“I want to be with you too. I’m just worried,” she says as I park in her driveway and shut down the engine. When she unhooks her buckle, I pull her over the middle console and wrap my arms around her waist once she’s settled on my lap.
“Tell me what you’re worried about.”
“My parents.” She ducks her head and focuses on my hand where she turns it over, smoothing her fingers over the calluses there. “I know they’re going to do or say things to upset you, and I don’t want that.”
“I don’t care what your mom or dad think about me, Aria. I care about what you think.” I lift her hand and kiss her knuckles. “Anna knows about you and me.”
“What? How?”
“Someone she knows probably saw us in town.” My lips tip up as her eyes drop to my mouth. “I haven’t exactly tried to hide the fact that I like touching you or being with you.”
“Oh…” She licks her lips then clears her throat. “What did she say?”
“Not much, because Olivia was there.” I lift my hand and skim my thumb over her chin. “She did ask if I was going to introduce you to Olivia, and I told her that I was and I would let her know when that was going to happen.”
“You… you want me to meet Olivia.”
“I want to be with you, so yeah, I want you to meet my daughter. I also want to make sure you’re ready for that, because I’ve never introduced her to anyone, so you need to be sure about us before we take that step.”
Her eyes drop back to our hands, and she rests hers over mine, studying it. “I like being with you. It’s easy. You make me happy, and I feel like I can just be myself.”
“You can always be yourself when you’re with me, Aria. I like you just the way you are. And I can assure you that you are not the only one worrying about shit that might happen, but that’s why we need to be on the same page going forward. I need you to trust me to handle your parents, and I need you to trust that I’ll have your back with Anna if she tries to start drama.”
“I think if you can handle my parents, I can handle Anna.”
“Good.” I kiss her when she turns to face me. When I pull back, I cup her cheek. “Nothing changes between us, except the fact that I’m yours and you’re mine.”
“I like that,” she says quietly, resting her forehead against mine, and I close my eyes, feeling completely at ease for the first time in weeks.
Chapter 10
Aria
SITTING IN MY office, I smile as I type. A week ago, I put away the romance I was attempting to write and started building a whole new world. Even though my agent hasn’t come back to me with an offer from the publisher she pitched it to, I’m loving every single detail going into the story. The best part is, I’ve been able to add more elements of romance to this series, and without thinking, I’ve written Tide into my hero, a man who is complicated but deep down to his soul, sweet in his own way. When my phone rings, I answer without checking who the caller is and put the phone on speaker.
“Hello.”
“Aria, it’s Mom.”
My fingers slide off the keys, and I bite back a curse. Besides the occasional text or phone call, I haven’t seen my parents since the last time they showed up at my house, which has been nice. But I’m sure my luck is about to run out.
“Hey, Mom.”
“Our fall party is coming up, and I wanted to confirm that you’ll be there.” She pauses, taking a deep breath. “And I wanted to ask if you were bringing anyone with you.” Knowing that she knows I’m seeing Tide, because I told her during one of our phone calls, I close my eyes, wondering if she will ever acknowledge him and I being in a relationship.
“Can I bring three people?” The last thing I want to do is go to their party, and I definitely don’t want to take Tide to anything where my parents will be in attendance. That said, I don’t want him to think I’m embarrassed to be with him, and I have a feeling that’s what would happen if I didn’t ask him to join me. But maybe if Colton and Gia can come, it will make things a little more bearable, especially since I’ve enjoyed myself every time I’ve been around them.
“Just friends?” she presses, and I roll my eyes.
“Mom, I told you that I’m seeing Tide, but besides him, I would also like to bring a couple of friends with us.”
“Do you think that’s smart with Josh coming?” she asks, and I grit my teeth.
“If you’re worried about Josh’s feelings, Mom, I won’t come.”
“Don’t be dramatic, Aria.” Right, because I’m the dramatic one. “Bring your friends. Just make sure they know they have to dress appropriately.”
Damn, I forgot all about the fact that the party is an event where people dress up and show off. I don’t know if Tide has ever worn anything other than jeans a day in his life, which means he might be pissed about the news he has to wear a suit. “I’ll make sure they know.”
“Then we will see you there. Have a good evening.” She hangs up, and when the line goes dead, I wonder if I’ve ever heard my mom tell me that she loves me. I don’t think I have, and the only time my father has said it is when he’s been drinking, and he’d say it to just about anyone when he’s drunk. With an empty feeling in the pit of my stomach, I push away from my desk and take my cell with me to the kitchen. I grab a cup of coffee before I head out to the front porch, needing some fresh air to help clear my mind. Reading a historical romance on the Kindle app on my phone, I smile when my agent’s name suddenly pops up on the screen with a text asking if I can talk. I reply back that I can, and a moment later, my phone rings.
“Do you have good news for me?” I ask as soon as I answer.
“No, I have good news and really, really good news.” Her excitement is audible, and since Rachel is always pretty mellow, even when calling to tell me that she’s gotten me a six-figure deal, I know whatever news she has must be big. “Do you have your e-mail available?”
“I do.”
