by Iris Morland
Bea didn’t have an answer for him, but just cooed and squealed when another seagull dove into the water.
“I think she’s running from me, but I don’t know why,” he said. “It’s like she tells me one thing and does another.” He sighed, long and low. “Any other woman, I’d assume she was playing games and would move on.”
He said that, yet he knew Rose wasn’t like other women. He knew this wasn’t some game with her, but did he have the patience—and the ability—to overcome whatever was haunting her?
Seth was certain there was more to her story with Johnny than she’d let on. All kinds of horrible things had wandered into his mind, and by the time the sun had risen after he’d returned to his apartment the night they’d been together, he’d been close to wanting to find Johnny and kill him himself.
“Do you think I should keep trying? Not give up on her?”
Bea patted his cheek, gurgling some nonsense, but Seth took that as a yes.
You’re not going to be rid of me that easily, hummingbird. I swear it.
“I’m back. Oh goodness, what a happy baby you are.” Lizzie held out her arms for Bea, and Seth gave her back a little reluctantly. “What were you two talking about?”
“Nothing you need to hear about.”
She rolled her eyes. “Try again. Otherwise I’m going to follow you around throughout this entire party until you spill.”
Seth considered. He wasn’t about to tell Lizzie about Rose, but he hadn’t mentioned Sergeant Loyd calling him and about his offer. In all honesty, he’d barely thought about returning to active duty with everything happening with Rose lately.
“My CO called me,” he said. He watched Lizzie’s face, but his twin sister didn’t betray any agitation at this pronouncement.
“What did he want? Something paperwork-related?”
Seth ran his fingers through his hair. “No, not exactly. He has a job for me.”
“A job. For you.”
“He wants me for a mission that’s coming up, and he said if I agree, he can get me back on active duty by the fall.”
Lizzie’s eyes widened. “Seth, are you serious? When did he call and tell you this?”
“Um, two weeks ago?”
“Seth!”
“I know, I know. I’ve had a lot on my mind.” It was a lame excuse, but there it was.
He winced as he saw the hurt on Lizzie’s face. They’d always told each other everything, and although they’d drifted apart, he knew she’d hoped they could return to how they used to be. She’d told him all about her troubles with Trent and her music career, yet he hadn’t had the courage to reciprocate.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. Really. I just don’t know how to answer.”
“Say no!” She touched his arm and said more quietly, “That last mission almost killed you. You lost your best friend. What happens if this tour ends up being your last?”
He had thought the same, but he didn’t want to admit it. Patting her hand, he said, “It won’t be, Lizard. I haven’t given Sergeant Loyd an answer yet, either.”
That didn’t seem to console her. In fact, it made her expression even sadder. “You’re going to take it, aren’t you?”
No. I don’t know. Maybe. What am I if I’m not a soldier? He struggled to explain, but right then, Caleb came up to them with three beers in hand.
“Hey, what are you two doing? Lizzie, you can drink, and Seth, you can definitely drink. It’s my birfday! No, birthday. Hmm, drinking.” He took a slug of beer and wandered off to bug some other people.
That interlude broke the tension, and Lizzie and Seth laughed. Then with a conspiratorial smile, Lizzie whispered, “Did you notice that Sara isn’t drinking?”
“No, why would I?”
“You’re such a guy. Think. You think she’s pregnant?”
The last thing Seth had ever considered was whether or not one of his brothers’ wives was pregnant, but it wouldn’t surprise him. The Thorntons enjoyed their spouses; ergo, babies would inevitably result.
“Harrison does seem extra happy lately,” Lizzie mused.
Seth frowned. “Really?”
“Oh my God! Yes! Come on, Seth, pay attention.”
“I am,” he mumbled before finishing off his beer.
“I’m surprised she hasn’t said anything. Maybe they’re waiting.”
“Lizard, why in God’s name would I know anything about it?”
Both she and Bea gave him disgusted looks, although Bea’s might have just been from gas.
