Bayside Escape, page 14
Cosmos hopped up on the bed and crawled on his belly to her. She reached out to pet him and brushed over a mop of sandy, wet hair. Ugh. Andre had gone running with the guys again, and she guessed Cosmos had, too. Cosmos licked her arm.
“Guess I’ll be washing the sheets and you, huh?”
He licked her again. He’d been awfully needy lately, following them around and sleeping in their room. “You miss Desiree, don’t you?”
The pup tilted his head and whimpered.
“Yeah, I do, too,” she said, surprising herself. “She’ll be back after her honeymoon, and then you can spread sand on her bed.”
She hadn’t been able to stop thinking about everything Andre had said Thursday afternoon at the hospital. The thought that she could have been inadvertently hurting Desiree was killing her. She didn’t want to bother Desiree on her honeymoon, but she was anxious to hear from her. Last night, as if Violet had willed it to happen, Desiree had texted to say Rick had surprised her with the trip to Portugal. She’d sent pictures of the inn where they were staying and of a friend she’d made there, Paige Bentley, whose family owned the inn. Desiree had invited Paige to visit Summer House and had learned that she knew Daphne and Chloe from their online book club. Desiree’s openness with strangers had underscored the differences between her and Violet and had driven home Andre’s point.
Violet had never considered herself to be someone who hid from anything. She approached situations head-on and never hesitated to say what was on her mind. But she was starting to see herself through Andre’s eyes, and she wondered if he was right and she was going to great lengths to hide certain parts of herself. Maybe she wasn’t just trying to keep her groups of friends separate because of the emotions they triggered, even if it had started out that way.
Cosmos leaped from the bed and scampered toward the sounds coming from the kitchen. Violet was glad she’d told their friends to fend for themselves this morning so she and Andre could have a quiet morning alone before heading up to Herring Cove for the volunteer appreciation day to see Rowan and Joni.
Violet pulled on one of Andre’s soft shirts, brushed her teeth, and carried the daisy into the kitchen to put it in water.
“Hey, beautiful.” Andre reached for her, looking deliciously sexy in his boxer briefs.
“Mm.” She nuzzled against his neck. “You smell good.”
He pressed his lips to hers, caressing her bare butt as he said, “You were fast asleep when I got back, so I used the outdoor shower on the patio.”
“And I missed it? I just might have to get you dirty again.”
“I like the sound of that.” He pressed several shivery kisses along her neck, causing goose bumps to rise all over her. “I was about to bring you breakfast in bed.”
She followed his gaze to a tray on the counter filled with a plate of French toast, a bowl of fruit, and a cup of coffee. When she set the daisy on the tray, it looked like a scene from a romantic postcard. She wasn’t a postcard-romance girl, but she was starting to wonder if she didn’t know herself as well as she thought she did. “Thank you. That looks amazing. Did you eat?”
“No.” He brushed his scruff over her cheek, and then he sealed his mouth over her neck, sucking hard, his arousal pressing insistently against her belly. His hot breath washed over her skin as he said, “How could I eat without you?”
He lowered his mouth to hers, kissing her so deeply that when his fingers slipped between her legs she was already wet. Their kisses went on and on, and when his mouth blazed a path down her neck, she couldn’t hold on to a single thought. He pulled up her shirt and his mouth covered her breast at the same time as he dipped his fingers inside her, drawing a loud moan from her lungs.
“Forget breakfast in bed.” She stripped off her shirt.
He made a low, hungry sound, and then his mouth covered hers and he backed her up against the counter, groping her breasts with one hand as his fingers worked their magic between her legs. He kissed her savagely, and she thrust her hand down his briefs, taking hold of his cock. He moaned into their kiss, and that utterly male, fucking hot sound turned her on even more. She tore her mouth from his, and their eyes connected for one scorching second before she dropped to her knees and lowered her mouth over every blessed inch of his cock. He groaned and fisted his hand in her hair.
