Be My Valentine

by R. J. Groves

  Navy life didn’t make relationships easy, and maybe he’d been a fool to think that it could be different for him. But there was something about Harley that gave him hope that maybe they could work it out. Surely Harley wouldn’t expect him to give up his job—his life. She wasn’t that kind of woman, was she? Before he could break the silence, his stomach rumbled, and Harley laughed, pulling herself upright.

  ‘We should find some food,’ she said, wrapping the sheet around her as she slid off the bed. ‘What do you think?’

  ‘I think nothing would be open yet.’

  ‘You’re probably right. Shower then food?’ She gave him a mischievous look that had his heart pounding in his chest and his body rising to attention. ‘A very long shower?’ She backed herself towards the bathroom then, as she turned her back towards him, let the sheet fall to the ground.

  A different kind of hunger filled him and, with a rumble starting at the base of his throat, he rolled off the bed and followed her. They could deal with the end of the week when they got there. For now, he intended on enjoying every moment he had with Harley. Starting with that shower.

  ***

  ‘I once got stuck up a tree because I was trying to save some baby birds I thought were in trouble.’

  ‘Wait, how old were you?’

  Harley tangled her fingers with Joey’s as she rested against him, his arm around her as they stared out at the rolling waves. His words from early that morning still niggled at her—I can’t imagine doing anything else—and the questions still filled her mind, despite trying to push it all aside. What would happen when he goes back to work? What would become of them? Could she manage a relationship like this—of marvellous weeks spent together and long months apart? It would be hard, but there was something different about Joey. She wasn’t sure she could deal with being separated from him if they stayed together, and yet the thought of letting him go was agonising. But she couldn’t let herself dwell on it. Couldn’t let it ruin the little time they had together.

  ‘I was four,’ Joey said, reaching for a chip from their takeaway lunch.

  She’d never thought fish and chips could taste so good, but as she and Joey were eating on the beach, she wasn’t sure she’d ever had a better meal in her life. There was something about hiding their food from the lurking seagulls, watching the waves move in and out, enjoying the sea breeze and overall simplicity of lunch with the man she’d fallen for.

  ‘And were they? In trouble?’ She watched a surfer ride the waves in the distance. The beach wasn’t exactly secluded, but they’d managed to find a quiet shady spot off to the side of the popular part where they were relatively left alone.

  ‘Nah, just hungry. When Dad finally got me down, the mother bird swooped in and fed them.’

  ‘How long were you stuck for?’

  ‘Felt like hours, but was probably only a few minutes, tops.’ Joey laughed, pressing his cheek against the top of her head.

  It felt so right to be in his arms. But at the same time, she couldn’t help but think it was all going so fast. He’d only come back a couple days ago, for starters, and he’d been in her bed that first night.

  Was it fast though?

  She had known him for close to a year, and she’d been friends with his sister for a lot longer. What about Andie and Tay? They were in love and settled into their relationship within a few months. And what about everyone else? What about the people who start a relationship on a one-night stand? Surely this wasn’t fast.

  But she’d already fallen for Joey, and there was nothing to say that this wasn’t all just a bit of fun on his time off. Sure, he’d said that he came back for her, and she wanted to believe that. But for only a week? How was she supposed to fully enjoy the week, to let herself feel for this guy, and still keep herself distant enough that the pain wouldn’t be unbearable when he left?

  ‘Well, I think it’s cute that four-year-old you was so concerned about the baby birds,’ she managed, pushing the thoughts aside.

  ‘I was always getting into trouble one way or another. Always doing things Dad didn’t approve of.’

  She glanced up at him. He was staring out at the water, his eyes distant. ‘Do you still talk to your dad?’

  ‘Only if I see him, which isn’t very often.’

  She sat up straight to face him, still holding his hand in hers. He’d brushed over the topic last time it was brought up, but so much had happened since then. And they didn’t have much time to truly get to know each other, so she wanted to make the most of it.

  ‘What happened?’ she asked.

