by Robyn Roze
“You were right. He wants to cause doubts and friction. I should’ve told you, but I simply didn’t want to talk about him. That’s really all there was to it. I’m just so pissed at him, and Dani. I don’t like being played or bullied.”
Sean bit absently at his bottom lip and appeared to be deciding whether to speak. “What if you gave him what he wanted? Do you think he’d leave you alone then?” Shayna felt dumbstruck and Sean apparently read her expression. “I’m talking airtime, Shay. What if you let him say whatever it is that he needs to say? Do you think he’d back off?”
Shayna’s brows pinched as she shook her head and breathed out in exasperation.
“It might be good for you too.”
“You must be kidding,” she murmured, shaking her head.
“I’m not talking second chances here—you know that. But have you ever thought hearing him out, saying your peace, might be good for you?”
“No,” she said simply. “I can’t believe you’d even suggest it.”
“I don’t think I would’ve until today.” He stroked her cheek gently. “But I can hear the tension in your voice and feel it in your body, Shay. You haven’t let go either.”
She just stared into his guileless eyes looking as if she was about to contradict his words, but finding herself unable to speak.
“Between your mother and your ex, and what happened to your first husband—you’ve had three pretty important relationships end very badly without any closure. Maybe there never really can be, but don’t you have questions of your own that you want answered, just for the sake of answers—even though it wouldn’t change anything?”
Shayna blinked slowly and swallowed, considering what Sean was suggesting. “Since when did you become Dr. Phil?”
His brows quirked and his lips twitched in a grin. “Who?”
“Never mind,” she said, shaking her head and looking away over Lake Indigo.
Sean wrapped his arms around her, pulling her back into his warmth. “Hearing someone out doesn’t mean you’re weak or giving them a pass, Shay.” He gently rubbed his chin across the top of her silky blonde hair. Shayna had become unusually quiet, and still. “Watching my dad deal with business associates and vendors taught me that early on. Living in that cramped apartment with my parents, seeing how they worked together twenty-four-seven in the restaurant, dealing with the ups and downs, just drove the point home further. I couldn’t have asked for better parents, and that doesn’t mean they were perfect—far from it. Perfection is an illusion anyway, and a waste of time. My parents were real. Flawed. And, damn it, they loved each other through all the good and bad. They never wavered on that. My dad wasn’t sick a day in his life, but he died within six months of my mom. I know it’s because he didn’t want to be here without her.”
Sean held Shayna closer and dropped his head down next to hers so that they were cheek to cheek. “They’re probably partly to blame for me never marrying. Without knowing it, they set the bar high. Close enough wasn’t good enough, and I just never met a woman I couldn’t live without.” He brushed his cheek against hers and paused. She felt his smile and the ripple of his chuckle at a memory. “And then this spunky, gorgeous blonde with a killer smile and fiery attitude strutted into my very popular, well-established restaurant, claiming she’d never heard of the place and seriously doubting my Italian heritage.” His warm breath heated the skin on Shayna’s neck. “Something about you just clicked. I felt it. I had to know you, all of you, everything.”
He paused for a moment, shaping his words. “I know we’ve both loved other people, Shay.” He cradled her face in his hands, locking his eyes onto hers, and rumbled with heated determination, “But I love you like no other.”
She felt the rush of air push from her lungs and pass her lips just as his mouth claimed hers in a searing kiss that triggered waves of long-forgotten memories and deep yearnings. As his kiss and hold became more intense, more possessive, Shayna broke their connection.
Breathing in labored breaths, she cupped his square jaw in her hands and smiled softly up at him, shaking her head in disbelief. “I never expected to feel this way about a man again.” She paused to assess him, and then confessed, “And I’m not talking about Frank.”
Recognition flashed across his features.
Her first love. The one she had never gotten over. He exhaled sharply, pressing his forehead to hers, stroking her cheek with his thumb.
“I love you, too, Sean Parker. You make me feel like a girl again, with my whole life ahead of me. The self-doubts of the last three years? Gone. I love the way you look at me—like I am that girl. I feel like me again.”
