Bachelor Unclaimed (16 page)

Chapter 19

W
inston had pulled the T-shirt over his head as he moved toward the kitchen. Suddenly Charley sounded.
“Visitor on property.”

Winston’s heart kicked up several beats when he paused. Ainsley had left four days ago. Had she returned? “Identify, Charley.”

“The handsomest of you all. York.”

Winston rolled his eyes. Of course York had programmed Charley to announce him that way. Switching his direction, Winston moved toward the front door. He didn’t have to wonder what had brought York to his doorstep. Winston hadn’t been in the mood to take calls since Ainsley had left Barrett Shores and York was checking to see if he was alive or dead.

He was alive but inside he felt dead.

He opened the door and paused in the doorway, watching York get out of the car. Four days ago he had stood in this same spot and watched Ainsley get into her car and drive off the island forever. And that was the day a part of him had died inside.

Perhaps he should have told her how he felt. But what would that have accomplished if she didn’t love him back? Besides, that call was giving her a chance to fulfill her dream and he couldn’t stand in her way. He would never stand in her way. She wanted to be mayor of Claxton and now she would be.

He looked past York to the ocean while thinking that he would be the first to admit that those weeks Ainsley had spent here on the island with him had been the best days of his life. And he would always believe they’d forged a connection that had gone far beyond the bedroom.

“You look like hell.”

He raised a brow at York’s observation. So, okay, he hadn’t shaved in a few days. But he had showered, brushed his teeth, combed his hair and put on clean clothes. So where was York going with this?

“Good seeing you, too, York.”

York reached him, came to a stop, searched his face and frowned. “The hairy look doesn’t become you.”

“What brings you this way?” he asked, ignoring York’s comment.

“You know what brings me this way. You weren’t answering your phone and you know our agreement.”

Yes, he knew their agreement. They stayed in touch and if one deliberately went out of the loop there had to be a reason. “As you can see, I’m fine,” Winston said.

“Uh-huh.” York walked past him into the house. “Hello, Charley.”

“Hello, magnificent one.”

York smiled. “Smart security system you have.”

“Whatever.”

York slowly glanced around, with that always-on-the-alert look on his face. He brought his gaze back to Winston. “Why do you look like hell, W, and why is this place drenched with the scent of a woman?”

* * *

“We need you to make a decision, Ainsley. Do you want to run for mayor or not?”

In a conference room at city hall, Ainsley glanced around at the six men and three women sitting at the huge table. She had arrived in town four days ago and they’d been certain she was ready to run on the ballot uncontested. A part of her had thought the same thing. But then she’d surprised the council by saying she needed time to think about it. One of the members, Madeline McCray, had even asked what there was to think about.

It was time she told them, as well as the decision she’d made.

“From the time I was a child growing up here in Claxton,” she began saying, “I wanted to follow in the footsteps of the first Ainsley St. James and be this city’s mayor. To work hard for every single person living here.”

She paused a moment and then continued, “I thought my time had come when I threw my hat into the ring. I was convinced this was the job for me, that my town needed me. I had great ideas for moving Claxton forward, bringing in change everyone could agree with and working with all the townspeople to retain those small-town values we all love. But then, in stepped my opponent and all of you stopped believing in me and began believing lies about me that his campaign fabricated. Some of you even approached me about dropping out of the race to give him an uncontested win.” She noticed the look of shame on a couple faces and in a way was glad for that.

“But we found out what he accused you of wasn’t true,” Madeline McCray said. “Last week I went to that club in New York myself and spoke to the owner. He remembered you, said what a hard worker you were and verified that you hadn’t been a stripper but a dancer.”

Ainsley stared at the woman. “You went to New York and talked to my former boss?”

“Yes,” Madeline said smiling. “After what happened with Luis, this town didn’t need another scandal on our hands, so we had to be absolutely certain of exactly what you did while working at that club.”

