Chapter 19
nineteen
VAL
Iawoke with my phone sandwiched between my cheek and pillow. Sunlight edged the thick curtains of my bedroom. I slid the phone away, chuckling as my fingers traced the indent it had left. I hadn’t been this happy in such a long time, I’d almost forgotten how it felt. And it was all because of her.
Amantha was a force. Like a tornado, she picked me up and flung me back into reality, bringing pieces of myself back that I thought were lost forever. For the first time since Stella’s death, I woke feeling calm. Playful, even.
My luxurious charcoal sheets shifted as I rolled onto my back. While the silk was soft against my skin, I couldn’t help wishing I was back in Amantha’s bed. I’d have been content to lie there for eternity, cradling the rise and fall of her breathing while she slept.
My embarrassing fantasies of kissing her were downright offensive compared to the real thing. I hadn’t expected her unbridled response at all. The way that first kiss had escalated into making out and staying in bed for hours… I smirked.
Seems like I wasn’t the only one hiding feelings.
I rubbed my neck, recalling the first day we met. That interview could not have gone worse. Her sheer audacity and nerve had shocked me. No matter how my emotions had evolved for the woman, they’d always been intense. Loathing. Curiosity. Attraction. And now?
My phone chirped.
AMANTHA: Good morning.
VAL: Good morning to you too. I had fun last night. Whisper Harbor isn’t half bad.
AMANTHA: You’re just saying that so I don’t dump you.
VAL: Busted. But I really did like it. What time can I come over?
AMANTHA: That depends on how fast you can get here.
VAL: I need to get ready and then I can be on my way. Text me your address.
AMANTHA: Can’t wait. Oh, and I get to decide what we do today.
VAL: And that would be?
AMANTHA: Pack a change of clothes, a swimsuit, and don’t ask questions.
VAL: Good Lord, how long will I be staying?!
AMANTHA: What part of “don’t ask questions” did you not understand? Can’t wait to see you!
“Trouble, trouble, trouble…” I shook my head with a grin and headed to the shower.
AMANTHA
I puzzled at the sight of a foreign black car pulling into my driveway. Had I been shamelessly watching out the window for Val to arrive?
No comment.
My heart skittered as he stepped out of the back seat, hoisting a small bag alongside him. He waved goodbye to who I could only assume was a car service as they backed away and drove off.
I felt myself turn into a cartoon—an eye bugging, drool dripping, massive heart beating cartoon.
There wasn’t a boring button-up in sight.
Instead, the son-of-a-gun wore dark tinted sunglasses and jeans.
Tanned collarbones presented themselves through his unbuttoned black polo.
Now that I knew what lay beneath, I was fully able to appreciate the clinging fit that emphasized his muscles.
“Mom, he’s here!” I winced, sounding too much like a fifteen-year-old going on her first date.
This whole situation felt bizarre. How long had it been since I’d been on a first date, if that even was what this was?
And since when had I ever voraciously made out with a co-worker I’d hated only a few days prior?
Never. The correct answer was never.
Sighing, I nervously checked my appearance in the mirror. I had swapped my shorts for fitted jeans and a plain white t-shirt. Kate would have been so disappointed.
My boring dishwater-blonde waves tumbled down my back. I had debated on curling them, but they never looked quite right when I did. I smoothed a thin layer of lip balm across my lips and took a deep breath.
I had already sworn Mom, under oath, not to embarrass me. In fact, Mom even insisted on spending the day at a friend’s house after meeting Val to give us some alone time.
I flung open the door before Val could ring the doorbell.
“Hi.” I said, breathless.
A warm smile spread across Val’s handsome face, though a spark ignited deep in his russet eyes. “Hi.”
Mr. Fluff Buttons ran to the door in a dire escape attempt, but I scooped him up. “This is my mom’s new cat, apparently.”
Val scratched him between the ears. “So, this is Mr. Fluff Buttons?”
“Yup.” I pushed my hip against the door, widening the opening. My pulse skipped a beat as he brushed past. Val Russo standing inside my home of eleven years—Anthony’s home—felt strange. Like two worlds overlapping. I didn’t dislike it, but it would take some getting used to.
Mom bustled down the hallway, stopping abruptly at the sight of Val’s tall, dark, and handsome presence. She gave him an obvious once over.
“Hel-lo there.”
My eyes shot daggers from behind Val’s back as I silently mouthed, “Be cool!”
My mother regained her composure and shook Val’s hand. “I’m Susan, Amantha’s mom. I must say, I’ve heard quite a lot about you.”
I clapped a hand to my scarlet face. “O-kay, Mom. That’s enough.”
Val’s mischievous eyes took in my flustered expression.
Turning back to Mom, he said, “It’s so nice to meet you, Susan. You know, I’d love to chat and hear more about all of these things she’s told you.”
“No. No, you wouldn’t.” I shook my head furiously.
