by Melinda Hale
“You just took me by surprise!” she countered.
Even that didn’t sound genuine to her. Again she’d allowed him to overwhelm her thoughts, her body. She wanted to feel angry but instead Chelsea was flustered. As she looked at Dean, her lips felt naked without his kiss. It was their first – but she didn’t want it to be the last.
Dean shook his head. “Now I know where we stand. You want me, but I can’t do this. I don’t want to hurt you.”
Chelsea stared up at him, her stomach turning heavily. He made it sound final, as if there was no promise of a relationship. That wasn’t what she wanted from him – was it?
“It was just a kiss.”
“On our first night together. Living together,” he corrected himself. “If we continued, you know what it would’ve led to.”
She tried to shrug it off, but inside she was still recovering. Chelsea knew very well what would’ve happened, and she wanted it. Who cared about reasoning? She’d never felt so passionately for another man before.
But Dean’s words struck her deeply. He doesn’t want to hurt me. Perhaps he’d hurt many women before, and she was just another. The bitter truth stung, but they’d barely spent a day together and it had already come to this.
Chelsea’s cheeks burned. What an impression she was giving him. Only a few months ago she’d ended her marriage, and now she was trying to get Dean into bed. Feeling embarrassed was an understatement.
“You sleep with other women. Probably within minutes of meeting them,” she pointed out. Like that justified what she’d allowed him to do.
“Yes, I did. That was my lifestyle, still is. But I don’t want to do that to you.”
Chelsea glowered at him. “And why am I any different?”
“You’re vulnerable!” Dean insisted, running a hand through his hair. “I may be able to have any woman I want -” Chelsea snorted from that. “But I’m not taking advantage of your vulnerability.”
She said nothing.
Vulnerability.
He’d made it clear he pitied her. Like she was desperate for him now that her marriage had ended. But amidst her sudden flare of anger, Chelsea knew he was right. Her insecurity made her feel uneasy, and since Dean was the next guy to come along after Ryan, all of her suppressed desires were passed onto him.
I’m treating him like a rebound, she realized. Love hadn’t worked out. Dean had money she’d only dreamed of, and now she’d seen a moment’s opportunity to feel something.
Chelsea got to her feet and absentmindedly brushed her hands against her pants. Dean had his back turned to her, facing the fireplace. His way of ignoring the situation, she thought. And she was grateful. How could she possibly talk to him with all of the feelings coursing through her? She didn’t want to snap at him out of anger.
Chelsea walked away from him, slowly ascending the stairs away from the warmth. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Dean told her to move out. They couldn’t get along, as she’d initially hoped. Such a strong attraction wouldn’t fade so easily, yet being away from him eased it.
She stopped halfway and looked back.
Dean was a playboy millionaire, as she’d blatantly said, yet he was reluctant to sleep with her – a surprising notion indeed. But also hurtful. After meeting Dean, Chelsea couldn’t help but harbor the hope that something would happen between them. Something that would ease all of the pain she’d kept locked away.
Not that she wanted him now. But being around Dean, Chelsea knew she wouldn’t be able to resist. That was the problem. She needed to harden her resolve against him. I need to get over him.
Only three days to go until she would return to work and then move out, leaving Spring Lake and Dean out of her life.
“At least you have a heart,” Chelsea said quietly, not knowing if he heard her or not. Does it even matter if he did?
Five
Three days went by quickly. Chelsea kept herself busy by going for daily walks out to the center of Spring Lake, enjoying the moment as she wandered along the boardwalk facing the beach. Dean didn’t accompany her, but she didn’t mind. Keeping away from him was helping her clear her mind, and that was what she needed.
Out in the cool winter air, the sun was shining but Chelsea could barely feel its warmth. She strolled past the various shops, and stopped to look at Jean Louise Homemade Candies. It was almost tempting to buy a batch of candies to bring back. She needed the sugar fix, and wanted to show Dean her appreciation. He was letting her stay at no cost, and his generosity only made her feel worse about the other night.
