Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
HUDSON
I dropped Shane off, then drove home. I'd invited Elena to meet me so I could answer any questions she had.
I was more than a little surprised that she played basketball with us. I expected her to show up in one of her summer dresses and sit on the bench to watch. Instead, she'd dressed in athletic clothes and delighted Shane by participating.
I got out and met her at the porch. "I have a nice view on my deck."
I grabbed a bottle of wine and glasses from the kitchen and led the way to the deck. I opened the slider and let her step out ahead of me.
"Did you build this?" Elena asked as she stepped outside.
The deck ran the entire length of the house and went out a generous distance. "If I'm going to have a view like this, then I want the space to enjoy it. You can't see the beach from the lower level."
We sat on the cushioned chairs, and I set the glasses and bottle on the table in front of us. I'd left the lights off to ward off the bugs. At this time of night, we could only hear the waves and breathe in the salt air.
"This is fabulous. If I lived here, I'd be outside all the time."
"It gets hot during the day. I have large umbrellas to block the worst of the sun, and I added misters too." I popped the cork and poured two glasses, handing one to her.
"You didn't spare any expense on your renovations. I only got a quick glimpse of your kitchen, but that's top notch too." She swirled the wine in her glass and sipped it.
"When I bought the place, I stripped it down and went to work. I couldn't build beautiful spaces every day and not come home to one."
"I would think a contractor wouldn't have time to fix his own place."
"Tsk. That sounds a lot like a stereotype. Aren't you supposed to hold off on those when you're getting to know the subject of your interviews?"
A smile curved her lips. "I also like to make up stories about people and then see if I'm right."
"What story did you make up about me?"
"Hmm. I had so many over the years. In high school, you were too focused on school to care about girls' attention. And now, you're so focused on work and family, you don't see anything else. But was it because you don't have time or because you don't want something outside of that? And you're grouchy because you think the responsibility of your business and family falls on your shoulders."
I leaned my elbows on my thighs, letting my head hang before raising it to look at her. "You said that I think the responsibility of my business and family falls to me."
Her face pinched. "Yeah, I don't know if it's a perception or reality yet."
"But you're fairly confident you're right about me?" I asked, not sure I liked this insight into my psyche.
"It's a suspicion. But I think there's so much more to you than this persona you show to everyone else. Anyone can see you're hardworking, focused, and responsible. You're a family man. But the mentor thing threw me for a loop. I hadn't suspected you volunteered your time, except to build porches for pushy grannies."
I chuckled at her characterization. "First of all, your grandmother isn't pushy."
Elena snorted. "Keep telling yourself that. And just you wait. She has something up her sleeve for us, and I'm fairly sure it involves her friends."
"I'm looking forward to finding out what that could be. And second of all, the mentor thing kind of fell into my lap. I was at the barber shop, and my stylist told me about the program. She'd heard that a couple of kids still needed mentors. She thought it would be something I'd enjoy doing. I reached out to get more information. I met with his mother first. Shane is the oldest of five, and she's a single mother. His dad doesn't live close, so Shane is the man of the house, and his mom, Sienna thought he could use a male figure in his life."
"What do you talk about when you're together?"
"Sports, school, friend issues, and family stuff. He's curious about my job, and I explain business stuff to him on a level he can understand. The cool thing is that he seems interested in being a business owner. I like to think I'm a positive influence."
"To have someone that he can play basketball with, and just talk to, is huge. What you're doing is amazing."
I felt a little uncomfortable with her praise. "We try to hang out once or twice a week."
"Do you help out the family in other ways?" she asked me.
I shifted on my chair. "I'm very careful not to intrude on their personal life otherwise. I know that they struggle sometimes, but I don't feel right offering to pay for anything. His mother is proud."
"You wouldn't help him if he needed it?" There was nothing but curiosity in her voice.
"I've thought about the fact that he won't have a college fund or cash laying around to pay for school. He's too young to even be worried about it, but I already decided I'd pay for him to go. Whether his mother will be okay with that is another matter."
"That's so generous of you."
"We've gotten close. I feel like he's a little brother or even a son to me. I know he's not, but it's a good relationship. The funny thing is that it's supposed to be all for him, but he's helped me just as much."
She leaned back in her chair, considering me. "You're benefitting from this relationship too?"
"I love that kid. I'm not sure how much we should put in the article about him and his family though."
"We can say that you mentor children through the program and keep it at that. I could also mention that you think the program benefits you as well as him. That you formed a relationship you weren't expecting. Something like that."
"It's not that I'm against this article. I just don't see the point. Do people really care about what I do in my spare time?"
She was quiet for a few seconds and then said, "I think people will find your life interesting. You live on an island, and you work with your family. Not everyone could do that."
I nodded. "Most of our classmates went to college and never looked back."
"It's nice to live on an island, but there're tourists all winter and spring. But it's a small town. Everyone knows everyone."
I glanced over at her. "Somehow I missed knowing you."
Elena shrugged, the light of the moon illuminating her face. "I'm not taking it personally."
We fell silent, both listening to the sound of the waves. I sipped the white wine, feeling more relaxed than I had in a while.
