Salvage Her Heart (11 page)

‘Well since we
almost
have a win/win scenario, let me give you the paperwork to read over.’

He takes a thick document out of his suit jacket. He pushes it towards me and allows me time to scan over each page. I know that if I sign Evie will no longer be mine. My world would change irrevocably. I know it’s time to start the next chapter in my life, which I have a feeling is going to go off with a bang.

GRAYSON

While I’m desperate to touch her, be with her in every way possible, I by no means want to rush ‘this’. I know that Evie has suffered too much at the hands of an aggressive, sexually charged coward and I want her to know that our relationship means so much more than that to me.

I’m not sure how long we have, but I want to make memories here together that are unforgettable; memories that could last a lifetime. Our first night here, falling asleep next to someone like her, made waking up to seven angry, missed calls from Jean so worth it.

After listening to the messages on my voicemail, Jean’s intention is pretty clear. She thinks I’ve lost my mind to run away with a married woman. Hell, when you put it like that, even I think it sounds bad. But I know Evie’s story, I know she was bought, not lovingly wooed, but sold like a bloody slave to a man who wants nothing more than to mark her beautiful body.

I know hiding from Jean and ignoring her phone calls will only make her all the more determined to harass me with continuous phone calls until I answer it. So, while Evie’s in the shower, I call Jean. It’s not easy to concentrate when Evie’s a few meters away and utterly naked but I throw a cold bucket of water over those thoughts for the moment. Jean answers on the first ring, as though she’s been poised and waiting to attack.

‘I’m not even gonna start in on you about why you’re not at work today, but I do want to know what the hell you were thinking when you decided to run off with that pretty little lady. You know, the one who has a husband!’

‘Calm down, Jean, I’m a big boy and can take care of myself.’

‘I’m sure you can, dearie, but have you thought about the implications for Evie if she returns to her abuser?’

‘She’s not going back to him.’ Silence hangs in the air as we both process what that means.

‘She’s not? Has she told you that?’

‘Not exactly, but there’s no way I’m letting her go back to that life, Jean, I just can’t.’

‘Look, darlin’, I know you want to help and I bet you’re probably a little bit smitten. Think of the ramifications, though, of her leaving a husband.’

‘I’m not saying it’s going to be easy, but I’m willing if she is.’

‘That’s exactly what I mean. I think she’ll be harder to persuade than you think.’

‘Well you know me, Jean. I don’t fall easily but, when I do, it’s for keeps.’

‘That’s just what I’m afraid of, son.’

‘It’s too late. I’m already falling for this girl. I can’t and won’t abandon her. I don’t want that life for her.’

‘Just see you don’t do anything stupid, Grayson. It could end up costing you and the girl your lives. Men like her husband do not mess around. They mean business. I don’t mind you taking the week off, or whatever, but I by no means want you getting yourself into trouble, do you hear me?’

‘Yes
, ma’am. I’ll let you know when we’re heading back, okay?’

‘You do that.’

She disconnects the call, temporarily satisfied that she’s given me a good earful. I know she worries dearly about me, but I also know that what I’m doing is the right thing for me and for Evie.

The running water from the shower stops, telling me that Evie will be out any minute. I quickly scramble to throw on shorts and a tee before I’m busted getting around in my underwear again. My appetite could rival a bear’s, so I decide to get breakfast ready while Evie slips some clothes on. There’s that word
—
slips.
It makes me think of slipping something else,
somewhere
else. Shaking my head to clear that little image from my dirty mind, I head outside to start a camp fire in the pit already dug out.

I’ve got bacon and egg sizzling in a pan before Evie joins me outside.

‘Hey there, I was just about to check on you.’

‘Sorry, I was taking a while. I know it sounds really lame, but I’m not used to picking out my own clothe
s. I don’t really have anything… casual.’ She looks self-conscious standing there in denim cut-offs with a fitted, pale yellow tank top, a black bikini top showing underneath.

‘You look gorgeous just the way you are. Heck, you’d look great in a potato sack,’ I
say with a grin.

‘Well, you’ll be thankful that I don’t own one of those,’ she smiles.

‘Are you hungry?’

‘Yes, please.’

‘Just as well I made plenty of breakfast then. You better tuck in, I’ve got plans for you today.’

‘Oh, really?’ she blushes. I smirk in response.

‘I may be male, Evie, but I do have a little bit of self-control.’

‘I was sincerely hoping you didn’t.’

I just about choke on the bacon in my mouth. Holy hell, if that’s not a green light then I don’t know what is. The little mantra
just be good, just be good
is getting fainter and fainter in my head. She grins, knowing full well that I’m affected by her. We finish breakfast, her last statement hanging in the air. When it comes to self-restraint I can only be so good. Sooner or later, I’m gonna cave.

