The events of the day kept playing through my head. Finally, in order to make it stop, I took out the guitar that I’d brought along. I had planned on trying to work on some song ideas that had been running through my head. It proved to be the perfect distraction.
Hours later, I was interrupted by the growling of my stomach. I glanced at my phone. It was almost midnight. I’d been at it for hours. No wonder I was hungry. I put the guitar down and decided on a sandwich. Except for the glitch of the morning and the weather, it’d been a productive day.
I sat back and began to think on the events of some twenty-plus years ago. Had I been that naive not to have realized what was happening with Beth?
I recalled going to Beth’s house, having not seen her around at school. The two of us had been rather close. Beth had been my first and I hers. I had been just a hormonal, horny teenager. It was one of the perks of being in a band. The young women. That’s how I’d really met Julia. Though we were in the same class, as was Beth, neither of them hung out together. Looking back now, I could see why.
Julia and I had married the summer after we graduated. I knew no better. Beth’s disappearing without so much as a word had made me do stupid things. Our parents, not wanting the scandal of Julia being pregnant, agreed to a small, quiet affair in the backyard of my parent’s home.
Oh hell...the realization of what happened all those years ago. How could I have been so stupid! I should have seen it then. Julia’s way of manipulating every situation to her benefit. Even back then.
****
Rain is what I awoke to the next morning. I’d been up late writing and quite pleased with the results. However, spending another day locked inside was not how I’d planned this trip. I didn’t need to be alone with my thoughts inside the cabin of a sailboat.
I knew I wasn’t far from the island Amadeus and Zara lived on. I’d planned a visit as I always did, just not this soon. A change of plans never hurt in one’s adventure. If nothing else, I’d have a dock I could tie up to.
Digging out my raingear, I donned it and headed outside. Before long, I was underway.
As I neared the island, I sent my brother a text, letting him know I was heading his way. He was quick to respond.
Wet, matey?
Brat.
Yeah, brat.
I approached his dock and shut the engine off, letting the boat glide into place. I headed to the bow to secure the bowline. As I did, I noticed Amadeus approaching. He walked down the dock and grabbed the stern line.
“Thanks,” I said. “I never saw this coming.”
“No problem. Didn’t you check the weather last night?” he drawled, grinning at me.
“No. I was writing.”
“Good for you. Come on, let’s head up to the house. This should break later this afternoon. You can get your stuff then.”
I nodded, and we hurried inside. Shedding the rain gear, I hung it up in the mudroom off the kitchen. Zara was fixing lunch.
“Damien, good to see you,” she said as she continued with her task.
“Sorry to drop in, but I didn’t think I could spend another day cooped up.”
“Not a problem, you know that,” she replied. “How has your trip been so far?”
“Wet, but interesting.”
“Yeah, so Court said.” Amadeus quipped.
“Courtney called you?” Of course, she did.
“Come on, you two, get yourselves something to drink. You can carry on at the table.”
We sat down, and Zara put plates in front of us. Sometimes, I wondered if my brother knew just what a gem he had in Zara. He could be a real jerk at times.
I pulled out my phone and sent both girls a text telling them where I was. “You said Court called you?” I asked when I was finished.
“She wanted to know if I remembered a Beth Asher. I told her I didn’t. Told her you were older, and at that time, I wasn’t privy to all your friends.”
“Yeah, we ran into her on Bainbridge. Seems she’s moved back and is living there now.”
“She also mentioned that Beth’s son was there. Ethan Maverick, the mega huge rock star. Said he was the spitting image of you, Dame. Now why would she say that? Something you’ve been keeping from us?”
“No. I haven’t been keeping anything from anyone. I didn’t know until yesterday.”
“Know what?” Zara asked, picking up Wolfgang.
“That Ethan Maverick is my son. There’s no denying it either. He looks just like me.”
“Yeah, Court sent a picture of the two of them she took before she left Bainbridge.” Amadeus snickered.
“I asked Beth not to say anything to her...”
“She didn’t, but Court said you left abruptly, and Beth followed you. She just put two and two together.”
“Okay. Short version. Yeah, Ethan’s my son. Happened before Julia and I married. Her parents sent her away.”
“So, what are you going to do?”
“Nothing, right now. I don’t know what to feel or think.”
“Why didn’t she contact you after she arrived?”
“Said she knew it would just be a matter of time before Ethan and I ran into each other. The reason she’s giving me is they didn’t want me to think they were after my money. And Beth was unaware that Julia and I were divorced. Or so she claims.”
“So, what do you want to do, Dame?” Zara asked gently.
“Right now? Enjoy this time to myself, polish up some songs I’m working on, and sail. Things will fall into place as they’re supposed to. The past is the past, and I can’t change a thing.”
“You’ve been trying to get your business ideas off the ground. It didn’t work with Alana. Perhaps Ethan could be your answer.”
“What are you saying? He’s got representation, Amadeus. Collaborate with him?”
“Perhaps not right away, but it’s certainly something to consider. You’re going to get to know him, you know that right? You’ve wanted to produce...here’s your chance.”