“I told all of you what I did, but you still didn’t believe me?” Ainsley asked calmly, refusing to let them disappoint her anymore. She looked down for a minute, studied her entwined hands and remembered what Winston had once told her.
When someone believes in you, there’s no need for further doubt.

Ainsley lifted her head and glanced around the room into the faces of people she had known all her life. They hadn’t believed in her...but Winston had. Without any doubt she knew her decision was the right one for her.

“I suggest you look to see if someone else is interested in being your mayor.” There was shocked silence around the table but at the moment Ainsley couldn’t have cared less about their reaction.

“And you aren’t interested?” Marv Lattimore asked while a number of council members exchanged stunned glances.

“Not anymore. The fact that you all still felt the need to check out my story even though I said it wasn’t true lets me know you just don’t fully believe in me.” Ainsley stood. “In that case, I’m not going to be the right person to lead this city. And I wish you all the best in your selection process. I’m sure there’s a candidate you’ll believe in out there.”

She then turned and walked out of the room.

* * *

“If you think you can stare me away, forget it,” York said, easing down in the chair opposite from Winston who hadn’t stopped glaring at his godbrother since he’d arrived. “So get it out. Who is she?”

Winston didn’t say anything for a moment and then leaned back on the sofa, switching his gaze off York to look out the window. “Doesn’t matter anymore.”

“You look like shit, so I think it does.”

It was on the tip of Winston’s tongue to say he only looked like he felt. He turned back to York who raised a brow in what Winston recognized as a stand-off challenge. This particular godbrother could be a pain in the ass when there was something he wanted to know, which made Winston pity anyone who’d come up against York during his NYPD days.

“Her name was Ainsley St. James and she interviewed me for
The New York Times
.” He watched York’s sharp dark eyes show signs of surprise and understood. He’d never allowed himself to be interviewed before.

“And...”

He should have known York was not going to let that be the end of it. So he decided to be completely honest. “And I became totally whipped.”

If he expected amusement, he didn’t get it. Instead York leaned forward with a serious expression on his face. “I think you need to start from the beginning.”

Winston wasn’t sure why he began talking, telling York everything. Maybe he needed to relive the moments for himself to make sure they had happened or maybe because hearing it allowed him a chance to treasure what had been and to accept what he now felt.

“And you let her walk away?” York asked when he’d finished.

Winston rubbed his hand down his face. “What else was I supposed to do?”

“Tell her how you felt.”

“Why? It would not have changed anything.”

“You don’t know that.”

York was right, he didn’t. But he had refused to take the chance of getting hurt all over again. “Doesn’t matter. I’ve made plans.”

York lifted a brow. “What sort of plans?”

“I got a call yesterday. I’ve been offered the opportunity to set up a marine sanctuary on the Great Barrier Reef for the next three years. So maybe things worked out between us as they should have.”

Even while he’d said the words, pain had stabbed deep at his heart because he knew that no matter where he went or what he did, Ainsley had made herself a permanent part of his existence and he wasn’t going to forget her that easily.

“I see,” York muttered breaking into his thoughts. “I’ve never known you to be a quitter, W.”

Winston chuckled derisively. “And you’ve never known me to be whipped, either, so that goes to show that strange things can happen,” he said, his mouth forming into a grim line.

Winston stood. “I’m about to have lunch and you’re welcome to join me, but the subject of Ainsley St. James is a closed subject from here on out.”

Not waiting for York to make a comment, he walked off toward the kitchen.

* * *

A week later Ainsley was back in New York and joining Tessa for dinner as they celebrated her return.

“So what are your plans now?” Tessa asked as she took a sip of her wine.

Ainsley smiled over at her friend and saw her worried expression and felt the need to assure her that everything would be fine. “I got a call from Bobby a couple days ago and everything’s final. Not only do I get back my old job but I’ll be writing the column again in three months. The big brass liked the article I did on Winston which comes out in Sunday’s paper.”

