“We’ll talk about it when I get back, Dad. Don’t worry about anything right now.”
“Let’s just make sure you do return, okay?”
“Everything will be fine. No one knows where I am, and the house can’t be traced to the family. I was very careful.”
“Then stop giving Bob a hard time. You’re going to give the man a heart attack.” His father’s humor was restored.
“Yes, Daddy, I’ll behave for the babysitter.” Cole laughed as his father muttered something about being a smart ass before he disconnected the call.
Chapter Seven
“Come on, Savannah. Grab the bag out of the trunk and let’s get going.”
Savannah was dragging this morning, which was unusual for the energetic three year old. Ashleigh was concerned about Savannah’s nightmares. Even though last night had been good, the accumulating lack of sleep appeared to be taking its toll on the child.
“Coming, Mom. Sorry.” A grin lit Savannah’s whole face. Ashleigh breathed a sigh of relief. There was her beautiful little girl.
“The twins should be here already, so we have to hurry.” There was no reason to rush, but Savannah was a curious child. If Ashleigh didn’t move her along she’d want to examine everything she saw along the way. At that rate, it would be time to leave before they ever reached the beach.
She took Savannah’s hand and listened to her daughter’s excited rambling as they crossed the parking lot and walked toward the bay side of the island. Ashleigh relished in the moment, enjoying the little hand enveloped in hers, the warmth of the sun on her back, and the hot sand between her toes. The tension in her muscles eased. The slight breeze lifted her hair, bringing with it the scent of the sea and memories of summers past.
Ashleigh and her sister had spent as much time as possible at the beach. When they were little, they built sandcastles, rode the waves, and chased after each other from morning ’til night, never tiring of the carefree joy of being on the beach. As they grew, things changed. While they still went to the beach occasionally, whenever weather and schedules allowed, they spent less and less time together.
Ashleigh was content to lay in the sun, read, and swim. Melissa needed more. Somewhere in her late teens, she had developed an obsessive attraction to boys. She craved attention only they could satisfy…and they sure did pay an interest in her. Why wouldn’t they? She was beautiful with a mane of golden curls and enormous emerald green eyes. Melissa broke more than one heart every summer.
Why would someone want to spend the summer with the strangers that flocked to the Hamptons for the season, when they could hang out with a group of close friends who would be around all year long? Ashleigh never understood her sister’s choices.
Perhaps it had something to do with growing up without a father. Their father had died in a car accident when they were very young, so it had always been just the three of them. Their mother spent most of her time working to support and take care of Ashleigh and her sister, and their home. Her mother would often have friends over, but never dated, at least not that Ashleigh remembered. Maybe Melissa had been fascinated by the excitement of getting to know new people, or having them take her places. Or, maybe she’d just enjoyed the attention.
“Mommy, can I run to Aunt Lindsay?”
Ashleigh shook away the painful memories and looked ahead to see Lindsay waving. “Sure, go ahead honey.” She continued to walk down the beach, taking her time, watching Savannah join Lindsay and the boys. By the time Ashleigh reached the small group, the kids were already playing by the water, Kyle entertaining them with pails and shovels.
“Why don’t you sit down for a few minutes while Kyle is with the kids? I know I’m going to enjoy the break.” Lindsay lounged in the beach chair with her feet buried in the sand, and kept a watchful eye on the kids. “So, are you ready for your big date?”
Ashleigh squirmed in her chair, pushed her feet further into the sand, and grabbed a bottle of water. She smiled at the children playing, hoping to avoid Lindsay’s question.
Lindsay turned in her chair to face Ashleigh. “You’re going to back out, aren’t you?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t have to.”
Her friend knew her too well. Ashleigh swallowed a mouthful of the cold water.
“What’s the problem, Ashleigh? Is it him or men in general?”
“I date, it’s not like I don’t. Besides, I just had this conversation with my mother. I don’t need to repeat it.” She closed her eyes and tilted her face to the sun, letting the warmth pour over her.
