by Nia Arthurs
“I… guess.”
“Did you brush your teeth?”
“Do you want to do a breath check?”
“I trust you,” he said with a grin.
Breana walked towards him and stopped at the cot. “What about your dad?”
“He’ll be fine and we’ll be back before he wakes up. This won’t take long.” He grabbed her wrist and tugged her out of the hotel room. Breana threw one last longing gaze at the comfy bed before the door closed behind them.
As they strolled to the parking lot, Breana covered her arms and looked up at the sky. He did too, admiring the faint strains of light that were already bursting from the edges of the horizon.
They’d need to get a move on or they’d be late.
“Come on,” he said, pulling her forward.
“Where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise.”
“I hate surprises so early in the morning.”
He tossed her an amused smirk and pressed the fob on the keys. A pickup chirped in response, and Trenton winced at the dusty, old vehicle that had seen far better days. Mud caked its tread tires and slathered over the windshield.
“Is that it?” Breana asked.
“Are you upset?”
She chuckled. “I’m not upset. I just didn’t think this was your style.”
He rubbed the bridge of his nose and tried to make the best of it. “Let’s just get inside. Hopefully, it doesn’t break down on the way.”
Trenton ushered his wife into the pickup and slammed the door behind her. Only… it popped open. He fiddled with the lock and slapped it a couple more times before it behaved.
Breana was laughing at him by the time he’d rounded the hood and got into the driver’s side. He ignored her and focused on getting to the place he’d researched earlier that morning.
On a race against time, he pressed the gas and headed out into the less-known plots of the island. Outside their windows, the landscape grew rockier and the sea dropped below sharp cliffs.
Trenton had never been to this side of the island before and so drove carefully, checking the GPS on his phone every so often to make sure he had a good sense of their destination.
At last, they passed a sign announcing the ‘Grand Belize Estate’. Trenton breathed a sigh of relief. They’d made it and it was as isolated and remote as the concierge had promised.
Not a single form stood amongst the rolling plains of sand bars that rippled like tossing waves. Trenton drove further in for good measure, letting the pick-up’s four-by-four pull them through the tougher areas.
Breana watched him silently, and several times during their journey, Trenton had to check and make sure she was still awake. Her warm brown eyes took in every detail of the scenery, and she finally seemed at peace with the early morning hour.
Trenton pulled the truck to a stop on top of the flat sand and grinned over at Breana. “We’re just in time.” She tilted her head in confusion, but he simply undid his seatbelt and helped her out of the car. “I thought we could watch a show. What do you think?”
Her eyes lit with excitement just as the sky came to life with color. “You are so cheesy.”
Trenton took that in the spirit that it was meant. Quickly hauling the blanket from the basket, he set it in the flatbed. He then opened the tailgate and set Breana on the surface before climbing up to join her.
“Are you hungry?” he whispered.
She shook her head ‘no’, her eyes trained on the horizon. Trenton admired the view beside him before he turned to admire the sunrise. Color danced against the thin clouds as the sun began its formal ascent.
Reds, pinks, and the faintest of yellows brushed the sky in broad strokes. The water lapped at the sun as if cheering it on. Surrounded by such simple beauty, Trenton felt oddly humbled.
The stresses of his daily life seemed as inconsequential as dust when faced with something as magnificent as a sunrise.
Trenton was content to watch the dawn and the picturesque sea in front of them, but Breana turned to him and claimed his attention. Her brown hair blew into her face, and she tucked it back with a delicate hand.
“Thank you for bringing me.”
“You’re welcome,” he said, adjusting himself so that she could fit more comfortably in the pocket of his side. “I’m glad you’re enjoying it.”
“So is this it?”
He blinked, taken aback by the question. “What do you mean?”
“Is that all you brought me here to do?”
Trenton rubbed the back of his neck and looked up at the blue sky. Maybe bringing Breana out to see the dawn hadn’t been the best idea after all. “I mean… there’s muffins in the car.”
She chuckled and tossed her hair over her shoulder. “You’re adorable.”
He narrowed his eyes at the phrase. “We already established that ‘adorable’ doesn’t apply to me.”
“Mm-hm,” she said dismissively. Leaning over, Breana eagerly pressed her lips to his. All his disgruntlement toward the term burst into ashes, and Trenton figured that he could live with being called ‘adorable’ by his wife.
They cuddled and kissed and breathed each other’s air. Trenton’s excitement grew, but he tamped it down. It would have worked too. He would have eased back from his wife. Helped her out of the truck. Driven back to the hotel. Packed up his things and called it a day.
But he couldn’t… because, in the middle of their kissing, Breana pulled away and whispered against his lips.
“I love you.”
The words exploded through his brain, and every bit of Trenton’s restraint was swept away in the tide.
Chapter 21
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Breana Moore was a woman who devoted herself to the people she cared about—not because they deserved it, not because they were always perfect, or always right. She gave herself because loyalty meant more to her than anything.
