She’d shown me her emotions before. On Bourbon Street, I’d seen it. All of it. I knew that her heart was soft. That her tears flowed easily. So, that meant the woman that just walked out of here was one thing . . . what I had made her. She wasn’t cold. She was finished. I had shown her just how badly I could hurt her and she’d seen that I wasn’t worth it. She knew she deserved more.
Her smell clung to my skin. My body ached from the loss of her in my arms. But more than that my soul knew I’d just pushed away the one thing that had ever woken it up. Shook it. I had lost the woman that had shown me what fire felt like.
I sank onto the chair behind me. Buried my head in my hands. It was done. We’d had our small moment. I’d meant to show her how I was bad for her. How I would ruin her. I had been preserving us both. But in the end, I was the one that would be completely ruined.
Lila Kate
THE SPACE WAS perfect. It would grow with me. With my dance classes. I could see a future here. I had the money to start it. I’d buy this place, all the equipment, and start advertising. Sure, I’d wanted to find an adventure two weeks ago but now an adventure would always remind me of Cruz. He’d been my ultimate adventure.
I had almost let his presence in this town run me out. When I admitted to myself I was looking at dance studios outside of Rosemary Beach because I was trying to avoid Cruz, I had begun my search here. It only made sense for me to start my first studio in a town where I knew everyone and move further out later to expand. I didn’t plan on staying here forever. But for now, it made sense. My need for adventure had been sucked out. It had been fleeting. I’d had a little too much adventure in one weeks’ time to last me a few years.
The door opened behind me, and Ophelia Finlay stood there looking as glamourous as she always did. “I called you three times,” she told me as if I hadn’t seen the missed calls on my phone.
“I’ve been busy,” I replied.
She sighed loudly. “You won’t even consider it? I’d be an amazing roommate.”
Ophelia had heard from her mother that I was buying a condo and starting my own dance studio. Word travels fast when your mothers are best friends. She was taking a “break” from college this year because she needed new direction or something of that nature. It was very Ophelia.
“I wasn’t not considering it. I don’t doubt you’d be a good roommate. I just needed to make sure this was what I was going to do,” I turned in a circle looking at the building. “This is it though. This is the place.”
Ophelia nodded. “It’ll make a good studio. Great location.”
I pointed at the ceiling. “My apartment will be up there. I’m buying the building. I need to save money, and living where I work makes sense.”
That got a frown. “You’re living here?”
I nodded. “Yep.”
“What’s it look like up there?”
I shrugged. “A very large loft. Exposed beams, very open. Not really your kind of place.” Which is why I hadn’t answered her calls.
“Will you have early classes?” she asked, still not looking pleased.
“Eight in the morning,” I replied.
Her determination to be my new roommate looked like it was fading fast. “Oh.”
That’s what I thought. This would be my world. My work and my loft. I didn’t imagine that would appeal to anyone else.
“Can I see it?” she asked hopefully.
“Sure. Let’s go,” I replied. “This way.” I led the way to the back door that was painted blue. I’d change that. It opened to the stairs that went up to the loft. There were exactly twenty-five stairs. When we reached the top, there was no door. I would work on that, too.
The four thousand square foot area was almost completely open. The only privacy was a bathroom to the far left and the spiral staircase that led to yet another loft area that would be my bedroom. The kitchen was complete and all stainless steel. Even the countertops were stainless. It was all very industrial.
“Is there a second bedroom?” she asked taking in the area.
“No. The original owner was a single man. But if you’re really interested there is enough room. We can build walls to that back corner by the bathroom, and you’d have a sufficient size bedroom. We will have to share the bathroom though.”
She studied it walking around and taking in the view over the business area of Rosemary. It was small and a quaint street with shops. The outside of all the shops were all very Southern coastal, and it felt comfortable. Very different from the area where we had lived as kids. Finally, she turned to me and smiled. “Let’s do it.”
If this had been Phoenix Finlay, I would have said absolutely not. But Ophelia I could live with. Besides, the rental income would pay the utilities on this place. Business-wise it just made sense.
“I’ll have Dad get some workers up here to get you a room put up as soon as I sign the paperwork on this place.”
She was grinning brightly. “How long do you think that will be?”
“Later this week.”
She clapped her hands excitedly. “This is going to be so much fun!”
I hoped so. “You want a job? Because I’ll need office help once I open the studio up.”
“Sure! Why the hell not? Can we just take the rent out of my paycheck?”
“That would be fine with me.”
We talked some more before Ophelia left to tell her mother her plans. I went over and pulled myself up to sit on the bar in the kitchen. I could make a life here. It wasn’t in the wealthy part of Rosemary Beach where the big houses were and the club was located. It was right beside it, but it felt separate. I wasn’t leaving town but I was starting a new life in this town.
My phone rang and echoed in the large empty space. I glanced at it. It was Eli. Smiling, I pressed answer. “Hello.”
“How’s the place look?” he asked. I had told him I was coming to check it out today in a text message I’d sent him last night.
“Perfect. I think it’s going to be perfect.”
“Damn. I was hoping you’d think it sucked and come to Sea Breeze to shop around.” He was teasing but I knew that he’d also be pleased if that did happen.
“You could always come to Rosemary Beach,” I replied.
He was quiet for a moment. “Don’t tempt me.”
I wondered if he would actually do that. Maybe a fresh start for him was what he needed. “I wouldn’t complain if you did,” I added
He chuckled and added, “You’d be hard to say no to. But I have a job. Can’t just up and run away.”
He had a point. “I know. Wanted to clarify if you needed an adventure I would be happy to be the beginning of yours.” I’d been teasing, but he had gone quiet.
I chewed on my lip nervously. Maybe I shouldn’t have said that. We didn’t talk about that night much. I wasn’t sure if he remembered asking me if he was the beginning of my adventure. I waited for him to say something and worried the whole time he was silent.
“I might consider it if we could have another go at sex on the beach. I think about it a lot. Wish to God I hadn’t been so damn drunk.”
After Cruz, I wasn’t ready for sex with anyone. I wanted to be one day. But for now, I just couldn’t. In one week, I’d had sex with two different men. That had been one hell of an adventure.
“One day. If the time is right,” I said softly while images of Cruz and the things we’d done played in my head. My heart ached along with them.
“I don’t want to just be the beginning of your adventure Lila. I want to be the end.”
Cruz Kerrington
MY HEAD WAS fucked. I was at work doing what my father had asked me to do. Not because he’d asked but because I was so damn fucked in the head I needed something to distract me. And other women’s vaginas weren’t working.
“Cruz, you look so much like your father at that age I had a flashback. I was a waitress again and there was the boss. You’re all dressed up in your Kerrington Club polo. I know Woods is proud to have you here with him,” Blaire Finlay said as she walked into the dining room with my mother and Harlow Carter, Lila’s mother.