Full Circle

by Jennifer Simpkins

  Mia left him to his thoughts, and all too soon they were at Bodacious Blooms, and of course there was a convenient parking space. All the stars were in alignment and Heath took his courage in both hands. Mia joined him on the sidewalk, and he accepted another impetuous hug.

  “Rap on the door and make sure she sees you.”

  Knowing Ellie might well leave him standing outside, Heath nodded, not trusting his voice. Such a girl, he chastised himself. Thank God for girls. A much younger voice, but still his own, piped up in his head, and he managed to smile.

  “Ellie’s careful about opening the door,” Mia said, and he realized she’d mistaken his silence for impatience.

  The thought that Ellie cared about her safety cheered him immensely. Maybe she’d rub off on Mia. “I’ll make sure she knows it’s me, munchkin.”

  “I’ll … just hang around then. In case—”

  “You’ll go upstairs right now while I watch. And you stay there. Inside. If anyone needs you they’ll call or text. Got that?”

  With a pout, his sister acquiesced. “I’m going.”

  He watched her bounce up the stairs and after fumbling for her keys—typical Mia—she got the door of the apartment open and went inside. Show time.

  Wiping his hand on his jeans, Heath moved close to Ellie’s door and knocked firmly, yet hopefully not in a manner that would make her think of big, scary men or anything. Despite his care, the sound resonated on the quiet street and he looked around, feeling he wasn’t alone. Movement behind the glass caught his eye and he focused on Ellie moving toward him. Even at that distance he could see the myriad of emotions that washed across her expressive features. She hesitated at the door, staring into his eyes before reaching for the lock.

  When the door swung open, Ellie cut right to the chase. “Why are you here, Heath?”

  There was no script, and much of what he’d rehearsed vanished into a part of his brain he couldn’t access. So he went with what he had. “I’m so sorry, Ellie. For everything.” Tension swirled around them, so thick he felt weighed down, and he pushed against it when she said nothing. “Can I come in?”

  She bit her succulent lower lip, little white teeth tugging, before she nodded and backed up, motioning him into the shop. Heath stepped inside and looked around while she closed and locked the door, the little bell tinkling again. The place smelled earthy, like spring was about to burst forth and inundate the senses, and he took a deep breath. It soothed and settled him.

  “I don’t have any coffee made.

  “I didn’t come for coffee, Ellie. Can we sit somewhere?”

  Tilting her head, she considered him with her cool hazelnut eyes.

  Heath took note of the dark circles beneath them and realized how strained she looked.

  “There are a couple of stools behind the counter.”

  “I’ll drag them out.” He figured she wouldn’t want to feel confined around him. He also sensed she was regretting allowing him inside. How could he blame her, the way he’d acted? But she nodded again and he went to fetch them, tall, ancient things with insufficient padding and hard metal backs.

  They perched on the stools, a few feet from one another, and he was struck by how awkward both the seating and the situation felt. It was maybe like sitting in the corner with a Dunce cap on in those stories his grandfather used to tell. If he had one of those hats he’d willingly wear it.

  “First of all, I’m sorry about how I’ve acted toward you right from the start—at dinner. I’d like to say I don’t know what came over me, but I do. It was freaking hard to see you again and so I acted out, like some spoiled kid. I brought Melissa as a distraction, something I am definitely not proud of … and I’m not marrying her,” he said in a rush. “I took her to the airport this afternoon.”

  “O…kay.”

  He hoped that was a sigh of relief Ellie released and not one of exasperation. He waited for her to speak, but she was clearly leaving it up to him. Fair game. “As for walking away, leaving you … shit, I ran away. I own that. Leaving you the way I did, it was unconscionable, Ellie.” He wanted to hang his head, wishing she’d stroke his hair like she used to, a sweet gesture that never failed to soothe him. But she remained immobile on her perch, eyes fixed on him still with all those emotions chasing one another across her face.

