“Roland’s my ex-husband.”
He nodded. “I figured as much.” Wariness seeped into his eyes. “Are you still involved with him?”
She belted out a harsh laugh. “Not hardly!”
Christian looked relieved.
“Well, let me rephrase that. My involvement with Roland starts and stops with Jordan.”
“Well, yeah, as his father it’s only natural that he would have a say about Jordan.”
She was trying to decide how much of her sordid past she wanted to divulge, but her thoughts must’ve been written all over her face because Christian cocked his head. “There’s more to the story, isn’t there?”
She tilted her head. “How do you do that?”
“What?”
“Pick up on my thoughts like that. Are you always so intuitive?”
“Only with people I care about.”
His voice was a caress that sent a tingle running down her spine. “But we’ve only just met.”
“Time is irrelevant when it comes to matters of the heart,” he said softly.
The passionate look in his eye evoked a longing she could scarcely contain. Her eyes traced the strong curve of his jaw and the light stubble across it. For so long, she’d told herself that she didn’t need another man in her life. After all, she was independent and at the top of her game, career-wise, so that if she played her cards right, she would own a fitness center within the next five years. Furthermore, she had a beautiful little boy that she loved with all of her heart. But being here with Christian made her realize that she did want someone—a companion with which to share life’s joys and heartaches.
“So, tell me the rest of your story.”
The tenderness in his voice was a healing balm. And she found herself opening up in a way she rarely did. She told him the whole story, starting with Roland. Their marriage. How he’d adopted Jordan. Then she told about his multiple affairs with other women. She even told Christian about Mitchell and how she’d come here, partly because she wanted to know if he was still alive. When she finished, she sat back in her seat, feeling drained but relieved that she’d gotten it off her chest. A part of her wondered if Christian would turn and run, now that he knew.
Christian drummed his fingers on the table. “So, you’ve had no contact with the detective since he called you the one time?”
“No, I’ve tried to call several times but his number has been disconnected.”
He looked thoughtful. “Have you gone to the police?”
“That’s my next step. I didn’t want to start asking too many questions before I came here, because if Mitchell really did fake his death, then there’s a chance he’ll run.” She sighed. “The whole thing seems absurd. I just can’t believe Mitchell would fake his own death. But the crux of it is … he left one day for a diving trip and never came home. And there was never a body.”
“What happens if he’s alive?”
The tone of Christian’s voice was light, but she could tell from the conflicted look in his eyes that he was asking if she still had feelings for Mitchell.
“Things between us were already rocky before Mitchell died … err … disappeared. Any feelings I had for him died a long time ago, but it would be nice to have closure. You know what I mean?”
His eyes turned to fathomless pools of deep emerald as he nodded.
She reached for his hand. “Tell me about the nightmare. Judging by how quickly you rebounded from it, I’m assuming it happens quite often.”
“Yes,” he admitted, “although it gets worse this time of the year.”
She remained quiet, sensing he needed space in which to voice his thoughts.
“All of my life, I wanted to become an actor. In the beginning, my parents indulged me. They allowed me to take a few acting lessons, that sort of thing. But deep down, they assumed I’d eventually grow out of the idea.” He chuckled. “They about flipped their lids when I told them I was moving to L.A. to pursue acting full time.”
“I’ll bet.” She gave him an admiring look. “But you did it.”
He sighed. “Yes, I beat the odds and became an actor.”
“Not just any actor, but a superstar.”
“Yeah. When I landed the lead role in the Jase Scott series, I thought I’d hit the jackpot. I assumed all my troubles would be over.” He chuckled ruefully. “Of course, I had no way of knowing what was ahead.” His eyes took on a distant look. “When Freefall and Lethal Target did so well, I reached stardom overnight. When Crossfire was released things got even crazier. Everybody wanted a piece of Christian Ross. The irony is, I started to lose touch with who I really was. The star took over, and before long, I didn’t even recognize myself. Then, the accident happened.” He reached for his empty mug, absently turning it over in his hands. “I shouldn’t have let Heather drive that day. The thing is … I knew it was a bad idea, but she kept after me, so I caved.” His brows knitted together, a tortured look coming over him. “One stupid decision affects everything.”
