When she felt a soft cushion behind her back, she realized she was on the sofa. How had they gotten from the front door across the room with their bodies still joined? All she knew was that she was now flat on her back and Winston was on top of her, thrusting in and out of her.
Too much was too much and she cried out, calling his name when her body exploded in one hell of an orgasm. He was right behind her and she felt his hot release at the same time a guttural groan was torn from his throat. He tightened his hold on her, as if he needed their bodies to remain locked tight, unmovable, for a minute. Then another minute. And another.
Moments later, still intimately joined, he shifted their positions to where they faced each other. Instinctively, she tucked her head under his chin, took a deep breath of his scent and slowly closed her eyes. She wished she could stop the passing of time but knew she couldn’t. So she cuddled closer knowing the next four days was all she had.
At that moment she heard her cell phone go off. It was close to ten o’clock. Usually she wouldn’t get a call this late.
“You want to get that?”
She glanced over at Winston. A part of her wanted to say no, she didn’t want to get it, because she didn’t want to leave his arms, but then she figured she had better. “Yes. It might be important.”
He released her and helped her up. She crossed the room to her purse, trying not to notice all the clothes they’d gotten out of moments earlier. Her phone had stopped ringing and the caller had left a voice mail. She furrowed her brow when she saw the call had come from an unknown number with a Claxton exchange. She listened to the voice mail.
“Ms. St. James, this is Marv Lattimore, president of the Claxton Community Council. Not sure if you heard the news report but...”
When the voice mail ended, she clicked off the phone. Stunned.
“Ainsley? Is everything okay?”
She glanced across the room. Winston was still lying naked on the sofa and staring at her with a concerned look on her face. She couldn’t shake off the significance of that phone call and how it could change her life forever.
“That was the president of the Community Council in Claxton. The mayor-elect, the man who beat me in the primary in November, was ousted from office on corruption charges. They will be holding a special election for his replacement in a week and will support me in taking his place.”
He didn’t say anything for a minute as he continued to stare at her. Finally he asked, “What are you going to do?”
What was she going to do? At one time she thought being mayor of Claxton and following in her ancestor’s footsteps was all she wanted. But now...
“Ainsley?”
She drew in a deep breath, searched his eyes. For one heart-sinking moment she was hoping to see a sign...of what? That maybe...
She shook her head, knowing she had to be realistic. Winston didn’t love her, she knew that. At least going back to Claxton and becoming mayor meant she would be too busy to reflect on the one man she couldn’t have.
Swallowing the lump in her throat, she said, “Considering that call, I need to leave for Claxton first thing in the morning.”
He nodded slowly. “Being mayor is what you want?”
Ainsley took a deep breath and said, “Yes. That’s what I want.”
Chapter 19
Winston had pulled the T-shirt over his head as he moved toward the kitchen. Suddenly Charley sounded. “Visitor on property.”
Winston’s heart kicked up several beats when he paused. Ainsley had left four days ago. Had she returned? “Identify, Charley.”
“The handsomest of you all. York.”
Winston rolled his eyes. Of course York had programmed Charley to announce him that way. Switching his direction, Winston moved toward the front door. He didn’t have to wonder what had brought York to his doorstep. Winston hadn’t been in the mood to take calls since Ainsley had left Barrett Shores and York was checking to see if he was alive or dead.
He was alive but inside he felt dead.
He opened the door and paused in the doorway, watching York get out of the car. Four days ago he had stood in this same spot and watched Ainsley get into her car and drive off the island forever. And that was the day a part of him had died inside.
Perhaps he should have told her how he felt. But what would that have accomplished if she didn’t love him back? Besides, that call was giving her a chance to fulfill her dream and he couldn’t stand in her way. He would never stand in her way. She wanted to be mayor of Claxton and now she would be.
He looked past York to the ocean while thinking that he would be the first to admit that those weeks Ainsley had spent here on the island with him had been the best days of his life. And he would always believe they’d forged a connection that had gone far beyond the bedroom.
“You look like hell.”
He raised a brow at York’s observation. So, okay, he hadn’t shaved in a few days. But he had showered, brushed his teeth, combed his hair and put on clean clothes. So where was York going with this?
“Good seeing you, too, York.”
York reached him, came to a stop, searched his face and frowned. “The hairy look doesn’t become you.”
“What brings you this way?” he asked, ignoring York’s comment.
“You know what brings me this way. You weren’t answering your phone and you know our agreement.”
Yes, he knew their agreement. They stayed in touch and if one deliberately went out of the loop there had to be a reason. “As you can see, I’m fine,” Winston said.
“Uh-huh.” York walked past him into the house. “Hello, Charley.”
“Hello, magnificent one.”
York smiled. “Smart security system you have.”
“Whatever.”
York slowly glanced around, with that always-on-the-alert look on his face. He brought his gaze back to Winston. “Why do you look like hell, W, and why is this place drenched with the scent of a woman?”
* * *
“We need you to make a decision, Ainsley. Do you want to run for mayor or not?”
