by AliyahBurke
Brandt:
I wish things hadn’t ended the way they did between us. It breaks my heart to think I left things causing you to be angry with me. At the same time, I understand your anger, for what I did was unforgivable. I took advantage of your trust and lied to you. I hope you know that I did that because I had to, it was safer that way.
There is so much I wish I could tell you, but I can’t. Being close to me is just too dangerous as you have found out firsthand. I know you said you loved me but I am too dangerous to love. Just know this: things aren’t always what they seem. Thanks for allowing me to discover what it was like to be a woman in the arms a man. A real man. A man who totally rocked my world. Happy life, Brandt Fowler.
On the other side was the printed saying:
Even beauty can be found in the harshest of nature’s climates.
Could he feel any lower? It had meant something to her after all. He had meant something to her, but what did she mean? Things aren’t always what they seem. Was she trying to tell him something? Thunder rolled and lightning flashed illuminating the church where he sat.
Brandt rose and lit a candle in her memory and dashed through the torrential rain to his car. He had said his goodbyes and vowed to get on with his life.
Something which was harder to do than he had anticipated.
* * * *
Seventeen months later, in the Caribbean
The Jeep Wrangler sped up the dirt road, kicking up rocks and pebbles as the music blared. Two dogs were in the back and the driver had a huge smile on her face.
Serenity sang aloud to the music as they peeled off the road. She slid to a stop in front of the house she was renting. The dogs jumped out and ran around like crazy.
She got out and took her groceries out of the passenger seat and hoofed it to the front door. With a snazzy maneuver of her foot she got the door open and she and the dogs went inside.
She went to the kitchen to put the food away and the dogs headed for the water dish. A quick push of a button and music filled the small house, giving her some tunes while she put things up in their proper place.
When she was halfway done the phone rang. Head bobbing and hips swaying to the music, she picked it up, “Hello.”
“Serenity?” The voice was hesitant but she recognized it. Seth. She hadn’t spoken to him since she kicked him out of her apartment. “Serenity, is that you? Will you talk to me please?”
“Hello, Seth. How are you and Violet?”
“Fine. How are you doing?” It was hard to hear her over the loud music that she didn’t seem concerned over turning down.
“Well, thank you. What can I do for you?”
“Stop sounding so damn distant. We are here on the island. I want to come see you.”
“Fine. You can come for dinner. It will be ready in about an hour and a half. Bring Violet.” She hung up on him, figuring that if he had her number he knew where she lived as well.
Her hands were shaking as she began to prepare dinner. It didn’t take long before it was in the oven cooking. While it was there Serenity took her dogs down the steps to cavort in the surf.
She was dressed in shorts and a tank top. She saw a car pull up and she headed up the steps to meet the people that were getting out of the car.
Seth looked the same, fit and handsome. Violet was just as beautiful as she remembered. Barefoot, Serenity jogged up the steps and over to the car. A smile broke across her face.
Seeing him face to face eliminated her anger with him. She had missed him so much. A squeal of joy slipped out of her as she threw herself into his waiting arms.
“God, I missed you,” he said as he hugged her close.
“I missed you too.” And she had. Regardless of whether or not he told her who he was, he had been there.
“Does this mean I am forgiven?”
“Yes. I’m sorry for my actions about the whole thing.” She pushed away from him and went to hug Violet next.
“Good to see you, Serenity.”
“You as well, Violet.” She slipped her arm through her father’s and led them up the steps. “Come in, dinner is almost ready.” The dogs bounded around them, wet and happy.
As they sat down to a rice dinner Seth looked at his daughter. “You are looking well. Seems this place agrees with you. How are you doing?”
“I like it here. It does seem to agree with me. Besides, the dogs love it. I am alright. Some days are better than others.” Some nights were better than others. She glanced between them both. “What are you two doing here?”
Chapter Sixteen
Violet smiled. “There is a big conference for some of the larger building associations from the States and we brought some dogs for protection down. They are having a huge ball later tonight. Will you come with us?”
“Right. I will just waltz in and eat with the wealthy muckity mucks.” She laughed as she shook her head.
“I’m serious. I got an extra invite hoping that you would come with us,” Seth interjected.
“A formal thing?”
“Come on, it will be fun. Lots of dancing. You know you want to come,” Violet teased.
“All right. I will go. But no matchmaking.” Serenity speared Violet with that look. “Especially from you.”
There was a certain look hovering around Violet that sent warning bells off in Serenity’s head. “I mean it, Violet, not a single bit. That goes for you as well, Seth.”
Both of them put their hands up in mock surrender. “Fine. Nothing, we will do nothing.”
Uh huh. It was obvious that she didn’t believe them for one second. “So, what building groups are here?”
“Quite a few, don’t really remember all the names,” Seth said evasively. “We should get going and get ready. It starts at nine tonight. I will send a car for you later, sound good?”
“Okay. I will see you both later.” She gave them both hugs and walked them to the door and waved them off. Once they were gone, she cleaned up from dinner and went to take a shower.
