Finding Haven

by Foster, T. A.

  “JAY. JAY, wake up.” He heard words, but they didn’t make sense.

  “Huh?” He rubbed his eyes and recognized Haven standing next to the bed. She was wearing his shirt and no pants. He propped himself up, wondering if there was really nothing else under the shirt.

  “I made breakfast. It’s almost noon. I thought maybe you’d like to eat something.”

  “Yeah. Sounds good.” He leaned against the headboard and rubbed his neck. “What’s going on with the storm?”

  “Harper?”

  He grimaced at the name. Reminders of Emmy weren’t welcome right now. “Still on course?”

  “Good news, she’s downgraded to a category one, and we’re only supposed to get the outer bands. Don’t get me wrong, we’ll still be out of power and I’m sure there will be water in the yard, but I think we dodged anything major.”

  “That is good news.” He peeled the sheet back, anxious to make a stop in the restroom and splash some water on his face, maybe even take a shower.

  Haven’s eyes raked over him and she flashed him a smile.

  “Um, I’ll see you in a minute.” She spun on her heels, the turn catching the edge of the T-shirt. He saw the lacy edge of her panties, cutting a sharp V along her hip. Damn, girl. He sucked in a gulp of air and hopped off the bed. He smiled. He had a feeling he knew how the rest of this day was going to go.

  TWO DAYS. Two long, blissful, ravishing, surrendering, intimate days alone and uninterrupted. This hurricane went down as the best-timed storm in her life. The water had halfway receded in the yard, and she and Jay both knew he could drive his Jeep right out in the conditions, but he said he couldn’t leave her there with no way to escape if she needed to.

  She wanted to think it had nothing to do with transportation and everything to do with how he felt tangled up with her in her bed.

  The day after a storm passes through is always the most gorgeous. The beach was littered with whole conch shells, and other treasures washed ashore from the turbulent tides.

  Haven held up a piece of beach blue against the sun. The hue was almost the same color as the sky. “Hey, check this one out.” He probably wouldn’t know how rare it was to find a piece this big, smooth, and blue.

  Jay jogged over to where her feet were planted in the wet sand. “That one’s cool. But look at this.” He grinned before revealing a long strand of conch eggs encased in a spiral coating.

  “Oh yeah, that’s a mermaid’s necklace.” She took the spiral and held it against her neck. “We always called them that when I was little. Really, it’s full of baby conchs.”

  “Hmm, I thought I made a big discovery.”

  She giggled at the disappointed look on his face. It was fun exploring the beach with him. It was the first time she remembered seeing it from an outsider’s perspective. Growing up on Perry Island, it seemed like the same old stuff everyday, but Jay had a way of turning that around on her.

  They were lucky. Hurricane Harper had made a drastic shift to the east before reaching the island’s latitude. The inland areas around the cove saw the most water, but other than a few broken windows, there weren’t any reports of major damage. Only washed out roads, and given another day or two, the water would recede and life would return to normal. The tourists would be back and the store would reopen.

  Jay’s hand rested against her waist as she leaned into his chest. For now, she wanted the water to stay in her yard, keep her stranded, and keep Jay in her arms. Nothing could convince her to leave this place of contentment.

  “You know my neighbor, Charlotte, should see all these.” Jay stooped to pick up an olive shell.

  “Isn’t she the crazy one?” Haven couldn’t believe there were sand dollars dotting the sand. You could only find these on low tide days near the sandbar, and even that was a rarity.

  “Crazy as hell, but she loves collecting shells. Her yard is full of them—rows and rows.” He scooped up one of the sand dollars. “I think I’ll save a few of these for her.” He walked over to the bucket they had brought to the beach and placed the sea discoveries inside.

  “Better get them now because between the beach combers and the tide, they will all be gone tomorrow. It will be like none of this ever happened.”

  The words hung in the air and her stomach twisted. She meant the shells and the beach treasures, but she realized that maybe she had accidentally created a double meaning in the words. How do you pull words back in that you don’t want to be spoken?

