His jaw started working. “I cared a great deal. Heather was a free spirit, only living for the moment. Everything with her felt fleeting and temporary. I suppose, in time, I would’ve come to love her … if the situation had been different.”
Silence overtook them, each of them lost in thought, until Christian spoke. “Seeing Heather in a wheelchair … knowing she would never be able to walk again or have a normal life …” His voice caught. “Every time I looked at her, I kept thinking—why her? Why was I okay when she wasn’t?”
The anguish in Christian’s voice was heartbreaking, and Everly wished she had the words to ease his pain. All she could do was nod and let him know she understood.
“I-I should’ve been there for her.” He balled a fist and brought it to his mouth.
“I don’t understand. It sounds like you were there for her. It’s not your fault. It was an accident, and you weren’t even the one driving.”
“I went to visit Heather often, but it was painful and awkward. Heather resented the fact that I was virtually unscathed, while she was paralyzed.”
“She said that to you?” she said, feeling a sting of anger at this woman she’d never met.
“No, she never voiced it out loud, but I could see it in her eyes. She forced an argument about something silly.” Regret clouded his eyes. “I knew what she was doing, and honestly, I was relieved because it gave me an excuse not to see her as often.” His voice grew hoarse. “The last time I visited her she was frustrated and bitter.” His eyes grew moist. “I knew she was hurting, but I didn’t know how to help. She told me she couldn’t live that way, but I didn’t catch the meaning of what she was saying. I was too caught up in my own turmoil to see things clearly. And it cost Heather her life.”
Everly cupped Christian’s jaw. “Look at me.” When he turned to face her, the tortured look in his eyes nearly carved out her heart.
She dropped her hand, letting it fall back into her lap. “No one gets a free pass from adversity.” She jutted out her chin. “No one. You didn’t know that Heather was going to commit suicide. Yeah, maybe you should’ve visited her more often, but it sounds to me like you did all you were capable of doing at the time. You don’t know what was going through Heather’s mind or the depth of her pain. But I would venture to say if Heather were here today, she’d tell you to stop living a life of regret. You’ve mourned enough. It’s time to put aside the past and move on. Heather would want that.”
He blew out a breath. “I’m trying. I try every day.”
A tight smiled formed over her lips. “Okay, then that’s that.”
He shook his head. “What?”
“If you’re doing your best, then so be it.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “Are you using reverse psychology on me?”
“Nope. I’m simply stating that if you’re truly doing your best, then you shouldn’t have any regrets.”
“Easier said than done,” he grumbled.
She looked him in the eye, not backing down an inch. “Even though you feel like giving up, you have to keep moving forward anyway.”
He chuckled softly. “A new line to your poem?”
“Yep.”
She cut her eyes toward the Christmas tree. “Here’s another line—even though Everly and Christian have their own set of issues they’re dealing with, they’re gonna put them aside tonight and enjoy Christmas Eve anyway.”
“Good idea.” He leaned forward, his voice husky. “And how do you suggest we do that?”
“I think you know,” she said softly.
Her breath caught when he trailed a finger along the curve of her cheek, sending delicious tingles spiraling down her spine. His lips were soft and welcoming as they moved with hers in a perfect dance that encapsulated her in a sense of belonging, And she had the crazy impression she was coming home to a place where she belonged. Then he deepened the kiss, sending a rush of energy through Everly that turned her bones to liquid. She let out a tiny moan as she threaded her fingers through Christian’s hair. Christian slipped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer as she melted into him. They kissed until she was sated with passion, to the point where she could hardly think straight. When he pulled back, they were both breathing hard.
He rested his forehead against hers. “That was amazing,” he murmured, a smile playing on his lips. “See, even IZ agrees.”
“IZ?”
“The song … What a Wonderful World.”
“Oh, the song.” She’d been so caught up in Christian that she’d forgotten there was music playing in the background.” She laughed. “What song?”
His eyes danced. “Exactly. This is turning out to be a great Christmas Eve, if I do say so myself.”