“I’m going to go talk to Megan and see if she knows anything. Go make sure Caleb doesn’t fall overboard.”
The party continued through the afternoon: Caleb declared his love for Megan in front of everyone (to both her delight and her embarrassment) and then proceeded to seduce her. She then ran away, with him stumbling after her. Harrison and Sara didn’t drink at all, which made Seth think Lizzie’s supposition was correct. Harrison was probably abstaining out of solidarity—or because Sara had told him that was his payment for her being the one to give birth.
Even Mark got a little tipsy, which resulted in him and Abby laughing together in some corner like a couple of teenagers. Seth couldn’t believe the change in Mark since Seth had returned from overseas. Where had his brusque older brother gone? Clearly Abby had done something miraculous to get him out of his shell. Seth had thought for a long time that Mark only loved his horses. At least now he loved his horses and Abby.
Trent carried Bea around so Lizzie could have a break, and Trent’s siblings, Ash and Thea, took turns holding their niece. Bea loved people, and she didn’t mind being held by just about anything human. That girl’s going to break hearts, Seth mused as he watched Ash fall in love with Bea even further when she grabbed his chin.
One person, however, made a point to avoid Seth entirely: Heath. And considering that Seth didn’t feel like having a rehash of their issues with each other, Seth avoided Heath as well. They circled each other like wild dogs throughout the party, and even Caleb—as drunk as he was—noticed the burning stares the two men gave each other.
“Seth! Seth, Seth, Seth,” Caleb said as he slung an arm over Seth’s shoulder, making Caleb’s glass of liquor slosh onto the deck. “I love you, bro. I’m glad you’re back. You should come over more.” Caleb started patting Seth’s face like Bea would, and Seth pushed him away.
“Caleb, you idiot—”
“No, I’m not. You are. You’re so stupid.” Caleb finished off his drink. “Don’t make the same mistakes I did. I almost lost the woman I loved—for what? Pride?” He snorted. “Not worth it, believe me.”
Seth froze. How the hell did Caleb know anything…? Seth narrowed his eyes when he spotted Lizzie. She caught his look and shrugged.
His damn siblings and their big mouths.
“I won’t be stupid like you because I never am,” Seth quipped. “Now, how about I get you some water before you start throwing up over the side of the boat?”
Megan took charge of her husband right then and got him to drink a bottle of water, giggling when he yanked her into his lap for a loud kiss.
The evening ended when Harrison called for a toast. “I’m glad we could all get together tonight,” he said. “Caleb, happy birthday, man. You’ve come a long way in the last year.”
Caleb’s eyes shimmered, making Seth look away. He knew Caleb had his own secrets, which Seth had only found out about upon returning to Fair Haven; it had taken a lot of courage—and Megan’s love—for Caleb to come to grips with a teenage tragedy he’d caused.
Harrison’s words sobered Caleb instantly; he drank his bottle of water in silence with Megan on his lap. She murmured something in his ear, which caused him to sigh and lean against her shoulder.
“Caleb hasn’t drunk any booze since he got with Megan,” Lizzie whispered in Seth’s ear. “She told him to have fun tonight, but…”
Ah. Seth put the pieces together and suddenly wished he could give his olde
r brother a big hug. “He should enjoy himself. He deserves it.”
“He does.” She clinked glasses with Seth. “And so do you, just FYI.”
Harrison raised his glass again, and everyone went quiet. “One more thing—and Sara has given me permission to say this.” He looked down at his wife and squeezed her hand, the love between them palpable. “Sara and I are pregnant. Due in February.”
That resulted in a lot of squealing and yelling, and then Harrison and Sara were enveloped in so many hugs that they disappeared from Seth’s line of sight for a moment. Lizzie yanked on Seth’s arm, saying that she knew Sara was pregnant, and then Seth finally managed to find Harrison and give him a hug.
“Congrats,” Seth said in all sincerity.
“Thanks. We’re excited.” Harrison’s eyes gleamed. “I’m glad you’ll be here for the birth, too.”