Spring Lake was a quaint, peaceful town compared to the bustle of the city life. Now Chelsea understood why Dean came out here. But it was definitely out of her league in regards to house prices. Just looking at some of the places she passed by only confirmed that this was an expensive area to live.
Remembering what Dean told her about his parents, she wondered about his childhood. Living in Spring Lake was a dream she’d never considered, and even now she couldn’t believe she was here. Temporarily, of course.
As her thoughts returned to Dean, she couldn’t understand him. He wanted her, she visibly saw it that night in front of the fireplace. And when he took the opportunity, he stopped. Chelsea felt a smile curve her lips. Perhaps Dean Westley wasn’t a complete playboy after all.
If he went any further, she couldn’t have stopped him. Why would she? It was a once in a lifetime chance to be living with him, and even more so to end up in bed together. But Chelsea knew she was blinded by lust, as any other woman. Perhaps she was vulnerable, but there was more to Dean than his image. Over the past few days she was slowly starting to get to know him.
She’d had time to let go of her insecurities, and as badly as Chelsea wanted him, she was grateful he pulled away from their kiss. Having sex with Dean to relieve herself of the pain wasn’t an ideal situation.
They hadn’t spoken about that night, and Dean kept to himself most of the time. Chelsea leaned against the boardwalk railing, staring out at the waves crashing against the shore, sending foam across the sand. The sound was relaxing, and she closed her eyes, savoring the moment.
Until she heard his voice behind her.
“I wanted to take you out here,” Dean announced. She threw open her eyes, feeling her stomach knot from nervousness. She felt him come up behind her until he was standing beside her, dressed in a black winter coat. White fog emerged from his breath as he turned to look at Chelsea, regarding her with a plaintive look.
“I don’t mind the walk alone,” she responded, brushing her hair behind her ears, her fingertips slightly numb from the cold.
“It’s not much of a day to be out here,” Dean added. “Snow will be on its way.”
“I’ve always loved snow.”
He shot her a rueful grin. “I never did. Too cold, and it’s always dark. The good part? It’s a perfect time to be in front of a fire. Preferably with someone.”
Chelsea swallowed uncomfortably. No doubt there was a different woman with him every winter. “Ryan never liked it either. I used to tease him about it.”
She felt Dean’s eyes on her, but didn’t look directly at him. Did he feel uncomfortable mentioning her former husband? Part of her wondered why she cared what he thought.
“Your ex? What happened?” he asked. “Andrea didn’t fill me in about it.” The tone of his voice almost made her want to tell him everything.
Because it wasn’t your business, Chelsea thought automatically. But she couldn’t know how close Andrea and Dean were. At the start of the year, she drifted apart from her and lost contact. If Andrea met Dean then, it was several months that they’d known each other, and Andrea didn’t make friends easily.
She could trust him. And she needed someone other than Andrea to talk to about it.
“He had an affair. Well, more than one. He moved out about a month ago,” Chelsea explained briefly, finally allowing herself to look into his gentle eyes. “But I’m glad it happened. I can mo
ve on. I swore to myself I wouldn’t want any man again.”
“A tough promise to keep around me.”
Chelsea laughed, shocked by his ego. The man had confidence, which she hated but also admired. It was something she could never find. Despite herself, she smiled.
“How can you be like this?”
“Like what? Charming and handsome?”
She rolled her eyes. “Positive. And confident.”
Dean shrugged. “It’s how I was raised.”
“I don’t buy that.”
“Okay, how about I earned it? Life for me has been a bumpy road full of potholes and shit I don’t want to deal with.”
“Same for everyone.”
“But not everyone’s a millionaire featured in the Times.”
Chelsea laughed. “Now I see where it comes from.”
Dean hesitated, and for a brief moment, they looked into each other’s eyes before Chelsea turned away. “How do you know that kiss wasn’t a moment of temptation? I was vulnerable, like you said.”
