The Driftwood Promise

by Suzie O'Connell

  After Liam had zipped up the beach after his cousins and Owen, Gideon turned to Erin. “Still feeling guilty about not bringing him on our date?”

  “Not so much.”

  “Mmm. Good. Because it’d be rather awkward and difficult doing things like this—” He yanked her into his arms and lowered his head to nibble on her neck. “—with him around.”

  She let out a shriek of surprise that quickly tumbled into giggles. If he’d ever heard a sweeter sound, he couldn’t recall it.

  He glanced westward. A storm brewed somewhere far offshore, and as the sun sank closer and closer to the ocean, it painted the approaching clouds in gold. The way it colored the world around him was magic, creating an air of romance and anticipation. With one hand still resting against the small of Erin’s back, he dug his phone out of his thigh pocket, selected a slow, romantic song, and turned the volume up. With the phone safely back in his pocket, he slipped his free hand around Erin’s and led her in the best waltz he could manage having never danced one before. She fell easily into step with him, unconcerned about the foamy waves washing over their feet. The moment was absolute perfection, like all the vibrations in the universe had settled into one exquisite rhythm.

  “This right here,” he murmured, “is all I’ve ever wanted.”

  “Dancing on the beach?”

  “No. Being utterly in tune with my partner.” He took her face in his hands and touched his lips lightly to hers, brushing his thumbs over her cheeks. Then he pressed his forehead to hers and let out a breath. “Kissing, dancing, even sex—none of it is truly intimate without this.”

  When he lifted his head, she was watching him with eyes widened with innocent desire.

  “Did you ever experience anything like this with Chaz?”

  She didn’t immediately respond, but then, slowly, she shook her head.

  “I never had anything like this with Hannah, either. Not once in eight years.”

  “Play that song again.”

  He did as she requested and was surprised when she slipped her hand around the back of his head and pulled his mouth down to hers. She kissed him more daringly than he would’ve thought possible after their heart-wrenching conversation on Sunday, and need thundered through him as she slipped her tongue between his lips. God, she was incredible. He angled his hips against hers, asking for more and hoping she could give it.

  She tensed up like she had in Mendocino, and he inhaled sharply, breaking the kiss. She tried to kiss him again, but he leaned back, wincing as the confusion in her eyes quickly gave way to disappointment.

  “I’m s—”

  “Uh-uh. No more of that. Remember?”

  She nodded, the shine of tears in her eyes broke his heart.

  He slipped from her grip, sliding his hands down her arms until he reached her fingers, and brought her knuckles to his lips. “Slow and easy, querida. And if there are things you can’t ever get past, we’ll find ways to make up for it. Like this.”

  He resumed their dance, gratified when her tears dried up and a joy as stunning as the deepening sunset above brightened her face. He opened his mouth to tell her that dancing with her was better than a kiss anyhow, but his phone rang. Growling at the interruption, he slid it from his pocket and glanced at the screen. His heart lurched.

  Habit, he thought. “It’s Hope.”

  “Answer it.”

  “Hey, cuz. What’s up?”

  “Liam is fine, but he fell asleep on the ride up to the house. Owen woke him up, and he’s eating dinner, but he’s not going to make it through a movie. Are you sure you don’t want to let him spend the night?”

  “I’m sure. We have to get up early to head into Beaverton tomorrow. I need to pick up Andra’s birthday presents—the printer said they’re finally ready. I’ll come get him.” After ending the call and dropping his phone back into his pocket, he sighed. “Looks like I need to call it an early night.”

  “Who says we have to end our date here?”

  He lifted a brow. “Well, I need to go get him. Which means I’ll need to take you home because once he’s in bed….”

  He let the sentence hang because Erin had flipped a switch and was now grinning shyly at him. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

  “Maybe I could spend the night with you.”

  He regarded her with narrowed eyes. “Not yet. You’re not ready for that.”

  “What if we take sex off the table?”

  “Tempting. So tempting.” But he shook his head. “I only know one of your triggers, and I’m sure there are more, and I—”

  She cut him off with a kiss, and he groaned low in his throat.