  As if he knew exactly what she was thinking, he reached for her chin and held it firmly between his thumb and forefinger. The look he shot her stole her breath. “I’m going to throw this out there. Ok?”

  She nodded, locked on his gaze, dying to know what he was about to say.

  “This did happen.” His voice was deep and low. “And it is happening.” He pressed his lips against her mouth. Whatever sandy treasure was in her hand, she dropped as she wrapped her arms around his neck. She had to stand on her tiptoes to reach him. His lips tasted salty and she nipped at his neck, lowering her heels to the ground.

  He grasped her shoulders and kissed her on the forehead. “This has been my all-time favorite Sunday.”

  She smiled. Maybe she wasn’t the only one who loved Sundays on the island. Her hand slipped into his, and she kicked a wave that washed toward her. There were other words she wanted to say. She wanted to talk about what was happening and what it meant. Were they a couple? Were they dating now? But they had never been on an actual date. Did that mean something? She tried to quiet the questions storming her mind. She knew they would shatter the moment, and this Sunday was absolutely perfectly shatterproof.

  He squeezed her hand. “What are you thinking over there?”

  She squinted in the sun. “I think I know what song I want to write next. The whole song just hit me.”

  “Really?”

  “Yep. Want to hear it?” She couldn’t wait to get to the porch and play out the words.

  “Lead the way.” The smile that melted all the stress and anxiety away engulfed her like the sun’s warmth.

  She tugged on his hand, crossing the beach, taking the dunes, ready for him to hear the song that hit her heart like a crashing wave.

  EVAN KNEW everything happened for a reason. He ran his fingers through his hair, rinsing the shampoo down the shower drain. He wanted to be there when she woke up tomorrow, but after three nights together, he thought it best to spend a night in Silver Belle alone.

  The water felt good, but his decision didn’t. He knew he easily had a chance to tell Haven his name, his identity, but he let it slip by. He closed his eyes, remembering how she whispered his name in his ear last night. However, it wasn’t his name. It was someone else’s. It hit him in the chest, and for a minute, he couldn’t breathe, thinking of how he had betrayed her.

  He wondered if he could be that someone else. Could he just change his name to Jay Grady and pretend Evan Carlson didn’t exist? Dammit. He had screwed up.

  It was one thing to flirt with her, but during that storm, he had made her his with his mouth, his hands, and his words. Crazy as it sounded, he wasn’t about to give her back until he absolutely had to.

  The longer he waited to tell her, the worse it would be when it came out. He couldn’t help thinking he didn’t have to reveal his name. After the call to Allan this morning, he knew she would get a chance with her music. As passionate and talented as she was, she would snatch it up and chase the opportunity all the way to Austin. Nashville was probably her first choice, but he had some good buddies from his football days that wound up in Austin—easy strings to pull. She could make her name for herself with those lyrics.

  He turned the knob on the shower and reached for a towel. Hell, she didn’t even go to the movies; she had never seen one of Emmy’s films and never mentioned any of his. It wouldn’t mean anything to her at all. He tightened the towel around his waist and walked a few paces to the mini-fridge. A cold beer might help solve this. He
twisted the lid and tossed it into the sink.

  The bubbles slid down his throat. He knew he was just coming up with excuses. He had to tell her. Because as much as this might be a summer thing—a temporary romance—he knew something about himself that she couldn’t. He had given her control like he never had. It was scary and ignited something, like an unquenchable thirst. Once he turned it over to her, he wanted to get lost in her over again—he couldn’t stop. If that hurricane had lasted all week, he knew he probably would have drowned trying to satisfy and please her in all the ways he knew he could.

  He thought about what coming clean would mean. Would he drag her into the cesspool of paparazzi life? Would the press hunt her down and track her every move at the store? Would Maura and Denton be faced with camera flashes as they went to church and watered their garden? He pounded his fist against the counter. He couldn’t do that to her. It would invade and ruin her life, seeping into all of the things that were private and special. It would ruin them, like all the relationships before: Ivy, Emmy, all lost to the fishbowl he called his life. No, this one was his. He was going to keep Haven to himself as long as she would let him.

