by Carrie Elks
Aiden wasn’t sure how to answer that one. The three of them – Aiden, his mom, and Jamie – had left Angel Sands under the blackest of clouds, heading to LA to try to find somewhere to settle down. That had been almost a decade ago, when Aiden was a freshman in college and Jamie was a high school dropout. Yesterday had been the first time since they’d left that he’d made the two-hour journey back.
“I don’t want to pull out,” Aiden told him firmly. “I want this job. I know the town and I know the people. I can make this work for you.”
Carter Leisure had bought the dilapidated Silver Sands Resort earlier that year. The once-elegant cove to the east of Angel Sands, full of art-deco hotel buildings and Spanish style bungalows, had fallen into disrepair since its heyday in the middle of the last century. But Robert Carter had seen something special in the resort – and had managed to knock it down to a bargain price.
“I know you can do it. I’m wondering why you’d want to.” Robert leaned back in his black leather chair and took a sip of the whiskey. “Do you have something to prove?”
Aiden caught the old man’s eye. “Yeah. Maybe I do have something to prove. That town treated us all like crap. My mom, me… even Jamie. I want to go back and show them exactly who I’ve become.” His eyes flashed. “They expected me to become a criminal like Jamie and my dad. I want them to know how wrong they were about me.”
Robert nodded slowly. “Okay,” he said, approvingly. “That’s exactly what I wanted to hear.” He leaned forward, resting his hands on the polished wooden desk. “So how was your meeting with the project manager?”
Aiden took a slow breath in. “It was fine. The timing’s going to be tight, and the budget is already looking low, but Miller Construction knows that’s what they have to work with. They’re experienced; they’ve worked on a lot of hotel projects.”
“And you think the zoning committee will pass our plans?”
“It will if we speak to the right people. That resort’s been an eyesore for years. Redeveloping it and bringing money into the town should make everybody happy.”
Robert smiled broadly. “It’ll make me happy if you bring it in on budget.”
Aiden raised an eyebrow. “Yes, sir.”
“And you’re all set to move down this week?”
“Yep. I’ve found a house to rent, and the movers are packing my things up as we speak.” Not that he had a whole lot. A lifetime of poverty had taught him to only buy what he needed. Even now, when he had more money than he knew what to do with he was still careful with it. And there were his mother’s hospital bills to pay.
“Alice wants you to come to dinner tomorrow. Call it a farewell party if you like. She won’t take no for an answer,” Robert warned.
“I would never say no to Alice.” Robert’s wife was as close to a mother as Aiden had left. “I’ll call her to let her know I’ll be there.”
“Cheers.” Robert lifted his tumbler of whiskey. “Oh, and Aiden?”
“Yeah?”
“Good luck in Angel Sands.” He raised his glass in the air, as if giving a toast. Aiden did the same, until his tumbler came in contact with Robert’s, their crystal glasses singing at the touch.
“Thanks,” Aiden told him. The truth was, he’d need it.
Brooke stifled a yawn with the palm of her hand as she walked into the animal shelter. Weren’t weekends supposed to be relaxing? So why was it on Monday morning she found herself more exhausted than ever?
Maybe it was a combination of her parents’ Friday night soiree, and spending Saturday having fun with Nick before pulling an all-nighter to get her college assignment in on time. Whatever the reason, she rolled her shoulders and painted a smile on her lips – one that became real as soon as she saw Max Jenkins, their volunteer vet, crouched down in front of a giant dog, the mutt’s paw on his shoulder as he patiently let himself be examined.
“Is he new?” Brooke asked, pulling her long wavy hair into a pony tail as she walked toward the giant dog. “What’s your name, big guy?” She crouched down beside Max. The dog immediately moved his paw from Max’s shoulder to hers, placing it firmly down on the green cotton of her scrubs.
“He hasn’t got one yet. He was brought in yesterday, somebody found him wandering along the beach. I’m hoping his owner comes forward.”
