Harbour of Refuge (32 page)

“Other boys read.” Liev slid between the sheets.

Things were so simple in his world. “Sports. Friends. That kind of thing.”

“It would be nice to be closer to Aunt Jaydee, I like talking to her. And I enjoy Halyn. She makes wonderful cookies and pie.”

“Get some sleep, Liev.” He tucked him in. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Goodnight.”

Enzo closed the door behind him on the way out and locked up the house. Then he made his way to Halyn’s room. Her fever had broken and he felt much better about that. Stripping down to his boxers, he climbed into bed with her after taking care of his needs.

Her mumbling stopped when he drew her back against his chest and held her. She sighed, wriggled her ass oh so temptingly against his desperately hard cock, and fell back into her deep slumber.

A few hours later, he woke to her hand stroking him. A groan and buck of his hips had him swearing as he tried to remember she was still a bit out of it. “We can’t,” he moaned.

“Please. All those nights of my fingers or vibrator. I need this”—her fingers tightened about him—“need you deep inside me like only you can do.”

Sweat broke out on his forehead. He couldn’t do this. Taking a hand to remove her touch, he swore when she grabbed it and put his fingers to her slick pussy. She ground against his hand and he closed his eyes, sliding two digits deep inside her. Christ, it had been so long since he’d touched heaven. He wasn’t going to last long.

She rode his hand as she continued to stroke his cock. Panting, she made sexy mewls with her throat.

“More,” she begged.

“Halyn. Come on, sweetheart. I’m only human here. You’ve been sick.”

Her answer was to kick off the blankets. He got out of bed unable to stay so close to her and not have her. Settling into the chair across from her, he knew it would be a long night. Especially the way she continued calling for him.

* * * *

Halyn rubbed her eyes again as she waited for the boarding call. When she’d been struck down with the flu, not much had made sense and she was still recovering. She’d had a lot of dreams about Enzo, which was odd but she didn’t argue with herself as to why, she figured it was because he was supposed to be in town.

That would explain why she was at the airport about to head home for a visit. She couldn’t face him again. Not yet. Having the flu had derailed her plans a bit, so when she’d woken feeling like she could actually travel, she had taken the first flight she could.

“I swear he was there,” she muttered.

Her house had been cleaned and someone had changed her clothing. Her guess was Mila, but her friend hadn’t picked up this morning when she’d called. So she left a message, thanking her for looking in on her, and had proceeded to get to her flight.

She slept on the flight and felt a bit better when they landed. She rented a car, then drove out to her parents’ house.

“Halyn!” her mom said, hurrying down to the car for a hug.

“Mom.”

Yes, this was what she needed. Total love and acceptance. Tears pricked her eyes and she didn’t even try to blink them away. Her dad came down next. He looked so much better than when she’d seen him last.

“Daddy.”

“Heard my pumpkin was coming for a visit,” he said with a smile, gathering her close.

“And you didn’t run?”

“Thought about it,” he teased. “You’re looking tired? Are you feeling okay?”

“I was sick but am on the mend. It’s so good to see you.” Another hug for each and she was on her way inside with them.

* * * *

After dinner, they sat at the table playing dominoes, drinking beer and snacking on popcorn. Her mom took her turn and pinned her all-too-knowing gaze on her.

“Whatcha running from, honey?”

She took a drink of her Honey Weiss to weigh her response and enjoyed the crisp flavour. “Can’t a girl come home just to visit without have to be running from something?”

“Sure she can. But when I see shadows lurking in your eyes I know. Talk to us, honey.”

Another drink, followed by another, prior to setting the bottle down. “I met someone.”

Her parents shared a glance before returning their attention to her. “This is a good thing, right?” her mother asked.

“It was.”

Her father frowned. “I’m not following. Was? As in it’s over now?”

“Yes. Well, I don’t know. It’s…complicated.”

Her mom got up and went to get some more popcorn from the countertop. “So you still have feelings for him. Are you in love with him?”

She dropped her head to the table, barely missing the bottle.

“We’ll take that as a yes,” her dad said with amusement in his tone.

