I saw the playfulness return to his eyes. He shifted the hair from my shoulder, laying a kiss along my neck. “Ronnie, you’re sleeping with the boss now. And I can do whatever in the hell I want.”
He tipped my chin toward him. My heart beat faster. I could feel his breath against my face. Smell his cologne in the air. I moaned as his lips possessed mine, stealing the air from my body. I clung to him, desperate to taste him.
Suddenly, I heard the ring and felt the vibration from his pocket as his phone rang. He pressed his forehead to mine. “Back to work.” He sighed and walked out of the room. “Roger, good to hear from you.”
I sat at the table. I had no idea how this was going to work.
* * *
I didn’t need to wait for my fancy new computer to arrive to jump on the first order of business for Thomas Corporation. I drove toward Sailor’s Cove. It was good to get out of the condo. I couldn’t stay in there all day, watching Aiden pace on the phone. I shifted between wanting to rip his clothes off and wanting to ask him a hundred questions about the job and his company. Neither was on his agenda today.
I parked at the end of the row of trailers. The signs were posted marking the impending demolition of the lot. I tried to wrap my head around the fact that I was now representing the company building the resort, not trying to unearth dirt on it.
I knocked on Quinn’s door. The plastic pool next to the beach chairs was half full. The door swung open and Harper started to giggle.
“Hi, Harper. Is your mom home?”
“Harper, I’ve told you not to open the door.” Quinn stopped. “Oh, hey. I didn’t know who had knocked, and she has this way of running to the door. She can even unlock it.”
“That must make you a little nervous.”
“Tell me about it. As long as an ax murderer doesn’t show up I guess we’re okay.” She laughed. “Come on in.”
“Oh, thanks.” I hadn’t expected Quinn to show me inside. This was our third meeting. We usually sat outside.
The kitchen booth was lined with Barbies and an assortment of pink and purple doll dresses. Harper scooted onto one of the benches and began to dress one of the dolls.
Quinn turned to me. “Are you writing another article?”
“Yes. But I should tell you I’m not with the News & Report anymore.”
“Really? What paper now?” She rinsed off a plate in the sink and began to dry it.
“Actually, it’s not a paper. I’m doing public relations work for Thomas Corporation.”
I saw the smile on the side of her face. “Aiden’s a sweet talker, isn’t he?”
“I guess he is.”
“I knew it the second I saw him in the Pancake Palace. I bet he gets whatever he wants with those baby blues. A man like that probably doesn’t hear the word ‘no’.”
“I doubt he’s heard it often.” I sat across from Harper, picking up one of the bare dolls and I started to help her wriggle a dress over the arms.
“So, you have a new job and you’re here to discuss what exactly?”
“Aiden told me about the site he’s clearing so you can move.”
“Not the worst plan, but I’d rather stay here. If we have to move I’m glad we can stay on the island. Harper won’t have to register at a new school.”
“I’m writing an article for the Thomas website and we’ll also distribute it to some media outlets. I was hoping I could interview you again, if you don’t mind.” I realized how much of her time I had taken with the first two pieces I had written.
She tossed the kitchen towel on the corner and sat to join our doll dressing challenge. The clothes always stuck on the legs. Harper’s face was balled up in concentration. Her tongue stuck out of the side of her mouth as she struggled to fasten the snaps.
“I guess that would be fine. He is doing me a favor. He said he’d pay for the move and have everything taken care of.”
“Really?” I laid the Barbie on the table so I could take a few notes.
“He’s even putting in a swimming platform for Harper, but you probably know all that.”
I shook my head. “No, go on. What else did he say?”
It was as if I was peeling away layers of him. Discovering secrets about how he thought. How he conducted business. Only this time it wasn’t a calculated business deal, he was building something that mattered. The little girl sitting across the table from me would have a different life because of him. It made me smile.
“Oh, he’s going to add grills and a swing set and slide. I started thinking about it, and even though I’ll miss hearing the ocean when I wake up, this new site is going to be better for her. There’s even a family of cats. I know Harper’s hoping they’ll stay, but I’m not so sure about that.”
We laughed. Quinn told me about her favorite memories from the Cove. We discussed the advantages of the new yard she would have. Somehow an hour passed by while we talked. I had successfully completed an entire Barbie fashion show, drank imaginary tea sprinkled with glitter, and worn a purple tiara.
Harper and Quinn stood at the door to watch me leave. “You’ll have to come see us in the new neighborhood,” Quinn suggested.
“I definitely will. Two weeks, right?”
“Yes.”
“Thanks again for the interview.”
“Sure thing.”
I stood there in the sun, the heat pressing against my skin, and I didn’t want to walk away. Quinn wasn’t Cassie. And Harper wasn’t Lexi, but when I was near them my family didn’t feel lost. I didn’t picture Cassie changing her hair color and using a fake name. I pictured this. A mother loving her daughter. Playing dolls, dishing out snacks, scolding her for dropping crackers on the floor.
I turned. “Hey, Quinn do you need any help packing before then?”
