by Carrie Elks
“At my father?” she asked.
“Mostly, yeah. But at the whole town, too, even though it hadn’t done anything wrong. But growing up on the wrong side of the tracks, it gives you a chip on your shoulder, you know? Too many people look at you as if you’re worth less than the dirt on the soles of their feet.”
“I never looked at you like that.”
He tried to swallow down the lump in his throat. He never talked about this stuff. Never. Now he was breaking all the rules. “I know you didn’t. And I never blamed you, not for one minute. But if we’d stayed and your father had told everybody what he was threatening to, they all would have believed him. My mom did nothing wrong, but he was going to make her pay the price for our mistakes.”
Her eyes glistened. “I wish I’d known. I never would have let him do that to her. Or to you.”
He shook his head, feeling the fire light up again. “You wouldn’t have been able to stop him. Nobody could. He has this sense of entitlement that lets him mess up other peoples lives.”
“The way he messed up mine,” she whispered.
That stopped him in his tracks. He put his empty coffee cup down on the table, turning to face her. A lock of hair had fallen over her eyes. Without thinking, he brushed it from her face, tucking it behind her ear. “He did what he thought was best for you.”
“He sent you away,” she said, her voice strained. “He lied to me, he hurt me. If it hadn’t been for him…” She squeezed her eyes closed for a moment. “God, I won’t go down this path. Not again.”
Her lip was trembling. It took less than a second for him to reach out, and trace the plumpness of her mouth with his thumb. He expected her to pull him away from her, to stop him from stroking her. Instead, she pressed his palm to her mouth, kissing the rough skin there. The sensation shot straight through him, sending a shiver down his back. She looked at him, her eyes wide, and a single tear formed in the corner of one, threatening to spill over.
“Don’t cry.” He moved his finger up to wipe away the drop. “Please, don’t.”
She closed her eyes again, breathing his skin in. “Stay here for a moment. Let me pretend…”
Pretend what? That he wanted to touch her, feel her, have her? There was no pretense in that. He leaned forward, needing to inhale her the way she was doing to him. His face was only an inch away from hers. He could feel the warm sweetness of her breath against his skin, could see the way the corners of her lips curled up at his closeness. Her eyes suddenly opened, and he could see the deep blue of her irises, eclipsed by her dilating pupils.
“Aiden…”
He didn’t say a word. Instead, he closed the gap between them until the bridge of her nose was against his. She was too close for him to focus. Too close for him to do anything but breathe her in as though she were his last gasp of air.
“Don’t move,” he said, his voice rough. “Just pretend…”
Her chest hitched. He curled his hand around her neck, feeling her hair still damp from her shower. He ran his thumb slowly up and down, taking in the sensation of skin against skin, enjoying the way the air caught in her throat.
“I’m not pretending,” she whispered.
“Nor am I.” His voice was strong and sure.
He waited a moment, taking in the overwhelming sensation of her closeness. Every sense he had was full of her. She was the sweetest overdose.
He pulled his hand back to her jaw, running his finger along the edge of her face. He held her, angling her head until his nose slid along hers, and their lips touched with the briefest of touches. She was looking at him, holding her breath as he waited. For what? Her agreement? The way she was looking at him, he knew she was more than willing for him to kiss her.
Maybe it was Aiden who felt afraid. The need for her clawing at his chest felt insatiable. One step further and he’d have been gone. The way he’d been when he was a kid. She owned him, she always had. Even if she didn’t know it.
Her mouth parted beneath his, and that was all it took. He pulled her closer, his lips clashing with hers, skin on heated skin. She kissed him back, all strawberries and sweetness, her body arching until her chest pressed against him. She moaned into his mouth, lips trembling, and threaded her arms around his neck. The feel of her body sent a shot of desire straight through him, making him hard, wanting, needing.
“Aiden?”
It only took a moment to realize it wasn’t her calling his name. The voice was too young, too distant.
“Are you there?” Nick sounded fearful.
They jumped apart. “Yeah, and your mom’s here too. We’re coming.” He looked back at Brooke. Her eyes were wide, glassy. She lifted a finger to touch her already swollen lips. “We’re on our way, honey,” she called out. The two of them got up – Brooke shaking as she did – and hurried to Nick’s room.
He caught her hand, folding it in his. Before they made it to the bedroom he spoke, his voice raspy and low. “This isn’t over.”
She glanced at him, her expression questioning.
No, it wasn’t over. Not by a long shot. And this time he’d make sure of that.
19
“I had a phone call from a guy named Martin Newton last week. He had a lot to say about you.” Robert Carter folded his arms across his chest as the two of them stood in the middle of the construction site. Dust swirled around their legs, lifted into the air by the breeze blowing up from the ocean. Not that you could hear the ocean right now – the noise of the diggers and compactors drowned out the crashing waves. They both had to shout to get themselves heard.
“I thought you might,” Aiden said. Nine years ago that would have sent him into a tailspin. But he wasn’t afraid of Martin Newton any more. The man had no hold over him.
“He told me he could send a lot of business my way if I agreed to let you go.” Robert smirked. “That guy really doesn’t like you, does he?”
“What did you tell him?”
