She spoke of her fears, but Crew found himself the one now afraid — afraid of losing her. It was unthinkable.
“The resort has sold,” he told her. “The papers were signed today and the new owners will take over at the end of this month.”
Haley’s fork clattered to her plate. She quickly picked it back up and threw him one of her trademark fake smiles.
“That is wonderful, Crew. I’m very happy for you,” she said, her voice almost convincing.
He didn’t understand why she was upset. He’d told her for months this was in progress. Was she that attached to Catalina Island? If she was, he could most likely find another development property nearby. Not on the island, as he’d signed a non-compete clause, saying he wouldn’t build another resort there that could possibly be better than this one. But the California mainland was only twenty-two miles away, and he could easily commute to another spot on the coastline to do what was now his passion, restoration.
“Is everything OK, Haley? You seem a little...I don’t know…”
“I’m very happy for you, Crew. Very happy,” she said, rising from the table. When her arms twisted around his neck and she sat on his lap, he didn’t fight her; nor did he when her lips moved over his.
But after a few moments, he pulled back and tried to get the situation under control. Sex would come later. Right now, he had a very important question.
“Make love to me,” she pleaded, and she wiggled herself against him. This was hard; he was hard. Harder. Hardest. No! He couldn’t do this right now. He had to think. The night was planned out for a reason.
“Haley…” he groaned as her br**sts pushed into his chest and her fingers began undoing his shirt.
“No more talking, Crew. Make love to me,” she demanded as she slipped from his lap and knelt before him, unbuttoning his pants and freeing his pulsing arousal.
He intended to stop her, even moved his hands to her hair to push her away, but as her sweet, hot mouth circled over him, his head fell back in ecstasy.
Afterward. They’d talk afterward…
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Crew woke up alone in the bed. The sheets were cold where Haley normally slept, and a sense of unease filled him.
He’d lost his head for a while last night, totally and completely lost it. Yet how could he refuse her when she was begging him to make love to her? He’d never claimed to be a saint and she’d pushed him beyond the limits of what he could possibly handle.
He’d gladly do it all over again. She’d been spectacular.
Wait. Now Crew was sitting up quickly in bed. No matter how good it had been, it wasn’t even close to worth it if she’d somehow managed to sneak out on him. He’d felt her pulling away, and should have been thinking of more than his sexual needs. He needed Haley in his life.
Relief whooshed through him when he discovered all her things still there in the room. She hadn’t left him, not yet, at least.
He knew she was planning to run, but he wasn’t going to let her get far. She’d put him under her spell last night, but even if he had to find a damned chastity belt for himself, he wasn’t going to let her pull that trick again until the ring in his pocket was on her beautiful finger. Hello, cold showers.
*****
Haley’s Cinderella-size feet enjoyed their shoeless freedom, relishing the feel of the cool wet sand between their toes. She left a pattern behind her as she walked lazily along the beach. She’d gone several miles and it was past time to turn around, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it just yet. Last night had been special, something that she could remember Crew by.
She loved him. How could she not when he’d been nothing but kind to her, done nothing but show her how to be a better person? Everything he’d done so far had been about her, for her, and now she owed him his freedom.
She’d be OK. She didn’t know how, but she would make it through this. He’d taught her how to respect herself, to be comfortable with the person she was inside. He’d taught her that she was a beautiful woman. Though it wouldn’t come easily for her, she would never put on a dunce cap and stand in a corner again. That was all thanks to Crew Storm.
In the far recesses of her mind, she knew she was running away. She knew she was far more afraid of his rejection — of actually hearing him say the words that he didn’t want her anymore. If she were the one to walk away, maybe, just maybe, it wouldn’t hurt as badly.
After all they’d been through together, if he turned on her, pushed her away from him, she would have a hard time getting past it. She’d been rejected her entire life by those who should have been the first to embrace her. She deserved to be a little weak just this once, didn’t she? If she found love ever again — doubtful — and met again with failure — more likely — she would try to face up to rejection head on.
After another half mile, Haley turned around. The sun was rising in the sky, and the last of the morning fog was dissipating, bringing a beautiful new day to the rest of the people on the island. Haley wished the fog around her heart would clear as well, leaving her ready to begin a new life.
She picked up her pace for her return toward the Catalina Couture Resort. It was best to just get this over with. She’d rip off the bandage and then she and Crew could both move forward.
What she wanted next she just didn’t know, whether it was to get back into school, move, or keep things the way they’d been before coming to this small paradise. But after their conversation, she simply couldn’t stay here any longer. To see him would be heartbreak. Maybe she’d go to Italy and be a tourist, find a job in a small café and try her hand at art.
As she reached the resort and stepped inside the lobby’s beautiful French doors, her heart thudded. No matter how she’d tried to prepare herself for what was to come, her heart still ached, and fear climbed higher in her throat.
Somehow she put one foot in front of the other and managed to return the kind smiles of the front-desk associates, and then she walked down the short hallway to his office. Maybe he wouldn’t be there and she could just leave him a note, take the coward’s way out.
No. She wouldn’t do that. After all he’d done for her, he deserved to hear her say goodbye to his face.
Crew was sitting at his desk, his phone held to his ear, when he looked up and saw her in the doorway. A wide grin spreading across his face, he motioned for her to enter.