Guilt swamped him, because Seth could very well be abroad again, but he didn’t say that. Smiling tightly, he congratulated Sara and passed the rest of the evening watching his family enjoy themselves while his own thoughts were back in Fair Haven with a woman he couldn’t get out of his head.
11
When Rose heard Seth cry out in the middle of the night, her heart twisted. It wasn’t a shout like when you stubbed a toe or banged your knee against a piece of furniture: it was the kind of cry that was equal parts terror and rage. It was the kind of shout that she understood all too well.
She closed her eyes and dug her fingers into Callie’s plush fur. She waited for another shout, but there was only silence from next door.
Rose hadn’t been able to sleep, although Seth’s yell would’ve awoken her, no doubt. Rising from her blankets, she padded to the living room, which shared a wall with Seth’s apartment.
She placed her ear against the wall and listened. She could make out Seth walking around, and she heard his low voice. It was too muffled to hear his words, but it confirmed that he was awake.
Callie stood next to her and woofed softly. Rose petted her absently.
She’d missed him—that she couldn’t deny. She’d avoided him since she’d essentially kicked him out of her apartment, but she’d listened for him to come home every day. The evenings she had to leave for work before he had returned had been the hardest. When she heard him walking around his apartment, or heard the TV switch on, or heard him banging on she didn’t even know what, it was soothing.
It meant that Johnny hadn’t enacted his plan to hurt Seth.
She shuddered. Tendrils of fear curled around her heart.
Then she heard Seth groan, and if his shout had made her heart twist, this groan made her long to embrace him. She wanted to take away all his hurts.
“Go lie down,” she told Callie as she grabbed her keys. She didn’t stop to think about what she was doing. If she did, she knew she’d stay in her apartment for the rest of the night.
Rose knocked on Seth’s door, and when he opened it, she almost jumped. He looked pale and exhausted, with dark circles under his eyes. But she was mostly surprised by the fierceness in his expression. It took him a moment to register who was standing in front of him.
“Rose? What are you doing here?”
She struggled against a flood of embarrassment. What am I doing here? Excellent question.
“I heard you. I wanted to make sure you were okay.”
His jaw clenched, and Rose almost wondered if he would tell her to go away. She’d never seen him so ill at ease: Seth had always seemed so capable, so put-together. Right now, though, he seemed vulnerable and all-too-human.
“Come in, then. Before you freeze.” He gestured for her to enter, and Rose realized with a start that this was the first time she’d seen his apartment. He’d always come over to her place.
It was almost amusing, seeing the mirror version of her place with actual furniture in it. There were some pictures on the wall, including photos of baby Bea. But Rose instantly found herself wandering toward a section of the living room that had become a sort-of workstation.
It was filled with wood, and Rose marveled at a table that was being created. She discovered a few smaller pieces set on a table: a carved horse, a guitar. When she picked up a carved bird, she heard Seth inhale a breath.
Her eyes widened when she realized it was a hummingbird. You’re like a hummingbird: all color and movement.
Stroking the smooth lines of the bird’s wings, she felt the walls around her heart collapsing. Why did this man have to be so frustrating and wonderful at the same time?
She set the hummingbird down before turning toward Seth. He’d been watching her with an assessing look, like he couldn’t make her out. Well, he wasn’t alone, she thought. She could barely make herself out lately.
“Do you want to talk about it? Your nightmare?” She took his hand and entwined her fingers with his.
“Not really. I want to talk about why you’re here when you’ve been avoiding me all week.”
She dropped his hand, and he gave her a wry look. Opening her mouth to explain, she found herself unable to explain her actions. And the thought of telling him of what Johnny had done to her…
“I just freaked out. I’m sorry. I didn’t handle it well.”
He sighed. “Why are you here, Rose?”
It was funny: she’d asked him if he’d wanted to talk, but she suddenly wanted to do everything but talk. Words seemed futile at this point. Instead, she drank him in: from his dark eyes, to the stubble on his cheeks, to the dark hair bisecting his abdomen. She was infinitely grateful for his disinterest in shirts. He should never wear a shirt: it was a crime against humanity that he covered up that magnificent body of his.
