Hope Harbor

by Jill Sanders

  “Eve’s had a long day?” Regina’s voice rose, echoing off the lobby walls. “What about us. We come home to find Steve’s been murdered and the locks to our doors changed. We can’t even get into our homes without permission anymore.”

  Several guests passing by glanced in their direction. Dylan noticed that several people had gathered to watch the show.

  “This isn’t your home anymore,” Eve said calmly. “You’re not welcome. All of your things have been put into storage until you can collect them.”

  An explosion of voices caused Eve to cover her ears. Since there was no use trying to keep the mess quiet any longer, he lifted his fingers to his mouth and let out one of his shrill whistles, which got everyone quiet again.

  “Genie has called down to Harbor Inn and confirmed they have room available for you,” Eve said, her body stiff as if waiting for the backlash. Dylan nudged her and nodded to the group of people from the wedding watching them. “Now, if you don’t mind, I have guests to see to.” Eve strolled away and started addressing the group, which followed her back into the dining hall.

  Suddenly, everyone turned to him and stared as if he had more answers.

  “You won’t get it, you know. Whatever you think is here for you, isn’t. That woman isn’t capable of feeling anything, for anyone,” Roger said to him before he walked away, his arm wrapped around his wife’s shoulders.

  He watched her family leave, climbing back into their cars and disappearing into the night. He doubted they’d heard the last of them but hoped that at least they could have peace for the rest of the night.

  Her uncle was wrong about Eve. He remembered the way she’d been with him downstairs. She had more feelings than the rest of them combined.

  He went outside, put his tool bag back in his truck, made a quick call to his dad to check up on Palmer, and talked to her. She seemed tired and a little annoyed that he’d interrupted the movie time and excited that she was having caramel popcorn, her favorite.

  After hanging up, he pulled out his overnight bag and started back inside. He stopped when he spotted Eve on the large covered patio.

  “You okay?” He set his bag down and walked towards her.

  “I am.” She sighed and walked into his arms. “That was… difficult.”

  He held onto her and ran a hand over her hair. “The worst is over.” He glanced out into the darkness.

  “God, I hope so.” She rested her head against his shoulder.

  “Did you get everyone settled inside?” he asked, glancing towards the French doors that led into the dining hall.

  “For now. But there are rumors already spreading about the murder.” She sighed.

  “You may not be able to keep it a secret for long, but the good news is, the wedding party will be leaving soon.”

  “True, but Yelp reviews are forever.”

  He chuckled. “Sorry.” He cleared his throat.

  “I’m done for the night.” She rolled her shoulders. “What do you say we utilize the facilities and go sit in hot tub?”

  He bent down and kissed her. “I could go for seeing you in a swimsuit,” he said, making her smile. “Or out of one.”

  Her arms wrapped around his and she sighed. “There are other ways we could… relax.” Her eyes moved up to his and he felt himself grow hard again.

  “Damn, now you’ve done it.” He kissed her. Taking her hand, he picked up his bag, then walked with her up the stairs to the fourth floor.

  18

  A visitor

  How was it that she was more nervous now than when she’d gone to find him earlier? Stepping into her room, she leaned against the door as he set down his bag and looked around.

  “Cleared out these rooms as well?” he asked, looking around.

  “Everything except the new bed and my grandfather’s desk.” She motioned to the massive cherry desk. “I’m thinking of moving that one downstairs to replace the one in my office now.” She thought about how the old desk had several drawers that no longer worked and this one was almost in mint condition.

  “You’d probably have to take this thing apart to move it,” he said, walking over to the desk. “I could help.” He glanced over at her. His hands were sprawled on the shiny wood as he leaned over it, assessing the massive thing. It was in far better condition than the one downstairs, and she hated to get rid of it. She had so many good memories of her grandfather sitting at it.

  Then, suddenly, an image of her sprawled out on the thing, naked, while Dylan took her popped into her head. Her body instantly responded and started to vibrate with need.

  His eyes met hers and the corner of his mouth twitched and moved up. God, he was sexy as hell. The looks he was giving her could force her to come. But she wanted a chance to shower and clean up from the long day, which was the main reason she’d suggested they enjoy a nice soak in the hot tub downstairs.

  “Eve.” Dylan turned slightly and leaned against the desk. “Come here.” He wiggled his finger like he’d done earlier.

  Somehow, without her approval or even knowledge, her body started moving towards him. Damn, even it was betraying her. His smile grew as she moved across the space.

  “Do you know the things I’m going to do to you?” he asked softly before she stopped in front of him.

  “What?” she asked, her heart jumping in her chest.

  His eyes moved over her, then he reached out and pulled her until their bodies collided.

  Leaning down, he placed his mouth next to her ear and whispered, his hot breath floating over her body.

  “I’m going to spend the rest of the night pleasing you, making you scream my name.”

  “Oh god,” she groaned as her eyes closed. Her knees went weak at the thought of him doing just that.

  “I’ve thought about this.” He wrapped his arms around her, but instead of going for speed, he was tender and slow as he ran his hands over her hips. He gently pulled off her sweater again, this time unclasping her bra and brushing his fingers over her nipples, which had them puckering for him. His kisses were so erotic and passionate that she melted against him. “I’m going to take my time enjoying you.”

