Page 36 of Awake in Cheshire Bay

He dropped my hand like it was on fire, and I stormed away. “Please, Ember, hear me. I go long way to be here.”

I double stepped and stopped. It was true. He was here, and he didn’t live anywhere near the island, hell, he didn’t even live on this side of the world. Slowly, I turned around, emotions swirling in my gut, bubbles of anger popping in the boil.

“God damn it, Antonio.” My foot slammed into the beach. “I live in the real world, and I know that this whole thing, and all these feelings, it’s all on me but it wasn’t real, even if it felt like it.” My voice pitched. “It’s my fault for believing in the magic of…”

I tossed my hands out to the side and paused. Had it been a smidgen of what falling in love was like? I didn’t know.

“I let my emotions control me and allowed myself to fall for you and let you into a part of me I try very hard to keep sealed off to the rest of the world.” Tears blurred my view as I covered my aching heart. If this is what a breaking heart felt like, I never wanted to experience it ever again. “So, thank you for coming all the way back here just to tell me I’m amazing.” I rolled my eyes. “I appreciate you taking the effort.”

With that, I turned away so the tears could fall without him seeing. My focus went to the guys waiting for me, and I headed toward them.

“Ember.” His voice was strong as it punctuated the air, silencing the general hum around me. “I not finished.”

I stopped cold in my tracks but refused to turn around.

His fancy shoes dug into the sand as he approached. “How could I not be with you?” Gently, he placed his hand upon my shoulder and spoke with a softness to slice through my pain. “Please turn and look at me.”

Keeping my head down, I did as he asked, staring only at his dress pants.

“I need more Ember. One night not enough.”

How did he manage to say the things he did and melt my heart?

“Ha.” Still, I wasn’t going to give him an inch, and I crossed my arms over my chest after wiping my hand over my face. “I don’t believe you.”

He tipped his head. “Why not?”

“Because I’ve seen the pictures, you with a different girl on your arm. It’s all over the internet. Plus, Sorcha said I was just a notch in your belt.”

“What mean that?”

I stepped closer. Even though we were out of earshot, no one needed to know I’d slept with a guy within hours of meeting him, although they probably all knew anyway. Small towns and all that.

“I was just someone to have sex with.” I made a circle with one hand and poked a finger though. Wasn’t that the international sign?

“Oh, no, Ember. You more. In here.” His strong hands covered his heart.

I sent a spray of sand flying, wanting to believe his words. “I’m sure you say that to all the girls. I’ve seen the pictures.”

A deep furrow formed between his brows. “Pictures? Ladies? Only ever have picture with four, and I know. I agree. Maia, Emelia, Genevieve…” He counted them on his left hand.

Maia was his sister. Emelia was the fiancée. “Who’s Genevieve?”

“Emelia’s sister. Head of regional department of charity protecting battered ladies.” He inched his way closer.

“Well, that’s an honourable position.” It was great he kept in touch with his former fiancée’s family, but still, it didn’t explain the other. “What about the redhead?”

“Sorcha?” It came out like a weak laugh.

Of course, like a mental smack to the head I saw it. She looked different when she wasn’t in a flight uniform with her hair braided.

“Sorcha was girlfriend, now just friend. She is - how you say? Jealous? Especially now.”

I listened and flipped over everything he said. The nasty way she glared at me when we connected at the motel, the cruel way she whispered her words. Yeah, jealousy described her well.

“You weren’t just using me?” Because I still didn’t believe him.

“Ja, but only to fill ache in heart.” He placed his hands on my shoulders, so we were face to face. “You made me feel good. Alive. I happy with you.”

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