“Have you been to the Sand Point Inn?” When she shook her head, he went on. “It’s famous for its locally caught seafood. I think you’ll like it.”
The restaurant was built over the water, its weather-beaten exterior a testimony to its passage through many storms. Inside the atmosphere was decidedly romantic with small, candlelit tables spreading out like tiny islands. Under the influence of a man who could be charming enough when it suited him, Aubrey lost most of the reserve she possessed.
Richard put the top down on the car for the drive home, allowing Aubrey the enjoyment of an inky night sky. For the first time since her parents’ death, she felt a rush of anticipation; a feeling that life was good again and full of possibilities. Her eyes found their way to Richard’s profile and she smiled. Her companion didn’t know it, but tonight she’d taken an important step in her return to normalcy.
As the purr of the engine died away, Richard looked in her direction. Her enjoyment in the evening had been genuine enough to pique what little conscience he had. His invitation to dinner had been issued on a whim with the intervening time spent regretting such an uncharacteristic impulse. He’d known from their first meeting that Aubrey wasn’t his type, and nothing in her behavior thus far had altered his opinion. So why didn’t he kiss her goodnight and chalk this one up as a failure? Was it because he didn’t want to admit he’d made a mistake?
By the light of a sliver of moon, they meandered slowly along the shoreline, meeting no one and their conversation never reaching the comfort level of the restaurant. Aubrey was wracking her brain for something to say that would break the silence when Richard suddenly stopped. She glanced at him in surprise, any words she would have spoken dying on her lips as she felt his fingers moving through her hair.
“You should always wear your hair loose like this,” he observed.
“I can’t do that when I’m working,” she pointed out.
“Why not? Maybe a little distraction is what Corbin needs.”
“Nothing about me distracts Corbin.”
“You sound disappointed.”
“You’re being ridiculous.”
Richard laughed softly. “You wouldn’t be the first person to be interested in your boss.”
She could see his smile even in the semi-darkness and wondered if he was serious. “No, but I don’t think getting involved with my employer is a good idea.”
“You’re a little prude, aren’t you?” Richard bent his head until their faces were just inches apart. “I won’t hold it against you because I don’t want you to get involved with Corbin.”
When they reached the stairs leading to the deck, she half turned to him and he smiled ruefully in the dark. Unless his instincts were way off, he wasn’t going to be asked inside.
“Thank you for dinner, Richard. I enjoyed it very much.”
“Did you? Then I must have done something right.” With a faint, almost mocking smile, he bent to kiss her cheek. “Goodnight, mermaid.”
As he walked to his car, he tried to remember the last time something like this had happened and couldn’t.
* * * *
Aubrey got a surprise when she reached her room that chased all thoughts of Richard from her mind. Horace hadn’t enjoyed being left by himself and had taken out his frustration on his temporary prison. The roll of toilet paper hanging enticingly on its gold stand had been too much of a temptation. As she picked up the strips of white paper dotting the floor, Aubrey debated getting a cat carrier. She couldn’t have Horace doing this every time she left him alone.
Deciding not to try his patience further, she allowed him to roam the bedroom and just before she succumbed to sleep, she felt him crawling around on the bed. The next moment he was curled into a ball at her feet.
Mindful of a long to-do list, Aubrey was up early. Horace was delighted to share her breakfast of bacon and toast before trailing her into Corbin’s office. Here she worked diligently, the only interruption being a telephone call from Phoebe. When Aubrey decided it was time to take a break, the afternoon was well advanced and she was starving.
After fixing a sandwich and finding a more appropriate place to keep Horace, she decided to eat on the deck. The view of the ocean never got old, and watching the people had become an enjoyable pastime. It wasn’t long before her thoughts reverted to the previous evening.
It had been months since she’d done anything fun, and Richard’s undemanding company had been just what she needed. She hoped he would ask her out again. Into these pleasant thoughts came an equally unpleasant one; one she couldn’t ignore any longer. Though he phrased it politely enough, Corbin had in essence warned her to stay away from Richard. Did he think her incapable of handling anything? She wasn’t a child.
Another confrontation was looming, and as much as she hated to create friction between them, she couldn’t let Corbin dictate decisions about her personal life. Just because she lived with him didn’t give him the right to give her advice on men.
“Why the frown?” a deep voice called to her.
Aubrey turned around in her chair in time to see Richard mounting the stairs, a wide smile on his tan face. He wore swimming trunks and a t-shirt, neither of which hid his slim, athletic build.
“Was I frowning? I guess I have a lot on my mind.”
“I know the cure for that. Let’s go swimming.”
“I’d like that,” she responded with a wide grin.
“Great! Go change your clothes while I find us the perfect spot.”
Glancing at the almost empty beach, she laughed. “I don’t think you’ll have too much trouble.”
He was already in the water when Aubrey dropped her tote bag and towel on the sand. A wave of recklessness swept over her as she shed her wrap and went to join him. What was the harm in spending the afternoon with Richard? She refused to let Corbin’s words ruin what could be the beginning of something new and exciting. She’d spent too long looking back. It was time to move forward.