“Actually I could use a little help. I’m not about to let them hook up the trailer and pull it down the street without wrapping up my glasses and plates.”
“I could help with that,” I offered.
“That would be nice, but you don’t have to. I’m used to doing things on my own. I’ve learned the hard way not to count on people.” She waved her hands in the air. “I didn’t mean that about you.”
“I know.” Although, I didn’t know who had let her down other than Harper’s father. I shook my head. “I want to. Or I could at least keep Harper entertained while you do the packing.”
She sighed. “That would be huge. She is a full-time job.”
“Okay, how about next week? I can bring boxes and a bottle of wine. And maybe play-doh.”
“It’s a date.” Maybe it wasn’t fair, but it hurt less when I was near them. I could pretend somewhere someone was helping Cassie. For a day or only a moment maybe my sister didn’t feel so alone.
It felt good. Not being a reporter freed me from ethical shackles I always had to worry about.
“Bye.” I waved to the pair on the front stoop.
* * *
I tried to read his expression. His eyes were focused. His jaw clenched. I didn’t know if that was good or bad.
“So, what do you think?” I finally broke the silence with the question.
Aiden turned to me. He held the pages in front of him, they hovered in between us. If he didn’t tell me what he thought of the article I was going to jump out of my skin.
“Just tell me. Is it what you wanted?”
The sun was starting to sink outside. I wanted to grab a bottle of wine from his fridge and sit on the balcony and talk about our first day working together. I wanted to tell him about my conversation with Carter and his HR department. I wanted to tell him how my car was making a funny noise when I drove back from the Cove. But most of all I wanted to thank him for giving me the job. But first, I had to know if he liked the damn article.
“Miss Strickland.”
“Yes?”
“I think you’re going to fit in nicely at Thomas Corporation. You are quite a talented writer.” He tossed the article on the bar.
“Oh g
ood. You liked it?”
“It’s exactly what I needed.”
“I was really trying to show how much you’re going to help the transfer residents.”
“I see that.” He tapped the top page. “Do you believe the sound site will be better for them?”
I had wrestled with it, but it felt as if Aiden was helping Quinn for more than positive Thomas Corporation press.
“I stopped there today, and if you ignore the bridge traffic, yes I think it’s going to be a happier place for them.” I chewed the edge of my pen. I was ready to make edits if he asked. “Thank you for helping them. I know you didn’t have to.”
I thought I made him blush. His gaze moved from the article to my lips. “I needed to do it.”
I smiled. “Whatever your reasons, Quinn knows she and Harper can count on you. She told me today she hasn’t had that in her life.”
“Let’s not go too far.” He turned for a moment. “You did a nice job on the article.”
I raced to the refrigerator, knowing I had struck a raw nerve with him. “Are we officially off the clock now?” I asked.
He looked at his watch and then at me. “Yes. Crack open a beer for me.”
I started to giggle. This entire situation was absurd, but it made me giddy and silly. I felt like I was part of a movie script, but the feelings were too real. I crossed the kitchen to hand him a beer.
“Cheers.” He lifted the beer toward my glass. “To our first successful partnership.”
“This is our first successful partnership?” I teased.
“Second.” He winked.
He followed me to the balcony. I watched the gulls hovering near the boardwalk below.
“Looks like Cole’s going for a run.” I pointed. The other tall Thomas was passing near the boardwalk, his earbuds tucked in his ears. Man, did they all look like that without shirts? I turned toward Aiden.
“Yeah, I ran this morning.”
“You two ever run together?” I asked.
He sat on the chaise, rolled his sleeves to his elbows, and tipped the beer bottle to his mouth.
“No, we aren’t exercise buddies.”
I laughed. “I didn’t say that. But isn’t that something guys do?”
“Cole and I are still trying to figure things out.”
“But you like each other now?” Kaitlyn had given me more of the back story than Aiden had. He made it sound like the showdown last year was all business. Her version made it sound much more personal.
“Yeah, I guess we do.” He smiled. “Strange, but it’s nice to have family again.” His tone softened.
“When did you lose your mother?” I posed the question as gently as possible.
He sighed. “A couple years ago.”
“Were you two close?” I think I had been so curious about his ties with Cole I hadn’t bothered to ask about her.
“Very close. She raised me. Single mom. She did it all on her own. Never missed one of my baseball games. Made sure I got into college. She was an amazing woman.”
“She must have been. Look at you.”
He chuckled. “No, she was much better than me. She had a soft spot in her heart. I don’t think I came built with one of those.”
I turned, planting my feet on the floor. “Are you kidding? You do nice things for people all the time.”
“Purely by accident.”
“There is a story sitting on your counter about one of your good deeds. And what about what you did for me last night? Were the wine, bubble bath, backrub all an accident?”
“Not the same thing. You’re in an entirely different category, Ronnie.” His eyes drifted across the railing.
I was afraid to ask, but the question was still there. I wanted to know how he felt. I couldn’t help it. I prodded. “And what category is that?”
“I think you know.” He finished off the beer.
My heart sank. He wasn’t going to offer more than he had. I should be satisfied with where things were.
