Saving Sullivan

by Sara Hubbard

  We’re spending the day in bed. Truth is I don’t think we’ve gotten out of bed in two days. We’ve had sex so many times I’m beyond sore. I’ve taken a very active role on top because his arm is still casted. I think he’s just using his arm as an excuse. He seems to like me on top.

  We lie side by side, our hands joined. “Two days,” he says quietly.

  Then our summer together is over. A dull ache in my heart makes me squirm in bed.

  “Yep. Two days,” I say. I’m shocked he brought this up. He used to run from conversations like this, but since his accident, he’s opened up more than I thought he ever would. Day by day, a row of his brick wall falls down.

  “You’re excited?” he asks.

  I sigh. “You know I am. You also know why I’m not.”

  “Right.”

  “What does this mean for us?” I hope it means he’ll come with me to Nova Scotia, and yet I can’t form the words to ask him. He may not intend to work for his father but I can’t ask him to move countries for me. Can I?

  He sighs. “Fuck it. Let’s just stay here. We could rent this place out for a few years, until we get bored of it.”

  “Or you get bored of me.”

  He grabs me and turns me so my body is facing his side. “I would never tire of you, and I’m not ready to give you up. All you have to do is ask, Abby. That’s it. Just ask.”

  I know what he means and it gives me hope he’ll say yes, but I can’t get the words out.

  “Why won’t you say it?”

  “Because I don’t want you to feel like you have to,” I confess.

  “What do I have to go back to?” he asks, his face serious. “My dad? A career? I can start a career anywhere.”

  “But you’ll lose everything.”

  His eyes turn soft as he runs his thumb along my jawline. “Not everything.”

  I sigh as he comes in for a kiss. As I slide my hand under the cover searching for, and easily finding, his erection there is a loud knock at the door. We break away and I turn my head to the bedroom door. It’s open wide but thankfully we locked the front door of the cabin and put the latch across. If it’s housekeeping they’ll come back later when they realize they can’t get in.

  He leans in to kiss me again as I slide my hand down his shaft, earning me a sexy moan.

  The knocking continues, louder than before.

  “Fuck. Hang on.” He hops out of bed, his erection up and out in full force and I can’t take my eyes off of it. He chucks his pillow at me, making me giggle. “Don’t go anywhere.”

  “Where am I going to go?”

  He bends over to pick up his underwear and I tip my head to the side, taking in the spectacular view. “Who’s the pervert now?” he asks, chuckling.

  Confident Sullivan doesn’t bother putting on anymore clothes. He struts out of the room and to the front door like a peacock, making me laugh.

  I lay back down in bed, sighing, waiting for him to come back and warm me with the heat of his body. I smile lazily, happier than I’ve ever been. I love him. God, I’m so full of love for this perfectly imperfect man. There’s nothing I would change about him.

  “Sullivan,” says a man’s voice in a very formal tone.

  I perk up and strain to hear.

  “Father.”

  Shit. I slide out of bed and start getting dressed, unable to hear their conversation as I scurry around the room collecting every article of my clothing that Sullivan ripped off of me the night before. I can’t meet Sullivan’s father like this. I mean, I pretty close to hate him, but I still want to look presentable. I can’t explain why.

  He appears in the bedroom doorjamb and puts his hand on the door knob. “Come on out,” he says quietly before closing the door. His face is cold, like the Sullivan I used to see when I broached personal subjects. The switch inside of him is flipped and his guard is up and in full force. I just hope his father doesn’t do anything to hurt him. I’ll kill him if he does.

  When I open the door Mr. Hope stands and so does Sullivan. There’s a man in a suit by the door. I have no idea who he is and I don’t ask. I suppose right now it isn’t important.

  Sullivan takes my hand and I squeeze it tight, not really sure if I’m trying to comfort him or me. Mr. Hope is attractive like his son, but his hair is salt and pepper and his build is perhaps a little more slender. But the similarity in their appearance is astounding. And when he looks at me and offers a polite smile I see Sullivan’s piercing blue eyes.

