Rip Current

by Jill Sanders

  Wendy shook her head. “I… I’ll have to check my schedule.”

  As Cole drove them back across the bay bridge, she sat and looked out the dark windows, thinking about the evening.

  “You’re awful quiet over there,” he said as they hit the other side of the bay.

  She sighed. “I was just thinking about your family.”

  “Good or bad?” He glanced over at her.

  She smiled. “Good. I like them a lot.”

  He smiled and turned his eyes back to the road. “Good. They like you too.”

  “Like I said, it must have been wonderful growing up there.”

  He nodded. “I’m sure you had your moments too.”

  She closed her eyes and thought about it. “I suppose. But mostly I was on my own.”

  He reached over and took her hand in his. Her first instinct was to pull away, but it felt good, so she relaxed back and enjoyed the rest of the drive to her condo.

  “So,” he said as he pulled into her parking lot. “What are we doing tomorrow?”

  She laughed. “I don’t know what you’re doing, but I was planning on hitting the mall and then the grocery store.”

  “Good, I’ll pick you up around eleven.”

  She shook her head. “Cole.”

  “Oh, come on. I’ve got nothing better to do.” He shut off the engine and turned towards her.

  She looked at him for a moment. “Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had a really nice day, but…”

  He reached across the seat and quickly pulled her towards him. By the time he stopped, she was almost in his lap.

  “Cole!” she said right before his lips took hers. She wanted to fight him off, but the second his mouth touched hers, she went lax. Actually, every muscle in her body went from tense to on fire. How was it that just the slight touch of his lips could turn her into a complete dolt?

  Finally, when she was almost completely breathless, he leaned back and smiled at her. “You were saying…”

  She shook her head and realized she’d totally forgotten what they had been talking about. Reaching over, she punched him on the arm quickly.

  “Don’t do that.”

  He chuckled and rubbed his shoulder. “You didn’t seem to mind a minute ago.”

  She glared at him. “No!” She finally remembered their earlier conversation.

  “No, you didn’t mind?” His smile grew.

  “No, I’m not taking you shopping with me tomorrow.” She watched his eyes for any hint of disappointment; instead, she only found more determination. That was one of the main reasons he’d set her off so easily in the past few years. He was always so sure of himself.

  She looked down and realized his hand was running over her hip so she scooted back over to her side of the car.

  “Thanks again for today.” She reached for her door, but he stopped her with a hand on her arm.

  “Wendy, I didn’t mean to sound overbearing.”

  She glanced at him and could see something cross his eyes. She sighed and dropped her hand. “I know. You just can’t help it.”

  He chuckled. “I guess it’s going to take a while for the old Cole to fade away.”

  She nodded. “Maybe you should try to take it in steps?” She smiled.

  He chuckled. She had always loved the rich sound, not to mention the way his silver eyes sparkled when he laughed.

  “Okay, I’ll back off. But I’d really like to see you again. I don’t know how long I’ll be in town this time.”

  She frowned when she thought about some of the reasons he’d be leaving.

  “I should be back around six.” She sighed and hated that he could hone in on her weakness.

  “How about dinner?” he piped in.

  She thought about it and nodded slowly. “Fine.”

  He flashed her a smile and then jumped out and rushed around to open her door for her.

  “I guess it would be too much for you to ask me in?” He leaned closer to her as she got out of his car.

  Then she looked up at him and laughed. “Good night, Cole.” She ducked around him and made it to her door. When she looked back, he was leaning against the hood of his car, watching her.

  “Night,” he called out and waved as she stepped in and closed the door behind her.

  Glancing over at her clock, she groaned. What was she going to do with herself? It was only half past nine and she was still wired. Even the early morning couldn’t stop her internal clock from keeping her up until one or two.

  Dropping her bag on the table, she walked over and picked up the remote and tried to keep her mind off the fact that she’d just had the best day of her life with a man she had promised to hate forever.