“So what happened?” Her mom rested a comforting hand upon her shoulder.

“He’s got a child,” she said pushing back upright in her seat and wrapping her fingers around the neck of her bottle. “No, that’s not the problem”—she shrugged—“well, it is in a sense.” She groaned and covered her face with her hands before lowering them and playing her next domino.

“I love the boy, it’s tragic really, his mom showed up and just dumped him off with Enzo. He didn’t even know about him. Anyway, Liev is the one I told you about finding him hiding in the bears at the store. So I think he’s fine. The problem is that Enzo expects me to babysit his son for him while he’s off racing.”

“Racing?” Her mom took her turn.

“He’s the boat racer.”

“The one from Monte Carlo.” Her dad made that a statement, not a question.

“Yes, that’s the one. His brother and sister-in-law live outside of town. So he came early before a race to visit them and we ran into each other.” She waved it off. “Anyway, I just don’t think it’s right I’m watching his child while he’s out racing. Especially when he’s just learning to be with his son. I’m not a babysitter.”

“No, you’re not. And you talked to him about this?”

“From the very beginning when we started dating. I told him I didn’t care he had a son but I wasn’t going to be his caregiver. At the time he seemed fine, but then it started to change. We went to California for that New Year’s event and all I did it seemed was watch his son. I went to the party on New Year’s Eve, but even then…” She trailed off.

“Have you talked to him about how you feel now?”

“I tried.” That may not be the absolute truth. “Sort of.”

“You know we’ll back you on whatever you choose, but if you truly love this man than you need to sit down and talk it out. See if you can make it work before you stand up, throw in the towel and walk away forever.” Her mother smiled softly.

“I know, but…”

“No buts, Halyn. A relationship is hard work. If you want one that is going to last longer than a minute, you need to put work and effort into it. You don’t get to expect him to be the only one to change. You need to compromise and come to understandings. That’s only going to work if you are willing to let it.” Her mother took her father’s hand and squeezed it.

“I’m not cut out for the flashy lifestyle he lives.”

“Part of what you admired about him had to be what he does.”

“I guess, Mom. I don’t know.” She wanted to hit something, instead she took another drink. “I don’t want to be seen as a babysitter. Sometimes I think he understands, then others, I know I don’t understand him at all.”

“You need to talk to this young man.”

“He is going to want children and I can’t give that to him.”

Her father leant back in his chair. “So now you know what it is he will want? I thought you didn’t understand him.”

“Why wouldn’t he want children? He has one now and he didn’t even get to see him grow up the first few years.” Why was she feeling defensive? “I don’t know many men who don’t want them.”

“Is this because Mila is getting married soon?” her mom asked.

“Is what because…why would her getting married bother me?”

“Just asking.”

She shook her head. “Can we just not talk about this anymore, please?”

“Of course.”

Halyn didn’t miss the look between her parents but thankfully they dropped it.

Later that night while she lay in bed, she thought about what they’d said. Yes, she was jealous that Mila was finally getting hitched. When they were girls, they’d talked about the huge weddings and families they wanted. Now it looked like Mila was getting her fairy tale and she was being left behind. Jealous or not, she was happy for her friend. It had been a long time coming.

She fell asleep with Enzo on her mind and woke with him there too.
On nights when I feel okay, do I dream about sex? No, just fighting with him.
She rolled her eyes at her overly dramatic thoughts.

Once dressed, she took a walk with her father into town and they stopped off at the bakery. It hadn’t changed, and she smiled when they entered. The powerful scents reached her and made her stomach growl.

“Let’s get something,” he whispered.

“Are you sure you can have this?”

“We’ll split a bear claw, how about it? We just can’t tell your mother.” He gave her a conspiratorial grin.

“Okay, you sold me. Grab us a table and I’ll get coffee and the bear claw.”

After they’d finished, they headed to the hardware store to pick up a few items he needed before walking home again.

She was in her room when her mom called out to her. “Halyn, honey. You have a visitor.”

“Be right there, Mom.” Staring at her reflection, she quickly drew her hair back into a ponytail, she didn’t want it in the way while she did a few things around the house for her dad.