  “You’re not making this easy,” he muttered against her lips. “I appreciate that you want to move things along. I do. But I don’t want to screw this up. Okay? There’s too much potential here to risk by rushing things.”

  He opened his mouth to add something else, but he couldn’t find the words to adequately express the feelings her revelations had awakened. So instead, he folded her into his arms and sighed. If she hadn’t experienced the traumas she had, he would’ve jumped at her offer, and once upon a time when he was young and stupid, he might’ve plunged headfirst into sex, but Erin was different than any woman he’d ever dated. She was strong but also fragile, and he cared too much for her already to risk joining the list of men who had hurt her.

  “I wish we didn’t have to cut this short,” he whispered. “I could stand right here, with you in my arms, until the stars came out. Maybe even until the sun came up again, although I’m not sure my legs would appreciate that much.”

  She laughed softly at his attempt at humor. “We’d better get our picnic packed up so you can get Liam.”

  “I’m sorry, Erin.” He let out a huff of disappointed laughter. “Welcome to dating a single father.”

  “You won’t hear me complain. I adore your son, Gideon, and believe it or not, the whole paternal thing is a major turn on. I don’t have to wonder if you’ll be a good dad because I already know you’re a great one. Chicks dig that.”

  If she hadn’t ended the statement with that quip, he might’ve cried in gratitude for this incredible woman. How could he be so certain she was everything he needed and wanted for the rest of his life when he’d known her such a short time?

  He dipped his head to kiss her, catching her lower lip between his teeth and giving it a tug because she seemed to enjoy that, and was rewarded when she wove her arms around his neck and pressed the length of her body to his. It was amazing, really, that she was willing to push her boundaries after everything she’d been through.

  She was just amazing, period.

  As he released her and started gathering the remnants of their picnic, he snorted. Yeah, he was a goner.

  Eleven

  “We’re not going to let this ruin Andra’s birthday party,” Gideon said to his son as they trotted down the stairs and onto the path to Owen’s house. “Not for us and definitely not for Andra. Right?”

  Liam nodded sullenly in agreement but tears still gleamed along his lower eyelids.

  “I’m sorry, bud. I truly am. I keep hoping….” Gideon shook his head. Talking about Hannah and his perpetually unfulfilled hopes for her relationship with their son was not going to make it easier for Liam to push her call from his mind. “Cake and ice cream and maybe a walk on the beach later. That’ll be fun, yeah?”

  Again, his son nodded. Gideon combed his fingers through the boy’s silky dark hair, then pulled him against his side in a hug.

  At least it wasn’t hot today. In fact, it was almost cool enough to be called chilly. The blazing August sun was hiding behind a ceiling of dark clouds and a brisk, damp wind blew off the ocean. The waves were higher today, too, driven toward the coast by the storm system that had been lingering stubbornly off shore the last few days. Gideon wished the tempest would hurry up and get here. He could use the distraction of photographing the stormy ocean.

  Liam was u
nusually silent for the duration of their walk, and Gideon’s heart ached for him even as anger simmered. Even the prospect of spending the day with Daphne and Hope and Owen wasn’t enough to cheer the boy up.

  Owen stood in his open front door when Gideon and Liam arrived.

  “Saw you coming,” he said. “I’ll take that.”

  Gideon handed him the gift for Andra and stepped past him into the blissful warmth of the man’s home. A cheerful fire popped and crackled in the fireplace, and it did a lot to chase away the gloom. Andra and Red were already here. Since Red’s sons Ethan and Ian weren’t coming—they were holding down the fort at the Grand Dunes today, and it was booked—that made Gideon and Liam the last to arrive to the small, intimate gathering. They would’ve been twenty minutes earlier if Hannah hadn’t called.

  “I’m so glad you came!” Andra said.

  She and Red left their seats on Owen’s couch to embrace Gideon and his son, and their warm welcome did even more than the fire to soothe him.

  “Sorry we’re a little late. I had an unexpected phone call to deal with.”

  “Everything all right?” Red asked.

