Echoes Of The Past (Fermosa Bay #1) (11 page)

Connor smiled. And something inside him stirred. Something so unfamiliar, so unexpected, but so welcome. Warmth rushed through him. Warmth and the sensation of belonging. A sense of peace.

“Tell me about Emily,” Connor finally said.

“What you see is what you get.” Ethan patted Connor’s shoulder and added with a grin, “And apparently you got it already.”

Connor snorted. “Bugger off.”

“She loves you,” Ethan explained. “She always had. No idea why.”

“Hey, I’m a lovable person,” Connor replied with a touch of amusement.

“Of course you are. But we were kids when you left. She held onto something for over twenty years. We know lots of the memories came from Jack, telling her about you whenever he was able too, but, yup, it was lucky for her you stayed this
lovable
.”

Connor chuckled.

“I’m worried, though, how she’ll cope once you leave.”

Connor grew serious, dug his hand into the sand, and let it run through his fingers. “I’ve taken twelve months leave to see whether my current love for this place is the holiday syndrome or whether I could indeed stay here for longer.”

“Hey, that’s—”

Connor held up his hand. “Not really. Yes, it might be great, but what if I decide it’s not for me? What if London is my home after all?”

Ethan shrugged. “You gave it a try.”

“I’ll muck up your business plans.”

“We’ll work something out.”

Connor shook his head. “You make it seem so easy.”

Ethan stood. “C’mon mate. Let’s dip our toes in the water. I’m sure by the end of the year you’ll have had a swim as well.”

“The end of the year is in a bit over a week.”

With a laugh, his friend said, “I don’t care what Jack says about you, I reckon you’re quite clever.”

Connor stood as well and gave his buddy a push. “Smartarse.”

As they headed towards the edge of the water, Connor couldn’t help but wonder why Ethan had never replied to his
easy
remark. Everyone was telling him how easy things were here, so why did Ethan ignore it. Did Connor read too much into it? Or was it indeed
easy
?

The cold water washed over his feet, and he cringed. Ethan looked at him, but Connor wasn’t able to read the expression on his face, until his friend smiled and clapped him on the shoulder. “You’ll figure it out,” Ethan said. “We all will. Dad always said, where there’s a will, there’s a way.”

***

There were a couple of knocks and Emily opened the front door to Connor, who stood there with a single rose in his hand.

“Hi there,” she whispered, heat rising within her.

“Can I come in?”

“Is the rose for me?”

He held the rose close to his face, inhaling its scent. “Did you know a rose is a symbol for love and beauty?”

“She comes with a thorn as well, though.”

Looking up, he asked, “I considered you to be the one looking at positives rather than negatives.”

Emily shrugged.

He handed her the flower. “In tarot, the rose expresses new beginnings or hope.”

“New beginnings?” she asked as she smelled the rose as well.

“Can I come in?” he asked again.

“First you need to tell me more about the rose and the new beginnings.”

With a slight grin on his face, Connor stepped closer and hooked his finger into her jeans and pulled her closer, the heat of his body pressed against hers. His other hand glided into her hair, tugging her head back, gazing into her eyes. At touch of his lips, her body was on full alert.

She stared at him as he pulled back. He gently pushed her into the house, shutting the door behind him with a soft kick. He found her mouth again. But this time, the kiss was urgent and deep.

With one swift move, he slid his arms around her and gently scooped her up. Instinctively, she wrapped her legs around him and cupped his face.

“Are you always so mysterious? Like standing in front of a woman’s door with a rose and talking about new beginnings?”

He chuckled. “No.”

“You still haven’t told me about it.”

She met his gaze as he carried her into her bedroom. He laid her down on the mattress and crawled up beside her.

Connor touched her face with his finger, tracing the line of her jaw. “I wonder whether I can ever forgive my mother for taking me away from you.”

A wave of desire built within her as he pulled her even closer to him. Overwhelmed by emotions, she stayed silent, although she still wondered about what happened.

“I can’t believe you’ve stolen my heart in such a short time,” he said. “You’ve just come into my life without any warning.”

Emily’s heart pounded in her chest. “Is this the goodbye visit?” she asked hesitantly while trying so hard to hold back the tears. Why was he talking in riddles and not giving her an answer?

His lips touched hers, whispering, “You didn’t listen.”

Leaning back, she stared at him, not sure what to make of the grin on his face.

“It’s time for a new beginning. I’ve decided to stay for the year. The rose was merely a symbol to show that I want nothing more than to share these new beginnings with you. It’s going to be tough—”

Not understanding why, she arched a brow.

When he gently pinched her bottom, she gave a suppressed squeal, desperate to hear the rest of what he had to say.

“Hey, you try and leave your life behind and build something on the other end of the world.”

“Point taken,” she whispered, moving his hand from her bum up to her back.

He looked around. “Yes, the rose was for you. Did you just throw it away?”

A smile tugged at her lips. “I wouldn’t dare. I left it on the shelf in the hall.”

“Treasure it. I don’t do roses often.”

“I’ll make a mental note.”

His gaze was intense, and it gave Emily a shiver. “Apologies about earlier, but when you opened the door, my mind just went blank. Anyway, what I should’ve said was that absence makes the heart grow fonder, they say. And my heart is very fond of Fermosa Bay, the people living here, but especially you.”

He kissed the tip of her nose then found her lips again.

His mind was blank? Her mind had a thousand questions ready to ask, but for the moment she enjoyed the fact that he would stay for a year. That he’d be around for longer than just a few weeks. But most importantly, that he was in her bed.