“Look at what I just sent you.” I put the call on speaker then go to my e-mail, and when I see the outline of the offer she sent over, my heart flutters. The advance is way more than they offered me last time I signed with them, which means they believe in my new series. “What do you think of their offer?”
“I think I accept.” I smile.
“Now for the better news, my beautiful girl.” I hear her moving around then a door closes. “Are you sitting down?”
“Yes.”
“Paramount made an offer this morning. They want to bring The Winds to the big screen as a three-part series, and if you agree, they plan to start filming late next year.”
“What?” My heart starts to pound as adrenalin rushes through my system, making my hands shake. “You’re joking.”
“I never joke, Aria, and I definitely would never joke about something like this.”
“I don’t know what to say.” I think every single author dreams of having one of their stories brought to life, and knowing the talent in the industry, I never believed it would happen to me.
“There is nothing for you to say. All you need to do is sign the contracts when I send them over, and we’ll go from there.”
“Thank you, Rachel. You’re a miracle worker.”
“Aria, this wasn’t me making calls and pushing your book. This was all you. They read your story, loved it, and wanted to work with you. Like I said when I came to you years ago, I know you’re talented and that there are going to be a lot of great things in your future as an author. I’m just lucky you’ve brought me along on your journey.”
Tears fill my eyes, and I fight them back, at a loss for words. Rachel has been in my corner since before I ever released my first book, and even if she thinks she has nothing to do with my success, I know differently. She’s well known in the industry, and people respect her and value her opinion. So even if she didn’t push my book to Paramount, I know they saw her name and took that into consideration. “I love you.”
“Ditto, beautiful girl, and I can’t
wait to go on set with you to drool over whoever they cast as Hyde,” she says, and I picture her with her overly large glasses, with her long grey hair in a bun that is a drastic difference from the very bohemian outfits she tends to wear, standing on set and flirting with some teenage movie star.
“I’ll make sure to take photos for you so you can share them with Charles,” I say, and she snorts. Charles, her son, is turning seventeen this year. She had him when she turned forty, and he hates when she embarrasses him, especially when she flirts, which she does a lot. Thankfully, her husband, Charles Sr., just thinks it’s funny.
“For the chance to be on the set of a movie, he might forgive me,” she says with a smile in her voice, then continues. “We’ll talk tomorrow afternoon when I get the finalized contracts. I’m sure we we’ll have more to discuss, but until then, enjoy your night, and make sure you celebrate.”
“That I will do,” I tell her, watching Tide’s truck pull in the driveway.
“I get the feeling I need to ask you what that happiness in your voice is about, but we will have to talk about that later. I have work to do.”
Laughing, I shake my head. “Goodnight, Rachel.
“Night, we’ll talk soon.” She hangs up, and I tuck my phone into my cardigan pocket when I stand.
“Is everything all right?” Tide asks, getting out of the truck, and I don’t even think. I skip down the steps and run across the dirt driveway, and as soon as I’m close to him, I jump into his arms that thankfully open to catch me. “Jesus,” he grunts as I wrap my legs around his hips, and I drop my mouth to his, kissing him quickly before pulling back to grab his face in both my hands.
“I have the best news.”
“Yeah?” He smiles at my excitement, and I nod. “Did you finally get the offer you’ve been waiting for?”
“I did.” He places me on my feet, and I tip my head back to look at him. “But Paramount called, and they want to turn my first series into a three-part movie.”
“You’re shitting me.” He looks stunned, and I laugh, resting my hands against his chest.
“Are you okay?”
“I should say I’m shocked, but I’ve finished the first two books and just started the third, so I’m honestly not even a little surprised.”
“You’ve been reading my books?” I breathe, my chest feeling funny as I rest my weight against him. My ex never read any of my books, and my parents sure as heck have never picked one of them up, so it means more than he even knows that he has taken the time to read them. And he isn’t doing it because he thinks it will impress me; he’s doing it just because he wants to.
“You’re talented, baby. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to get into them because Dean Koontz is normally my jam when I have time to read, but I’ve found myself wanting to find out what’s going to happen next and enjoying the series.”
I lean up on my tiptoes to press my mouth to his, and his arms circle my waist as he deepens the kiss. Panting when he pulls back, I let my forehead drop to his chin and link my fingers together behind his neck. “Thank you.”
“For what?” he asks quietly, dipping his chin so his lips rest against the top of my head.
“For just being you,” I tell him, wishing I could make him understand how easy happy is when I’m with him.
“Aria.” My name is gruff as his hold on me tightens.
I close my eyes and pull myself together, then tip my head back to meet his gaze. “I made us Guinness stew for dinner, but after getting the news about the movie, I think I want to call Gia to see if she and Colton are up to celebrating with us.”
He lets me go and takes my hand to lead me toward the house. “Colton’s at work tonight, but maybe Gia can meet us at the Rusty Rose for a drink. But only after I eat some of your stew,” he says, making me laugh. Before him, I never really thought that I could cook, but he’s devoured every meal I’ve made and eaten all the leftovers every single time.
