Heart of Light (30 page)

“Nope. Sorry. Can’t say that I have. Why? Did she do something?”

“None of your fucking business. You’re sure you haven’t seen her? She may have dyed and cut her hair.”

The clerk remained calm. This wasn’t his first rodeo. Every other week, someone came in with a photo asking if he had seen whatever poor soul was missing, or worse.

“I’d certainly remember those eyes if I had seen her. They’re not eyes any man would easily forget, are they?”

Ralph nodded his head. “You’re right about that.” He reached into his pocket and handed him a piece of card stock with the number of a burner phone scratched on it. “If you
do
see her, please give me a call. She’s not all there mentally, and her father is very concerned about her. He’s heartbroken that she’s disappeared.”

The clerk shoved the card in his pocket, intending to throw it out later. It was readily apparent that the fat man was full of shit, and there was no way he was going to mention seeing the girl. “If she comes through here, I’ll be sure to give you a call.”

Ralph grabbed his purchases and left the truck stop, wishing that he could finally catch a break.

“W
HERE
TO
,
BEAUTIFUL
?” C
AM
asked, beaming at Jolene, her hand clutched in his as they made their way through Mallory Square. The sun had already disappeared beyond the horizon and the sounds of carefree tourists filtered the streets at mile marker zero.

“Well, I think it’s time for the last thing on my list.” She smiled at Cam, the jovial spirit of the pirate town infecting her soul. “Well, technically, the second-to-last thing.”

“Okay then. Let’s get drunk.”

Jolene giggled, trailing slightly behind him. She was tall, but she still had difficulty keeping up with his long strides.

“I’ll tell you this much, peaches.” He slowed down, glancing back at her, licking his lips as he took in her silky blue sundress. The color made her eyes pop, almost as if they were painted on her face. “Getting over-served at a bar in Key West is pretty much a rite of passage…something everyone should experience at least once in their lives. I’m thrilled I can give this to you.”

“Me, too. Now, enough of the sweet talk, Casanova. It’s unnecessary. You got the girl. Now get the girl drunk.”

Cam stopped abruptly, bringing her body into his. “Oh, Jolene. You really are frustrating sometimes,” he whispered into her ear. “And don’t think for a second that a day will go by that I won’t let you know how amazing you are. Or how lucky I feel to be able to spend time with you. You are a fucking treasure. A gift. And I’m not going to stop until you finally realize that.”

She stared deep into his eyes. “How can one guy be so amazing in bed and so incredibly sweet at the same time?”

Cam shrugged. “Simple. I’m all about your needs…” He released her, pulling her back along Duval Street before glancing at her and winking. “Peaches.”

“So, is that my new nickname? No more ‘baby steps’?”

“What can I say? I was a goner the second I smelled you. I’ve been wanting to call you peaches for months now.”

“Then what have you been waiting for?”

He smirked at her. “Just wanted to make sure that you taste as good as you smell.”

“And what’s the verdict?”

“I’d have to mark that down as ‘exceeded expectations’.”

She smacked him playfully and he grabbed her, lifting her up at the waist. He pressed her against the brick wall of a noisy bar, his eyes intense yet, at the same time, tender.

She wrapped her legs around his midsection, gasping at the feel of his erection. Running her hands up and down his back, she felt his strong muscles through the linen of his shirt.

“Jolene,” he said breathlessly. “Do you feel what you do to me? You drive me crazy. I’ll never get enough of you. You’re like a drug. One hit and I’m addicted.” He traced his tongue down her neck.
 

She threw her head back in complete ecstasy, her entire body trembling. For once, she didn’t quiver with fear. She shook from the combination of Cam’s words and his body pressed against hers. She never wanted to stop feeling him. She was just as addicted to his touch as he was to hers.

“Cam,” she exhaled.

“Yes?” He looked up briefly before returning his attention to her skin.

“We’re giving everyone a show.”

He reluctantly pulled back, giving her a sexy grin. “Okay then, peaches. To be continued later.” He helped her lower her legs down to the ground, grabbing her hand and heading into Sloppy Joe’s.