“Should we get dinner?” I suggested, hearing my stomach growl. Wine wasn’t enough to sustain me for long.
“Head over to Hank’s? We can watch the sunset from there.”
I stood to join him. “Take me now. I’m so hungry I could eat that notepad. I think with everything that happened today I forgot to eat lunch.”
“You got it, girl. Come on.”
His hand fit over mine warm and firm. It was hard to believe twelve hours ago I was imagining what it would be like to pack and leave South Padre. Leave Aiden. Leave what we had started. I looked at him as we crossed the street to Hank’s. I’d rather lie down on this beach road and be run over, than let go of the hold he had on me. God, I had fallen so far and fast for him.
“Everything okay?” he asked, holding the door for me.
“Mmhmm.” And it was. As long as he didn’t let go.
Twenty-One
Aiden
I took a seat near the window. Today was overcast. The ocean looked gloomy as if a storm was about to descend on the island.
He was late again. I waved off the waitress when she appeared for the third time.
“Aiden, hope you didn’t wait long.” Stefan heaved himself into a chair.
“Not too long. Slightly curious about your phone call, Stefan.”
We ordered from the menus. Stefan stirred a packet of sugar into his tea. His mustache twitched on the ends. I had a pretty good idea that he was going to ask for campaign funds. Only, I had thought that request would come from his staff.
“Aiden, I’ve got some bad news.”
“What’s that?”
“We can’t approve the new campsite permits.” He sat back to adjust his belt.
I smiled. “What are you talking about? It’s ten trailer hookups. I’m not building a nuclear site.”
His spoon rattled against the bottom of the glass. The sugar had formed clumps under the ice. “I had to negotiate with Roberta Costas.”
“What does she have to do with the sound site?”
“She has found an endangered insect at Sailor’s Cove.”
I stared at him. “An insect? You’re fucking kidding me right now, Stefan. I have a contractor ready to plow it under next week. I have ten residents moving to the new campsite in a few days. Millions are on the line. Including at least eighty-five jobs for the first phase. You really want to pit me against an insect? I had my team look over everything. We did our due diligence. There was never an insect issue.”
He shook his head. “I know you’re mad. That’s why I talked to Roberta first.” He held up his hands. “I negotiated a deal.”
“You negotiated a deal. Please tell me what in the hell you came up with.” I could feel the vein on the side of my neck starting to throb. I didn’t like it when someone else negotiated for me.
“I told her you would be willing to convert the sound side property into a natural protected habitat where we could relocate the endangered insects in exchange for the resort permits.”
I clenched my fists and kept my voice low. “That doesn’t work for Thomas Corporation.”
“It’s going to have to, Aiden. If Roberta goes public with the endangered insects you’ll have environmentalists showing up faster than you drive. She’ll shut the resort down. You’ll still have the sound property but what are you going to do with that? Nothing. It doesn’t do us any good.”
“There has to be something else she wants. What did you take to the table?”
He shook his head. “She wants more natural areas on the island. And you and I both know that piece of land you bought is the only one available. Set it up as a natural habitat. We get the bugs transported and you can build the resort.”
“But I have nowhere for the residents to go. Ten families need a place to live. Including that Johnny Declan. He’s caused a lot of problems.” I knew he was the one who got Roberta involved in the first place. “He’s crazy, but people listen to crazy.”
The waitress returned with o
ur plates. I shoved mine out of the way.
The commissioner didn’t seem to have lost his appetite like I had. He bit into his steak sandwich.
“I’ll have someone in my office send over the requirements for the habitat. You’re going to want to get that started right away. You know, as a good faith gesture to Roberta.”
I slammed my hand on the table. “I didn’t buy that tract of land to create a bug zoo. It’s for the Cove residents.”
“Not any more, it’s not.”
I stood, tossing my napkin on the table.
“I will find a way around this, Stefan.”
“If you try, you’re going to end up without a resort. I’m telling you. It’s your only option.”
I leaned against the table. “It’s my only option because you didn’t include me in the negotiations.” I stood back, my knuckles white.
“What matters is I saved the jobs.” He was so wrapped up in his campaign promises he was clueless to what he had done.
I stormed out of the restaurant. I didn’t care I had left the commissioner with my bill or an uneaten plate of food. The man had just become an enemy. He would find out what that meant.
* * *
The condo had never felt smaller. The walls were closing in. I had talked to everyone on the Thomas Corporation legal team. We were screwed. There was no way around the damn insect problem.
I made another circle around the kitchen. If I didn’t sign the contract for the bulldozer, I would lose another two weeks of time. They were on a tight schedule to rent the equipment. If I signed it, I was about to displace everyone in the Cove with nowhere for them to go.
I picked up the phone to call Carter.
“Good afternoon, sir. How’s the beach?” He answered on the first ring.
“Carter, I need you to check every real estate tax record on Padre. Find some place I can put a campground.”
“Sir, we did that last week, remember?”
“Do it again. Find something.”
“All right. I had a call from Hattman and Jones. They need your final approval on their schedule. Once you sign the contract, everything will get rolling at the site.”
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