"Sounds like a mighty fine idea," Aidan answered.
"Fine as frog hair" Ross repeated, and roared with laughter.
Aidan let him fly the kite by himself, let him run ahead of him, let him enjoy the freedom and bliss of his childhood. Being an adult was a different matter altogether. Lives could be shattered if you took your responsibilities too lightly.
The sun was slowly sinking into the ocean's edge and the sky was lit with pink and yellow light reflected on the shore's crashing waves. When you had this great, happy kid, a successful business and a gorgeous sunset glowing in front of you, there wasn't much room to complain. Wanting more, wanting her didn't seem justified.
Ross ran ahead, shrieking with delight as the kite circled round and round in the twilit sky. Aidan followed contently, and counted his blessings.
~
When the glorious bouquets arrived, all three dozen of them, Jamie was giddy with excitement. Until she read the card:
For my Bride.
Didn't Conrad understand the meaning of the word no? The very thought of him and his starched white shirts and delicate, manicured hands turned her stomach. She and Conrad were never even a couple. People had just assumed they were together.
Still, a scandal wouldn't bode well with Conrad. If it were perceived she had dumped Conrad for another man, a humble architect no less, he would be humiliated in his elite social circle. The same elite group was also incidentally, her clientele and donors to her charities.
She didn't want to embarrass Conrad. She just didn't want to marry him. Yet his recent behavior revealed he could be rancorous if provoked, and she could lose some valuable clients if Conrad were so inclined to discourage them. He was a powerful force in their exclusive Palm Beach community. She'd spent years building up her business. Worst of all, her charities would suffer.
Jamie sighed as she touched the soft, white petals. The sweet fragrance stirred in the air. There had been a split second of bliss when she thought Aidan had sent the flowers. But it had been crushed quickly enough by Conrad's name on the card, leaving a dull ache somewhere deep inside her.
She dumped the flowers in the trash, leaving the now-repulsive perfumed scent wafting through the air. A run on the beach would be perfect for settle her nerves, her troubled thoughts, and her aching body.
Without Jamie's fancy gym she had no other choice but to jog outdoors, and she was finding it liberating. She'd definitely have to fit it into her schedule while she was here in Seabrook. How long she'd stay, she wasn't sure.
She was walking along the shore, cooling down from her run when she saw a child dancing gleefully in the sand ahead of her. The sight of him flying a kite, and the sound of his innocent laughter brought a smile to her face. His face was focused intently on the movements of the kite as it dipped up and down in the wind. He stumbled suddenly on the remnants of a sand castle and fell, twisting his small body against the ground, trying to keep the kite from crashing.
Jamie ran over and caught the kite's cord and brought it down gently to the sand.
The boy peered up at her shyly. "Thanks!"
"You're quite welcome," she said, handing him the kite.
"You know how to fly a kite!" He was evidently impressed.
She smiled at the little boy. "So, do you."
"I'm learning. Daddy says the only way to learn something is to do it, so I do it."
"Your Daddy's a very smart man," she said.
"He sure is. He knows how to do everything! I don't have a Mama though," he said in a frank manner.
"Where is your father now?"
"Wa-aaay out there." He pointed down the beach at a figure, but it was getting dark and all Jamie could see was the dim outline of a man wearing a cap. "I run faster than him" the boy said, slightly bragging.
"My name is Jamie. What's yours?" she asked, putting her hand out.
He shook her hand like a man. "Ross."
She found him completely endearing.
She saw the shadowy figure in a baseball cap drawing slowly near in the dusk. "Is he your father?" She pointed to the distant form.
"Yep, that's him. He's fine as frog hair," he told her.
"That's pretty fine stuff," she said, remembering the old saying.
The child laughed hysterically. "My Daddy says the same thing."
The boy took off with his kite, running toward his father. He stopped briefly in the darkness to wave at Jamie, before racing down the beach.
