Prologue
Five years before
There’s a girl laying in the sand.
If I hadn’t watched her walk down there, the sun kissing her skin, her blonde hair flowing behind her in her pretty black dress, I might have thought she was dead.
But no, she’s just laying there, getting her pretty dress dirty and wet while the tide ebbs closer, and closer to the heels on her feet.
This small little town in the middle of the ocean is very odd, I’d realized that quite quickly. Everyone knows each other, knows their secrets, cries and laughs together. There’s no anonymity, or peaceful isolation here like I can get in the city.
We buried my brother’s wife today. And their son. I’m not sure I’d want as many people at my funeral, if I even wanted a funeral at all.
But that girl on the beach? I’d seen her at the funeral. I didn’t know the names of people yet, this is my first time here to support my brother, but now he and my youngest brother are blackout drunk in the den, and I’m staring at the sand.
Burying my hands in the pockets of my slacks, I take a step down off the porch, the sun warm on my face, and make my way down to the waterfront. The sand grinds under the polished shoes on my feet and then I stop close to her head, my shadow falling over her face and blocking her sun.
“One hour,” she mutters as if to herself, “I wanted one hour.”
And then she opens her eyes, meeting mine immediately. They are the color of whiskey, framed by thick, black lashes. She has a gently sloped nose and plump pink lips with a prominent cupid’s bow, and freckles that are scattered across her face.
“Who are you?” She says, remaining on her back.
Her dress has slid up her thighs, revealing toned muscle and tanned skin.
“Kolten,” I answer.
“Well Kolten, you’re in my sun,” She replies, matter of fact.
“It’s odd attire to be sunbathing in,” I comment, letting my eyes wander down her body. If she stood, I doubt she’d get much above my chest, even in the heeled shoes on her feet. The dress clings to the upper half of her body, a black silk covered in a sheer lace, showing off soft curves before the skirt flares at her hips and thighs. Which I am currently staring at.
She clears her throat, and my eyes bounce to hers, amusement dancing in her expression. Oh, this girl is trouble.
“I wasn’t sunbathing,” She props herself onto her elbows, “I was taking a minute to be alone. Everyone was supposed to be at the diner.”
I guess she is referring to the wake they have going for Grace and Leo, my brother’s family, and it looks like my brothers, me, and this strange girl are the only ones not in attendance.
I take a seat in the sand next to her, “I didn’t get your name,” I tilt my chin so I can look down at her face but find she’s already pushing up to stand.
“Vanessa,” She answers as she gets to her feet, the sharp heels of her shoes sinking into the sand, “But you can call me Ness.”
The smile she gives me can only spell trouble. The devilish little grin awakens something inside of me, making me follow her with my eyes as she walks off, full of grace despite the sand, and heads off toward the diner.
Chapter One
Five years before
A few hours later…
I’ve always found peace in the dark.
There’s just something about the way the day bleeds into evening, and then velvety night, that settles something inside of my soul. I can’t tell you how much time I’ve spent doing this, gazing up at the stars as if I could count each one, dreaming up stories of how the moon chases the sun, longing for the chance to just spend one moment in the golden star’s presence.
This town has the best nights, it’s quiet and so dark on this tiny island, that the sky isn’t polluted by blaring white lights like they are back on the mainland. And the inky water that surrounds us adds a symphony of sound so calming, it’s as if it’s a melody made just for the soul.
My toes skim through the dark water as I dangle my legs off the side of the dock, the water cold against my bare skin, but the air is warm and the night quiet. Boats bob idly on the water at my side and the town behind me is asleep, leaving me blissfully alone.
For such a small town, it’s always busy, but I suppose that’s what keeps the place running. There isn’t a soul in town I don’t know. I grew up here and have spent the last twenty-one years of my life on this island, so I’ve gotten to know everyone, even if it’s just in passing.
