by Jill Sanders
His hand traveled up her leg, and he watched desire flash in her eyes. When she licked her bottom lip, he smiled and knew she had been convinced.
“Rowan,” she whispered.
“Hmm?” he said when he reached the edge of her panties.
“Make love to me.” She leaned forward and reached for him.
“Music to my ears.” He dipped his fingers under the silk and watched her eyes close and her head roll back.
He enjoyed playing with her, teasing her, and hearing her moans of pleasure.
He was just about to move, but she surprised him by climbing over and straddling him. Her skirt hiked up, her body pushed against his as her mouth took what she wanted from him.
Her fingers reached for his shirt buttons, pulling and tugging until she pushed his shirt off his shoulders. Her mouth left his, leaving a trail down his neck until her teeth sunk lightly into his shoulder.
“You’re going too slow.” Her hands moved down to his jeans, fumbling until she finally released him.
His muscles jumped as her fingers ran over them slowly. When he pushed the shoulder of her dress down, his eyes were glued to the exposed flesh. Then his mouth was on her, taking everything he could.
He felt her fumble in his back pocket and he thought she sighed, “Score,” when she pulled out the condom.
He chuckled. “There’s more upstairs, in the nightstand.”
She shook her head. “Can’t wait.” She slid the protection over him.
He reached for her hips and helped guide her down over his length. She rested her forehead on his as he held her still.
“Why can’t I seem to get enough of you?” he asked, his lips taking hers once more. When she moved, he held onto her as she rode him. His fingers dug into her softness, and he wondered if he could hold out this time for her.
“Kayla,” he moaned as she ran her lips over his collarbone. He felt himself sliding and wanted to take her with him. He knew exactly where to touch her.
He watched her head roll back as she cried out his name. Only then did he allow himself to follow her.
He carried her up the stairs and crawled under the blankets with her, then held her tight in his arms as she slept.
When he woke next, it was to a three-year-old jumping up and down on his chest.
“Come on, Rowwww, wake up!” Connor placed his hand on his eyes and tried to pry them open, causing Rowan to laugh.
“My eyes are stuck closed,” he joked, grabbing the boy up. “You’ll have to kiss them to open them.”
He felt the featherlight kisses and popped his eyes open quickly, causing Connor to burst into laughter.
“Mommy said I’m not pasod to…”
“Supposed to,” Kayla corrected.
“That’s what I said,” Connor replied. “Paspode…”
“Supposed,” Kayla repeated slowly.
“Supposed,” he said slowly, then smiled when Kayla nodded and smiled, “to wake you, but it’s raining, and I’m bored and hungry.” He was talking quickly as he continued to bounce up and down on the bed.
“Well, how about we run and have breakfast at Roy’s diner?” He was watching Kayla. She was sitting across the room in the chair as she pulled on her shoes.
Her eyes met his as Connor continued to bounce.
“Can I get woffles?’
“Waffles?” He corrected. “Ed’s has some of the best waffles around.” He was about to get up, but the kid was sitting on his chest.
“You don’t sleep with no shirt?” Connor asked as his little hands patted his skin.
“Nope, I get too hot at night.”
Connor turned to his mother. “I get hot too.”
Kayla chuckled. “Until you’re as big as Rowan, you will continue to sleep in your pj’s.”
Connor frowned down at him and, at that moment, he would have agreed to anything to take the sadness from his eyes.
“Come on kiddo, let’s get dressed for the day and we can talk about pj’s later.” He shifted and pulled the kid up.
“We’ll just run next door and get ready.” Kayla took Connor from his arms. As she did so, he leaned in and kissed her on her lips.
“Morning.” He held onto her before she could walk away.
Her chin rose slightly. “Morning.” She smiled. “We’ll be ready in fifteen.”
He nodded and then watched them walk out.
Walking into Ed’s Diner less than half an hour later with Kayla and Connor beside him was the best feeling he’d had in a long time. He watched as people they knew turned towards them and smiled as he reached over and took Kayla’s hand in his.
They sat at a table near the front, where he and Connor ordered waffles and Kayla ordered an omelet.
“If I didn’t know any better”—she leaned closer and whispered across the table to him— “I’d say you invited us here to show the town we’re an item.” She smiled.
He leaned closer. “Is that a bad thing?”
She leaned back and shook her head. “No. Small towns have a lot of gossips. I wouldn’t be surprised if everyone already knew.”
Their food had just been delivered when he noticed Chad walk in. He watched Kayla stiffen when she noticed him, then her hand reached for Connor.
Rowan stood as the man approached their table.
“Kayla.” Chad looked at his son and Rowan noticed sadness flood behind the man’s eyes.
“What are you doing here, Chad?” Kayla had a hand on her son’s cast.
“I’m here for some food. Just like you.” He glanced around.
Kayla relaxed slightly as Rowan sat back down when he realized they weren’t going to have problems with the man.
“Hi, buddy,” Chad said, looking at his son.
That was when Rowan realized that Connor had a look of sheer terror on his face. “Mommy.” The kid started crying instantly and reached for Kayla. The loud screaming caused everyone in the diner to turn towards them.