Jamie waved back, unable to stop a wide smile from spreading across her face. Now there was someone she needed to introduce to Thorn. What a wonderful pair they would make, it would be a match made in heaven. Seabrook was a small enough town. She'd locate the boy's father, and see if they were interested in adopting Thorn. She would miss. Thorn, but knowing he was in such good company would ease the blow.
As she walked back to her cottage Jamie couldn't stop thinking about the beautiful, fair-haired boy. Being raised by a single parent was tough. No matter how great the parent, it was challenging for a child. She knew from firsthand experience.
Her father had left before she was born and never returned. Her mother had been a saintly woman, raising Jamie on her own. Times had been tough after her mother died. Since then she never allowed herself to dream about having a family. She was too afraid of being left alone to raise a child on her own or worse, leaving a child alone in the world if something happened to her.
But the boy Ross tugged at her heart, tugged at the buried feelings within her for a family. It was something she was loath to admit. She'd planned out her whole life since the lonely day her mother had died. She would be a career woman. She'd be successful, travel the world and have fun. The problem was she wasn't having fun anymore.
She walked into her empty cottage. More than the house was empty. Her life was empty. The thought struck her hard. The question now was what to do about it.
~
Aidan had known it was Jamie at the beach. He would have known her silhouette anywhere. He had questioned Ross casually during dinner about the lady at the beach and scolded him for talking to strangers. Ross insisted she was a nice lady who helped take the kite down. Aidan let it go as he tucked his son under the covers and turned out the lights.
He was fiercely protective of Ross. He had lost too many people in his life from his own carelessness. He would not make any more errors in judgment. It was going to be Aidan and Ross, unless the perfect woman happened to come along. The perfect woman being devoted mother, loving wife and a good kisser. Well, he had living proof, Jamie was a good kisser. He wasn't sure about the rest.
He couldn't seem to get their kiss off his mind. Curse him for letting nostalgia catch the better of him. Curse him for kissing her. The problem was he hadn't kissed a woman in far too long. Not that he had any trouble finding female companionship. Frankly, he always had to fight them off. But he'd matured these last few years. He was a single father, and he was much more discriminating about the women he dated. That is when he dated, which according to Jo was never. But that wasn't true, was it? He honestly couldn't remember the last time he's went on a date when he thought about it.
Oddly, women had always found him appealing. Maybe his past had left its dark stamp on his soul and they wanted to heal him with droves of affection. It had never worked, permanently. Even Lauren, who had brought out a maddening devotion in him, had never been able to garner his full trust. His instincts had been correct, unfortunately.
But Jamie was a puzzle he had yet to solve. She wanted Villa Milagros, the same house whose very existence caused him pain every time he drove by it, every time a Seabrook residence whispered behind him in the grocery store line, every time the teachers watched him with pity when he picked up Ross from school. He felt as though Seabrook blamed him for the violent crime committed in their town, although he certainly wasn't to blame.
Now he'd made enough money to buy it ten times over, and he wasn't going to let Jamie, with her designer illusions a
nd aristocratic tastes ruin his son's future. He wasn't about to sit back and let her have the cursed house because of one well-practiced kiss.
He wasn't sure why she wanted the house, although it was located on prime, beachfront property. Maybe she wanted to tear it down and build some modern monstrosity in its place. But he couldn't chance it.
She must have a lot of money to be able to purchase the house after having already bought the cottage down the street. She didn't even blink at the figures on the contract for the renovations. Money was obviously plentiful. At least he knew she wasn't gold digging.
She had come onto him in a very flirty manner, no doubt trying to seduce the house from under him. But she had grossly miscalculated how important Villa Milagros was to him. How important it was to obliterate its very existence.
But he was a man after all, and Jamie was a beautiful, tempting woman. But trying to seduce him with her womanly wiles was never going to get her Villa Milagros.
Best not to think about her, he decided as he changed into his shorts and slipped into bed. Best not to think about her silky hair, her beautiful smile and her sweet kiss.
