Chapter 15
She loved him. And she kissed him as if she never planned to stop. Fine by him.
She was actually in love with him. Him.
It was nothing short of a miracle. A dream he’d had for so long. Last night had been incredible and he’d known it would be okay. That there was a real chance to have everything he wanted.
But the reality of hearing her say it… That was intense. It fired him up and leveled him at the same time. He was hungry. Thrilled. Desperate to sweep her away for some kind of newly-in-love honeymoon kind of deal. Did people do that? He didn’t care. The two of them could start a new trend.
Except she’d never leave the Hideaway right now. She’d never let her sisters deal with all this turmoil alone. She’d see that as being too much like her dad. So Brayden needed to get himself under control before—
The sound of chainsaws revving up nearby pulled him back from the brink. Followed by the sound of his phone ringing in the other room. He’d left Connor hanging when he’d noticed Roni’s distress.
Connor. His research assistant had been talking rapid-fire about accretion and naturally-occurring boundary shifts. “I should get that,” he said.
“Get what?”
Her lashes fluttered open, her blue eyes wide and dazzled. He could definitely spend the rest of his life with her looking at him like that. “My phone.” He stroked her cheek. “They’ve started next door too.”
“How can you know that?” Before he could answer, the chainsaws started chewing through that tough old oak limb. “Oh.” She bobbed her chin. “You’re right. We need to go help out after they spent the morning helping us.”
Suddenly, he felt a little uneasy. “And your sisters?” Would they give her grief about finding the two of them in a liplock? He’d assumed they’d be okay if he and Roni became involved as a couple, but he could’ve misread the whole situation.
Her eyes flashed with amusement. “They should help too.” She scooted around him and opened the bathroom door. “Coast is clear.”
He laughed. “Fine.” They would all find a way to be okay with it until they could talk it out. “Connor had some interesting details to share.”
“I heard a little.” She smoothed lip balm over lips that were full and rosy from their kissing. “He was showing you a bunch of pictures.”
“That’s right.” Brayden picked up his phone and his tablet, following her out to the kitchen. But just as he was about to dial, he heard her groan.
“Coast isn’t clear?” he guessed.
“No.” She shook her head. “They look mad.” She turned to look at him as he walked up behind her. “I really thought they’d be happy for me. Us,” she amended with a warm smile that made him want to kiss her and not stop. He managed to control himself.
“We are happy for you,” Celeste snapped. “And Brayden, of course.”
He was pretty sure hearts were dancing in Natalie’s eyes, but Celeste seemed truly upset. “You owe us an explanation,” she said. “And an apology.”
“And a legal dictionary,” Natalie added under her breath. “For that last message.”
He closed the door to the suite as Roni bravely moved into the tension swirling through the kitchen. “What are you talking about?”
“Have you been crying?” Natalie asked, all sympathy.
“Nat, I swear.” Celeste rolled her eyes. “I’m furious, Roni. With you.” She glared at her youngest sister. “I thought we both were.”
“Well, I was,” Natalie said. “Am. But look at them. They’re so happy.”
“You’re laying it on a little thick, Nat,” Roni observed. “What did I do now?” She distanced herself, a reaction he’d seen her pull countless times in various situations. But he wouldn’t let her face anything alone. He shadowed her now and would continue to do so.
Celeste held out her phone. “We got Dad’s email. How could you go to him again when we expressly asked you not to?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” Roni said. “Because he might have the answers we need?” She pinched the bridge of her nose. Tried and failed to gather her composure. “He bought the place. Originally,” she shouted. “For all his failings, he does love us.”
“Not enough to stay,” Nat mused.
“Whatever.” Roni struggled through another calming breath. “If he sent an email to all of us, it must mean something.” She fished her phone from her back pocket and opened her app.
Brayden read the message over her shoulder. David Hargrave had replied to Roni, copying both Celeste and Natalie on the email at their Hideaway business addresses. A little cold, but a reply nonetheless.
My dear Roni,
I received your message. Again, my apologies for staying away.
I should’ve reached out again a long time ago.
I thought leaving would make the grief easier on all of us.
You girls didn’t deserve to watch me limping along without your mom.
I was an awkward shell of myself and you all had your own sorrow to manage.
Traveling and taking myself to new places helped somewhat, but the isolation has only made me a coward with the three of you.
We’ll deal with that later. All four of us.