They stayed in the water for the better part of an hour before making their way back to their towels. Aubrey drew out a comb and began to work on the tangles in her hair.
“It’s lovely even when it’s wet and full of sand,” Richard observed as he watched her efforts.
“I should have braided it. That would have made this part easier.”
“I can help if you like,” he offered with a faint smile.
“What do you know about long hair?” she asked teasingly.
“I have a niece whom I babysit from time to time. Here, let me try.” Richard took the comb and moved behind her. “Why are you blushing?”
“I’ve never had a man comb my hair before.”
He shook his head in disbelief. “Where have you been? Locked up in a convent?”
“I’ve been at college.”
“Were you at an all-girls school?”
“No, but between going to class, studying and working, I didn’t have a lot of free time.”
“You take life too seriously.” He handed her the comb with a grin and stretched out next to her on the sand.
“Thanks for your help.”
“I never turn down opportunities to get close to a woman.”
Aubrey laughed. “You’re a born flirt. I’ve always wanted to meet one.”
“And now that you have, what do you think?”
“I’m trying to figure out why you want to spend time with me. I’m not flirting material.”
Richard propped up on one elbow. “I like to try new things; I get bored easily.”
“At least you’re honest about it.”
* * * *
A couple of hours later they were climbing the stairs to Corbin’s deck. “Mind if I come in?” Richard asked.
“Not at all.” Aubrey put her wet things in the laundry room. “I’m thirsty. How about you?”
“Yeah, me, too.”
Before she could move away, he pushed aside the collar of her wrap and kissed the side of her neck. “You
taste like the ocean,” he murmured into her ear.
“Do I?” she managed to ask lightly, hoping he couldn’t hear the pounding of her heart. She went to the refrigerator, removed two water bottles and handed him one.
Richard took a long drink. “When will Corbin be back?”
Aubrey didn’t want to think about Corbin. “He didn’t give me an exact date, but I imagine he’ll return in a day or two.”
“In that case, we’ll have to make the most of your freedom.”
As wonderful as this sounded in theory, the call of duty was hard to ignore. “Don’t forget, I still have work to do even if my boss isn’t here.”
Richard swiped the bottle from her hand and put it down on the counter beside his. “You’re too conscientious; you need to learn how to play.” He drew her close to him. Noticing her stiff posture, he laughed softly. “You’re not used to being around men, are you?” Before she could answer, he bent his head and kissed her lightly. “I’ve got a boring business dinner to attend tonight. Can I come by afterwards, if it’s not too late?”
“Sure – it’s not like I’m going anywhere.”
After he left, Aubrey washed the dishes from breakfast and lunch and went upstairs. A shower removed the salt and sand, but left her feelings less clearly defined. Why was she so restless? Was it guilt because she knew she was doing something Corbin had asked her not to do? It couldn’t be that she cared what he thought of her. They weren’t friends; their only connection was work. Giving herself a mental shake, she made her way to Corbin’s office. Regardless of his thoughts on her social life, he would expect to see some work done when he returned.
No amount of research on Fort Pulaski could completely remove Richard from Aubrey’s mind. He was hands down the most attractive man she’d ever met, but that wasn’t why she felt drawn to him. She liked his carefree outlook on life, and the way he seemed to make the most of every moment. This was something she’d forgotten how to do. He was right – she did take life too seriously. When he teased her with his outrageous comments, she felt like a different person – someone exciting and desirable. His company forced her outside of herself and was a welcome escape from the numbing grief that had crippled her since her parent’s death.
For weeks, she’d thought nothing would ever be normal again, that some vital part of her died with her parents. Being even mildly interested in dating had seemed impossible until last night. Richard had rekindled all those thoughts of romance she’d buried and reawakened her to the thrill that comes from being with a man.
After a late dinner, she settled into the living room with a book, one ear listening for the phone. Her desire to see Richard seemed out of proportion to how little she knew him and yet a part of her reveled in this new experience. Wasn’t it time she took a few chances?
When the telephone rang later in the evening, Aubrey flew off the couch in her haste to answer it. “Hello,” she said breathlessly, but with a note of excitement she couldn’t hide.
Male laughter filled her ear. “Hello to you, too,” Corbin replied lazily. “Has absence made your heart grow fonder?”
Upset with herself for acting a fool and to someone who wasn’t likely to forget it, Aubrey took a steadying breath and instead of answering Corbin’s question, jumped in with one of her own. “How are things going?”
“That’s for me to ask.”
Knowing how much she’d enjoyed his absence made her sound more defensive than she intended. “Everything’s fine. Why would you think otherwise?”
“Because I know your talent for getting into trouble. I’m glad to hear you’ve managed to survive on your own.”
“I’ve been doing that for years now,” she pointed out dryly. “When are you coming back?” Aubrey crossed her fingers, hoping for a few more days respite. There was no doubt his return was going to be problematic in more ways than one.
“I’m not sure yet.” When she didn’t say anything, he went on, “Should I call first and make sure it’s okay?”
“I just wanted to know.”
“I’m sorry I can’t be more specific,” he added in a tone that implied the opposite.