“No, you’re wrong,” she said with a deadpan expression.
Uncertainty crept into his eyes. “What?”
“It’s not Christmas Eve anymore.” She couldn’t stop the smile from spreading over her lips. “Merry Christmas.”
His eyes lit up. “And so it is. Merry Christmas,” he uttered, before his lips took hers.
Briggs pressed his face to the window, grateful that Christian didn’t have any security cameras or guards. Otherwise, he never would’ve been able to get this close to them. As it was, he’d followed them all over this stinking island. The hike up Diamond Head had about done him in, but Roland had ordered him to keep a close eye on them. And he’d been able to snap a couple of pictures with them standing close together. But this. This took the cake. He leaned closer, watching the two of them kiss. He’d never pegged Everly as being overly smart, but the woman was stupider than he thought. This was not going to end well. Once Roland got wind of it, there would be no end to his wrath. Everly’s little fling with the movie star would most likely cost the poor sap his life. And it would be Everly’s fault. She knew better than to anger Roland this way. When it came to Everly, he wasn’t rational. In Roland’s mind, once Everly accepted his hand in marriage she’d become his property. Nobody messed with Roland’s property and lived to tell about it.
On a personal note, Briggs wasn’t too happy with Everly, because he’d been forced to follow her here. Thanks to Everly, Briggs was spending Christmas alone … on this remote island where it was hot and muggy, the opposite of a traditional Christmas with snow and a cheerful fire that warmed the bones. He hated the ocean almost as much as he the hated sand. About the only thing Briggs had to look forward to this holiday season was the six-pack of beer he had stowed away in the tiny refrigerator in his hotel room. The sooner he got this over with, the sooner he could get back there and relax. He lifted his iPhone and began snapping pictures.
CHAPTER 10
“Mommy!” Sadie bounded into Kat’s arms as the two embraced.
“I missed you,” Kat said. “This trip was too long.”
Christian was surprised by the momentary pang of sadness he felt. Witnessing the exchange between mother and daughter, he was reminded that even though he and Sadie were super close, she wasn’t his child. Being a devoted uncle wasn’t the same as having his own children. Furthermore, spending time with Everly made him keenly aware of how boring his life had become. Now that she’d come into his life, he didn’t want things to go back to the way they were before.
Sadie took Kat’s hand and led her over to the presents, which took up the bulk of the den floor. “Look what Santa brought,” she exclaimed, her eyes shining with excitement.
“Wow, Santa brought you lots of presents. You must’ve been a good girl.”
Sadie nodded. “Uh, huh.”
“Thank you,” Kat mouthed to Christian. Because Kat had been out of town for most of the month, Christian had done all of the Christmas shopping.
He winked. “No problem.”
Kat sat down in a chair and crossed her legs. “You put up a tree this year.”
“Yeah, I couldn’t let Sadie spend Christmas without a tree.”
“I’m glad.”
Jordan came running into the room
. He was holding a toy car in his hand and making a zooming sound. Sadie giggled and began running behind him. Kat’s eyes grew round. “Who is that?”
“Jordan.”
“Where did he come from?”
“It’s kind of a long story.”
“Spill it,” Kat ordered, finger-combing her short hair. But before Christian could speak a word, Everly stepped into the room, looking gorgeous in a red V-necked shirt and jeans that hugged her slim figure. Kat’s jaw dropped as Everly smiled and extended her hand.
“You must be Kat. I’m Everly. It’s nice to meet you,” she said in a smooth, polished tone.
“Nice to meet you too,” Kat said. She turned to Christian for an explanation.
“Everly’s my …” he hesitated, suddenly realizing he didn’t know what to say. She wasn’t his girlfriend, but she felt like she was so much more. Color seeped into his face as he looked to Everly for help.
“My son Jordan and I are on vacation here,” Everly explained, “and your brother was kind enough to invite us to Christmas.”
Kat’s eyes danced as she shot Christian an appraising look. “I see. Well, it’s very nice to meet you, Everly.”
