Echoes Of The Past (Fermosa Bay #1) (5 page)

“Nah, only big firms fighting each other.”

“How did that go down with your family?”

“Dad wasn’t exactly thrilled, but I made myself a name, and he gave me a small office in his firm. The more successful I became, the bigger my next office turned out to be.” He lifted his shoulder in a shrug. “And Mum’s just happy her little boy makes money.”

“Did Jack tell you about what happened?”

Letting go of her hand, he leaned back. “Okay, enough of me. Your turn.”

It took her a moment to understand. She stood and walked to the back of the apartment to retrieve the photo. Not only was the photo part of her past, but she needed to put some space between them. Connor holding her hand had caused her body to go into a sensual meltdown, and she wasn’t able to think.

The stress of the day had diminished, but with Connor so close, and even touching her, getting under her skin, her peace of mind was rattled, and feelings she’d thought for so long had been her imagination were suddenly real.

Closing her eyes, she took a long, deep breath before returning outside.

***

Connor stared at Emily as she stood and disappeared into the house. Not sure what to do, he leaned back into the seat and took in the state of her backyard. With a smile, he noted she was clearly not a gardener. There were many plants to decorate the yard, but all together seemed like a big gardening mess. Sipping his wine, he tried to listen to the environment. Even from this distance to the ocean, he was still able to hear the sound of the water. And the birds. It was all so peaceful, and he started to like it. More than he had intended to, because after all, in twelve months he was supposed to return to London.

But with his like-o-meter creeping up each day a wee bit, he knew he’d be in trouble.

He thought of Emily. Damn, he liked her. Literally everything, from her sexy looks, sassy replies, love of life, to her caring nature. It’d been years, if ever, that he’d felt so comfortable in someone’s company.

Harriett came to his mind.

Closing his eyes, he tried to recall her image in his mind. They’d been in a steady relationship for almost a year until she’d cheated on him. He’d felt more disappointment than anger and had known then that it’d hadn’t been right. They’d both spent too much time on their careers than together. She’d needed him more than he’d needed her.

His eyes flew open when he heard Emily’s steps coming closer. When she stood next to him, she held up a photo.

“Have a look. I found this the other day.”

The photo showed five young children near the water with their boogie boards. He chuckled. “The Fermosa Bay gang, I suppose.”

Moving the chair, she sat next to him and the sudden nearness stirred something inside him. Her soft scent didn’t go unnoticed. Neither did her soft breath against his skin.

“This is Ethan, Skye, Niall, me, and I hope you recognise yourself.”

He looked at her, but she ignored him. “Ethan’s little boy just looks like him when he was young. Has the same temperament as well.” She laughed. “Thank God, ’cos Skye turned out to be a little handful.”

Her eyes didn’t give much away, but the expression on her face had changed.

“What happened?” he asked.

Leaning back into her chair she said, “Ethan’s not big on talking about it. I think the gist of it was we were in Sydney for a big cricket game. Jack had organised the tickets. While we watched the game, Skye explored the city. I had a big fight with her that night, accusing her of wasting Jack’s good money. She didn’t want a bar of it and left the hotel room. Ethan went with her to keep an eye on her.” She closed her eyes. “Apparently they got so drunk that night the only proof of their one-night stand is Nicholas.”

“Where’s she now?”

“Somewhere in Queensland,” she replied with a snort.

“Does he hold any regrets?”

She didn’t say anything for a long moment. “I suppose he’s got many, but not ending up having Nicholas. He sure loves his boy. There’s no doubt about it. We all love him.”

She opened her eyes and met his gaze. A jolt went right through him when he realised how much he liked her. More than liked, how much he wanted her. He’d never met anyone like her before. Honest, impulsive, loyal, and it seemed a little stubborn as well.

“That reminds me, I put your name down for the Christmas concert.” Placing a hand on his arm, she added, “And we need to put up Jack’s Christmas tree. He’s such a stubborn bugger saying he won’t be around for—”

His gaze travelled to her lips as she spoke, and the next thing he knew, he kissed her. He pulled back from the kiss and said, “Not sure what made me do it,” but kissed her again. Emotion flooded through him so pure and intense that he felt lightheaded.

