by A. P. Jensen
Juliet got out of the water to eat. There was lots of food and drinks to go around. To give the adults a break, Juliet persuaded the kids to dig a hole big enough to bury Brent. Juliet kept an eye on the kids and scanned the beach for Maile. She was talking to some guy and her body language stated clearly that she was on the prowl. Juliet sat on a chair and crossed her legs. The sound of the waves crashed in her ears and the smell of sunscreen and salt made her feel like a kid again. From time to time, the kids came back to the tent to grab food or a drink before they dashed out again. She watched them shove and splash each other. In a couple of weeks, they’d have a new cousin and they’d be as rough and welcoming with her as they were with each other. Juliet knew her siblings would marry and have kids, but never wondered what her nieces and nephews looked like. Now, she knew. If she stuck around, she could watch mayhem ensue.
The sun did her good. She felt mellow and lazy, two things she’d never been accused of in the past.
Dominick wandered over. “Want to see a project I’m working on?”
“What kind of project?”
“You’ll see. We’ll be back,” Dominick said to Callie who nodded.
They made their way off the beach and walked through the hotel grounds. Each resort had to give locals access to the beach, which meant that there was a combination of sunscreen covered tourists and dark locals with surfboards. Dominick talked to several employees he knew and borrowed a golf cart.
Dominick slowed to oncoming cart traffic and waved and smiled at the tourists that walked along the paths. They climbed a steep path and the hotel rooms give way to bungalows and then homes so well-concealed, she could barely make out where the entrance was. Dominick opened a gate and revealed a luxury home, complete with a water fountain in the driveway.
Juliet walked through the double glass doors. Most of the home looked out at the ocean, which was a pure aqua that beckoned. The floor plan was deceptively simple and airy, but she saw the clever nooks and crannies to store things. The flooring was made of stone, which was a wise choice since they were near the beach. It felt like the presidential suite with a tropical flare that invited relaxation and recuperation. There was no furniture and the house was nearly done except for a few rooms. Juliet leaned against the glass railing overlooking the infinity pool.
“It’s beautiful,” she said.
“The owners live in Vegas. It was hell trying to persuade the wife not to put any gold fixtures in the kitchen or bathrooms.”
She laughed. “Has she been to Hawaii before?”
“She has, but she wants to bring a bit of Vegas with her.”
Juliet shook her head and tilted her face up to the sun. “There’s no place like Hawaii, is there?”
“No, there isn’t.”
“Do you like to design huge luxury homes?”
“It makes me money and I like the challenge, but sometimes the simpler the design, the better. I like working on houses for the locals. They’re so generous and have welcomed me as if I’m one of them. I do what I can to give back.”
She put her arms around him from behind. “You’re meant to be here.”
“And you?”
“I don’t know.”
“You fit with your family.” When she snorted, he grabbed her arm and pulled her in front of him. “I’ve never had siblings or a big family, so I see the difference between people that don’t know each other and those that fit together even when they’ve been apart for over a decade.” He brushed his thumb over her lower lip. “I’ve known your family for years. I don’t think they’ve ever come together like this, even for the holidays. Callie’s secret woke everyone up.”
“She’ll be okay,” Juliet said and tried to reassure herself that it was true.
“She will,” Dominick said.
His eyes moved over her face and goosebumps rippled over her arms. Something in his eyes made her heart skip. He was rock steady and more than she ever hoped to find in a man. She ran a hand down his face and lowered her shields.
“Your wife was a cowardly, self-centered bitch. She doesn’t see the man I do. If she did, she’d have stayed even if you were penniless.”
She went on tiptoes and kissed him lightly. At first, he didn’t respond and she wondered if she offended him. Before she could pull away, Dominick turned and pinned her against the tile wall. He boosted her up and wrapped her legs around his waist. His mouth on hers was hungry and demanding. When his hand shifted into her bikini bottoms, she bucked and clutched his shoulders.
“Someone will see,” she hissed.
“No, they won’t. The owner’s wife likes to sunbathe naked. Unless someone has a plane, they can’t get a shot of her. I made sure of it.”
Dominick opened his shorts and made a space between her legs. She grit her teeth and looked into his eyes as he slipped into her.
“I’ve never felt like this before,” he growled. “You understand, Juliet?”
“I don’t know what’s going to happen.”
“You have a choice,” he said and pulled out and slowly slid home again. “You decide.”
“And you?” she murmured.
“I’ve made my choice. You already know that.”
Her heart thudded in her ears along with the roar of the surf down below. The combination of novelty sex outside, the orgasm that wanted to rip through her body and the look on Dominick’s face as he declared himself made her feel faint with ecstasy. Her senses were on hyper alert and her inner muscles flexed. Dominick shuddered, leaned forward and locked their lips together. He hooked his arms under her knees and spread her legs so he hit her clit with each thrust. Her scream echoed through the empty house.
“I think we christened their house for them,” Juliet said drowsily.
“We should do this for each of my projects,” Dominick said and brushed damp hair back from her face. “You’re going to spoil me.”
