Seaside Dreams (Love in Bloom: Seaside Summers, Book One) Read online

  He pulled up to Bella’s ten minutes later, and when she answered the door with smiling eyes and open arms, he breathed her in. The guilt and anger that felt like a companion only moments ago dissipated with Bella’s warm embrace.

  “God, I missed you,” he whispered.

  “I missed you, too.”

  He lowered his mouth to hers, and when their lips met, the lingering guilt was swept away. How could he feel guilty about being with someone who meant so much to him?

  “I bought a bottle of sangria. Would you like a glass?”

  “I don’t want to move from holding you in my arms.” He kissed her again, deep and slow. He wanted nothing more than to disappear into her, but he also wanted to talk to her about Evan. He forced himself to draw his lips away. “Sangria. Sure.”

  He followed her inside. She reached up to retrieve wineglasses from the top shelf of the cabinet, and the sundress she had on lifted, flashing the sweet curve of her ass. He couldn’t keep himself from circling her waist from behind and nibbling on her neck.

  “You look delicious in that outfit.”

  She leaned against him, tilting her head to the side, giving him better access to her neck. He kissed his way up to her earlobe, then laved it with his tongue.

  “Caden,” she whispered, then turned around.

  He sealed his lips over hers. His arms slid to her lower back, and he pressed his hips to hers.

  She smiled against his lips. “Is it bad that I want to make love to you every time we’re together?”

  He touched his forehead to hers. “Good Lord, no. I was thinking the same thing.” He inhaled deeply.

  “We should talk, right?” She bit her lower lip and wrinkled her brow.

  “Probably. We should go outside and cool down before that look you’re giving me gets you in trouble and I carry you into the bedroom.” He wanted to bury himself inside her and lose himself in her love, and afterward, when the guilt and pain were pushed too far away to recall, they could talk, but he knew that was backward. Talking with Bella would make him feel better, and then he could make love to her with a clear head.

  They moved in silence, carrying the wine and glasses outside. Bella’s cheeks were flushed, her eyes seductive and dark. They sat beside each other on the deck chairs, restraint tightening his nerves and written all over Bella’s face as they tried to calm their desires. He drew her legs onto his lap and moved his chair closer; then he poured them each a glass of sangria.

  “You guys are still going fishing with us tomorrow, right?”

  “We wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

  She smiled. “Good. I picked up four new businesses for the work-study program, and TGG referred me to two other companies and I’m meeting with them on Thursday.” She wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her cheek to his chest.

  “That’s fantastic.”

  He clinked his glass to hers. “To a full-time job at the Cape.”

  “I can’t imagine that this isn’t going to come through as a full-time job.” She sipped her wine and traced the condensation with her finger. “I also got a call from my old boss. She wanted to let me know that Jay quit.”

  Caden’s stomach clenched. He knew how much she loved working there, and with Jay out of the picture, he wondered if her excitement over the work-study program and their relationship was enough to keep her at the Cape. He settled a hand on her thigh.

  “She said she needed a decision by the fifteenth, so I have another two weeks.”

  He was unable to read her steady gaze. “And how do you feel about it?”

  She ran her finger along the edge of her dress. “Conflicted.”

  “About?” was all he could manage. Did she want to be with him, or did she want to move back to Connecticut?

  She sighed. “There’s a lot to consider. On the one hand, if this job comes through, it’s because I created something valuable that could really make a difference in a lot of kids’ lives, and that’s exciting. On the other hand, I have a life in Connecticut and friends and a job that’s secure.” She ran her finger along his forearm. “And then there’s us to consider, too.” She leaned forward and kissed him.

  “I’m glad to hear you say that. I know you want to make your decision free and clear of our relationship, but, Bella…” He stopped himself from saying more. This was her decision.

  “I know.”

  He took her hand in his. “I adore you. I know your life is up in the air right now. I also know that what we have is worth considering.”

  “I know. I’ve never felt this way before. I couldn’t not consider us, Caden.”

  He kissed her again, silently thanking her for caring enough to keep him in her mind while she decided their fate.