Ainsley took a sip of her own wine and inwardly prepared herself for the question she knew Tessa would ask. She had eventually told her best friend everything. How she had fallen madly in love with Winston and knowing her love wouldn’t be reciprocated, how she had left Barrett Shores after getting Marv Lattimore’s call with the intent of not looking back. She’d had so much disappointment in her life lately, she didn’t need anymore.

“And you haven’t changed your mind about not reconnecting with Winston Coltrane?”

“Nope, it’s for the best.”

“You know I don’t agree with you about that,” Tessa said. “You let me read the draft of that article. Winston Coltrane is a very private man, yet he allowed you to spend time with him and get to know him as few people would.”

She waved off Tessa’s words. “It was only about sex...for him.”

“How can you be so sure? What are you waiting for? Some sort of sign indicating otherwise?”

Ainsley chuckled. “A sign would be nice, but I’m not holding my breath for one. I can’t live in the past. I have to move on. If nothing else, losing that election has taught me not to assume anything. Had Winston wanted me to stay, he would have said so.”

Wanting to change the subject, Ainsley began talking about some of the decorating ideas she’d considered now that she’d moved back into her apartment.

In the middle of her explanation, Tessa interrupted her. “Don’t you dare turn around now, but three of the most handsome guys I’ve ever seen just walked in.” Seconds later Tessa’s lips formed a disappointed frown. “Forget it. They’re all wearing wedding bands.”

Ainsley nodded. Not that she was interested, no matter how good they looked. When they stepped in her line of vision as the waiter led them to their table across from hers, she couldn’t help but agree with Tessa. They looked good. She didn’t want to stare but something about them—all three of them—was familiar. She was certain she would have remembered them if they’d met. So where...?

It hit her when one of the men noticed her staring and glanced at her with an intense look on his face. That intense look gave him away because she’d seen it before—on the framed photograph hanging on the wall in Winston’s lab. There was no doubt in her mind that these men were three of Winston’s five godbrothers. She nervously broke eye contact with the man and took a sip of her wine, wishing it was something stronger.

“You okay?” Tessa asked her.

She swallowed and glanced over at her friend. “Yes, why do you ask?”

“Because you were staring at that guy and he was staring back. Do you know him?”

Ainsley nervously placed down her glass. She might have recognized him but she was certain he didn’t know her. “No, I don’t know him personally but I’ve seen a picture of him as well as the other two.”

Tessa lifted an arched brow. “You have? Where?”

“Winston’s place. They’re his godbrothers. He has five of them.”

“Five?”

“Yes, it’s a long story.”

“I can’t wait to hear it. And you’re sure that guy doesn’t know you, because he’s still looking. He whispered something to the other two and now all of them are staring at you.”

Ainsley hoped Tessa was wrong. She was certain those men didn’t know her.

“Uh-oh,” Tessa said with barely moving lips. “I hate to tell you this but that man—the one who was staring you down—has gotten up and is headed this way. And you’re sure the two of you have never met?”

“Positive.”

Seconds later she held her breath when the man stopped at their table. She looked at him and he stood there, staring at her with that same intense look. She cleared her throat. “Yes, may I help you?”

“Evening, ladies. I apologize for disturbing your meal,” he said. He then turned his full attention to Ainsley. “But I was wondering if perhaps your name is Ainsley St. James?”

Chapter 20

“A
nd just who wants to know?” Tessa answered curtly before Ainsley could get a word out.

The man switched his gaze to Tessa and gave her an indulging smile. “I do. I’m York Ellis,” he said presenting his hand to Tessa.

Ainsley saw her friend softening under the man’s smile. “And I’m Tessa Spencer.”

“Nice meeting you, Tessa.” He then turned his attention back to Ainsley.

Wondering how he knew who she was, she offered the man her hand. “Yes, I’m Ainsley St. James. You’re one of Winston’s godbrothers. He has a picture of you guys on the wall in his lab. We’ve never met so how did you recognize me?”

“From a picture, as well.”

At the lifting of her brow, he added, “On his refrigerator. It was taken of you on the beach.”