A thumping heartbeat later, she broke the kiss, looking flushed and startled. He didn’t blame her, he was surprised as well.

She stared at him, but he wasn’t able to read her expression to know whether she was angry or not.

“I must say you have improved on the kissing front,” she finally whispered.

Choking back a laugh, he traced her chin with his finger. He couldn’t help himself; he needed to touch her.

She tilted her head and said more into the distance than to him, “I know why I’m giddy when you’re touching me, but I’m not so sure where that kiss came from. You wouldn’t take advantage of my crush on you to make your stay here more interesting, would you?”

He frowned. “Is that what you think of me? In need for some distraction?”

Everything inside told him to leave as he stood and stepped to the railing. For a moment he lost himself in the beauty of the sunset. No wonder Emily was so adamant in not wanting to move anywhere else. The colours were spectacular, clean and magic, no dust or fumes interfering with Mother Nature’s gift.

The soft steps told him she came up beside him. He turned and placed a finger under her chin, pushing it up to meet his gaze. Her green eyes were beautiful, expressing the innocence of a woman growing up in a protected environment amongst friends like Jack and Ethan.

“I know we’re on different platforms here. You’re dealing with the fact that your childhood sweetheart is back and turned into someone who’s not what you imagined him to be.”

She laughed. “Just to make sure, we’re talking about you, right?”

He chuckled, but then said, “I’m dealing with an attractive woman who makes me laugh and who I feel comfortable around. I can be myself, not someone coming from a rich family with a few pounds in the bank account.” He shook his head. “I’d never use you, Emily.”

Her dark green eyes looked up at him from underneath her long eyelashes.

“It’s something new for me to be attracted to someone within such a short time,” he said, “but hey, apparently I kissed you twenty years ago. There must be something about you that I cannot resist.”

Her brows shot up. “What do you mean
apparently
?”

He smiled as he slid his hand to the nape of her neck and, placing the other around her waist, gently pulled her closer. Tenderly, he kissed one side of her mouth and then the other, before he slowly licked her lower lip with his tongue.

He sighed and said, “I’d better go before I get carried away.”

What he didn’t expect was Emily placing her hands on his chest, causing a wave of lust to rush over him. Rising to her toes, she touched his lips with hers and whispered, “Please let me have a happy ending to my crush.”

Looking away for a moment, considering the consequences of his decision, he closed his eyes and tried to sort this feeling inside him. He’d no intentions to have sex with Emily because she wanted something that she’d created in her head. It’d end in trouble, not only for him, but for her as well. The burst bubble would haunt her for the rest of her life.

Yet, there was something inside him he couldn’t ignore. Something which wasn’t simply lust. It was more. So much more. He liked Emily and felt completely at home around her. The safe harbour.

Hesitating, he opened his eyes and stared right into hers. Her smile so beautiful, hoping for him to make a decision. The right decision, whichever way
right
was.

And then he leaned in for another kiss, yet this one was deep and wanting. The taste of her, the sound of her little moan was the final straw, and he broke the kiss, took her hand, and gently tugged her into the house.

“Where’s the bedroom?” he heard himself asking.

When there was no answer, he looked over his shoulder. Emily blushed, pointing down the hall.

“You want this, right?”

She nodded.

“What’s with the red cheeks and the silence?”

A coy smile spread across her face, and with a shrug of her shoulder, she replied, “I’m nervous, I guess.”

He cocked a brow.

“I don’t know. I mean. After all these years, you arrived last week, and now we’re—”

Connor let go of her hand and cupped her face. “Sunshine, I don’t…this is not…” Letting out a long breath, he leaned his forehead against hers. “I’m not the seven-year-old Connor anymore.”

She laughed. “I most certainly hope not.”

Caressing her cheeks with his thumbs, he said, “I’m not having sex with you. I don’t do one-night stands, but I need you to know, there’s no
us
at the end of this story of yours. My life is in London.”