Dean leaned closer to her, and she could feel his breath against her face, warming her skin. Oh, how she longed to feel his touch, the heat of his lips on hers. A kiss is an understatement, she thought. He touched me. Her heart was racing, and Chelsea was drawn into the glimmer of those green eyes, the playful smile curving his lips enticingly.
Dean’s smile widened as if he knew what she was thinking.
“It was more than a temptation.”
His voice was teasing; every word seemed to linger in her mind. Now she understood how easily he could seduce women – it wasn’t just his looks.
Chelsea shrugged, and turned away to face the beach. He wanted to be blunt, then she would play along. “You’re a sexy millionaire. It’s only lust.”
An awkward silence settled between them and as Chelsea shot a look at Dean, a frown had deepened on his face, his lips pulled back in a bitter expression. Had she finally managed to offend him? She glanced away before he noticed she was watching him.
Then something occurred to her.
“Haven’t you been married before?” she asked gently. She wanted to ask if he’d been in a long term relationship, but putting it in that way might hurt his feelings. Chelsea was his houseguest after all, and didn’t want to get on his bad side, if he even had one.
“No,” Dean replied without hesitation. “It never appealed to me. But sometimes, you wonder. If it’s something worth pursuing. If there really is a woman out there for me.”
“There’s someone for everyone,” Chelsea intoned. Months ago, she’d believed Ryan was The One. Her statement seemed so perfect, but after experiencing the bitter fallout of her marriage, she doubted there was anyone for her.
Dean didn’t want marriage. That was understandable. She didn’t think it was something she wanted again, and definitely not with a playboy like him.
Chelsea swallowed, shivering slightly from the cold. The motion of her body seemed to draw Dean’s gaze and for a moment, she wanted to lean against him. Desire heated her body again, and she felt herself getting tight with need.
“Was that Ryan in the van when you moved in?” Dean asked.
Chelsea stared. It almost sounded like jealousy in his voice.
“No, of course not,” she replied. “That was Matt. He’s my cousin Leanne’s husband. They’ve been together for three years now. They live out in Brooklyn, but he traveled all this way to help me out.”
“Nice of him.”
“He’s a nice guy. What about your family? Don’t you talk to your brother much?”
Dean’s brows furrowed. “Not anymore. Haven’t said a word since my parents died.”
“Must’ve been hard on you both.”
“For Jake it was the hardest. He was only eighteen when it happened. It was an accident – they were taking a vacation to Canada, one of their annual visits. Their private plane went through a storm, they didn’t make it.”
Chelsea saw pain in his eyes, even as he gave her a weary smile. This wasn’t something he was used to talking about. But he’s opening up to me, she realized. It meant as much to her as the passionate kiss they’d shared – not that kissing him would ever happen again.
“I’m…” Her voice faltered. Chelsea knew nothing she said could ease his pain. “So they went to Canada quite a bit?”
“Dad called it his second favorite country in the world. My parents used to travel a lot, but when I got to high school, they cut back.”
“Have you been there before?”
“Once. We stopped at Toronto, during one of the hardest winters. Hell, it was freezing. Nothing to do but sit in front of the fire all day, looking outside through the ice forming on the window. The dullest vacation ever. Jake loved playing in the snow, pelting me with snowballs. I never got him back for it.”
Chelsea lowered her gaze and looked out to the beach. It was obvious by the tone of his voice that he missed his brother. Not that it was her business to know what stopped them from talking, but part of her wanted Dean to realize what he could lose. She lost her father, and having a distant relationship with her mom wasn’t enough.
“Why don’t you try talking to him again?”
“I can’t,” he said, his tone defensive. “There’s no reason to. Whatever friendship we had has long gone.”
“But talking to each other is the only way to heal it.”
“Some things are better left alone.” Dean gave her a warning look. “You’re inquisitive. Don’t want you telling the media any of this.”