He rolled her underneath him, pushing her into the soft mattress as he covered her.

“Ask away, Emily. I can see smoke coming out of your hair you’re thinking so hard.”

She cackled. “So you come with a rose, talk in riddles, take me to my bed—”

He covered her mouth with another kiss—long and deep.

When he finally pulled back, it took her a moment to focus. “And you keep kissing me like you’re leaving tomorrow,” she whispered.

“Not leaving you for a long time.” Connor rolled back to his side and with his elbow bent, rested his head on one hand as he brushed his finger along her collarbone. “I like it here. I like this place. I talked to Niall and Ethan today, and despite my suspicion about their good natured outlook—”

“What do you mean suspicion?”

“I’m a lawyer. I’m always suspicious. I’ve got two clever business men here who seemingly have no problem with me working with them.”

“But they don’t. I remember them having the conversation on how Jack’s company would benefit from your knowledge.”

He nodded. “So I heard. But they’ve never worked with me. How do we know—?”

Leaning closer, she stilled him with a quick kiss. “Ever the sceptic. That must’ve come from the English air.”

The smile slowly faded into a serious expression, and Emily wasn’t sure whether she wanted to know what he was about to say. Or what he was thinking that moment. She relished the moment with him next to her and the thought that he was going to stay with her for the next twelve months.

Twelve wonderful months. She’d do her best to convince him that Fermosa Bay was the place to be for the rest of his life. And even better, she’d be the one to spend the rest of his life with.

“Sunshine,” he said quietly. “I need you to understand, though, this is for twelve months. I cannot make any promises. And I cannot make any promises that I’ll be the same as the kid you knew from twenty years back.”

She nodded, too worried her voice would crack if she said something. She understood and although everyone called her naïve for loving somebody whom she hardly knew, her heart told her otherwise.

And she always listened to her heart.

“I haven’t had many relationships. Most of them ending in a disaster. So—”

“That was in London. The ever-busy lawyer. This is Fermosa.”

He cocked a brow. “This is now the hundredth time I hear that. Anything special in Fermosa’s water?”

Without wanting to, she laughed. “No. But what we’re trying to tell you is, life in the country, life along the coast is different to the big city. We’re not naïve. We’re not stupid. If we were, Jack wouldn’t have all the hotels, which are some of the best in Australia. What we’re trying to tell you is, we still value the little things in life, we value friendship, family, neighbours—we value life. That’s basically it. When Ethan and Niall say they’d love to have you in the company, then they do. If Jack tells them you’re in charge of the company, then they protest and make your life hell. They’ve worked too hard for it. If the guy down the road waves and says
good to have you back
then he knows who you are and
is
happy to see you here. This is how things work here. Easy.”

“And I’m loving it. I really do. That’s why I’m staying.”

She smiled, seeing his expression change to a more content one.

“And because of you,” he whispered as he gave her a kiss. He leaned into her and his lips brushed her ear, his breath warming her skin. His hand slid slowly up her back. Warmth engulfed her as his thumb swept over her nape, urging her to look at him. His smile sent goose-bumps down her spine and a tingling sensation in her stomach. He brushed his lips against hers, this time deepening the kiss, and she wished for him to never stop.

He rolled her onto her back and stared down at her. “You’re beautiful, Emily.”

That about left her in a puddle. Holding back tears, she wasn’t able to remember anybody saying something like that. Of course, she wasn’t ugly, but it was the way he said it. But before she was able to come up with a reply, Connor kissed his way down her jaw to her neck. The warmth of his mouth created sensations within her, all melting into one. Then he surprised her when he laced his fingers through hers and pinned her hands above her head with one hand. His other hand ran down her side as soft as a feather. She stared into his brown eyes, letting him know how much she trusted him.

Effortlessly, he made quick work of the bra hooks and pulled it off along with her shirt. He moved down to kiss her breasts, one at a time. With her eyes closed, her hands still above her head, she arched into him. Connor trailed his fingers up and down her legs as he kissed her stomach, licked her belly button, and finally settled between her thighs.

He was torturing her. She knew by now he liked to explore.

“Connor.”

“I’m here, sunshine.”

Emily hissed a breath when he found her most sensitive spot. She arched into him as he stroked and teased with his tongue.

“Connor,” she said again.

He stopped and looked up at her. “Want me to stop?” he asked, one eyebrow raised.

“Don’t you dare.”

He grinned and moved up her body with lingering kisses.

“Don’t move,” he whispered into her ear. Then he stood, got rid of his clothes, before disposing of her panties as well.

Emily couldn’t help but stare at his body. She moved her hand to touch him, but when he cocked his brow, she laid still and enjoyed. He grabbed a condom and came back to her. Gently, he dipped his head and kissed her while sliding into her. Heat rushed through her, and she wrapped her legs around him, pulling him closer as she met him stroke for stroke, taking all he had to give.

“Open your eyes, sunshine. I want to see you come.”

He’d surprised her again by his directness and even though it was difficult at first, she did open her eyes, experiencing an intensity like never before as she watched him watching her. It was like an explosion of sensations when she finally came with such force her entire body shook, going limp with the ecstasy rioting through her. Her eyes fell closed as the pleasure washed over her.

Connor held her close as her tremors subsided, stroking her hair and nuzzling her ear. She snuggled closer into his embrace, and when his lips touched her forehead ever so gently, she knew that not only did she love him, but she couldn’t imagine not having him in her life.

She blocked the thought quickly, remembering his sweet touch on her skin. Sex had never felt so right, so good, and so complete. With Connor, all the pieces of the jigsaw fell into place.