“Scar?”
“Yeah, one of them sliced into her ribcage. Athena couldn’t look at it without the memories flooding back, so she had it removed.”
“How long have you known Athena?”
With a tilt of his head and a smile, Todd says, “I came into her life two years ago, not long after she had the surgery. She’s come a long way since then. We met on the beach.”
“Did they catch the bastards who hurt her?”
“Two ended up dead when the police raided the building, one died in prison, and the other one is serving two consecutive life sentences. He’ll never get out. They got him for murder, kidnapping, and drug offenses.”
Todd leaves the bathroom, and I follow him out, holding the washcloth to the back of my neck. He sits in the chair, and I regain my position at the end of the bed.
“Why’d you tell me?”
Todd points at me. “You’re famous. If you want Athena, it has to be all of her. She may not be ready to tell you what happened to her, but we both know if a reporter starts sniffing around, they’ll find out, and all of Athena’s secrets that she’s spared her family from will come out. It’ll hurt her, hurt them, and I need to know you’re not going to run again. Athena will need you to be there for her, to have her back.”
There’s no anger in his voice, only concern. He genuinely cares for Athena, and he’s right, letting her back into my life will mean all her secrets will become fodder for the press.
“How did she keep this from her family?”
Todd shakes his head and lets out a breath. “She told them and everyone else she’d been mugged. That they beat her up and stabbed her.”
“How did she explain being missing for days?”
“They didn’t know. Athena gave her boss specific instructions that if anything happened to her, her family wasn’t to be notified. She constructed a story in the hospital, and everyone went along with it. Athena was emotionally traumatized, fragile, and she couldn’t deal with her family’s grief, let alone her own. She came home, she healed, but Kris, I need you to hear this…” Todd’s eyes bore into mine, “… Athena has never dealt with what happened to her. If you want her in your life, she’s going to have to, and, man, you’re going to have to be a better fucking person. You can’t cut and run because if you do, I swear, I’ll shoot you myself.”
There’s a conviction in his voice, and I know he means every word. For a moment, all I do is nod, then I stand and hold out my hand to him. Todd cocks his head to the side and grasps my hand.
“I swear I won’t run this time. I swear I’ll protect her.”
Todd stands. “No, Kris. No more protecting her. Athena needs to face this head-on. I’ve tried to get her to go into therapy, and she always says no. It’s like that time away from here never happened. She has it in a box and never opens it. Kris, you’ve got to get her to face it.”
“How?”
Todd shrugs. “I think the first course of action should be for you to get her to tell you. When you’ve done that, she needs to tell her family, and after that, lots of love and care.”
My suitcase is in the corner of the room. I walk to it, throw it on the bed, and then begin throwing my clothes into it.
“You’re leaving?”
“My dad. I need to take care of him.”
Todd smiles. “Something tells me your dad is perfectly capable of looking after himself, but it’s nice that you’re going to try.”
He opens the door and looks at me over his shoulder. “You know I meant it when I said I’d shoot you.”
I smile. “I know.”
Chapter Fourteen
Athena
It’s Wednesday morning, and I’m taking Ashlea to a spa, then we are having lunch. Ashlea and TB live together, so as of tonight, she’ll be moving into my cottage with me. I don’t think they’ve spent any time away from each other since their first date. It’ll be interesting to see how TB copes without her. We’re meeting at TB’s café. I’m walking along the road when Kris’ bright red car speeds past, he brakes sharply, sending smoke into the air and makes a U-turn.
Suddenly, self-conscious, I look down at my dress. It’s a simple floral pattern, mostly pinks, and I’m wearing white flip flops. My hair is up in a ponytail, and I have no makeup on as I didn’t see the point with it being a spa day. Kris pulls up alongside me, grinning, looking far too handsome.
He winds down the passenger window and pulls his sunglasses down so I can see his eyes. “Hey there, gorgeous, need a lift?”
I shake my head. “Nope. I’m only going to Small Delights. It’s not far.”