As soon as he’d spoken the words, he closed his eyes, wondering whether he’d said them for her sake or his own. Yes, his life was in London, but within only a week, he’d had so many occasions where he’d felt envy for Jack, Ethan, and her life here in Fermosa.

Had it just been a matter of novelty?

“I know,” she finally whispered, and his eyes flew open. “I know,” she repeated as she brushed his lips with hers.

They moved into her bedroom, and the corners of his mouth twitched in the attempt to hold back a smile when he took in the chaos.

“Ignore it,” she pleaded.

He laughed. “Doing my best.”

Resting against his chest, she murmured, “Connor, it’s been a while.”

It took him a moment to understand and although he was surprised at her honesty, it fit into the picture he had of her.

Nodding, he pulled her even closer, kissed her lips, her jaw, left a trail of kisses along her neck…and stopped to let out a long sigh.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, her voice mirroring the tension she probably felt.

Looking down at his feet, he replied, “I’m good, but even I have to say no when it comes to two females. One at a time, please.”

Boomer had followed them into the room and was happily purring as she rubbed against his legs.

Emily burst into laughter, giggled a
sorry
as he scooped up the cat, took her outside of the bedroom, and quickly closed the door behind them.

Stepping closer to her, he hooked his finger into the top of her dress and gently pulled her closer. “Let’s work on this happy ending.”

Chapter Four

When Emily woke the next morning, she turned and found Connor lying next to her on his stomach, with his hand possessively draped around her waist and their legs entwined. When she met his gaze, a smile appeared on his face, and he pulled her closer towards him as he rolled to his side. She loved it, and even more so, she appreciated he was still in her bed.

Making love to him had been more than she’d ever expected in her wildest dreams. The moment he’d opened the door for her a few days earlier, all her feelings had come up within her. Despite telling herself that she’d created a fantasy by thinking she’d loved him, and always had, the moment he’d stood in front of her that day, her whole body had reacted. Of course, she’d momentarily been disappointed that he hadn’t remembered her, but the Connor she’d known as a seven-year-old boy had grown into a sexy and handsome man. She’d cursed herself over the next few days for being so naïve, thinking about him non-stop, nursing a childhood crush, but then he’d taken her into his arms at the beach. The simple kiss on her forehead had nearly melted her into a puddle.

Last night, he’d been so gentle and sweet, so careful, yet demanding, her heart had about exploded. She’d hardly been able to contain all her feelings for him, and had fallen in love with him all over again.

Or more accurately, fallen in love with the adult Connor.

She only wished she knew how he felt about her.

Carefully, she placed her finger on his face, traced his lips, his eyebrows, and the little scar he still had from falling all those years ago.

“Good morning,” he whispered as he pulled her even closer. His breath caressed her skin and she’d never thought the
morning after
could be so erotic, so sensual.

“Morning,” she replied with a smile. A smile she believed she wouldn’t be able to take off her face for the next few months.

He checked the time on his watch. “Need to go to work?”

Burying her head into his neck, she replied, “One more minute of this.”

His laugh was music to her ears, but what he did then was even more enjoyable. He kissed her forehead, then around the corner of her eye, before he brushed his lips on her ears.

“How about I’ll help you get ready?” he asked softly, his breath teasing her sanity.

Curious, she looked up, seeing a broad grin spreading across his face. He picked her up with a quick move, ignored her shrieks, and carried her to the bathroom. Connor opened the shower stall, started the warm water, and gently backed her into the spray. The water felt like silk on her skin. Biting her lip, she watched him as he took the soap and started tenderly lathering her entire body, kissing her along the way. With the water cascading down their bodies, he then cupped her bum, picked her up, and made love to her again. It was one of the most sensual experiences in Emily’s life.

Afterwards, he dried her off, and it made her want him even more.

Hovering just above her lips, he said, “We’d better stop, otherwise you’ll never get to work.”

She nodded with a sigh.

They got dressed, and while she headed back to the bathroom to fix up her hair, she heard him in the kitchen. In the distance, she heard him talking to Boomer which made her laugh as she remembered his comment:
One female at a time.

He stuck his head into the bedroom, holding up a can of cat food. “Is that for your kitty cat?”