“Fuck, baby,” he said between clenched teeth as she sucked and stroked, devouring him the way she’d wished for the courage to do when they were in Ghana.
He was so good to her, so patient, and unwilling to let her fuck them up, that he’d unshackled something deep inside her, allowing her to release her inner vixen and accept the softer, submissive side that existed only when she was with him. She stroked him with her hand, licking and sucking until his cock swelled and his body shook with restraint. She grabbed his ass, forcing him deeper, making him thrust faster. He tightened his fingers in her hair, tugging hard, sending a scintillating sting slicing through her.
“I’m going to come,” he warned.
She slipped his cock from her mouth and licked slowly over and around the broad head, loving the way his breathing became harder and his stare became predatory.
“Then I guess you’ll have to find another way to make me come afterward.” She slicked her tongue over his balls, earning another enticing moan, and said, “Twice.”
She took him to the back of her throat, working him fast and tight. She held on for dear life as he took over, thrusting deep and pumping hard, his leg and arm muscles straining. It felt so damn good to be free with him, she succumbed to his forceful domination. And dominate he did, with exquisite perfection, fucking her mouth like he owned it. His body shook as he pounded into her, and then his hips jerked and he found his release.
“Daisy,” burst from his lungs full of love, lust, and pure male satisfaction.
When the last shock rolled through his body, she drew back and he stroked her face, running his fingers lovingly through her hair as she rose to her feet and slanted her mouth over his. Her body trembled with desire as he lifted her onto the counter.
He broke their connection, his dark eyes boring into her as he said, “I love you so damn much, but there’s no way I’m going to make you come twice.”
“The fuck you’re not,” she challenged.
He lowered his mouth to her breast and sucked so hard she felt it between her legs, and a greedy moan escaped. She curled her fingers around the edge of the counter. “Andre, please—”
When he released her breast, all the air rushed from her lungs. She tried to catch her breath as he rained kisses down her belly and over her thighs, but Andre’s love made the world feel bottomless. Cool air swept over the wet trails from his openmouthed kisses, causing her skin to prickle like live wires. When he grabbed her legs and spread them wide, she closed her eyes in anticipation of his talented mouth landing where she so desperately needed it. But his mouth pressed against hers in another soul-reaching kiss, sending her reeling once again.
When he tore his mouth away, leaving her lips burning for more, he growled, “Twice could never be enough.”
She barely had time to process his words when his tongue slicked down the center of her sex, and then his mouth covered it completely. Blood pounded through her as her need grew to explosive proportions. His mouth was gifted, his tongue, a weapon of orgasmic pleasures. Her emotions whirled and skidded as he sent her gasping in sweet ecstasy all the way up to the clouds and held her there, over and over again.
LATER THAT MORNING, as they climbed off Andre’s bike at Herring Cove, the sounds of children playing and adults mingling carried in the salty sea air.
“That’s Rowan’s pickup truck, with the breast cancer magnets all over it.” Violet pointed to a truck parked a few spots away. “He’s got them all over the food truck, too.”
Andre had thought he’d known pain when Violet had left him in Ghana. But after falling even deeper in love with her, the idea of being separated not by distance, but by death, brought a whole new meaning to the word. He wasn’t sure he could survive that.
He locked up the helmets and reached for her hand, feeling so full of love he was sure no one in the world had ever loved a person as much as he did right at that moment. But when Violet’s eyes caught his, he knew he was wrong.
“Have you volunteered at the soup kitchen?” he asked.
“A few times.”
“Would you have come to this appreciation day if you didn’t need to catch up with Rowan?”
She was quiet for a moment before shaking her head.
“Because you don’t want to be appreciated by others?”
“Yes is on the tip of my tongue,” she said sharply. “But you make me want to figure out why my first instinct is to say yes. I think it’s because when I was a kid there was no better feeling than having Ted tell me how much he appreciated things I did, like watching out for Desiree or helping set the table. I loved the positive reinforcement, and I wanted to earn his praise. But when Lizza took me away, it felt like all that stuff he said wasn’t real. Because how can you love and appreciate someone but let them go?” She inhaled a ragged breath and blew it out slowly. “But I loved and appreciated you, and then I left. My feelings for you weren’t fake. I’m beginning to understand that nothing is black-and-white and what I’ve always believed may not necessarily be true.”
