Crosby squeezed my hands. “Hey, what’s wrong?”
“I just—I don’t want Grant to go after Caelyn.” I let out a sound of frustration. “I’m so sick of this. Worrying about what his next move might be. Trying to prepare for an attack when it could come from any direction. It’s exhausting being on high alert all the time.”
“Come here.”
Crosby gave me a gentle tug into his lap. I went easily, curling myself around him. His warmth and energy engulfed me. I couldn’t help the thought that it felt like home. When we were together like this, I never wanted to move. Because here, I was safe. Protected. Cherished. Here, everything would always be all right. “Can we just block out the rest of the world?”
Crosby smiled against my hair. “I don’t think that’s a bad plan.”
“Maybe we could make a fort in here and never leave.”
“I’ve got a better idea for a little escapism.”
I lifted my head to meet his eyes. “And what’s that?”
That familiar devilish grin stretched across Crosby’s face. But instead of speaking, he took my mouth in a scorching kiss, one that spoke of an insatiable hunger. I met him in a duel of lips and tongues. With a nip of my bottom lip, he pulled back. “Let me have you.”
The desperation in his expression had me searching his eyes. For what, I wasn’t sure. “You have me.”
“Let me take you, then.”
I wanted to give him everything. Every last bit of my heart and soul. My mind and body. But a flicker of doubt plagued me. I was so used to playing it safe, and sex in an office where anyone could walk in at any moment wasn’t exactly in character.
“Please.”
It was the beseeching tone in his voice that broke my resolve. “Yes.”
Crosby moved in a flash. Hands on my waist, lifting me to stand. Fingers deftly unbuttoned my jeans. I shivered as he pulled them down my legs along with my thong. His gaze became intently focused on my center. “Heaven.”
I squirmed in place, the dampness between my thighs from his kisses intensifying at his words. He trailed a finger through my core, sending sparks of sensation throughout my body. “Turn around and grab the desk.” His tone was one I’d never heard from him before. Carefully measured and demanding.
I turned and gripped the edge of the glossy wood. I stared ahead, my breaths coming faster. The sound of a zipper filled the quiet room. The tear of a foil packet.
Crosby’s heat was at my back, his fingers sliding through my center. Teasing, toying, making sure I was ready for him. I pressed my hips back against him, silently asking for more. He slid inside me in one fluid glide, seating himself fully.
I sucked in a sharp breath. It was so much deeper like this. Crosby began to move, and each time he did, he seemed to hit that phantom spot. I couldn’t hold in my moan. The sound seemed to spur him on. His thrusts grew fast, impossibly deeper. But there was something more that I needed.
“Are you with me?” he growled in my ear.
“I’m with you.”
His hand slipped under my blouse, over the thin lace material of my bra to find my nipple. He rolled it between his fingers. The warring sensations drove me higher. And as Crosby thrust deeper inside me, he pinched the flesh between his fingers. I came apart with a nonsensical shout, Crosby following close behind.
I sucked in air, slowly coming back to myself as Crosby slipped out of me. I winced as the movement caught my tender flesh in the most wonderful way. He kissed the side of my face. “Too much?”
I gave my head a little shake. “Perfect.” That was the thing about Crosby. He made me feel safe to explore things I’d never thought to do.
“Well, I’m pretty sure I’m never going to look at this office the same way again.”
Neither would I.
41
Crosby
I pounded the steering wheel to the beat of my music, grinning to myself. Seeing Grant have to sit in court with his eye turning a nice shade of purple had made my day. Kenna was right, it had been a hell of a lot easier to look at him with that shiner. The look the judge had given him had been the icing on the cake.
The case was winding down. I imagined the judge would be hearing closing arguments in a matter of days. Something that felt a whole lot like hope stirred in my gut. The only thing the Abbots had on their side was blood. But the fact that they were trying to cut an adopted daughter out of her inheritance just made them look like the greedy assholes they were.