Juliet chuckled as he led her towards an outdoor shower. They got completely drenched and then sat by the infinity pool to dry off a bit before they went back to the beach. They walked hand in hand back to their camp site. Juliet sank onto the sand while Dominick talked to Lee. Maile plopped beside her and raised her shades to give Juliet a thorough once over.
“Can’t you two spend a couple hours together without having sex?” Maile grouched. “Especially when I’m not.”
“Sorry, I’ll make sure I find you someone before we have sex again,” Juliet drawled.
“You do that,” Maile sniffed and then leaned forward. “Where’d you guys do it?”
“You two seem serious,” Scarlet interrupted.
Maile shushed her. “I’m trying to get the dirty details.”
Scarlet’s lips tightened. “I don’t think it’s appropriate to talk about sex when there’s kids around.”
“You had fifteen kids, you should have the most to talk about,” Maile retorted.
Juliet went off into gales of laughter when Scarlet sputtered.
The rest of the day went by in a blur of sun, swimming, eating, drinking and lounging. By the end of the day, Juliet felt weightless. As she watched the sun begin its descent into the ocean, she found herself silently pleading for more time. Today had been the perfect day and she didn’t want it to end. There were problems beneath the smiles and laughter. But, didn’t days like this make everything worth it?
Juliet glanced at Callie who had an arm around Brent’s son, Junior. Callie was getting stronger every day, but she wasn’t there yet. She had a baby on the way and wanted to quit Grant Shipping. Would Gray try to stop her? The rage and guilt she carried all these years burned white hot when Gray was around. Would she ever be able to let it go? Would she be able to endure the insinuations and rumors about her past when they were constantly shoved in her face?
Juliet sat in the sand, arms braced on her knees as she looked out at the ocean and pondered the detour her life had taken.
“You look like you’re settling in.”
Juliet
jerked out of her thoughts as Hunter settled beside her. “We’ll see.”
“Hey, aren’t you supposed to be serving dinner now?”
“Decided to take the day off.”
“You work seven days a week?”
He grunted.
“You can hire staff so you can have a day off, you know?”
“Juliet.”
“I can take a look at your books. You’re slammed every day. You can definitely afford to hire help. You could have days off. What a concept!”
Hunter cracked a smile. Juliet felt as if she won the lottery. When he didn’t look like he was on the verge of killing someone, he looked so much younger.
“Maybe I can help you in the bar until we can find you a waitress,” Juliet said.
“Not without feeding Dominick a good story. He really isn’t happy seeing me with you.”
“He knows I love him,” she said without thinking and froze. Love him? “Did I just say love?”
“Yeah,” Hunter drawled. “Maybe you should tell him that before he tries to kick my ass. I saw him work Freddy. I don’t want to get on the wrong side of those fists.”
Before Juliet could come to terms with the fact that the L word just spilled from her lips, Hunter rose. He squeezed her shoulder before he helped Lee take down the tent. Trina and Scarlet gathered up the kids while Moana and Juliet dug around in the sand to make sure they didn’t leave anything behind. Juliet was helping Callie trudge through the soft sand when Callie jumped.
“What is it?” Juliet asked, alarmed.
“She’s kicking. Here.” Callie grabbed her hand and placed it at the highest point of her stomach.
“I don’t feel—” Juliet began and gasped when she felt a strong kick beneath her palm. She stared at Callie who smiled gently. “Wow.”
“She’s strong,” Callie said with a nod and met Juliet’s dazzled eyes. “Will you come with me when I go into labor?”
Juliet drew back in alarm. “What?”
“Scarlet never took an epidural for any of her kids and she’s told me about fifty times that I should be able to handle without it. If I want to take it, I will. All you have to do is just be there,” Callie said.
“If you want me to, I will.”
Callie nodded. “Thanks.”
When they started up the path to the parking lot, Juliet was surprised when Hunter appeared out of nowhere to assist Callie. Her sister tried to draw back, but Hunter put an arm around her waist and assisted her up the hill. Juliet looked around to see if anyone else thought this was strange, but everyone was too exhausted and loaded down with boards, wet towels, chairs and toys to notice.
“We should do this again,” Lee said with a broad smile.
Juliet wasn’t prepared when he enfolded her in a hug. She was glad the sun was gone so no one caught the sheen of tears in her eyes. While she was trying to recover, Moana kissed her and rocked her from side to side. When Juliet tried to back away, Brent’s wife Trina came after her and gave her a hug as well, telling her kids to say goodbye to Aunty Juliet.
Juliet jumped into the passenger seat of Dominick’s truck and rolled down the window to wave at everyone as they left. She closed her eyes and let the wind blow her hair into a tangled cape. She felt amazing—light, free and hopeful. She rolled up the window when the temperature dropped.
“Did you have fun?” Juliet asked Dominick.
“Yes. You?”
“Mmm.”
“You were talking to Hunter for a while,” Dominick said.
“I offered to look at his books for the bar.”
“That’s it?”
Juliet cradled his large calloused hand in both of hers. “Yup. Today was a perfect day.”
“Brent and Scarlet wouldn’t have showed up today if they hadn’t changed their minds about you.”
“Gray could change their minds again.”
“You really think Gray has that much power over them?”