“Ted loves you, babe. Nobody could fake the look in his eyes or the pride in his voice when he talked about you.”
“I hope that’s true, but I’m still fucked up, because I wouldn’t have come here for myself. But don’t worry. I’m trying to figure out why.”
He kissed her softly and said, “You can’t imagine how happy that makes me. I want you to feel good about letting your bright light shine for all to see.”
“There’s something else I want you to know. I’m going to talk to Desiree when she gets back from her honeymoon and tell her everything—about volunteering, working with Joni, sculpting…”
Surprise rose in his eyes. “You are?”
“Yup. That gives me a few weeks to mentally prepare for our come-to-Jesus moment. You should be a therapist with all the shit you’ve got me spewing.” She pulled him across the parking lot. “Now, let’s go. I feel naked.”
He chuckled.
“Keep laughing. I’ve got a store full of sex toys and I’m not afraid to use them.”
“As long as they’re not replacing me, I’m cool with that,” he said heatedly.
“I meant use them on you.”
He stopped walking.
She laughed and tugged him toward a sandy path that cut through the dunes to the beach. “You know that uncomfortable feeling you’ve got right now?” she said when they stopped to take off their boots at the edge of the path. “It’s about half as uncomfortable as I feel every time you get me to think about stuff I don’t want to think about.”
“Shit, baby. I’m sorry.”
“Nothing worth anything in this life comes easily, right?” As they crossed the dunes she said, “Isn’t that what everyone says?”
A wicked grin lifted his lips. “I can make you come pretty easily, and that’s so fucking worth it.”
“Violet!”
They spun around and saw a little girl running toward them wearing a blue button-down shirt with a fluffy green tutu. Her skinny little arms were spread wide, her fine brown hair floating above her shoulders. A guy stood at the end of the path in shorts and a colorful striped Baja hoodie.
“Hold that thought,” Violet said. “That’s Joni and Rowan.” She scooped up the excited little girl and twirled her around. “Hey, peanut butter.”
Little-girl giggles filled the air. “Hey, jelly! Do you like my tutu?”
“That’s a spectacular tutu,” Violet exclaimed. “Did you get it from a gorilla at the bank?”
Joni buried her giggling face in Violet’s neck and said, “No.” Then her head popped up and she said, “I got it from the mermaid at the zoo!”
They all laughed. Joni was adorable, with crooked baby teeth, happy brown eyes, and so much love for Violet it radiated off her. He wished Violet would let everyone see this warmer, animated side of herself.
Violet said, “Joni, this is my very special friend, Andre.”
“Hi!” Joni said. “Where did you get your shirt from?”
Andre leaned in close and lowered his voice as if he were sharing a secret as he said, “I got it from the giraffe in the park!”
Joni wiggled from Violet’s arms, giggling. She reached for each of their hands and pulled them toward Rowan. “Come on! There’s hamburgers and hot dogs and lizards and snakes…”
As Joni rattled off several types of animals, Violet said, “Joni’s got the greatest imagination on the planet.”
Joni let go of their hands and ran to Rowan. He was a big man, at least six four, with shaggy hair, a short beard, and kind eyes. He lifted Joni up and kissed her cheek. “Love you, Jojo.”
He set her in the sand as she said, “Love you, too, Daddy.”
“How’s it going, sugar?” Rowan threw an arm over Violet’s shoulder, hugging her against his side.
Sugar?
Rowan extended a hand and said, “Hi. I’m Rowan. It’s Andre, right?”
“No, Daddy,” Joni said. “His name is pretzel!”
Andre shook his hand and said, “She’s right. My name is pretzel, but you can call me Andre if you’d like.”