After she dried off she opened her closet door. What to wear? Formal clothes were something of a shortage in her closet. Serenity pulled out a dress that was made of a seafoam green material.
Her body was fully lotioned and ready to be dressed. She slid the dress on and smiled at her reflection. It had wide straps that sat a little off to the side. The front dipped down a little way to expose only a hint of her cleavage.
It was made of the smoothest satin and it hugged her curves like a dream. There was a slit in the front of her right thigh, allowing her leg to peek through with every step she took. The color of the dress really did look good against her dark complexion.
She did her hair quickly. It didn’t actually require much work. It was much shorter now, falling to land around her shoulders instead of down past the small of her back. All she really did was make sure it was lying flat. It shone with health and bounced with every step she took.
A light touch of eyeliner and some mascara went to her eyes. A gloss was applied to her lips and she was ready.
The limo had pulled up and she slid her feet into her two-inch heel sandals. They were the same color as her dress.
Serenity had a simple white gold necklace that had a matching colored pendant of Queen Nefertiti. Simple hoops were on her ears. With a shrug at her reflection she waved goodbye to her dogs and headed out to the limo.
The ride to the party didn’t take long at all. Before she knew it, the chauffer was opening the door for her and she found herself in front of a large glass building in the beachfront town.
There were tons of people around of all races, all dressed well. She walked alone up to the door where a man asked her name.
“Serenity Walker.”
The stern-faced man checked the large list of names he had before him and spoke, “Go on in, Ms. Walker. Hope you have a lovely evening.”
She flashed him a luminous smile. “Thank you.” Her smile elicited a returned one from the man.
Uh hum. Someone cleared their throat next to her and she looked up to see one of the guys she knew from the town. Chris Lone, a tall, dark handsome man that she really enjoyed spending time with.
He had dark, rich brown eyes that beckoned one to get lost in them, and a smile that could make her insides quiver. He surfed a lot and his body was fit and firm. His skin was the color of pecans and very smooth. But also, he was a local contractor so it made sense he would be here.
“Chris. I didn’t know you were going to be here tonight.” Pure delight tinged her tone.
He laughed in his deep rumble. “Likewise. Darling, you are stunning.” He leaned in and pressed a kiss to her cheek.
“You look pretty good yourself.” And he did. He wore a tux that showed his figure to perfection. Very debonair.
“Who are you here with?”
“My dad and mom.” Serenity felt proud to say that out loud for the first time. “I’m going to meet up with them.”
“We’re here.” Seth said, gaining their attention. Serenity saw the shimmer of tears in his eyes and knew he heard her comment and it touched him deeply.
“Dad, Mom, this is Chris Lone. Chris, meet my parents, Seth and Violet Larkin.”
“A pleasure to meet you both. Your daughter is beautiful.”
“Yes she is.” Seth reached out and kissed his daughter on the cheek. “I’m going to steal her for a while.”
“I will catch up with you later, Serenity, save me a dance. Sir, ma’am. A pleasure.” Chris walked away and both Violet and Seth looked at her with raised eyebrows.
“Don’t even think it. We are just friends.” Serenity punched Seth in the shoulder playfully.
“You look so beautiful tonight, Serenity. Come with us. I have some people I want you to meet.”
“You two go ahead, there is something I need to take care of.” Violet smiled and kissed her husband before she walked away.
Seth and Serenity ambled around the room, meeting people and schmoozing with the wealthy. There was champagne and lots of appetizers, wine and other things to enjoy. They danced a few dances and she also danced with Chris.
Finally, she just wanted to get away from the noise for a while and walked out to the courtyard to get some fresh air and view the large fountain. Serenity just didn’t like this sort of scene. She preferred quiet and relaxing, like where she was headed.
It was a huge outdoor pleasure garden. Leading from each set of doors there were paving stones that led to the fountain. One on each side of the courtyard, jasmine-covered arbors were over the walkways, lending their sweet scent to the air.
The fountain had a statue of the famed Greek goddess Aphrodite standing inside of her seashell, smack in the middle. There were two small streams that led from the main fountain to feed to goldfish ponds, complete with lilies. The lilies were a stunning shade of red—the Red India water lily was a gorgeous flower.
Marble benches were around the fountain so couples could sit by the water. A cobblestone pathway branched off from the inlaid stone walk to circumvent the rest of the yard. Tall flowering trees stood in each corner and there were more marble Greek statues placed around in strategic places.
It was a magical place. Especially tonight with the aromatic smell of jasmine and the other flowers, like the blue lotus, desert rose and hibiscus that were present. The romantic lights that were illuminating the fountain cast a muted glow around the area.
* * * *
Brandt hadn’t wanted to come tonight to the party. Wearing a tux and hanging around with snobby people didn’t hold any appeal for him.
But his father had asked so he had agreed. It was beautiful down here in the Caribbean, but it wasn’t where he wanted to be. It was, however, a change from hanging around Kentucky and dating women he could care less about. He had even tried dating one woman for a while, but no woman enticed him like his bodyguard Raven Dare had.