She nodded in understanding. She couldn’t count the number of times she’d thought—If only I’d asked Mitchell to stay home and not go on his diving trip.
“The car was totaled. Miraculously, I came away with only a broken arm and a few cuts and bruises. But Heather …” his voice caught “… Heather was paralyzed from the waist down. Heather was one of those free spirits, who refused to be tied down. The last time I saw her, she told me that she couldn’t spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair.” His voice grew hoarse. “I just thought she was in denial. I had no idea she was planning to take her own life.” He swallowed and looked away.
A tear slipped from the corner of Everly’s eye and dribbled a crooked path down her cheek. Hastily, she wiped it away with the palm of her hand. Then she scooted her chair next to Christian. She placed a hand on his arm. “I’m sorry.”
“After Heather died, I could no longer tolerate the Hollywood scene. So, I did the only thing I could think to do—I came home … here. This place helped put me back together.” A grim smile touched his lips. “But unfortunately, it doesn’t stop the nightmares. Today marks the third anniversary of Heather’s death.”
Her mouth rounded. “Oh, I didn’t know that. I’m so sorry.” No wonder Christian had been so adamant about her and Jordan spending Christmas with him. “Hey,” she said firmly. “It wasn’t your fault. You know that, right?”
He nodded, but she could see guilt simmering in his eyes. It was much easier to say it than to believe it yourself. Heck, she’d wasted a lot of time feeling guilty about things she couldn’t control. Her pregnancy with Jordan was not something she planned. She’d always wanted children, but Mitchell wanted to wait a while. When it happened, she was thrilled and assumed Mitchell would feel the same way. But he started to resent her and the baby. So, she felt guilty for getting pregnant—even though she’d taken all the necessary precautions to prevent it. And then, when Mitchell disappeared, she felt guilty because she didn’t ask him to stay home. Her guilt playing out in those stupid dreams of being in the water with him. And even though it was absurd, the tiniest part of her felt somewhat responsible for Roland’s infidelity, like maybe if she’d been a better wife to him, he wouldn’t have looked elsewhere. Guilt wasn’t rational, no amount of levelheaded thinking erased it. The feelings were always there. The trick was seeing them for what they were and moving on. Sitting here, feeling Christian’s pain, caused something to shift inside her. After her conversation with Roland, she’d almost convinced herself it’d be best for her and Jordan to leave Hawaii, first thing in the morning, just to get him off her back. But now, she saw things differently. Maybe it wasn’t coincidental that she and Jordan were here during Christian’s critical time. At the very least, they provided a distraction from the memories. “Hey, I was thinking that maybe tomorrow you and Sadie could show Jordan and me around the island.”
He brightened. “Really?”
“Yeah, the only thing we’ve done thus far is
go to the beach.”
“It would be my pleasure.” He rewarded her with a brilliant smile that melted her insides. “Oh, I meant to ask … do you have plenty of presents for Jordan?”
“I packed as many as I could into a suitcase.” She winced. “Hopefully, my luggage is okay.” She didn’t even want to contemplate what she would do if their clothes and Jordan’s Christmas presents got stolen.
“I’m sure it’s fine. We’ll check on it first thing in the morning. If you need any last-minute gift items, we can get them tomorrow.” He gave her a tender look. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For listening.”
“You’re welcome,” she said sincerely. Their eyes locked, and she had the impression he was seeing into her soul. Pretty surprising considering they’d known each other less than twenty-four hours. Nevertheless, she couldn’t deny the strong connection they shared.
“You are so beautiful.” He caressed the side of her face.
Her pulse quickened as a rush of anticipation swept through her. When he leaned in, she parted her lips expectantly. She’d been wanting to kiss him all day—to taste his lips against hers. Run her fingers through his dense mop of curly hair.