  Joey tore his eyes away from the water to look at her. The look in his eyes made her breath catch in her throat. Sorrow. Pain. Hurt. Anger. He dropped his gaze, reaching for another chip that she was sure had gone cold long ago.

  ‘Ah,’ he started. ‘It’s a long story.’

  ‘I’ve got time.’

  ‘Mmm. How about the shortened version?’ She nodded. At this point, she would take anything to get to know the man she felt so strongly for. ‘He’s convinced I’m not his child.’

  He turned his gaze towards Harley, a darkness in his eyes. The pain she’d seen there made sense. ‘D—did you get tested?’

  He stared down at his foot pressing into the picnic blanket in front of him. ‘Nah. Mum said there was nothing to prove, that I was his son, and if he didn’t believe her, he didn’t trust her. Why should she have to prove that she’d never had an affair?’ His jaw tightened and she squeezed his hand, her thoughts drifting to how Joey would have felt growing up, knowing his father didn’t think of him as his own child. As if reading her mind, he continued. ‘It’s like he never even wanted me. I obviously took after Mum’s side of the family more than I did his, but still. He’s my dad. He was supposed to be my hero, my role model and all that shit. He never even threw a ball with me. Just acted like my existence was a thorn in his side.’

  Harley swallowed, deciding on her next words carefully. ‘It must have been hard.’

  ‘It was. I mean, I’d never treat my kids—mine or not—like that. No kid deserves to feel like an outsider to his own family.’

  He lifted her hand and pressed his lips against the back of her fingers, still not looking at her. She couldn’t help but wonder if he’d linked thoughts of his kids with her. Did he feel as deeply for her as she did for him, then? She took in a deep breath as he returned both of their hands to her lap.

  ‘I get why your mum didn’t want a DNA test,’ she started. ‘I also get how that could make it look like she had something to hide. But he shouldn’t have treated you like that.’

  He turned towards her, his eyes saddened. ‘What if it was you, Harley? What if your husband didn’t believe your kid was his?’

  She swallowed the lump in her throat, trying to ignore how the way he’d said your husband made her feel like he didn’t think it would be him. She held his gaze, not daring to break the contact. ‘I’d get the DNA test. I’d have nothing to hide, and if it was best for the kid if we got the test, I’d do it. I couldn’t bear the thought of my kids not having both of their parents.’

  ‘Did you?’ he asked, his eyes softening. ‘Have both of your parents?’

  She shook her head, the ache building inside her whenever she thought of her parents. ‘I was young when Mum died. Too young to have many memories. But I remember that Dad became a different man. It’s like he was there, but wasn’t. He wasn’t very involved, only there for the basics. Distant. My nanna helped out for the first few years, but then she was gone, too. Erin—my sister—practically raised me after that, even though she wasn’t much older than me.’

  ‘Is your dad still around?’ He asked the question, but Harley half-suspected he already knew the answer.

  ‘Dad died when I was a little over eighteen. And of course I miss him, and I miss Mum, but we weren’t very close. I sometimes wonder if he thought that if he never got close to us, that we wouldn’t hurt so much when he wasn’t around anymore.’<
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  ‘But you would have preferred to be close.’ It wasn’t really a question.

  Harley nodded and Joey pulled her back into his arms again, kissing the top of her head. The butterflies stirred in her stomach like they did every time she felt his kisses. ‘I’d rather love and lose than never love at all.’

  As she said it, she realised the truth in it. And how it didn’t just apply to her parents.

  Chapter 9

  ‘I can’t believe you got us horses!’

  Joey glanced at the huge animal walking beside him who stared back and snorted. He was starting to regret his rash decision, but Harley had seemed so excited when he’d found that brochure about beachside horseriding. It had sounded romantic at the time. Now, the thought of pulling himself up onto the back of this huge, black, snorting beast and riding it didn’t sound so appealing. The horse he was supposed to ride was called Bucky—not at all a reassuring name—and Harley’s slightly smaller brown horse was Bay.