I leaned back in the chair, propping my leg on my knee. "I didn't realize you were into sports."
"I played basketball in school. I wasn't the best, but I wasn't the worst either."
"I think I misjudged you. When I first saw you, I thought you were one of those girls who doesn't like the outdoors unless it's to lay out in the sun in a bikini."
"If I'm going to the beach, I'm going in the water, and when I'm invited to play basketball, I'm going to participate. I'm easygoing like that. Sounds like we both need to let go of our preconceived notions and get to know each other without them."
I found myself agreeing. "I can do that."
The air was heavy tonight. I wasn't sure if it was the humidity or this realization that we were growing closer, even if it was in the name of an assignment. We were forced to spend time together. Something I thought I'd hate, but she was quickly growing on me.
Elena finished her wine and set the glass on the table in front of us. Then she stood. "I'm exhausted. I think I'm going to bed early."
I rose and followed her inside. "I'll stop by during the day to work on your deck. Then I'll head back here to get ready for family dinner. You're still coming, aren't you?"
"I’m looking forward to it," Elena said with a smile. "Should I bring anything?"
"Not necessary. Mom is used to cooking for a ton of people."
“See you you tomorrow." Elena walked down the steps and headed to her vehicle
I stood outside until her taillights disappeared. Then I returned to the deck, where I swore I could still smell her tropical scent.
I listened to the waves roll in, thinking about the night. This thing with her was getting bigger than I imagined. I was opening up more, and instead of feeling like this thing between us was coming to an end soon, it felt as if it was morphing into something else entirely.
It was inconvenient to be attracted to the journalist writing a story about me and my family. What if what she wrote made us look bad? What if she had ulterior motives? But it was hard to see how that could be possible.
* * *
I showed up on Sunday morning to find that Elena had saved a plate of food for me in the microwave. I ate, standing up. I'd already eaten an early breakfast, then gone for a run, but I was hungry again.
"I could get used to this," I said between bites to Elena, who was emptying the dishwasher.
"You're doing us a favor. Food is the least we can provide." She smiled up at me. My gaze drifted to where her shirt gaped open to reveal the globes of her breast.
I cleared my throat, handing her the cleared plate. "Are you ready to work?"
She smiled. "More demolition?"
"We'll finish clearing it out today, and my brothers will collect the debris."
Elena wore an old high-school T-shirt that seemed like it had shrunk over the years. Her jeans were skintight and tucked into construction-style boots that were cute on her.
She should have looked ridiculous in the oversized boots, but instead they only made her more attractive. Would she assist me in doing construction work if we lived together? Where had that idea come from?
I had to remember that this was purely a professional arrangement.
I threw a thumb over my shoulder. "I'll set up my tools. Just come out when you're finished."
"That works," Elena smiled at me, and my heart contracted.
Would this be what it would be like to live with her? Would we always work well together as a team? Would she want me to wake her up with my face between her legs? Now I needed to go outside to hide my erection before Grams saw me and thought I was a creep.
Outside, I put on my protective gear, grabbed a sledgehammer, and got to work. I had to do something to not think about how Elena's ass looked in those jeans. I'd been so focused on work; I hadn't been with a woman in a while. I was reacting to Elena because she was the only woman I'd spent an appreciable amount of time with.
That's what I told myself as I worked, and the sweat poured down my back.
"Did you leave anything for me?" Elena asked when she came outside a few minutes later.
I lowered the sledgehammer, my heart thumping wildly. I hoped she didn't know what I'd been thinking about. That I couldn't seem to control this desire for her.
After tonight's dinner, I'd need to create some distance between us. Maybe I could tell her that she had everything she needed for a story. But the thought of sending her away made my heart ache.
I wasn't ready not to see her anymore. I was enjoying her company too much.
Elena grabbed her goggles and gloves, then reached for the sledgehammer. I gave it to her and stepped back.
She swung it like a pro, taking down the next support with ease. I reached for a bottle of water, hoping it would cool my overheated body.
But now I was in the precarious position of watching her ass move in those jeans as she swung the hammer, and I couldn't seem to look away.
I grabbed my phone and lowered my eyes to the screen, mindlessly scrolling so that I didn't creep on her.
"Is it going to rain again today?" Elena asked, making me fumble the phone and drop it. Her forehead wrinkled. "Are you okay?"
"Yep," I said reaching for the phone.
"The sky is gray. Doesn't look good for us working all day."
That was probably a good thing. I snatched the phone off the ground and pulled up the weather forecast. "There's a chance of showers this afternoon."
"Grams loves when it rains like that. Gives her an excuse to watch TV earlier in the day." Elena smiled and shook her head.
"Let's get to work so we can clear this out before the rain comes."
We worked side by side until the porch was gone, leaving just the wood decking I'd work on during the week. "My brothers will pick this up."
"Sounds good."
One rain drop landed on my forehead and then another. We had barely enough time to glance up at the sky before it was pouring.
Elena squealed, and we rushed to grab the tools. I stuffed them in the toolbox, and we ran to the truck, throwing it in the back. Then Elena grabbed my hand. "Come inside to dry off."
I absolutely should have resisted. I should have driven home and jumped in the shower, but I didn’t.