Kris pouts. “Come on, Athena, let me drive you, please?”
Reluctantly, I open the door. “Okay, but no speeding.”
Kris nods and smirks as he pushes his sunglasses back up. “I promise.”
With a scowl, I get into the car. “I mean it.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“And no detours.”
“You spoil all my fun.”
I give him a sideways glance. “I find that hard to believe.”
Kris smiles and slowly drives to the café. “Is this pace okay?”
A loud horn blares from behind us. “No!”
Kris grins and accelerates. The speed he’s traveling is way too fast for this sleepy town. As he gets to Small Delights, he brakes, turns the wheel, and somehow manages to park in the one spot out the front without hitting anything.
“Kris!”
Calmly, he turns off the car, pulls his sunglasses down, and winks at me. “Yes, my sweet, Athena?”
Laughter bubbles up out of me. “Jerk.” He feigns hurt. “You’re lucky you didn’t hit anyone.”
Kris shakes his head. “Nah, I’ve been trained by Colton Donavan, and he’s a good teacher. You were perfectly safe, I promise.”
“Colton Donavan, seriously?”
“Yeah, Andy Westin, the director for my next film, Powerful, said it would be beneficial for me to learn a few things. So with Colton and some of the stunt guys, I’ve been doing an offensive driving course. The things those guys can do with a car is nothing short of amazing.”
There’s a tap on Kris’ window, and we look up to see Todd standing there. Kris signals that he’s getting out, and Todd stands back. I scramble out of the car.
“Todd! Buddy, pal, how are you?” asks Kris exuberantly as he throws his arms around Todd.
Todd’s eyes bulge out of his head as he stares at me. I laugh and shrug,
“Kris, how fast were you just going?”
Kris holds Todd at arm’s length. “My man, you know I wasn’t looking, but I’m pretty sure I was under the speed limit.”
“And the spinning tires, and the sideways way you parked the car? How about that?”
“Well, that was precision parking. Wasn’t it, Athena?”
I laugh some more and nod. “Um, I’m going to let you two sort this out. I have a date.”
Both men snap their heads in my direction.
“A date?” asks Todd.
“With who?” asks Kris.
Grinning from ear to ear, I walk into the café. Ashlea is behind the counter serving, and the place is packed. There’s not an empty seat to be found. I walk past her and out to the kitchen were TB and Shannon look a little flustered. TB’s face is red, and Shannon’s usually perfectly coiffed hair is slightly mussed.
“Need help?”
“Yes,” mutters Shannon.
“No, we are fine,” replies TB firmly.
I put my hands on my hips and raise my eyebrows. “You don’t look fine.”
“He’s being unreasonable! With all these outsiders here for the wedding, we are not coping, but will he employ more people? No!” thunders Shannon.
TB’s face goes redder, he purses his lips, and I just know he’s about to lose his cool.
“Okay! I’ve got this.”
TB and Shannon both look at me.
“How?” asks Shannon.
�
�What?” asks TB.
Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I call Mom. “Hey, Mom.”
“Hello, honey.”
“TB needs help in the café, and I need to steal Ashlea for a spa day. Can you help?”
“Of course, honey, do you think he needs Dad, too?”
“Oh, yeah, you should see how frazzled Shannon is.”
“Oh, dear! We are on our way.”
I look up at TB, who throws a dishtowel in my face. “I had it under control.”
“No, you didn’t,” counters Shannon as she smiles widely at me.
TB gives her a death stare, Shannon shrugs, and goes out the front with two plates of food.
“You shouldn’t treat her that way. One day she might leave.”
“Shannon loves me. There’s no way she’d leave, and we were fine.”
“Your steak is burning?”
“Oh, fuck!”
TB pulls it off the stove and throws it in the sink, and he rests both hands on it, shoulders slumped. I place a hand on his arm.
“What’s going on?”
“Kris and Sophia are good for business. The kind of business we only get at peak season and the extra money will go a long way to making it a perfect honeymoon for Ashlea. Instead of having to be careful, she can do whatever she wants.”
