Angel Sands Collection Books 1 - 3

by Carrie Elks

  Brooke poured cream into her cup, stirring for much longer than necessary. “He likes being surrounded by people.” Like vampires liked being surrounded by blood.

  “I hope I’m like that when I’m older.”

  Brooke looked at the man sitting next to her. He was tall and handsome, with thick blonde hair that made him almost Newton-like in looks. He’d already told her he liked to play racketball and golf, when he wasn’t working. Which, by the sounds of it, wasn’t very often.

  And she was absolutely certain her mother intended to match the two of them together.

  “I’m sure you will be.”

  He looked gratified, even though she hadn’t meant it as a compliment, and she immediately felt bad. Alex had been nothing but a gentleman since she’d been introduced to him over cocktails. He’d asked her about her studies, about the animal shelter, about Nick. He even told her how much he liked kids. As though he’d been schooled by somebody who knew her well. It wasn’t the first time Brooke had been paraded in front of eligible bachelors like a cow at auction. It didn’t mean she liked it, though.

  “Brooke, dear,” her mother called out from across the table, “after you’ve finished with coffee, you should take Alex on a tour of the garden. He hasn’t seen it before.”

  “It’s dark,” Brooke pointed out. “He wouldn’t see much of it now, either.”

  Her mom’s eyes widened and her lips pursed up. She knew that look. Be quiet and do as you’re told, otherwise I won’t be happy.

  “I’d love to see the gardens,” Alex said. He drained his coffee cup and placed it back on the saucer. “You have a beautiful home, Mrs. Newton.”

  “Thank you.” Her mom tipped her head to the side, smiling widely at him. “You must come over for lunch and a swim some time. I’m sure Nick would love to meet you, too.”

  “Shall we go?” Brooke gave Alex a tight smile. Might as well get it over with. “But after the tour I need to get home. My babysitter wants to head out by ten.” She stood without waiting for an answer. “Good night, everybody. It was lovely to see you all again.” Amazing what she could say through gritted teeth.

  “Oh. Of course.” Alex stood up, pulling her chair back so she could step out. “I’ll walk you back to your bungalow.”

  From the corner of her eye she could see her mom beaming widely. “It’s okay, it’s not exactly far.”

  “I insist. I couldn’t let a lady walk alone.”

  “Fine.” She gave him a tight lipped smile. “Let’s go then.”

  Twenty minutes later she’d run out of things to show him. Though her parents house was set on two acres, most of it was laid to lawn, with palm trees and evergreens lining the borders. They wandered around the pool, the patio, and the rose garden that was her mother’s pride and joy. She even pointed out her own house in the distance – the small one-story building which looked out of place next to her parents’ mansion.

  “I’m really sorry about my mom,” Brooke said, as they walked toward her home. “She never takes no for an answer. It’s really embarrassing when she tries to force people together.”

  “She means well,” Alex said, gently placing his hand on the small of her back. The sudden contact made Brooke jump. “And I’ve got a lot of time for your father. I enjoy working for him.”

  “I want you to know it’s nothing personal, but I’m not looking for a relationship.” There, she’d said it. “And I know you probably aren’t either, since you’re newly divorced and all.” Amazing what she could learn about somebody over a couple of hours at dinner.

  A small smile curved Alex’s lips. In the moonlight, his features looked more defined than they had in the dining room. As though they’d been carved from stone. “We were separated for two years,” he said quietly. “I think I’m over it by now.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that. Break ups are never easy.”

  “I’m glad we didn’t have kids. At least I haven’t had to deal with that, too.”

  “I know what you mean. I’d hate to be parted from Nick. He’s my life.”

  Adam smiled down at her. “I can tell, and it’s lovely to see. You’re clearly a wonderful mother.”

  Once upon a time people used to compliment her about her hair or her figure, or even her academic accomplishments. Yet none of them had filled her with warmth the way Alex’s compliment did. “Thank you. That means a lot.”