“You’re not like Melissa, Ashleigh. You know, maybe it’s time to forgive your sister.” Lindsay spoke the words softly and Ashleigh knew her friend was only trying to help.
Ashleigh watched Savannah playing in the sand, which reminded her so much of Melissa. Kyle and a few of his friends ran after the kids, eliciting squeals and screeches, filling the air with laughter. Maybe her mother and Lindsay were right. As Ashleigh watched the innocence of youth enjoying a moment of complete, carefree delight, she wished with all of her heart she could recapture some of that joy.
“You know what?” Ashleigh looked at Lindsay, who had stood by Ashleigh through all the ups and downs, and smiled. “I think you’re right. It’s time to let go of the past and start living in the present.”
****
Cole and Bob ran side by side through the surf. It was just the two of them this morning, after all, how would it look for a pack of bodyguards to surround Cole while he was running? The purpose of escaping to the Island was to stay hidden, not draw any attention, and keep out of sight.
“Has Hector been found yet?” He lifted his sunglasses to glance at Bob.
“You know I would have told you immediately if he had.” Bob took the towel from around his neck and wiped the sweat from his forehead. “I don’t understand why they’re having so much trouble finding him. Where could he have gone? Are you sure you found all the money?”
Cole stared at him. Of course he’d found all the money. He turned his attention to the beach. It was crowded this time of day. He preferred to run in the early morning before the mobs of tourists flocked to the shore. Even when safety wasn’t an issue, he favored the solitude and peace of the empty beach. Cole ran early yesterday morning so it was important to change his routine. He could at least give Bob that much since Cole had been making Bob’s job difficult enough lately. Besides, Cole heard the other bartenders talking about meeting Ashleigh at the beach today, and he was hoping to run into her.
The rough surf grabbed at his feet as he jogged along the water’s edge. He’d head back along the bay to cover most of the beach in search of Ashleigh. The wide stretch of sand was packed tight with people. Towels, blankets, chairs, and umbrellas stretched across the beach as far as the eye could see. He’d never find her in this crowd.
“Hector disappeared too quickly, it doesn’t make sense. He shouldn’t have known you were onto him, shouldn’t have realized anything was wrong.” Bob’s brow furrowed, deep lines etched into the usually smooth skin. “There’s no way he should have known to take off when he did. Unless someone else tipped him off.”
Bob had good instincts and Cole trusted him enough to give the idea more thought, even though he’d already gone over Hector’s whole scheme a million times already. Cole still couldn’t shake the gut suspicion he was missing something important. He reviewed every detail of the case as they ran. When they came to the huge rocks that lined the inlet, they stopped and stretched. Cole bent at the waist, catching his breath, and then climbed onto the rocks. He sat, admiring the sheer power of the ocean waves as well as the turbulent waters of the inlet and the calmer water of the bay. Sitting here always relaxed him, soothed his raw nerves, reminding him of the incredible power of nature. He glanced at Bob over his shoulder. “No one else knew.”
Bob’s eyes were wide with surprise, as if a light went on above his head. “You’re wrong.”
“Wrong about what?”
“Someone else did know.” Bob pulled his phone from his shirt pocket.
Cole shook his head. He suddenly knew who Bob was referring to and couldn’t accept the implication. Sara had been with the company for twenty years. There was no way she’d be involved with Hector…or could she? “You’re right, it had to be her! It’s the only thing that makes sense...”
Bob had the phone to his ear before Cole finished his sentence.
This would be a hard blow to his father, a crushing blow. He dug out his cell from the pocket of his shorts and called his father to break the news.
After Bob contacted the authorities and Cole spoke to his father, they headed back to the house.
“You don’t mind if we walk on the bay side, do you?” Cole had already started in that direction anyway, and Bob followed.
“How did your father take the news?”
“He doesn’t believe Sara would be involved with Hector.” Cole didn’t want to believe it either, but there was no other explanation.
