SAWYER

We stayed naked and twisted together for the next day.

I waited for him to tell me I should leave, expected at any minute he’d remind me that we swore we wouldn’t spend the night together. He never did. Instead, he held me to him tighter than he ever has without even the whisper of a night terror. I suppose that might be because we seldom slept for any substantial period of time.

Between dozing off to rest we ate and showered, but everything would lead us back to the bed. I checked my phone to make sure my family wasn’t trying to reach me and Aden would peek at his every now and then, but everything else we ignored.

In those glorious hours we focused on nothing but each other.

There were quiet times where we’d talk about Jenkins. Aden would tell me stories that would have me laughing hard enough to draw tears, and he shared with me that the old man had a fractured relationship with his family. He hadn’t spoken to his children in a long time and didn’t expect to be missed once he passed on.

When our conversation would become too much Aden would get quiet and I would do my best to distract him, which was always easy seeing as we wore little to no clothes.

I had moments in the dark of night when his breathing would even out that I thought to tell him about Celia, but lost my nerve knowing the truth would burst the delicate bubble we’d created. I’m here because Aden needs me, but acting as some kind of salve to his pain is a double-edged sword because every second that passes with him is one more that I fall deeper in love.

I’ve made my mental lists. All the reasons we won’t work, the obvious being that he doesn’t even know who I really am. There’s the geography, we live in two different states. I’d never expect him to give up the boat and his fishing to be with me. But when I start to convince myself to get up and walk away he’ll smile at me, or touch me in a way that erases all rational thought.

I may not need him.

He may be the worst possible person for me.

But I want him in a way I can’t even begin to understand.

And it goes well beyond what he can do with my body that makes everything outside of us seem insignificant. It’s the way he makes me feel like I’m the only woman in the world. He responds to every word I say, every sound that slips unabashed from my lips, as if I’m giving him a secret he’s been desperate to discover. When we’re together it’s as if I’m the air and he’s begging for his next breath.

I’ve played second string to my twin sister my entire life. She was the funny one, the talented one, popular, artistic, smart, and sexy. I was average, awkward, ordinary, and even though I got decent grades that’s where my credentials ended.

But Aden erases all that. To him I’m everything I’m not and so much more.

Especially now, in these moments, when he’s looking down at me, his big hands framing my face as he moves inside me, his eyebrows dropped low in concentration like I’m speaking to him in a special language only he can understand. Whatever he hears makes the corner of his mouth tick up.

I wrap my legs around his hips and kiss him so deeply he moans and—barks?

“What was that?” The concern in my voice dissolves with my breathlessness.

He drops his forehead to my shoulder. “Ignore it.”

Another bark, then another followed by a thump on the backside of the boat. “It sounds like a seal?”

He sighs long and hard, then pulls back to look down at me. “It’s Morpheus.”

My eyes pop wide. “What is Morpheus?”

He drops a kiss to the tip of my nose. “I’ll show you, but we’re coming back to this afterwards.” He rolls off me just as another bark comes from the back of the boat. “I hear you! Shut the fuck up now!”

I scramble to throw on one of Aden’s T-shirts and he tosses me a pair of boxers that I have to roll up a few times to keep them from falling down my legs. He puts on a pair of swim trunks and with a little maneuvering and effort, laces them up over his erection. I pat my heated cheeks, hoping they’ll die down and that the effect of seeing Aden aroused after a day of sex would wear off. We move through the small cabin and out to the back of the boat.

“It’s a little early for a wake-up call, man.”

I peek around Aden’s big back to see a dark gray sea lion the size of a small couch perched on the back deck. “Oh my gosh, Aden . . . he’s huge,” I whisper to keep from spooking the animal. He has to weigh five hundred pounds and his teeth are as long as my fingers.

“Huge pain in the ass.” He pops open the live bait box and reaches in to grab a handful of sardines, then tosses them to the animal. “There. Happy?”

Morpheus swallows them whole and barks for more, which makes Aden chuckle.

“This isn’t SeaWorld.” He tosses him a few more. “And you’re being rude.” Aden nods toward me. “Can’t you see I have company?”

It’s almost as if the sea lion understands him because his big black eyes track to me.

“Here.” Aden hands me a live sardine and I hold it tight to keep it from slipping from my fingers. “Toss it in the air. He’ll catch it.”

I do and sure enough he catches it on the fly. “Wow, he’s good.”