He gently rubbed his nose against hers, releasing a stuttered sigh. “We have our whole lives ahead of us, Shay. You’re going to get your happy ending. I promise.”
He lifted her up, kissing her tenderly and then hungrily as he began walking them back into the house and toward the stairs. Just as he pivoted to take the first step, the doorbell chimed and a loud knock sounded from the frosted glass doors.
“Just ignore it,” he murmured roughly against Shayna’s lips.
Her eyelid lifted enough to see a massive alien looking form shadowed against the opaque doors. “Wait. Sean, wait. Let me get this real quick.”
He groaned and reluctantly released her. When she opened the door, a kaleidoscope of every imaginable hue of flower with their pungent scents washed over her in the late summer breeze. It appeared as if they were levitating until the deliveryman peeked around the dense foliage. She glanced back at Sean, who had ambled closer with a peculiar expression on his face. She smiled expectantly up at him.
“Did you send these?” He shook his head slowly at the ostentatious floral arrangement, his features hardening.
“Delivery for Mrs. Chastain,” the smiling man said. Shayna heard Sean huff behind her. “And there’s no need for a tip, your husband was more than generous.”
Shayna snorted in disgust. “Yeah, I’ll bet he was. I’m sorry, but I don’t want—”
“Here I’ll take that,” Sean offered with a crisp tone, moving in front of Shayna and retrieving the oversized arrangement. She looked at him in disbelief as he walked away with the flowers.
“Uh, thanks,” she said absently to the deliveryman as she shut the door and followed Sean into the kitchen.
He set the vase down on the counter and jerked the small envelope out of its holder. He looked at it for a moment with a stony expression before handing it off to Shayna. She just glared at it not touching or opening it.
“Aren’t you going to read it?” Sean asked, with a hard tone that he was clearly trying to restrain.
“No, I’m not. I didn’t even want the damn flowers, and I don’t care what the card says.”
He continued holding the unsealed envelope out to her. “If you don’t, then I will.”
Shayna stood gaping at him. What had gotten into him? After everything she had just said to him, he had to know that Frank was no threat. She could see by the stubborn look in his eyes that he wasn’t going to back down.
“Fine,” she gritted out with a perturbed sigh. She took the envelope and pulled out the card.
It was a simple note—in Frank’s handwriting even.
I miss us.
~Frank
Shayna tossed the card on the counter, moved past Sean to the refrigerator, and started rooting around for a snack or anything to return her mood back to where it was before the knock at the door.
“I need to go into town. Stop by the restaurant, take care of some business. I’ll call you later,” he remarked coolly.
Shayna turned to see him marching away—with the flowers.
“What’re you doing, Sean? Where are you taking the flowers?”
“I’m going to give these to someone,” he remarked placidly.
“What do you mean?” She felt nervous flutters in her stomach. “You’re not going to see Frank are you? Don’t do it, Sean. Don’t play his game
.” Shayna knew that Frank Chastain was a man you underestimated at your own peril. He was ruthless when it came to business, and she knew he was viewing their split as a stalled negotiation that would eventually turn in his favor—once his unrelenting pressure caused a cave in.
“I’m not afraid of Frank Chastain,” he barked out over his shoulder, yanking the door shut behind him.
CHAPTER 14
“These are for you,” Sean said tightly, placing the extravagant arrangement on the desk while eyeing the nameplate, “Brittany.”
The young woman beamed at the rainbow of flowers then turned her attentions to Sean. Her smile broadened even further.
“Somehow these got delivered to your boss’ ex-wife. We both know that must’ve been a mistake. Right? I’m sure the florist just made an error.”
Sean’s eyes narrowed as he assessed the girl before him. He smirked, shaking his head, and rounded his hand over his smooth chin. He snorted in disbelief and then tossed the card in front of her on the desk.
“Here’s the card from your—boyfriend.” He moved around her desk and headed for Frank’s office.
“Wait! Excuse me! You can’t go in there without an appointment!”
