CHAPTER ELEVEN

The wonderful scent of strong coffee infiltrates my nose and rouses me from my slumber. Still half asleep, I yawn and stretch my arms above my head until my fingers touch a hard surface. I tilt my head back and notice the walnut colored headboard and sage green walls.

I gasp when my eyes scan the room and I realize I’m not in my own bed. Shit! I sit up quickly and glance at the open door, trying desperately to remember how I ended up here. In the corner of the room sits an oversized loveseat with plush pillows and a black V-neck and a pair of worn jeans.

Swinging my legs over the bed, I test the strength of them as I stand. I sway a bit and feel as though I’m hung over, but I know I didn’t drink. Lack of sleep and an emotionally draining week makes me tipsy.

After freshening up in the bathroom, I make my way downstairs in search of Andrew. With no reason to prolong the awkward encounter, I take a deep breath and round the corner of the kitchen, fully expecting him to be sitting there.

“Andrew?” I call out, looking around the vast area for any sign of him. The time on the microwave confirms the morning’s early hour and I huff, thinking I could’ve slept another hour or so.

Reaching for a napkin when I inevitably sneeze, I look out through the kitchen window and see Andrew hitting golf balls deep into the yard past the pool house.

Whack.

Whack.

Whack.

Covered in a pair of gray sweatpants and a long sleeve Henley, Andrew’s body twists at the hip as the club rises into the air. In one swift motion, he sends the small white ball sailing through the air. He moves to the next tee and proceeds to send that one farther.

He looks up as if I’d called his name then returns his attention to yet another ball. With tiny steps, he prepares to launch it.

I call out with a laugh, purposely distracting him. “Hey, are you still coming with me?”

“Shhh! You’re messing up my stroke,” he shouts back without lifting his head.

“I’m sure your stroke is just fine.”

Whack.

Tossing the club down onto the grass, Andrew strides over to me and blocks my view of the morning sun with his looming frame.

“What time do you want to leave?” he asks casually as if we didn’t snuggle and sleep in the same bed mere hours before.

I reply indifferently. “Nine-thirty.”

Nodding, Andrew sidesteps me, leaving me to wonder if it was all a hallucination.

I turn around and call his name. “Hey, are we going to talk about last night?”

He shrugs and drags his eyes up to meet mine. “What’s there to talk about?”

Deep in the pit of my belly, I sense unrest, some underlying tension. Perhaps he’s upset I stopped things before we went too far. Maybe the taste of rejection lingers on his tongue. Either way, something’s bothering Andrew Darling. As much as I want to know what it is, I decide to wait since we’ll be in the car together for almost three hours.

“Meet you back here soon. Don’t forget to pack warm pajamas. It gets cold up there at night.”

“I sleep naked.” Andrew says sharply before turning away to enter his home as I enter mine.

My body tightens at the memory of lying beside him last night, and I sigh.

When I plug my phone in to charge, the screen lights up with several texts messages, including one from Sean. It’s Saturday morning which means he was out getting drunk, screwing around as usual the night before.

The hot water rains down on me, washing away the remnants of the previous night of turmoil. A pair of ripped boyfriend jeans rolled at the ankle and a long cardigan over a button down shirt make me somewhat presentable for the day. I smooth back my hair into a ponytail and apply a light coating of makeup. I dab on a little extra concealer to hide the dark circles under my puffy eyes, an obvious sign of my lack of rest. My parents won’t care what I’m wearing; they’re just happy I’m heading up for a visit.

Two Cliff bars, loaded with white chocolate and macadamia nuts, and a cup of coffee provide enough energy for the drive up north. Knowing my mom, she’ll have a lunch spread fit for a king. I realize I should’ve called to let her know Andrew is coming along, but I know her; she’ll go into a mad frenzy, setting about cleaning and preparing her home for a guest. It’s Andrew Darling—not Prince Harry.

After locking the front door, I walk out to find Andrew leaning on the side of the Hummer with his arms crossed over his chest. He’s dressed casually in jeans and a long sleeve shirt. The orange Denver Broncos hat fits perfectly on his head and allows the soft tufts to peek out and touch the nape of his neck.

“I’ll drive,” I announce, walking over to my compact car.