I steered my truck around the bend of the hillside and checked the clock. I wanted to get to Kenna, but I was in desperate need of some fresh clothes. More and more of my belongings were slowly making my way into her closet. The idea should’ve freaked me the hell out. Instead, I found I liked the feeling. As if my socks mixed in with Kenna’s somehow left my mark on her space.
I turned off the main road and into the Bluffs neighborhood. I’d always loved this part of the island and knew it was the perfect place for me to make a home that would be mine. The gray and white craftsman had a killer view and easy access to mountain biking trails and climbing cliffs. But it didn’t hold a candle to the history and the memories The Gables contained. It had nothing to do with how large and extravagant the grounds and home were, and everything to do with the heart it contained.
I pulled into my half-circle drive and frowned. There was a BMW sedan sitting in front of my house. The plates said Washington, but I didn’t know anyone from the islands who drove a car like this one. My skin prickled as I shut off my engine and glanced around my property.
My gaze froze on a figure sitting on my front steps. Blond hair gleamed in the late-afternoon sun, perfectly straightened and arranged to accent the expertly tailored blouse and slacks. Pearls decorated delicate ears. And a simple necklace adorned the woman’s throat.
I couldn’t seem to move. This wasn’t happening. The last thing I wanted was for this poison disguised in beautiful packaging to infest the place that had become my home. She’d ruined Boston for me. I wouldn’t let her do the same to Anchor.
I pushed open my door and climbed out of my truck. Alicia took in my vehicle, scowling in disgust before quickly hiding the emotion. “Crosby, you’re finally home.”
I blinked a few times as if that might clear the absurdity of the moment. Alicia acted as if I were late for some dinner we’d planned, not that she’d shown up on my doorstep uninvited.
“What are you doing here?”
Her red lips pursed in a pout. “I wanted to see you. I thought you’d appreciate me going to all of this trouble. I had to hire a private investigator just to find your address.”
“And I told you I had no interest in seeing you or hearing from you. Was blocking your number not a clear enough message?”
Alicia pushed to her feet, brushing off her black pants. “Please, Crosby. I need you to listen. To give us a shot to work things out.”
“Working things out would mean you not fucking my best friend when my ring was on your finger. Working things out would mean you not then being with that man for years.”
She moved towards me, extending a hand, but I sidestepped it. She winced. “I hurt you. I know. But I’ll do anything to make amends. Do you want me to get on my knees and beg? I’ll do it.” Tears glittered in her eyes. “I’m sorry, Crosby. I made a terrible, terrible mistake. You gave me so much. You were so kind and caring. I didn’t realize until it was too late that I focused on the wrong things. Please, give me a chance to make this right.”
The tears cracked a piece of my armor. “I’m glad you’re getting some perspective on your life. But that doesn’t change anything between the two of us. We’re done. Some things can’t be mended. And the truth is, I don’t want them to be. I was never the man you wanted me to be. If we had gotten married, we both would’ve been miserable.”
I could see it as clear as day as soon as I had a few weeks to lick my wounds. Alicia and I had never been meant to be. The only reason I’d stuck it out for so l
ong was because she’d given me a sense of family that I’d never had. For the first time, my parents had accepted me, spent time with me. But what good was that if I wasn’t being true to who I really was? “The truth is, you did me a favor when you cheated.”
Alicia blanched. “Don’t say that. We were together for so many years. We owe it to each other to try and make this work. To get to know the people we are now.”
“It’s too late for that. I’m sorry you came all the way out here, but we’re done.”
Hurt flared in Alicia’s eyes. “Are you with someone?”
I bit back a curse. If there was one thing Alicia hated, it was losing. It didn’t matter if she’d already thrown away the thing that she’d lost out on, she’d fight tooth and nail to get it back. “Whether I am or not doesn’t matter. I wouldn’t want to be with you either way.”