  They were almost at the bungalow. The front windows were dark – no doubt Cora was in the sitting room at the back, and Nick fast asleep. Alex cleared his throat as they stopped at the steps to her front door.

  “I’ve enjoyed spending time with you tonight,” he said, turning so his body was facing hers. “I’d like to get to know you a bit more – as a friend. I know you’re not ready for anything else, and that’s okay by me. Can I call you some time? Maybe take you out somewhere?”

  Brooke hesitated. In spite of his words, she really didn’t want to give him the wrong idea.

  “I’ll tell you what,” Alex said gently, as though he’d noticed her obvious reticence. “I won’t push you this time. But think about it, okay? And when I see you again at a function somewhere maybe you’ll have a different answer.”

  She tried to hide her sigh of relief. Disappointing people was never easy, especially when they were being as nice as Alex. “That sounds like a good plan.”

  “That wasn’t a no,” he said, smiling at her, his eyes sparkling in the moonlight. “So I’ll take it as a win.” He leaned down, brushing the hair from her face, and pressed his lips against her cheek. “Good night, Brooke. Sleep tight.” He turned and walked back down the path to the house, stopping to give her one last wave before he disappeared into the distance. She stared out into the empty night for a moment, before pulling her keyring from her satin evening purse and running up the stairs to her front door.

  But before she could slide the key into the lock, somebody stepped out of the shadows.

  10

  “Brooke?”

  “Wha—? Oh my God.” She stumbled on the top step, her high heels giving out beneath her. The figure reached out to steady her, his palm on her bare arm. As she lurched to the left, her hip smashed against the wooden stair rail, and for a moment she thought she was going to tumble right over the top. But he was holding her tight, pulling her to his chest, steadying her with the sheer force of his body.

  Aiden’s body. Damn.

  “What are you doing here?” she whispered, her eyes widening at the sight of him. “It’s late.”

  He looked down at her, scanning her dress, her bare legs, her high heels. Deep beneath his whiskey colored eyes, she could see something flash.

  “Who was that?”

  “Who was who?” He was still holding her. Was that right? Shouldn’t she want to pull away from him? And yet there was something so deliciously warming about the way his hands were on her waist, his fingers digging deep so she could feel him through the fabric of her dress.

  “That guy. Mr. Perfect. The one with the immaculate helmet of hair.”

  She wasn’t going to laugh, not even if Alex’s hair was unnaturally flawless. Like an astroturf field. It looked like hair, it felt like hair, yet it was too… yeah, perfect.

  “Is he your boyfriend?” Aiden asked.

  That took the wind right out of her sails. Any amusement she’d had suddenly vanished. She stepped back, out of his grasp, and watched as his hands fell down to his sides. “That’s none of your business.”

  “Of course it’s my business.” Aiden shrugged. His eyes did a little movement again, as though he was checking out her legs. “I expect your mom and dad adore him, don’t they? Bet he has a great job, and a 401k, and knows all the right people at the Beach Club.”

  Brooke licked her lips. They felt unnaturally dry. “What are you doing here?” she asked again, avoiding his question with one of her own. “How did you even get in?”

  The corner of his lip lifted up. “You tell me your secrets and I’ll tell
you mine.”

  “You know what? I don’t care.” She pushed past him, searching in her small silver purse for her house key. “It’s been a long day and I’m beat. I want to go to sleep.”

  “I came in the same way I used to.”

  That got her attention. She turned back, him only a few feet behind her. He was wearing dark pants, a white shirt, and a watch which must have cost thousands. The daughter of Martin and Lillian Newton knew quality when she saw it. “You climbed over the tree?”

  “It’s still there. It’s taller, but I’m stronger now than I was back then.”

  She glanced to her left, to the edge of her parents’ estate, where a copse of oak trees obscured the tall brick wall circling the land. For a moment she was a kid again, clapping wildly while she watched Aiden climb like a monkey over that thing. A young woman whose heartbeat sped at the sight of him shimmying down the trunk.

  “Aren’t you a tad old to be climbing trees?”