“I know I said I wanted you to slam me against the wall and all, but I was referring to the hotel, not the outside of a bar.”

“My mistake. I got caught up in the moment. I’ll try to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

“Oh, Casanova.” She stood on her toes and nibbled on his ear. “I’d like for you to do that again. I love knowing that just being in my company turns you on so much.” She looked down at his dark jeans, raising her eyebrows.

He laughed. “I can’t hide anything from you, can I?”

“I don’t think you were trying to hide it from me.”

“Nope. I certainly was not. I was kind of hoping that you’d drag me back to the hotel, but then you’d miss out on your chance to get drunk in a Key West bar.”

Jolene glanced around the dimly lit room, hordes of people dancing and singing along to the music playing in the background. “It looks like we’re late to the party,” she commented, eyeing her watch. “It’s not even nine o’clock.”

“You’re in Key West, beautiful. Now, let’s play catch up.” He scanned the bar, relieved when he found an empty small high-top table. Jolene’s hand still clutched firmly in his, he led her through the packed room toward the table. “Will you be okay here for a minute while I go get us some drinks?”

She sat down. “Of course I will. Now go.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Jolene watched him walk away, smiling to herself at her good fortune for calling Benny about the beach rental. If she had never seen his ad for the house, she never would have met Cam and Elsie. Then again, if she never met them, she never would have started bartending and David never would have found her, either, she thought. Maybe it wasn’t good fortune. Maybe it was the world playing a cruel joke on her, reminding her that no matter how far she ran, she would never be free as much as she wanted to feel that way…as much as she
thought
she was after the previous day.

“Jolene?” a soothing voice called out, cutting through the noisy bar. “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

She turned her eyes to Cam, a look of panic etched on his face.

“No. Of course not. Why do you…?”

“Your face, Jolene. You’re pale. Are you sure…?”

“I’m fine, Cam,” she responded, her irritation showing. “Now, get me drunk.” She needed the alcohol to forget.

Cam sat down, sliding a Corona and a shot of tequila across the table. “Hope this is okay. I didn’t know what you’d want, but I remember you drinking beer and doing tequila shots with Elsie, so I figured this would be a good start.”

Jolene smiled weakly, her thoughts still elsewhere. “It’s perfect. Thank you.” She grabbed the shot glass and slammed it back, desperate to feel the burn.

“Don’t do this,” Cam said quietly, his shoulders sunken.

“What? Don’t do what?” she hissed.

“This. Don’t turn off. You’re doing it. Something spooked you. Maybe it was a memory, or something else, but you don’t have to shut me out. You’ve got this cold, hard façade that I’m sure you’ve built up over the past several years. You don’t have to worry about me hurting you, Jolene. I just don’t have it in me. You can tell me anything. I assure you that I’m not going to judge you for it.”

She raised her beer bottle to her lips, trying to hide her quivering chin. The one thing that she wanted to say to him, she couldn’t. She was forbidden from telling him that his beach house had become a prison…a prison of deceit, lies, betrayal, and shame. And now that she had let him into her heart, it made those feelings even stronger.

“Jolene?”

She swallowed hard. “I’m fine, Cam. I promise.” She put on her best fake smile. “Like you said, it was just a memory.”

He grabbed her hand across the table. “If you ever want to talk about it, I’m here. I won’t pressure you. It’s been my experience that these things take time…”

“How much time?” she interrupted.

Cam sighed, wishing that she hadn’t asked that question. “Does it really matter?”

“Yes, Cam. It matters. It matters to me. I want to know how much longer I’m going to have to live like this.”

“Everyone is different, Jolene. There’s not one hard and fast rule for how long it takes someone to finally shed their past. And maybe you shouldn’t shed your past. Maybe you need it, but I’ll tell you this much. Your past doesn’t define who you are as a person. And you can’t let it. But you
can
learn to accept it for what it was. A horrible thing that happened to you.”

“Over and over,” she muttered.

He took a deep breath, trying to control his anger about what she had been through. He had never felt so much rage in his life, even after he had to listen to what that bastard was doing to Marley every night when they were just eight-years-old. But here and now, knowing what Jolene must have endured every day for nearly a decade made his temper flame with hatred. He wanted someone to pay.