  ***

  Cole slammed down his cell phone, only because he was afraid he’d throw it if he didn’t get it out of his hands quickly. Pacing, his long legs ate up the tiny apartment.

  Where the hell was he? He rolled his shoulders as he paced and thought about the last time he and his brother Roman had talked.

  “You’ve got to cover for me,” Roman said as he threw clothes into his bag.

  “Why?” Cole had leaned against the doorjamb and watched his brother shove clothes in the small bag. The fact that his neat and tidy brother wasn’t folding everything twice before placing it neatly into a large duffle bag had shocked him. But he’d stood back and watched the show.

  “Just for a few weeks or so.” Roman had turned on him. “If you don’t, I’ll tell Aunt Julie about the time you used her new ironing board to ride the ‘waves’ down the stairs.”

  Cole chuckled. “Bringing out the big guns, huh?”

  Roman nodded. “When it’s important.”

  Cole shrugged his shoulders. What was it to him if his brother wanted to disappear for a while. After all, Cole had been doing it on and off for the last few years himself.

  “Fine, but at least tell me where you’re going.”

  Roman stood up after zipping the large duffel bag and turned towards him. “I can’t.”

  Cole stood up and uncrossed his arms. “Listen, you want to go off somewhere and do God-only-knows-what, that’s fine with me. You want me to keep a secret from the family, that’s okay too. But at least tell someone where you are. Just in case. That’s rule number one, bro.”

  Roman had sighed and closed his eyes. “I’m not leaving the state.” His brother’s brown eyes found his. “That’s all I can tell you.”

  Cole waited. “And?”

  Roman shook his head, and Cole realized that his sandy blond hair was longer than normal. Actually, his normally clean-cut, shaved, and suited brother had been looking scruffy the last few days. Cole had noticed the change only a few days after he’d arrived back in town.

  Cole had been on a shoot for a new line of cologne in Europe, and when he’d returned, the apartment had been a mess, and his brother had looked like he hadn’t shaved in days. He’d actually been wearing a dirty T-shirt and shorts.

  “Just tell everyone I had some business to tend to in Atlanta. They’ll assume it has to do with Spring Haven.”

  Cole had sighed. “How long will you be gone?”

  Roman shrugged his shoulders, something all three boys did the same, reminding them they were brothers.

  “Fine, but I can’t hold the fort down for too long. I’ve got a contest next month in Hawaii.”

  He nodded. “It shouldn’t take that long.” He turned and picked up his bag.

  “Don’t forget to take your phone.” He tossed his brother his new cell phone, a device he’d never seen his brother leave home without. Actually, Roman was always glued to the damn thing; it was any wonder he didn’t have it stapled to his ear.

  Roman frowned down at it. “Right.” He shoved it in the end of his bag and started to walk out.

  “Check in every once in a while,” Cole yelled at his brother’s back as he walked out the front door. He thought he saw his head bob in reply, but couldn’t be sure since his hair was now longer t
han his own.

  Cole walked over and glanced at his phone one more time. It had been over a week since Roman had disappeared and he’d yet to hear a single word from him. Every text, every voice mail of his had gone unanswered. He was beginning to wonder if he should tell the family.

  He’d really hoped to go with Wendy today to Panama City. He was desperate for any distractions, even if it meant he’d have to go shopping with a girl.

  He’d dated enough women in the last few years to know that when a woman went to the mall, she would usually walk out with handfuls of bags. He cringed inwardly at the memory of his last trip to a mall. Even that hadn’t kept him from wanting to go with her today.

  He’d been telling her the truth. He really did want to turn over a new leaf. In the last two years, he’d worked up a reputation as a womanizer in the media’s eye. His agent had encouraged him to keep up the facade. Okay, most of it hadn’t been for show. After all, when women—great-looking women—fell at his feet, who was he to turn them away?

  But after a while, he started realizing that no matter what he did, or who he dated, they were all the same: boring, shallow, and out for a piece of his fame.