“What the—?” Chad took a step back as his eyes turned towards Kayla, who just shrugged and looked worried.
“Looks like he remembers you,” Rowan said in a low tone so no one else could hear.
Chad took another step back as he glanced around at all the eyes on him, then he shocked Rowan by turning around and leaving the restaurant without another word.
“Rowan,” Kayla said, standing up. “Would you…” She deposited Connor in his lap and nodded. “I’ll be… right back.” She disappeared out the front door.
Rowan held onto the crying kid and tried to get him to quiet down.
“Hey, kiddo,” he said softly as he held onto the boy. “What was that all about?” he asked when the piercing cries finally stopped.
“He’s a bad man. He hurt…” The kid took a deep breath as he hugged his broken arm close to his chest.
“It’s okay, now. He’s gone. I won’t let him hurt you anymore.” He placed a kiss on his head.
Connor nodded and snuggled deeper into his chest.
Rowan’s eyes scanned and found Kayla and Chad talking in the parking lot. She’d forgotten her umbrella and jacket, and he could see that she was getting soaked as she argued with Chad.
Chapter 18
Kayla rushed after Chad, and by the time she reached him at his rental car, her hair and shirt were already soaked.
“Chad.” She reached for him.
“Go back inside, Kayla, you’re getting soaked.”
“I haven’t told Connor anything bad about you.” The rain and the chill in the air made her shiver, and she wrapped her arms around herself.
“No, I could see that.” Chad’s voice had turned sad. “I didn’t mean to…” He shook his head. “I’ll go,” he said softly.
“What do you say we try this again,” she blurted out. She hadn’t planned it, but after seeing the pain behind Chad’s eyes, she figured he deserved a second chance. Like the one she was getting by moving to Silver Cove.
His eyes met hers and, after a mom
ent, he nodded. “I’ll stick around town for a few days.”
“How about we stop by the hotel tomorrow? That way we can do this in private.”
Chad nodded again. “I’m in room 201.” He sighed. “Go back in.” His eyes turned to the diner. She followed his gaze and saw Rowan looking back at them. “Tell the kid I’m sorry.” He turned back to her. “I am, you know. I let my parents…” He shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
She nodded and watched him get in his car before darting back into the diner.
“Everything okay?” Rowan asked.
She used her napkin to wipe the water from her face. “Yes.” She glanced over at her son who was almost asleep in Rowan’s arms. She could tell he’d cried himself to sleep.
He looked safe and warm with Rowan’s arms wrapped around him.
“Is he okay?” She nodded to Connor.
Rowan ran a hand over her son’s blond hair and nodded. “He’ll be okay. I can call and reschedule…”
She shook her head and stopped him. “No, we’ll be okay. I think I’ll take a day off from helping my mother. Besides, JT is back in town. We’re supposed to have dinner with him tonight.”
His eyebrows shot up.
“Sorry, I meant to tell you last night we wouldn’t be around tonight, but things got… crazy.”
“It’s okay.” He reached for her hand. “Everything will be okay.”
“I’m going to meet him again tomorrow.” Her eyes met his. “He should get a second chance.” She felt his hand jerk slightly in hers, but then his thumb ran over her skin and relaxed.
“If you want… need anything…” he supplied.
Her eyes met his again. “We’ll be okay. Thank you for… being here.”
He drove them back to the house, then carried Connor up and deposited him on his bed. Rowan pulled her close and she shivered when his warmth hit her. She hadn’t realized how cold she was.
“Go, you’re going to be late for work.”
He looked towards Connor’s room. “Tell the kid… I’ll see him tomorrow.”
After he left, she called her mother as she peeled off her wet clothes. JT was already there, helping clean up the last room in the house. Her mother told her that they would meet her and Connor at the docks at four.
Her brother had purchased an older home on a private five-acre island when he’d sold his first book.
She’d been out to JT’s place a few times since he moved out there. The place was huge but in serious need of work from years of neglect. She knew her brother had been working on the place and wondered how much he’d gotten done.
She stood under the hot water and let the weariness from the morning wash away. She just couldn’t get the warmth to spread through her. When she climbed out of the shower and wrapped a towel around her, her head felt dull.
She pulled on an older pair of sweats and walked back into the bedroom. Connor had woken up and came into her room and was now lying in her bed, the remote to the TV in his hands as he watched cartoons.
She climbed in next to him, pulled a blanket over herself, and snuggled down for a few hours of downtime with her son.
She’d never needed a slow rainy day with her son more than she needed it now. They watched cartoons and she actually took a fifteen-minute nap, then she got up and did some laundry while Connor helped fold and put away his own clothes.
They colored and read and took another nap before they got ready for dinner.
Rowan had texted her, asking how they were doing. She sent him a shot of the picture Connor had colored for him. He’d asked if he could have it for his office.
She didn’t want to say it, but Connor had colored five more for Rowan. Actually, every picture her son colored had been for Rowan. She had asked if she could have one, and Connor had spent the next five minutes coloring one for her.
She was finding it a little hard to believe that she was second in her son’s book now. Still, it felt good to know that he had opened up so much to a man. Especially because it was Rowan he’d chosen.
