Chapter 24 #2
“Over there with her sisters.” Brock nodded toward the opposite side of the bonfire. The hour was growing late, and the Mystic Cove locals were gradually leaving the beach to return to their lives. “Maybe I should go talk to her.”
“Maybe you should.” Aidan’s smile was broad and knowing. “I’ll see you around…Kelly.”
Brock returned the smile. “Bye, Dad.”
Finally, he made his way over to Juliette.
The corners of her dark plum lips lifted when she saw him, and her breath puffed out in front of her on a sigh. “Hi.”
“Hey, Jules.” He nodded toward the twins. “Adrienne. Viv.”
Vivianne rolled her eyes, then looped her arm through her sister’s, tugging gently. “Come on, Adrienne.” She dragged out her name. “We’re obviously not wanted here.”
Adrienne laughed, and Vivianne stuck out her tongue. Then the two of them trudged through the sand to where the beach spilled into a gravel parking lot.
“Thanks for waiting.” He reached out, wrapped his hands around her waist, then pulled her close. Warmth radiated from her into him as she molded against him, as her body fit so perfectly in his arms. “I feel like I haven’t seen you since—”
“It’s okay.” Her eyes looked like stardust in the firelight, and when she ran her thumb along the scruff of his jaw, all he wanted to do was kiss her. “It’s been a long week.”
“It has,” he agreed.
She wound her arms around his neck and nuzzled into him. He inhaled the smell of her, flowers, something sweet, and the sea. He relished the feel of her—familiar, like an old love song. Comfortable, like the softest blanket. But most importantly, right. She felt right.
“I’m sorry I’ve been so distant these past few days,” she began, her chilled fingers skimming the back of his neck.
Brock held his breath.
“I wanted to give you space.” She looked up at him, and he searched her starlit eyes. “And I may have needed a little bit of time to process everything that happened between us.”
He didn’t answer her.
Instead he kissed her. His mouth skated across her lips, and he kissed her for all they were, and for all they ever could be together. He knew right then that all he ever wanted was standing in front of him, locked in his embrace, by a bonfire on the beach.
All he ever wanted was Juliette.
“It’s getting late.” Her mouth murmured against his own, and cold air seeped between them.
“I know.” He didn’t want to let her go.
“I’ve got that appointment in the morning.” She angled her head so he could trail kisses down her neck. “For the beach house.”
He groaned. Damn that appointment. “You could stay with me again, if you wanted to, of course.”
“I could for sure. And I do want to stay with you.” Juliette pulled back in his hold, tilting her face up to his own. “But all of my work for the wedding venue is at the apartment above Mystic Florals. And I need to make sure I get there early so I’m prepared.”
She leaned in close and rose up on her toes. “If I stay the night with you, I know I won’t get there early because I’ll be up all night.”
Then she gave him a quick peck on the cheek and winked. “Will you swing by tomorrow?”
“Yeah. I’ll be over there at some point. Hopefully by the afternoon.” Sadly, he released her, and the warmth where her body had been pressed against his own dissipated in the frosty air. “I just have a few more things to take care of for Yaya beforehand.”
“Okay.” She gave his hand a squeeze. “Have a good night.”
He watched her walk through the path between sand dunes, toward the softly lit gravel parking lot.
Waiting a few moments longer, he stood in silence as the fire slowly died and the crash of the waves grew ever more present.
Brock made sure there was no trash or garbage left behind on the beach, and once he made certain the fire was out completely, he headed back up the shore to his truck.
His phone buzzed in his pocket.
He pulled it out, and two text messages from an unknown number filled the screen. Odd. He opened the texts, and three images popped up. His gaze shot to the words at the bottom of the screen.
Unknown
Thought you might need to see these.
The first picture was of Juliette and a strikingly handsome man he’d never seen before.
It appeared as though they were having coffee together at Latte & Bean.
They were nestled at a back table, smiling at one another, and his hand was on top of hers.
Whatever they were discussing appeared to be significant, and also intimate.
The second picture was of the man standing, bending toward her. She was smiling up at him in a way that caused Brock’s insides to simmer.
And in the last one, he was kissing her.
Just like Miss Bobbie said.
Disbelief echoed through him, leaving him numb.
His gut seized, roiling with waves of acidic jealousy and anger.
This must have been the man she was talking about, the one Juliette had been cozy with, but nothing about these pictures screamed innocence.
He knew it was wrong to make assumptions without talking to her, but this looked more like a personal meeting and not very much like a business appointment.
The way they were leaning toward one another and smiling was not at all like how he would greet a passing acquaintance.
But none of it made sense.
He had no idea where this guy had come from. He’d never even seen him before. But Juliette looked as though she’d known him all her life. Which could only mean one thing…it was Rodrigo.
Her ex-boyfriend.
But Rodrigo was marrying Charity Rhodes.
Rodrigo was going to be the groom of the first wedding at their beach house venue.
There was no way he was back to try to steal Juliette away.
Granted, the man could offer her everything, even if he had cheated on her, even if he was marrying someone else.
He could still give her things Brock never could, like a new way out of Mystic Cove, a fresh chance to make something of herself. Her opportunities would be endless.
But she just told Brock she wanted to try.
Try.
The word stuck inside him like a thorn.
He would have to talk to her. He was certain this was all some kind of miscommunication, a misinterpretation on the part of Miss Bobbie, for certain.
Brock jumped into his truck and slammed the door shut. He wanted Juliette to stay with him more than anything, to build a life with him, but that meant he’d have to do the one thing he’d carefully avoided.
He’d have to tell her the truth about why he left.