“I don’t think so. I’m driving and we’re taking this,” he counters, tipping his chin toward the military vehicle.

Dropping my bag onto the driver’s seat of my Acura, I reach into the center console and grab a quarter then walk to where he remains standing.

Holding the shiny coin flat on my palm, I declare, “Heads, I drive my car. Tails, you drive the Hummer. Deal?”

Andrew huffs as he removes his ball cap and runs his fingers through his damp hair. “Fine.”

I flip the coin into the air with a flick of my thumb and watch as it spins. Just when it’s about to land back in my hand, Andrew snatches it in mid-air and slams it against the top of his fisted hand.

With narrowed eyes and pursed lips, I glare at him. “That better be heads or I want a do over!”

“You like heads?” he chuckles.

Anticipation builds until he slowly lifts his hand to reveal the face of America’s first President. A massive grin appears on his clean shaven face.

“Told ya!” I declare victory.

“I think we should compromise.”

I squawk, shaking my head adamantly. “No way! I won fair and square.”

“Listen, my back will break if I sit in your car for longer than an hour. I don’t know how you drive that thing.”

“Leave her alone! She’s been good to me.”

Andrew reaches into his pocket, pulls out a key fob and tosses it at me. “Please drive the Hummer.”

I roll my eyes. “God, you’re like a spoiled brat. You know that?”

“Yep, I’ve heard that my whole life,” he laughs and nods, but it doesn’t reach his eyes.

Stomping my way over to my car to grab my bag and sketch pad, I walk back to the driver’s side of his vehicle. After a moment of hesitation I ask, “Do you always get what you want?”

Andrew opens the passenger door and hops in. “Pretty much.”

♦♦♦

After a short drive through the city, I navigate the Hummer onto 87N, traveling along the highway bound for my childhood home where most of my family still resides.

“You drive pretty well,” Andrew states as he changes the channel on the radio.

I give him a side-eye and pinch my lips skeptically, chewing slowly on the bite of the Cliff bar in my mouth. “Thank you...” I mumble before swallowing my breakfast. “I think there’s a compliment somewhere in there.”

Silence becomes a passenger in the vehicle while I focus on driving. Andrew adjusts his seat then pulls his ball cap lower over his eyes.

“You’re going to sleep?” I inquire incredulously.

“Taking a nap. What else is there to do?”

I reach over, grab his cap from his head and toss it behind me where it lands on the spacious back seat. “If I can’t sleep...you can’t either.” I grin victoriously.

Turning his head to look at me, Andrew smiles crookedly and finally addresses the elephant in the room. “I didn’t get much sleep last night. Seems someone snores a bit.”

I howl with mock laughter. “Very funny! You try breathing with allergies as bad as mine. Not to mention there was a heavy arm curled over my hip all night long.”

“Maybe you should’ve stayed in your own bed,” he retorts, reaching into his pocket to answer his phone.

“Next time, I will!” I reply, my lips twitching at the mention of sleeping in his bed again as the heat of desire sparks in my core.

Although I keep my head forward, my eyes stray to the phone in his hand; curiosity wants to know who is messaging him. It’s none of my business and I know it, but still...

Andrew tosses his phone onto the dashboard and reaches back to retrieve his hat, dusting it off as if I damaged his precious belonging.

“You can’t wear that hat around my dad.”

Adjusting the brim low over his face, Andrew asks why.

“My dad is a die-hard Giants fan, although he was happy when Peyton went to the Broncos after what happened in Indy.”

“Did you know that supposedly neither Peyton nor Eli is as good as their older brother, Cooper?”

“I’ve heard that. That would suck...living in someone else’s shadow. You know...” I shrug, “always trying your best but never being good enough.”

“They did okay for themselves.” Andrew turns and looks out the window as we enter East Fishkill then yawns. “How much longer?”

I chuckle, waiting for him to ask if we’re there yet. “About another two hours.”

Andrew pulls his hat down to shield his face, crosses his arms and stretches out his legs. “Wake me up when we get there.”

“What?” I yell in disbelief. “You’re really going to sleep? I thought we could...”

“We can talk later,” he continues my sentence.

Frustration boils in me and I grip the steering wheel firmly, taking deep cleansing breaths. A few minutes later, I tap the button to turn on the radio and hear the smashing sound of heavy metal music.