His old friend shrugged. “Not a lot. I’ve learned the best way to deal with bullies is to ignore them. And its not as if I need his endorsement. We’re not aiming at the business market, we’re looking at luxury. That man’s small fry.”
Aiden tried not to smile at Martin Newton being described like that. The very sound of it would make him throw a fit. Every kid in Angel Sands grew up knowing who he was, after all. Owner of Newton Pharmaceuticals, big cheese at the beach club, a man with a finger in every pie he could find.
But not this pie, apparently. And that made Aiden like his boss even more than he already did.
“I don’t want to make any trouble for you. He knows a lot of people around here. Probably could influence the zoning committee. It could end up costing us money.”
Robert lifted his dark sunglasses from his face, looking Aiden straight in the eye. “I thought you knew me better than that, son. I don’t take bribes and I don’t cave to threats. Seems to me like this Newton guy is trying to do a bit of both. I’ve seen his kind before – a little guy thinking he’s king of the castle. But, he’s all bluster and no substance. He wants to make an enemy of me? Bring it on.” He slid his sunglasses back down. “But I am interested in what he had to say about his daughter.”
Aiden tried to ignore the dryness in his mouth. “You are?” His voice came out raspy.
“Yeah, is it true you’ve brainwashed her? Because if I knew you had those skills I would have put you to work years before.”
Aiden laughed. “I can tell you’ve never met Brooke Newton. Nobody could make her do something she doesn’t want to do.”
The corner of Robert’s mouth lifted up. “It sounds as though she might be the one brainwashing you. Want me to call her dad for you?”
Aiden smiled. “I think I can handle her myself.”
“Those are famous last words, son. I said the same thing the day I met my Mary. Turned out she was the one handling me.” His boss grinned. “And I loved it.”
“Yeah, well there’s nothing going on be
tween me and Brooke. I like spending time with her and my nephew. That’s all.”
“Sure it is.”
Aiden tried to bite down the smile pushing at his facial muscles. Robert Carter knew him too well. Because that wasn’t all, not by a long shot.
As far as he was concerned, the best was yet to come.
“Did I show you where the mugs are?” Brooke asked, trying to fix the thin gold hoop in her ear as she walked into the kitchen. Cora was there, helping Nick with the assignment he’d forgotten to do.
“You look pretty, Mom,” Nick said, looking up at her. His eyes widened as he took her in. “You never wear your hair down. It’s nice.”
“Gorgeous, as always. That’s a lovely dress.” Cora’s face was beaming.
Brooke looked down at the pale blue sundress she’d put on. Aiden hadn’t given her any idea of where they were going. She had no idea whether she should dress up or be casual. At least she could dress this down with a pair of flats and a sweater if she needed to. “Thank you kindly.” She gave a mock curtsey. “Are you sure you have everything you need?”
“I really do,” Cora said, nodding at her. “And if I can’t find something, I’m sure this young man will show me. Now go and have a good evening.”
But Brooke lingered for a moment longer. The nerves in her stomach were flying around like butterflies on amphetamine. Maybe because it was the first time Nick had been left with a sitter since they’d moved in here. Or was it the thought of this date with Aiden?
She opened her mouth, taking in a lungful of air, but it did nothing to dampen her nerves. It had been years since she’d been on a first date – even longer since it had progressed into a second. Being the single mother of a small child made relationships difficult.
“Call me if you need anything.” She pressed her lips to Nick’s head, kissing him in spite of his protests. “And you do what Cora tells you to, okay? Bedtime by nine.”
“We’ll be fine. Now go,” Cora told her.
“I won’t be late.”
“Be as late as you like. I’ve got nowhere to be. And it’s double time after midnight.” Cora grinned. “Seriously, we’re all set. Have a lovely time.”
“Where are you going again, Mom?”
Brooke opened her mouth to tell him the truth but closed it. She didn’t want to give him hope, or to worry him, either. “Out with a friend.”
“Have fun.”
“I will.” She blew him a kiss and grabbed her purse, sliding her feet into her flat sandals. As soon as she reached for the door, her heart started to pound. Agreeing to dinner with Aiden had seemed so simple when he’d asked, but now that she was faced with the reality of it, nerves had taken over. Maybe this date wasn’t such a good idea after all.
She’d asked Aiden to pick her up outside, and he’d agreed readily, not asking her why. Maybe he understood more than she thought.
By the time she’d made it out of the apartment building, his dark grey Audi was idling by the sidewalk. As soon as he spotted her he climbed out, a smile lighting up his face. And those damn butterflies started multiplying, making her whole body shiver.
“Hey.”
“Hey you.” He walked toward her. “You look beautiful.” He reached his hand out for her, palm facing upward, his eyes trained on her face. She lay her own hand on top and he folded his fingers around it, his skin warm and rough.
“Are you ready to go?”
She nodded, letting him lead her to the car. He opened the passenger door and she slid in, sitting on the cool leather seat. Closing the door behind her, he walked around and got into the driver’s seat. Less than a minute later, they were driving away.
“Is Nick okay?” Aiden asked her.
“He’s good. Excited to see Cora again.”
“Cora?”