Joni grabbed Violet’s hand and said, “Can me and peanut butter go down by the water?”
“You know the rules.” Rowan winked at his little girl.
Joni turned wide, hopeful eyes up at Violet and said, “Would you like to play by the water with me?”
Violet glanced at Andre. “Think you’ll be okay for a few minutes?”
“Of course,” he said.
“Yay!” Joni dragged Violet toward the water, where a few other children were putting their toes in the water and then running up the beach.
“She’s a cutie,” he said to Rowan.
“Violet or Joni?” Rowan smiled and said, “I’m kidding. She’s a great kid, and Vi’s pretty awesome, too. Let’s go grab a drink.”
They walked down the beach to where a group of people sat on chairs and blankets in a semicircle, talking and eating. There was a mix of twentysomethings and seniors. Parked by the dunes were three trucks with enormous tires, one with coolers in the back. Near the trucks there were two grills and a table covered with platters of burgers, hot dogs, salads, pasta dishes, cookies, and a host of other delicious-looking food.
Andre and Rowan grabbed sodas, and Rowan introduced him to some of the other volunteers. After chatting with the others for a while, they sat in the sand talking. Rowan was easygoing, smart, and he kept a keen eye on his daughter, who was busy building a sandcastle with Violet.
“So, who goes first?” Rowan asked.
“For…?”
“You know, the regular bullshit that we’re avoiding but probably should get out of the way.” He sipped his soda.
“Ah, well, Violet’s already filled me in on how you two met. She said you own a food truck and that you’re raising Joni alone. I’m sorry about your wife.”
“Carlotta was my girlfriend, not my wife, but thank you. Not a day goes by that I don’t miss her. But you’ve got one up on me. Vi didn’t tell me shit about you, other than your name.”
“That doesn’t really surprise me.”
“Nah, it shouldn’t if you know Vi as well as I think you do.” Rowan set his soda can in the sand and looked over at Violet and Joni.
Joni was sitting in Violet’s lap, playing with the ends of Violet’s hair. Violet was rocking side to side, and she looked like she was singing. Andre had seen Violet with dozens of children in Ghana, and she’d been just as at ease with each and every one of them.
“To be honest,” Rowan said, “Violet told me everything I needed to know by taking you to the coffeehouse. I saw Steph and Cory the other day, and they told me you’d been there a few times with her. But even if I hadn’t known that, the way she looked at you before going off with Joni? That told me she totally digs and trusts you, because Vi doesn’t look for approval from anyone.”
“It’s mutual.” He told Rowan how he and Violet had met and about their time together overseas. And then he said the hardest thing of all. “She took off more than two years ago, and I had no idea where she was or how to find her.”
Rowan stretched his long legs out and said, “She’s just like my Carlo. Feisty, stubborn. Every time I got too close, Carlo pulled away. That’s why we never got married. We’d been together for two years when she got pregnant with Jojo. The second I mentioned marriage”—he shook his head—“she was like a pup that had seen the wrong end of a newspaper too many times. Her parents had an awful marriage, and she wanted no part of that union. I’d bet my life we would have had a great marriage, but what’s a piece of paper? Right?”
“I made that mistake, too. I proposed to Vi. It was one of the reasons she took off.”
Rowan smiled and said, “Everyone says guys are afraid of commitment, and look at us. Two dudes who fell in love with probably the only two women around who aren’t pining for a ring on their finger. But Carlo and Vi? They have something else in common—two of the biggest hearts I’ve ever known. Since the day Vi and I met, she’s been like an aunt to Jojo. She’s come over when Jojo was having fits and I had no idea what to do, and she’s picked her up from school when I had the flu. She’s so easy with her, like she totally gets her in ways that sometimes confound me.”
They sat in silence, each lost in their own thoughts for a few minutes, and then Rowan said, “From the second Jojo was born, she was mine and Carlo’s world. Nothing in this world matters more than that trusting little girl, but I think I’m fucking up pretty badly.”