“Does he have a chip?” Brooke asked, running her hand along the dog’s shoulder where an implant was usually placed.
“Not one that’s working. And no collar either. Maisie’s putting him up on our Facebook page and sending out the word. Hopefully we’ll get him home soon.”
The dog leaned in to nuzzle Brooke, his furry face tickling hers. “Hey bud,” she whispered to him, scratching behind his ears. “Try to think of this as a little vacation before we get you home.”
“I’ve got to head off to surgery,” Max told her, standing up and stretching his arms, as though he was as tired as she felt. It was no wonder – on top of volunteering at the animal shelter, Max ran the Angel Sands Veterinary Practice, taking care of all the town’s pets. An older man in his fifties, he had taken Brooke under his wing as she completed her studies to become a veterinary technician. When her college studies completed in June, he’d promised her a position at his practice. She couldn’t wait to make a start there.
“Oh, and we’ve had a call from the Silver Sands Resort. They want us to send somebody out there,” Max said, tipping his head to the side and giving her a wink. “They’ve found a dog and she’s not playing ball. Asked if we could send out our local mutt whisperer.”
“I’m not a mutt whisperer,” Brooke said, rolling her eyes at him.
Max grinned back. “You’re the closest we’ve got. Plus, I don’t know how long the dog’s been there and you’re the best person to check out her health. If she’s having any problems bring her straight to the practice, okay?”
“You know, if they weren’t bulldozering that place they wouldn’t be upsetting all the animals who’ve made it their home,” Brooke pointed out. “I can’t imagine how many of them are going to have to find somewhere else to live. Those hotel buildings have been standing empty for decades and suddenly they’re all getting turfed out.”
“That’s the price of progress,” Max said, shrugging his shoulders. “And at least they called us to come and help. Better than the alternative.”
She shivered. The alternative generally meant the animals being euthanized before they had a chance to save them. Max was right, at least they were giving them a chance first.
“By the way, how did your assignment go?” Max asked her as he lead the big dog into a pen, making sure he was settled before closing the door.
“It was tough, but I managed to get it in before the deadline.” She raised her eyebrows. “Just.”
“Only a few more to go and you’ll be finished.”
“Plus all those exams.” Brooke wrinkled her nose. “If I get through the next few months alive I’ll be amazed. Nick’s already told me he doesn’t want to go to college when he’s older. He says it looks too hard.”
Max laughed. “When it’s over we’ll have to throw you a big party. Ellie’s been asking for weeks when you’re coming around for dinner. I keep telling her you’re busy.”
“I’ll call her later.” Brooke felt bad. Ellie Jenkins had been as much a friend to her as Max had been, taking her under their wing as she studied for the past few years. “We miss her, too. Nick keeps asking when we can go and see Shadow.” He’d fallen in love with the Jenkins’ horse as soon as he’d first met him, the gentle giant leaning down to allow Nick to feed him some oats. “I wish there were more than twenty-four hours in a day.”
“I don’t. We both work enough of them as it is. Speaking of which,” he glanced at his watch, “I’d better go. My first surgery starts in half an hour.” He checked the big dog one more time before he lifted his hand to wave at Clara who was sitting in the office surrounded by paper. If there was anybody who worked harder than Max, it was
the director of the animal shelter. Between running this place and raising the funds for it, she spent most of her life in that office.
Clara looked up and waved back with her free hand, the other holding a phone to her ear as she shouted down the mouthpiece.
“Good luck at the hotel,” Max told Brooke as he grabbed his black leather case and headed toward the door. “And don’t forget to have a good look around. Ellie will want to know all about it.”
“Oh I will.” Brooke was as intrigued as the rest of them about what was happening at the Silver Sands Resort. Grabbing some supplies and a blanket, Brooke waved at Clara – who was still on the phone – and headed out to her car, putting the bag into the trunk and sliding into the driver’s seat.
Glancing in the mirror, she allowed herself one last yawn before she turned the ignition key and the engine rumbled to life.
It was time to go and save a dog.
