by Jessica Gray
“Thomas and Charles are at school until three, and Nathan is thankfully taking a morning nap. If I’m lucky, he’ll take one this afternoon as well. It’s the only time I even get close to getting caught up around here.”
Scanning the kitchen, Pearl thought it was pretty tidy. Hers sometimes looked worse when she was too tired to clean up after hours of hard training.
They continued to discuss some of their friends from school. Most of them had moved away from their hometown of Misty Falls in North Carolina and were scattered across the country. Pearl had been awfully out of touch and Tara filled her in on the latest news of who did what. More than a few had traveled the path of matrimony, and were doing just what Tara was doing. Raising a family in the suburbs somewhere. Laundry. Wiping noses. Fixing dinner each night for a spouse.
When the conversation hit a lull, Pearl couldn’t resist asking her friend about her life. “So, Tara? Is this what you wanted from life?”
Tara ducked her head and rather than answer the question honestly, she skirted around the answer. “Life isn’t a request program. You have to compromise in a relationship.”
Pearl thought about that for a moment and then stated baldly, “From what I can see, it looks like you’re the only one who did any compromising. I mean you moved halfway across the country to be with Jack. You’re living far away from your family and friends, and from what you’re telling me, your husband is never around.”
She bristled. “Jack’s career field is very competitive. Taking this traveling position was a chance for him to jump ahead in the company.”
“But, doesn’t it feel almost like you’re a single mother at times?”
Tara shrugged. “Sometimes, but I can’t focus on that. Jack’s a good provider, and I have the kids to keep me busy.”
“But that’s just my point. You got married and had kids together, and you’re the one who had to give up your dreams and your goals. Jack didn’t give up anything. For him, nothing changed.”
Tara gave her a sad smile. “When you’re married, you’ll understand that there are different areas of compromise. Jack travels so much, and his company just offered him to manage the European branch as well.”
Pearl looked at her friend, wondering how she could think that was a good thing. Now her husband would have to travel internationally, which would leave Tara alone for even longer stints of time.
That wasn’t anywhere close to the kind of life Pearl envisioned for herself. When she finally settled down, she wanted a man who would see her as an equal partner in their relationship. Sharing everything. Money, decisions, household chores. And most definitely the kids. That was the only way she’d ever consider tying herself down to another person.
“So, Pearl, you said you were staying up in Sandy Beach?”
“Yeah, I rented a small beachfront apartment there so I could recuperate.”
“I heard about your injury. What exactly happened?”
“Bad luck, I guess.” Her injury had been publicized as a training injury, and she’d downplayed the severity of it whenever she was asked. Now wasn’t the time to come clean.
“So, why Sandy Beach?” Tara reached for the empty plates to put them in the dishwasher.
“Because it’s only a short car drive to the hospital in Milwaukee, where the best surgeon in the country for knee problems works. Since I had to go there for therapy once or twice a week, it only made sense to be close. Besides, I really like the place.” And nobody knows me in Sandy Beach.
Tara looked at her and then asked quietly, “But your knee’s healing up alright? I didn’t notice anything when you walked in.”
Pearl sighed and shrugged. “Kind of.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Pearl shook her head. “I really don’t know yet. I want to compete, but I just…God, I’m scared that I might not be able to. I don’t know what I’ll do if I can’t dive any longer.”
Tara scrunched her nose and shook her head. “Well, sweetie, you didn’t honestly think you’d be able to dive competitively forever, did you? I mean you’re the same age I am. Twenty-seven. Maybe it’s time you stopped fooling around with diving and took up a serious career. Or better yet, find yourself a man, get married and have kids.”
Pearl looked at her in annoyance. While her friend was right about her career not being able to last forever, she didn’t want it to stop just yet, when she was in the best form of her life. Last season, she was miles ahead of all the other competitors and if she could get that stupid leg to function properly again, she’d surely win the World Series once again. For the third consecutive year. Quitting wasn’t in her vocabulary. Neither was defeat.
Her response was sharper than she’d intended. “Because being married is so much fun? Look at yourself. From where I’m sitting, you’re trapped into an existence as a desperate housewife.”
Pearl expected her friend to be offended, but she only giggled. “That’s me. Desperate housewife of Wisteria Lane. Maybe I can get my own reality show.” But when Pearl didn’t laugh with her, she changed the subject.
“So, speaking of men, I’m sure there’s some guy in your life?” Tara asked her.
Pearl grimaced and then told her about Chase. “He’s seriously the hottest guy I’ve ever made out with. And I’ve made out with plenty enough to know hot when I meet it.”
Tara shook her head. “You do realize this isn’t college right? You shouldn’t still be swooning over every sexy male you meet. And sleeping around isn’t going to help you find the one man you’re destined to be with.”
Pearl was really annoyed now; she hadn’t come here to be lectured. “Since when are you such a prude? And for the record: I didn’t sleep with him.”
“Well, I guess that’s a step in the right direction.”
In a split second, her annoyance moved to anger. Who or what gave Tara the right to pass judgment on her life? She had the right to live her life on her own terms, with nobody to answer to. At least I’m living my life to the fullest. What’s she doing?
