Chapter 14
“Lesson learned. Never piss anyone off who knows how to use a chemistry set.” ~ Eli
Eli
I frown when I notice Paisley’s office light on as I park at Buccaneer’s Whiskey. I want to go to her. Explain I wasn’t making fun of her. I was teasing her. It was meant to be light-hearted and fun. Plus, she’s adorable when she’s flustered. I didn’t realize her wearing glasses was a trigger for her.
With a sigh, I exit my car and walk to the entrance. I won’t be bringing Paisley a coffee this morning. I should probably ask my mom the best way a man can apologize. She’ll know. She recently remarried and her new husband screwed things up left and right before he finally figured it out.
I unlock the doors to the building and make my way to my office; switching on lights as I go. I set my briefcase down before shrugging out of my suit jacket. Paisley’s right. It’s entirely too hot to wear a suit this time of year, but I have a conference call with some potential investors in Apparoo today.
I settle behind my desk and switch on my computer. While I wait for it to warm up, I open my drawer to get my agenda. But when I pull on the drawer, it doesn’t move. I pull harder but it still doesn’t budge. I grunt before yanking on it.
There’s a click and a hiss before the drawer flies open and a cloud of red smoke appears. I cough as I wave the cloud away.
I jump to my feet when I notice the ‘cloud’ is now staining my fingers red. “What the hell?” I glance down at my suit. It now resembles a Jackson Pollock painting with splatters of paint on it.
I rip off my vest but the damage is already done. My vest and pants are covered in red.
Someone claps from the doorway. “This worked out better than I envisioned,” Paisley says before pivoting away.
I chase after her. “What the hell, Paisley? You ruined my suit.”
She rolls her eyes. “Don’t be so melodramatic. It’ll wash out.”
“I have an investor meeting today.”
She stills. “There was nothing on your agenda about an investor meeting.”
“Because it doesn’t involve the distillery.”
“Whatever.” She waves away my concerns. “You can wear your spare suit.”
“Thank god I keep a spare suit in my closet.”
She freezes. “In your closet?”
I moan. “What the hell did you do to my closet?”
“Nothing if you don’t open it. ”
I run a hand down my face. “What did I do to deserve this treatment?”
She rears back. “You seriously have to ask?”
No, I don’t. I know she’s referring to the evening at mini golf.
“I was teasing, Paisley. You do know the word, don’t you? You’re supposed to be some genius. Your vocabulary should include the word ‘teasing’.”
She stabs my chest with her finger. “I know exactly what teasing means. I also know what bullying means. And the line between the two can be blurred especially when a person hits on a particular trigger.”
“What’s the issue with you and glasses? Tons of people wear glasses. It’s not a big deal.”
Pain flashes in those hazel eyes and I flinch. I didn’t mean to hurt Paisley. I don’t want her to ever feel pain.
“It just is a big deal.” She spins on her heel and starts to stomp away but I shackle her wrist to stop her.
“Please tell me, Lace. I don’t want to accidentally hurt you again.” I nod to my red-stained pants. “Dry cleaning is too expensive.”
She snorts. “As if you’ll even notice an expense such as dry cleaning.”
I rub my thumb over the pulse in her wrist and it spikes. I use it to my advantage. “Please, Lace. I promise I can keep a secret.”
“It’s not a secret, but I prefer not to discuss it. ”
“I understand. After today, we’ll never discuss it again if you don’t want to.” Assuming I can persuade her to speak to me again. She hasn’t spoken a word to me in the week since the incident at the Mermaid Mini Golf course.
She nibbles on her bottom lip as she contemplates her answer. My blood heats as I imagine being the one nibbling on her lip. Tasting those pretty pink lips. Tasting her. I bet she tastes better than the smoothest Buccaneer Whiskey.
“Fine. I’ll tell you.” She scans the area. “But not while we’re standing in the hallway.”
I try to steer her toward my office but she plants her feet. I change direction and lead her to her office instead. She locks the door behind us but when she tries to round her desk to sit behind it, I maneuver her to the sofa. This isn’t about work. We’re going to face each other and be comfortable during this discussion.
And I don’t want her far away from me when I know she’s hurting. If she’d let me, I’d wrap my arms around her and shield her from the world. She’d probably slap me for the thought alone. Paisley doesn’t want anyone shielding her.
She fidgets with the hem of her t-shirt and I let her. I won’t push her. Any more than I already have.
“I have two stepsisters,” she blurts out.
