Beyond Doubt (17 page)

We pulled up to the shore, greeted by my brothers and Lily and a few others waiting to hop on the Jet Skis. Jason and Gabby were coming in behind us, and she looked about as happy as I felt.

“How was it?” Lily asked.

“Amazing,” I said, sliding off the Jet Ski into the water. “Thanks to him.”

“I don’t know how you did it, man,” Mason said, looking over at Aaron. “We’ve spent our entire lives trying to get her over her fears.”

I glanced up toward the cabin and saw Cole and some girl attached at his hip.

“Cole’s here, huh?” I asked, blocking the sun out of my eyes. “I was hoping he and his car would get stuck on the side of the road somewhere.”

“Yup. But luckily for you he brought his own entertainment.”

“Poor thing,” I said, grinning as I looked back at Aaron who was tying up the Jet Ski.

Lily walked over and handed me a green towel, which I wrapped around my chest tightly. The light breeze was causing my skin to prickle now that Aaron’s body wasn’t acting as my shield. We had been on the water for hours and every minute was glorious. Holding on to Aaron, feeling his body next to mine was amazing, like I was in heaven.

Aaron walked out of the water and stood next to me, his body still glistening and dripping from the lake. I unwrapped my towel and handed it to him. “Since I’m a nice person,” I teased.

He grabbed the towel from me and began wiping off the water droplets. I was slightly jealous of the terry cloth that was running along his body instead of me and began to chuckle.

“What’s so funny, knucklehead?” Mason asked.

“Enough with the knucklehead stuff.”

“You know you’d miss it.”

I rolled my eyes as Aaron laughed and handed me back my towel. My fingers touched his, and another spark ignited in me just as Jason and Gabby pulled in. The others waiting for the Jet Skis hurried into the water to take both of ours out, and I knew I needed to keep my thoughts and hands to myself as I quickly tied the towel back around me.

“Is that Cole?” Jason asked, blocking the sun with his hand.

“Yup,” I replied.

“Who’s that with him?” Jason asked.

“Some poor soul. I’m sure he’ll introduce her since it looks like he’s coming this way,” I said, noticing Aaron staring straight ahead, his jaw tightening.

I glanced at Lily who noticed Aaron’s gaze and quickly came by my side. Aaron’s eyes were pinned on Cole and his date as they walked down to us. Something was definitely off with this encounter. I could feel the tension rolling off of Aaron and couldn’t figure out what had changed so drastically since we were out on the water.

“How’s it going?” Cole hollered from the bank. His date was gorgeous. She had long black hair and was dressed in a miniscule pink bikini that showed off her tiny waist but otherwise ample curves.

Cole was holding her hand helping her down the hill, stopping right next to my brother when he looked at us all.

“Looks like my timing was perfect,” he said, grinning. His eyes bored into Aaron. “Everyone, this is Nina. But I think you already know her, if I’m not mistaken?” He was staring directly at Aaron.

I glanced at Aaron whose eyes were on fire. My insides were churning as I looked over at Nina who was staring at Cole, horrified. What was going on here?

“You didn’t tell me he would be here,” she whispered, glancing quickly at Aaron.

Cole looked over at me and flashed a wicked grin, and Lily slid her hand into mine for moral support.

“It’s nice to see you, Nina,” Aaron said, his voice low.

She turned to face him, her eyes blazing. “Is it? I wouldn’t have known. I gave up waiting for your call months ago. My mother said you were still alive, so I figured it was just you being you.”

I wanted to grab Aaron’s hand, wrap my arm around his waist, anything to claim him as mine, but I couldn’t because he wasn’t mine and because Gabby was only a few feet away. So instead I just stood in place feeling completely insignificant as the blissful memories and hopes for something more faded away.

“You are a total creep,” Nina said, turning to Cole.

“What?” he asked, throwing his hands into the air. “I thought you two—”

“Why don’t you come with us to the house,” Gabby offered looking over at Nina.

“Who are you?” Nina asked snidely.

“I’m Aaron’s sister.”

I wasn’t sure that was actually a selling point at the moment, but she seemed to soften a small amount. Nina shot a glance to Aaron and he nodded. So whoever she was, they were close enough to know about him having a sister.

Wonderful!

Gabby moved from Jason and marched over to a very hostile Nina. Once reaching her, she grabbed her hand and started hauling her up toward the house with Mason right behind. Leave it to him to swoop in and help clean up the mess. I knew I was supposed to follow, but I couldn’t. My legs felt like they were bolted to the beach, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear her side of things, especially if it involved Aaron.

“What do you think you’re doing, man?” Aaron asked, his eyes narrowing on Cole.

“Honestly, I didn’t think it would be a big deal,” he said, glancing at me. “How was I supposed to know you and Nina had some sort of messed up history?”

I felt Aaron’s eyes on me, but I couldn’t look at him. This was exactly why I couldn’t get involved with him. There was just too much of
this
floating around waiting to come in and spoil otherwise perfect moments.

“And to think I thought you were kind of cute,” Lily said, squeezing my hand as she looked at Cole.