Alicia’s jaw worked back and forth as if she were trying to figure out the best plan of attack. “I can’t believe that.” She edged a little closer, and I dodged her again. “You can’t have forgotten how good we are together. Maybe you just need me to remind you.”
My stomach roiled at the thought. “I have no interest in a repeat of an over-exaggerated performance.” It was cruel, but it was true. And I was sick of Alicia’s bullshit. She didn’t want me. Hell, she didn’t even know who I was anymore. She just wanted the security that came with a relationship with Crosby McCoy and the trust fund I’d come into at thirty-five.
Heat lit Alicia’s green eyes. “You’re angry so I’ll let that one pass. But you need to be honest with yourself. You miss your old life. Boston. Your family. Me. Things could be different this time around. Get a job with that non-profit you loved so much. Go on your camping trips. But come back to me. Come home.”
My jaw clenched. Sure, I missed the Sox and some of my favorite restaurants, but that was it. I didn’t even miss my parents because they didn’t know who I was either. “I’m not going anywhere. Anchor is my home now.”
Alicia gave her head a little shake. “Lie to yourself if you must, but I’m not going anywhere. I’ve checked into The Cove. I’ll be waiting when you’re ready to talk.”
I let out a litany of curses as Alicia strode to her rented BMW, hips swaying as if that would bring me to heel. I eased down onto my front steps, watching as she tore off and away from my house. I rubbed at my temples.
My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I pulled it out.
Kenna: What time are you heading over here? I was thinking I’d make chicken stir-fry for dinner.
My throat was suddenly dry, making it hard to swallow. I hadn’t told Kenna that I was coming over tonight. Sure, we’d spent the nights together for the past few weeks, but I hadn’t made any promises. But all of those nights came with silent expectations. Responsibilities I wasn’t sure I could follow through on. Seeing Alicia had been a cold reminder of what could happen when a person fell for someone else. They could convince you to play a role you never wanted to play. I tapped out a text.
Me: I’m gonna stay up on the bluff tonight. I’ve got some stuff I need to do, and I have to be up early.
Guilt ate at me as I waited for a reply. But tonight, I needed only one thing: to remind myself that I still had freedom at my fingertips. I’d don my brightest headlamp and tear down a few mountain bike trails. That would get my head on straight. And maybe a little distance was just what both Kenna and I needed.
42
Kenna
I flipped my phone over for approximately the twentieth time in the past hour. Nothing. I’d even stooped so low as to call Caelyn and ask her to text me, thinking my phone might be on the fritz. Good news, I wasn’t going to have to shell out the cash for a new cell. Bad news, I hadn’t heard anything from Crosby since last night.
When I’d driven into town this afternoon, his truck was sitting front and center at his office, so I knew he was done with court for the day. But still, not a peep out of him. I stared down at the little device in my hand, willing it to ding with some sort of explanation for Crosby’s disappearing act. Sure, it had only been one night, but something didn’t sit right in my gut. And I had learned to listen to that voice over the years. If something felt wrong, it usually was.
What was eating at me now were the millions of what-ifs running in circles through my brain. Crosby could be off-kilter because of something that had nothing to do with me. Or something could’ve gone wrong in the case with the Abbots, and he didn’t want to tell me. Or maybe Crosby was done playing house.
That idea had nausea sweeping through me. I’d slept horribly the night before, tossing and turning, worrying about Crosby and terrified for my heart that I’d placed in his hands when he hadn’t even asked for it. Now, I was exhausted. It had taken more than one coat of concealer to disguise the dark circles under my eyes.
“Kenna.” My realtor, Corrie, waved as she headed toward me. “Sorry I’m late.”
I gave her a warm smile, but it was forced. “You’re not. I’m early. Just excited to get these papers signed.”
Corrie had found me the perfect little space on one of the adorable little foot traffic streets that jutted off Main. It had room for a waiting area, an office, and even a small conference room. Plus, there was a kitchenette in the back that would allow me to make simple meals any time I didn’t want to eat out for lunch.
