Chapter Sixteen #2
They were as different as two women could be—Cilla with her coppery hair and fair skin and Rosa with her multitude of skinny braids and dark complexion—and shared not a drop of blood, but there was no doubting the love they had for each other.
It took more than genetics to make a family. Cilla’s situation was a prime example. Often people who chose one another had a stronger bond than those who were born into the same family.
He suddenly ached to talk to his brothers.
“What will you do?” Rosa asked. Cal remained silent, concern for both women etched on his face.
“I’m going to have to confront both Richard and Christopher once and for all. I’ll have my lawyer, Barbara Delaney, contact them,” she added as both the Jones siblings objected. “Give it a day or so. Please.”
“What about guests? We have people checking in.”
Cilla rubbed her hand over her face. “I’m going to call Barbara as soon as I figure she’s at work. We only have two couples arriving today. I can handle them. Tomorrow we have a group of women checking in for the weekend. I’m hoping by then things will be settled.”
“Only for today. I’ll be back tomorrow to help you clean up from the overnight guests and get ready for the weekend bunch.”
“Fine.” Then she turned toward him. “You should pack up and leave, Alex.”
He crossed his arms over his chest and shook his head. “I’m not going anywhere.” He canted his head at Cal. “You can have him kick me out. I’ll just camp in the woods.”
She threw her hands in the air. “I’m surrounded by stubborn people.”
“You’re surrounded by people who care.” Cal wrapped his arms around her and gave her a quick hug. “Come on, sis. I’ll follow you home before I head in to work.”
“You just want to make sure you get your share of the scones.” Rosa handed the wrapped package to her brother. “You call if you need me.” She kissed Cilla’s cheek and grabbed her purse. “And you”—she stopped beside Alex—“You take care of my girl…and yourself.”
“I will.” It was a promise he was destined to break.
…
Cilla wanted nothing more than to crawl into bed and yank the covers over her head. Despite denying any pain to her friends, her leg throbbed. The skin on either side of the cut was red and would likely darken as the day wore on, and the limb was stiffening up.
“You want a scone?” Hiding a wince, she walked to the end of the counter, proud that she managed with barely a limp.
The simple act of filling the kettle and plugging it in helped steady her.
It was so normal, so ordinary. “I’m having tea.
You want more coffee?” See, she could act as though it was a morning like any other.
Strong arms wrapped around her from behind, offering silent comfort. She blinked back tears. “Don’t.” As much as she longed to lean into his strength, she resisted. She needed to be strong, not weak.
His sigh ruffled the hair on the top of her head. “I’m sorry.” When he released her, as she’d asked, she was…bereft. In such a short time she’d come to depend on his solid presence in her life. That wasn’t fair to either of them. This was her life. He was simply passing through.
“You have nothing to be sorry for.” She busied herself making tea. “You’re not to blame for the damage.” Like a snapshot in time it came back to her—the sense of falling, of being unable to catch herself. She flinched and pressed a hand to her stomach.
“I didn’t prevent it.” He hunched over his coffee, scowling at the dark brew. His scone sat untouched.
Settling herself beside him, she reached out and covered his big hand with hers. He turned his and linked their fingers.
“You’re not to blame. That’s on whoever did it.
Because of you the authorities are certain it was sabotage.
Otherwise, they might have written it off as an accident.
Ivy House has been a bit neglected over the years.
My grandmother did her best, but the older she got, the more things slipped through the cracks.
I’ve been working on bringing it back, but it’s a slow process.
Because of you, they believe me without hesitation. ”
His fingers tightened around hers. “They would’ve believed you anyway. If not the chief, then Cal.”
“You’re probably right, but if you hadn’t run into me with your bike I’d still be dealing with this. Difference is, I’d be dealing with it alone.”
“You might as well be for all the good I’m doing.”
“I’m not your responsibility.”
He flinched and slowly disengaged their hands. “No, you’re not.” She had the sense he wasn’t so much agreeing but giving himself a reminder. Either way, the pit in her stomach grew.
“I appreciate everything you’ve done.”
Bitterness tinged his laugh. “I’m sure you do.
” His eyes were a dark abyss, threatening to swallow her whole.
His features had always been sharply defined.
Now his cheekbones appeared more prominent, his jaw harder, his lips firmer.