“You don’t understand what it’s like growing up in that family. They crave his approval, even now. Everything they do is to please him. He planned our lives. Told us what college to go to, even who to marry. Gray chose Freddy for Callie. Everything he does is calculated. He hasn’t changed. He can still manipulate things.”
“But Brent took over.”
“Gray owns half of Grant Shipping. The other half they all have a quarter of.”
“You don’t have a share?”
“I’m not blood.”
“So? You were legally adopted by Gray.”
“That doesn’t mean anything.”
Dominick squeezed her hand. When they reached home, it was dark. Dominick’s phone rang. She showered and flopped in bed, skin warm from the sun and mind pleasantly empty. Juliet didn’t sense Dominick stop beside the bed, looking down at her. She didn’t feel him move her beneath the sheets or brush a kiss over her brow.
Chapter Fourteen
Juliet woke on Sunday feeling warm, happy and content. Dominick was splayed over her. She brushed his hair back from his face and felt her heart give a painful squeeze. Yes, Dominick Bryson raised dangerous wants in her. He made her believe in happily ever after’s. No matter what happened in the future, he changed her for all time.
Juliet managed to scoot out from beneath him and padded into the kitchen to start coffee. She pulled out her laptop and worked on Maile and Sumi’s accounts. By the time Dominick woke, she was in his office, getting everything organized.
“You’re up early,” he said as he leaned in the doorway with a cup of coffee.
“I had great sleep,” she said with a big smile. “A beach day is just what I needed.” She caught the strange look on his face. “What is it?”
“You’re smiling.”
“Am I?” She tried to stop and found that she couldn’t.
“You’re happy,” he said and smiled back at her.
“Am not!”
“You are.” He came to her and gave her a long, sweet kiss. “You’re glowing.”
Juliet wrapped her hand around the back of his neck and searched his eyes almost desperately. “Dominick, I don’t know what’s happening to me.”
“You’re being yourself and living life instead of trying to control it.”
She gave him a baleful look. “Why are you so wise?”
“Because I pay attention.”
“I’m happy,” she said as if she were confessing a deadly sin.
“I want you to be.”
“You want me here?”
“Yes.”
“If you wanted me to leave, you would tell me?” she asked earnestly. “I mean, you’re not just saying that because you feel sorry for me or—”
“I want you here.”
She blew out a breath and kissed him, screwing her eyes shut as she gave him her emotions—the elation and fear. When she pulled back, there was a question in his eyes.
“I’m yours.”
His face began to change and she twisted her hand in his shirt.
“I’m terrified,” she said. “This doesn’t make sense and it’s too fast, but I like being here, I l-like being with you. I don’t want to be anywhere else. Yesterday was perfect and I want this. I want you.”
“You think I’m going to throw a fit?” Dominick asked with a grin.
“I just want you to know… I’m in.”
Dominick lifted her off of the chair.
“What are you doing?” she shrieked.
“Celebrating,” he said and tossed her on the bed.
Juliet bounced and giggled as Dominick leapt on top of her.
Sunday was a lethargic day where she and Dominick ate, made love and worked at their leisure. On Monday Dominick went back to work and she went to Sumi’s house to organize her office. She received her first official paycheck. Sumi’s accounts would only need minor tweaking during the week. Juliet went to Maile’s store and priced items, gossiped with locals and enjoyed her friend’s company. After that she went to the bar during
the busy lunch hour and pitched in. Hunter didn’t growl or complain. When the bar closed after lunch, he slapped a bunch of papers in front of her. She was appalled to find out that Hunter did the bare minimum on computers as well. She promised to look at them and went home to fix dinner before Dominick got home from work.
The days passed by in a blur of Dominick, bookkeeping, phone calls and sex. She and Dominick fell into a routine. They slept wrapped up in each other. In the mornings, they had a cup of coffee and breakfast before he went off to work. Juliet took care of her clients or spent time with Maile.
On Thursday everyone got together at noon to help Callie move. Juliet, Moana and Trina packed up what Callie needed from the house she once shared with Freddy. Just being there gave Juliet the creeps. The guys brought their trucks. In short order, Callie moved into her cottage. Juliet spent most of the day unpacking with her sister-in-law’s.
Juliet was at Maile’s shop on Friday when Callie asked for help moving the last of her things from the Grant mansion. Juliet drove up to the Grant estate and was surprised to find Brent’s office empty. There was no sign of Scarlet, Trina or the kids.
Juliet walked upstairs, memories of Mom assaulting her. Hands clenched into fists, she peeked into her old room, which was apparently her niece’s bedroom. Trina had changed the colors and replaced most of the furniture, but Juliet could feel Mom’s spirit imbedded into the walls of this home and it made her heart ache.
“Hey,” Callie said when Juliet appeared in the doorway. “Brent, Trina and Scarlet went over to my old house to grab the baby stuff. Could you help with these boxes?”
Callie looked tired, but excited and Juliet made three trips to the bug while Callie cleaned up the room.
“Any word on Freddy?” Juliet asked.
“He went to the mainland to stay with his parents in California,” Callie said with a dismissive shrug.