  He dropped to the floor and paced in the narrow space between her and the big cooler as he struggled to say the words he hoped she wanted to hear. He needed to say them. Stopping just short of her, he dared to rest a hand on her forearm. “I wanted you so badly, Ellie, but I held off that time when … when you—”

  What the hell was wrong with him? He was sexually experienced and had so many notches on his bedpost he qualified for man whore status. Yet he couldn’t give voice to that wonderfully sweet, one and only time Ellie had so obviously gathered up her courage to take him into her mouth. He didn’t even want to call it a blow job. The blush that crept up her lovely throat to color her cheeks told him she was remembering too, and he took heart.

  “The time when you put your mouth on me. I’ve never forgotten it, Ellie. But I couldn’t take your virginity. I didn’t want to make you think I was this older guy taking advantage of a high school girl. You were too important to me.”

  Her skin was warm and silky beneath his fingers, and he feathered his hand down to touch the pulse at her wrist. It was pounding. This was as difficult for her as him. Harder, you asshole. You as much as called her a gold digging slut.

  “And what about the second time we were together, Heath? I think I know, but you could clarify.” If her cold tone was anything to go by, she hadn’t forgiven him, and she was indeed going to make him work for it. But at least she was listening.

  Carefully withdrawing his hand, he slouched back onto the stool but didn’t look away. He told it like it was. “I wanted to punish you, hurt you the way I thought you’d hurt me. So I wound you up and dropped you. I’m not proud of the way I handled it all.”

  At her stifled gasp, at the tears sheening her eyes, he nearly choked but doggedly forged ahead. “Ah, Ellie. I was a total asshole. My mom cheated on my dad, and I wasn’t immune to the example it set. I know that now. It was like history repeating itself, only you and I were the starring characters in the drama. No excuse, but it’s the only reason I can think of for believing you’d do that to me. And my young man’s pride … well, I lashed out and left. I lost the better part of thirteen years with you. My life hasn’t been much without you. I see that now. At the risk of sounding even more arrogant, I dare hope you’ve missed me too.”

  A whole lot of silence dragged out, and with it, Heath’s hopes dwindled. His apology and explanation hadn’t been enough. Even a great person—woman—like Ellie couldn’t forgive him. The way she’d loved him hadn’t weathered the betrayal and passage of time well enough. He thought to excuse himself and leave her alone, like she’d asked him to, when she shifted on her perch.

  “There are trust issues and then there is trust.” Ellie looked startled at her comment, and then smiled ruefully. “I don’t even know what that means. But it kills me you didn’t talk to me about it. I mean, I’ve thought it through and can see how a letter from a doctor’s office is pretty irrefutable, but I’m stuck on you … what was it you said? Winding me up and then dropping me? That was cruel and unusual punishment.”

  “True. And for me too.” It was too late. He’d said it, like a randy fool. But it had nearly killed him physically not to consummate the intimacy that time. It had also cracked his beleaguered heart into tiny little pieces, something he recognized now.

  “What?” Ellie reared back on her stool.

  “You think I didn’t suffer?” He had to go with a stupid male appeal to her tender heart.

  “You are an asshole. Where’s your repentant attitude and abject apologies now?”

  They were teasing one another. Heath couldn’t begin to believe it, but there was a tiny smile on Ellie’s lips, and she’d spoken with a h
int of humorous exasperation coloring her tone.

  “I have one more, because I’m begging for a second chance.” Risking his balance, he leaned and was able to grasp her shoulders, tugging to pull her to stand between his knees.

  Her eyes widened at the sudden movement as she stumbled into him. They were now about the same height, eyes level with one another, and he looked into his future. Her hands came up, finding his waist, and without giving himself any more time to think—or to allow her any—he slanted his mouth across hers.

  Soft, pliant lips gave way before his determined kiss, and he tasted Ellie again, mourning the intervening years, pouring his angst into her. She melted against him with barely a hesitation, and he wrapped his arms around her to hold her close, tracing his tongue against hers.

  Heart thundering in his chest, blood pulsing in his temples before it headed south to join the rest that had filled his dick to bursting, Heath savored the moment, wishing he’d had this conversation with Ellie in a more comfortable setting. Like her bedroom. But that was his little head thinking, so with an effort he tore his mouth away and stared into her eyes as they drifted open.