“Mommy.”
She drew back in a hard snap that caused her to come to her senses. “Jordan. What’re you doing up?”
Jordan rubbed his eyes. “I’m thirsty.”
She stood. “Okay, let me get you a drink, and we’ll go back to bed.” She got Jordan situated and was about to leave the kitchen when Christian caught her hand, a look of promise in his eyes.
“See you tomorrow.”
“Yes, see you then,” she said, hurrying out, mostly because she wasn’t sure how to act. On the one hand, she’d really wanted to kiss Christian. But it was probably for the best that Jordan interrupted them. After all, there was no future for the two of them; their lives were so different from each other. Still, it would’ve been nice to kiss him and quench this heightened attraction she felt for him. Her rational side was having a knockdown, drag-out with her emotional side, and she wasn’t sure which one should win. One thing she did know, she needed sleep. In the morning, she’d think clearly and douse this silly, schoolgirl crush. Otherwise she was headed for trouble, because there was no way she could fall head over heels for Christian Ross. It just wasn’t going to happen.
CHAPTER 8
“Well, what do you think?”
“It’s incredible,” Everly breathed. “More beautiful than I could have imagined.”
Christian felt a burst of pride, almost as though he were somehow responsible for the view. They’d hiked to the top of Diamond Head Crater and were standing on the overlook that afforded an exquisite view of Waikiki, hugging the curvy shoreline. A line of fertile mountains embraced the city from behind. From this vantage point, the ocean was a sheet of blue glass. There were wisps of puffy clouds in the sky above.
It had been a busy morning. They’d gone to Mililani and shopped for last-minute Christmas gifts. Or rather, Everly had shopped while Christian kept the kiddos occupied. He’d promised them they would stop by Matsumotos in Haleiwa on the way back and get some shave ice. First, they needed to stop by Safeway and pick up the catered dinner he’d ordered for tomorrow. Sadie and Jordan had done surprisingly well, mostly because they were able to entertain one another. They were so excited about Santa Claus coming; it was all they could talk about. The adults milked that bargaining chip to encourage cooperation throughout the day.
Thankfully, Everly’s car was untouched, luggage still in the trunk. Before Christian could take Everly to check on her car, he jogged a few miles down the road to get his SUV. He’d left it on the side of the road, the day before, when he saw Everly arguing with Briggs. And they’d walked back to the estate. In all of the commotion, he’d completely forgotten about his SUV until he went outside to get in it, and it wasn’t there. A smile tugged at the corners of his lips. Everly was tangling with his mind to the point he could think of little else.
Even though it was Christmas Eve, Christian was amazed by how light-hearted he felt. He was actually looking forward to going home and spending the evening with Everly, Jordan, and Sadie. His talk with Everly in the night had done wonders, and for the first time in a long time, he felt hopeful about the future.
Admittedly, a part of him wondered how wise it was to get involved with someone who lived on the mainland, but he couldn’t seem to help himself. There was something about her that had drawn him to her the first moment he saw her on the beach. The more time he spent with her, the more he liked her. She was spunky, yet refined, and he loved her adorable Southern accent.
His dad always said the first time he saw Kalena Christian’s mom, he knew she was going to be his wife. Even though Christian had cared deeply for Heather, he never had a prompting that she was going to be his wife. But with Everly, he felt like it was a distinct possibility. He chuckled inwardly, grateful Everly couldn’t read his thoughts. Otherwise, she’d think he was nuts. He hoped he could persuade her to stay at the estate for the duration of her vacation. She was a delicate butterfly that had graced him with her presence. If he moved too suddenly, she would lift her wings and fly away, taking her brilliant mystery with her. It was better to take things one step at a time. After all, if they were truly meant to be together, time would tell.
Christian only told a handful of people his feelings about the accident and Heather. And the few he had told looked at him with such pity he could hardly stand it. But Everly was different. Yes, she was sympathetic , but he got the impression she truly understood what he was feeling, partly because she’d also experienced a great deal of heartache.