  “Fine. Thank you. Are you sure you don’t mind us crashing your family event, Andra?”

  “You aren’t crashing it,” she assured him. She laid a cool hand against his cheek and searched his eyes with a faint smile playing about her eyes. “You’re adding to it.”

  “Are those my boys I hear?” Erin called from the kitchen.

  “Yep,” he called back, unable to stop the smile from claiming his face. My boys.

  Erin poked her head around the corner and grinned. It faded quickly when she met Liam’s gaze. “What’s wrong, sweetie?”

  “You lied!” the boy replied, half yelling and half whining. “You said she loved me, but she doesn’t! You lied to me!”

  “Liam!” Gideon snapped and reached for his son’s shoulder to bring him closer in for a more thorough reprimand. “You don’t speak to Erin like that!”

  Liam tore loose from his grip and raced to Erin. Frowning, she dropped to her knees and held her arms open. Gideon’s mouth fell open when his son didn’t hesitate to throw himself into them. He couldn’t make out everything the boy said, but it sounded like he was repeating what he’d already accused Erin of, and each time he reiterated it, there was less anger in his voice and more tears.

  “Hey,” Erin murmured. She lifted her gaze to meet Gideon’s. “It’s okay.”

  He wasn’t sure if she was talking to him or to Liam. Maybe both. Either way, it didn’t matter. What mattered was the way his little boy had run to her, trusting that he could vent his frustration to her and still find comfort in her arms. Gideon stood, rooted to the spot and enthralled as she soothed his heartbroken son. After a few minutes, Liam straightened and nodded when Erin asked if he was better.

  “What happened?” she asked, picking Liam up as she stood.

  “What do you think happened?” Gideon replied.

  “Hannah called… and she’s not taking Liam this weekend.”

  “Bingo.”

  “Why?”

  “Supposedly, a pipe broke and flooded her apartment,” Gideon replied. “Fine. I get that. But that doesn’t explain why she wouldn’t take me up on the offer to stay at my house with Liam. I have a shoot at the Tidewater this weekend, so I wouldn’t even be there.”

  “She doesn’t want to see me,” Liam mumbled against Erin’s neck.

  Her brows dipped briefly, but whatever thought crossed her mind, she kept it to herself. She leaned back to smile at the boy clinging to her. “Daphne’s out on the deck watching the waves if you want to play with her. I promise we’ll call you in when it’s time for dinner.”

  Liam clung to her for another few seconds, and Gideon wondered if he planned to stay right there in her arms, but his excitement to play with his cousin won out, and he dropped to the floor and raced out the back door. A cool waft of air curled into the warm house in his wake.

  “What can I do to help?” Gideon asked, wandering into the kitchen on Erin’s heels.

  “Well, if you’re as terrible a cook as Hope insinuated after yesterday’s cake-baking,” she quipped, “nothing.”

  He pressed his lips into a self-mocking smile. “Drop one egg on the floor and suddenly I’m so bad I can burn water. Sheesh.”

  She laughed softly, and he felt himself lean into her vibrant aura. Though there was shyness in her eyes, she took his hands and tugged him into her arms without a trace of hesitation.

  “Are you all right?” she murmured.

  “Sure. I just got out of having to drive home to Beaverton to give up my son for the weekend. I’m fantastic.”

  “You don’t sound like it.”

  He sighed. “I just want her to step up and be there for him.”

  “I’m sure you do, but you can’t force her to do it no more than Chaz could force me to enjoy sex.”

  “You think I’m being too hard on her?”

  “Maybe so. But let’s not talk about her anymore, okay? It’s my mom’s birthday, and I’m in a really good mood.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  When she turned back to the stove to stir the spaghetti sauce—homemade from scratch with all the ingredients picked from her greenhouse and garden, if he had to guess—he slipped his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder. To his surprise, she leaned back into him and kissed him over her shoulder.

  “Uh-oh,” Hope said, stepping into the kitchen. “That’s how it starts.”

  “How what starts?” Gideon asked.

