“Yep. Let’s eat,” I said, flipping open the cooler lid.
He came up and leaned against my side as I pulled out a container of chicken breasts and set it on the table. He stared up at me. “Is everything this exciting with you?”
“I try to keep it entertaining, baby,” I murmured.
He flushed and pressed a kiss to my cheek that sent my heart soaring. I’d worried that I’d messed up forever, and I was so glad he was giving me a second chance.
11
WINTER
“So,that’s the story of you and Van. Or Vance, I guess?” I glanced at RJ. My eyes stung with tears that wanted to fall.
RJ nodded. “Yep.”
“Wow.”
The wind blew harder and the small metal deck we were sitting on that extended out from the top of the lighthouse tower swayed a tad more than I would’ve liked, but RJ held me close at his side with a strong arm. The blanket he’d wrapped around both of us was soft and warm, and the fuzzy fabric felt comforting. I almost wished I was naked so I could roll around on it. Not too far away, white-capped gray waves that reminded me of turtles slammed against the land, revealing the fact that they were far more deadly than they looked. I glanced over my shoulder to reassure myself that the window we’d walked out of, which was more like a door because it was on a hinge, was still open. My cheeks were cold, but I simply dragged the thick blanket up higher around my face.
Should I say anything about Vance?How much did it hurt to have someone you love try to kill you?I leaned harder against RJ. He didn’t seem like he wanted to rehash it all and discuss things to death, so I let it go. “This is breathtaking.”
“You’re breathtaking.” RJ gave me a squeeze.
We stared out at the water for a while longer, and the waves continued their endless trip toward land, blown by the wind that ruffled my hair. Along the beach to my right, the beam of a flashlight caught the corner of my eye, and I turned to watch someone plodding along at a steady pace. “RJ?”
“Hmm?” He pressed a kiss below the scratch on my temple that had my belly warming, and I curled my fingers into his shirt and tugged at the fabric.
“Is that someone you were expecting?” I asked, nodding in the direction of the light.
“Shit on a shingle. No. Let’s book it.” He shot to his feet. The cold wind sliced through my leather coat and I shivered as he helped me to stand. I needed the hand because I was stiff from sitting in one place so long in the cold, even though we’d been wrapped up together. He urged me back inside the lighthouse first, then followed me in with the blanket over his arm. I huddled near one of the space heaters while he closed and locked the window we’d gone out through.
“Unplug those,” he said, pointing at my beautiful sources of warmth. With a sigh, I nodded.
RJ was very dour as we packed up the dishes and containers to go back to the Courtesan, and I caught his eye and stuck my tongue out at him. He chuckled. We hurried, but he was no longer acting like we were about to be gunned down for sneaking into an old building that didn’t belong to us, maybe because we were already in motion to flee. He flipped off the lever for the beacon, unplugged the holiday lights, and then we raced down the stairs together. At the bottom, he unplugged the lights around the door and turned off the rest, leaving us in darkness. We took out our phones to use them as flashlights while hustling to the car at top speed. My heart raced until we were back in the Roadster and on the road headed toward the Courtesan Hotel.
RJ held my hand as he drove, and we kept trading glances that had my blood heating. I looked away, feeling shy.
“Tell me where you see this thing between us going?” he asked quietly. The air in the car felt heavy as I sucked in a deep breath.
“I’m a romantic.” I squeezed his hand. “I don’t like to start things with someone I couldn’t fall in love with. If I can’t see a future with a man, I don’t let him get close.” I lifted his knuckles and rubbed my cheek against them.
RJ gave me a serious squint before focusing on the road again. “You’re deeper than I gave you credit for when I first met you. All I saw was a gorgeous blond. I didn’t realize you were so sweet and thoughtful.”
I shrugged, not sure how to respond or even if he wanted me to say anything. “How about you?”
He grunted. “I’ve fucked for the sake of it because I like to get my rocks off. I won’t lie, I sowed my wild oats. But I could see myself with you for a long time. This isn’t only about sex. If there wasn’t more to this, I never would’ve stuck my neck out for you.” He scowled.
“But it’s also a little about wanting me, I hope?” I grinned. “Would you come to my room tonight, Daddy?”
His expression cleared and he winked. “You’re perfect, boy.”
Smiling, I settled back into the seat. The trip to the Courtesan was smooth and comfortable with the heat blasting on me from the vents, and I was starting to feel very fond of the hotel when he pulled the Roadster up in front of the doors. Today someone had strung holiday lights around all the windows and put electric candles on the insides, which were lit. The view was as pretty as a Christmas card and I couldn’t help but smile.
When we walked inside, I spotted Piers hustling across the lobby from the white marble grand staircase to the bar with an empty tray. Someone had wound white holiday lights around all the decorative pillars, and they blinked happily; maybe it had been him. Madam Winters had said she would give him something to do when I’d told her about him, and he seemed to be settling into the job well. I wasn’t sure what exactly his official title happened to be here at the hotel, but from what I’d gathered, he did a lot of odd jobs for anyone who asked. Piers turned, and I waved at him.
He smiled and gave me a goofy bow before the bartender said something that snagged his attention.
“How can you be so nice to him?” RJ asked, although he didn’t sound upset, just confused.