The doorbell rang, and Christian went to answer it.
Minutes later, Christian’s parents entered the room in a flurry, their arms loaded with presents. They placed them under the tree and hugged Sadie and Kat. Then they spotted Everly and everything stilled.
A similar scene was repeated as Everly introduced herself. Then Christian’s parents looked to him for further details.
“Everly’s here on vacation from South Carolina. I invited her to have Christmas with us.” He gave Everly a look of encouragement and went to her side to prevent her from feeling uncomfortable. A few minutes later, he realized his worry was in vain, for Everly was perfectly capable of holding her own. She and Kat struck up a conversation and began chatting like they were old friends. Everly seemed to know all the right things to say, and before long, his entire family was enthralled with her.
Christian’s mom Kalena inhaled appreciatively. “Something smells good.”
“Everly’s cooking us some Southern food,” Christian said, feeling a touch of pride.
“Southern food, huh? By a Southern Belle. I’m looking forward to that,” his dad said. “I was worried we’d be forced to eat that bland food from the grocery store we had last year.”
Christian’s face fell as Everly laughed. She wagged a finger. “See, I told you that you couldn’t serve that slop for Christmas dinner.”
“Hey, it’s not my fault Mele insists on taking off Christmas.”
“Everly, we’re certainly glad you’re here,” Kat piped in. “And our stomachs are especially grateful.” Everyone laughed as she continued, “Stay as long as you like.”
“Thank you,” Everly said. “The food’s in the oven and should be ready in about twenty or so minutes. As a matter of fact, I’d better check on it.”
Christian’s response was immediate. “Do you need any help?”
“That’s okay, I’ve got it,” Everly said, casually touching his arm. “I know you want to catch up with your family.” She rewarded him with a brilliant smile that melted his insides. Being with Everly made him feel like he was ten years old again and seeing his first Ferrari. Now that he’d met her, he couldn’t imagine going back to his ho-hum life.
Kat waited until Everly was in the kitchen before whispering to Christian. “I like her.”
“So do I,” his mom said decisively.
Always the practical one, his dad chuckled. “Take it easy, girls. Their relationship’s only getting started, and you’re already marrying them off.”
“Oh, shush,” Kalena said, patting his leg. “You know I have a sense about these things. She’s very beautiful, with those bright eyes and long curls.” She winked at Christian. “Promise me, you won’t let her get away.”
He laughed, feeling a burst of happiness that filled his entire chest. “I’ll see what I can do.”
Everly thoroughly enjoyed spending Christmas with Christian and his family. They’d devoured nearly every bite of her food and from the way they kept going on about it, Everly would’ve thought she was a five-star chef. It was very kind and flattering. After dinner, they piled into a couple cars and drove to the beach where they walked along the shore and let the kids play in the sand. Jordan was sad that Sadie went to her own home with her mom. But Kat promised to bring Sadie back the following day, so that helped take the sting out of the situation. Later that night, after everyone left, Everly put Jordan to bed and assumed she and Christian would hang out in the den and watch a movie like they’d done the night before, but Christian had other plans. He insisted they put on their suits and go for a late-night swim. At first, Everly balked at the idea because she didn’t want to leave Jordan in the house alone. But Christian assured her he would be perfectly safe. He even pulled out an old baby monitor that he’d used with Sadie and brought it to the pool, so they could hear if Jordan woke up.
Everly had to admit, the evening swim with Christian was one of the most thrilling things she’d ever done. Her fascination with Christian seemed to be growing the more time she spent with him. She loved his gentle manner and how he was genuinely interested in what she had to say. They had in-depth conversations, ranging from politics to spiritual topics. And the physical aspect of their relationship was like experiencing constant fireworks. Her skin tingled at his very touch, and when they kissed, her black-and-white world turned to glorious color. They rounded out the evening by getting in the hot-tub and enjoying long kisses that left her breathless. And then he did something that completely took the wind out of her sails.