Sean ignored her protests and marched straight for the door, turning the knob and shoving it open, hard. The real estate mogul had his feet propped on the desk, reclining in the executive chair and talking into his Bluetooth headset. When he saw Sean, his demeanor hardened. Sean approached and stood cavalierly in front of the desk, hands casually in his pockets, loudly rattling coins and keys, with a stony expression and fierce stare.
“I’ll call you back, Tony,” Frank said in a pinched tone, pulling the earpiece off and chucking it on his desk. He remained reclining with his feet propped, appearing unruffled by the surprise visit. “What the fuck are you doing here?” he questioned with a sneer.
Sean took his time sizing up the man in front of him. Then he spoke in a low growl, “Mix up with a delivery. Thought your squeeze toy should have her flowers.” Frank’s eyes narrowed and he dropped his feet to the floor, pushing up to a standing position across the desk from Sean. “Get your head out of your ass, Chastain. Shayna’s made it pretty goddamn clear you’re out of the picture.”
“Who the hell do you think you are—boy?”
Sean chuckled. “Oh, I’m the guy that’s gonna make sure you stay out of the picture.” Frank snorted in disbelief at the display of bravado. “Your pathetic show the other night only made you look like a desperate fool. Or maybe at your age, your knees just gave out.” Sean smirked.
Frank’s features tightened. “Real smart ass, aren’t you, Parker?”
“Just calling it like I see it,” he quipped. “Shayna divorced you. Deal with it like a man and move on. Now.”
Frank broke into laughter. “You’re funny, sport. Real funny. Think you’re gonna tell me what to do? I told you before; you’ll get your turn. You’ll fuck up and she’ll cut you off like she does everybody.” He leaned across his desk. “Soon enough you’ll be taking your own advice,” he hissed through clenched teeth.
“Yeah, and you probably think you’ll be there to pick up the pieces...like you did after her first husband died.” Sean glimpsed Frank’s candid moment of bewilderment before he quickly hid it. “I’d say Shayna had every right to choose not to be a doormat—for you or her mother.” This time Frank’s eyes glazed a bit as a puff of air escaped his lips. One corner of Sean’s mouth curled up slightly. “Yeah, that’s right Chastain. I’m not just some guy she’s using to make your sorry ass jealous. I’m in it for the long haul, and I’m not going anywhere.”
“I don’t think you really want to pick a fight with me, Parker,” Frank warned in a menacing tone.
“I’d say you’re the one picking a fight. This isn’t some business deal. There’s no city official’s hand out to be greased by you or kickbacks to be paid so you can get what you want. It’s Shayna’s call, and she’s already made it.”
Sean strolled casually over to the wall of windows, viewing the panoramic cityscape from high above in the glass tower.
“Mt. Pleasant sure has changed since I was a kid. At one time, it had a lot of character, charm, green spaces, and parks. Now I just see a lot of concrete and steel. No long-term planning for the urbanites that live here after five o’clock. No parks for the kids. No boutique stores that invite people to walk around the city and explore it.” Sean exhaled. “Just concrete and steel. Just dollars and cents. No character. I’m beginning to think the vision reflects the man that created it.” Sean pivoted slowly to face Frank who had moved from behind his desk and closer to his adversary.
“My vision has put this city on the map,” Frank said with restrained anger. “Your little restaurant is in one of the last areas still clinging to the days-gone-by sentimentality. Something tells me that won’t last much longer though.” Frank’s eyes narrowed in a calculating sneer. “Everybody has a price. When I tear down those shitty little buildings and replace them with concrete and steel, I wonder if you’ll be able to afford the rent then? I’m guessing not. In fact, I’ll make sure of it.”