Before meeting Trenton Lorde, Breana thought she could live her life that way. Always giving. Always serving. Always sacrificing. Expecting nothing in return except heartbreak and disappointment. Expecting nothing to ever change.
After all, people were creatures of habit, and she couldn’t adjust the fabric of her character. Loyalty was planted so deeply in her DNA that she found it impossible to turn her back on someone that she had chosen to stand by.
That would never change… it had only been altered.
In spite of all they’d been through, Trenton Lorde had convinced her to take a leap of faith and trust in a love that was built on a foundation of loyalty. Love and loyalty. The two, Breana decided, were not mutually exclusive, but parts of the same package.
“I love you,” she whispered, the confession borne from her internal discovery rather than the romance of the moment.
Trenton froze, his eyes darting back and forth as he searched her own. She allowed her walls to fall so that he could see everything she was feeling, every emotion she usually kept locked away in the pockets of her soul.
He smiled, a peaceful, satisfied smirk, and then he moved with certainty. His hand slid up her back and his mouth fell on hers, branding his name on her lips and in her heart.
Breana noticed the urgency in his caresses just before feeling the tug of going backwards. Trenton’s kisses grew deeper, and she met him without hesitation or fear. He paused to unbutton his shirt, and she waited impatiently until gravity pulled him to her again.
As they kissed and caressed, they found tiny moments to undress. Breana’s heart thumped an erratic rhythm when Trenton paused and looked down at her. The sunlight rose directly behind his head, filling his expression with shadows.
Gently caressing her cheek, he moved toward her so that his face came into focus. She smiled, ready to pull him down and get on with it when he opened his mouth to speak.
“I love you.”
“I know.”
He sniffed and she arched her neck up. “Trenton… are you… crying?”
&nb
sp; He shook his head and wiped at his watery eyes. In a hoarse voice, he said. “I’ve been waiting a long time for this.”
She giggled, but Trenton swooped down and kissed her with such intensity that the laughter stopped up in her chest.
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As the waters rushed the shore, the sun climbed the Caribbean sky and bathed the island with warmth. It shone on the vendors pedaling their carts and stopping to sell tamales to the tourists out for a morning stroll. It fed the hibiscus flowers that turned their faces up to the sky in order to soak up the golden light in their blooms.
In respect, it closed its eyes when passing the couple in the back of the pickup truck, and moved on to the sparkling blue water that roared its approval a few feet away. Drawn by the waves, the sun returned to the couple and bathed them in a warm glow.
Breana glared up at the sky. She was already sweating like a pig, thank you very much. The stubborn star remained and as she got dressed, she felt the fabric of her shirt sticking to her skin.
Trenton sat up with a satisfied sigh. He was clothed only with the portion of the blanket she’d hurriedly tossed over him when the sound of the engines had fired through the air. His hair was mussed, and Breana realized that, indeed, the term ‘adorable’ did not apply to him, especially after what they’d shared a few minutes ago.
A truck rumbled in the distance, closer this time, and Breana rushed to continue dressing. In the frenzy of putting undergarments back where they belonged, she glanced over at Trenton. He looked as calm as a cucumber which was annoying given they were about to be discovered by the other families out to enjoy the ‘secret’ beach.
She’d give him five seconds to bask in the sun before she nagged him to get dressed. Breana ran a hand through her crazy hair and shook her head. If those people had come five minutes earlier…
“Trenton, you need to put your clothes on.”
“I know.”
Breana craned her neck to see the outlines of the sandy plain. The sound of the engine had gotten fainter, which meant the vehicle had passed this spot to go around, but the risk of discovery was more than she was willing to take.
“Trenton.”
“Just a minute longer,” he said, reaching out to draw her back to his side. He set his head on top of hers and rubbed her shoulder. His chest was slick with sweat, and the feel of him brought flashes of their intimacy back into mind.
Breana shook her head to clear it. “We have to go.”
“I love you.”
She smiled, instinctively melting. “You’re naked.”
“I love you.”
“You could be arrested for public indecency.”
“I love you.”
“I love you.”
Trenton winked and grabbed at his pants. Breana handed him his shirt and turned her back to give him privacy. Trenton chuckled and tugged lightly on her shirt until she looked over at him.
“Why are you being so shy?”
Breana swallowed. “Is that why you brought me out here?”
“You know it wasn’t, but I’m happy that we did.”
Breana rubbed her stomach. “I’m hungry.”
“So am I. Muffins?” Trenton slid out of the tailgate and walked around the side of the pickup to get to the baskets.
Breana slid the tiny back window open and peered at him. “I hope you have some water in there. I’m thirsty too.”
“I’ve got you covered, babe,” he said and handed her a bottle through the opening.
Breana guzzled the drink down and satisfied her ravenous hunger. Trenton teased her about her voracious appetite, but tore into the muffins with far more effort than she did. When the wrappers had been cleared away and the sun’s rays were near unbearable, the couple decided to return to the hotel.
“I hope your dad’s okay,” Breana said thoughtfully as Trenton helped her down from the back of the truck.