  She arched into his hands as she started to pull his shirt over his head.

  “My turn,” she heard herself saying against his skin. Her nails scraped down his bare skin, her fingers playing over the muscles she’d found. She found a scar just under his left rib cage and ran a finger over it, then leaned back. “You were shot?” she asked, her eyebrows furrowed.

  “Just twice,” he said, covering her hands.

  “Just…” She took in a breath. “Okay, we’ll save the story for another time, but I want to know all.” She leaned down and ran her lips over the puckered skin. Then, looking up at him, she asked, “Where else?”

  His green eyes had grown brighter somehow as he smiled down at her. “See if you can find out.”

  She chuckled at the challenge and reached for the snap of his jeans. Sliding them down, slowly, she took her time to enjoy how well his black boxer briefs fit. She’d been too far gone and, in a hurry, last time to fully appreciate all of him. His thighs were wide and full of more sexy muscles with a light dusting of dark hair that matched the sexy trail that ran down from his belly button and disappeared below his briefs. Running her hands over him as her eyes explored, she found another scar just above his hip, near the perfect V of muscles.

  “Here?” she asked, running a finger over the flat scar. He sucked in his breath and she smiled. “Ticklish?” she teased as he had done to her earlier.

  His hand covered hers and held it still. “No, but you’re killing me just the same,” he growled out.

  “Oh?” she asked, her eyebrows raising. “Then when I do this…” She leaned closer and ran her mouth over the spot as his fingers tightened in her hair. He arched back as a low groan escaped him. Her tongue played over the spot, tracing the line of muscles.

  He was built like a lean god—tan, toned, sexy—making her wa
nt to spend hours exploring every inch of him. She tugged down his boxers and waited until he stepped out of them and his boots and jeans, feeling her desire grow even more.

  She gripped him and smiled when his eyes heated further as he watched her.

  “You’re enjoying yourself?” He leaned against the desk.

  “Very much.” She smiled up at him, then slid down his body again, trailing her mouth over him. “I did warn you that it would be my turn,” she said between kisses. When she took him into her mouth, she understood how he’d felt earlier. Her own desire spiked and grew with each soft groan from him.

  There was nothing she wanted more than to feel him, hard against her, his hands fisted in her hair as she pleased him.

  She had only a few minutes to enjoy it before he placed his hands under her arms and hoisted her up to lay her on the desk.

  Tossing off her low heels and pulling off her slacks, he covered her sex with his mouth.

  “Not fair,” she moaned as he licked and kissed her, causing her to cry out in pleasure.

  “Life isn’t fair,” he growled out. She arched as he reached up and ran his hands over her waist and stomach. “Besides, you get what you deserve,” he sighed against her skin.

  She gasped with surprise when he lifted her in his arms and carried her across the room. Laying her gently on the bed, he cursed and disappeared quickly. He crossed the room, dug in his bag, and came back with a row of condom packages.

  “I’m usually smoother than this.” He chuckled.

  She reached for him. “I’m not complaining,” she said with a smile as he lay beside her, his hands moving over her skin, heating her even further.

  He kissed her, whispering what he was going to do to her as he ran his mouth over her, and she couldn’t help responding and thinking about being with him. Only her mind filled in the now with the forever. She told herself she’d think about it later, but in the back of her mind, she knew that he was the kind of man she’d believed Brent to be.

  Kind, strong, and caring. Only with Dylan, there was proof of it everywhere she looked. He was gentle with her, ensuring her pleasure before his own each time. Even now, as he touched her, played with her body, he was patient and concerned she was enjoying him. He was sure of himself, but his eyes scanned her face as he touched her, looking for the pleasure in her eyes.

  She found the concern so moving that when he slipped inside her again, she felt her eyes sting and closed them to the joy. Wrapping her legs around his hips, she held on and tried to give him an ounce of the pleasure he was giving her.

  Did he know that he’d touched her more than anyone else had before? More than she believed anyone else ever could. No one had treated her like this before.

  Losing herself in the passion of the moment, she held onto him and moved with him, letting herself experience everything she’d ever dreamed of.

  She couldn’t stop the explosion from happening in her body when he made her come any more than she could stop her heart from beating.

  They lay, tangled together, breathing heavily as their bodies grew cool together.

  “That was…” she started.

  “Everything,” he finished as he took her hand. They lay there in silence for a few minutes, then he rolled over and picked her up again.

  “Where are we going now?” she asked, thoughts of him doing what he’d just done to her again on the desk filling her head.

  “How about a hot shower? I could use it to relax.”

  “Sounds wonderful.” She wrapped her arms around his shoulders. “I could walk?”

  He chuckled. “I like carting you around.”

  “You do?”

  He smiled. “You weigh next to nothing…”

  “That’s because you have all these.” She ran her hand over his biceps. “And these.” Her hand moved down his chest to his six-pack. “Sexy.” She practically growled it.

  “Now you’ve gone and done it,” he said with a sigh and started walking back towards the bed. She stopped him.

  “My shower has a seat in it,” she hinted with a smile. He turned again and made his way towards her bathroom.