  “Dad, this is Abby.”

  “Mr. Hope.”

  We shake hands as he says, “You’re the one I spoke to on the phone?”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “You were supposed to call me with updates.”

  “Must have slipped my mind,” I say. What I should have said was, ‘I didn’t think you cared because you’re a selfish bastard.’

  We all sit down and I’m pressed against Sullivan’s side.

  “She’s not at all like the woman you usually date.”

  “I thought you never dated?” I say quickly.

  Sullivan clears his throat.

  “Perhaps dated was an exaggeration,” his father says, smirking.

  Yes. I suppose it was.

  “I’m surprised you’re here,” Sullivan says, leaning against the back of the leather couch.

  “Well, the more I thought about your accident the more I decided it would only be proper for me to visit. To see you,” he glances at me, “with my own two eyes. You look like you’re healing well.”

  Sullivan lifts his cast, “Other than the arm.”

  “Abby told me it was a serious break?” Mr. Hope leans back and crosses his legs, staring intently at his son.

  Sullivan only shrugs.

  “I was thinking perhaps we could have a serious talk—about your future.”

  “Should I go?” I whisper to Sullivan.

  He shakes his head. “No. Stay.”

  The atmosphere becomes tense and I worry that this might not be the best place for me right now. But if Sullivan wants me here, I’ll be damned if I leave his side.

  “I spoke with your manager and she said your co-workers were impressed with how hard you worked. You showed up every day for work—and mostly on time.”

  “You obviously expected much less of me.” Sullivan’s voice is steel.

  “I’ll admit I did. Your antics over the years have been disappointing, at best. I’m pleasantly surprised.”

  “Maybe you should have had faith in him. If you expect the worst in people that’s usually what you get,” I blurt out before thinking. Shit. I couldn’t help myself. His father just sits here, judging him and it’s more than I can take. Why can’t he see the good in Sullivan?

  Mr. Hope gives me a sideways glance. “Maybe I should have. At any rate, I wanted to let you know that the deal is off. You can have unrestricted access to your trust fund. A job at the company is yours, if you want it, but it’s not essential.”

  Sullivan tips his head to the side to regard his father. He seems genuinely flabbergasted by his father’s decision. I’m a little shocked myself.

  “I don’t understand. You came all the way here to tell me this?”

  “Well,” he chuckles. “I’m actually here to meet some clients.” He raises his hands. “I’ve rented another cabin, though, so there’s no need to find somewhere else to stay.”

  “Thank you,” Sullivan says.

  “I should probably go. We’re set to tee off in an hour and I still have to get changed. I’d ask you to join but I’m not sure you could hold a club with your arm the way it is.”

  “That would prove difficult,” Sullivan agrees.

  His father stands and so do we. There is an awkward silence where Mr. Hope just stands there, as if considering what to do next. Finally, he puts his hand out and Sullivan shakes it. “We’ll have dinner tomorrow. The two of us?”

  Sullivan only nods.

  With that, he turns on his heel and the man
by the door opens it and Mr. Hope walks out followed by his escort.

  “You okay?” I ask Sullivan.

  He thinks for a moment before turning to me and pulling me in for a hug. I worry he’s not okay but then he starts chuckling. “No one has ever stood up to my father before. No one.”

  “Oh. Well, I wasn’t going to let him walk over you.”

  Sullivan leans back and regards me. “I love you, you know that?”

  “I think I do.”

  “You know what this means?”

  I shrug.

  “I’m free. There’s nothing holding me back anymore. I can do whatever I want…go wherever I want.”

  I frown up at him, not sure where he’s going with this.

  “Don’t look so sad,” he says, caressing my face.

  “I’m not. I’m happy for you. And it looks like your father is trying. That’s really, really good.”

  “Yeah. Too little too late but I’ll go to dinner. We’ll see what happens.”

  “And us?”