“Last one.” Aden hands it to me and I do the same, watching how quickly the animal moves to get the fish. “Now go!”

Morpheus grunts and barks one more time before lumbering his big body down the dock where he stops at Jenkins’s boat. He barks.

“Oh no . . . Aden.” The animal barks again and again and I feel each one like a blow to the chest. “That’s so sad.”

He turns to head back inside the cabin and I meet him in the kitchen where he’s washing his hands. “He’ll get over it.” He dries his hands on a towel and moves aside so I can wash mine. “In time, everyone will.”

I tilt my head to peek up at him. His jaw is hard and his gaze is cast out toward the bay. “Including you?”

“Yeah.” He squints out the small window. “Jenkins wasn’t a young man, he—” Aden clears his throat. “There are worse ways to go.”

“I’m sure there are.” I move to a stool across from him feeling his need for space.

“Thanks for being here.”

The seriousness of his voice calls my eyes to his. He doesn’t look away and I watch as genuine appreciation shines back at me.

His lips tick with a tiny grin that has my belly fluttering. “If we don’t get outside and in public I’ll end up holding you hostage in my bed.”

My belly flips at the promise behind his words. “What do you suggest?”

“Let’s take the boat across the bay for breakfast.”

“All I have is what I had on last night. I don’t even have a hairbrush.” I tug on the T-shirt I’m wearing self-consciously.

He comes around the counter and turns my stool before pushing his thick thigh between my knees and cupping my face. His dark eyes trace the line of my jaw, my eyes, then slide down to my lips. “Flushed cheeks, eyes always bright but they’re shining now, thick dark pink lips from being sucked and bitten, freckles . . . never seen a woman wear the morning-after look as well as you.” He licks his lower lip and I’m practically panting. “Matter of fact, lookin’ at you now . . .” He slides his hand up my thigh to my ass and pulls my leg up so I’m forced to lean back against the bar. “I changed my mind about leaving.”

“I thought, you said . . .” I squirm in my seat as he kisses my neck all while grinding between my legs. “Public.”

“Yeah, we need to get in public fast.”

“I’ll get dressed.” My thighs ache to clamp down around his waist as he pulls from between his legs, flashing me a smile that almost knocks me off my seat.

“Good idea.”

He steps back and when I move he slaps me on the ass and groans.

So maybe I don’t have the wardrobe of a fashionista on hand, but the way Aden looks at me in his T-shirt and boxers makes me feel like I’m wearing designer clothes. I keep Aden’s shirt on, loving the way it smells like his cologne, but put on my shorts. I use Aden’s toothbrush, wash my face, and pull my hair back in a ponytail. The boat’s engine fires to life as I’m coming out of the bathroom and decide to quickly make Aden’s bed before joining him at the wheel.

“Aden!”

The sound of an unfamiliar voice calling Aden’s name pulls me to the window.

Aden jerks his head around to the dock with a surprised “No fuckin’ way!”

A man with white hair climbs aboard and gives Aden a back-thumping hug. I can’t see his face with Aden’s big body blocking the view.

“What the hell are you doing here?”

I step outside, not wanting to be rude, and wait to be introduced. Aden must feel me close because he turns to me just as the man says, “After you told me about Jenkins I came right down. Here to pay my respects.” The man startles when he sees me and narrows his eyes.

Aden runs a hand over his hair. “Fuck, man . . . I don’t remember calling. Sorry ’bout that.”

My stomach plummets when it hits me who this guy is.

“You were pretty fucked up. Thought maybe you’d accidentally drowned.”

“Nah . . . I’m good.”

Blood drains from my face.

The sky spins.

I dig my feet into the deck to keep from falling over.

“Uncle Cal, you remember Celia?”

This is happening. This is really happening.

Passing myself off as Celia to everyone else seemed easy enough, but judging by the way Cal’s staring at me through tight slits I doubt Aden’s uncle will be as easy to fool.

“Yeah, I remember Celia.” He makes no move to come closer, to give me a hug or even shake my hand, but instead stands there thickening the air between us until I choke on it.

I cough to clear my throat. “It’s nice to see you again.”

His eyes move from mine to study me in Aden’s shirt. His lip curls in disgust.

“Cal. Don’t look at her like that.” Aden throws an arm over my shoulder, pulling me in close. “Whatever you think this looks like . . .” There’s a smile in his voice, but I can’t see it because my eyes are glued to the floor as my cheeks ignite. “You’re probably right.”