  He was still half-smiling. It was infuriating. “I figured if I rang the bell I’d give your father a heart attack.”

  Giving up on opening the door, Brooke turned around, her keys folded inside her palm. The metal bit at her skin, but she ignored the pain. It helped remind her where she was.

  Outside her house, where her son was sleeping. She wasn’t that girl anymore. Though somebody needed to tell that to her racing heart.

  “So we’ve figured out how you got in. Now maybe you can tell me why?”

  “I want to talk to you about Nick.” For the first time his smile faltered. He leaned back against the handrail, scratching his neck. “I’m sorry about the things I said to you yesterday. It was wrong.” He brought his eyes up to hers. “I was wrong.”

  Strange how yesterday already felt like a lifetime ago. “Okay.” She took a deep breath, feeling the air rushing into her lungs. How many times had she imagined seeing Aiden again? How many times had she fantasized that he’d come back to her, whisper words of love in her ear. Take her away from all of this to their happily-ever-after. But he wasn’t here for her at all. He was here to talk about Nick, and she should be grateful for that.

  “And I want you to know, whatever Nick needs, I’m happy to pay for it. School, clubs, clothes – you name it, you’ve got it.”

  “He doesn’t need anything. I can take care of him.” Her spine stiffened.

  He looked around at her bungalow, his eyes narrow. “You mean your parents can.”

  “What?” Her head snapped up. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  He looked shocked at her reaction. “It didn’t mean anything. But if you’re happy to accept their help, why wouldn’t you want mine, too?”

  A wave of fury washed through her. He really was like everybody else, assuming she couldn’t make it on her own. “You know what? Yes, I accept some help from them. They let me have this place at a low rent, and they pay for Nick’s medical bills. Apart from that, everything we have is what I’ve worked for. I do whatever it takes to put food on our table and clothes on our backs. So don’t you dare come around here with your assumptions and your prejudice and tell me I should be grateful for anything you have to offer. We’ve survived perfectly fine for the past eight years without you.” She took a breath, her chest aching from the rush of words. “And by the way, as a son of a single mom, I’d have thought you’d have more respect for a woman like me.”

  He recoiled, as though she’d slapped him. Even in the moonlight she could see the flush on his cheeks. They were both silent, staring at each other, the air between them loaded with emotions she wasn’t sure she could identify.

  “You’re right. It was a stupid thing to say.” He ran a hand through his hair, fingers raking it back. “It was cruel and wrong. You’ve always been independent, even when you were a kid.” He tipped his head to the side, still holding her gaze. “If my mom heard me say something like that, she wouldn’t have let me hear the end of it.”

  The thought of Aiden’s mother softened Brooke’s heart. Or maybe it was the lost look in Aiden’s eyes. “You must miss her,” she said softly, her throat feeling tight.

  “So much.”

  The moonlight shone on his eyes. The residual anger disappeared, replaced by an empathy which made her want to reach out for him, hold him, let him listen to her heartbeat the way he used to. She curled her hands into fists, the metal of her keys digging further into her palm, to stop herself from doing it.

  “I’m so sorry she never knew about Nick. It’s one of my biggest regrets. The reason I told you about him – I don’t want to rob you of any more chances.”

  “Can I see him?”

  “Now?” She frowned. “He’s asleep.”

  He shook his head. “No, I mean another day. Does he know who I am?”

  “Not yet. I haven’t told him.” She hadn’t told anybody. “I don’t know where to start.”

  Aiden’s face softened. “I understand. Maybe I can be a friend? Meeting up at the beach or for coffee. I’d like to get to know him, to spend time with him. I’d like for him to get to know me, too.”

  She nodded. “I’d like that, too. But I need to know you’ll take it slowly. I don’t want him getting attached to you, and have you disappear again.” She blew out a mouthful of air. “Let’s see how things go and I’ll tell him the truth when I think he’s ready. Not before.”

  Aiden flinched. “I’m not planning on going anywhere.”