“No, you didn’t,” I blurted.

“Don’t you think it’s only fair I show Brandy what she’s getting into with you?” he asked, ignoring Lily’s comment. “After all, I went to school with her brothers, and it’s partly my responsibility to look after her.”

“Do you really think bringing one of Aaron’s exes to my brother’s party is going to bother me?” I asked, my heart pounding. “He’s twenty-seven years old. He’s bound to have had relationships. And we aren’t even together anyway.”

“Could have fooled me. The way you two were out there together, straddling him like your life depended on it,” Cole replied, taking a step toward me. His eyes narrowed.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked.

“Your hands were all over him out there.”

“I was holding on to him for dear life.” And then I remembered. Last year, Cole tried everything under the sun to get me on a Jet Ski with him and I refused.

“Whatever. If you want to waste your time with someone who has no respect for anything without a dick, have fun.”

That was it. I leapt toward Cole and pounded my fist into his chest. “Take a hike, Cole. You’re no better.”

He fell backward onto the shore, bringing me with him. His arms circled around my waist as I tried to get away, but he only squeezed harder.

“Let me go,” I said, pounding on his chest.

“Not until you say you’re sorry.”

“Let me go, Cole, or I’ll have my brothers make you sorry you ever showed up.”

Within an instant, Aaron’s arms swooped around my waist and pulled me off of Cole. Cole scrambled to his feet, but it was too late. Aaron landed a swift punch to the side of Cole’s cheek. Jason quickly responded by hauling Aaron away from Cole, and something told me this wasn’t the first time these two had to intervene for one other.

“That was kind of hot,” Lily whispered, and I looked at her with a huge grin on my face.

“Tell me about it.”

“I’m sorry about all that,” Aaron whispered.

“There’s nothing to be sorry about. You’re allowed to date.”

“Yeah, but the accusations that were—”

“That’s all they were. It’s not my business. It’s not like we were together at that time in your life.” Even as I spoke the words that’s not how I felt. At all. The jealousy that bolted through me was insane when I realized there was a connection between Nina and Aaron. That kind of connection.

“And according to your plan, it’s not like we’ll be together anytime soon…” his voice broke off.

“People are allowed to change their mind,” I whispered, sliding closer to him.

The night’s temperature was dropping quickly, and I heard the loud shouts from the nightly poker match beginning, which meant it was midnight.

“You tired?” he asked.

I shook my head. “Not at all.”

“That’s good.” He stood up from the steps and grabbed my hand, hauling me to my feet.

“What are we doing?”

“You’ll see.”

“I don’t think we should…” My heart rate accelerated at the thought of where he was taking me, and I couldn’t finish my sentence. I didn’t want to finish my sentence. I wanted him to take me anywhere he wanted, do anything he wanted.

Aaron held me close as he led me away from the house toward the wooded area along the lake. Darkness led the way as the houselights reduced to nothing, and the moon’s glow was our only splintered source of light through the trees.

“Where are we going?” I whispered.

“Far enough away where we won’t be bothered.” He stopped and stared down at me, his fingers tracing along my cheek as my pulse quickened. “But we’re not quite there yet.” His voice was so low, seductive. Just as I had imagined it so many times before. The images of him this afternoon cascaded through my mind as he began leading me deeper into the woods. Normally, I would have been panicked. But somehow being with him made it all right.

He led us down closer to the lake to a small clearing where the moonlight splashed more freely. There was a blanket rolled up and tucked underneath a thicket. Confused, I pointed at my find and he smiled, reaching for it. “You’re not the only planner.” He unrolled the blanket and tucked inside were two plastic cups and a bottle of wine.

“I saw this place when we were on the Jet Ski and had to check it out,” he said, handing me the cup. “It was a good diversion to cool off from Cole.”

“Thank you for that, by the way.”

I took a step closer and tossed the cup onto the blanket.

“I can’t keep fighting the feelings I have for you,” I whispered.

His mouth parted slowly, and all I could imagine was his lips on mine.

“Then don’t.” He placed the unopened wine back on the blanket and drew me into him.

I looked into his eyes and saw the passionate, kind soul I wanted to unravel, and my insides were barely holding on for the ride. I leaned up against him as he kissed my neck, sending waves of heat rippling through me.

“I’ve been dreaming about feeling those lips on me since last night,” I murmured, feeling the moistness along my flesh.

My body shuddered as he wrapped his arms around me, pulling me against his firm body.

“I’ve been dreaming about it since the moment I saw you at the winery,” he said, his eyes locking on mine. “And every time after that.”

I ran my hands through his hair and brought his mouth closer to mine.

“Feeling your body wrapped around mine on the water…” His lips trembled as I softly kissed his lips. It felt amazing knowing I could do this to him. I felt his hands slowly glide down my sides, resting on my hips as our bodies pressed up against one another. An uncontrollable heat ran through me as his mouth parted and our kisses deepened. Feeling the warmth of his lips on mine became my drug, but as our kisses deepened, the warmth was traded for the cold flick of his metallic tongue ring, sending my insides into a spiral.