Andrew stirs beside me. “Jesus! I’m trying to sleep!” He lifts his hat up and slams his palm against the small black dial to turn the radio off.

“Oh, I’m sorry. Am I disturbing your rest?” I ask feigning sugary sweetness. “I need to listen to something while I drive.”

The center console is opened and Andrew pulls out a pair of black ear buds then hands them to me. “Plug your phone in.”

I hand him my iPhone, asking if he’ll set up the Pandora app for me. “New York is a hands-free state.”

My bright smile, born of amusement, mocks his annoyance.

“Who’s Sean?” Andrew asks, angling my phone slightly to reveal a text message.

I swallow thickly and roll my eyes. “My ex.”

“He still texts you?”

“Yep. Now that we’re divorced, he apparently cares about my well-being.”

“He sounds like a dick.”

I nod. “A big one.”

Andrew’s mischievous eyes widen with humor as my cheeks flush red at the misconstrued implication of my words. “I mean...he doesn’t have a big one...in fact, it was actually quite small.” Laughing at Sean’s expense feels good especially after everything he put me through.

An hour later, my battery dies and I groan when I realize my phone charger is in my car. I attempt fervently to drive for a few minutes in silence, but I can’t do it. Soft snoring confirms that my travel companion is still sound asleep, so I turn on the radio and allow only a small measure of volume to escape through the speakers.

“Shhh!” Andrew rebukes me. “I’m sleeping.”

My face scrunches. “Technically you’re awake since you’re talking to me.” I roll my eyes and turn off the music. “Can I use your phone then? Mine died.”

Sighing with deep frustration, Andrew feels around blindly for his phone.

“It’s on the dashboard,” I direct, “and it’s been vibrating for the last fifteen minutes.”

Without missing a beat, Andrew’s fingers find the phone and he hands it to me.

“Do you have to unlock it?”

“No,” he sighs, shifting his body away from me and settling back in to continue his nap. “I’ve got nothing to hide.”

“Thanks.”

After connecting the ear buds to his Samsung, I secure the rubber nubs in my ears once again. Music I don’t recognize fills my ears until the sound of ringing replaces it. I glance down to see the name “Paige” on the screen. Unsure about what to do, jealousy whispers in my ear and tells me to decline her call. A moment later, a notification indicates the presence of a new voicemail.

Adrenaline quickens my heartbeat as I casually look over to see if Andrew is still asleep. Darting my eyes between the road and the phone, I hover my finger over the icon to listen to his voice messages.

What if he wakes up? What if I get caught? What does Paige want? What other woman waits for him in Colorado?

With a gust of determination, I clench my jaw and press the button then quickly set the phone face down, bobbing my head as though I’m listening to music.

“Hey,” she starts hesitantly, “Not really sure what happened, but you could’ve stayed longer. Call me later if you want to talk,” Paige’s voice, attempting seduction croons.

I tap the next message.

“Andrew, it’s Victor. Call me when you get this. It’s very important.”

“Time’s up, my friend,” an accented voice warns.

I continue to listen and tap my way through Andrew’s voicemail.

“Oh Andrew, babe. I’m so sorry. Emma just told me about your parents. I’m here if you need anything. You have my number. Don’t hesitate to use it.” Paige suggests.

Victor’s next message claims how imperative it is he speaks to Andrew.

The next message.

“Um...hello...my name is Ernie Bisson and I’m trying to get in touch with Andrew Darling. It’s in regards to your parents, Mark and Diana Darling. There’s been a terrible accident. Please call me as soon as you get this. My number is 702-206-8....”

His voice fades as the memory of speaking to him on the phone that night with the news of the helicopter crash supersedes anything else.

“Oh my God, Andrew. It was so good to see you tonight. Emma said you’re only here for a few days. Call me. I’ve missed you,” Paige serenades.

“You can run mother fucker, but you can’t hide,” an ominous voice warns.

“Hi, Ace. It’s mom. I’m sorry I missed your call again. Your voice sounds different. Are you okay? I miss you, son. Call me soon. You’re always in my heart.”

“I can’t go. She’s asking questions. You have to go alone,” Mark says curtly using a hushed voice.

“Hi, Ace. Honey, why haven’t you called me back? I’ve been waiting for you to come see me. Daddy says you’re busy. You’re always in my heart.”