Common sense told him it was unwise to get in the middle of Everly’s dispute with her ex-husband. But he couldn’t ignore the fierce need he had to protect her. Roland sounded dangerous and desperate. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have sent Briggs all the way here to spy on Everly. And then there was the business about her deceased husband … or was he still alive? It wouldn’t be too difficult to ask a few questions and see what he could turn up. He couldn’t imagine a guy disappearing and leaving Everly to fend for herself. She was the sort of woman that came along only once in a lifetime. The kind of woman that should be appreciated and cherished.
Everly touched his arm, amusement written on her face. “You’ve got some admirers.”
He turned and saw a group of middle-aged women, ogling him. A constant invasion of privacy was the price he paid for fame. Still, it was hard to take sometimes. When the women realized he’d noticed them, they squealed and ran up to him. One woman was brazen enough to throw her arms around him and would’ve kissed him on the lips had he not averted his face.
“I just love your movies. And you’re even hunkier in real life,” she said, her eyes devouring him, as if he were a slab of meat. “Can I get a picture? The people back home aren’t going to believe this.”
Christian fixed on his movie-star smile, even though it irked him people thought they had the right to treat him like an object. “Of course.”
He was pleasant as they took their pictures. Christian was about to turn away when the tall brunette leaned into his personal space, a seductive tone in her voice. “I would love to treat you to a Christmas Eve Dinner. And perhaps a little dessert after, if you know what I mean.” She winked.
Christian was repulsed by the woman’s forwardness and was about to politely decline her offer, when Everly stepped up and put an arm around his waist.
She flashed the women a cool smile. “Sorry girls, but it ain’t gonna happen. He has other plans.” She cut her eyes adoringly at Christian. “If you’ll excuse us …”
The women just stood there, speechless, as Everly pulled Christian away.
Christian chuckled. “That was impressive. I should take you with me more often.”
Everly scowled. “Are they always so aggressive?”
“Not all of them. But most … yes … unfortunately.”
“It was disgusting how they fawned over you.” She shot them a dirty look. “Vultures.”
It was endearing to see Everly defending him. “People seeing me as a mere object, rather than as a person, and all wanting a piece of me has been a hard adjustment.”
She shook her head. “I don’t know how you put up with it.”
“I’m used to it, for the most part.”
Everly shuddered. “I don’t think I could ever get used to that.”
Christian’s jaw tensed as he caught hold of Everly’s arm. “Look.” He pointed to a group of people hiking up the windy road to the overlook. Briggs was amongst them.
Everly’s face paled. “Do you think he’s been following us all day?”
“Probably.” His jaw hardened. “I’m going to take care of this once and for all.”
She put a hand on his chest. “Let’s just go. It’s Christmas Eve. I don’t want to ruin it for us or the kids.”
It was not in Christian’s DNA to back down from anyone or anything. And he was pretty sure that Briggs had been lurking around the estate last night. One more reason to confront him.
Her eyes sought his. “Please.”
“You can’t let Roland keep bullying you like this. You have to face this head-on and stop it in its tracks.”
Resentment flashed in her eyes. “I know what I’m doing,” she snapped.
“Do you? Because it doesn’t look that way from where I’m standing. The longer Roland gets away with sending his man to stalk you, the worse it’s gonna get.”
She tossed her head back, nostrils flaring. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. Don’t you dare presume you know anything about the situation because you don’t.” She stormed away and stood with her arms tightly folded over her chest, looking out toward the ocean.
Where had that anger come from? He was perplexed by the outburst but figured there had to be more to the story than she had shared. As he stood there, watching her, he felt himself soften. Everly was such a tantalizing combination of strength and vulnerability. She intrigued him … captivated him. He rubbed his neck and sighed, knowing he’d have to do the same thing he’d watched his dad do a thousand times with his mom—apologize in order to smooth her ruffled feathers.
Love on the Rebound (Hawaii Billionaire Romance) Page 7