  “I’m waiting for you to ask…” he sings.

  I swallow hard, trying to form the words. Eventually, I choke them out. “Come with me. I want you to come with me.”

  He sighs and pretends to think about it. “I don’t know. That’s a big step.”

  I pound on his shoulder. “You’re infuriating.”

  “Yes.”

  “Yes?” I say, my voice squeaking out like a little school girl.

  He nods and I practically leap in his arms. He holds me so tight it’s difficult for me to breathe, but I don’t consider asking him to let go—not for a second.

  Bringing Sullivan home is going to be hard, but he’s worth all the drama. At this point my dad is still the only who knows I’m dating someone. My brothers are going to lose their minds.

  Sullivan purchases two first class tickets and we head home to Nova Scotia a few days later. He dotes on me every minute of the day, like he’s finally realized what he has and he’ll do anything to ensure he won’t ever lose it.

  Dad and my brothers meet us at the airport, each of them standing tall and eyeing Sullivan like he’s the enemy. Dad prepared them for Sullivan but I can tell they’re not sold—yet. It might take some time.

  I take his hand in mine. “Ready?” I ask.

  “Are they going to hurt me?” he asks.

  I smile up at him. “Yes.”

  “It would take more than your brothers to keep me away from you.”

  “I hope so.”

  “By the way,” he says, whispering in my ear. “I won’t need to stay at your dad’s place.”

  “What? Sullivan, there’s no way I’m letting you sleep in a hotel.”

  “I won’t be in a hotel for long. I’m looking at some oceanfront property in Muskrat.”

  I glance up at him, my eyes brimming with tears. “What did you say?”

  His breath tickles my ear as he leans in again. “I thought you might be happy.”

  “Happy! I’m ecstatic!” Looking at property in my hometown only means one thing: Sullivan is here to stay and I couldn’t be happier.

  Acknowledgements

  I don't even know where to start, except to say I am so crazy happy to be able to do what I love and have the ability to share it with others. So, first and foremost, I want to thank my readers. Your support and enthusiasm keeps me going.

  When I was approached to write a novel for A Summer Lovin’ Novel series, I wanted to scream out loud, yes! Yes! Yes! Renee, Cathy and Lilly let me into their little circle where I felt welcomed and appreciated. They also introduced me to the lovely Jan and Audra. It has been a wonderful experience getting to know them all and sharing our expertise. Thank you so much to Jan for helping me write an amazing blurb. Mine sucked and you took it and made it glitter. Thank you Cathy for doing all you could to help our series gain visibility. And thank you always to Rhiannon Morgan who is awesome sauce on a hot fudge sundae. Your humour makes editing bearable.

  I also want to thank my family for letting me be me. I am distracted all the time and my attention span is pretty close to non-existent, but you put up with me everyday and cheer me on. For my husband, my biggest supporter, maybe one day I'll be able to make you a househusband. Someday... But for now, please accept my gratitude and love. And for my children, you are amazing little gifts that I couldn't live without. Mommy loves you.

  A Summer Lovin’ Novel

  Series Titles

  Crashing Down, by Cathryn Fox

  Straight A student Kathryn Lane is all work and no play. She's determined to keep her scholarship, and that means no distractions...until she takes a summer internship at Stone Cliff Resort and meets bad boy Noah Ryan. She knows she should keep her distance—after all he's not the kind of guy she can bring home to daddy—but his disarming smile and dangerous ways are entirely too tempting.

  College dropout, Noah Ryan takes one look at Kathryn and instantly knows her type—ambitious, driven and determined, just like he used to be, before the accident that derailed his life and left him an emotional wreck. He vows to avoid her, but when a co-worker backs him into a bet he can't refuse, everything he's been running from is challenged and he's forced to confront his demons.

  Soon, Kathryn and Noah are lost to everything except each other. As their lives become entwined, their passion is reckless, their heat all-consuming but when hurtful truths spill out, can Noah prove himself worthy of the one girl who can heal his wounded heart, or will the fire they ignited turn to ash when it all comes crashing down?

