“Did I wear you out? You’ve gone quiet on me,” Gavin asks when we make it back to his beautiful home.“Maybe a little.” I am worn out, but it’s not from a night of dancing.Gavin takes my hand, and his fingers thread through mine as we walk inside. The farther inside he takes me, the more like a con I feel. The weight of it is pressing down on me and then anger at all the guilt I feel too. I remind myself that I’ve done what I had to in order to keep Celeste and myself safe.“If you lived here you wouldn't have to pack a bag, you know,” Gavin says, jerking me from my spiraling thoughts.“We’ve gone from you wanting a key to my house to the two of us moving in together?” I tug on my hand, but he doesn’t let go.“You don’t think it would be nice to live together? We wouldn’t have to sneak around.”“We can’t live together, Gavin.” I shake my head at the stupid thought. Then the anger I already have inside of me builds. I want it. But wanting things you can’t have is dangerous. I don’t le
“Ariana, answer the damn door or I’m coming in.”I’ve been miserable without her. She not only took my car the last time I saw her but left the island for a weekend in the city. I know because I kept getting alerts on the charges. At one point, the hotel manager called me because she was trying to buy a three-thousand-dollar handbag, and I told him if he denied her so much as a cup of ice, I would buy that hotel and fire him first.After that, she really put my card to work, but I didn’t give a shit. She could take it all, because none of it mattered without her in my life.I’ve been watching her house all week and driving in circles around the island, stalking her. Every morning when she takes Celeste to school, I follow them. Maybe I should be ashamed of just how crazy she’s made me, but I don’t care. She won’t answer my calls, and I don’t want to show up when Celeste is home. We need to do this in private, and I know once I get my hands on her I’m not letting go. But I’ve had enoug
“Gavin.” This time her voice cracks, and I see the worry in her eyes she’s always trying to hide.“I wanted to know everything I could about you. That’s why I had someone look into your past. Maybe it was too much, but I’m not sorry. Finding out what you’d done?” I shrug. “That just sealed the deal for me.”“Why?”“Because I knew that there wasn’t anything you could have done that would make me stop loving you.”“You don’t mean that.” She looks in my eyes, and I can see the tears in hers beginning to form.“I do mean that, with every part of my soul. I’m never letting you go because I love you, Ariana. I love you even if you've done things in the past you’re not proud of. I love you because you did what you had to do to get away from your horrible home life. I love you because you protected you and your daughter, no matter, the cost. I love you, and I will never, ever leave you.”The tears fall from her eyes, and I lean down to kiss them away. She tries to blink until they’re gone, bu
I stand outside Apollo’s bedroom door like a creeper. I can’t help myself. Celeste isn’t my little girl anymore so I can sneak into her room and sit on the end of her bed. She’s a woman now, and I’m going to have to get used to it.When I hear my daughter’s giggle from the other side of the door, I close my eyes for a long moment and smile. I should be all bent out of shape that my daughter is shacked up in her boyfriend’s room, but the last few weeks have put everything in perspective.Life can be short.I’d never been more terrified than when Gavin got the call about Apollo being in an accident. A car slammed into the passenger side where Celeste was sitting. They had to pry her from the car, but thankfully she’s okay. Apollo was banged up too, but it was Celeste that suffered a major head injury. We’d all been lucky.That night put everything in perspective. For the first time I let go, and Gavin was there to catch me. Everyone’s walls came tumbling down, and Gavin has been at my s
Ariana ends up being gone most of the day, and when she finally comes back, the movers are in full swing, and the decorator shows up early. I asked her to come the following day, but she was eager to meet Ariana and get started. I’m sure her commission check motivated her to come over as soon as possible.Ariana’s cheeks are flushed as she runs around, but she’s as beautiful as ever as she points people in the right direction. She talks to the decorator about the style she’d like for the house, and I work some more until dinner. After that we end up by the pool, and just when I’m about to ask her about her day, Apollo wants to talk with me.“Come sit down,” I tell him as Ariana goes into the house to give us some privacy. “What’s on your mind, son?”“I need to talk to you about something I heard today.” His eyebrows are drawn together, and he looks like he’s carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.“All right, let me hear it.” I try to stay calm because it sounds like he has
I stare at Gavin in shock. I wasn't sure what his reaction was going to be, but this isn’t it. It’s clear that he doesn’t want more children.“I’m sorry.” He swings back around to face me, and his hands are clenched tight at his sides. “For you, I’ll do it. I’d do anything if it makes you happy.”“You did it for—”He cuts me off before I can finish. “I didn’t do shit for Apollo’s mother. It was a one-night stand, and I was so drunk that night I don’t even remember it. I didn’t want to be with her, but I set her up here to stay. I wanted to give her an opportunity to raise our son together even if there was no way we’d have a relationship. I didn’t do anything for her. Everything I did was for my son, which is something I have no doubt you of all people will understand.”I nod because I do understand what he’s saying. He clears the space between us and takes my face in his hands.“I’ll have a baby with you if it’s what you really want. I’d do anything for you, Ariana. For so long I’ve
Two days later, I’m sitting at The Blue Marlin on the back deck, having a glass of white wine. It’s beautiful out here, and I wanted to watch the sunset over the water. I check my watch for the third time and take another sip.“Sir, your guest has arrived,” the maître d’ says, and I stand from the table. Behind him, I see Shy Wells approaching the area I have reserved for our meeting.The maître d’ steps away, and I extend my hand out to Shy. To his credit, he doesn’t flinch as he takes my hand and looks me directly in the eye as he shakes it.“Thank you for coming,” I say as we both take a seat.“I was expecting your call after my confrontation with Apollo.” He glances out to the water and then back to me. “The best table on the island, I assume.”“That’s what I’d like to talk to you about today, Shy.” When he looks at me quizzically, I lean back in my chair. “Your assumptions.”He presses his lips together, and as the waiter begins to approach, I wave him off. I want to get to the p
The party on the yacht is being thrown by one of the prominent families in Craven Cove. It’s a benefit for the school and their art department, so the turnout will probably be quite large. Good thing the yacht is the biggest in the marina.Turning to Ariana, I kiss the back of her hand, and she nods at me. “I’ll see you soon,” I say as I let her go. The plan is to arrive separately tonight, so I’m giving her extra time to board the boat. After enough time has passed, I begin the long walk down the dock and to the waiting yacht.I’m greeted by the staff and Jenkins and welcomed aboard. Once inside, I take a glass of champagne off a waiting tray and circle to the back. In the distance, I see my Ariana, looking beautiful in an emerald-green gown that’s practically glowing in the moonlight. Then I look beside her, and there’s Heather.It’s been over eighteen years since I’ve seen her, and I still feel nothing when looking at her. Well, I guess now there’s anger and hurt because of what sh