  There was a reason for all this madness. Evan just didn’t know what it was yet. He reached in the fridge for a second beer when he saw headlights shine through the camper window.

  He thought it might be another day before Charlotte or any of the other neighbors returned. There was still water on the mainland roads, and the ferry service was backed up. It was better to wait a few days for things to calm down, but he knew Charlotte was a tenacious one. She would be desperate to see Pirate’s Booty. Harry and Shug had reopened the campground, happy they didn’t sustain any damage. Evan was proud of the work he had done to help them.

  The cap twisted off in his hand easily, and he heard the door rattle with heavy banging.

  He looked at his towel and debated trying to change before opening the door to Charlotte. She would get an eyeful.

  Hell. He pushed down on the lever and the door swung open.

  “Hey.” Haven smiled.

  His throat caught and his chest tightened. He pulled her into the camper and twisted his hands through her hair, crashing his mouth onto hers. The need for her washed through him as he shifted her around his waist. It was only ten steps back to his checked bed. He stumbled backward onto the bed, where he could kiss and touch her. He grinned as her hair cascaded around him providing a private curtain for the two of them. He was going to get to wake up with her after all.

  “OK, SO who is going to be at the party?” Evan shifted nervously on his feet. It was not a good idea to be seen in a throng of twenty-somethings, but he had been on the island for over a month and no one seemed to notice.

  Everyone here focused on other things. No one cared what designer you wore, what car you drove, or if you had white, straight teeth. All that mattered was that you put in a good, hard day’s work, and helped your neighbor. It was pretty simple. Every once in a while, he wondered if they would even care if he was a movie star. The longer he was there, the more he doubted it would be as exciting as the marlin that was released the other day or the fact that the only mail carrier on the island was about to deliver twins. Their idea of a crazy life was full of moments that actually mattered.

  Haven chimed from the bathroom. “Some people I went to high school with. The guy who is throwing the party, Ben Jordan, is kind of a show off. But the parties are always good, and there is always a bartender and music. It’s a Thursday night tradition in the summer and some times a Tuesday thing.”

  Evan didn’t think it sounded like anything else he had encountered during his time on Perry.

  “And why are we going? Wouldn’t you rather stay in?” He could think of so many other things for them to do. He had lived his share of parties. More than anyone could count. Although, he was sure someone had a tally of his adventurous nights. “I bet you wrote something pretty cool today. You could sing for me.” He missed her today at the store. Thursdays without her were lonely.

  “Because, I haven’t been in a while. I want you to go and have a good time too. Meet some people I grew up with.” She turned the light out behind her as she emerged into the bedroom wearing something black.

  Evan whistled. “Damn. I say no way. You’re not going like that.” He hadn’t seen her dressed like this before. Granted, he didn’t know what the style was called, but it was short. There were tiny straps, and lace that darted between the breasts he couldn’t get enough of. The hem brushed the tops of her tanned thighs.

  “What, you don’t like it?” She looked hurt.

  “The complete opposite, but I’m not sure I want guys staring at you all night.” He played with the hair by her ear, winking at her. It always made her blush.

  She slapped him against the chest. “No one is going to stare. I know all these guys.” She tilted her chin toward him, taunting him to kiss her. “But I hope you do. It’s a slip dress. I ordered it the other day.”

  “Darlin’, you don’t have to put on a short dress to make me check you out.” He pinned her against his chest. “You even look cute in those ugly aprons. Although, someone told me I don’t.”

  Her hands flattened against his shoulders and ran down his arms. He liked it when she did that. She raised his shirt and her nails scraped against his stomach, descending below his hipbone. He inhaled sharply. They wouldn’t be going anywhere if she kept this up. But she didn’t stop.

  “What are you doing?” he groaned.