3
For as long as Brooke could remember, the Silver Sands Resort had been derelict. Thanks to the tall tales her friends would tell each other, she’d been afraid of it as a child. Stories about angry ghost clowns and headless chamber maids, all determined to wreak their revenge on small children.
As a teenager she’d seen the resort a little differently. A blush stole its way up her neck as she remembered the things she’d done here. The way she’d been kissed, touched, held…
She’d become an expert at compartmentalizing in the past ten years, pushing down the memories that caused her pain. And she wasn’t ready to think about them now, either. Not when she had a job to do. Breathing in a sharp mouthful of air, she pulled her car into the construction lot outside the ten-foot fence, and grabbed her bag and the blanket. Though she couldn’t see a thing through the thick wooden boards, she could hear the hum of machinery and the occasional shout as workers called to each other.
At the gate she pressed the buzzer, adjusting her ponytail and tucking the stray hairs behind her ears. She was still wearing her green scrubs – her habitual clothing when she was working with animals. They were roomy enough for her to bend and lift an animal easily, but thick enough to withstand the kind of wear and tear which came from working closely with animals.
“Hello?” a voice echoed through the speaker.
“My name’s Brooke Newton. I’m from the Angel Sands Animal Shelter. I’ve come to look at a dog.”
The connection crackled.
“Please wait there. Somebody will come let you in.”
“Thank you.” Brooke stepped back and looked around. To her right were the golden sands of Silver Cove, leading down to the sparkling Pacific Ocean. The waves lapped gently against the shore as though they were in no rush to arrive or leave, and a gentle draft rustled through the palm trees lining the edge of the beach. The same breeze caressed her skin. For a second she closed her eyes and let the warm Californian sun invigorate her, a smile pulling at the corner of her lips as she inclined her head to the sky.
“Miss Newton?”
She opened her eyes quickly and saw a tall man standing in front of her. In jeans and a thick shirt, his brown hair was mostly covered by a yellow hard hat, another in his hand.
“Yes, that’s me.”
“My name’s Brecken Miller, I’m the project manager here. Before we go in I need to give you a little safety briefing. Let’s start with the hat. You need to wear it at all times.” He held it out to her and Brooke took it, pulling it down on her head. It almost swamped her, making the man grin. “I see you’re wearing sneakers. That’s fine for where we’ll be going. You’d be surprised how many people turn up wearing sandals, expecting me to let them step foot in this place.”
Brooke nodded at him. He looked to be around her age – maybe a little older. His skin was paler than most local people, and she wondered where he was from. “I work with animals all day. Wearing sandals would be asking for trouble.”
For the next five minutes he told her about safe areas and keeping within yellow lines, how to avoid machinery, and that she’d need to be accompanied when on site. She listened intently, maintaining eye contact to let him know she understood, and from the expression on his face he appreciated it.
“Okay, let’s head over to the other side of the site,” Brecken suggested, holding the gate open so she could walk through. Once inside, he led her in the direction of the bungalows on the far side of the site, keeping up a steady stream of conversation as they walked.
“How long have you been a vet?” he asked her.
“I’m not a vet. I’m in my final year of training to be a veterinary technician. I guess it’s kind of like being a nurse for animals.”
“So you do all the work and get none of the glory?”
She laughed, liking this man. “Not quite. The training takes a lot less time than it does to become a vet. But it’s a good job and I enjoy it.” She looked up at him. “Have you been in Angel Sands long?” she asked him. “I haven’t seen you around here before.”
“I came over from Boston,” he said, as they reached the cluster of bungalows leading down to the beach. “But I was originally from here. I moved away when I was seventeen.” He shrugged. “A long time ago now.”
A man was standing at the bungalow about ten yards ahead of them. In contrast to Brecken, this guy was wearing a pair of dark blue dress pants and a shirt, unbuttoned at the neck with the sleeves rolled up. His body looked almost too big for his clothes – his shoulders broad and arms rippled beneath the thin white cotton. But it wasn’t his body that made Brooke’s breath catch. It was his face.
