It’s been just over a month since I came to Canyon Bay. How time has flown. Most of my days are spent working on the café. There are tradespeople there today fixing up the kitchen and replacing some of the walls, then tomorrow we’ll have the painters in to breathe some freshness into it. It’s looking beyond amazing and has scrubbed up nicely.
Sherri has been a wonderful help, and a great business partner. She basically lets me make the choices, but I still ensure she’s okay with the decisions. We’re still deciding on a name. She wants something fresh and hip, whatever that means. Not being a hip person, I might find it hard to discover the right one.
Things with Seth and I have kind of settled down. Still, I haven’t forgiven him, carrying around this anger is tiring. What happened wasn’t terrible, but it did hurt me.
Today is my day off. My funds are beginning to run low. The renovations haven’t been cheap, plus I have to pay for my food and rent, so I’ll have to look around for a casual job to help with a few things. That’s only until the café is up and running.
Canyon Bay is very much a tourist town and now the weather is warming up, the town is buzzing.
After I do some job hunting this morning, my plan for the rest of the day is to enjoy a book and do some baking. Not that I can cook anything as delicious as Sherri can. Her food is simply amazing. People will flock here just to taste her sugary delights. She has promised to teach me how to make them, because, as she’d said, “I won’t be around much longer so I need to pass along these family recipes, and you’re it, dear, because Seth isn’t much of a baker. Hell, he’ll burn the house down—almost did when he was younger.”
We had a good laugh at Seth’s expense. Can’t say he was too impressed, but he sucked it up and moved on.
My phone starts to ring. Moving from my comfortable lounge chair to pick it up, I see Mum’s name on the screen. I release a large breath, and with my heart hammering in my chest, I slide my finger across the screen. It’s time to apply the forgiveness I’ve been thinking about. I’ve had time to think about everything and I can’t say I’m thrilled about her lying to me for so long, but she’s my mum, the only one I’ll have. Time to swallow my pride and start my journey of letting things go.
“Hello, Mum.” My voice catches, and, a wave of emotion overcomes me.
“Oh, thank goodness. Honey, how are you?” The relief in her voice is evident. Her words are softly spoken, without a hint of anger.
“I’m good, thanks. How are you?”
“Stressed. Honey, I’m so sorry. You have no idea how terrible I feel.”
“I can’t say I’m over it yet, but I’m willing to try.” Suddenly, something comes to me and I want to know for sure. “Mum, can we possibly get a test done to make sure? Do you think Dad would do it?”
She sighs on the other end of the phone. “Yes, if that’s what you want. He asked the same question.”
“Yeah, it’s what I want.”
“Okay, we’ll sort something out.”
“How’s Dad going anyway? I haven’t heard from him in a while.” Although I haven’t reached out to him either, so that’s on me. I should be trying harder.
“He’s going good. Just been busy with work and wanting to give you some space.”
“He’s a good man.”
“Yes, he is. What’s been happening with you?”
I tell her about the café, Seth, Sherri, and the cute cottage I’m living in. Our conversation fills with talking and laughter like we are a regular mother and daughter, without a care in the world.
Before I realise it, it’s become dark. I glance down at my watch and I note it’s eight; we’ve been talking for nearly three hours. “Hey Mum, it’s been great chatting, but I have a pretty big day tomorrow.”
“Yes, honey. Your dad just walked in the door, want to say a quick hello?”
“Yeah, sure.”
There’s a scuffle on their end and Dad’s deep, yet chipper voice booms through my phone. “Hey, buttercup, how are you?”
“I’m good, Dad. Just been catching up with Mum.”
“I can see that. Long chat, huh?”
“Yeah. We’ve decided we’re going to get a test done, just to make sure. You already are my dad, but I can only hope Mum got it wrong.”
Our conversation becoming serious, and Dad becomes silent on the other end.
“Dad? You there?”
“Yes, we’ll get it sorted and let you know what the plan is.”
“Okay, I’d better go. Mum can fill you in on everything that’s been going on.”
“Can’t wait. See ya later, buttercup.”
“Bye, honey,” Mum calls into the phone.
“Love you both.”
“Love you, too,” they reply in sync.