  She took another sip of wine. “My realtor also called. She has a verbal offer on my house and expects to have it in writing tomorrow.”

  “That’s good, right?” He took a drink, then ran his hand along her thigh. He loved her legs. Hell, he loved her, and he would have told her tonight, but with the job and house offer on the table, he worried she might think he was saying it just to keep her there.

  “Yeah. I think so. I mean, I came here with the intent of starting fresh. New job, new digs, new life. Now at least the option is stronger, but I still don’t have the offer from the school board here.” She smiled, fisted her hand in his shirt, and pulled him down so they were eye to eye. “Even though I didn’t come here looking for a new boyfriend, I’m really glad I found you.”

  He kissed her again. “I think I found you, remember?” He slid his hand up the outside of her thigh, beneath her dress. “I sure do. Your hair was caught in Leanna’s window, and your black silk panties were begging to come off.”

  She tightened her grip on his shirt. “Only for you.”

  How was he supposed to concentrate on anything other than how good she felt when all he wanted to do was love her until all the other complications disappeared? She released his shirt and settled back into her chair.

  “You know you’re killing me, right?”

  “That’s my evil plan.” She finished her wine and went into a slow, off-key rendition of Carly Simon’s “Anticipation.”

  “I was thinking more along the lines of ‘You Shook Me All Night Long’ by AC/DC.”

  She laughed. “Okay, okay. We should be serious. How’s Ev? Did you talk with him about the job?”

  “Serious, huh?” He rolled his eyes, but it was a farce. He loved that she cared about Evan. “Not yet. He came home pissed off, so I thought I’d wait until he was in a better frame of mind. You were right, though. He doesn’t like those other kids. He said he’s not going to hang out with them anymore.” He debated telling her what Evan had asked him about moving and Bella, but with everything else that was going on, he refrained.

  “Wow. I wonder what went down.” Bella’s brows drew together.

  “He didn’t tell me much, just that they weren’t like his old friends. I’m going to take him back to Boston this weekend for a visit.”

  “That’s great.”

  He scooted his chair closer to Bella’s. “Would you consider coming with us for the day?” The idea had come to him as they were talking. He hated the idea of spending any time away from her, and he was looking forward to showing her where they’d lived and introducing her to his parents.

  “Are you sure?”

  He pulled her onto his lap and ran his fingers through her hair, then drew her lips to his. She pressed her hands to his cheeks and deepened the kiss.

  “I love when you do that,” he admitted.

  “Kiss you?”

  He shrugged. “Kiss me, touch my cheeks like they’re yours.” He wanted to fill his senses with her like she filled his heart. He wanted to taste her arousal, hear her voice gasping his name, and feel every inch of her luscious, naked body beneath his.

  He stood with her in his arms, carried her inside, and laid her on the bed. This time he remembered to close the bedroom wind
ow; then he closed her bedroom door, leaving no room for interruptions. He stripped down to his skivvies and lowered himself to the bed, taking her in a deep, passionate kiss. When he drew his lips away, her eyes fluttered open.

  “Come back.” She wrapped her hand around the back of his neck and pulled him to her again.

  He didn’t need the help, but, boy, did it turn him on. He would kiss her until her body was on fire and her thoughts melted together. She felt so right beneath him, soft and feminine. He felt her love for him in every stroke of her tongue. He grazed her lips with his, and when she arched to meet him, he drew back. A seductive moan slipped from her lips. He loved feeling her writhe with need as she rocked against him. He grabbed the hem of her dress and lifted his body as he drew the thin fabric up and over her head and tossed it to the floor, exposing lacy, yellow lingerie.

  “Jesus, Bella. You’re so feminine and sexy you make me lose my mind.”

  She scrunched her nose. “I’m hardly feminine.”

  He glanced down at the pink comforter, then ran his tongue along the ridge of her lacy bra. “Why do you hide it? What happened that you feel like you have to be so strong?”

  She turned her face away but not before he saw the pain in her eyes. He touched his forehead to hers.

  “Tell me, baby.”

  “It’s stupid. No one but Jenna, Amy, and Leanna know about it.”