‘What are we going to do today?’

‘See those kayaks down on the lake?’

‘Uh-huh
…’

‘We’re going off on a little adventure.’

‘Great! Let’s get going.’

She sprints off, leaving me in her wake. I wonder if, given a lifetime to be with her, I’d ever tire of chasing her. I take off after her feeling youthful and full of life. How I ever thought I wouldn’t want love in my life again I have no idea. Feeling this way makes it so worthwhile.

When we get to the water’s edge, she hesitates, which gives me enough time to catch her around the waist and drag her in with me. We both crash under the surface, the cool water making my breath hitch. We surface, Evie looking completely stunned that I just dunked her under.

‘Sorry, I got a little carried away,’ I grin.

‘I don’t mind.’ Her tone is bashful, yet seductive. She swims confidently towards me, surprising me by wrapping her legs around my waist and her sinewy arms around my neck. She has hold of me and it doesn’t seem like she’s about to let go.

There is so much I want to say, to reassure her, promise her, but any words are lost as her soft lips zero in on mine. My eyes close, even before she places them on mine. The heat from her body radiates towards me and I feel my dick respond to her warmth. Everything around us is so still. The water barely has a ripple, the wildlife quiet enough to be only heard faintly on the wind. Everything I can smell, touch and hear is Evie.

Her breath has quickened, a sure indicator her heart is racing, too. Gently her nose nudges my head back so that she can access my lips better. All that guides me to them is instinct. My arms are wrapped around her back, tracing tiny circles up towards her shoulder blades. I gently hook my arms over her shoulders and pull her in closer so that I can finally melt into her kiss.

Droplets of water trickle over my face as her warm breath mingles with mine. Even just having my lips connected with hers makes me feel things I’ve never felt before. I kiss her hungrily, passionately, her tongue only too eager to dance around mine as our kiss becomes more feverish. It soon becomes so much more than that.

Unable to contain myself anymore, I grab her around the arse, pulling her pelvis towards my own. Any contact at the moment is enough to drive me wild. Regardless of the flimsy clothes between us, her body grinding against my dick is enough to make me want to be the bad boy that needs to rip her panties off and make love to her regardless of the consequence to my heart or my life.

Needing more, I tear myself away from her lips and cup her arse in my hands to take her weight. Walking back out of the water I gently lay her on the grassy water’s edge. She looks just a
s drunk as I am from the passion that’s been lit between us. Without any care or hesitation she rips off her tank top, leaving her with just her bottoms and bikini top. The swell of her breast peeking out from the swimsuit material is enough for me to fantasise about sucking on her nipples.

She can see me staring, so reaches behind her neck to free the straps that are holding her bikini top in place. As the material falls away, pale, pink nipples beg me to pay them some attention. Unable to resist the tease any longer, I bow down and suck greedily on her flesh. A low moan escapes her lips, making me desire her even more. Her fingers interlace behind my head pulling me as close as I can possibly get. I lick the buds of her flesh, thoroughly enjoying the taste of her skin. She pulls my hair, desperately guiding me to the other breast, demanding I pay it some attention
, too.

A loud cough interrupts our fevered attempt at trying to make it to second base. I pull away as Evie hurries to cover herself with her hands. Pissed off at being interrupted at what would have to be one of my top ten ranked moments of my life, I glare up into the sun which is blazing blindingly behind Callum.

‘Morning,’ he says, suddenly eager to look anywhere than at us two. ‘I can see you, er… found the kayaks. All good then, shall we expect you for dinner tonight?’

‘Sure,’ I say. Callum starts to walk away, clearly embarrassed enough for the three of us, but I stop him in his tracks.
‘Oh, and Callum?’

‘Yeah?’
He spins around, but tries to ignore that I’m still on top of a very mortified Evie.

‘Knock next time, won’t you.’

‘You got it… you know, if there’s a door and all.’ He saunters off before I feel like getting up and kicking his arse.

To save Evie any humiliation, I tie the straps of her bikini top back up before offering her a hand up. She looks just as sheepish as I feel.

‘Come on, we better get out on those kayaks and tire you out.’

‘How come?’ she
asks.

‘Because if you come at me like that tonight, there’s no way I’m going to be able to knock you back.’     

EVIE

Such a small amount of time out at the lake and I already feel like I’ve been here a lifetime. It’s amazing how much you can find out about a person when you are the only two present. It forces you to talk, and talk some more. You connect on a completely different level. I find that no matter how much I want to hide the shame of my marriage to Alex, Grayson is willing to listen without judging. I’ve needed that for such a long time
—a confidante—that I have grabbed hold of my new friend with such intensity that when it comes time, I don’t think I’m going to be able to let him go.

