Heat Wave

He seems stunned. “Never?”


“Never,” I admit. “I mean, I never really thought about it until you told me. It didn’t seem to matter what I did, it’s just that no one seemed to care. And, contrary to popular belief, I did do things that were worthy. At least I thought so. But…no one noticed.”

He doesn’t say anything for a moment. “I’m sorry,” he says, voice throaty as he runs his thumb over my lips. “I’m sorry that no one has ever seen how special, how beautiful you are. You need to know that the moment I saw you…I couldn’t forget you.”

I know I should just take the compliment and move on but I can’t. I stare up at him. “Then why did you marry her? Why did she steal you away from me that day?”

He closes his eyes briefly, breathing out of his nose. “I was a fool.”

“It’s that simple?”

He nods, looking me dead in the eye, washed with regret. “Sometimes there isn’t some elaborate story why two people end up together. I was…dumb. Thinking with my dick.” I grimace. “Sorry. And I bloody hate talking about this, you know. Because…I was blind. I saw your sister and she was beautiful.”

“Thanks.”

“Veronica,” he whispers. “You know more than anyone the ability she had to blind people. You’re a million times more beautiful, gorgeous, real and everything, and I knew that. I knew that when I saw you and I knew that you would take me on a ride. I knew that if I had left that bloody party with you our lives would have been turned upside down. In the best possible way. And I wasn’t ready for that. I was so business-minded. I could only think about the hotel, about getting it off the ground. I was blind to everything else but my ambition. And I saw Juliet and that way she had, that way she tricks people. She made me believe that I would rise to the top with her. And I fell for it. Somehow she fell for me.”

I can’t help but look away.

“You know I don’t like talking about it,” he says. “But it’s the truth. By the time we were married, it was too late. I was in too deep. And little by little, day by day, I started realizing the woman I was married to wasn’t at all like I thought. It was like she was hiding every aspect of herself until she had me and only then she came out. You have no idea, Ronnie, no idea.” He pauses. “I don’t think she was trying to trick me. She wasn’t…duplicitous, like the plumeria flowers. It wasn’t like that. It was just a case of hiding your true colors. She was afraid to be real.”

“Well she was hiding from me too, if that helps.”

“I think she was hiding from everyone. You, me, your mother, your father. I don’t think anyone knew the real Juliet. I don’t even think that prick she was with knew either. She died a mystery. And that’s a shame. But that was on her. The sad thing is, no one ever knows when we’re going to die. So it’s best to live life as open as you can. Juliet thought she was invincible, like we all do sometimes. I’m sure if she knew she’d die young…she would have made amends.” He runs his hands through my hair. I close my eyes. “You want the truth about me and your sister?”

I nod, closing my eyes.

“I loved her.” His words are a fist to my gut. “But I didn’t like her. Does that make sense?”

“Perfect sense,” I whisper.

“Look,” he says to me, leaning in so his nose is brushing against mine. “Sometimes you love someone but you don’t actually like them as a person. Like family, right?”

“Right.”

“I know this is hard to hear…”

I give him a small smile. “It’s not hard to hear. I would just rather not hear it right now.”

“Fair enough,” he says. “How about we save your dish for tomorrow night?”

“Then what’s on the menu tonight?”

He grins. “Do you even have to ask?”

He grabs my hand and hauls me over to the door.

“Wait,” I say, taking my hand out of his and untying my apron. “We can’t just go out there holding hands. Remember? You’re supposed to be an asshole and you’re failing at that.”

He’s still smiling. “I can’t help it.” He clears his throat and slides his hand over his face, his expression changing to stone. He looks burly and wild and fuck I want this man more than anything.

“Better?” he asks, voice low and rough.

“Yeah. In many ways,” I tell him.

“I’m going to head out the door. You do what you need to do. Meet me on the beach.” He pushes open the doors and steps out.

A thrill runs through me as I wait a few moments, hearing him say goodbye to everyone. Who knew sneaking around could be so much fun? I mean, with Erik it was the same idea but it was his idea we keep it a secret, mainly so he could screw other chicks on the side. Thank god I was smart enough to always use a condom with him and then had myself tested a few times after, just to be safe. An STD would have been icing on the cake.