  He kissed her mouth, her cheek, her forehead again. “You don’t have to tell me. But one day I want to share all our secrets.”

  That drew her eyes to his. “Tell me a secret and I’ll tell you.”

  He smiled at the tit for tat presented with mischief in her beautiful eyes.

  “Okay.” He propped himself up on his elbows beside her. “The truth is, moving was hard. I was scared as hell to move away from Boston. It was the hardest decision I’ve ever made. I was scared about starting a new job, afraid that Evan would hate me, afraid that my parents would need me and I’d be two hours away.”

  “Oh, Caden.” She leaned up and kissed him softly.

  “And now I’m scared that I’ve messed up Evan for good.”

  He rolled onto his back beside her, surprised at the truth streaming from his subconscious. He’d never admitted his fear to anyone before, or just how deep it ran.

  She stroked his cheek. “I’m sure you didn’t mess him up for good. He’s just settling in. This time next year he’ll have forgotten how hard it was; he’ll have new technology club friends. You’ll see.”

  “I hope so. It would kill me if I realized that although I moved here with the sole intent of protecting Evan, I had somehow made the worst decision of his life, while it was the best decision of mine.” He closed his eyes for a beat, and when he opened them, he noticed Bella’s eyes were damp.

  “You’re such a good dad, Caden.” She pressed her lips to his, and her voice turned serious. “Are you considering moving back to Boston?”

  He shook his head. “I moved here for a reason, and that reason hasn’t changed. I just have to believe that it was for the best. That it was fated to be.”

  “You believe in fate?”

  “Well, I think you and I were destined to be together. And I also think you’re skipping out on sharing your secret.” He kissed her again, then ran his finger down her cheek. “Why do you pretend that you don’t have a love of all things girly?”

  “I don’t pretend. It’s just not part of my personality.” She ran her finger along his arm.

  “But it is, babe. You’re very feminine.”

  “I’m brash, and loud, and take charge.” She furrowed her brow, and it made him smile.

  “You are self-confident, independent, and secure. But you’re also feminine. You wear dresses every day. You walk with graceful steps, and your hips swing in an extremely feminine fashion. You flirt like a seductress, and sometimes you get this look in your eyes when we’re talking.” He breathed her in, giving himself a second to catch his breath. “It’s tender and sweet. Your essence is girly, babe, no matter how much you try to deny it.”

  Her cheeks heated. “I don’t try to. I just don’t share it with many people. I like knowing that I can bang nails into my own deck and move furniture, or…” She rolled her eyes. “Whatever else I need to do. And as a woman, when you can’t do those things, I think it makes you vulnerable. It lessens your strength and independence.”

  “Does Amy do all those things?”

  She laughed. “Oh my gosh, no. Neither does Jenna.”

  He arched a brow. “So, I don’t get it. Do you have any less respect for them?”

  “Of course not.” She lay flat on her back and covered her face with her arm. “It’s just my thing. I can’t even believe I’m telling you this. Really, when did you enter the zone that has always been reserved for just my Seaside girlfriends?”

  “Since we fell in love,” he whispered.

  She reached for his hand, needing the safety of him while she exposed her secret. “I was really girly when I was a teenager, but it seemed like every time I asked a guy for help with anything—my car, carrying something heavy—they always wanted something sexual in return. I learned pretty quickly that guys tended to take advantage of girly girls, so I decided not to be that person anymore, at least not publicly. Is that a big deal? That I keep my girly side private and only share it with those I really care about?”

  He shifted so she was beneath him. “It is a big deal to me, to be included in those you care about.” He kissed her chin, then moved down her body to her belly and slipped her pretty lacy panties off with ease. “I adore your girly side.” He took off his briefs and positioned himself on top of her again. She pressed her fingertips into his hips as he kissed her again.

  “Are you in a hurry?”

  “I miss you.” She licked her lips. “Would you rather I got my handcuffs and took you every which way on my terms?”

  He took her in a greedy kiss, aroused by the thought of being restrained by her.