They walked in silence along the dunes rather than next to the water. The bay side was less crowded.
Needing to clear his mind, Cole thought about Ashleigh. How did he feel about dating a woman who wouldn’t have sex until she was married? He wasn’t sure, but would respect her wishes. He’d never push Ashleigh to do anything she wasn’t comfortable with, and would wait for as long as she wanted. Spending time with her and getting to know her better was his main concern.
He glanced up to check out the children’s squeals from the far end of the beach. He recognized Ashleigh immediately, sitting in the middle of a group of her friends from the bar. Should he go and say hello? Maybe not, she might think he was stalking her. Hell, maybe he was. He’d wait until tonight to talk to her. It was only a few hours away.
Cole continued up the path to the parking lot, keeping his eyes on Ashleigh as he walked.
“Mommy, Mommy, look what I found.” A little girl ran from the water’s edge, a bucket swinging from her hand. She was a beautiful child. “Look, Mommy,” the little girl said, as she thrust the bucket into Ashleigh’s hands.
Cole’s heart stopped.
Chapter Eight
Ashleigh glanced one last time in the mirror before running downstairs. She had tried on six outfits before settling on the dark blue sundress. She twisted her hair up, pulled it back down, and then considered changing her clothes again. Was she making a mistake going out tonight?
Her mother had left to drop Savannah off at Lindsay’s, leaving the house quiet, too empty. Ashleigh considered skipping the date and getting some well-deserved sleep, but the doorbell rang, ending any chance she might have had to back out.
She took a deep breath, opened the door to Cole, and noticed right away that something was different in his attitude.
“Hi, Ashleigh.” He greeted her politely, but with none of the playful flirting she’d come to expect and enjoy.
“Hey, Cole.”
“Are you ready?”
“Sure.” She decided to wait a while before questioning his mood.
He walked her to the car with his hand at the small of her back, opened the passenger side door and helped her into the front seat. The guys she usually dated were polite, but none of them had ever escorted her to a car as a gentleman.
“So, what did you do today?” Why did the question sound more like an interrogation than an attempt at conversation?
“Ummm…? I went to the beach with some friends. What about you?”
“Nothing much. I went running on the beach earlier and then hung out by the pool for a while.”
“You have a pool?”
“Uh huh.”
He seemed distracted, chewing on his lower lip as he drove. When he pulled into the restaurant parking lot, he got out of the car, walked around to the passenger side, and opened her door. He held a hand out to help her from the car, but it seemed more out of habit than interest.
“Cole, is everything okay?” He didn’t answer, just stared past her. Obviously something was bothering him. “Look, why don’t we go for a walk on the beach before we eat. We can talk about whatever is on your mind.”
Nodding, he took her hand. They walked away from the restaurant and toward the surf. A few other couples strolled together or sat on the sand, and a small volleyball game appeared to be wrapping up.
Ashleigh stayed beside him, trying to match his long strides. She slipped her sandals off, picked them up, and swung them back and forth on the tip of her finger as they strolled along the water’s edge. The pinks and purples of the setting sun created a romantic setting. She wanted to lean close to Cole, but tension bunched his shoulders and his silence was uncomfortable, so she simply gave him whatever time he needed to collect his thoughts.
“Look, Ashleigh, I’ve already told you what I feel for you is special. I really want to get to know you better. I want to know everything there is to know about you. Even though my strong emotions for you confuse me somewhat, I know I’m ready for a serious relationship.” He laughed then, an ironic sort of laugh, as if he were laughing at himself. “Though I will admit, a commitment scares me a little.” He breathed deep and sighed. “I went jogging this afternoon, out to the inlet and walked along the bay. I saw you at the beach with your friends.”
“Why didn’t you stop and say hello?” The question was sincere, as if he were a friend she’d known a long time.
He grinned and mischief filled his eyes. “I was afraid you’d think I was stalking you.”
She laughed, remembering how she had that exact thought earlier this morning when he showed up at the Bronson’s house.