Mark’s voice, laced with anger, yells in my ear. “Listen here. We have a deal. Cut the shit or I will cut you off. I don’t have the kind of money you think I have.”

My eyes round with horror. I’ve never heard Mark take that tone with anyone and I certainly wouldn’t have expected he would use it with his son.

“Yo, not sure what you think this is, but she’s not fucking waiting much longer,” a man’s voice barks.

“Not sure why you left last night. Catcha in a few weeks when I’m back in town,” a female’s voice declares.

“Hi, Ace. I found your baseball cap today. I’ll give it to you when I see you again. I miss you. You’re always in my heart.”

“Hey Jackson. Where’ve you been, sexy? The girls have all been asking for you,” a woman’s voice coos.

“Yo, where the fuck have you been at? I’m not waiting much longer.”

“Hi, Ace. Thank you for the beautiful Mother’s Day arrangement. I love them. The yellow roses remind me of your angel soft hair when you were first born. I miss you. You’re always in my heart.”

“She’s asking questions again. You know what to do,” Mark says.

“Hello, my darling son. Please pick up the phone. I need to speak to you. You’re always in my heart.”

“Yo, where you at? Call me,” a muffled, accented voice says.

“She’ll be at the spa at ten. Call then,” Mark commands.

Tears sting my eyes and hinder my ability to see the road clearly. After listening to the first few messages, I lost track of how many Diana left for her son. Disgust rolls through me and I toss an angry glare at Andrew for treating his mother this way. It’s clear how much she loved and missed him. Why would he do this? Why would he keep her at an arm’s length away?

A shift in Andrew’s body sends panic through mine as I fumble for the phone, closing the messages instantaneously and dropping the phone onto the center console.

When the familiar sign welcomes us to the Adirondacks, I reach over and tap Andrew’s leg, rousing him from his deep sleep. Startled, he immediately sits up and adjusts his ball cap, looking out the window, asking where we are.

“Right outside of Lake George, but we’ve got a few more exits to go,” I reply, trying to mask the icy tone in my voice.

Andrew removes his hat and runs his fingers through his hair before readjusting the Colorado team’s apparel.

“Can I ask you a question?” I ask as I pass an eighteen wheeler.

“Do I have a choice?” he chuckles, reaching for his phone which is connected to the car charger. His eyebrow furrows. “Did it die?”

I nod and lie. “Yeah, I killed the battery from listening to music.”

“Thanks,” he teases. “What’d you listen to?”

Blinking rapidly, I spin a quick white lie. “All different things. I was surprised to hear Rush and a lot of heavy metal. You like that music?”

“Not necessarily...I like the drums in heavy metal.”

I tighten my lips into a hard line and nod. “It all sounds like noise with a lot of banging to me.”

Grinning salaciously, Andrew replies, “What can I say? I like to bang.”

“So it seems,” I quip as a pang of jealousy shoots through me like a hot arrow as his lovers’ voices ring in my ears.

Without permission, Andrew reaches down into my bag, pulls out my second Cliff bar and proceeds to unwrap it. “What’s this?” he asks, motioning to my sketch pad.

I watch with incredulous eyes. “Um...I don’t believe I said you could have that!” My hand shoots out in an attempt to snatch it away, but he moves away quickly, shoving the entire bar into his mouth. “Why do you keep touching things that don’t belong to you?” I grit.

“I’m hungry,” he says with his mouth full as he flips the white pages and nods. “This is good stuff.”

Despite the annoyance in the pit of my stomach, I pinch my lips together to fight a smile from shooting across my face like an uncorked bottle of champagne at his compliment. The grin on his face is simply adorable. Rolling my eyes, I growl playfully, “You could’ve asked me.”

Cocking an eyebrow, he counters with, “You would’ve said no.” Then he mumbles as though I can’t hear him, “Like you always do.”

“Is that what this is about?” My small fist connects with his bicep, and he feigns injury. “You do realize that I’m never going to have sex with you now, don’t you? You’re such a man-whore.”

Andrew’s eyebrows wrinkle for a moment as though I’ve hurt his feelings. Smoothing out the hard expression on his face, he uncaps a bottle of water to wash down the remnants of his mid-morning snack. “I think you mean you’re never going to have sex with me again.”