I took a bite of my sandwich, thinking about what Amadeus had just said. It made perfect sense, but would Ethan want it? I also realized I hadn’t eaten anything but sandwiches since I’d left Bainbridge.
“You might have something, A. I’ll consider it. Only once we all get to know each other. For all I know his personal persona could be just like his public, and that won’t fly. Not if he’s a punk.”
Amadeus and I spent the better part of the day in his studio working. When the girls called later in the afternoon, I explained as best I could what had happened.
“You mean Ethan Maverick is my brother?” Brittney squealed. “No fucking way!”
“Language, Britt.”
“Well, you can’t deny it, he certainly looks like you. I never put it together until I saw him up close,” Court interjected.
“So when do I get to meet him? Can we have him and his mom over, Daddy?” Britt asked, barely able to contain her enthusiasm.
“We’ll see. I’m on vacation, remember? We’ll discuss it when I get home.”
Amadeus had a stupid grin on his face when I finished with the girls.
“What? What’s so damn humorous?”
“That I’m not the lone ranger in out of wedlock children.”
“Damn, you sound right out of the sixties or something. You’re right, but it was different back then. Girls weren’t allowed to go to high school pregnant. Beth’s parents sent her away. That was pretty much the norm.”
“Like you said, the past is the past.”
Chapter Ten
After texting and talking, Beth and I decided the five of us should meet. Just us, no one else. Get to know each other. The kids especially. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous as hell.
I decided to sail over. The weather was perfect, and I wanted some time with the girls. In the car, they’d be texting or something. On the boat, they had jobs, things that kept them busy.
We neared the island, and I gave Court the
directions on how to get to Beth’s place.
I glanced around me, and at Court. She seemed to be managing just fine. I’d taught her well.
“You doing okay there, sailor?”
“Yep, not rocket science. She’s just bigger than Andiamo.”
“That she is.”
“Okay, I’m fine.”
Within a few minutes, we saw Ethan waving us down at a dock.
“Turn the depth finder on, Court. Let’s see what we’ve got.”
“Okay. Looks like there are people with sailboats here.”
“I know, but we’re at low tide. Let’s make sure before we get too close.”
Courtney jumped off with the bowline, securing it in place. I passed the stern line to Britt, who’d done the same. Ethan stood back, making me wonder if he’d ever been on a boat.
I began to secure the main sail as Court unhooked the railing and hopped back on board. She motioned to Ethan to join us. Surprisingly, he did.
“She’s a beauty, Damien.”
“Yeah, she is. I haven’t had her long.”
“And she still doesn’t have a name.” Courtney snorted, heading up to the bow to secure the jib.
“You sail, Ethan?”
“I’ve been out a few times with friends here. Some out on Long Island Sound when I was younger.”
“And? Do you like it?”
“To be honest, I can’t really say. I was out with friends. It was more about having a good time than it was serious sailing.”
“Daddy won’t let us take his boat out.” Britt retorted, raising an eyebrow. “For that very reason. You can get into trouble if you don’t know what you’re doing.”
“Let me know if you ever want to learn.”
“I will. Thanks. Right now, though, my schedule is getting hectic. I won’t have much time for personal stuff like sailing.”
“There’s always time. That’s one of the tricks of surviving this business. You have to take time for yourself. Sailing helps me relax.”
“Besides, in this family it’s almost an unwritten rule that you have to know how to sail. Both of Daddy’s brothers have boats,” Courtney added.
“Yep, even my crazy brother Angus has crossed over to the dark side,” I quipped. “Isn’t that right, girls?”
They nodded their heads. “Yep, he thinks he’s a regular Popeye the sailor,” Britt replied.
“More like Captain Hook.” Courtney snickered. The two of them began giggling.
“I think I’m going to go inside and see if I can help your mom out.”
“Sure. She’s going full tilt in the kitchen, I can assure you.”
“Lead the way,” I said.
Ethan led us all into the house, and he was right. Beth was busily working in the kitchen. I had to grin to myself, remembering that she had been such a cute gal when she was younger. She tucked her hair behind her ears as she saw us enter.
“Can I get you something to drink?” Ethan offered. “I’ve got some great local craft beer.”
“Perhaps later. A bottle of water would be nice right now.”
He opened the refrigerator and, finding a bottle, passed it to me. I nodded at him, still finding it hard not to stare at him, or Beth for that matter.
“Courtney, Brittney? Come on, there’s a fridge outside we can grab something from. You can help me get the grill ready,” Ethan announced.
“Tell me again why you didn’t get in touch with me?” I asked Beth after the kids left.
She turned around and stared at me. “Um, I told you, Dame. I didn’t want to cause any problems between you and Julia.”
“You didn’t think I’d want to know I had a son?”
“I explained that to you, and yes, I figured you’d want to know.”
“Then, why did you never try after Julia and I divorced?” I kept my eyes on her. She was thinking very hard, and she was fucking hot at that moment. What the hell?
“Life got in the way. I told you that. Then, Ethan’s career began to take off. He doesn’t trust just anyone with his business matters. He’s been my whole life, Dame. Especially since my husband died.” There was a hard edge in her voice. “I figured, and so did Ethan, that eventually we’d all meet.”