  Losing It, by Audra North

  With a childhood full of broken promises and uncertainty, forgiveness doesn't come easy for Emery Phillips. Now, with her family home on the brink of foreclosure, it's up to her to track down the elusive Theodore Chambers, Jr. and convince him to sign the clause that will extend the loan. Armed with nothing but a name and a possible location, Emery heads to Canada and Stone Cliff Resort, where she meets Ryan, a man who seems as lost as the one she seeks. An accidental encounter of who's that sleeping in my bed turns into a night of the hottest sex Emery has ever known. As they search for the answer to her family's future, a summer of stolen kisses and steamy passion slowly turns into much more and the fragile bond of trust begin to grow.

  After a year of grieving, all Ryan Miller wants is to get his late mother's estate squared away and prepare for medical school, but even the best laid plans have a way of veering off track. First, there's the cryptic words from his mom, I should have told you...things you need to know. Then there's the key he found amongst her things. And finally, there's Emery, who stumbles into his room, rocks his world and, over the summer, proceeds to steal his heart. When the key unlocks the mystery of Ryan's past, will it mean a happy future for him and Emery? Or will he end up losing it all?

  Loving Lies, by Renee Field

  Blake Samson is a man driven to succeed. Having grown up with a disinherited, alcoholic father, he knows the value of money and isn't afraid to work for it. Now, with a degree in business, he's out to prove himself to his wealthy grandfather. Securing his first major deal by acquiring Stone Cliff Resort at a rock bottom price will confirm that he's a wheeler-dealer type who won't take no for an answer, just like the old man. To accomplish his goals, Blake has put his personal life on hold, determined to remain focused on the prize, until the sexy little Gothed-up bartender dumps a drink in his lap.

  Having a wealthy, Greek tycoon for a father wasn't easy for Alyssa Papadopoulos, especially one who still believed in the archaic tradition of arranged marriages to seal a business deal. Now, three years after skipping out on the groom, she'd been on her own, coping in the real world with a new name, a new look and fake history that guaranteed no one would associate her with her father. Accepting a job at Stone Cliff Resort in Alberta provides her with a good income and the opportunity to work on her one true love—photography. Getting involved with a rich bad boy didn't factor into the plan. Too bad she hasn't dated in months, and Mr. McDreamy
of the lake has dimples to die for and a body that makes her hormones stand up and scream, Oh, hell yes!

  Alyssa tries to avoid Blake, but he's determined they enjoy some summer loving, offering her a deal filled with stolen kisses and hot steamy nights she finds impossible to resist. When Blake's father dies and the world he's struggled to build begins to crumble, will Alyssa reveal the truth she so desperately holds on to, or will two people lying about their past give themselves permission to love.

  Surviving Nikki, by Lilly Cain

  Nikki Martin comes from Compton, one of the roughest neighborhoods in Toronto. She caught a break getting into the U of T, but like everything else, she's had to bust her ass to stay there, especially when there's no support from home to help pay for her degree. When her bursary becomes defunct she's desperate to find work for the summer, even if it means she has to lie on her application to score a job at a resort far from home. Hell, that might be the best part. A summer in the mountains has to be better than bumming around the city. She can figure the whole mountaineering thing out before anyone realizes she's never so much as climbed a tree—It can't be as hard as surviving in the inner city.

  Evan Cade has worked at Stone Cliff Resort as a guide since he was sixteen and loves it to the point where someday he intends to buy the place, or build one just like it. So when a hotshot girl from Toronto is hired on to run one of the survival camps, he decides to take her for a test run and make sure she's as good as she claims—before some innocent camper pays the price. Out on the mountain he discovers Nikki is nothing like she reads on paper, and while some of that is good, very good, it's bad news for the camp. It's either teach her everything he knows, or cancel half the bookings and risk closing the program. He just has to get past his reaction to her and concentrate on the job at hand.