-HINDLEY-
I stretched out in the passenger seat of the car, my hands raised high over my head as I reached for the sky. Tipping my head back, I lifted my face toward the sun. The rays beaming down invigorated me. Normally, I wasn’t a big fan of convertibles, but I had to admit, this was exhilarating. Living in the moment was a foreign concept, but with Rory I had no choice—and I loved it.
I grabbed the sunglasses resting on top of my head and pulled them over my eyes. I turned to stare at the driver, drinking in every delicious feature of the man staring back at me.
Rory looked so damn cool, leaning back in his seat, one arm draped casually over the steering wheel as if he owned the entire west coast of California. He gave me an all-knowing grin before returning his attention back to the road.
“You didn’t have to rent a car to drive us back to your house,” I said above the noise of the wind whipping through the car. I turned my attention to the long road ahead of us. “We could have taken your motorcycle.”
“I didn’t have a spare helmet.”
I could feel his predatory gaze assessing me, devouring me. Goose bumps raced over my skin amid the heat of the bright afternoon sun.
“Besides, if we had taken my motorcycle,” he said, “I couldn’t have enjoyed this view.”
I shifted my gaze to the cliffs jutting from the Pacific Coast Highway. I had to agree, the scenery along the route was breathtaking. The waves ebbed and flowed, crashing into the jagged rocks below.
“It is breathtaking,” I sighed.
“I agree,” he said, gently stroking my bare leg.
I turned, staring down at his large fingers pressed against my fair skin. Slowly my gaze travelled along the curves of his muscular body until they met his.
His arresting blue eyes pierced straight through me. His plump lips turned up in a seductive smile that took my breath away. “Very beautiful,” he said.
My face flushed crimson when I realized he wasn’t talking about the coastline.
“Gorgeous,” he said, smiling.
I turned to face the coastline, trying to hide my awkwardness. If he only knew.
“Hey.” He squeezed my leg.
I didn’t turn, I couldn’t look at him, not until I got my emotions under check. I wasn’t beautiful. I was ugly, I was scarred, I was defective. Sooner or later, Rory would find out. I just hoped it was later.
He slipped his fingers around my wrist and pulled my arm across the console, forcing me to face him.
I sat in silence, wanting to pull away but afraid. Not of him but of losing this moment with him.
He used his thumb to pry open my fingers, pressing my palm to his sensual lips. He pulled my hand back and laid it against his chest before glancing over at me and smiling wide. “Beautiful,” he said.
Heat bloomed between my legs and my heart leaped in my chest.
“You hungry?” he asked.
Not for food, I thought.
His face lit up and a single eyebrow arched in amusement.
How could I hide anything from this man?
“I know you, Hindley.”
It was a simple answer to a question I hadn’t even asked and yet he’d heard it.
I leaned back and closed my eyes, reveling in the knowledge that I’d grown closer to Rory in two weeks than I had to anyone I’d ever known before, except Dana.
He doesn’t know everything, a small voice whispered in my ear.
I trusted him though, more and more with each passing day. I reassured myself that no matter what my past held, Rory wouldn’t judge me like others had. He gave me confidence and courage, two things that were lacking in my life.
“I didn’t bring my motorcycle because Jack loves to ride my Harley,” Rory said, interrupting my thoughts. “Kara made him sell his years ago. He’ll bring it back to my house today or tomorrow, then fly back to Denver.”
“What made you end up in California?” I asked. “Didn’t you grow up in Colorado?”
“California has better weather for year-round skating. And it’s got tons of boardwalks and empty pools.” He laughed.
And beautiful women, I wanted to say.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, his brows furrowed.
“Nothing.”
“Hindley.”
“Let’s just say you’re not the only one who doubts whether or not you’re good enough.”
“For what?”
I remained silent, working to keep my tears at bay as I remembered all the beautiful women screaming Rory’s name at the competition over the weekend. He could have any one of them, and I feared one wrong move on my part might send him running for his flock of female groupies.
The car slowed and Rory turned into a scenic overlook. I was thankful for the distraction.
“Want to take a look?” he asked.
“Sure.” I didn’t look at him. I didn’t want him to see me like this, so defeated and self-deprecating.
He walked around the car just as I opened my door and took it from me, extending his hand to help me out.
“Thank you.”
He nodded once as if sensing I didn’t want to talk. Instead, he intertwined our fingers and gently guided me toward the railing.
There was a steep drop off in front of us with jagged cliffs below. I stopped dead in my tracks, almost yanking my hand from his.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, looking back at me.
“This is close enough.”
“Okay.”
He didn’t question why I didn’t want to get closer.
We stood at a comfortable distance from the railing.
That’s what Rory did for me. He let me be…me, no questions, no judgments, no anything.
Quietly, he stepped behind me, wrapping his long, lean arms around my waist and drawing me back against his chest in a warm embrace.
Instinctively, I leaned against him, feeling safe and secure. I drew in deep breaths of the ocean air, feeling lighter than I had in a very long time.
His huge hands splayed across my abdomen, interlacing our fingers, as he rested his chin on my shoulder and sighed into my neck. “This is why I moved to California.”
I studied the scenic overlook. It was captivating and magical. I could see why he’d moved.
“Breathtaking,” he whispered in my ear above the crashing waves below. “Breathtaking, just like you.” Gently he brushed his soft, full lips against my ear. “And all mine, right?”
“What, the ocean?”
He laughed, his breath brushing against the sensitive skin of my neck.
My anxiety began to disappear into the ocean breeze. I melted into his embrace, somewhat secure in his confession that I was the only person he wanted to be with. For now.
I was no fool and held no illusions. What we had would never last.
Rory had never been in a long-lasting relationship. It had only been sex for him. Why should I think ours would be different?
I couldn’t fight the overwhelming feelings of fear as I realized how much I wanted him. The power he had to completely destroy me nearly crushed me like the breaking waves below.
I knew in time he would grow tired of me, of my damaged soul, a tortured girl unable to give him everything he needed.
I swallowed down the tears, pushing back the dark memories threatening to drown me. I could never survive that kind of pain again. It was too late though. I was already drowning in his beautiful blue waters.