  ‘Anything for my fiancée,’ he teased, catching a glimmer of amusement in her eyes. ‘I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself.’ He hazarded a pat on Bucky’s neck. The horse went for a nudge at Joey’s arm and he stepped just out of reach.

  ‘You okay?’ Harley said. He moved his head only slightly to see her better, still certain he couldn’t take his eyes of the conniving creature.

  ‘Ah, yeah. I’m good. You?’ He hoped that she hadn’t noticed his hesitation and rejoiced a little inside when it looked as though that was the case. She let out an excited squeak and Bucky paced beside him.

  ‘I haven’t ridden in so long. Nanna used to take me and Erin horseriding when we were little. I’ve only had the chance to ride maybe once or twice since.’

  She turned to look at him fully, her horse completely out of her field of vision, he noticed. His heart pounded in his chest. This was a stupid idea. What on earth possessed him to think that trying to control two huge horses would be safe and fun? If Harley got hurt …

  ‘Have you ridden before?’ she said, her eyes flashing with excitement.

  ‘Me? Yeah. Of course. Heaps of times.’ Try never. Truth was, apart from those little ponies in the occasional petting zoo at markets, Joey had never even been near a horse before. Bucky deviated off course and pressed against him, making Joey’s heart pound even harder. This was a very, very bad idea.

  ‘Shall we hop on, then?’

  ‘We should probably keep warming them up,’ Joey said, putting some distance between him and Bucky again.

  ‘I think they’re warm enough,’ Harley said, her eyebrow lifting as she pulled to a stop. Bay moved in front of her so Harley was closer to the saddle. ‘Come on, don’t you want to feel the wind in your hair?’

  ‘Sure.’ He ran a hand through his short hair. He doubted he could feel the wind in his hair like she probably would. But if he could, riding a horse to feel it wasn’t a particularly appealing option.

  But what choice did he have? He stopped walking and, unlike Bay, Bucky stopped where he was. By the time he’d moved closer to the saddle and glanced back at Harley to see how to mount a horse, she was already settling herself in the saddle. He sighed, put both his hands on top of the saddle, and jumped, attempting to pull himself up. Bucky moved sideways, and Joey landed back on the ground. God, he wished he’d seen how Harley got up. He tried it again and, once more, he got nowhere. Bucky pushed against his arm with his head and Harley laughed.

  ‘Don’t tell me you’ve never used a saddle before,’ she teased.

  ‘You could say that,’ he mumbled, risking a glance at her.

  Harley’s eyebrow shot up. ‘Mmm, there’s something sexy about a man riding bareback.’

  ‘Yeah, well my bareback methods aren’t working with Bucky, so care to explain?’

  ‘Use the stirrup,’ Harley said. He looked at her blankly. ‘The foot thing.’ She moved her foot to emphasise her point.

  ‘Right.’ He put his foot in the stirrup and she laughed again.

  ‘You’ll get nowhere or end up backwards if you do that. Try your other foot and turn the stirrup around. It’s twisted.’

  He did what she said and hopped alongside the horse as Bucky took a few staggering steps. ‘Now what?’

  ‘Now get up. Grab onto the pommel and swing your other leg over.’ When he stared at her, she tapped on the hump at the front of her saddle. ‘This thing.’

  Taking a big breath, he swung his leg up and wobbled into the seat, gripping the pommel. Bucky took a few steps and Joey slid over, landing flat on his back on the other side of the horse. Bucky spun his head around to look at Joey and snorted in his face. Great. Just how he’d imagined their romantic beachside horseriding date would go. Harley walked her horse towards him and stopped where she could see him.

  ‘You okay?’

  ‘Yup,’ he said, already feeling his bruised ego. He pulled himself to standing and stared at Bucky, who nudged against him again.

  ‘Might want to have the reins up there next time,’ Harley mused.

  ‘Right. That would make sense.’

  He made no move for the horse, wondering what the hell the reins were. Harley leaned to the side towards Bucky and Joey’s heart leapt into his throat at the thought that she might be slipping off. But then she rose again, the leather straps attached to Bucky’s harness in her hands. She swung them over Bucky’s head and sat them over the pommel.