“Really?” He tilted his head. “You’re thinking about my dad right now?”
“You have to admit. He’s a really cool guy.”
His hands reached for her, and she easily walked into them. The contact sparked electricity through her arms and down to her toes, but Trenton seemed content to tease her.
“I never thought I’d be competing with my dad for my wife’s attention, but he sure has a habit of jumping in when things are getting good.”
“Things were getting good?” Breana arched an eyebrow. “I didn’t notice.”
The comment earned her a kiss that had her backed up against the truck. Trenton relaxed his arms and stepped back so that their embrace loosened. “Let’s go see how good old Dad is doing.”
“You’re so full of it,” Breana said, a smile coating her tone.
“Am I?” He rounded the hood to get into the car, and Breana got in at the passenger side.
They drove along in silence until her ringing cell phone broke the quiet. Breana picked up the call, recognizing the Guatemalan area code flashing on the screen.
“Hello?”
“Breana, how are you?”
“Mom, are you okay? You sound tired.”
“I had a hard day yesterday.”
“Oh.” Breana glanced at Trenton. He offered her an encouraging nod and returned his attention to the road. “Do you need me to come back there?”
“No, no. This is a battle I have to fight on my own. The director said you wanted to speak to me? What is it?”
Breana chewed on her bottom lip. Accusing her mother of lying to her for years would not be the best conversation topic when Merna was battling her own demons. She hesitated and then decided to let it go for now.
“It’s okay.”
“Really?” Merna asked. “The director said you sounded a little upset on the phone.”
“I was… just missing you. Hearing your voice makes it better though.”
“That doesn’t sound like you,” Merna mused. “I guess getting back with Trenton made you sentimental.”
“I love you, Mom. Call me if you need anything or if you just want to talk.”
“I will.”
Breana hung up the call and sighed.
“Why didn’t you tell her about William Stamp?” Trenton asked.
“She sounded so, I don’t know, defeated. I couldn’t complicate things more.”
He reached over and kissed the back of her hand. “You’re too good for me.”
“You’re just figuring that out now?”
“What if Merna never reveals what really happened? Will you be okay if you never hear her side of the story?”
“I’m ready to write my own story,” she said, gazing at him. “I just want to close the door on the past and keep all the drama there.”
Breana faced the front and stared out at the sea. As bold as her words sounded, she had a feeling that the past would come to find her anyway.
Chapter 22
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Trenton watched as Breana greeted his father and suggested a healthy drink that was ‘perfect for hangovers’. Edward brushed her off, but she came right back as if his attitude barely pierced her.
She was so beautiful; it literally pained him to watch her sometimes. Trenton meant what he’d said in the car. No matter where she came from or who her parents were, Breana was too good for him.
While he watched the two interact, Trenton’s phone rang, and he absently put it to his ear.
“Trenton, it’s Merna,” the voice on the other line said. His eyebrows pulled together and he stared at the phone in confusion.
“Merna, weren’t you just talking to Bree?”
“I have something important that I need to say to you. Are you alone?”
He glanced at his father and his wife. Breana caught his eye and smiled, waving to him. He pulled the phone from his ear to pay attention to her.
“We’re going down to the restaurant. Would you like to come?”
“I’m good. I’ll meet you there.”
“Okay.”
Edward sheepishly hung his head as they passed him to get to the hallway. Trenton closed the door firmly behind them and returned to the call.
“Merna, I’m alone now.”
“Good,” she said. “Tell me… did Breana want to talk to me about her birth father?”
“How did you know?”
“That bastard,” Merna hissed. “He’s no good, Trenton. Keep her away from him at all costs.”
“He seems like an alright guy to me,” Trenton said hesitantly. “Are you sure he’s such a bad person?”
“What did he say to you?”
“He said he didn’t know about Breana until recently. He said he would have been there if he’d known.”
“That’s a load of baloney. I don’t know what William really wants, but I can guarantee you that he’s not here because he loves the kid.”
“Did you tell him about Breana?”
“Of course I didn’t! He was a thug who spent more time in jail than on the streets. He rode with a bad crowd, and I knew that I didn’t want my baby growing up anywhere near them. I barely got away from him; why would I bring him back into our lives?”
“Well, he still didn’t know about her. Maybe… he has a point.”
“He has no point!” Merna roared. “I did what was best for Breana even when it meant drying out cold turkey until I thought my skin would peel off my body. Do you know how hard that was for me?”
“I can imagine.”
“I would do the same thing over if I could. Even though I wasn’t a good mother, at least I was there. I got us out of a dangerous situation when I could.”
“Merna, I don’t think William’s going to stay away this time. He seems determined to work his way into Breana’s life.”
“What about Breana? Does she seem likely to accept him?”
“I’m not sure. She’s set on avoiding the past, but I doubt she’s going to stick to that. Especially if William keeps popping up. I don’t think he’ll allow her to.”
“Trenton, listen to me very carefully.”
“I’m listening.”