“That works for me,” I agree as we walk into the house. While he goes to shower, something he does every time he gets to my place after working all day, I call Gia and share my news. While we’re talking, she sends Colton’s mom a text, and almost immediately she agrees to come over to watch Gino so we can go to the bar to celebrate.
________________
“CONGRATULATIONS, ARIA.” COLTON lifts his beer, and Tide does the same with his while Gia and I hold up our martini glasses.
“Thank you, guys.” I look around the table. If you asked me when I decided to move to Tennessee, how I thought things would turn out, I never would have imaged I’d find a man who makes me feel the way Tide does, or friends like Gia and Colton. With each of them, I’ve found the ease of genuine relationships, something I never had before in my life, but am so thankful for.
“You have to promise when they start filming that I get to come on set, especially if they get someone like Chris Hemsworth to play a part in the movie,” Gia says, and I smile at her.
“He’s a little old for any of the guys in my books, so I doubt he will be a part of the cast.”
“And you’re married with a kid, so you don’t need to be around him anyways,” Colton says, and Gia looks at me and rolls her eyes while grinning.
“Speaking of going places.” I take a sip of my drink and settle my hand on Tide’s thigh. “My parents’ fall party is coming up, and if you can all come, I would love for you to go with me, because then it might actually be bearable.”
“You don’t want to go?” Gia asks, and I shake my head.
“No, my parents and I have a very strange relationship, and all their stuck-up friends will be there along with my ex,” I admit, and Tide’s muscles bunch under my palm.
“Why the fuck is your ex going to be there?” he asks, surprising me with his tone, which sounds more like a growl than anything else.
“He and my mom are close.” I shrug, taking a sip of my drink.
“Jesus,” he mutters, running a hand through his hair that he left down, which means he looks a little more wild than he normally does.
“You don’t have to tell me that my family is messed up. I already know they are.”
“Why’d you agree to go?” Colton asks.
Shrugging, I answer the only way I can. “I don’t know. Guilt maybe, but I’m not really sure.”
“Well, I’ll be there,” Gia says, and I meet her gaze. “And if it sucks, we can leave and do something else.”
“Let me know what day and I’ll get the night off.” Colton sighs, making it clear that the only reason he’s agreeing to go is because he doesn’t want Gia there alone.
“You know I’m not going to let you go without me,” Tide says, sounding put out, and I see Gia press her lips together like she’s trying to keep herself from laughing.
“I’ll be back. I’m gonna check to make sure everyone is okay.” Colton kisses his wife’s cheek before he heads for the bar.
I pick up my drink and take a sip, choking on it when I see none other than my father walking in a crooked line across the room toward the bar. “Are you okay?” Tide rubs my back as I grab a napkin to wipe my mouth.
“My dad is here.” I clear my throat, and both he and Gia look around. But only Tide focus on the bar, where my father is settling on one of the stools, attempting to get Colton’s attention. When he finally has it, I see him place some cash on the counter, and a moment later, Colton grabs a bottle of bourbon from the top shelf and fills the glass he sat down half full, before looking at Tide and sharing some kind of telepathic conversation.
“It’s okay. He’s always happy when he’s been drinking. I’m sure if he was to come over here right now, you’d think he was your best friend,” I assure Gia, who looks a little nervous, probably expecting some kind of drama after what I just said about my parents’ and my relationship.
“Does he drink a lot?” she asks.
“Yeah.” I press my lips together as he finishes his drink in one gulp and motions for another one, almos
t tumbling off his stool. When I was younger, I use to get so embarrassed when he would get drunk and act like an idiot. Now, I’m past the point of being embarrassed, and just annoyed he refuses to accept that he has a problem and get help. “I should make sure he has a ride.” Thankfully, he’s never been one to drive drunk, but he has been known to catch a ride with random strangers and end up with his wallet missing or his credit cards stolen and maxed out.
“I’ll go with you.” Tide pushes back from the table. I grab his arm, and when he drops his chin to look at me, I scan his face. I know my dad is all rainbows and sunshine when he’s drinking, but if Tide is pissed, I don’t know how Dad will react to him. “I’m good, babe, promise.”
“Okay.” I let out a breath, then look at Gia when she stands.
“I’m gonna hang with Colton at the bar.”
“Okay.” I leave my drink behind along with my jacket and hold Tide’s hand as we walk across the room. When we reach my dad, he’s sipping on his second drink and staring blankly at the TV on the wall behind the bar that’s playing the highlights from the football game.
“Dad.” I rest my hand on his shoulder, and he spins around to face me, his eyes filling with surprise.
“Aria.” He looks around before meeting my gaze once more. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m here with Tide and our friends,” I tell him, and his eyes drop to Tide’s hand that is holding mine firmly, then his head tips back, smiling.
“You’re the new boyfriend.” He laughs, looking at me. “Your mom has been complaining about him nonstop.”
“Dad.” I bite out and he grins.
“I hear you’re going to be attending the fall party.” He sticks out his hand toward Tide. “I don’t know if Aria warned you, but her ex is going to be there.”
“Dad,” I repeat, and he shrugs.
“He should be warned, especially when your mom is involved. She thinks you and Josh are going to get back together.”
“I’m never getting back with Josh. Ever.”
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