  “Nice,” he said, taking a moment to admire the remodeled room. “Who did this?” he asked as he leaned in and turned on the water.

  “Not sure. Reggie had it done shortly after I left for college.”

  He stepped under the spray with her still in his hands. When the water hit them, he released her, and she slid down his body.

  “God, you feel so good.” He kissed her and heated her from the inside.

  She’d never really made love in the shower before. Sure, she’d had sex, but slow passionate lovemaking, never before.

  After the long, hot shower, they crawled under her new comforter and fell asleep in each other’s arms.

  She’d just drifted off when Dylan jerked beside her. “Eve?” he whispered.

  “Hmm?” She tried to snuggle into his chest.

  “Someone’s in your room,” he whispered, causing her to immediately come awake. “Stay here,” he warned and, before she could argue, he disappeared from the bed.

  She counted her heartbeats as she waited for Dylan to return to the bed and tell her it was nothing, but the rooms were quiet. She could only hear her own breathing and heartbeat, which somehow drowned out everything else.

  She was just about to call out to Dylan when she heard a shuffle, a bang, then a grunt. When a door opened and slammed shut, she jumped from the bed, flipping on every light as she rushed to the next room.

  When she stepped into the room that had been her grandfather’s study, she found Dylan sitting on the floor, holding his head.

  “Son of a…” He grunted as she knelt beside him.

  “What happened?” she asked, looking around.

  “Someone jumped me.” He shook his head and when his hand came away from the back of his head, there was blood covering his palm.

  “You’re bleeding,” she gasped, and reached for something, then realized quickly that they were still both naked.

  Rushing to the adjoining bathroom, she grabbed a large robe with the inn’s logo on it and wrapped it around her, then grabbed a couple of clean towels.

  Handing a towel to Dylan, she knelt beside him with a smaller one and placed it on the gash just above his left ear.

  “Someone hit you?” she asked, the idea of it just sinking in. “Did you see who it was?”

  “No.” He groaned and leaned his head back against the desk.

  She’d flipped on all the lights and could see that every drawer on the old desk was propped open.

  “That wasn’t like that earlier.” She motioned to the desk. “Was it?”

  Dylan followed her gaze and shook his head. “No, whoever was in here was looking for something.”

  “I emptied it.” She nodded towards the boxes stacked neatly against the wall in the main room. “I was going to have them moved to my office so I could go through all the papers.” She glanced towards the door with a frown. “I locked the door when we came in.” She walked over and flipped the lock again. “How did they get in?”

  Dylan started to stand up and she helped him, holding onto him in case he fell over. He leaned against the desk and, after tucking the towel around his hips, took the towel from her and held it against the cut.

  “I’ll take a look at it, see if you need to go in and get stitches.” She tugged him into the bathroom, pulling on a pair of her sleeping shorts and a tank top as she went. He followed her and sat on the edge of the sink while she meticulously cleaned him up.

  “It’s not bad,” she told him. “Head wounds bleed like crazy, but it’s really just a small bump and cut.” She relaxed for the first time.

  “I’m going to install a deadbolt on your door.” He closed his eyes. “Who the fuck would break in here to look for some paperwork?”

  She couldn’t help but laugh. “Who wouldn’t? If someone thought that there was something in here to help my family’s fight
against Reggie’s will…” She let the rest of the idea hang in the air.

  “Right.” Dylan sighed. “I changed those locks myself. Only you have a set of keys. Right?” he asked her.

  She winced when she remembered something. “I left a key at the front desk, for the movers to use.”

  “Call down there and see if it’s still there.” He nodded to the phone by the bed.

  She walked over and punched the front desk. Patrick worked most nights now. She’d moved him to the evening shift, so he wasn’t the main one working with guests. Genie was just so much more personable, and the friendly face Eve wanted for the inn. She hadn’t fired Patrick yet, since she’d found out that he was paying for his wife’s cancer treatments and didn’t want to be a total bitch about it.

  When the man answered, she asked, “Hi Patrick, someone was just in my room. Is my spare key still down—”

  “Want me to call the police?” he broke in, concern in his voice.

  “No.” She looked over at Dylan. “I just want to know if the key is still there.

  “Hang on one moment, I’ll look.” She heard him set the phone down and after a moment he returned. “No, it’s not here. It was in the top drawer, where you put it the other day, but now it’s gone.”

  She shook her head at Dylan. “Thank you,” she sighed. “If you happen to find it…”

  “I’ll keep my eye out for it. Is there anything I can do to help out tonight?” he asked, and she wondered if she’d pegged the man wrong. Since switching the man to the night shift, he’d become kinder and a better employee.

  “No, thank you.” She hung up.

  “Who else knew that you left a copy of the key at the desk?” Dylan asked, moving into the bedroom to retrieve his shorts.

  She thought about it. “I… don’t know.”

  He moved over and wrapped his arms around her. “I’m sorry. I know it’s the middle of the night. We’ll think about this in the morning.” He pulled her towards the bed. After she’d sat on the edge, he disappeared into the next room. She heard him flip the lock back and forth to ensure it was engaged, then there was a shuffling before he came back.