  Every time he brought a woman back home, they acted grateful for a short while, like it was all some sort of vacation. But after a few days or so, they would get bored and start complaining that he wasn’t taking them out enough. That they weren’t being “seen” together.

  He wanted someone who actually liked being in Surf Breeze. After all, that’s where he lived.

  He frowned as he sat down on the sofa. His brother’s sofa. Looking around the apartment, he realized that he didn’t really live anywhere.

  When he was in town, he’d always just stay at Roman’s. Up until a few months ago, Marcus had lived in the small two-bedroom place as well. Cole used to just take the sofa or, if he had a lady, stay at a hotel not far from there.

  But now that Marcus and Shelly had bought a place and were fixing it up, the second room of Roman’s place was all his. He shot money his brother’s way to help pay for the rent, along with his share of keeping Spring Haven Home, the boy’s home he and Roman had started, running. All of them pitched in to keep the place going.

  He was real proud of them for stepping out and helping young kids that were in the same situation that they had been in growing up. He knew that the home ate up a lot of Roman’s time, even though he had a staff of people helping to run the place. Roman spent most of his time across the bay in Spring Haven while Marcus spent most of his time with their other business, Paradise Construction.

  He and his siblings had each chosen their own paths. He frowned thinking about it. He had always known what he wanted to do. Surf. He hadn’t expected to make so much money at it or to become a celebrity. But when his agent had approached him a few years back about modeling underwear, he’d needed the dough to pay for his bike, so he’d jumped at the chance. He’d never imagined that he would slingshot into stardom overnight.

  Now his face and his body were on more billboards than most movie stars. He’d continued to win prestigious surfing awards, which had only boosted the demand for his photo even more. Now, he spent more time traveling for photo shoots than he did on the water.

  He crossed his arms over his chest and propped his feet up on the coffee table. Maybe that’s why he was feeling antsy lately. Something had to give.

  His mind switched gears to Wendy. It had been months since he’d had any desire to go out with anyone. At first he’d thought that it was just because he was busy, but after a while, he’d figured out that he’d actually been turning women down when they approached him.

  Maybe he’d head over to Cassey’s and see if anything was going on. Better yet, he’d take the paddle board out on the water. He glanced at the window and smiled when he saw sun streaming through it.

  Jumping up from the sofa, he rushed to the door and got everything together. He was just pulling away from the apartment parking lot when his phone chimed. Pulling over, he looked down and sighed when he saw his brother’s face pop onto his screen.

  “Hey.” He glanced in the mirror to make sure he was all the way off the road.

  “Hey, tell me you’re around somewhere close.” He could hear the pleading in his brother’s voice.

  “Umm.” He closed his eyes and knew that his time chilling in the water wasn’t going to happen. “I’m about half a mile from your driveway. Why?”

  Marcus sighed. “Perfect. I could use another pair of hands for a while.” He sighed. “I’ve got beer and pizza,” he jumped in before Cole could answer.

  “I’ll be there in a few. I’ve got to head back and change into work clothes.”

  “Thanks, you’re a real—” Cole heard a loud bang. “Gotta go.” His brother hung up quickly.

  Cole flipped his old truck around and went back to change into old jeans, a T-shirt, and his brown work boots. He’d dropped one too many things on his feet in the past helping his brothers out to show up at a job site without steel-toed boots.

  When he arrived at Marcus and Shelly’s new place, he knew he was in for a long day. There was a large cement truck blocking the driveway, so he had to park on the side of the street. There were five guys working on pouring the new driveway as he made his way up to the house.

  Marcus swung open the door before he even had a chance to knock.

  “Bout time.” His brother was already covered in a layer of white dust. “We’re in the bedroom dry-walling today.” He turned and started walking towards the back of the house. Cole shut the door and followed him. “Sure sucks that Roman is out of town. We could have used his help today too.”