“Jesus, Aden.” Cal grumbles under his breath.

“We’re all adults here.” He kisses the side of my head and releases me to dip into the ice chest. “You want a beer?”

When I peer up and Cal’s still staring at me, I shift inside and find a seat as far away from the men as possible, fearing a closer look will give me away.

“Sure.” Cal follows me in and sits on a stool, propping his elbows on the small island countertop. “So, you hanging in there?”

Aden pops the top on the bottle and places it down for his uncle while I check all the available exits and scramble for an excuse to leave. “Better now, thanks to Celia.”

I jerk my eyes to his to find both men looking right at me. My hands knot in the hem of the shirt and I try my hardest for a convincing smile.

“Is that right?” Cal’s scrutiny continues, and a flash of sadness crosses his expression.

“No clue how long it would’ve taken before I finally sobered up,” Aden mumbles, and holds up a bottle of water, accentuating his point. “Cece helped me to pull my shit together.”

“Cece. Interesting.” His words are muffled into the brown bottle as he swigs from it.

“Just happened so quick, ya know, Jenkins.” Aden’s talking softly. “Reminded me of before. Here one second. Gone the next.”

“Understandable.”

I watch as the two men talk using short phrases I don’t totally understand but gather they’re speaking about lingering effects of Aden’s time served in the military. I make myself part of the décor, pressing back against the seat, hoping to blend into the walls, to become invisible until the opportunity to leave presents itself.

“The bank been up your ass?”

“I avoid them when I can, but yeah. They’re not gonna be ignored forever, Cal.”

Aden’s uncle leans back and drums his fingers on the counter. “Might have to just sell the place. Hate it, but those back taxes are killin’ me.”

“Celia took a peek at the books. She pointed out some areas we could cut, told me how much we’d have to pay monthly. Made sense. You never told me she was an accountant.”

“Didn’t I?” Cal’s eyes slide to mine and the steeliness I see there confirms my worst fear.

He knows.

My legs move faster than my thoughts and before I’m even aware, I’m up and moving toward the bedroom.

There’s mumbling behind me followed by the thump of heavy footsteps and the slide of the flimsy door. Grabbing my things I turn and collide with Aden’s chest.

He grips me by my biceps. “Hey, what’s going on?”

“I . . .” I can’t look at him so I busy my eyes searching for something I may have missed. “Forgot I promised Mrs. Jones I’d check in on her today.”

“I’m sure she’ll understand if you don’t.”

Gently removing myself from his hold, I turn my back on him and slip off his shirt to put on my bra. I move quickly because being naked in front of Aden feels wrong now. “I made her a promise. I can’t break it.”

Hands shaking, I scramble with the straps when his warm hands slide up my sides only to grip the elastic and fasten the clasps for me. “You’re a good person, Celia.”

The air in my lungs rushes out in one burst as his words increase my guilt. I bite my tongue to avoid saying that I’m far from a good person. I am the worst kind of person. I’m a liar and a fake and he really doesn’t know me at all.

He helps me with my T-shirt and when I turn he’s standing in my way so I can’t escape. His arms are crossed over his chest and he’s looking at me with an emotion I’ve never seen from him before. A soft, almost lazy smile, his deep brown eyes communicating warmth that I can actually feel expanding in my chest.

“I don’t want you to go.”

I lick my lips, hoping I’m capable of words because the way his soul seems to be drinking from mine leaves me feeling weak and needy. “I made a promise—”

“That’s not what I meant.” He takes a step forward, but his arms stay tucked away and he doesn’t touch me.

This is good, because one touch would send the truth from my lips and my body to my knees to beg his forgiveness.

“I want to date you.”

“Why?” I whisper, and then immediately regret giving my innermost doubts a voice.

His grin widens, but only slightly. “Because I like you.”

“I’m moving back to Phoenix.”

“I’m going to ask that you don’t.”

Oh my God, what? He wants me to stay—not me. It’s Celia he’s fallen for.

Fool me once. I’ll never be deceived again.

His words from the other night flood my mind.

Oh, Aden, if you only knew, you’d never look at me like that again.

“I have to go.” I push past him and he makes no attempt to stop me.

“Think about it, Cece.”

The nickname sends my shoulders to my ears. Without a response I slide open the door, snag my purse from the couch, and with a wave to Cal I race from Aden’s boat, knowing one thing with almost absolute certainty.

Cal’s going to tell Aden who I really am and the truth is going to crush him.