She shouldn’t have said anything. Now he knew she wasn’t anxious for him to come back. Hopefully, it wouldn’t occur to him to wonder why.
After a perfunctory goodbye which made her feel mean and merely amused Corbin, she hung up. She barely replaced the phone on the table when it rang again. Her, ‘hello,’ was nothing like the previous one.
“You don’t sound very pleased to hear from me, mermaid.”
“Oh, Richard! I thought you were Corbin calling me again.”
“Was that who you were talking to? I tried to call a few minutes ago. What did he want? To give you more work?”
“No, he was making sure I’m okay, which was actually kind of nice of him now that I think about it.”
“Let’s not waste time talking about him. I really wanted to see you tonight, but the meeting has hit an unexpected snag. I don’t know when things will wrap up.”
“It’s probably better this way – I’ve still got a pile of stuff to go through.”
Richard looked across the room and smiled at the sultry beauty with whom he’d spent the past few hours. “Well, get your work done because you’re going to have company tomorrow afternoon.”
The thought of seeing Richard again was a great motivator. Aubrey returned to her desk where she worked until after midnight. She didn’t want there to be any reason she couldn’t spend time with him.
* * * *
Thunder and heavy rain woke her the next morning. Peering through filmy curtains, Aubrey looked into a sky leaden with menacing gray clouds. The view didn’t improve later when she stood in the kitchen stirring her coffee, her gaze on the wind-torn waves beating relentlessly against the shore. A petulant meow pulled her away from the stormy scene outside. Answering the pleading look in the blue eyes, she picked up the black ball of fur and laughed as the kitten reached its cushiony paws to touch her face.
“Well, Horace, let’s see what we can get done this morning.” As she filled his bowl and watched him attack his food as if he hadn’t seen any in days, she hoped the bad weather wouldn’t affect Richard’s plan to come by.
Once in front of her computer, force of habit drove all other thoughts from her mind and with only an occasional interruption from her feline companion, Aubrey did manage to complete most of what Corbin had given her to do. When she returned to the office after lunch, she found Horace totally engrossed in trying to get inside an empty cardboard box.
Over the howling wind and rain, she heard someone knocking on the front door. Her tentative smile grew wider when she opened the door to find Richard standing gingerly under an umbrella that was no match for the elements.
“Hello, again.” He stepped inside, closed the umbrella, and dropped it into the stand beside the door.
Trying not to laugh at his appearance, she said, “Did you walk over?”
“No, this is what happened when I got out of the car. It’s gale force winds out there.”
“Let me get you something to dry off with.”
He followed her down the hall and into the bathroom. When their glances met in the mirror, they both started to laugh.
“I look a bit wild, don’t I?” Richard said after a moment.
Aubrey handed him a towel. “It was sweet of you to come in such awful weather.”
“Yes, it was.” When she reached to take the towel from his outstretched hand, he pulled her into his arms. “What have you been doing all morning? Thinking about me?” he asked teasingly.
“Only momentarily; I have to work for a living.”
Dropping a kiss on her head, he let her go. “Don’t remind me. Let’s go somewhere more comfortable.”
Aubrey led the way across the hall into the living room. When she would have chosen a chair opposite him, Richard pulled her onto his lap.
“I’ve missed you.” He proceeded to play with he
r fingers, watching the pink color seep into her cheeks.
“I haven’t had time to miss you,” she returned teasingly.
“Liar,” he said softly. He ran his fingers slowly through her hair. “I can feel you trembling. You aren’t afraid of me, are you?”
She shook her head and with a faint smile he bent toward her. The gentle, teasing kisses that followed took Aubrey into a world that consisted only of them. Like a flood of water that suddenly breaks free from a dam, the touch of his lips released a torrent of emotion. Aubrey wasn’t aware of anything except the delightful sensations pulsing through her body.
Richard drew back slowly, his eyes revealing a mixture of surprise and triumph. He mistook her eagerness for passion, not sensing the loneliness that motivated it. Lowering his head again, he increased the intensity of his kisses, finding more pleasure in her sudden capitulation than he’d thought possible.
When his fingers inched their way under her shirt and touched her skin, Aubrey broke away from him. What was she doing? Her hands slid away from his shoulders and a shadow of doubt clouded the enchantment in her eyes. “We need to stop.”
“Why? You’re enjoying it, aren’t you?”
She smiled weakly. “Yes, but we need to slow down. We hardly know each other.”
“How much more do we need to know?”
Aubrey moved off his lap. “Lots of things. I’m sorry if I gave you the wrong impression.”
Richard laughed harshly. “You’re not the only one.” There was no trace of tenderness or affection in his handsome features. “I knew I was wasting my time,” he went on in a low, angry voice. “Did you really think I came over to swap life stories? How naïve are you? I wouldn’t advise you to try this with anyone else. You might get more than you bargained for.”
From a long way off, she heard his departing footsteps and the slam of the front door. Aubrey sat where she was for a long time, not able to move or think, her mind curiously numb. Then like a coil being released, she bolted up the stairs to her room. Corbin’s comments regarding Richard floated through her head. Was he never wrong about anything?
Dream of Me: A Sweet Contemporary Romance Page 5