Best not to think of her at all.
~
Jamie drove from Palm Beach to Seabrook like a mad woman.
Although normally a two-hour drive, Jamie arrived from Palm Beach to her home's driveway in Seabrook in one hour and thirty-five minutes. Thorn sat happily in the front seat, his nose plastered to the cracked window, completely oblivious to Jamie's furious rage.
She snatched Thorn from the seat and plowed through the front door, glaring at Aidan's workmen as she swept from the living room to the kitchen, letting Thorn out the back door.
She'd heard counting to ten helped to calm a person. She didn't think counting to a thousand was going to help. She took a deep breath and then another. Regaining an ounce of composure, she strode back into the living room before she lost it once again.
"Is Mr. Brice here?" she asked one of the workers in a neutral tone.
"Yes, Miss. Connolly?" he said, appearing in the hallway. His voice was enticing, deep and authoritative. She hated it.
"A word with you, in private please." Her tone was curt.
A curious glance passed between two workers. She ignored them.
"Of course," he said languidly. "Outside okay?"
"Yes." There was no friendliness in her voice.
They walked out the back door, and Thorn came bounding along with them, tail wagging wildly but undecided who to jump on first. He finally chose Aidan, who indulgently scratched the puppy's head. Jamie felt a twinge of jealousy as Thorn nuzzled Aidan's hand. Traitor. But Aidan had fooled her too.
He crouched to play with Thorn, patiently waiting for Jamie to speak.
"Did you know I was bidding on Villa Milagros?"
"Yes," he said in a voice completely lacking in apology. Thorn nuzzled against him, playfully nipping at his hands.
"Why didn't you tell me you were bidding on it too?"
He looked at her with a puzzled expression. "I figured you knew."
"How would I know?"
"You seem to know everything," he said wryly.
"Villa Milagros belongs to me."
He straightened and his grey eyes were steely. "I have as much right to buy it as you do."
"This isn't about rights."
"Then what is it about? You just bought this house, why do you want Villa Milagros?"
"You're asking me why I prefer an ocean front Spanish Villa to a beach shack?"
"You still haven't answered my question. Why do you want Villa Milagros?" he asked.
It wasn't any of his business. There was no way she would expose her vulnerability, no way she would tell him what the house meant to her. Those were the rules. Never let them see you sweat.
"Why did you kiss me? Were you trying to manipulate me in some twisted way? Do you really think I would be so malleable to you?" Her composure was slipping away.
"You've been the one throwing yourself at me since the second we met," he said wryly.
"Throwing myself at you! Why you arrogant-"
"It's true. Why deny it?" he asked.
"Despicable-"
"Seems to me you've had a taste of your own medicine…"
"Conceited monkey!"
For a second he looked startled then his expression relaxed. "That's very creative."
He was restraining a smile, the fool. "You are an intolerable man!"
"You found me tolerable enough not so long ago," he drawled.
"I want you out of my house. I'll find another architect, one who is honest and forthright in his motivations."
"My motivations were pure enough."
He reached out and drew her to him. The scent of fresh cut wood and honest sweat lingered on his skin, subtle pheromones penetrating her defenses. He smelled like a man, rough, masculine, enticing. Hating her weakness to him, she glared at him and tried to push away from the enemy.
He wouldn't let her go. "I kissed you because I wanted to and you were certainly a willing enough partner at the time."
His lips were dangerously close as he stroked her cheek with his free hand. She shoved it away, and gave him a black, scathing look.
His expression was rueful as he looked down at her, still holding her hand. "It had nothing to do with Villa Milagros," he said.
She struggled against his grip, and he let her go with a smug look.
"Do you really expect me to believe you?" Her voice was shrill.
"It's the truth. Believe what you want," he said. "I've got to get back to work now. On your house, I might add." He turned and stepped toward the house.
"I want you and your crew out of my house, understand?" she said, addressing his infuriatingly beautiful back.