In a conference room at city hall, Ainsley glanced around at the six men and three women sitting at the huge table. She had arrived in town four days ago and they’d been certain she was ready to run on the ballot uncontested. A part of her had thought the same thing. But then she’d surprised the council by saying she needed time to think about it. One of the members, Madeline McCray, had even asked what there was to think about.
It was time she told them, as well as the decision she’d made.
“From the time I was a child growing up here in Claxton,” she began saying, “I wanted to follow in the footsteps of the first Ainsley St. James and be this city’s mayor. To work hard for every single person living here.”
She paused a moment and then continued, “I thought my time had come when I threw my hat into the ring. I was convinced this was the job for me, that my town needed me. I had great ideas for moving Claxton forward, bringing in change everyone could agree with and working with all the townspeople to retain those small-town values we all love. But then, in stepped my opponent and all of you stopped believing in me and began believing lies about me that his campaign fabricated. Some of you even approached me about dropping out of the race to give him an uncontested win.” She noticed the look of shame on a couple faces and in a way was glad for that.
“But we found out what he accused you of wasn’t true,” Madeline McCray said. “Last week I went to that club in New York myself and spoke to the owner. He remembered you, said what a hard worker you were and verified that you hadn’t been a stripper but a dancer.”
Ainsley stared at the woman. “You went to New York and talked to my former boss?”
“Yes,” Madeline said smiling. “After what happened with Luis, this town didn’t need another scandal on our hands, so we had to be absolutely certain of exactly what you did while working at that club.”
“I told all of you
what I did, but you still didn’t believe me?” Ainsley asked calmly, refusing to let them disappoint her anymore. She looked down for a minute, studied her entwined hands and remembered what Winston had once told her. When someone believes in you, there’s no need for further doubt.
Ainsley lifted her head and glanced around the room into the faces of people she had known all her life. They hadn’t believed in her...but Winston had. Without any doubt she knew her decision was the right one for her.
“I suggest you look to see if someone else is interested in being your mayor.” There was shocked silence around the table but at the moment Ainsley couldn’t have cared less about their reaction.
“And you aren’t interested?” Marv Lattimore asked while a number of council members exchanged stunned glances.
“Not anymore. The fact that you all still felt the need to check out my story even though I said it wasn’t true lets me know you just don’t fully believe in me.” Ainsley stood. “In that case, I’m not going to be the right person to lead this city. And I wish you all the best in your selection process. I’m sure there’s a candidate you’ll believe in out there.”
She then turned and walked out of the room.
* * *
“If you think you can stare me away, forget it,” York said, easing down in the chair opposite from Winston who hadn’t stopped glaring at his godbrother since he’d arrived. “So get it out. Who is she?”
Winston didn’t say anything for a moment and then leaned back on the sofa, switching his gaze off York to look out the window. “Doesn’t matter anymore.”
“You look like shit, so I think it does.”
It was on the tip of Winston’s tongue to say he only looked like he felt. He turned back to York who raised a brow in what Winston recognized as a stand-off challenge. This particular godbrother could be a pain in the ass when there was something he wanted to know, which made Winston pity anyone who’d come up against York during his NYPD days.
“Her name was Ainsley St. James and she interviewed me for The New York Times.” He watched York’s sharp dark eyes show signs of surprise and understood. He’d never allowed himself to be interviewed before.
“And...”
He should have known York was not going to let that be the end of it. So he decided to be completely honest. “And I became totally whipped.”
If he expected amusement, he didn’t get it. Instead York leaned forward with a serious expression on his face. “I think you need to start from the beginning.”
Winston wasn’t sure why he began talking, telling York everything. Maybe he needed to relive the moments for himself to make sure they had happened or maybe because hearing it allowed him a chance to treasure what had been and to accept what he now felt.
“And you let her walk away?” York asked when he’d finished.
Winston rubbed his hand down his face. “What else was I supposed to do?”
“Tell her how you felt.”
“Why? It would not have changed anything.”
“You don’t know that.”
York was right, he didn’t. But he had refused to take the chance of getting hurt all over again. “Doesn’t matter. I’ve made plans.”
York lifted a brow. “What sort of plans?”
“I got a call yesterday. I’ve been offered the opportunity to set up a marine sanctuary on the Great Barrier Reef for the next three years. So maybe things worked out between us as they should have.”
Even while he’d said the words, pain had stabbed deep at his heart because he knew that no matter where he went or what he did, Ainsley had made herself a permanent part of his existence and he wasn’t going to forget her that easily.
“I see,” York muttered breaking into his thoughts. “I’ve never known you to be a quitter, W.”
Winston chuckled derisively. “And you’ve never known me to be whipped, either, so that goes to show that strange things can happen,” he said, his mouth forming into a grim line.
Winston stood. “I’m about to have lunch and you’re welcome to join me, but the subject of Ainsley St. James is a closed subject from here on out.”
Not waiting for York to make a comment, he walked off toward the kitchen.