He had barely accepted her death but he had moved on. Still, there were times he caught himself gazing at their pictures with a longing in his heart. Her words of things aren’t always what they seem stayed with him. He had truly loved her. His days were full of learning the family business and trying to find peace with himself.
Nevertheless, here he stood, in a huge building in the Caribbean, dressed in a tuxedo holding a flute of champagne. He stood alone on a landing overlooking the majority of the group, ignoring the women who vied for his attentions, for he didn’t wish to mingle at the present.
Suddenly the enticing smell of peaches reached his nose and it sent tremors of longing throughout his body. That smell affected him like no other. It brought back so many memories.
He searched the room almost frantically for the source of the smell. Going out the large glass doors to the courtyard, he saw a woman in a green dress.
Her movements were familiar and yet she was different. In the doorway, she turned to speak with a man, and as he saw her face he knew without any shadow of doubt. It was her. She was alive.
He would never forget her dark beauty. The way her cheekbones sat high on her oval face. The fullness of her lips. Wide eyes with thick sooty lashes that gave her an unintentional sultry look.
His drink forgotten, he placed it down leaning over in a potted plant, draining the expensive liquid into the soil. Long determined strides carried him down the stairs and across the room after the woman.
Brandt didn’t even stop to think that after all this time it may not be the woman who still haunted his thoughts. The only care he had was finding her and touching her after all this time.
The smell of peaches still lingered in the air. He was on the scent like a bloodhound after a suspect. He burst silently through the wide doorway and found her. She stood alone, illuminated by the lights from the building that surrounded her and the ones in the fountain’s water. Beautiful. Seductive without intending to be, her body leaned against a marble statue in the courtyard as she stared at the fountain.
He hesitated for a mere second before he was crossing the large area to reach her side. When he did, he didn’t ask her name or say hello. Not a word traversed his lips. Seventeen months was way too long for him to believe she was dead—to dream of her skin, lips, everything—and now to finally have her in front of him, he couldn’t say a word.
He reached out with one hand and touched her exposed shoulder, reveling in the feel of her satin skin under his, and spun her around. Her deep brown eyes were wide with surprise but that didn’t register to him.
He gathered her up to his chest as his lips lowered to meet hers. The spark that had been dormant in him blazed to life the second their lips met.
His tongue slid between her full lips and he tasted a woman he thought had been taken from him forever. She responded to the kiss and leaned into him more. Her arms were still trapped by her side locked there by his arms. They fit together like they were a whole and had been separated so they could search for each other, search for completion.
Finally, he pulled back and looked down at her. He rasped, “I thought you were dead.”
Big chocolaty eyes blinked in confusion at him as she staggered back from his grasp. “Wow. That was unexpected. Who are you?” She reached up to touch her lips, still swollen from the intense kiss they had just shared. He noticed her hand shook.
“Raven,” he reached for her. “Don’t play this game. Why didn’t you tell me? I even went to your funeral.”
“I’m sorry. I think you have confused me with someone else. I’m jealous of that person for that was one hell of a kiss, but my name isn’t Raven. I’m Serenity. Serenity Walker. And you are?”
He cocked his head to the side and looked, really looked, at the woman standing there. There were differences. This woman had good humor sparkling in her eyes. A small smile was on her face
as she waited for his answer. She looked serene. She looked happy. She looked wonderful, and he missed her so.
But there were also similarities. Namely the scar on her neck. But lots of people had scars. Those eyes also, he had seen lots of brown eyes, but none—anywhere—that were like Raven’s. Until this woman in front of him.
Her lips drew his attention again and for more than just a second he yearned to taste them once more.
“Surely you have a name. After that kiss I would like to know who you are.” A small smile quirked up on her face as her gaze searched his own. He saw the humor and amusement that lurked in those beautiful cocoa eyes of hers.
“Brandt. Brandt Fowler.”
“Nice to meet you, Brandt Fowler. Tell me, do you use this method to meet women often?” Her voice was just as husky and sexy as it was in his memories. She offered her hand to him.
Brandt couldn’t stop looking at her. Hair was short, coming only to her shoulders, but the face was the same. Oval with skin smooth over high cheekbones. The eyes were the same also, except for the emotion in them. They were alive with sensations. He would know her body anywhere. Not to mention that smell of peaches.
“I don’t know what game you are playing, Raven. But I’m going to find out.”
“Serenity? Serenity are you out here?” Brandt looked away from her face to see an older handsome black man coming over to them. “There you are. Oh, hello.” He seemed surprised that she was with someone. Or it could have been that she was with him. “I’m sorry. I am Seth Larkin. And you are?”
“Brandt Fowler. Do you know her?” He gestured to the pale green-clad woman beside him.
“Yes, this is my daughter Serenity.”
“Really? What do you do, Mr. Larkin?” he asked as he shook the offered hand.
“I’m in security.”
Brandt nodded as he tried to figure out what was going on. He was positive it was Raven. But he didn’t know how to prove it. Yet.
“I was wondering if I might have a dance.” He hesitated as if not sure of what to call her, “Serenity?” Her name rolled off his tongue like it was born to do so.