I tilted my face up to his. “Seems like a private spot.”
His mouth lowered to mine. I melted into him, my fingers dragging through his hair as he pressed me againsta nearby tree. The rough bark at my back was a stark contrast to the warmth of his body.
“Eli.” I gasped between kisses. “This is…”
“Crazy?” he finished, trailing kisses down my neck.
“Dangerous,” I corrected, my eyes fluttering closed as I thought of the house not far away.
His hands roamed my body, igniting my skin everywhere they touched. I’d never felt so alive, so wanted. And it wasn’t just the physical connection—it was everything. The way he’d introduced me to his family, included me in their traditions. Like I was part of them. Maybe now was the right time to tell him how I felt. To finally find the courage to fly.
“Eli, I?—”
A wry, tolerant laugh sounded from the opening behind us. “I guess this is why I never show up to these things.” Helen’s voice carried clearly as she stepped out of the shadows.
Eli and I sprang apart, startled.
Her amused, indulgent expression morphed when her eyes shifted from Eli to me. When she recognized me, they flew open wide. Shock filled her face, then transitioned to unmistakable disapproval as she stood ramrod straight.
Her head whipped back to her son. “Elias Coleridge, what in God’s name is going on here?”
Eli’s hand dropped from my waist, leaving me cold. “Mom, I can explain?—”
“Explain?” Helen’s eyes flashed. “Do I look stupid to you?”
“Of course not.” His face visibly paled and I couldn’t string two words together.
Her scowl deepened. “I knew I hadn’t misread what I saw between you two at the pub. You lied to me, Eli!”
I shrank back against the tree, wishing I could disappear into its bark. Shame slithered through me, winding through my guts like a serpent. Eli stepped forward, his stance protective.
“It’s not like that,” he insisted, but his usual charm faltered. “Jules and I, we?—”
“I don’t want to hear it. I have only asked one thing from my kids regarding this resort. One rule—no getting involved with other employees.” Helen’s gaze swept over me, disappointment etched in every line of her face. “I expected better from both of you.”
My throat constricted. “Mrs. Coleridge, I’m so sorry. We never?—”
“Save it, Julianne. I thought you, of all people, understood the importance of professionalism.”
The serpent grew, becoming a dragon trying to eat me from the inside out. I’d worked so hard to prove myself, and now…
“This ends right now,” Helen said, her voice dripping with ice.
Panic clawed at me. How could I have been so stupid? This wasn’t just about our relationship. My career could very well be at stake.
“Mom, please,” Eli tried again, but Helen held up a hand.
“You and I will discuss this later. Privately.”
And that was clear as glass.
“I’ll go,” I mumbled, edging away.
Eli reached for me. “Jules, wait?—”
But I was already retreating, my vision blurring with tears. Behind me, Eli called out, “I’ll fix this, I promise!”
His words echoed in my head as I stumbled down the beach toward the parking lot. The sand shifted beneath myfeet, but the image of Helen’s face, her furious disappointment, was all I could see. Shame was all I could feel.
That earlier sense of belonging mocked me, leaving me cold and alone in the dark as I trudged to my car. And I had no one to blame but myself.