Ainsley’s stomach tightened and she picked up her wine to take another sip. She remembered the day Winston had taken that picture during the last week of her stay on Barrett Shores. They had spent an entire day on the beach and she’d been wearing a very provocative bikini. She’d been stretched out on a beach towel and he’d called her name. When she had glanced up he had snapped the picture on his iPhone. She hadn’t known he had even downloaded it. And he had placed it on his refrigerator? More sensations flipped her stomach at the thought of what that could mean.

“I’m surprised to see you in New York,” York said interrupting her thoughts.

She glanced back at York. “Where else would I be? I live here.”

He shrugged his massive shoulders. “Winston mentioned you had become mayor of some town in Jersey.”

She reached out for her glass. “I turned the town down.”

“Does Winston know that?”

No,
she wanted to scream.
Mainly because he wouldn’t care one way or the other. It wasn’t that sort of relationship
. “Probably not,” she heard herself say. “I haven’t spoken to him since I left Barrett Shores.”

“Well, I can remedy that,” York said smiling. “Just so happens Winston is arriving in town later today to attend the anniversary party for me and my wife tonight. I’d like to invite you.” He shifted his gaze over to Tessa. “The both of you.”

Ainsley was surprised by the invitation. First of all, she didn’t really know the honorees so she would feel out of place, and second, she didn’t feel comfortable going to a party Winston would be attending. Why on earth would York think he would want her there?

“Thanks for the invitation, but I already have a date tonight,” she heard Tessa say.

Ainsley released an inward sigh of relief. If Tessa couldn’t make it, that meant she certainly wouldn’t go. There was no way she would show up by herself.

York evidently thought otherwise. “Sorry to hear that, Tessa, but I’m hoping you will still come, Ainsley. Winston will be glad to see you.”

She wondered how he assumed that. “Thanks for the invite but I can’t come to the party. I won’t know a living soul there. And it would be awkward, especially if Winston brings a date.”

York chuckled. “We’re a friendly group and you won’t have to worry about Winston bringing a date. He never does.”

“That’s all the reason I shouldn’t attend. He might not want me there.”

“He’ll want you there, trust me.”

Ainsley nervously nibbled on her bottom lip. She wanted to trust York, although she really didn’t know him. The only thing she knew was that he was like a brother to the man she had fallen in love with.

She glanced over at Tessa and her best friend smiled and then placed a hand on hers. “This sounds like the sign we were talking about earlier, Ainsley. Go for it. What do you have to lose?”

If only you knew...
She glanced back up at York, her decision made, and she hoped it was the right one. She
would
go for it. “All right. Please give me the address of the party.”

York’s smile widened. “It will be in my home and I’ll send a car for you around six. I just need your address.”

Ainsley gave it to him. “Thanks, and if you don’t mind, I’d like to introduce you to two of my godbrothers who’re in town for tonight’s affair, Uriel Lassiter and Xavier Kane,” York said smiling.

“All right.”

She watched as he motioned for the other guys to come over and at that moment, she couldn’t help wondering if perhaps she’d made a mistake in agreeing to attend that party.

* * *

“So what have you been up to, W?” Virgil Bougard asked, taking a sip of his wine.

Winston knew Virgil would be the last person to whom he could tell what he’d been doing. He’d probably freak out to know Winston had joined the “whipped” team. Only difference was that U, X and Y had managed to snag the women who’d captured their hearts but he’d let his ladylove get away. He wondered how she was doing as mayor of a town that, as far as he was concerned, didn’t deserve her loyalty.

“W?”

He blinked, realizing he hadn’t answered V’s question. “Busy as usual but I did take time out to do that interview with
The New York Times
.”

“And how did that turn out?”

“Okay. The article will appear in tomorrow’s paper.” When Zion and Uriel walked up, he told them of his plans to move to Australia to work for the next three years.

“Man, that’s great and I know for you it’s a dream come true,” Uriel said smiling. “Congratulations.”

