the plans for our friend in the northeast.”

  “Did you hear back from him? Has he made a decision?”

  “He’s narrowed it down to three companies, but he also added another property. This is turning out to be a big job. We may have to move up there.”

  She could hear the eagerness in his voice. “You really want this one, don’t you?”

  “It’s the most ambitious project I’ve ever bid on. It could make or break me.”

  “I can’t see you letting anything break you.”

  Corbin stood abruptly and took his plate to the sink. Someone had almost broken him six years ago, and he still bore the scars. “I’ve had my moments like everyone else. Thanks for breakfast; I haven’t had biscuits that good in a long time.”

  She watched him go with a wry smile. Had she said the wrong thing again?

  * * * *

  Aubrey slipped on rubber-soled shoes and headed out the door. As the distance grew between her and the house, so did her guilt. She should have let Corbin know where she was going. But then again, once Phoebe made an appearance, he wasn’t likely to worry about what she was doing.

  All would have been well with this plan had Aubrey simply taken a walk and returned. She would have had her spurt of rebellion without anyone being the wiser. But situations have a way of changing quickly, and Aubrey had no idea her innocent outing would have such far-reaching consequences.

  The morning air was crisp with its familiar salty tang. Aubrey felt all the cares and worries of the past twenty-four hours slip away. She hardly noticed the wind picking up except to delight in the coolness it brought to her warm skin. There were some dark clouds on the horizon, but safe in the knowledge that she’d be home long before any storm arrived, she walked on.

  Faint cries pierced the air causing Aubrey to stop and glance around. The sounds were coming from behind a clump of sea oats. Pushing aside the long fronds, she spied a small figure lying in the sand. Frightened blue eyes, their long lashes spiked with tears, stared up at her. Aubrey noticed that the little girl’s long reddish-blonde hair was matted with blood.

  “Hello, there. What’s your name?”

  “Chloe.”

  “You seem to have hurt yourself. Can I take a look at your head?” Aubrey crouched down beside the little girl and began pulling away the bloody strands of hair. Her probing fingers found a good-sized scrape bleeding sluggishly. “How did this happen?”

  “I fell down and hit that rock.” Pointing a small, grubby finger, the child indicated a sharp-edged rock half hidden in the sand.

  “I think the best plan would be for us to find your Mom.”

  “I can’t go home like this. Mommy doesn’t know I left.”

  Grinning at this ingenuous speech, Aubrey stood and the child followed suit. “Then we’ll surprise her. Where do you live?”

  “That way.” She pointed in the direction Aubrey had been going.

  “Would you like me to carry you?”

  “No. It’s just my head that hurts, not my legs.”

  Aubrey was touched when a small hand came to rest in hers as the two began walking. After passing several houses, she began to wonder if Chloe knew where she was going. Before she could voice her doubts, the little girl stopped in front of a yellow house perched high on its wooden stilts.

  “This is my house,” Chloe announced proudly.

  The screen door flew open, and a young woman wearing a look of exasperation and anxiety came running down the stairs to meet them.

  “Chloe! Did you sneak off to the beach again?” Her glance went to Aubrey. “Thank you for bringing her back. I just noticed she wasn’t on the deck.”

  “You’re welcome. She’s got a small cut on her head.”

  The woman nodded. “That’s not surprising.” T
o the little girl, she said, “Go into the bathroom, Chloe, and wash your hands. I’ll be there in a minute.” She turned back to Aubrey. “I’m Tonya Willems, Chloe’s mother.”

  “Aubrey Sommers.”

  “Are you a resident or a tourist? I’m new to Tybee and haven’t sorted everyone out yet.”

  “I live here. I work for Corbin Reeves.”

  “Oh, the cute guy that builds houses.”

  Hiding a smile, Aubrey said, “Yeah, that’s the one.”

  “I better see to Chloe,” Tonya stated with a rueful smile.

  Aubrey glanced into a sky that was darkening rapidly. “And I should get going. It was nice meeting you, Tonya.”

  Deciding it would be quicker to use the road instead of returning to the beach, she set off at a fast pace. The sun was quickly disappearing and the breeze that had been so refreshing earlier was giving way to a cold wind that had her rubbing her arms. Aubrey broke into a run just as the ominous clouds overhead opened and the rain started, going from sporadic fat drops hitting the pavement to sheets of water in a matter of minutes. Why had she walked so far? With a groan, she put up her arm to shield her face from the pelting rain. There was a brief flash of light and then what sounded like a bomb exploded in her ears. Sparks flew from the wires attached to the electric pole on the opposite side of the street.

  Soaked to the skin and more scared than she could ever remember, she ran to the closest house and scrambled up the short flight of stairs. Over the pounding of her heart, she could hear the storm worsening. What was she going to do? The toot of a horn brought her head up. A car was pulling into the driveway next to the house. In a few minutes, a tall figure appeared carrying a familiar umbrella.

  “Do you always walk during thunderstorms?”

  Aubrey tried to smile, but couldn’t quite manage it. “C-can we g-go inside?” she asked through chattering teeth. “I’m fr-freezing.”

  Richard eyed her sodden appearance with concern. “You need to get out of those clothes.” Opening the door, he motioned for her to precede him into the house. “Let me see what I can find for you to put on.”