He frowned, his expression serious. “Ashleigh, when you told me about your preference to not have sex, I understood and respected your decision.” He paused and then continued. “I still do. I would never do anything to make you uncomfortable. But, I thought you wanted to wait until you were married to have sex.”
She nodded and not knowing what to say, she waited for him to say more.
He stopped walking and turned to face her, taking her hands in his. “You were with a little girl today. She called you, Mommy.”
****
Cole didn’t know what to expect from Ashleigh, but he didn’t expect her to laugh, which is exactly what she did. He’d been hurt when he witnessed the interaction between her and the little girl, not because he didn’t like kids, he did. He was disappointed with Ashleigh because she lied to him.
“That was Savannah, my daughter.” She stared at the sand, tears spiraling down her cheeks. He suddenly realized the story about her daughter was the source of the sadness he had noticed in her eyes.
“You can tell me anything, Ashleigh. I’d like to start our relationship being honest with one another.” His statement brought the insight that he wasn’t being completely honest with her either. Not that he lied to her. He just let her misinterpret who he was, and he would resolve that as soon as they finished this conversation. One thing he definitely wasn’t was a hypocrite.
“It’s really not a big deal. I adopted Savannah a little more than two years ago. She’s my sister’s daughter.” She took a deep breath. “Melissa died in a car accident.”
Ashleigh sat, digging her feet deep in the warm sand. Cole sat beside her and put his arm around her. “I’m sorry, Ashleigh. I jumped to conclusions and I shouldn’t have. I apologize. You don’t have to talk about this now if it’s too hard.” The pain caused by her memories was visible in the sadness shadowing her face. Her grief pulled at his heart strings.
“No, it’s okay.” She smiled then, a sad, introspective smile. “I live in a small town, Cole. I’m not used to hanging out with someone who doesn’t already know my story. Most of the people I interact with already know the sordid details.
Since he’d grown up in New York City, he couldn’t relate to the closeness Ashleigh described, but the idea appealed to him. What would it be like to live in a town where everyone knew each
other? He wondered if the pace here was slower than Manhattan. Although he’d spent many summers on Long Island, he always stayed on Dune Road, never spending much time on the main Island.
He studied her profile while she gazed out to the enormous span of ocean. She truly was beautiful, and obviously a very caring person. He pictured the small ranch where he had picked her up. The grounds were lovingly cared for. It was obvious Ashleigh didn’t have much money, but it didn’t seem to matter. She had created a warm, loving home for her sister’s daughter to grow up in—a good place to raise a child.
Cole was shocked to realize he wanted to be part of Ashleigh’s life. He wanted a home in a small town, and wanted to fill their house with children, laughter, and love. He wanted to share it all with Ashleigh.
“Melissa liked to have fun. Everything was a game to her. And she loved men.” Ashleigh’s tone was filled with bitterness and resentment. “She always wanted to do something new and exciting, including meeting new people. She found them fascinating. In all fairness to my sister though, she was usually pretty responsible. She never drove if she was drinking and never got in a car with someone who’d been drinking. No one knows what happened that night, just that she left the bar with a man she’d just met. She was killed when the car drove off an overpass. The guy was drunk, he’s in jail now, but that won’t bring my sister back.” She shrugged.
He kissed her temple, wiped her tears, and helped her stand. She brushed the sand off her dress and stared into his eyes. “Do you still want to be with me, knowing I have a daughter?”
“Sorry.” Cole smiled. “I’m not that easy to get rid of. Let’s go eat.” They strolled back down the beach toward the restaurant. “You know…it’s none of my business, but you sound angry with your sister.”
“She had so much and gave it all up—for what? One night of fun?” Ashleigh rolled her eyes. “Savannah doesn’t remember Melissa. She was only six months old when her mother died, but she wakes up with terrible nightmares almost every night. We don’t know why. I can only guess Savannah’s dreams know there’s someone missing. My sister and I were very close, but we were very different.”
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