Christian cupped her cheek, looking so deeply into her eyes that she swore he could see into her very soul. “Stay with me,” he implored.
“What?”
“Don’t go back to Charleston. Stay here with me. We can build a wonderful life together.”
The promise in his eyes was so enthralling that for a moment, she believed she could stay here. But then she thought about her mama … her job … Roland. “I wish I could stay,” she said wistfully.
“You can.”
“I could never leave my mama. She depends on me.”
“She could come here.”
“You’ve never even met my mama. For all you know, she could be nuts.”
He chuckled. “Is she like you?”
“A little.”
“Then I’ll love her.”
The implication of his words hit Everly with enough force to nearly take her breath away. Was he suggesting that he loved her? No, that was impossible. They’d not known each other long enough to fall in love. And yet … he was asking her to come here and live. And she desperately wanted to. “My job.”
“What about your job?”
He lightly traced the outline of her collarbone, driving her to distraction.
“I’ve worked so hard to get where I am. In a few years, I’ll be able to buy into the club and be a part owner.”
He looked thoughtful. “Okay, I’ll buy you a workout center … if that’s what you want.”
She laughed. “Sure, if only it were that easy.” Then she saw his face. “You’re serious.” It boggled her mind that he was wealthy enough to purchase a fitness center on a whim.
“Absolutely.” His expression grew earnest. “Look, I know this is all sudden, but I can’t deny how I feel about you.” He pulled her close and gave her a long, tender kiss. He pulled back, searching her face. “I know you feel the same way.”
“Yes,” she admitted. “I wouldn’t be here with you if I didn’t.”
He smiled. “Good. It’s settled.”
Her head started spinning and she felt like she’d been dropped in the middle of the ocean without a life preserver. “What? No, it’s not settled. I can’t just drop everything and move here.” A mere week ago, she’d been living a normal life, never dreaming in a million years that she’d be
here … with Christian Ross. Maybe this was all a dream, and she would wake up to find she was back in Charleston … all alone and living in Roland’s shadow. She backed away from him. “It’s all happening too fast. We’re just now getting to know each other.”
“I’m not asking you to marry me …” a lopsided smile curved his lips “…yet.”
The promise of what he was saying sent a thrill rushing through her. “But you’re asking me to move here and run a fitness club for you.”
“I’ll get you and Jordan a place nearby, and we’ll get to know each other.”
She rubbed a hand across her forehead. Suddenly, the hot tub felt scorching hot, and she could feel sweat popping across her forehead. The hope in his eyes was so tempting that she almost threw caution to the wind and told him yes that very instant. But this situation was too reminiscent of Roland. He’d swept in on a white horse and rescued her from all of the problems that resulted when Mitchell died … err disappeared. And that was another thing, she’d come here to find out about Mitchell, and Christian was distracting her from that. “I’m sorry. I can’t commit to that right now.” She looked at him, her eyes pleading.
He nodded, his lips forming a tight line. “Is it because of Roland?”
“Yes, partly.”
His jaw hardened. “What hold does he have over you?”
“Jordan,” she said simply.
“I don’t understand. Jordan’s not even his flesh and blood.”
She collected her thoughts, trying to find the best way to describe the situation. “Roland’ s a high-power attorney. Not only does he know the ins and outs of the law, but he has a great deal of influence over the lawmakers in Charleston.” Her eyes clouded as she voiced her greatest fear. “I don’t want him to take Jordan away from me.”
Christian shot her an incredulous look. “I would imagine that it would be almost impossible to separate a mother from her child.”
She let out a harsh chuckle. “Yeah, one would think, but you don’t know Roland. He’s wicked-smart and manipulative. And he’ll stop at nothing to get what he wants.” Even as she spoke the words, a sense of foreboding crept over her. She dreaded the repercussions that were sure to follow when she returned from this trip. Heaven forbid if Roland realized how she felt about Christian.
Love on the Rebound (Hawaii Billionaire Romance) Page 9