His face.
She hadn’t seen him in almost ten years, but she would have known who it was even if all she could do was breathe him in. All those memories she’d pushed down so deeply inside her rose up in a maelstrom of emotion.
The last time she’d seen Aiden Black he’d been wearing torn jeans and an overwashed shirt. It had felt so soft and warm against her cheeks. He’d been strong and broad, but he’d been a teenager. This Aiden Black was all man.
Time stood still as they stared at each other. Brooke wasn’t sure if the sound rushing through her ears was her own blood or the steady rhythm of the waves. She took a ragged breath in, trying not to let her mouth drop open at the sight of him. And as for Aiden – he looked equally as shocked. His smooth brow pulling down until three lines furrowed through it, his full lips pressing together as he took her in.
“Aiden? I didn’t know you were coming over this way today.” Brecken stepped forward and shook his hand. “I guess they told you about the dog?” He turned back to look at Brooke. “This is Brooke Newton. The animal shelter sent her over. I’m hoping she’s gonna solve all our problems. Brooke, this is Aiden Black, he’s a director with Carter Leisure, the new owners of this resort.” He was oblivious to the atmosphere growing between her and Aiden.
Somehow, Brooke managed to pull herself together. She let out a mouthful of air and nodded at the man in front of her. “We’ve met before,” she said, her voice thin. “Hello, Aiden.”
He said nothing for a moment, but she could feel those dark eyes taking every inch of her in. There was something unfamiliar about him. It wasn’t quite foreboding but it was on the borderline. She got the impression nobody messed with Aiden Black.
A shiver snaked down her spine.
“Brooke,” he finally said, holding his hand out for her to shake as though they were mere acquaintances. “How are you?”
For a moment she considered giving him a honest answer. Shocked. Nauseous. Wondering where the hell he’d been for the past ten years. “I’m good, thank you,” she replied, holding his hand firmly in hers. It was warm, strong, and sent the biggest jolt up her arm. In spite of the heat, her skin broke out in goose bumps.
“And your parents? Are they well?” The corner of his lip curled up. Was that a sneer?
“They’re good, too.” She nodded. “And you? How have you been?”
There was a twitch in the corner of his jaw. His f
ace was as sculpted as she remembered. Though he was freshly shaven, she could remember the way it felt as she pressed her lips against his stubbled chin, kissing her way along his jawbone.
Stop it, Brooke. She didn’t need to be thinking about this, not now, and not ever.
“I’m doing fine.”
“And your family?” she asked. “How’s your mom? I missed her after…” Her voice trailed off. How could she even begin to talk about that time? And from the way Aiden’s eyes darkened at the mention of his mom, he clearly didn’t want to talk about it either.
“She died last year.”
“Oh.” She covered her mouth with her hand, and tears sprang to her eyes unexpectedly. She blinked them back, lowering her hand to her neck, her fingers grasping at her skin there. “I’m so sorry. I had no idea.” When she managed to uncurl her fingers from her neck, she reached for him without thinking, her hand stopping in mid air as she realized what she was doing. “If I’d known I would have sent flowers,” she said, quickly pulling her arm back. “She was a good woman.”
“Yes she was.” Aiden’s eyes looked darker than ever. “The best.”
As if the atmosphere between them was making him uncomfortable, Brecken interjected. “So the dog is around this corner. We think she must have had a litter recently because there’s some kind of nest there. But no sign of puppies.”
“It might have been a phantom pregnancy. They happen sometimes.” Brooke turned to him, thankful for the distraction.
Brecken led them inside the half-crumbled building, pointing to the corner of what must have once been a living room. Sure enough, there was a dog there – medium size with a dark brown coat. Brooke squinted, trying to work out the breed. A little bit of lab, maybe a dash of german shepherd, and at least four other pointers that made her realize the bitch was a mix of everything. As soon as the dog saw her space being invaded, she started snapping at them, barking loudly as she got into an attack position.