I scoff. “I hardly remember...apparently it wasn’t that memorable, Ace.”

“Don’t call me that,” he says patronizingly.

“Why not?”

He shrugs. “It’s not my name.”

Faced with a challenge, Andrew gazes at me with a heated glare that sets my belly ablaze until I can’t take it anymore and look away. I signal to the right to exit the highway, grateful for the five minute drive to my parents’ house.

Varying shades of red, orange and yellow dress the leaves of the old trees which shield the house from tourists. Thankfully at this time of year, the season has basically come to an end and will quiet down for a few months until people from all over once again flock to the area for the Winter Fest.

At the end of the long windy driveway my childhood home comes in to view, and I kill the engine and park the Hummer next to my dad’s pickup truck.

“What are you smiling about?” Andrew asks as he adjusts his ball cap then reaches for his cell phone from the center console where I left it.

“I can’t believe she really went through with it,” I say, looking at the new paint color of the house.

“Went through with what?”

“My mom has always wanted to paint the house this color.” I motion with my chin to the barn red clapboards. “I tried to convince her it wasn’t a good idea. Guess she didn’t listen.”

“Does she usually listen to you?” he inquires with an odd expression on his face.

A smile filled with wonderful memories and genuine love spreads across my face, and I nod in confirmation. “Aside from Toni, my mom is my best friend. We’ve always been really close.”

A low hum escapes from Andrew’s lips, causing me to look at him. My smile fades quickly when I notice the disgruntled look marring his handsome face. Sadness. Regret. Remorse. Guilt.

His pain slices through my heart.

Of course the opportunity to talk openly with him presents itself now as we arrive at my parents’ home.

“What’s wrong, pretty boy?” I ask, hoping to lighten his mood, although I really want to ask more about the relationship he shared with his own mother. “Did you not get enough beauty sleep?”

Tossing me a dirty look, Andrew grunts and says, “Let’s get this over with.” He clears his throat and readjusts his cap.

“Hey! Are you alright?” I ask, tossing an inquisitive look at him. “Are you nervous?”

“No!” he draws out slowly, but his deep gulp indicates otherwise.

“You keep messing with your hat. Leave it alone already.”

A flash of apprehension appears in his eyes, but he quickly blinks it away.

“Let’s do this,” he mutters.

My hand shoots out and takes a hold of his forearm. I hate the way my body reacts to the feel of his skin beneath my fingertips. Internally I groan, outwardly I just huff and remind him it was his choice. “You didn’t have to come with me.”

“I haven’t come with you yet.”

My face flushes red and my body sizzles. “Fiend!”

He responds with a slow nod of agreement.

The sexual chemistry between us is undeniable; it’s really only a matter of time before I end up in his bed.

“Behave!” I demand. “My older brothers will see right through your bullshit and eat you alive.”

“Eat me alive?” he cocks an eyebrow and grins wickedly. “Isn’t that my job?”

“Getting out now!” I open the door, jump out and retrieve my bag from the back seat.

After retrieving his own bags, he jogs next to me where we walk alongside each other and make our way to the front of the house. Warm, fall-colored hearty mums greet us on both side of the wide steps.

I notice Andrew stops abruptly so I turn to face him. “What are you doing now?”

“Wow! This is...” he mutters beneath his breath as he takes in the beauty of the lake surrounded by the mountains.

“Gorgeous, isn’t it?”

Turning his head to look at me, he agrees with a genuine smile. “Yes. You grew up here?”

“I sure did,” I reply, climbing the few steps which lead to a huge wrap-around porch. My fingertips graze over the worn wood of one of the Adirondack chairs that face the pristine, cool water.

“I could almost picture you running around here all sweaty and dirty with skinned knees like a little tomboy.”

My hand freezes on the front door and I look over my shoulder. “Tomboy, huh? You have no idea how dirty I can be.”

The look on his face is priceless when my words shock him, causing his mouth to pop open and then close immediately. Those blue eyes darken with lust, desire and promise. I feel his hand tug on the crook of my elbow as he pulls me close. I feel the heat of his breath at the nape of my neck until his lips are at my ear.

He whispers, “A hundred buck says I find out by the end of this weekend...”

“You’re on!”