  ‘Try that,’ she said.

  He marvelled at the skill she had to be able to adjust his horse while still on her own, but he said nothing so she wouldn’t know it was his first time riding a horse. He tried again, and to his relief, he landed securely in the saddle. It wasn’t as comfortable as he’d imagined it might have been, but he was there.

  ‘Let’s go,’ Harley said, riding Bay with effortless ease. He had to admit, she did look good on a horse. He watched her and Bay move as though synchronised and knew he and Bucky wouldn’t look anywhere near as good.

  He gave the reins a little flick and Bucky did nothing. ‘Come on, man. You’re making me look bad.’ Bucky gave another snort and nodded his head. ‘You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?’

  Another snort. Great. Too bad if he was trying to impress Harley. He supposed there were actually things that he couldn’t just wing and hope he did well enough to get by. Horseriding was one of those things. He tried a series of hushed voice commands, tapped the side of the horse’s neck, and all he got in return were snorts and the occasional stagger.

  ‘Having issues?’ Harley called back, turning her horse to see him.

  ‘Just finding the gears,’ he joked. ‘We’ll catch up.’

  Her laugh mingled with the sounds of the waves coming in, carrying across the air between them and rippling through his body. No, he could never tire of her. ‘Try the foot pedals,’ she said.

  ‘Foot pedals? What’—he held his feet tucked in the stirrups out to the side—’these things?’

  Harley gave him a thumbs up and he sighed. He really was making a fool of himself, wasn’t he? He let his feet drop back to the horse’s side and Bucky lurched forward at a run. In a few seconds, they’d overtaken Harley and her horse, and it looked as though Bucky had no intention of slowing down. Deciding he had to just let the horse run it out, Joey concentrated on holding on for dear life and not falling off the beast running a million miles an hour. He wasn’t sure how he managed to stay on or how the hell Harley had caught up to him, but she was soon there, laughing and telling him to pull on the reins. Trying his best to keep balance without hugging Bucky’s neck, he pulled back on the reins and the great beast slowed to a walk. After a few moments, Joey’s heart slowly returned back to its normal pace and he no longer felt like he was going to fall off with every jerk. Well, talk about an experience. He glanced over at Harley and couldn’t resist the warmth spreading through him.

  Her hair was messy, her cheeks pink from the wind, her eyes wild with excitement, and her smile irresistible. It really was no wonder h
e’d fallen for this beautiful woman, and he still couldn’t believe that she wanted to hang out with him.

  ‘So how are you finding your first ride?’ she said, her eyes teasing.

  ‘It’s not—’ Her eyebrow shot up and he sighed in defeat, laughing. ‘Is it that obvious?’

  ‘Just a little,’ she said, biting into her lip.

  As their horses walked side by side, Joey found it easier to let Bucky take control and trust that he wasn’t going to rear up and dump him in the sand. He studied Harley’s frame and how natural she looked sitting on her horse. It really was something she loved—he could see it in her eyes. But he also wondered why she didn’t do it more often. Perhaps it was harder to find horses to ride in Perth than it was in Margaret River. Or perhaps the thought hadn’t even crossed her mind. He wondered if it was one of those things she’d forgotten she loved until she did it again.

  ‘And you had me thinking you were so experienced you rode bareback,’ Harley teased, bringing his thoughts back to the present.

  ‘You’re the one who said it was sexy,’ he said. ‘How could I say no to that?’

  She reached across and gave his shoulder a shove. ‘You’re a dork.’

  He caught her hand before she could retrieve it and laced his fingers with hers. ‘And you love it.’

  She bit into her lip, her cheeks reddening. ‘Yeah, I do.’

  He held her gaze and admired the way the setting sun sent a golden glow over her face, catching in the copper streaks of her brown hair, making the hint of gold in her eyes stand out. She really was the most magnificent thing he’d ever seen.

  ‘Have I told you today that you’re beautiful?’ he whispered, releasing her hand to reach across and tuck a lock of hair behind her ear.