“So, are you still helping Ethan with his career?”
“Yes.” She looked at me with those beautiful, deep blue eyes.
There was something else I wanted to know before we proceeded any further. “Boyfriend?” I sucked in a breath as I waited for her answer. There was a twinge of jealousy I didn’t know still existed.
She cocked an eyebrow in my direction and crossed her arms. “Girlfriend? I seem to have read you were engaged.”
“No, old news. You must have missed all the press Alana made of our break-up. No girlfriend, fiancé, or anything other.” I grinned at her. “You haven’t answered my question either. I asked first.”
“No, no boyfriend. Satisfied?” She sounded a bit pissed, but at the same time, she seemed amused.
“That’s good to know,” I replied, taking a swig off my water bottle.
“So, Damien Tudor, what are you up to? I believe I heard Ethan say you are into producing and artist management. I was only partially listening to him when he told me.”
Oh fuck, let the games begin. This is the Beth I remember. “Yes, or was. Alana was my first, but as you can guess, that all went to hell when we broke up. I’m looking for new talent. What I foresee is having a one-stop shop. So to speak. A publishing arm, public relations, management, producing. Everything.”
“Sounds ambitious, but you always were a perfectionist.”
“It is, and yes, I still am that.”
“Sounds right up your alley.”
“I had to figure out something. I can’t tour like I once could, but that’s for another conversation.”
“I can’t wait.” She was nervous, and she was so sexy when she was.
Time to disarm her. “Tell me, Bethie, what would you be doing if you and Ethan hadn’t run into the girls and me today?”
She cracked a smile, thinking she knew what I was up to. “Um, probably catching up on laundry or something boring like that.”
“Really?” I was thoroughly enjoying her being thrown off balance.
“Okay. I might have been out pulling up weeds. Satisfied?”
“Yeah. For now.”
Though my head still hadn’t wrapped around the fact that she was standing there in front of me for the first time in twenty-plus years. I had to admit this was a good idea. She relaxed me, just being around her. Beth had always been good at that.
“Why don’t we go join the kids? Everything here is under control.”
I watched as she pulled her hair back and let it fall again. Fucking amazing.
I followed her through the house to the deck. I ran my hand through my hair as my cock twitched in my pants. I had the urge to reach out for her and do a hell of a lot more than a kiss on the cheek. Rip her clothes off was more like it.
What the hell? Where was this coming from?
“Nice place,” I casually remarked as I tried to get my dick to calm down.
“It is. I knew when Ethan said he wanted to move to Seattle, this is where I wanted to live. It’s just far enough away from the big city.”
“I know what you mean. Amadeus and his wife Zara have my old place on one of the islands. I used to feel the same way. Plus, it was great after coming off the road.”
“Why did you give it up?”
“That’s a story for...”
“Another time. I understand. So, where are you living now? You said Angus has your parents’ old place.”
“Condo. It used to be Amadeus’s. We did a swap. It worked out perfectly for all of us at the time.”
“You sound as though you’re tired of living in town.”
“Sometimes, but until the girls are on their own, it’s where I need to be.
She turned and stood to face me. I walked near, just needing to be
close to her. Beth smelled amazing—the scent took me back to years ago. I wanted to touch her, but I was afraid to. My head was spinning in too many directions right then.
“You’ll know when the time is right,” she whispered.
“So, does Ethan live here with you?” Might as well ask. Why the hell not?
“When he’s not touring.”
“He can stay here with no one bothering him or you?”
“So far.” She gestured toward the door.
I nodded my head and held it open for her. What I was feeling was confused, and I don’t do confused. It’s not in my makeup. When I want something, I make it happen.
The kids were deep in conversation, laughing. God knows what over.
“Hey, Daddy,” Court greeted me.
I nodded and sat down next to her. Right now, she and Britt were my safe place. “I’ll take that beer now, Ethan.” I didn’t know what the hell to say to him. Maybe I needed to talk to Amadeus and Zara. They had sort of gone through this.
“You got it.” He stood up and walked over to a bar against the side of the house. I watched as he pulled out three brews. Passing one to Beth, he gave me the next.
“Damien was telling me he used to live on one of the islands, but now he lives in town,” Beth said.
“Yeah, Courtney was telling me that. Which do you like best?” Ethan asked me.
“Living in town served its purpose. I was closer to my doctors and things. There was a lot of other stuff going on as well. In retrospect though, I miss living out on the island. The privacy, the peace. Not that the condo doesn’t have that. It’s in a secured building. But I miss the outdoors.” Why in the hell was I telling him this? “It’s been great for Amadeus and Zara though, and the kids.”
“Yeah, Uncle A took what was the guest cottage and turned it into a bad-ass recording studio,” Britt added.
Odd, the child had never acted as though she cared about music. Oh, but now there’s Ethan to impress.
“Really? That’s awesome. The girls were also trying to explain the family dynamics.”
“Oh boy.” I chuckled. “I can only imagine.”
Beth was watching, and damn, she was making me have to move around, so it wasn’t obvious what was going on with me.
Tudor Redemption (Tudor Dynasty Book 4) Page 7