Our first day has been amazing. We kayaked and ate a picnic by the lake, taking a reprieve from the sun’s bite by swimming in the cool water. Tonight we’re back up at the main cabin for dinner with Grayson’s friend Callum and his wife Kirima. We are given a proper introduction, which helps alleviate some of the discomfort about our very embarrassing first glimpse of each other. I don’t know if it’s because Grayson and Callum are such old friends, or the fact that country people are so hospitable, but we couldn’t have felt more welcomed.

Grayson’s friends seem to readily accept me as his companion, which is a nice change to the crowd who always hang off Alex at his social get-togethers. Their scrutiny always leaves me feeling uncomfortable and like an outsider, despite the fact that I’m the wife of their boss. Kirima, on the other hand, links arms with me and shows me inside their home while she pours us a chilled Semillon Blanc. I like her instantly. Curiosity dances across her eyes, which are slightly slanted from her heritage. I can’t put my finger on where she’s from, but she doesn’t look dissimilar to a Native American.

‘It’s nice to finally meet one of Grayson’s friends,’ Kirima says.

‘Thank you, I’m really happy to be here. It’s really generous of you both to have us come and stay.’

‘It’s our pleasure. Grayson normally comes
on his own, although it’s been a while.’

              ‘Really?’

‘Yeah, he normally comes out here when he feels like getting back to nature and to pursue his passion for painting.’

‘He comes alone?’

‘Always,’ she grins, ‘So, how did you two meet anyway?’

I laugh. ‘It’s really boring, actually. I visit the delicatessen where he works with Jean.’

‘Ah, I see. I’ve met Jean once when we went to Brisbane; she’s been such a blessing in helping Grayson heal.’

‘She seems like a really great woman,’ I offer.

‘She gets him, which is why I think he’s so much like family to her. He’s like the son she never had, which is a gift since she could never have any children of her own.’

‘How come?’ I know I’m being nosy, but you know what they say about curiosity.

‘Grayson only mentioned it once recently when he phoned. He said she used to have an abusive husband. I think a particularly nasty beating almost cost Jean her life. As a result, I don’t think she was ever able to have children.’

I’m not sure if I audibly gasp, but my hand sure flies to my mouth. I’m shocked, because Jean seems like such a strong woman—certainly not the type to put up with a man laying a finger on her. Kirima looks at me in alarm.

‘Are you okay, Evie?
You’re awfully pale…’ She rushes to me, concern written across her beautiful features.

‘I’m o
—okay,’ I stammer, ‘It’s just so horrible to think she had to go through that.’

‘I know,’ she says, rubbing my back gently, ‘but at least she has Grayson in her life, and he her.’

‘You’re right, they’re very lucky they found each other,’ I say weakly.

‘Okay, enough with the heavy, how about I tell you how Callum and I met?’

‘Is it a good story?’ 

‘Oh yeah, it’s funny alright. I’m a native Eskimo from Alaska and was living there with my family when Callum happened to be visiting. He was working on some big photography project with
National Geographic
. He wanted to get a really good shot of an Arctic fox, so took a short cut across an ice lake so he could come up at it from behind.’

‘Oh no
…’

‘Yep, the idiot fell right through the ice where it was too thin.’

‘What happened?’

‘I went to rescue him. He was struggling to get back up on solid ground and weighed down by his heavy winter parka. I was out hunting with my cousins and saw him.’

‘It was lucky you were there.’

‘I know. Poor Callum, he was beet red from the cold and really struggling. We threw him a line of rope and dragged him out. When he managed to stand up and get a good look at me, do you know what he said?’

‘No, what?’

‘He said, ‘I thought Pocahontas was from Virginia, not Alaska.’ I had to laugh, because he looked so serious. I guess with my long
, jet-black hair and dark skin he could see the resemblance.’

‘That’s very charming! Let me guess, it was love at first sight?’

‘Well for him it was. I thought he was a jackass for walking on thin ice, but I guess when you grow up there it’s common sense. He was determined to get that picture, just like he was determined to get me to marry him. He persisted until I said yes.’

‘So he wore you down?’

‘Well, I like to think of it that he knew I was what he wanted and he wasn’t going to ever take no for an answer. The fact that he was so sure was enough to convince me he would stick around forever, no matter what.’

‘That’s so romantic.’

‘It’s been bliss.’

‘It sure sounds like it.’

‘You could have that, you know.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘With Grayson, he looks at you the same way, like he’s about to walk to the ends of the earth just for a moment with you.’

‘You think so?’