  “Love. I seem to recall a night not unlike this one, standing at that very stove cooking with Owen, and he did that, too….” She craned her neck to peer into the living room and beamed—one of those sly, I-know-a-secret smiles Gideon had seen only rarely on her face. “Things spiraled out of control after that.”

  “If what you’ve found with Owen is out of control, I definitely need to let loose more often,” Gideon remarked. Playfully, he nibbled on Erin’s neck, and she let out a squeal that tumbled quickly into giggles. He grinned. “I’m glad that kind of touch is within your sphere of comfort because I can’t resist it.”

  “You brat!” she giggled. “You made me slop sauce all over the stove. Hope, would you hand me the rag? And I think this is ready for tasting, if anyone wants to try it.”

  Hope didn’t hand her the rag; instead, she wiped up the spill herself and then grabbed a spoon out of the drawer and dipped it into the spaghetti sauce. After letting it cool for a moment, she tasted it and purred. “Owen wasn’t kidding. This is incredible, Erin. Can I trouble you for the recipe?”

  “Sure. Remind me later, and I’ll write it down for you.”

  Gideon snatched a spoon for himself, watching the two women as he waited for his taste to cool. There was no reservation in either of their demeanors, and if he were walking into this scene as a stranger, he would’ve guessed they’d been friends for years and not only a couple months.

  “This is nice,” he murmured. Then he slurped the sauce from his spoon and echoed Hope’s earlier purr. “And this is amazing.”

  With dramatic flair, he dropped to one knee and held Erin’s hand up. “Marry me, woman.”

  “What on earth is going on in here?” Owen asked, joining them in the kitchen.

  Andra and Red walked in behind him, and both surveyed the scene with matching expressions of amusement.

  “Gideon just proposed to your sister over spaghetti sauce,” Hope replied, slipping her arm around Owen’s waist and rising up on her toes to kiss his cheek.

  “He what?” Owen asked, laughing. “You gotta make her work harder than spaghetti sauce. At least get her to make you her from-scratch double-decker pizza.”

  “Double… decker… pizza….” Gideon wiped the imaginary drool from his chin.

  “You’ll think you’ve died and gone to heaven,” Red remarked.

  “Is that all it takes to get a proposal out of you
?” Erin laughed, sitting on Gideon’s knee and draping her arms around his neck. “Interesting. It seems—despite what popular culture would have us women believe about sex being the way to a man’s heart—the quickest way is still through his stomach.”

  “The old adage is wrong, too,” he said, keeping his voice so low only she’d be able to hear. “The quickest—and also the securest—way to a man’s heart is through his heart. Find out what makes his heart beat, and you’ll have it for the rest of your life.”

  Her smile softened. “Hmm. Another interesting idea.”

  “Is it now?”

  “Mmm-hmm.”

  He narrowed his eyes as he studied the smug but tender quirk of her lips—how was it possible to be both? “Okay…. Are you going to tell me why?”

  “It’s interesting because I’m pretty sure I know what makes yours beat.”

  Abruptly, she bounced off his knee and resumed her position at the stove, stirring the sauce and resolutely refusing to look at him again. He didn’t have to ask what she believed made his heart beat; when she shifted her gaze out the doors to the deck, that was all the explanation he needed.

  What would happen if he proposed to her in earnest right here and now?

  “How much time on the sauce, sis?” Owen asked.

  “Another fifteen minutes or so.”

  “Mom, would you mind opening your presents now? It’s looking like rain out there, and if we all want a walk on the beach, we might want to get the rest of the party out of the way in a hurry.”

  “Fine by me,” Andra replied.

  “Gideon, would you mind bringing the kids in?”

  “On it,” Gideon said, rising to his feet at last.

  He leaned outside and hesitated a moment before he called Daphne and Liam in. The storm was closer, and the scent of rain was heavy on the wind—heavier now than the salt spray. The two young cousins leaned on the deck railing, watching the surf crashing and cheering with the particularly big breakers. If Erin hadn’t already put him in a better mood, it would’ve been impossible to remain rooted in frustration in the glow of their innocent delight at the storm’s power.