Hurrying down the stairs, she almost tripped over the last one when she saw who waited for her. Chris Knight. Her ex-boyfriend, the one she’d imagined herself marrying. Right up until he…

“Hello, Halyn.”

“Chris. What are you doing here?” She walked towards him, amazed that being face to face with him after all that time didn’t make her want to scratch his eyes out or stab him. She was simply apathetic to him.

“I heard you were in town and came to see you.” He smoothed his hands down his pants. “Can we talk?”

“Sure, I have some things to do outside.”

They didn’t speak until she stopped by the shed in the back. “Say your piece, Chris.”

“I know you probably don’t want to hear this, least of all from me, but I came to apologise.”

“You’re right. I don’t want to hear it. But you’re here so you may as well get whatever it is off your chest. You don’t have the power to hurt me now.”

“I know I was an asshole to you and I am sorry. It’s years too late and way overdue but I just didn’t know how to say it.”

She hooked the tool belt on and shrugged. “Okay.”

“Do you have anything to say to me?”

“Not a thing.”

“Can you forgive me?”

“Is that what you need? Forgiveness?”

He rubbed his palms again. “Yes, it would help. I’m trying to get better, Halyn, I down spiralled and hit bottom. You know I drank, it got out of control, part of why I did what I did, and no, it’s not an excuse. I was an ass. That’s all there was to it. But I was that way because I was…am an alcoholic. I’m in a programme, been sober for a year now and am at the step to make amends to you for how poorly I treated you.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. Consider it amended. It was, as you said, a while ago. I have moved on.” Hefting the shingles she was going to patch the roof with, she moved by him. “I wish you the best.”

“Wait, Halyn.” He reached out and took her arm in his hand. She froze and looked at him. He wouldn’t meet her gaze for long. “Sorry.” He stepped back. “I shouldn’t have done that. Could we get some coffee?”

She owed him nothing. Absolutely zero. And yet, she couldn’t help but feel a small bit of sympathy for him. It had to take a lot for him to come to her parents’ house, face them and then her. She glanced at her watch and placed the shingles down before removing her belt.

“Okay, let’s go.”

His smile, reminiscent of the ones he used to give her which made her melt, made her feel good now. She was learning to forgive.

Chapter Twenty-Three

A tall black man opened the door. “Can I help you?”

“I’m looking for Halyn Jennings.”

Dark eyes moved up and down his body. “And you are?”

“Enzo Cassano, sir.”

“Where’s your son?”

He hadn’t expected that question. “My son? Is with my brother.” Was it a good thing or bad that he knew about Liev?

“What are your intentions towards my daughter?”

Behind him, Enzo could see a woman hovering around. Halyn’s mother, that much he could tell. They had similar features and the same wild, kinky natural curls.

“For the moment, I would like to get her somewhere she can’t run from me so we could talk.”

“Do you love her?”

“Yes.”

“You know we fathers are very protective of our children. Especially when we’ve only got one and they’re female. There isn’t anything in this world more important to me than my baby girl. She tells me you live life in the fast lane with your racing.”

That was definitely not a good thing. Enzo shifted and put his hands in his pockets when the woman walked up.

“Invite him in. Don’t keep him outside.”

He removed his hat. “Thank you, ma’am.”

Her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes and he realised she was in mother bear mode.

“I’m Shawna, and this is my husband Greg.”

“Nice to meet you both.” Their house, while not huge, bespoke many years of love. It brimmed with it and he saw where Halyn got her style from.

“Halyn’s not here right now, she’s out in town with a friend. She should be back soon, if you’d care to wait.”

“Thank you for the offer.” It didn’t take a genius to see the dad wasn’t pleased by that.

“You have siblings?”

“Yes, sir. Two brothers and a sister.”

“Family is important to you, then.”

“Very much so.”

Her father grunted and walked to get some coffee. Her mother gave him a tight smile. “We’re very protective of her.”

“I understand that and trust me I have no wish to hurt her. I’m trying to talk to her.”