“You’re an idiot.” We both turn around to find Ashlea there glaring at us. “I know we aren’t there yet, but for better or worse, remember? I don’t need a fancy honeymoon. Ares Boswell, all I need is you.”
“Ares?”
She smiles. “I was going for the dramatic effect.”
TB closes the gap between them and embraces her. To give them some privacy, I go out the front. Shannon smiles at me as she takes an order from a customer. Kris walks in, and the noise volume goes down as people stare at him. He doesn’t seem to notice as he makes a beeline for me.
“Hey, so do you want to have dinner?”
“Did Todd give you a ticket?”
Kris grins and shakes his head. “Nah, let me off with a warning.” The tell-tale sign he’s nervous rears its head as he places a hand to the back of his neck and rubs. “Dinner?”
“I don’t think so. I’m moving Ashlea into my house this afternoon. It’s a girls’ day.”
“I could get takeout for three?” Kris puts his hands in his pockets. “And how are you moving her?”
“Ashlea has a car. And I don’t know…”
Ashlea comes out and throws an arm over my shoulders. “You don’t know what?”
“I was going to bring takeout over tonight, but Athena’s not sure.”
“You paying?” asks TB.
Kris nods. “That was the plan.”
“Good, takeout for four, and my woman likes Thai food.”
“Your woman?” asks Kris incredulously.
Ashlea kisses TB’s cheek and smiles. “Yeah, his woman.”
“Okay, enough,” says Shannon. “You.” She points at TB. “Back in the kitchen. Athena, grab a pad and start taking orders. Don’t forget to write the table number down, and you,” she points at Kris. “Behind the register taking payments. Ashlea, you get to go help in the kitchen. Get to it!” orders Shannon.
Strangely, we all do as we’re told. Fifteen minutes later, Mom and Dad walk through the door. Mom comes over to me and takes my pad and pen, and Dad goes in to relieve Kris.
“Thanks, Mom.”
She smiles warmly. “Oh, honey, it’s my pleasure.”
Mom takes over, and I grab Kris’ hand and walk him out to the kitchen area, which is now under control thanks to Ashlea’s calming influence on TB.
“Come on, Ashlea, we need to go.”
“TB needs me.”
I slap Kris on the chest. “That’s what he’s here for. Kris, you are now TB’s kitchen bitch.”
“What?” Kris widens his eyes.
TB chuckles. “I like the sound of that.”
“Come on, Ashlea. Mom’s out front, and if TB needs help, she and Kris can swap. Kris, if you just do as TB says, everything will be fine. TB, if you keep your cool and listen to Shannon, everything will be fine.”
“How did Shannon get to be in charge?” asks TB.
“Well, I am the best-looking one here,” teases Shannon as she hangs up more orders.
“I thought that was me,” replies Kris.
Shannon turns, licks her lips, and holds her hand to her forehead. “You are indeed a sight to behold, but honey, you’ve got nothing on this.” Shannon runs her hands down her sides and throws her head back. “You feel me?”
We all laugh, and Kris winks at Shannon. “You have a point.”
“Well, yes… yes, I do.” Shannon turns and sashays out of the kitchen.
“She’s a hell of a waitress,” states TB.
“Yes, she is, and that’s why Ashlea and I are leaving.”
“Do you think you’ll be okay?”
TB kisses her on the forehead. “We’ll be fine.”
Ashlea hugs him, kisses him on the lips, and I drag her from the café. We just hit the sidewalk when Kris comes out.
“Wait!” We stop and turn to look at him, but he’s staring at me. “We’re still on for tonight, right?”
I look at Ashlea, who nods.
“Sure, Thai takeout for four.”
Kris leans in, grabs my hand, and kisses me on the cheek. “Great, see you then.”
I’m standing on the sidewalk watching his back when Ashlea leans in. “You should close your mouth.”
“What?” I swing my head in her direction. “My mouth was closed.”
