Chapter 2 #2
“Simona could have been hit by a car or someone”—he motioned around to all the chaos surrounding them— “could have come along, and something worse could have happened.”
“Thank you,” she said, her tone now clipped. “I assure you that this won’t happen again.”
He narrowed his eyes at her and wished he could go back in time. Wish that he could stop himself from talking. But no, he just had to keep speaking.
“Maybe your husband could help you out and watch—”
“No husband. And as I said before, I assure you that it won’t happen again. Now”—she stood up suddenly, shifting Simona onto her hip— “if you’ll excuse—”
“Todd?” He glanced over at his name. The blonde woman who had been talking with Olivia and had been quietly watching him narrowed her eyes at him.
“It is you.” She smiled when he glanced her way.
“I thought so at first, but…” She shook her head, sending her blonde hair flying. “It’s Sarah…” She sighed. “Serenity.”
He was pretty sure he swallowed his tongue and coughed.
“Serenity?” His first crush, first kiss, and first love.
Then again, he’d been nine, so he really hadn’t known what love was.
“Wow.” He hugged her back when she hugged him.
He couldn’t believe that she remembered him.
She’d been his entire world that last summer they’d stayed at the cottage.
“I didn’t know you were back in town.” She stepped back and looked at him.
“Got back a few days ago,” he admitted. “This yours?” He nodded to the little blonde girl sitting in a highchair, making a mess of her food.
Sarah smiled. “Yes, this is Luna and that”—she motioned to another blonde girl sitting on a man’s lap— “is Aurora and my husband Ben.”
Todd took a moment to shake the man’s hand.
“Todd and his family used to come here every summer. They owned that place on the cape. The one we’ve been admiring for years,” Sarah explained.
“The boarded up one?” Ben asked.
“It was boarded up until a few days ago.” He smiled.
“Good to hear it. That place needs a little TLC,” Ben said.
“I’ll be giving it some over the coming months.”
“Good to hear it.” Ben bent over to stop his youngest daughter from spilling her drink.
“I’m sorry to hear about your mother,” Sarah surprised him by saying.
“How did you…”
“My mother. She knows everything that goes on around here,” Sarah answered. “Her husband is your lawyer.”
He frowned and thought about it. “Your mom married Rory Sinclair?”
Sarah laughed. “She did. Almost two years ago now.” She motioned to an empty chair. “Join us?”
Just then the waitress walked over and handed him his card and the bill to sign, then gave him his to-go box.
“Thanks, but I’d better…” His eyes moved back over to Olivia and Simona, who were watching him closely. No husband, she’d said. Single mother. The pull that he felt towards the dark-haired woman was something he normally wouldn’t explore, but seeing Simona smile up at him had him sitting down.
“So, tell me everything you’ve been up to since I last saw you,” Sarah asked.
He chuckled. “Since we were nine? You really want to know everything?”
She laughed. “CliffsNotes.”
“Middle school, junior high, high school, Army Special Operations Forces, retirement, and now here.” He leaned back in the chair. Sarah smiled, and a quick glance at Olivia assured him that she was listening and smiling as well. “You? Besides marriage and two kids?”
Sarah smiled. “Pretty much the same. Only instead of Army, I worked at my father’s place.”
“The resort. Right?” He remembered that Sarah’s father had owned East Haven Resort, a swanky resort nestled on its own private island.
Which is how he’d met Sarah in the first place.
His parents had spent a great deal of time at that resort each summer, and he’d paid very close attention to a little blonde girl back then.
“A few years back, when my grandfather died, I inherited the place.”
“You? You own the resort now?” he asked.
“We.” She smiled at her husband, who was now holding the sleepy Luna in his arms. “And all of Elite International.”
He stopped for a moment. The name was very familiar. Then he whistled. “I didn’t know I was sitting at the table with some of the richest people in the state.”
Sarah laughed. “We try not to be.”
“How so?”
“My wife is very involved in charity work,” Ben broke in. “Let’s just say that she’s put her family’s money to work cleaning up this mess of a planet.”
“Good to hear that.” He glanced over at Olivia and smiled when he noticed Simona fast asleep in her mother’s arms. “Looks like she left the party anyway.”
Olivia glanced down at her daughter and smiled.