Her body was buzzing, like it had filled with an electric current. She bit her lip, torn between physical desire and emotional fear, and Seth saw the gesture with his hawk-like gaze. He narrowed his eyes as he looked at her mouth for a long, heated moment.
Shivering, she looked away, effectively breaking the moment. “How long have you been doing this?” She gestured at the table, the figurines. “You’ve never mentioned it.”
She saw him shrug in her peripheral vision. “I learned how to do it in high school, but I’ve only taken it up again recently. I work part-time at Alan’s shop.”
“Of course you just took up woodworking again and are this good at it.” She shook her head. She knew next to nothing about how to shape wood into tables and chairs and hummingbirds, but she could recognize skill when she saw it. “This is amazing,” she said truthfully as she once again picked up the hummingbird.
“I like to do smaller works to get my mind off things. The horse is kind of messed up—its head is too big.”
She hadn’t noticed, but now that she looked at the horse, it did seem rather out of proportion. The hummingbird, however, was perfect—almost. She realized that one wing was slightly bigger than the other, but oddly enough, it made it even more precious to her.
It made the maker seem more human, and she marveled at how lifelike the figurine seemed regardless. He’d even carved the individual feathers on its body and wings.
“You can have that,” he said. At her surprised look, he laughed a little. “I think I carved it with you in mind, you know.”
She brushed a finger down the bird’s neck. Closing her eyes, she thought, Don’t break my heart, Seth. Because you could, so easily.
“You never answered my question: why are you here, Rose?”
She set the hummingbird down a second time. But when she turned toward Seth, she said, “I want to touch you like you touched me.”
Seth was sure he hadn’t heard her correctly. Gazing up at him from under her lashes, she had a slight flush to her cheeks and he could see that her nipples were peaked under her tank top. He swallowed, a lump in his throat.
He’d get whiplash from how many times Rose changed her mind, but right in that moment, with his cock so hard it ached, he didn’t care. He didn’t care if she kicked him out of his apartment afterward.
He took her hand and pressed it right over his pounding heart. “If you think I’m going to stop you,” he rasped, “you’re crazy.”
She shot him a quick grin, but it turned into a sigh of pleasure as she caressed his chest before tracing a line down to his belly button. His abdomen tensed.
With only his boxers covering his erection, she had to know how much he wanted her. Yet she didn’t seem in a hurry: something his mind appreciated but his body wanted to protest. He needed her hands on his cock—and God, her mouth. He shuddered at the mere thought of something so divine.
Rose was tentative, but not fearful. Yet he sensed that she was inexperienced, like when she brushed her thumb over one of his nipples and frowned when he didn’t erupt into loud moans like she had. He bit his lip to keep from laughing, although the furrow in her brow was so adorable he wanted to kiss it away.
“I love your body,” she said on a heartfelt sigh. “When you came to my door that first time without your shirt on…”
“Had a few dirty thoughts, hummingbird?”
“You could say that.” Her grin this time was impish. “If I told you that I touched myself the next night thinking of you, what would you say to that?”
He groaned and said a prayer to some deity to help him, save him. She was going to kill him.
“I’d say that you’re going to drive me absolutely insane.”
“Good. I like seeing you lose control.”
Seth gritted his teeth as her breasts brushed against his chest, and he gritted them even harder when she kissed him between his collarbone. Her hot little tongue laved his skin. He gripped her waist, more so to hold himself steady than to keep her upright.
“How about we move this to the bedroom?” he suggested.
“No, I like it here.” Right then, she kneeled in front of him, and he almost came out of his skin. “Don’t move, Thornton.”
As if he would move. He’d stand right here until the end of the time if she asked him to.
Rose hesitated—it was only a split second, but it made alarm bells go off in his brain. She’d essentially kicked him out of her place after their last encounter, and now he wondered if she was pushing herself too hard, too fast.