“Sure, it was.”
“We’re going to be late. Let’s hustle.”
***
Ashlea and TB are out near the fire pit, and I’m making margaritas when Kris knocks on my door.
“It’s open,” I yell out.
“Does anyone lock their doors in this town?”
“No need to,” I reply. “Margaritas go with Thai, right?”
Kris puts the plastic bags holding our food on the kitchen counter. “Margaritas go with everything, I think.”
“Where’s Sophia?”
“She’s at the motel.”
“Oh…” is all I say as I stare at him.
Kris gives me a tight smile and looks around the room. “Yeah, we’re not together anymore, but for appearances, she’s staying as my date. I’m sure next week Sophia will be in tears in front of a camera telling the world what a bastard I am.”
“Are you?” I blurt out.
Kris shakes his head. “No.” He begins unpacking the food. “I never loved Sophia, and she sure as hell didn’t love me. I liked her, but it wasn’t serious.”
“Didn’t you live together?”
“No, she stayed over a lot, but we were never living together.”
“Right.”
Kris stops what he’s doing and stands next to me, his hand covers mine. “You can ask me anything, and I will answer you honestly.”
Feeling overwhelmed at his sincerity and close proximity, I move away.
“Do you think we should eat out by the pit, or should we get them to come inside?” I ask in a deliberate attempt to change the subject.
Kris smiles. “The food will be cold in no time if we eat out there. What about your garden? It’s protected from the wind, isn’t it?”
“Good idea. I’ll get plates while you get TB and Ashlea.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
Kris is gone long enough for me to get four plates out and the cutlery. When he walks back in, he looks concerned.
“What’s wrong?”
“They aren’t out there.”
I put down the glass in my hand and frown at him. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, they aren’t out there.”
“Call him,” I say.
Kris pulls out his phone and dials TB. “Man, where are you both?” A smile goes across his features, and his whole being seems to light up. “Your sister is going to k
ill you, you know that, right?” Kris nods his head. “Right, later.” Kris slips his phone into his pocket.
“Are they okay?”
Kris nods. “Seems TB snuck Ashlea back to his place for some alone time.”
Suddenly, I realize I’m alone with Kris, and he’s single.
“Stop looking at me like that. I promise I had nothing to do with it.” Kris opens one of the takeout containers. “But I am hungry, and we have enough food here to feed an army. Let’s eat.”
Not knowing what to do, I put away the extra plates and cutlery.
“Athena?” I stop what I’m doing and look up at him. “I can go if you want.”
“What? No. It’s fine, really. I, uh, I’m just…”
Kris waits for me to finish, his head tilted to the side as he stares at me intently. He has this way of making me feel like I’m the most important person on the planet, and the way he’s looking at me right now brings back a whole lot of different emotions. Lust being one of them.
Slowly, he moves around the counter, his hands find mine, and our fingers intertwine. He rests his forehead to mine.
“It’s just dinner. Nothing more.” I’m lost in his piercing blue eyes. “And I am starving.” I lick my lips, and his eyes go to my mouth. Kris closes the gap, a hair’s breadth away from me. “Are you hungry, Athena?” he whispers.
Pressing my lips to his, Kris increases the pressure, and his hands leave mine to travel up my arms, then back down and rest on my waist. He pulls me closer to him, and my arms encircle his neck, my hands gripping his hair as my tongue dips into his mouth. Kris moans, and one of his hands goes to my ass as he crushes me to him. Tilting my head to the side, his tongue touches mine, and we kiss passionately.
My body is on fire, the electric feeling between my legs intensifies, and I want him so badly. Kris picks me up and puts me on the kitchen counter, knocking some of the food onto the floor. I spread my legs and pull him into me, tugging at his belt, trying desperately to get it undone.
Just as quickly as this began, Kris stops and backs away from me. I’m wet, breathing hard, and confused. His breathing is ragged, and from the bulge in his pants, I know he wants me.
Powerful: A Driven World Novel (The Driven World) Page 9