Zion and Virgil offered congrats, as well. “I suggest we split this party early,” Virgil said, his eyes gleaming with mischief. “There’s a gentlemen’s club not far from here and tonight is when strippers are featured for entertainment...if you know what I mean.” He then glanced over at Uriel. “Sorry, you can’t join us, with you being happily married and all,” he said with a grin.

Winston took another sip of his drink. He might be leaving the party early but he wouldn’t be going to see any woman strip off her clothes. The last thing he wanted was to think about making love to any woman other than Ainsley.

He was about to ask Zion how he liked being back in the States when Virgil let out a low whistle. “Um, I take that suggestion back. I think I’m going to hang around to get to know that woman who just walked in.”

“No, bro, you’re going to have to stand in line behind me,” Zion said chuckling.

Not even curiosity made Winston look over his shoulder at the woman his two godbrothers were fixated with. Instead he said, “I need some fresh air. I’ll be out on the balcony.” He then walked off.

* * *

“Hello, you must be Ainsley. I’m Darcy Ellis, York’s wife,” the woman who opened the door said smiling.

“Yes, I’m Ainsley and I appreciate the invitation.”

“The pleasure is mine and York’s,” Darcy said. “Let me take your coat.”

Ainsley handed Darcy her coat and a waiter was there to take it away. “That’s a beautiful outfit, Ainsley.”

“Thank you, and you have a beautiful home.”

“Thanks. York had a bachelor pad and I owned a place half this size so we decided to purchase something of our own that would fit both our needs,” Darcy said smiling.

Ainsley released a deep sigh. All the way over she had struggled with the temptation of asking the driver to turn around and take her back home. She had so many “what ifs” to deal with. What if Winston had brought a date after all? What if he got upset at seeing her here among people he considered as family and friends? What if the people weren’t as friendly as York had claimed they would be?

She knew at least she could dispel her fears of the latter when the gorgeous woman smiled brightly at her and tucked her arm in hers as she led her away from the door.

“Any friend of Winston’s is a friend of ours. We’re all family,” Darcy said.

Ainsley could see that as they came to a stop in front of two other women. “You probably got the chance to meet the two guys who were with York earlier today,” Darcy was saying. “Now I want to introduce you to the women who have to put up with them,” she said jokingly.

“Hi, I’m Ellie Lassiter,” an attractive woman smiled and said.

“And I’m Farrah Kane,” the other attractive woman said. “I just love that dress. Winston is going to love it, too, when he sees you in it.”

Ainsley hoped so. As soon as she and Tessa had left the restaurant, they had gone shopping. Ainsley had known this dress was hers the moment she’d seen it. Winston had said he liked seeing her legs. Well, she hoped nothing had changed because she was wearing a red sleeveless mini-dress with ruffles at the hem and a black belt that emphasize her small waist.

“Ainsley, glad you made it,” York said smiling as he came up to join them.

She returned his smile. “Thanks for sending the car for me.”

“No problem,” he said glancing around. “Winston was here a few minutes ago. I wonder where he’s taken off to?”

“He’s stepped out on the balcony,” Uriel said as he and Xavier also came to join the group. “But I’m sure he’ll be glad to know you’re here,” he added.

Ainsley wondered why he was so convinced that Winston wouldn’t have a cow when he saw her. At that moment five other men joined them.

“Aren’t you going to introduce us to your friend, Darcy?” the one Ainsley knew to be Virgil asked.

Darcy shook her head. “You guys are bad. You all have radar that beeps at the sight of a beautiful woman,” she admonished.

Ignoring the comment, York leaned over to Ainsley and whispered for her ear only, “I’ll let Winston know you’re here.”

He then walked off as Darcy began making introductions. Two of the men Ainsley remembered from the photograph on the wall in Winston’s lab. Winston’s godbrothers. She wanted to pinch herself at the thought that she was in the same room with Zion Blackstone, the world-famous jeweler. The other three men were brothers from Phoenix—Tyson, Mercury and Gannon Steele.