The dangerous aura that surrounded him had been honed to a razor’s edge.
It was like looking at a slightly distorted image of the man, making her wonder which one was the real Alexiares Blackwell.
Something was wrong, but she had no idea what. She’d lived with manipulative men her entire life—first her father, then her brother, and finally her ex—was adept at sensing when one was volatile. Alex epitomized restraint, but that control was hanging by a thread. And she had no idea why.
She licked her dry lips. “Having you here has made it easier to deal with the ugliness.” There was no other word for it. Regardless of the situation, she would have stood her ground, but there was no denying having Alex around gave her a layer of confidence she wouldn’t have otherwise had.
Her life had spiraled, going from mundane and ordinary to something straight out of a thriller novel or television movie of the week. Only it was real.
She clamped her hands together in her lap to still their trembling. It was shock left over from the accident, not fear. She wouldn’t allow it to be anything else. To face what was coming, she needed every ounce of strength she possessed.
“Ugliness. That’s the word for it, isn’t it?” He traced his index finger along the slope of her jaw and across her lips. “It’s not going to stop. It’s going to get worse. You understand that, don’t you?”
Mesmerized by the intensity radiating from him, she nodded.
“There’s nothing either of us can do to change destiny.” His finger continued down her neck and across her collarbone. “Life is incredibly fragile. Over in the blink of an eye.”
She wanted to cover her ears and block out his words. Flee so she didn’t have to listen. But her muscles were locked in place, refusing to move.
“If there was a way to stop it, I would.”
Cilla couldn’t decide which one of them he was trying to convince.
He was right about one thing, life was short.
No one knew what tomorrow would bring. She could have been seriously hurt during the car accident and again last night.
Heck, she might have died if she’d hit her head.
Life was precarious at the best of times.
With the threats hanging over her, along with everything else that had happened, she was aware of her mortality in a way she’d never been before.
She pressed her hand over his heart. It jumped and began to race.
“Whatever actions we take have consequences. Good or bad, there’s no way to tell until they play out.
We all make choices. I’ve made some bad ones, but everything I’ve done in my life has brought me to this moment in time.
” She placed her other hand against his jaw.
“It brought me to you, Alexiares Blackwell.”
He swallowed heavily, making his Adam’s apple ripple. “Cilla—”
She pressed her fingers to his lips. “If you believe in destiny, it’s no mistake you’re here.
We were supposed to meet—our paths supposed to cross.
Maybe for a few days, maybe for longer. Only time will tell.
What I’m not willing to do is run away from whatever this is between us.
Not anymore.” Life didn’t come with guarantees.
Emotional and physical pain were part of life, but so were caring and pleasure.
“You don’t understand.” His voice was ragged.
“Then explain it.” The tortured expression in his eyes made her heart ache. “Your life is in New York. Mine is here in Redemption. The odds of us finding each other are infinitesimal. If you believe in fate, surely you have to accept we’re here together for a reason.”
Alex had been good for her. He’d opened her up to the possibility of a relationship, boosted her confidence, and provided a shoulder when she’d needed one.
He pressed his forehead against hers. “There’s more at stake than you know.”
There were so many undercurrents she didn’t understand, but the one thing that hadn’t changed was her desire for him. “No one understands better than me what’s on the line. I’m the one being threatened.”
“If I could stop it, I would.” So much pain in that simple statement.
Her heart swelled to bursting. “I know you would.” She pressed her lips against his.
He groaned, his entire body tensing, as if he was fighting the heat pulsing between them.
“It’s okay.” She had no idea what she was forgiving him for, only that he seemed to need some kind of absolution that only she could give. “Whatever happens is not your fault.”
His massive shoulders slumped. The tortured expression in his eyes remained.
There were dark circles under his eyes and lines radiating from the corners that hadn’t been there when they’d met.
She wasn’t the only one suffering. Like her, he was dealing with family issues.
It made it all the more amazing that he’d stepped in to try to help her.
Sighing, she slipped from the stool. “You’re exhausted.
Come and rest. Just rest,” she promised.
It was still early. There was time for a short nap before she had to get ready for guests.
Both couples had requested a later check-in when they’d booked.
Once they’d taken a breather, she’d find a way to make Alex leave.
She cared too much to allow him to be dragged any deeper into the mess of her life.
If he believed in destiny, maybe it was hers to save him.