Roni, you asked about the original survey and right of ways.
I do have those documents. Your mother and I kept them in my private safe deposit box in Columbia, alongside other historical records and artifacts we collected through the years.
I’ve called the bank to make sure you have access if needed.
I also had the original documents scanned and certified several years ago.
Those digital files are attached to this email, due to the urgency of the situation.
Notice the red ribbon and the stamps that also establish our cove as a private beach “in perpetuity”.
No modern survey or county amendment can override this document, unless both owners agree in writing and records are adjusted accordingly. It is ironclad under state preservation laws. It will trump any kind of fraud that developer tries to manufacture.
I am so proud of you and your sisters. I don’t expect forgiveness from any of you, but I will always help you protect our home and honor the memories we made as a family.
Love, Dad
Brayden inched closer to Roni. He could only guess at the emotions rioting through her. One more thing piled on top of everything else going on. She didn’t react right away, just stared at her phone. He glanced over and saw her sisters waiting for her to get caught up.
“He did it,” Roni whispered. She spun toward him. “We need to get to Columbia. To the bank.” Her eyes darted to the clock on the wall and back again. “It’s only a couple of hours away and not yet noon. We have time to get this done today and be back in time for the class.”
He should’ve known she’d shove the emotion aside in favor of action. She’d always been that way and he’d chalked it up to practical tendencies. Now, having witnessed her emotional collapse, he had to wonder if letting go all by herself was normal too.
“We can handle the event tonight,” Natalie volunteered. Brayden caught the hard look she aimed at Celeste. “Right?”
“Of course we can. That’s not the point.”
Roni shook her head. “Thanks, but all three of us need to be here tonight. A unified presence. You know Holly will be back to document the whole thing.”
“True.” Celeste looked miserable. Almost weary.
“I’m good with being here,” Brayden said. “My shag skills are definitely out of practice.” As he’d hoped, Roni’s cheeks went pink. “You’ll be my partner, right?”
“Mm-hm.”
Natalie beamed at the two of them as if she’d single-handedly orchestrated their entire relationship. “I’m so happy for you.” She bounced on her toes. “Trent will be here. We’ll all participate and host. It’s what we do best.”
Did Celeste have a significant other right now? Brayden didn’t think so. “The Guardian Agency is the official Hideaway guest right now.” He pulled out his phone. “I’ll tell Jess the plan and maybe we can get some other regional folks involved. An impromptu training exercise.”
“For dancing?” Natalie laughed.
“For observation, crowd control, there’s all kinds of ways to write it up,” Brayden replied. “Ask Trent, he’ll fill you in.”
“Guess we have a plan.” Celeste muttered. “And yay for Dad coming through.”
Roni twitched, but she didn’t leave his side.
“I am sorry for breaking my word. But this house is ours. It’s our family, past and present, as well as an amazing business enterprise we share.
Asking, trying, felt like a logical step.
” She rubbed a fist against her chest. “Because leaving it undone felt wrong. If I hadn’t asked him, and Indigo Reef somehow got beach access, I’d always be wondering what-if. ”
“Stop.” Celeste held up a hand. “Stop, please. You’re forgiven,” Celeste said.
He expected the sisters to hug it out, but no one moved.
“Okay.” Roni swallowed. “Thanks.” Her gaze dropped back to her phone. “I’ll forward this to Gamble and Swann so they can circulate it as needed.”
“I’ve already done that.” Celeste’s quiet admission was met with stunned silence. “You’re not the only one who’s been thinking outside the box,” she added somewhat defensively.
Brayden had slipped his arm around her shoulder and gave her a gentle squeeze. “We should change clothes and hit the road.”
It was as chilly a parting as he’d ever seen among the sisters. And that worried him. For Roni’s sake. She was too willing to accept the rejection. Although Natalie came in for a hug, Roni was unusually reserved. Celeste mumbled something about going over to the site to help, taking only her phone.
Brayden didn’t bring it up until they were crossing the bridge into Charleston. “They’ll come around,” he assured her.
“Eventually.” Roni sighed. “All three of us are thinking it, one way or another. If we drag this out and make it a whole thing, we’re no better than Dad these last couple of years.
” She turned toward him. “The real issue, especially for Celeste, is knowing that I never would’ve mentioned it or gotten caught going against their wishes if he hadn’t replied to us. ”
“Ouch.”