She couldn’t help but smile as they tried flirting with her. But the one man she wanted to see was nowhere in sight.

* * *

Winston stood on the balcony and looked out into the night. York and Darcy owned a brownstone on the Upper East Side of Manhattan—a ritzy area near Central Park and the Metropolitan Museum of the Art. It was the second week in February. The temperature was twenty degrees and snow was predicted for the coming week, yet he barely felt the cold. His thoughts were focused on the memories he hadn’t yet let go of, memories of the days Ainsley had spent with him on Barrett Shores.

Even now he could vividly remember those late nights and early morning hours when they would make love to the point of exhaustion. And how they would share breakfast together, walks on the beach and dinner, and then how she would dance for him in those intensely private moments they had. He was convinced it was when she had been dancing for him that he’d realized just how much he loved her. And later that same night while making love, he had reached the conclusion that he didn’t want her just as a sex partner, but that he wanted Ainsley as a life partner, to share his life forever.

So why are you standing out here in the cold while she’s tucked somewhere in the warmth enjoying her role as Madam Mayor of Claxton, New Jersey? Didn’t she deserve to know that those days and nights meant something to you? Shouldn’t she be the one to decide how she wanted her future to pan out? Why did you make the decision for her? What if she would have decided a life with you was worth more than a life as a mayor? What if...

He drew in a deep breath, tired of wondering and not really knowing. They had shared an intense affair and it was during some of those times that he’d felt so connected to her that he was certain she had felt the same emotions for him as he was feeling for her. But they’d never talked about a future, never discussed anything beyond what they’d been sharing on his island. Maybe they should have. Was it too late?

He glanced at his watch. As far as tonight was concerned, it was too late to even call her. But come morning, he would drive to Claxton and they would talk and—

“Any reason you’re out here alone, W?”

He turned to York. “Needed a breath of fresh air.”

“Well, you’re needed back inside.”

Winston raised a brow. “Why?”

“A newcomer to the party, a woman who’s a real looker. Virgil and Zion, not to mention those bad news Steele brothers, are all over her. Not giving her breathing room and making passes right and left.”

“And just what do you want me to do about it?”

“Take her off their hands. They’re crowding her and I think she’s someone you’d want to spend time with.”

Winston turned away and looked off in the distance. “You’re wrong.” He turned back to York. “Although it almost killed me to do so, I leveled with you, man, about something I needed to admit. I knew either you, X or U would understand.”

“I did. I understood more than you know,” York said in a low tone, placing his hands in his pockets and looking at Winston with an intense expression on his face.

Winston’s visage darkened. “No, I don’t think you did. If you had, then you wouldn’t be trying to shove another woman my way this soon,” he said in a curt tone, his anger rising.

York squared his shoulders. “Like I said, I understood more than you know...which is why the woman was invited when I ran into her earlier today.”

York paused a second then added, “And did I happen to mention her name is Ainsley? Ainsley St. James?”

The glass of wine Winston brought up to his lips froze in its path. “Ainsley?
My
Ainsley?” he asked in an incredulous tone.

York shrugged. “It’s the same woman whose picture I saw on your refrigerator when you asked me to get out the lemonade that day. I ran into her at a restaurant in Manhattan today and invited her to the party. As far as her being
your
Ainsley, the jury is still out on that, especially since V and Z, along with the brothers Tyson, Mercury and Gannon Steele are in there vying for her attention.”

Before York could finished what he was saying Winston shoved the wine glass in his hand and walked swiftly toward the French doors.

* * *

“And you’ve never been to Phoenix?” the man who’d been introduced as Tyson Steele was asking her.

Ainsley shook her head smiling. He was handsome as sin. In fact all five men who were shamelessly flirting with her were. But as far as she was concerned, none had anything on the one man who held her heart. Uriel said he’d headed to the balcony. Had he seen her and gone out there to avoid her? “That’s right. I’ve never been to Phoenix,” she said, taking another sip of her wine.