“You know, she told me that she was heading over to her grandmother’s place.” He frowned and tilted his head. “Which if I’m not mistaken was Holley Hall.”
“She calls my mother her grandmother,” Sarah explained. “Actually, most of these kids running around here think of my mother as their grandmother.”
“Where is your mother?” he asked, glancing around.
“Oh, she and Rory are in London this week. They’ve been doing a lot of traveling. They’re supposed to be back soon. She’s going to love seeing you again,” Sarah said.
He was a little overwhelmed at how much she remembered of him and his family. As if she’d read his mind, she laughed and said, “My mother and your mother were friends. They kept in contact over the years.”
He tensed for a split second. He was sure that Sarah didn’t sense it, but when his eyes locked with Olivia’s, he could tell that she’d noticed. Something told him that when she was paying attention, she noticed everything.
“I wasn’t really in contact with my mom after I joined the Army,” he admitted.
“Which is why my mother’s knowledge about you is vague.” Sarah tilted her head. “So, you’re back here for good or are you fixing the place up to sell?”
“I’m here for now.” He hadn’t really planned beyond getting the place ready and taking some time to himself. It wasn’t as if he needed to go out and look for a job, thanks to his inheritance.
“Well, if you need a hand up at the place,” Ben chimed in, “let me know. I can have a crew of workers over there for the cost of a case of beer.”
Todd nodded. “I don’t think there’s anything that difficult that would require more than one set of hands. But I’ll keep that in mind.”
“You’d be surprised. We purchased a classic beauty a few years back and had to spend an entire year with renovations.” He shook his head. “I was thankful for the help, and the beer, since I was so sore most nights I could barely move.”
“Are you still working at the resort?” he asked Sarah.
“Yes and no. I hired my best friend Lilly to run the place,” Sarah answered, motioning to another blonde woman sitting at the end of the table, trying to corral three young kids. “Then she went and had three kids on me. Now I’ve got Calvin Winters to watch the place.”
“And your mother? Does she still own…”
“Serenity’s Attic?” Sarah smiled. “Yes, actually, that’s where Olivia and Kayla, work.
” She motioned to the other blonde woman who had come back with a boy of about eight years old in tow.
Todd had no doubt that this was the famous Conner James that Simona had been talking about, because the boy looked like he’d had a stern talking to.
He sat quietly at the table, watching the adults.
“So, what actually brings you to Silver Cove?” Olivia asked, gaining his attention. “I mean, do you have a job?”
“No,” he answered. He knew he was being short but was curious to see how far in this line of questioning she’d go.
“Married?” she asked, her eyes scanning his hands.
“No.” Again he remained vague.
“So, what? Your family owns a home here and you move in, with plans of fixing it up but not selling it? Without a job prospect?” she asked.
“Yup.” He smiled. “That’s about it.” He shifted slightly, a little uncomfortable talking about himself. After all, for the past ten years, he’d spent a lot of his time lying to others about who he was, what he did for a living.
He could tell instantly that Olivia wasn’t satisfied with the answers he was giving.
She bit her bottom lip, as if to stop herself from asking more questions.
It was a move much like Simona had done, but on her it was sexy as hell.
Her silver eyes assessed him closely while he ran his eyes over her.
She had a natural beauty about her. Anyone who looked at her would instantly be drawn in. Those full lips deserved as much attention as her sexy eyes.
While Olivia had been asking him questions, Sarah had pulled her youngest daughter into her lap. Now, she stood up.
“Well, it’s way past these two little ones’ bedtimes.” Sarah shifted her sleepy daughter in her arms as she picked up a large bag from the floor. “It was nice catching up with you, Todd. I’m sure we’ll be seeing you around town.”
He stood up as well, taking his to-go box with him.
“Be sure to reach out to us if you need any help.” Ben handed him a business card, which Todd tucked into the back pocket of his jeans before shaking the man’s hand.
“Thanks, I’ll keep it in mind.” He watched the couple disappear and then turned back to the table.
He had planned on just saying a quick goodbye, but then Simona surprised him by waking up in her mother’s arms. The little girl took one look at him and then yelled his name and held out her arms for him.
He couldn’t help it, his heart completely melted seeing the little girl’s sleepy silver eyes look up at him with complete trust and affection.