  She tried to ignore the way he made her heart race. Her chest felt full of emotions. It was important for her that Nick got to know his family, this man who had been such a big part of her life for so long. That was all it was.

  “Okay. So when do you want to start?”

  “Is tomorrow too early? I thought maybe I could take you both to lunch.”

  She leaned back on the door, thinking of the pile of books on her kitchen table, and the papers she still had to mark. Of the laundry and the grocery shopping and maybe even getting some sleep at some point.

  “Tomorrow sounds good. Let me know the time and the place and we’ll be there.”

  This time there was no half-heartedness to his smile. It was big and it was breath-taking and it lit up his face so much brighter than the moon could. His grin used to make her go weak at the knees whenever she saw it, and it still made her legs shake now. It was making her smile right back at him.

  But that was her muscles holding on to old memories. She could handle them, couldn’t she?

  “Where are you off to in such a hurry?” Lillian called out late the next morning as Brooke pulled open the car door.

  She threw her bag on the passenger seat, and looked back to check that Nick’s seatbelt was safely fastened. Her mom was standing at the corner of the driveway, her hand shielding her eyes from the lunchtime sun.

  “Out for lunch at Delmonicos with friends.”

  “That’s a shame. I was going to see if you wanted to join me for coffee.” She rolled onto the front of her feet, checking to see that Nick wasn’t listening. “I thought you could tell me all about Alex,” she whispered.

  “Nothing to tell.” Brooke slammed the door shut, walking around to the driver’s side. “I showed him around the gardens, he walked me home, we said goodnight. End of story.”

  She really didn’t have time for this right now.

  “Did you…” Lillian cleared her throat and pursed her lips, smacking them together.

  “No!” Brooke wrinkled her nose. “Now honestly, we’re late. Can we do this later?” Or preferably never.

  “Whatever you say.”

  “Bye, Mom.”

  Within a minute, she’d drove out of the iron gates, separating the Newton estate from the road down to Angel Sands. To her right, the sun was glinting off the ocean, illuminating the white tipped waves and the warm blue water. As she followed the road into the town itself, she could see people were out in force – covering the sand with umbrellas and blankets, as surfers and body boarders threw themselves at the sea.
>
  “Mom?” Nick asked, his voice carrying through from the back seat. “Where are we going again?”

  “Out to Delmonicos on Paxton’s Pier,” Brooke said. “To see an old friend, remember?”

  “The place that does the buttered noodles? And the cheesy garlic bread?”

  “That’s the one.”

  “Grandma hates it. She says anywhere with plastic table cloths should be banned.”

  Brooke tried not to laugh. That sounded exactly like something her mom would say. “Yeah, well she doesn’t have to do the laundry, does she? Maybe she’d change her mind if she was constantly loading the washing machine.”

  “Grandma doesn’t change her mind about anything,” Nick pointed out. “She says only the weak minded do flip flops.”

  Maybe it was time to limit Nick’s visits over to her mom’s house.

  “What’s your friend’s name?” he asked.

  “Aiden Black.”

  “That’s a strange name. Is she from your school?”

  Brooke took the turn onto Beach Street, steering the car around a delivery vehicle outside the Fresh ‘n’ Easy. “She’s a he. Aiden’s a man’s name. You’ve met him already. At Lucas and Ember’s house when we went over the other week for a party, remember?”

  Nick frowned, clearly not remembering at all. “Did you go to school with him, too?”

  “No. He went to a different school. We knew each other when we were kids, though. His mom used to work for Grandma.”

  “How old is he now?”

  “A few years older than me.”

  “Oh.” Nick sounded disappointed. “Does he have any kids for me to play with?”

  They’d reached the parking lot. The rocky ground was covered in sand, blown up from the beach on the other side of the building. She reversed her small car into a space, craning over her shoulder to make sure she didn’t drive into the tall brick wall behind her. “No, he doesn’t have any children. He likes children, though. He’s really looking forward to meeting you.”

  “Is he tall?” Nick asked. “I can’t remember what he looks like.”