“I should probably head out,” Pearl said, not wanting her anger to spill over and cause her to say something she shouldn’t. Besides, she realized she had been judging too.
“Hey, I’m just telling it like I see it.”
She thinned her lips and nodded. “Fine. But let me ask you something. What will you have when your kids grow up and move out of the house? What then?”
Tara didn’t answer her, and Pearl left the house, knowing the answer for herself. She hoped her friend wouldn’t wake up one day to regret her decisions. In fifteen years from now, when her kids had grown and moved away, and her husband had left her for a younger version, she might find out that it was too late to pursue her own dreams.
Pearl drove back to Sandy Beach, her mood continuing to spiral downward. She was angry. Not only with how her visit with Tara had gone, but also with how her life had fallen apart. Things had been going so well before the attack.
She swallowed back tears and punched the CD player on, turning it up loud. She sang along to the tunes of her favorite band Electric Flow. Soon the velvety voice of the lead singer Terrence transported her away from her current reality.
No, she didn’t have to think about the events that had caused her injury. Not now. Maybe not ever.
Chapter 9
Chase and Ethan drove to the airport, the early hour, and his sour mood from the day before overshadowing everything else. His mind had remained on Pearl, and the humiliation and confusion her resistance had caused him, since his brother had left him alone at the Lighthouse Bar the night before. He’d come up with a dozen ways to break through the barrier of her resistance. All he needed was another shot.
He was Chase Paxton. The hottest womanizer ever. And no woman could withstand his charm for long. She’d fall – and soon.
That’s what he made himself believe, but deep down in his heart he knew it wasn’t a game anymore. It had to be her or no one.
; “So, you still mad you got shot down?” Ethan teased him.
“I didn’t get shot down. It was just a short delay. I’ll get her, don’t you worry about it.”
“Yeah. I don’t think so.” Ethan yawned and stretched his arms up over his head.
“Well, since you’re leaving, I guess you’ll just have to take my word for it.” A little wining and dining, and she’d come around. He wanted to sleep with her, and if he had to play nice to get there, he could do that.
Hell, if he’d be honest with himself he’d see that he wanted much more than one night with her. But every time those emotions surfaced, he pushed them back down. Too scary. Non-committal was easy. Nobody got hurt in the process.
He dropped Ethan off at the airport and headed back to Sandy Beach. During the drive, he spent the time devising a plan of attack and decided that he could give a little if it got him what he wanted. Her body in his bed. Or hers. He wasn’t particular. Then, he might be able to get her out of his head. This fixation with her was scaring the hell out of him.
As soon as he got back to his parents’ house, he changed into his running gear and took off for the beach in the hope of seeing her there. But he didn’t. Which actually was a good thing, because his plan included courting her, not sneaking up on her on the beach.
In the evening, he carefully chose a pair of dark jeans and a super-tight shirt showcasing his muscled torso. The sleeves stopped just above the thickest point of his biceps, and he knew for a fact that women would drool over him in this outfit.
But before walking to the Lighthouse Bar, he stopped by the flower shop and bought a huge bouquet of yellow-orange roses and Gerber daisies. Pearl didn’t stand a chance in hell to resist him.
Sure enough, she was there. Sitting alone at a hi-top. In winter, the Lighthouse Bar was the only decent place with music to go out to. He scanned the room and saw at least three men ready to hit on her. His jaw clenched. No way. She’s mine. The force of his reaction surprised him.
He approached her slowly, turning on all the charm he could muster. “Hey Pearl.”
She looked up at him, her beautiful grey eyes slightly confused when she saw the flowers in his hand. “Hi Chase. Meeting someone?”
“They’re for you.” He handed her the flowers and had to hide a grin when she was clearly surprised.
“For me? Thank you.” Her face softened as she took the flowers and carefully placed them on the table.
“Care if I join you?”
She shrugged, so he took that as an affirmative and sat down on the stool beside her. “So. What’s new?”
“Nothing. You?”
“Not much. I took my brother to the airport in Chicago earlier today, but other than that, not much going on around here.”
The waitress brought him a beer and he took a sip of it, watching her carefully until she finally sighed and asked, “So, do you and your brother always hit on the same woman?”
Chase laughed at her straightforwardness. She definitely was a woman after his liking. “Sometimes.”
She held his stare. “You’re really not my type. I’m not even sure what happened the other night. It was clearly a mistake. As I’m sure you noticed.”
I’m not your type? Then who was moaning with desire and ripping off my shirt?
That must have been the biggest lie in the world, because as he continued to keep his eyes trained on hers, he could see the shimmer of desire in them, hidden beneath the attempt to look nonchalant.
He’d been in the game long enough to know when a woman wanted him.
And Pearl did.
A lot.
He deliberately touched her hand with his thumb, and she gasped in response. But when she didn’t move her hand, he took that as an invitation and slightly grazed his fingers against her soft skin. The sparks ran up his arm and down his entire body. Holy crap, that woman turned him on.