  When they walked into the master bedroom, Cole tried not to groan. He’d forgotten there were vaulted ceilings in the room and when he noticed there was scaffolding, he wished Roman was there too. Even when he saw Luke leaning against a large piece of drywall, holding it in place, he didn’t feel better. Not that Luke wasn’t a hard worker. But Marcus and Roman had an unspoken system when they worked together. It was spooky at times how the two of them could read each other’s minds and finish a job quickly.

  “When did you say that SOB was coming back?” Marcus walked over and quickly screwed in the drywall piece that Luke had been holding.

  “Didn’t.” Cole walked over and positioned the next piece for Marcus.

  Marcus glanced at him. “Don’t think I don’t know you’re hiding something about that whole deal.” His eyes narrowed. “But I’m too busy to hound you right now.”

  Cole nodded, silently cursing Roman again as he held up the piece of drywall so Marcus could secure it.

  Chapter Five

  Wendy loved shopping. Period. There was no downside to it. She loved spending her hard-earned money on items she could enjoy, whether it was clothing or items for her condo. She loved picking things out and had a knack for getting what she wanted at a bargain.

  Her sister and friends had always made fun of how much she’d spent when she was younger. It was hard to explain to them that it was her one reprieve from being so damn responsible all the time. But even in this, she was still sensible. She had one, and only one, credit card that she allowed herself to spend out of. She paid it off each month and never maxed it out.

  Sighing, she glanced down at the plum dress shoes and knew that her shopping budget wouldn’t allow for them this month. That didn’t stop her from admiring them as she walked around and glanced at every mirror in the shoe department.

  She’d already picked out two pairs of shoes from the sales rack that she was determined to get, a pair of sexy silver heels that went with the new skirt she’d bought at the last store and a pair of sensible low black boots she could easily wear at work.

  She stopped off at the food court around lunchtime and had a bowl of noodles and chicken from her favorite Chinese place. Then, since she was feeling a little down about not being able to spend the weekend with her sister, she topped her lunch off with a cinnamon roll from th
e pretzel place.

  She spent the rest of her time in the container store, buying things for her condo that would help her become better organized. She was determined to turn over a new leaf. After all, if Cole was so determined to try, why couldn’t she? She viewed it as a challenge, and she was determined to win.

  She finished off her day of shopping with a quick run into the grocery store. She hated grocery shopping. She always ate out instead of cooking. She blamed it on her work hours, but the truth was she hated cooking for just herself.

  When Willow was younger, she’d enjoyed planning out meals and trying new ideas, and she’d loved to sit down around the table and eat. But since she was only cooking for one, she found herself grabbing food on the run, more and more.

  When she drove up to her condo, she frowned when she saw Cole sitting on her small front patio. His long legs were stretched out, resting on the railing as he leaned back in her rocking chair. When she got a little closer, she realized he was wearing long, faded jeans with holes in them and a dirty T-shirt that had seen better days. His tan arms were crossed over his chest, showing off those sexy muscles she’d always admired. He was even wearing work boots, which were crossed over each other.

  She stopped dead in her tracks with two large bags of groceries in her arms when she heard him snoring. Her eyes zeroed in on his face to confirm that he was dead asleep. His mouth was slightly opened. She was thankful there wasn’t any drool coming out of it. Chuckling to herself, her eyes moved over the rest of him.

  You know, with his eyes closed like this, he looked rather harmless. Until she found herself looking at those lips. Why, oh, why couldn’t she stop thinking about that kiss last night or the ones from before?

  She wet her lips and all of a sudden felt the warmth of the evening creeping into every pore of her body. She didn’t know how long she stood there, but when she realized the snoring sounds had stopped, her eyes flew to his. Had she ever realized just how silver blue they were?

  “Hey.” He smiled up at her as he stretched. “Sorry. I guess my brother worked me harder than I thought today.” She watched how his arms went over his head as he rolled his neck a few times. “Man, hanging drywall sure takes a lot out of you.”