“She’s my babysitter. She’s known him since he was a baby. I call her my lifesaver sometimes – I’m lucky to have her.”
“Didn’t your parents babysit when Nick was a baby?” he asked.
“They barely babysat me. Why would they babysit my child?” She frowned. “They love Nick, but they don’t love babysitting. Luckily, Cora does.”
“My mom would’ve helped if she’d known,” he said softly.
There was a lump in her throat. “I know she would have. And I wish she could have. Nick would have loved her.”
The air around her suddenly felt melancholy, as though it was full of atoms too heavy to be ignored. She sighed, shaking her head. Tonight wasn’t a night for regrets, even if she had way too many. “Where are we going? I hope I’m dressed okay.”
From the corner of her eye she saw him glancing down at her legs. “It’s a small restaurant on the coast. After, I thought we might go for a walk.”
Thank God for the flat shoes. “Sounds lovely.”
She looked at him again, taking advantage of the fact he now had his eyes on the road, steering the car around the curves leading to the cliff top. She could never get enough of looking at him. For years he’d been a ghost in her memory, a man frozen as a boy. But now he was here, and so much better looking than she ever remembered. Time had been kind to his looks – sharpening them, lending them a strength which made her feel protected. His nose was strong, his jaw defined, his cheeks dark with evening growth.
“Are you looking at me?”
She bit her lip, trying not to smile. “I was looking at the view, you happened to be in the way.”
“The view’s out your window, not mine,” he pointed out.
“Do you talk to all your dates like this? Surely you should be flirting with sweet words, not accusing me of staring.”
He pursed his lips, eyes still on the road. “Do you talk to all your dates like this?”
“I don’t have a lot of dates.”
His eyebrow lifted. “Why not?”
“Because I’m a single mom. Even if that doesn’t put guys off, the logistical problems mean I can’t get out very often. Plus there’s my parents to contend with. It’s amazing how many guys turn around at the electric gates and decide it’s not worth the effort.”
“Their loss.”
“That’s what I like to think.”
“And my gain.”
“Is that right?”
Ten minutes later he pulled the car into a graveled lot, outside of a white stucco building, built into the sides of the cliffs. Fifty feet below, the ocean swirled and eddied over brown rocks, the dark water frothing into a white foam where it broke. Within moments he was out of the car, and walking around to open her door, offering his hand as she climbed out.
“You always did have good manners,” she said, as he pulled her to standing.
“My momma taught me well.”
“That she did.” She felt breathless.
“I hope this place is okay. I drove past it the other day, and wanted to try it out.”
“It’s beautiful. And far enough away from Angel Sands, too.”
He grinned. “Yeah, I thought that might help. Didn’t want to be bumping into people we knew.”
“Not on a first date.”
He tipped his head to the side. “Is that what this is? A first date.” Three lines appeared on his forehead, as he thought on her words. “It can’t be, can it? We’ve dated before.”
“We were kids before. We couldn’t afford to date. Not somewhere like this anyway.” It wasn’t quite the truth. She could have afforded it, but she also would have had to ask her father for the money.
The thought of it made her shiver.
“Dates aren’t about affording it. Or money. They’re about being together.”
“Like those picnics we used to have at the cove.” She smiled, remembering the bag full of subs and Cokes.
“Yeah, like those.” His voice was soft. He frowned again. “Would you rather do that? Than eat here, I mean?”
“Go to the cove with subs and Cokes?”
“Yeah. Well it doesn’t have to be subs. I can ask them to prepare u
s some food and we can take it down there. That’s if you want…”
It was strange to hear him so unsure. And yet it touched her, deep inside. He cared about what she wanted. It had been a long time since anybody had done that.
“I want.” Brooke nodded firmly. She couldn’t think of something she’d like better.
The sun was almost below the watery horizon by the time their food was prepared and they’d driven back to the cove. Aiden parked the car and grabbed the bag of food, along with the plastic glasses and plates the restaurant had given them. Hands full, they made their way down the steps carved into the rock, leading to the cove below.
“It still amazes me how empty this place is,” he said, as they laid the food out on one of the flat brown rocks at the far end of the sandy plain. “You’d think more people would come here. Yet every time I drive past it, it’s empty.”
She looked up at him, her eyelids heavy. “Maybe they know it was our place.”
“Our place?” he murmured. “Yeah, I guess it was. We should put up a sign or something. Trespassers not permitted.” He grabbed the bottle of wine from the bag. “White okay?”
“Yes please.”
He poured her a glass, and filled his own with water. “Cheers.”
She lifted the plastic glass, touching the rim to his. “Cheers.”
By the time they’d finished eating, the sky was dark, and the cove lit only by the candles he’d placed on the rock. The flames flickered and danced, swaying to a barely perceptible breeze. She wiped her fingers on a paper napkin, chasing the food down with a mouthful of wine. When she looked up at him, he was staring at her, his eyes as black as the night sky.
“You look beautiful in candle light.” His voice was low. “As though you’ve swum up from some underwater palace.”
“Like a mermaid?” she asked him.
“More of a siren. You always were impossible to ignore.”
His words were like a shot of adrenaline to her veins. “And you always did know how to sweet talk me.”