By the time they met JT and her mom at the docks, she was feeling more centered. She parked her car in the parking lot and met them at the end of the dock to wait for the ferry to take them to JT’s place.
“How was your day off?” her mother asked, taking Connor up in her arms.
Her son held onto the woman after handing her a picture he’d colored for her.
“Wonderful. I hadn’t realized how much I’d been needing it.”
“How is… I heard about Connor’s father’s visit,” she said softly.
She sighed. “We’ll talk later.” Her eyes moved to Connor.
Her mother nodded as the ferry arrived.
“I’m thinking of having Todd take over for me full time,” JT said as the man pulled the ferry to a stop.
“Oh?” Their mother turned to JT. “I thought you enjoyed driving it.”
“I do, it’s just, with the movie coming out and my new deadlines…” Her brother ran a hand through his long blond hair. “Things have been a little crazy. I still have some work on my place and could use the time to get things done.”
“I never understood why you wanted to drive a ferry on top of your writing,” she said once they were aboard and the ferry was heading away from the shore.
Her brother leaned against the railing while she and her mother sat on a long bench with Connor.
“When I bought my house, I liked my privacy, but then I realized how lonely it could be if I didn’t get out and see people.” JT scanned the horizon. “Driving the ferry doesn’t take up a lot of time and it fills that void.”
“What’s changed?” her mother asked.
JT’s eyes moved back to them. “I’ve spent a few weeks in California. Too many people.” He shook his head. “I don’t need that drama.” He smiled and sat next to her. “Hey, kiddo.” He reached for her son, who easily went into his arms. “When does the cast come off?” JT asked her.
“It should be in the next week or so.”
“How’d he break it…again?” JT asked.
She took a deep breath and decided to tell her family the truth.
By the time the ferry stopped on JT’s private dock, she’d told him everything, including the fact that she planned on meeting Chad tomorrow at his hotel.
“I’ll go with you,” JT said, carrying her son up the long dock that led towards steep stairs.
“No, we’ll be okay.” She held out her hands and took her son from her brother so he could lead the way.
They were silent as they followed him up the stairs, which opened into a long circular pathway. To the right, she could see a large boathouse that she knew housed his other boats and the ferry when it wasn’t in use. They walked around and the white colonial home came into view. She noticed the new green shingles on the roof. Surrounding the stone pathway leading to the place, the trees and bushes were well manicured and she could tell her brother spent a lot of time keeping his yard up.
She thought back to the few hours she’d spent mowing her mother’s place and tried not to let her anger show as he led them up the wide stairs of the front porch. Her brother had locked himself on the private island away from any family responsibilities. He’d been so selfish. That thought stopped her and her shoulders sagged.
“Mom, would you take Connor inside for a moment? I’d like to talk to JT.” She handed her son to her mother, who waited for JT to open the door. “Go on back, we’ll start dinner soon.” He nodded towards the back of the house. “Maybe Connor would want some juice and crackers?”
When JT shut the door, he nodded towards the front swing, and she was reminded of clearing her mother’s front porch.
She shook her head and chose to stand instead. He shrugged and sat down, crossing his arms over his chest while he waited for her to talk.
She took a moment to compose herself. The anger was trying to bubble out, but she kept it in check.
“Part of m
e wants to explode,” she finally admitted. “Seeing all this.” She glanced around at the perfectly manicured yard and home. “Knowing that our mother was… living the way she was. But I know I was selfish to go off and leave you both. What difference does it make that you’re less than ten miles away while I was more than ten hundred.”
“Kayla,” JT broke in.
“No, let me finish.” She held up her hands. “Do you know how she was living?” She turned her back to him and looked out at the water as the sun started to sink lower in the sky. “Surrounded by filth, alone.” She closed her eyes. “Part of me wants to hate you.”
She felt his hands on her shoulders and couldn’t stop them from slumping with weariness.
“I was there, almost every week. Trying to shake her out of it. I hired a crew to mow and maintain her yard. She threatened them with Dad’s old rifle.” He turned her around until she looked up into her brother’s matching blue eyes. “So, I tried doing it myself. Even bought her a new mower.” He shook his head. “She called the cops on me. She was… lost.” He rested his forehead on hers. “I didn’t think anything would wake her up. After a while… I just stopped trying.” He looked back into her eyes. “It was exhausting trying to help someone who didn’t want help. We fought every time I stepped foot in that place. Do you know how long I’ve waited for this day? The day where you would return and help out?” His hands rubbed her shoulders. “I don’t blame you for leaving.” He smiled. “I understand your frustration. I’ve been living it for the past few years as well.”
She smiled. “I’m sorry.” She felt a tear slide down her face.
Her brother dropped his arms. “God! You’re not going to cry, are you?”
A burst of laughter escaped her as she watched a look of sheer horror cross her brother’s face.
“No.” She wiped her face clean and smiled. “Still can’t stand tears?”
He crossed his arms over his chest. “Women use them as weapons.”
“No.” She took a deep breath. “Lori used them as weapons. For me, they are just a way to show you that I’m sorry.” She walked over and wrapped her arms around him. “Thank you. Thank you for sticking around and trying.”