“You’re lying. You want me. Just admit it.” He gave her his most seducing grin, daring her to deny the truth.
Pearl tore her eyes from his stare and glanced around the bar before she responded, “Every woman in here is swooning over you. Why don’t you go and pick up one of them?”
“Hm. Maybe because you’re the one I want. There’s no other woman like you in this room.”
She shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “How many of them have you already slept with?”
When he shrugged, she raised her brows and asked, “All of them? You’ve slept with every single woman in Sandy Beach?”
Chase chuckled. “Except for my sisters and my brother’s fiancé. Yeah, probably at some point.”
For some reason the mention of the word fiancé seemed to get her hackles up and her grey eyes shot fire.
“What’s wrong?” Chase asked.
“The same brother who hit on me is engaged?”
He laughed. “No. That would be Grant. Remember, I have three brothers and two sisters. Well, Grant is the one with a fiancé, not Ethan.”
“Oh. Sorry. I can’t imagine having that many siblings. I’m an only child.”
Chase took another drink of his beer. “So, you didn’t have to share your boyfriends or your shoes. My sisters would be jealous.”
“They share boyfriends?” she asked with disbelief. He kind of liked the way she looked shell-shocked. Despite her hard-nosed attitude, she was a sweet girl. Too sweet for his own good.
“Not at the same time. In fact, I’m not really sure why we’re talking about my sisters when I’d much rather be talking about you.”
When she didn’t say a word, he moved closer to her and caught her intoxicatingly sexy scent in his lungs. “I love your grey eyes, the way they call out to me like the ocean on a windy day.”
She didn’t respond or smile, but watched him carefully and he searched her face, letting his eyes become a caress as they traveled down her body. “And I love your gorgeous body, the way you have control over every devastatingly beautiful inch of it.”
He moved even closer and pushed a strand of hair from her ear before he leaned down and whispered, “And I love your short hair.” His fingers grazed along her cheek and her lips. The temptation to kiss those luscious pink lips that slightly parted beneath his touch was intense, but he resisted. Not yet. He wasn’t there yet.
“But most of all, I love your kissable mouth and all the quick-witted responses it’s dishing out.”
He could feel her body melting with his charm attack. Her delicately chiseled features had softened with every word he’d said and he could feel the tension leaving her body. To be replaced by an entirely different tension.
“Want to dance?”
“No.” She turned away.
“Want to go someplace else and pick up where we left off the other night?” he asked boldly.
She laughed. “Not happening, bud. But why don’t we order another beer and you tell me about kitesurfing. You can leave off the many admirers I’m sure you’ve collected over the years.”
Chase grinned at her and began to tell her about his fascination with his sport. Her reactions confirmed his suspicion that she must be some top athlete herself, but he was wise enough not to question her.
He might be a self-centered jerk at times, but he was sensitive enough to have noticed that she’d changed the topic of their conversation away from herself to him.
So be it. He could talk all night about himself and his sport if that was what she wanted. Anything to make her feel safe and comfortable with him. With every minute, the sexual tension between them rose to almost unbearable levels and it took all his self-discipline not to ravish her right there and now.
“Well, it’s getting late. I should probably head home,” she said as the band took a break.
It was now or never, so he rushed to make his next move. “Want to work out with me tomorrow morning?”
She scrunched her cute little nose and seemed to think about it. “Make it tomorrow afternoon, and I’m in.”
“Done.” Chase g
leamed with anticipation and she gifted him a smile. A smile that lit up her eyes, and he wanted to drown in them, to stay inside her eyes forever and never surface back to the real world.
But her next words catapulted him back into the cold world of reality.
“I’ll work out with you, but we do things on my terms. If you can’t agree to that, I’ll be gone before you can blink.”
That woman was a lot tougher than he thought. But he actually enjoyed her resistance, because he was always up for a good challenge and the prize would be so much more rewarding if he had to work hard for it. The game was on.
Anything too easy was just that. Easy.
He leaned closer to her and said, “Okay. Tell me your rules.”
She put up one finger. “No touching. No kissing. No sex.”
Whoa. He almost doubled over. That was like the full package. She was so earnest, and not a word of what she was saying was okay with him. He wanted to touch her. Definitely to kiss her. And at some point, he was going to sleep with her.
But looking at the militant look in her eyes, he did what any man on a mission would do; he nodded and agreed. She wouldn’t last long and then we play by my rules again.
“See you tomorrow. Bye.” She slid off the stool and left the bar without another glance at him.
Chase felt once again like a waterlogged rat.
Disappointed.
But he also felt the thrill to prove her wrong.
She’d essentially shut him down again, but for some reason, every time she did so, he wanted her even more than before.
They were kneaded from the same dough, and he’d prove to her they were made for each other.
Chapter 10
Pearl walked home, lecturing herself the entire way.
She’d been determined to stay clear of Chase. In fact, she’d been doing fine in the bar, minding her own business.
Enjoying the live band.
And then he’d walked in the door with flowers and BAM…like a moth to a flame, she’d been unable to resist him. It wouldn’t have taken much more and she’d thrown herself into his arms.