She nodded, and he disappeared again.

A couple of minutes later, she joined him in the kitchen, finding him opening and closing cupboards.

“Can I help you?”

He didn’t turn, but simply said, “Coffee?”

“Sorry, no coffee in this house.”

Connor turned and gave her a sad look. She bit her lip.

“No coffee?”

The way he stood there, shoulders sagged, eyes wide open in disbelieve, she nearly burst into laughter, but held back and simply shook her head.

Dragging a hand through his hair, he asked, “How do you survive?”

She blushed.

“Not one of the talkative ones in the morning, are you?”

“I love my tea.” Then she whispered, “Who needs coffee after a night like this anyway?”

He laughed and pulled her in for another kiss. When he put some distance between them, he whispered against her ear, “You really need to go. Lunch, which is yesterday’s leftover, is over there.”

He leaned back and pointed to the table.

“Hey, thank you,” she said as she placed a kiss on his cheek. “I’ll have you stay here any time.”

Giving her a slow nod, he said, “I might just do that.”

Then he left, leaving her with doubts that she still lived in the past and would end up hurt.

But all she wanted was to enjoy the little time, however long he’d stay in Fermosa Bay, with him. Finally be with him. Let them call her a dreamer; she couldn’t care less.

***

All the way back to Jack’s house, Connor couldn’t help but think about Emily and the way her body had made him feel. Although he knew it wasn’t fair, he thought of Harriet and how sex had been so straightforward. Like a duty in a relationship. With Emily he’d had fun, they’d laughed, explored, and pleased.

He wondered, though, whether she was a fling to him while he was here. Or on the flip side, was he the childhood crush she had to get out of her head?

Somewhere along the way, he’d started thinking about her as more than only a fling. Within that last week, she’d caught his heart, and he wasn’t able to let go either.

He parked Jack’s car and went into the house.

“Good morning, Son.” Jack’s voice echoed from the kitchen. “Just in time for coffee.”

A smile tugged on Connor’s lips as he headed towards the kitchen. Jack studied him, and a slow smile spread across his face.

“It seems you’ve inherited your mother’s charm. Just don’t hurt little Emmy.”

Connor wasn’t sure what to think when he heard Jack using a nickname for Emily. Obviously, Emily was more important to the old man than he let show.

“I…”

Jack held up his hand. “Your business, not mine.”

Connor poured himself some coffee and sat opposite his father. “Jack, why did you ask me to come here?”

There was a long sigh followed by some coughing. Connor helped himself to some milk and sugar.

“When you and your mother left, and yes…she took you away from me, apparently life at the coast was too dangerous…”

Connor instinctively touched his scar. “The fall by the rocks?”

The old man nodded. “It was the perfect excuse for her.” He stood and walked over to the window, leaning on the bench with both hands, his shoulders hunched. He looked even older than he already had. “We both knew the previous couple of years had been a lie. She had lovers in Melbourne, and I wasn’t able to afford the life she craved. So she left.” Shaking his head, he continued. “Gone the next morning. With you. I never expected that. Not in a million years. The following weeks, I spent most of my time in Melbourne looking for you. Hotels, airport, small bed and breakfast places, even hospitals. You two had vanished like dust.”

He turned to look at Connor. “I hated her for taking my son. I worried myself sick, and I was hospitalised six months later with a heart attack. But people in Fermosa Bay cared and rallied behind me to help out. I put all my efforts into building six hotels along the coast. Doing even better since Ethan has taken over the business side of things, and Niall—” He sat back down again. “It’s time to organise the will so I can sleep in peace.”

“Jack—”

The old man held up his hand. “I know you don’t need my money. Most of the assets and cash will go to Ethan and Niall for the obvious reasons. Some of it will go to my little girl—” He laughed when he met Connor’s stare. “Little Emmy has always looked after me. Bringing me flowers to hospital, playing cards, and even sneaking in the odd chocolate. But I want to leave you something as well. You have brought me some of the happiest years of my life. I’ve always treasured them and will never forget them.” Jack placed his hand on his son’s. “And hopefully I’ll be able to remind you of some of the memories. Connor, part of my current will states for you to have this house and any reasonable amount you would need to settle in Fermosa Bay.”