The thought of spending the day in her little cottage watching TV was inviting. I'd been alone for so long; I wasn't used to sharing my free time with anyone.
Inside, she pushed back her wet hair. "Do you want to jump in the shower? I could dry your clothes while you're in there."
"Sure," I found myself saying, even though I should have said I'd head home.
She led me upstairs to what looked like her bedroom. "Here's the bathroom. Just put your clothes by the door, and I'll grab them while you're in the shower."
I hesitated, until she reached for the hem of her shirt, then her gaze on me. She was waiting for me to leave so that she could get out of her wet clothes. I ducked into the bathroom, needing the door between us.
I'd lose my self-control if she raised her shirt by even an inch. I wanted to cross the room and do it for her. I wanted to cup her breasts through the lace of her bra I could see clearly through the wet cotton. She was every man's wet dream, and she didn't even know it.
It was an intoxicating combination, and there was no way I could rub one out in her shower surrounded by her things and her scent. I turned on the water so that it would be warm by the time I got in and peeled off my wet clothes, leaving them in a neat pile by the door I left unlocked. I jumped into the shower, closing the curtain, and quickly soaped myself.
I never heard Elena reach for my clothes, but the thought of her coming into the bathroom kept me hard and aching. But I didn't touch myself, not when I was this close to her, and she could hear me. I'd behave until I could get home.
I turned off the water and reached for a towel she must have left on the small sink for me. I dried off and tied it around my waist. There was no way my clothes would be done yet, and now I was wondering about the intelligence of this entire situation.
If I went out there naked, I wouldn't be able to hide my desire for her.
"Are you almost done? I was hoping to jump in," she called from the other room.
"Be right out," I called as I took one last look in the mirror and then stepped into her bedroom. She sat on the bed in sweats, her wet hair slicked into a ponytail. But it was the view of the ocean out her windows that caught my attention. "This is money."
"Right? Grams can't manage this many stairs, so this has been my room for a while now."
"You have a private deck."
"Hmm. Yeah, it's my favorite spot in the world. Reminds me of yours, but it's much smaller."
There was room for two chairs and a potted plant. The deck was tucked between the dormers. You could look out to the ocean, and that was about it. We could easily have sex on the balcony, and no one would ever see us.
This was her grandmother's house, and I was out of bounds with my thoughts. If Grams knew what I was thinking, she'd kick me out, rightfully so.
"I'm going to jump in the shower. Your clothes should be done soon."
"Thanks," I said as I heard her moving around the room. I couldn't look away from the rough waves or the rain pelting the deck. I could see why Elena enjoyed storms. The view was beautiful.
The water turned on, and I knew she was naked. Water sluicing over her body, her nipples pebbled from the cold. I pushed on my dick, willing it to behave. I had to think about something else besides Elena's naked body in the shower.
"When y'all are done up there, come down for some tea," Grams called up the stairs.
She was close. Too close. My dick shriveled up. "We will, Grams."
"Take your time."
What did she think we were doing up here? Did she know I was secretly lusting after her granddaughter? Did she know I wanted to bend her over that balcony and pound into her from behind while the rain fell around us?
Grams was waiting for us to have tea downstairs. That would keep my dick in check and my mind from wandering.
A few minutes later, the water turned off, and the hair dryer went on. Elena was fully dressed and drying her hair. It was safe to move around the room and relax. Unfortunately, there was nowhere to sit in just a towel.
There was a round white chair with a light blue blanket draped over it in front of one of the windows. I sat on the edge, not wanting to get her chair wet. It looked like the kind of chair you read a book in during a summer storm or curled up to take a nap. I took my time looking around the room. It was feminine with a white comforter and soft-looking pink pillows.
The walls were covered in framed photographs of what looked like her family and a few with friends. I didn't see any from her time in Boston.
The bathroom door opened, startling me.
Elena stepped out. "I'll check on your clothes."
Her hair fell in soft waves around her shoulders, and she wore a white T-shirt and blue sweats that tapered at her ankles. She left her feet bare, and I got a hint of pink nail polish before she disappeared down the stairs.
It was an oasis up here, away from her grandmother and the rest of the world. I stood and walked around the room, scanning frame by frame. As a child she looked like a tomboy dressed in jean cutoffs and T-shirts. I didn't see many dresses, which made sense with what I knew of her now. She was feminine but athletic too.
I liked the combination.
Elena handed me a folded pile of my clothes. Had she folded my briefs? "Here you go. All dry."
Her cheeks were slightly pink, but I wasn't sure if that was from the shower.
"I'll get dressed, then meet you downstairs. Grams said she was making tea."
Elena waved a hand. "She's always making tea. But yeah, I'll meet you downstairs."
I didn't think I could handle being alone in this room with her for one more second. I waited until she was gone, and then I went into the bathroom and locked the door. The clothes were a barrier between us, because the towel could be lowered with a flick of my fingers. It would be too easy for me to lose control entirely.
This afternoon, it was clear that I couldn't be alone with her. Not in a situation like this. If we'd been at my house, I don't think I could have resisted crossing the room and kissing her. The thought that her grandmother was in the house was the only thing holding me back.