‘I know so. All you’d have to do is let him.’

‘It’s complicated.’

‘It always is, but love, real love will always find a way to work. Now let’s get back to the men, I’m sure they’re wondering where we got to.’

We leave the homely cabin and head for the woods. The men are barbecuing pork belly while reminiscing about their school days and drinking beer. Kirima and I laugh over the more light-hearted moments of their teenage years. Just listening to them talking makes me feel more connected to Grayson, like I really know the boy who was a daredevil and a little bit mischievous before heartbreak stole a little of that away.

While the chatter goes on around me and we consume the delicious food, I wonder how I can be so selfish to allow Grayson to love me. So many questions fly through my head. What if I break his heart? What if I put him in danger? What if… there’s so many that if I think too hard I might just turn and walk away now before I can ever cause him any pain. My mutinous heart, however, has other ideas. It wants every little bit of him he has to offer.

I worry about Kirima’s comments about Jean from earlier. I’m sure she had no idea about the circumstances surrounding me and my own abusive husband, but Grayson certainly knows. I wonder absently if that’s why he wants to help me. Does he feel pity for me? Does he want to help me because his own mother figure suffered at the hands of an abuser? The niggling in the back of my mind is starting to ruin the evening. I need to talk to him
—alone.

Like he can sense the shift in my mood, Grayson slides in behind me and starts to massage my shoulders. His strong fingers knead the knots in my shoulders from the day’s exertion out on the lake. His touch, as always, ignites emotions I’m trying hard to supress.

Callum pulls out his guitar and starts to strum, while Kirima is loading marshmallows onto wooden skewers to toast over the fire.

‘Would you guys like some?’ she offers.

‘Thanks very much for your hospitality, but it’s been a long day. Would you mind if we take a rain check?’ asks Grayson casually—too casually. I know he can sense something is up.

‘Of course,’ she replies, jumping up to offer both of us hugs goodbye.

‘Thank you both very much for such a nice evening,’ I say.

‘Any time, you’re always welcome. You both have a good night,’ says Callum with a wink.

Grayson grabs my hands and pulls me to my feet. We wave goodbye and head down the path that runs along the lake towards our cabin. Our fingers are entwined, his thumb gently massaging mine as we walk along in silence. When we are far enough from the camp fire to be alone, he stops and pulls me into his arms.

‘Hey.’

‘Your friends are really nice, thank you for bringing me here.’

‘I sense there’s a “but” in there somewhere, which says you’re no
t really happy to be here… or is it just the company?’

‘No, it’s not that at all.’

‘Well, just be honest. What’s up?’ In the moonlight his features seem so much harder to read, but even so, sincerity still shines through.

‘Kirima mentioned something abou
t Jean…’

‘Uh-huh
…’

‘She said that her husband was
… was abusive.’ Realisation dawns on his face.

‘Evie, I
…’

‘Is that why?’

‘Is that why, what?’

‘Is that why you want to help me?
Because of her? Do you feel sorry for me?’ I don’t mean to be, but I’m close to tears. I so want him to be the Prince Charming, I so want this to be real. What I don’t want is a pity party.

‘No! Fuck no! Are you serious?’ His voice echoes across the lake. Luckily there is no one on the other side to hear it.

‘Yes, I am,’ I whisper quietly.

‘I don’t quite know how to tell you this Evie, without completely scaring the shit out of you, but I’m so in love with you. Everything I say, everything I do is because of that love. I can’t stand that he thinks he can hit you. It drives me crazy.’

He lets me go and starts to pace in the dusty earth. Without realising it, he starts to run his hands through his hair, short sharp breaths coming heavy from his chest. His mood panics me a little, because I get the sense I’ve made him mad. I know mad. I don’t want to make him mad; I know what men are capable of when they’re mad. Slowly, I start to back away from him. He stops his pacing and stares at me.

‘Evie?’

‘I’m sorry, Grayson. I didn’t mean to make you mad.’ The weak little girl is coming back, the one who doesn’t do unpredictable.

‘Mad? I’m not mad at all.’ He takes one big stride and takes me in his arms again. ‘Evie, I don’t mean to scare you. I would never hurt you. You
need
to know that, okay? Never.’

‘Okay,’ I say hesitantly. His hands reach for my face and I flinch. Gently, slowly, he reaches for me, cupping my cheeks so sweetly I want to die. He gazes at me convincingly and I melt.

‘Never, do you hear me?’ I nod, my fears assuaged. ‘Bloody hell, Evie, I’m up to my fucking eyeballs with love-hearts and roses for you. There is nothing, absolutely nothing, that I would not do for you.’

He dips his head now, claiming my lips, my heart and my soul as his.