Connor stared at Jack, hearing the words but not able to process them. “I can’t—”

Jack didn’t reply, and Connor stood, heading to the window. Staring out into the distance, he wondered what life would’ve been like if his mother had stayed in Fermosa Bay instead of the big city of London.

“Have you always lived here?” he asked, without looking at his father.

“No.” There was the sound of a long sigh. “I had a small house on the other side of town. Near the school. Near the cliffs, just across the road from the main beach.”

Across the road from the main beach.
Connor remembered his grandparents’ small house south of London. He’d had to share a room with his mother until she’d found a job and they’d moved into a small apartment. He’d been alone most days, but never as lonely as he’d felt at boarding school.

Could he be happy in a small town with a few thousand people? Would he be able to pick up on the friendships here or would the years have pulled them apart?

Watching a couple of Rosellas in the distances, he recalled his father’s words about his mother leaving on her own will. Had the last twenty-plus years been based on a lie?

Did Jack lie?

Shaking his head, he turned to face the old man. “I can’t accept that.”

Jack nodded. “You said you’re here as long as I need you. I need you to find out the truth and remember your childhood.”

“I can’t just—”

Jack stood and stepped next to him, placing his hand on his shoulder. “How about I give you some space to think it over and later on we could head to the waterfalls for a nice lunch. Ethan might have some time to join.”

Nodding, he actually looked forward to spending more time with his
old
friend. And the idea to find out more about the area appealed to him as well.

Two hours later, Connor sat in the car with Jack on the way to Ethan’s. It’d surprised him how quickly the old man had everything organised. One phone call to Ethan to invite him for lunch and another one to Jacqui for some sandwiches and meat for the barbeque. The last fifteen minutes he’d directed Connor from one corner of the house to the other to gather the esky, drinks, chairs, and a portable barbeque. He was quietly amazed at his dad’s organisational talent.

Connor drove along the main road and into a small side road towards the mountain range behind Fermosa Bay. Within minutes he parked in front of an impressive house with a view over the ocean. The front looked neat with only two bikes leaning against the garage. It seemed the house had been built recently, looking even more impressive with the exterior lattice wooden walls.

He turned off the engine and opened the door.

“I’ll wait here,” Jack said.

Connor nodded and walked towards the house. Pausing on the step of the front door, he turned to take in the scenery around the house and spectacular view across the town and sea.
He startled when the front door opened. Before him stood a man about his age, about the same height. His hair was blond with dark roots, and the freckles on his face gave him a mischievous look. The blue eyes studied him, carefully and hesitant.

“You must be Niall,” he said as he stepped closer to the house, not able to hold back a smile.

There was an uncertain nod and all of a sudden Connor wasn’t so sure anymore. He’d heard about Niall’s guilt all these years, because he thought he’d been responsible for the fall. They’d been kids and in reverse Connor felt the guilt inside for this man, because he’d done nothing wrong.

“Good to see you, mate,” Niall finally said as he held out his hand.

Connor took his hand and relief washed through him. “Good to see you, too. Will you join us?”

“That was the idea, but only—”

Connor shook his head. “No. Great idea.”

Ethan came down the hallway, packed with a few things under his arm.

“Got some space left in the car?”

Connor laughed. “Most certainly.”

As they packed another chair and a few more other extras, Connor felt a rush of excitement and warmth, and again the regret that he’d probably missed out on many barbeques with these guys.

Ethan and Niall said their hellos to Jack, made some comments about the weather before they drove up the road and into the forest to a little waterfall, hidden away from the tourist route.

Connor looked around, stepped into the shade of the forest, and subconsciously took in a deep breath of the clean, crisp air. He loved the spot already and allowed for his senses to take everything in. To his side, he heard the sudden sound of birds chirping, and a soft breeze gently rustled the leaves of trees. With the roar of the waterfalls in the distance, they descended through the ancient rainforest to a small spot near the basin. Small droplets of water touched his skin as Connor explored the area.