“Oh, yes. Yes, I would.” Val seemed absolutely giddy at my embarrassment.
“Oh, I like him,” Mom said.
“O-kay!” I looked pointedly back at her. “I think we’re done here.”
“I get it, I get it. I’m leaving.” Mom whispered to Val, “She never lets me have any fun.”
Val laughed at us as she hugged me, grabbed her purse, and left.
“I like your mom. She’s funny.”
I rolled my eyes, though I felt a tad relieved. That could have gone worse. Gesturing to the driveway, I asked, “Why didn’t you drive?”
“I was hoping to maybe drive back with you tonight instead?”
“I’d like that,” I said around a quiver in my voice, all while trying to make the marching band inside my chest pipe down so I didn’t come across like a lunatic.
A quiet anticipation stilled over us both. Something about our connection was calming. Familiar, even. A strange lurch began drawing me to him like a magnet.
“Come here,” Val whispered, opening his arms. He enveloped me in the sweetest hug, holding me like I was the most precious thing. I buried my nose against his chest, drinking in the smell and feel of him. His deep voice rumbled against my cheek.
“I missed you. Work isn’t nearly as fun when you’re not around to annoy me.”
I laughed against the black fabric of his polo. “I’ll be sure to bug you extra when I’m back then.”
Val caught my chin with his thumb and forefinger and pressed a tender kiss to my lips.
I couldn’t feel my toes, but I guessed they weren’t touching the ground anymore.
Too quickly, it was over. Val stepped away as if giving his restraint some geographical assistance.
“So, this is your home?”
“Come on, I’ll give you the tour.” It felt so natural to lace my fingers through his and guide him throughout the house.
“You have a pool?” The glittering blue water shone through the dining room window.
I laughed at his childlike enthusiasm. “Yes, but we’ll go swimming later.” We wandered into the kitchen. “I told Ryan the pool was a stupid idea because we’d only use it a couple months out of the year, but he put one in anyway.”
“It’s strange to think he lived here too,” Val murmured as he roamed the kitchen.
“Is it too weird for you?” I bit my lip.
Val crossed the kitchen, cupping my face in his hands. “No, it’s not.”
I raised up on my tiptoes and lightly pressed my lips to his. “Good. I’ll admit, it was awful for me at first. I kinda wanted to burn this place to the ground after what he did.”
“Wouldn’t have pegged you as an arsonist, but go on.”
I smirked. “But I had to remember this is Anthony’s home too. He deserved something to stay the same. So I swore to him that we’d never move unless we had to.” I pushed open my son’s bedroom door. The emptiness of it made my chest ache.
Only eight more weeks.
Val poked his head in and saw Anthony’s gaming equipment. “I would have killed to have a room like this as a kid. You must be a cool mom.”
“I am, in fact”—I slid my hands around his waist from behind and laid my head against his sculpted back—“a very cool mom.”
The last door to the hall was my bedroom. Val’s hesitation was obvious as he stalled at the threshold.
“It’s okay,” I said, ducking my head and shoving an errant wave behind my ear. “I know this used to be Ryan’s room too.”
I gasped as Val spun me against the doorframe, pressing my back against the molding. His large hands gripped my waist while he trailed kisses along my speechless throat. His lips brushed the curve of my ear.
“I couldn’t care less about your ex.” His hot breath tickled. “I just don’t trust myself again with you in any room that has a mattress.”
I forgot what words were.
My mouth flapped uselessly before I gave a jerky nod, trying to ignore the urge to pin him on said mattress.
After a long moment, I scavenged a few syllables. “Should we…go outside, then?”
Val didn’t move a muscle. His hungry expression stayed trained on my face, my heartbeat increasing with each passing second. The hand gripping my waist squeezed tighter, his thumb flitting tantalizing circles over the soft cotton of my t-shirt.
Suddenly, Val cursed, shut his eyes, and pulled me back down the hallway by my wrist.
“Trouble, trouble, trouble,” he muttered.
I followed after him with a breathy laugh.
The sparkling water rippled as Val dipped his hand into it. Summer sun glinted off the surface of the pool, casting a mirage of waves dancing against the house.
“I can see why you didn’t want to move to the city.” Val straightened and wrapped his arms around my waist. I loved that he seemed to want to touch me as often as I wanted to touch him. Looking around, he nodded and said, “I’d commute for this.”
I responded by looping my arms around the sturdy column of his neck. “I like it a lot more now that you’re here.” Val didn’t resist as I pulled him down, relishing the feel of his hot mouth on mine.
“So what are we doing today?” His smile brushed my lips, clearly not willing to pull away.
“Hmm. I can think of a lot of things we could do…” I giggled at the shocked expression on his face. “But first, I’m going to kick your butt in paintball.”
Val startled. “Paintball?”
I grinned wickedly. “Paintball.”
He sighed. “Paintball.”