Sean appeared unconcerned and merely grinned at Frank. “I’ve heard rumblings about your efforts to get the wharf district rezoned.” Sean leaned into Frank. “Good luck with that, you’re gonna need it. Even the rezoning commission knows how popular that district is with the locals and the tourists who come here in the summer. They like the charm, the character, some have even said the quirks.” Sean bit at the inside of his mouth to stop his growing grin. “No, that’s one area even you aren’t going to be able to steamroll over. I’m sure of it.” Frank’s mounting anger was palpable. “Times have been tough for everyone. Even someone with the last name ‘Chastain’ can’t get loans as easily these days. Lenders are more tight-fisted with their money now. Want you to have more cash up front. Not so easy to borrow when half your money went to your ex-wife and the other half is tied up in projects,” Sean paused for effect and grinned knowingly. “A fair number of which, I understand, have stalled.”
Frank’s eyes gleamed with barely controlled rage. “How’s your little restaurant doing, Parker? I hear that’s a tough business. It can nose-dive real fast.”
Sean cocked his head and flexed his jaw at the veiled threat. “Well, whatever happens, I certainly won’t take Shayna’s money to bail myself out of it. I’m not that kind of man.”
Frank’s face shaded red and the vein near his temple pulsed. “What the hell does she see in you?” Frank spat out icily.
Sean assessed the increasingly hostile man before him. “I’m guessing everything she didn’t see in you.”
As Sean turned to make his exit, Frank taunted, “Better hang on to that sense of humor, sport. You’re gonna need it.”
Sean turned and wagged his finger. “You’re not as clever as you think you are, Chastain, and you’re about to find that out.”
****
Shayna recovered on her back, chest heaving, arms flopped above her head, on the plush contemporary shag rug in front of the sleek fireplace, flames leaping from the glass firestones. The glow from the fire glinted off the silken layer of sweat blanketing her body, heart knocking wildly against her chest, trying to catch her breath.
What just happened?
Sean had stormed in earlier in the evening and taken her in a frenzied haze of lust, dominance, and unbridled passion. All she could think right now was—how soon can he do that again?
She felt him stir next to her, rolling from his back to his side, his head perched in his hand. He reached out and gently stroked her cheek.
“I may’ve gotten a little crazy tonight. Sorry,” he whispered.
Shayna couldn’t control the throaty, satisfied laughter that erupted from her. “You call that a little crazy?” She sighed and smiled contentedly. “Jesus, sign me up for deluxe crazy then.” Now Sean was laughing and tugging her close to him. “Don’t ever apologize for that. I loved every second of it,” sh
e murmured, reaching up and bringing his mouth to hers for a deep kiss. “You may have some scratches on your back though,” she said, biting her lip, her fingertip tapping the tip of his nose.
A low growl rumbled from Sean. “And I loved every second of that,” he said roughly, circling his arms around her and taking her with him as he rolled onto his back, resting them against sofa pillows tossed on the floor earlier. They lay quietly, enjoying the moment and each other’s warmth.
Then he broke the silence. “I’ve changed my mind, Shay. I don’t want you to hear your ex out. I don’t think it’s a good idea.” Her brows quirked and she propped herself up to look at him.
“What happened today? You went to see him, didn’t you?”
His thumb skimmed across her full bottom lip. “Just don’t do it. Okay? Will you promise me that?” His features were taut, eyes a mixture of determination and worry.
He’d gone to see Frank. She was sure of it, but he obviously didn’t want to talk about it. She exhaled resignedly. This couldn’t be good, but she’d stay out of it, for now. Stepping in between two chest-thumping males did not appeal to her. They would just have to learn to play nicely together—and grow up.
“That’s not a problem. It’s not like I want to see him, Sean. I didn’t want to talk to him anyway.”
He nodded, and relief eased across his face. “Good.” He pulled her closer, and she burrowed her head up against his neck and shoulder. “Let’s go away this weekend. What do you say?” He gently stroked her arm, and she smoothed her hand from his strong chest up to his square whiskered jaw.
“On your boat?” she asked hopefully.
“You liked that, huh?” he responded, with a squeeze.
The memories warmed her from the inside out.
“I’ve always loved the water,” she replied dreamily.
“Yeah, me too. If my mom hadn’t gotten sick, I probably never would’ve left the Navy.”
“Then we never would’ve met,” Shayna said reflectively.