He returned his gaze to hers, wanting her to see the affection he had for her. “Yes. But don’t forget the most important thing, Jolene.” He lowered his eyes, gently caressing her knuckles.

“What’s that?”

He raised his head. “You survived. You got out, so don’t live in the past. Show everyone, show
him
, that what he did to you didn’t ruin you. It only made you stronger.”

“Do you really think I’m strong?”

“I don’t
think
so. I
know
so. I admire your strength. And your spirit.”

Jolene giggled. “And my legs.”

Cam groaned. “Don’t even get me started on your legs.” He took a sip of his beer, thankful that the conversation at the table had lightened up. “Peaches.”

“Can I tell you a secret?” she asked, biting her lower lip.

“Of course.”

“I love when you call me that.”

“Get used to it.”

As the hours wore on, Jolene felt the alcohol’s effect take hold, no longer worrying about what was waiting for her when she returned from the Keys.

Around midnight, Cam asked, “Drunk yet?”

She nodded, a lazy smile on her face. “Yup. Mission accomplished, Dr. Surfer Man. You got me drunk,” she slurred. “How come
you
don’t seem to be drunk?”

He laughed at how adorable she was when she’d had too many drinks. “Because, beautiful, I didn’t do nearly as many shots as you did. Plus, I want to be somewhat sober so I can remember how amazing your body feels when I make you come over and over later. But something tells me I’ll always be able to remember that, even if I’ve had a few drinks.”

Jolene’s eyes went wide at his words, remaining completely speechless.

“Don’t tell me you have no witty comeback to that.”

She sat there, her mouth agape for several long seconds before pursing her lips and attempting to brush it off. “Nope. I’ve got nothing.” She raised her beer bottle to her mouth, knowing that she should probably stop drinking. All of a sudden, she heard the opening chords of a song that made her entire body freeze.

Cam noticed her reaction as the first verse of
Hallelujah
echoed through the bar, wondering why she had such a frightened look in response to the sound of Jeff Buckley’s haunting voice.

“Jolene, are you okay?”

Her chin trembled and she quickly pushed out of her chair, running through the packed space.

“Damn it!” Cam shouted, chasing after her. Out on Duval Street, he tried to find her over the crowds of people roaming from one bar to another. He grew panicked when he couldn’t immediately locate her. Running toward the hotel, he pushed through all the tourists walking down the street. Every second that passed was another second he knew she would spend spiraling down to her dark place.

He darted through the lobby, trying to think about where she would be when her words sounded in his memory…
Free, Cam. I finally feel free, right here on this beach, and I know that it’s because of you.

He looked out the window of the lobby and spotted a familiar silhouette sitting on the moonlit beach. He bolted out onto the small slice of sand. Stopping abruptly a few yards from her, he tried to get his breathing under control.

Jolene felt his presence before she heard him approach. “I just wanted to feel free again,” she explained through her tears. “And this, right here, is where I feel that.”

Cam sat down beside her. “I know you probably don’t want to, but I need you to talk about what set you off.”

She stared out at the ocean, drawing circles in the sand in front of her. “That song.”

“What about it?”

“Every night was torture. I had no identity. I had no friends. I was the boss’ girl. His little pet. His fucking princess!” she cried out. “Men would pay thousands for all of us because we were all shy and submissive. We didn’t know any better. That’s how he trained us.”

Cam glanced at her, her entire body shaking from her memories. He wanted to comfort her but, at the same time, she needed to tell her story. That way, she could finally begin to move on.

“I’ll never forget the night of my eighteenth birthday. He said he was throwing me a party and had invited some girls around my age whose parents worked for him. I had a private tutor and no friends, so I was excited about the party.”

“What happened, Jolene?” he asked, his voice weak.

“He led me from my room, blindfolding me. He said where we were going was a surprise and that he didn’t want to ruin it for me. I remember how happy I was that this man would go out of his way to throw a party for me. That was the last day that I remember smiling…until I met you.” She turned to face him and gave him a encouraging look before returning her eyes to the shore, the moonlight bright against the dark ocean.