Corrie motioned me towards the street that my new rental was on. “It really is the perfect space.”
“I think so, too. Now I just have to think about furniture.”
She grinned at me. “I bet Bell can help you out with that.”
I was sure Bell would give me a screaming deal on any furniture pieces in her new shop, but I didn’t want to take advantage. I’d already promised myself to check the price tags before she quoted me any discounts. “She’d have the whole thing decorated in twenty-four hours if I let her.”
Corrie laughed. “That’s a good friend right there.”
“The best.”
Corrie pushed open the door to my new office. “Hello, Wendel. It’s good to see you again. I’ve got the paperwork all ready to go.”
Wendel looked a bit nervous, his gaze jumping from me to Corrie and back again. “I’m afraid we might have a problem.”
My stomach sank, and I felt the sudden urge to cry. I wasn’t a big crier, but I had hit my limit of things not going my way.
Corrie straightened. “And what might that be? We came to a verbal agreement during the showing.”
Wendel toyed with a loose thread on his button-down shirt and cleared his throat. “The property is no longer available.”
“And why is that when it was available yesterday?” There might as well have been steam coming out of Corrie’s ears.
“I, uh, something came up.”
I took a step forward. “Would that something have the name Grant Abbot?”
Wendel blanched, and I knew I had my answer. The older man looked terrified, and I honestly felt bad for him. But I was also exhausted, tired down to my bones. And I was done fighting this family. “Come on, Corrie, let’s go.”
“But—” She snapped her mouth closed at my look, but then turned to Wendel and spoke again. “I’m afraid I won’t be able to do business with you anymore. I don’t deal with people who kowtow to bullies.”
The older man spluttered. “But—but you’re the best real estate agent on the island.”
“Should’ve thought of that before you screwed my client over for a bunch of greedy outsiders,” Corrie tossed over her shoulder as she followed me out of the office. She let out a frustrated growl. “I want to kick that Grant creep where the sun doesn’t shine.”
My lips tried to form a smile but failed miserably. “I’m sorry you wasted your time on this.”
Corrie turned to me, her eyes hard. “You have nothing to apologize for. That family is just despicable.” She took my hand and squeezed. “I’m making it my personal mission to find you something even better for your office. And the landl
ord will be someone who will be happy to stick it to the Abbots.”
“You don’t have to do that. Really, I—”
Corrie cut me off with a look. “This is my job, and I love it. It makes me very unhappy when someone messes with my clients. It will be my pleasure to find you the perfect place.”
I gave her hand a squeeze and released it. “Thank you.”
“Are you going to be okay?”
I wanted to laugh but knew it would come out just a little bit hysterical and would probably turn into a crying jag of epic proportions. I held it in. “I’ll be fine. I’m just going to grab a coffee and head back to The Gables.”
Corrie looked as if she wasn’t sure she believed me. “Okay. Drive safe. I’ll call you as soon as I have a space for you to look at.”
I nodded, and Corrie took off back towards her office, a woman on a mission. I appreciated her care and determination, but right now, I had the strongest urge to give up. All I wanted to do was curl up into a ball. And I wanted to do that in Crosby’s arms.
The backs of my eyes burned as I stared down the street. Crosby’s truck gleamed in the afternoon light. I inhaled deeply. I was a big girl. If I wanted something, I needed to ask for it. I started towards The General Store and Crosby’s bungalow office that sat just behind it.
My hands began to tremble as I walked. The idea of exposing my need for Crosby sent waves of fear through me, but I pressed on. By the time I reached his office, I felt as if I were going to come out of my skin. I pulled open the door, and the bell jingled.
Penny looked up from her desk, her smile faltering as she took me in. “Oh, honey, what’s wrong?”
“Is Crosby here?” My voice shook slightly as I spoke.
“Of course, go right in.”
I crossed to his office door, and by the time I reached it, Crosby had stood from his desk. His expression hardened as he took me in. “What happened?”
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