Chelsea raised her eyebrows. That wasn’t what she expected him to be defensive about.
“I wouldn’t.”
“Good,” he said quietly. Then he flinched. “Sorry, I know you aren’t a reporter. But it’s hard to trust people. When the media gets hold of a scandal, or anyone they consider newsworthy, they don’t let go. I’ve had to put up with it.” Dean shook his head and laughed bitterly. “You’d be surprised how much the media pays for information. You think you trust someone, a friend. But a friend can easily be bought with money.”
“You can trust me,” she assured him. Thinking of how she almost lost Andrea, she added, “And I think friendships matter more than money. You can have all the money in the world and still be lonely.”
Dean was silent. Chelsea involuntarily shivered again. This time, he stepped close to her. His firm arm pressed against hers as they both leaned against the railing. A simple touch, probably unintentional to him.
She swallowed, longing for him to move his arm and place it protectively around her. He hadn’t touched her since their initial handshake, and she hadn’t realized how strongly she wanted to feel him again.
So much for keeping her resolve.
Her gaze went to the crashing waves, and in her mind she was brought back to the night she learned of the accident. Unlike Andrea, Dean could relate. It was a connection Chelsea needed to feel, for the both of them to share. Something that would ease the loneliness in her chest, to take her mind off the constant need to feel the warmth of Dean’s body.
“My dad was in a car accident,” she explained. “He had a drinking problem. He wasn’t an alcoholic, but it was a problem for the rest of us. Mom barely survived but after it happened, she changed. Life was all about money, about experiences. That’s why she left for a married man. I think it was the only thing that could bring her happiness after losing dad.”
Dean’s tight smile was sympathetic. “You didn’t have to tell me that.”
She glanced at him. “Why? Life’s too short to bottle everything up. Why repress and hide things when it’s so much simpler to just put it out there?”
He was silent for a moment. “You have a point.”
Chelsea knew there was nothing more to say, but she welcomed the respectful silence that followed. No doubt Dean was lost in past memories as she was. She knew their conversation had brought them closer together – but how far could they go? Tomorrow she would be back at work, and she ne
eded to find a place to live.
Dean drew in a deep breath then chuckled briefly. “You know more about me than anyone who reads the tabloid reports.”
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed he’d been looking at her. Maybe her sadness had shown in her eyes, but either way, Chelsea was thankful for his light hearted tone. Hearing his voice brought her from the past to the present.
“I’m honored,” she joked.
Dean’s arm moved. He draped it around her back, resting firmly against her. Chelsea stared in surprise. In his eyes she saw torment, but over what, she didn’t know. But she knew what Dean’s gesture meant. He was offering the comfort of friendship, nothing more.
Chelsea fell into his embrace, letting her troubles fade away along with the sound of the waves.
When they returned to Dean’s house, Chelsea went up to her temporary room while he lit the fire again. Sitting on the bed, Chelsea could feel her heart pounding in her chest. Dean’s embrace had been comforting, but it did more than comfort her. It wasn’t just lust which attracted her to him. It was possible to have a friendship, to be more than just a temporary houseguest.
Chelsea intended on living here and moving out with no emotional connections. But Dean was both sexy and troubling. He was in pain, just as she was. And Chelsea wanted to help.
She leaned over and picked up her cell phone from the nightstand. She had been texting Andrea occasionally, but she wanted to talk, not type out a message. It didn’t take long for Andrea to answer.
“Chelsea! How’s life in Spring Lake going?”
“It’s nice,” she replied, biting at her bottom lip. “Dean isn’t the total playboy the media make him out to be.”
There was a brief silence as if Andrea was surprised she had mentioned him.
“Oh, God,” she groaned. “You’re falling for him aren’t you? I mean, it’s been over half a week, alone in that house, with all that sexual tension…”
Chelsea laughed. “You’re right about the sexual tension. But it’s a professional arrangement. I mean, we kissed once but -”