When she doesn’t continue, I ask, “Did you grow up with them?”
She nods. How did she grow up with sisters on Smuggler’s Hideaway and I didn’t know about them? The island isn’t very big .
She must notice my confusion because she explains. “They’re eight and nine years older than me.”
The age difference explains it somewhat. But not completely.
“And have a different last name.”
Ah. Now things are beginning to make sense. “Your dad remarried?”
“No.” She blows out a breath. “My dad died when I was a baby. I don’t remember him at all.”
I can’t resist touching her. It’s the least I can do when she’s in pain. I squeeze her hand and she clings to mine. Don’t worry, Paisley. I won’t let you go.
“Your mom remarried,” I prod.
“Yes.” She swallows. “I was five when Darcy and Regan came to live with us.”
I make a mental note to find out where they are now. “What’s their last name?”
Her brow wrinkles. “Thatcher. Why?”
Because it’s easier to find people when you know their last name. “Why don’t you have the same last name?” I ask instead.
“My stepfather never adopted me.”
“Was your mom against the adoption?”
She shrugs. “Initially, she wanted me to be older when he adopted me.”
She’s not telling me the entire story. “But he never adopted you?”
“My stepfather and I never got along.”
“Why not? Is he an asshole? ”
“An asshole? What makes you think he’s an asshole?”
I squeeze her hand. “I’ve known you since kindergarten. You were an adorable child. Any man would be proud for you to call him dad.”
“Adorable?” She fiddles with her glasses. “I’m a nerd, remember?”
“I apologize. I was teasing. But now I realize I should have never called you a nerd or made fun of your glasses. I can assure you it will never happen again.”
She studies my face and I drop all my guards. I let her see everything. How sincere I’m being. How much I admire her. How much I don’t consider her my enemy.
“Okay. I accept your apology.”
“Did your stepfather not want to adopt you because you wore glasses?” I ask since she still hasn’t explained why her glasses are a trigger for her.
“Not exactly.” She toys with a loose thread on her jeans. “To be more accurate, the glasses were more of a symbol of why he didn’t approve of me.”
“Approve of you? What kind of bullshit is this? Parents don’t approve or disapprove of their children. They’re children. You love them and support them.”
“Ha!” She barks out a laugh but she’s not amused. “My stepdad wouldn’t know what love and support is when it comes to me. Darcy and Regan are a different matter. They’re beautiful and perfect. Never mind how Darcy had braces for three years and Regan had a nose job. They’re beautiful and beauty is all that matters. ”
“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”
“The judges of the Miss Maryland contest think otherwise.”
“Miss Maryland? As in a beauty contest?”
She nods. “Yep. It’s how Chloe and I became such close friends. Her mom forced her to compete in beauty contests all the time.” She gasps. “Please don’t say anything to Chloe. She doesn’t want anyone to know about her past.”
I pat her thigh. “I won’t say anything.” I blow out a breath. “I have to admit I’m still confused. I don’t understand what your stepsisters competing in beauty contests has to do with glasses.”
“My stepdad believes beauty is everything. Women don’t need brains because they should be in the kitchen cooking anyway. But they should be pretty to catch a husband.”
I growl. “You have got to be kidding me.”
“I wish,” she mumbles. “My stepdad pushed and cajoled my mom until she agreed I’d compete in the beauty contests, too. But I wasn’t allowed to compete with my glasses on. The first time I went on stage I tripped on a step I didn’t see and ended up sprawled across the floor. My stepdad was humiliated. And it was all the fault of my glasses.”
“Darcy and Regan nearly peed themselves laughing and I never heard the end of it. Seriously. We can’t have a conversation without them bringing it up. They think it’s hilarious.”
I frown. “What about your mom? Didn’t she stop them?”
She glances away but not before I notice the pain in her eyes. “My stepdad bullies my mom. She thinks she loves him but really she’s just afraid to be on her own. ”
Which explains why Paisley has an independent streak a mile wide.
I pinch her chin and force her to meet my gaze. “I’m sorry, Lace. I’m sorry for everything. I’m sorry your family are a bunch of assholes. I’m sorry your mom didn’t protect you. I’m sorry I teased you about your glasses. I’m just plain sorry.”
“I already forgave you. There’s no need to do a big apology.”
She’s joking but the pain in her hazel eyes is breaking my heart. I can’t stand the sight of her pain. I do the only thing I can think of.
I meld my lips to hers.