  She gave him a flicker of a smile. “Apology accepted.”

  “Thank God.” How had he gotten so lucky? Who was this woman?

  She threw cold water on him. “Not so fast, Heath. And not so easy.”

  Cuddling her close, he nodded against her hair. “I know. I know it, Ellie.” He thought they might stand there forever, reveling in the moment.

  “A lot has happened, Heath. We can’t ignore that,” she said against his chest.

  “We’ll discuss everything. I promise. Right now, I would just love to hold you a minute.”

  She relaxed against him and then just as suddenly stiffened. “There’s a man outside.”

  “What?” Heath put Ellie behind him in a move that had her gasping again. Protective didn’t cover the way he felt.

  “He was looking in, I think, and when I noticed, he headed toward the alley.”

  Speaking over his shoulder, Heath stalked to the door. “Are there good locks on the apartment door?”

  “Yes. Of course. I made sure of it when I rented it out to Mia.”

  “Grab your phone and dial 911. Put the call through if you see anything. But you stay inside and lock up after me.”

  “Okay. But you be careful.”

  He thanked his lucky stars she wasn’t like Mia, who’d be questioning him and mocking his actions. Mia, who was upstairs in the apartment alone, and who probably hadn’t even locked her door. He and his absent-minded sister were going to have a long talk about safety in the very near future.

  Exiting, he looked around but saw nothing. The bolt snapped into place behind him and he nearly smiled that Ellie had obeyed him in this. Then a faint cry pulled him toward the alley, his feet beating against the sidewalk. As he rounded the corner of the building a broad back blocked his view of the stairs, the heavy blue broadcloth shirt probably sufficient against the chill of the night, because the guy wasn’t wearing a jacket. A mane of tangled blond hair dipped forward and Heath heard a deep voice. “Shh. I know it hurts. I’ll just—”

  Mia made that slight sound again, her little form hidden by the man looming over her, and Heath lost it. He charged forward and took the guy down in a full tackle—right on top of his sister. She screamed in earnest, and he frantically rolled to the side to spare her his weight, and the stranger rolled the other way. They both came up into a crouch, staring across the now moaning Mia huddled on the lowest step. Beneath the wild, unkempt hair a pair of pale grey eyes narrowed and a hand the size of a dinner ham came up and made a fist. Heath resigned himself to a solid punch and hoped Ellie had called the cops.

  “Don’t!” Mia waved a hand as she struggled to sit up.

  Heath risked a glance at her pained expression while trying to gauge where the man was planning to hit him.

  “It’s okay. He’s my brother.”

  Mia knew this guy? What the hell? Heath observed the guy’s hand slowly relax and his eyes lower to watch Mia.

  He figured he could launch another tackle and was tensing himself when his sister whimpered.

  “It hurts.”

  “What did he do to you?” The buildings echoed with his outraged response and he stood, going toe to toe with the guy who was now on his feet. Except the man wasn’t interested in facing off with Heath. His attention was turned to Mia.

  “He didn’t do anything. Except try to help before you pushed him onto me. My ankle hurts and it’s swelling. I’ll never be able to wear those shoes to the wedding.” Mia sobbed a little, and Heath managed to shut his mouth at the trivial concern she’d just voiced.

  “Let me see, little lady.” The behemoth knelt and reached out slowly to take Mia’s left foot into his huge hands. He was obviously gentle because while she hissed, she didn’t cry out and shed no more tears.

  Heath wondered what universe he’d stepped into, but contented himself with watching closely.

  “Heath?” Ellie whispered his name as she cautiously made her way into the alley. He wrapped an arm around her and hugged her to his side.

  “Mia got hurt somehow. Her ankle. And this man is trying to help her.”

  “He was before big brother got all insane on his ass.” Mia proclaimed this bitterly and Heath winced, knowing the extra weight had to have really hurt. Maybe made things worse.

  “Not broken I don’t think, although you need an x-ray. It’s a bad sprain for sure.” The man straightened after setting Mia’s foot back down very carefully.