He turned to face her. He stood tall and powerful and astoundingly handsome in the afternoon sunlight.
"We have a signed contract, remember?"
Yes, she remembered. But he seemed to bring out a raging devil in her. It was a fury she never knew existed in her. She wasn't sure whether to embrace it or bury it.
But Aidan was walking away from her and her raging devil without a second glance. He dared to walk away from her. "You'll never win. I'll make your life impossible."
His laughter boomed as he walked back into the house.
"Trust me, Jamie" he chuckled, "You already have."
Chapter Five
Aidan was lounging on the couch with a very contented look on his face. He had discovered something fascinating about Jamie this afternoon. The mighty temptress had a chink in her armor.
Jamie Connolly had a temper.
He sat on the couch with a soda can in one hand and stared at the television screen. He wasn't really listening to the weatherman or the warning flashing across the screen.
He had tucked Ross in hours ago, but he couldn't seem to fall asleep. He was trying to forget the taste of her. Tart, creamy lime and moist, plump lips. Maggie's pie had never tasted so good.
Darn it!
He'd put himself in this predicament. He had no one to blame but himself. He found out Tuesday she was bidding on Villa Milagros. Aidan had been livid, thinking she was the one trying to seduce the house out from under him.
She was no match for him. He could play as dirty. Or dirtier. He wanted the house, badly. He didn't stop to think why Jamie would want Villa Milagros. She couldn't have it. The chance of her leaving it standing was too great. It was an eternal monument to Lauren's betrayal and tragic demise. A constant reminder to Seabrook and to him that his wife had left her infant son and husband to seek fame and fortune. Only to find death.
He had two choices. He could break their contract, buy Villa Milagros and forget Jamie forever. Or he could renovate her house, buy the Villa and continue what they'd started in the foyer of her cottage on Monday afternoon. Either way, Villa Milagros would be no more. He was going to have his way on all accounts.
It occurred to him he still had latent
feelings for Jamie, more than he'd felt for anyone in years. Maybe he should just take her to dinner and conquer this long standing hold she had over him. Maybe the mystic allure of Jamie would dissipate once they dated a few weeks. Then she could pack her bags and go home to Palm Beach. Back to the sleazy socialite and the rest of her shallow friends.
No, he'd do the work or not, according to what her royal highness desired. And he would let her go. She would disappear back into her glitzy life in Palm Beach and forget about Seabrook. She'd probably sell the cottage he was going to painstakingly renovate to turn a profit and buy another one in some equally small and uninteresting town. He hoped she would leave Seabrook because he found her too enticing for his own good. He was a single father trying to run a business and raise a son. He simply didn't have the time to be enticed.
He checked on Ross and turned into bed. He stretched out on the king mattress, suddenly feeling swallowed by the vast emptiness of it. How long had it been since he had shared a home with a woman? Not since Lauren had left him over five years ago. He had seen a few women casually over the years, but he'd never been serious with any of them, and he certainly never brought women home. He'd never let any of them meet Ross.
He rolled over to the center of the bed, trying to revel in its spaciousness. Instead, it felt empty, desolate. Darn. It was going to be a long two months if Jamie decided to honor their contract after all.
~
"Daddy, Daddy, Daddy! Wake up Daddy!"
"What?" Aidan sat up abruptly in bed, as his son tugged violently at his arm.
"Daddy, there's a puppy in our yard! Can we keep him? Huh? Can we?"
The drowsy morning haze took moment to clear. "A puppy?" He rose and pulled a tee shirt over his boxers.
"Where is this puppy?" He followed his son who was bounding down the stairs at Olympic speed.
Ross grabbed Aidan's hand and dragged him to the back door. "See?" he said excitedly, pointing out the glass door.
The mutt was Jamie's puppy. Coincidence seemed to be throwing them together while fate waved its magic wand and had a glorious laugh in the process.
Ross was glued to the glass door watching the puppy.
Never Date Your Ex Page 5