  “One day I’d love to see you take control.” He kissed her again. “I want you to drive me to the edge and then make me wait.” He lowered his mouth to her breast and dragged his tongue across her nipple, earning a gasp of pleasure from Bella. He slithered back up her body, the tip of his arousal eager against her wet center.

  “But not tonight, lover girl.” He kissed her softly. “Tonight I just want to be close. No games, no props, no diversions. I just want to love you.”

  She arched to greet him as he buried himself deep inside her. Their bodies joined as one—and the rest of the world faded away.

  Chapter Nineteen

  THE NEXT MORNING Bella stood on the deck of the fishing boat docked at the marina, anxiously watching for Caden and Evan to arrive. The sun beat down on her shoulders and a gentle breeze brushed across her back. Everyone from Seaside except Jamie and Vera had arrived early. They were too excited to wait at the cottages. Amy, Tony, and Leanna were at the helm talking with Joe Bloom, the owner of the boat, while Kurt prepared a comfortable place for Vera to settle into inside in case she wanted to get out of the sun. His thoughtfulness was endless.

  Jenna paced the deck in her red bikini top and a pair of cutoff shorts. “What if Pete doesn’t show up?”

  Bella shaded her eyes from the sun and peered in the direction of the parking lot. “Then we’ll go out and catch some fish and have a kick-ass time without him.”

  “I know that.” Jenna put her hands on her hips. “But what would it mean?”

  “That he’s an idiot and it’s time for you to move on.” Bella draped her arm over Jenna’s shoulder, but Jenna shrugged out of her reach.

  “You’re a total buzzkill.” Jenna tugged at her bikini top.

  “Oh, stop. He’ll show up. The real question is where are Caden, Evan, Jamie, and Vera?” She leaned against the wooden railing.

  “Well, don’t worry. If they don’t show up, you can always move on.” Jenna smirked.

  “Ugh. Jenna, I was kidding. I just
wish Pete would jump at the chance to be with you.” Bella turned back toward the parking lot. “There they are.” She pointed to Caden and Evan. Pete was nowhere in sight.

  “Pete isn’t with them.” Jenna rolled her eyes. “See? He’s totally not interested.”

  “Don’t jump to conclusions.” Bella went to greet them.

  “Sorry we’re late.” Caden looked sporty and handsome in a pair of khaki shorts and a white tank top. He carried a small duffel bag and raked his eyes down Bella’s body. He settled a hand on her hip, leaned in close, and said quietly, “Love that bathing suit, babe.”

  She had worn an emerald-green bikini that accentuated her bust, along with a white cotton miniskirt. She loved getting a rise out of Caden, and the suit earned her another lascivious look.

  Caden pressed a kiss to her lips. “I’ll go put our stuff inside and be right back.”

  “Sounds good.” She turned her attention to Evan, who was scrolling through texts on his phone. “Hey, Ev. How’s it going?” Bella said.

  “Good. Thanks for hooking me up with TGG. I called on the way over, and Dad’s taking me to meet them Friday.” Evan wore a black tank top, revealing his gangly arms. He quickly scanned the boat. “Where’s Jamie and Vera?”

  “There not here yet, but hopefully they’ll get here soon.” She watched Evan cross the deck and join Amy, Tony, and Caden.

  Her heart went out to Jenna, standing at the edge of the boat, peering over the parking lot. “He’ll be here, Jenna.”

  “I’m not so sure.” Jenna nodded toward Jamie coming up the dock. “Where’s Vera?”

  “No idea.” Bella wondered that, too.

  Jamie waved as he approached. His thick, dark hair stood on end against the breeze.

  “Hey, sorry I’m late.” Jamie stepped onto the boat. “Gram wasn’t up to coming, but she sent chocolate chip cookies for Evan.”

  “Lucky kid. Is Vera okay?” Bella asked.

  “She said she was really tired. I think she had second thoughts about spending the day on the water. You know how she is about ruining other people’s fun. If she got tired or hot, she wouldn’t mention it. She’d rather suffer in silence than make a boat turn back.” He rubbed his stubbly chin and turned compassionate eyes to Jenna.