* * *
A week later Ainsley was back in New York and joining Tessa for dinner as they celebrated her return.
“So what are your plans now?” Tessa asked as she took a sip of her wine.
Ainsley smiled over at her friend and saw her worried expression and felt the need to assure her that everything would be fine. “I got a call from Bobby a couple days ago and everything’s final. Not only do I get back my old job but I’ll be writing the column again in three months. The big brass liked the article I did on Winston which comes out in Sunday’s paper.”
Ainsley took a sip of her own wine and inwardly prepared herself for the question she knew Tessa would ask. She had eventually told her best friend everything. How she had fallen madly in love with Winston and knowing her love wouldn’t be reciprocated, how she had left Barrett Shores after getting Marv Lattimore’s call with the intent of not looking back. She’d had so much disappointment in her life lately, she didn’t need anymore.
“And you haven’t changed your mind about not reconnecting with Winston Coltrane?”
“Nope, it’s for the best.”
“You know I don’t agree with you about that,” Tessa said. “You let me read the draft of that article. Winston Coltrane is a very private man, yet he allowed you to spend time with him and get to know him as few people would.”
She waved off Tessa’s words. “It was only about sex...for him.”
“How can you be so sure? What are you waiting for? Some sort of sign indicating otherwise?”
Ainsley chuckled. “A sign would be nice, but I’m not holding my breath for one. I can’t live in the past. I have to move on. If nothing else, losing that election has taught me not to assume anything. Had Winston wanted me to stay, he would have said so.”
Wanting to change the subject, Ainsley began talking about some of the decorating ideas she’d considered now that she’d moved back into her apartment.
In the middle of her explanation, Tessa interrupted her. “Don’t you dare turn around now, but three of the most handsome guys I’ve ever seen just walked in.” Seconds later Tessa’s lips formed a disappointed frown. “Forget it. They’re all wearing wedding bands.”
Ainsley nodded. Not that she was interested, no matter how good they looked. When they stepped in her line of vision as the waiter led them to their table across from hers, she couldn’t help but agree with Tessa. They looked good. She didn’t want to stare but something about them—all three of them—was familiar. She was certain she would have remembered them if they’d met. So where...?
It hit her when one of the men noticed her staring and glanced at her with an intense look on his face. That intense look gave him away because she’d seen it before—on the framed photograph hanging on the wall in Winston’s lab. There was no doubt in her mind that these men were three of Winston’s five godbrothers. She nervously broke eye contact with the man and took a sip of her wine, wishing it was something stronger.
“You okay?” Tessa asked her.
She swallowed and glanced over at her friend. “Yes, why do you ask?”
“Because you were staring at that guy and he was staring back. Do you know him?”
Ainsley nervously placed down her glass. She might have recognized him but she was certain he didn’t know her. “No, I don’t know him personally but I’ve seen a picture of him as well as the other two.”
Tessa lifted an arched brow. “You have? Where?”
“Winston’s place. They’re his godbrothers. He has five of them.”
“Five?”
“Yes, it’s a long story.”
“I can’t wait to hear it. And you’re sure that guy doesn’t know you, because he’s still looking. He whispered something to the other two and now all of
them are staring at you.”
Ainsley hoped Tessa was wrong. She was certain those men didn’t know her.
“Uh-oh,” Tessa said with barely moving lips. “I hate to tell you this but that man—the one who was staring you down—has gotten up and is headed this way. And you’re sure the two of you have never met?”
“Positive.”
Seconds later she held her breath when the man stopped at their table. She looked at him and he stood there, staring at her with that same intense look. She cleared her throat. “Yes, may I help you?”
“Evening, ladies. I apologize for disturbing your meal,” he said. He then turned his full attention to Ainsley. “But I was wondering if perhaps your name is Ainsley St. James?”
Chapter 20
“And just who wants to know?” Tessa answered curtly before Ainsley could get a word out.
The man switched his gaze to Tessa and gave her an indulging smile. “I do. I’m York Ellis,” he said presenting his hand to Tessa.
Ainsley saw her friend softening under the man’s smile. “And I’m Tessa Spencer.”
“Nice meeting you, Tessa.” He then turned his attention back to Ainsley.
Wondering how he knew who she was, she offered the man her hand. “Yes, I’m Ainsley St. James. You’re one of Winston’s godbrothers. He has a picture of you guys on the wall in his lab. We’ve never met so how did you recognize me?”
“From a picture, as well.”
At the lifting of her brow, he added, “On his refrigerator. It was taken of you on the beach.”
Ainsley’s stomach tightened and she picked up her wine to take another sip. She remembered the day Winston had taken that picture during the last week of her stay on Barrett Shores. They had spent an entire day on the beach and she’d been wearing a very provocative bikini. She’d been stretched out on a beach towel and he’d called her name. When she had glanced up he had snapped the picture on his iPhone. She hadn’t known he had even downloaded it. And he had placed it on his refrigerator? More sensations flipped her stomach at the thought of what that could mean.
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