  “I called 911.” Ellie bit her lip again and looked anxiously toward Mia.

  “That’s fine,” Heath said. “Save me carting my sister to the car to drive her to the hospital. I assume her insurance is paid up.”

  Mia pouted, then looked at her savior. “Thank you for trying to help. I’m Mia Granger. This is my brother Heath, and my best friend Ellie Scott.”

  “Steve Broome.” He made kind of an awkward bow toward Mia and nodded at Heath and Ellie. “I’m staying in one of the cabins at the estuary. I walk a lot and heard Miss Granger fall.”

  “You fell?” Ellie hurried to Mia and crouched at her feet. “What happened?”

  “Yes. What happened?” Heath knew he sounded like a grouchy older brother, but it had been a night to remember, and he didn’t want to lose the most important part of it in this particular drama. “I thought you were going to bed.”

  “Uh … I thought I’d come down and see how things were going. With you and Ellie.”

  Steve shuffled his feet and Heath was grateful that somebody was observing social convention. “I’ll just head out. You take care, Miss Granger. They’ll ice that foot for you and wrap it up. Sorry about the shoes.”

  His big form eased around the corner, and Mia looked after him with chagrin, probably because she no longer had anyone to act as a buffer for what Heath planned to say about interfering little sisters. Who got themselves injured sneaking around. And who could have run into a real vagrant with nefarious purpose on his mind instead of a man who was obviously struggling with some issues but who had been nothing but kind. “Mia.”

  “I know. I do. I’m sorry.” Everybody was sorry tonight, and Ellie looked up at him with a smile twitching her sweet lips, likely making the same connection.

  A scuffle at the mouth of the alley denoted the arrival of both the local police and paramedics. Lecturing his sister would have to wait, as would spending more time with Ellie. Heath quickly explained the situation and made sure the cops weren’t going to make some assumptions about Broome. When he was certain things were under control, he turned back to Ellie.

  “Can you close up? I’ll take you to your car.”

  “Sure.” They walked quietly back to the shop, full of unspoken promises. Heath welcomed the silence because this one gave him a chance to let things sink in. Despite Mia’s injury, life felt promising for the first time in forever.

  As so
on as Ellie turned out the lights and locked up, he made sure she was safe in her car, wishing he could head home with her, but resigning himself to following Mia and then taking her back to his dad’s. No way could she do those stairs again tonight.

  “I’d rather come home with you.”

  “I know. But Mia needs you. You should call Roy.” Ellie rubbed his forearm, and her touch was as soothing as he recalled.

  “Not unless things are worse at the hospital. I don’t want him to worry. I’ll be taking her to the house anyhow. They’ll find out soon enough.”

  “Tomorrow?” She leaned into him and pressed a kiss on his jaw.

  “How about breakfast? I’ll pick you up at eight?”

  “That works.”

  He leaned down and kissed her, softly this time, but also with his heart. “I love you, Ellie. In case I didn’t show you. I would have said it tonight except for the interruption.”

  “I love you too, Heath. I always have.” He knew there was more than the light from over the door shining in her eyes, and his chest swelled.

  As far as pledging their hearts went, it was hardly an opportune place, but he’d take it. “Drive safe and text me when you’re home.”

  “I don’t have your number.”

  Well, shit. Semantics.

  With a laugh, she handed over her cell and he punched in his number, dragging his own out to silence the call. “We’ll get this down right yet, sweetheart.” He watched her car until the red taillights vanished into the night before remembering he should probably check on Mia.

  Chapter Ten

  Sleep came more easily for Ellie last night than any other night since Heath had returned. She’d fallen into slumber with her mind running through all the possibilities that now lay before her and Heath, and the future of their relationship.

  She had seriously thought she and Heath said all they needed to the night before last, standing in her doorway. Well, maybe not all, but everything they were going to. After the night he showed up at her door and then yesterday’s confrontation with Melissa, Ellie had come to the sad conclusion she and Heath were never meant to be. They were only two ships passing. He hadn’t trusted her, and she didn’t know how she could forgive him for the way he’d treated her. She was broken. He had done that to her.