  He gripped her shoulders, trying to steady the building want she was creating. What in the hell had gotten into her? Before he could pull away, he felt his shorts fall to his ankles and he knew she had lowered to the floor. He looked down at the fire in her eyes. This girl might kill him before they made it to the party.

  EVAN CLOSED his hand around Haven’s as they walked through the gates to the beach party. They had left her place a little later than planned, but it was time well spent. He laughed, loving the surprises that she kept throwing at him. He squeezed her hand.

  They climbed the steps to the beach house. “Hi, Ben. This is Jay.”

  A guy who put way too much hair gel in his bangs shook his hand. “Nice to meet you, man. Glad you’re here, Haven. Haven’t seen you in a few weeks.”

  She gave him a quick hug. “I know, Ben. Sorry, I’ve just been a little busy.” She shot a side glance at Evan. He caught every innuendo she was throwing.

  “Well, I’ve missed you. Go on in. Drinks, dancing, the usual good time.” He nodded at Evan. “Good to have you here, man.”

  “Thanks.” Evan shook his hand and waited for some sign of recognition. Confident the coast was clear, he breezed past the host with Haven. He whispered in her ear, “He seems nice. Out of place, but nice.”

  She giggled. “Yeah, he loves parties a little too much. Lucky for him, his parents are never here. They basically handed him a summer party palace.”

  Evan followed his date and her little black dress through a marble foyer into a great room.

  The living room was filled with strangers. It was a relief looking into blank, smiling faces.

  “Big party.” He slid his hand around her waist, feeling how thin the fabric was in the slip dress as she called it. He couldn’t wait for round two when he took her home. There were so many things running through his mind, mainly—

  “Why don’t you head to the deck, and I’ll get us some drinks?” She pointed to the door lining the living room wall.

  Evan’s cheeks reddened. Did she know that he couldn’t stop thinking about her? “Ok, but nothing fruity. I don’t do fruity.”

  “I know. I know. I’ll meet you out there.” She tipped forward and kissed him on the cheek.

  Evan sidestepped the bouncing crowd. They had just started dancing, and he had to hop before getting bumped by a trio of giggling girls. The deck was probably the safest place for him to be. He walked to the railing and looked at the pool. There was a neon techno show going
off under the water. This place certainly didn’t fit with the rest of the island.

  “Hey, man. What’s up?”

  “Oh, hey.” Evan turned to find Travis, his surf advisor, standing close by. “Good to see you.”

  “What brings you to Ben’s?” Travis took a gulp of something from a red cup.

  Evan nodded toward the house. “Pretty girl.” He smiled, not knowing Travis well, but knowing any guy could relate to the allure of a beautiful woman.

  “I hear ya.” Travis laughed. “Yeah, there are some pretty girls here this summer. The hurricane ran a few off, but since the ferries started running again, I think the island is back to normal.”

  Evan wondered if that was how Travis measured the balance of normal—the pretty girl ratio on the island.

  “Did you hit the waves during the storm?”

  “You know it. We don’t get waves like that. Killer breaks. You should have tried it.”

  Evan shook his head. “I wanted to, but it was probably best I sat that one out. It’s going to take me awhile to get back into fighting form.” The first time he wiped out on the board had shocked him. Saltwater up the nose and everything.

  “Keep at it. You’ve got some natural ability.”

  “Thanks, man.” Evan leaned over the railing to watch the new choreography of the pool sparkle below them.

  “Trav?” Evan turned. Haven was holding two red cups, but her attention wasn’t on him. It was on Travis.

  “Hey. Haven’t seen you in a while.” Travis’s eyes darted to hers. Evan couldn’t help but feel there was something to that look.

  “Do you two know each other?” Haven questioned. There was the smile he was waiting for. She handed Evan his drink and stood close to him. His hand found the dip in the small of her back.

  “Yeah, Travis helped me out a couple weeks ago. I needed a crash course in the waves.” He liked that she was tucked in close. He could smell her shampoo, and her lotion reminded him of the beach.