Hanging up, I’m left in silence. It’s kind of lonely not having someone to chat with, especially since I’ve been here on my own and Seth hasn’t been around lately. Leaving the chair I was sitting on, I decide a shower and food is needed.
Once refreshed and clean, I even pluck my eyebrows. Leaving the bathroom, I flick off the light and head towards the kitchen.
“Pretty lady . . .”
An ear-piercing scream erupts from my throat, and my legs collapse beneath me.
“Oh, I’m so sorry.” Seth is by my side in an instant, helping me up. His hand takes my arm gently, pulling me upwards. With my body trembling, he pulls me into his rather firm chest. He smells like a mixture of testosterone and sugar; it’s delicious . . . he’s delicious.
My breathing becomes hard and heavy. My eyes meet his, and they contain a glint of desire.
“What are you doing here, and inside, for that matter?” I step back from him, anger pulsing though me. “You haven’t been around and now you decide to show up in my home, unannounced!” My voice rises with each word.
As Seth moves towards me again, his hand comes up and brushes my hair from my face. “I’m sorry.” His voice is soft and wanting. With those two words, my anger slowly dissolves.
My hands slowly move to his chest, resting them against his fast, deep breaths. His arms now are firmly wrapped around me. I melt into him. My insides have become mush. He has a serious effect over me. He takes my breath away, literally.
“I was worried. I’d tried to call and sent you messages.” He doesn’t release me, and nor do I want him to; I’m quite settled right where I am. But there’s a longing within me to claim his lips. My eyes don’t move from them until he stops speaking.
“Sorry, I was talking to my mum.”
“It’s okay. I brought you some dinner as well. I wanted to take you to the lookout, but it’s too late now. I was going to come sooner but I had paperwork to do at the garage. Sorry.”
My foot is mentally kicking myself for not checking my phone. “Why are you only coming around now after our argument?”
Seth holds me tighter. “Chloe, I’m so sorry for everything I said that night, I didn’t want to hurt you. I have personal issues I need to work through and I didn’t want to drag you down into my pit of darkness. Can you forgive me?” He sighs. I watch him as the turmoil he battles shows in his creased forehead and glistening wet eyes. I can’t stay mad at this man who currently has a possessive hold over me.
“I can forgive you.” Before I can stop myself, I lean up on my toes and push my lips against his. Kissing him isn’t anything new, but for me to initiate it is. With a deep passion, my arms wrap around his neck, pulling him into me. My want to have him closer is undeniable. His soft lips move with mine, and we explore and taste each other.
After a moment, my hands work their way under his shirt, wanting to pull it off and to have his bare chest against me.
“Chloe,” he breathes against my mouth, “if you don’t want to go any further then we need to stop now, because once you strip me of my shirt, that’s it. I’ll claim each and every part of your beautiful body.”
Do I want him to?
Hell yes!
My hands clasp the hem of his shirt, and glide it over his head. He stands before me in all his glory—his smooth olive skin, and a nicely defined stomach. I press my hands against him, gliding them over his skin. My chest swells with excitement and passion.
Nothing more is said as he claims my lips once again. His feather-light fingers run under my shirt. Everything begins to move so fast; I can’t get enough and by the way his hands roam over my body and his delicious lips claim mine, neither can he. Our breathing is ragged and short.
“You’re so beautiful.” His lust-filled eyes watch me as he takes hold of the bottom of my shirt, and even though he’s already seen me naked, this time I allow him to really see me, not me half-drowned and naked. His charming smile is the last thing I see before my shirt is lifted up and off me. Seth doesn’t waste any time and presses himself up close to me once again. A new emotion fills me, something neither Chad, nor Ryan made me feel. Love . . .
No, that can’t be right; it’s not right.
A loud resounding knock on my door causes me to jump back from Seth, panic seizes my chest.
“Oh, crap. Who would be here at this time of night, other than you of course?” Seth hands me my shirt and begins searching for his.
“Perfect timing,” he mutters under his breath, clearly not pleased with my intruder.
“Could be Sherri, looking for you.” I snicker. He gives me another panty-melting smile. Damn, stupid visitor.
My feet carry me as though I’m floating to the door. Turning the knob, I’m face to face with Janie.
“Oh, Chloe,” she sobs, the tears tumbling down her face. She falls into my open arms, and I crash back to reality.