Face Off (The Baltimore Banners Book 10) Read online

  “Okay, fine.” She dropped a quick kiss on his mouth then stepped by him, pulling the cover-up over her head as she went. “Just give me five minutes and I’ll be ready.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  The five minutes ended up being closer to an hour. Ethan couldn’t complain, not when it had been his fault. His gaze had followed Cindy as she pulled that gauzy cover-up over her head, as she walked past the bed on the way to the bathroom. She didn’t make it that far, not when he moved after her and spun her around.

  He needed to touch her. Taste her. Feel her. And yet it still wasn’t enough.

  It would never be enough.

  So yeah, they were running late and it was his fault. And no, he wasn’t complaining. He’d slipped outside to call the real estate agent, told him he needed to change the time because something had come up—quite literally.

  The man was more than happy to oblige. Why the hell wouldn’t he be, considering the amount of money they were talking about?

  Ethan waited for the ferry to finish docking and the attendants to open the door. Then he stood, his hand wrapped around Cindy’s, and led her down the small ramp and into the small brick building that served as Tortola’s customs and immigration. The line for visitors was longer than he expected, but still moved fast. With their passports stamped, they moved through security—which was as simple as Cindy handing her small bag over for inspection before they passed through a metal detector, since they didn’t have anything to declare. Then they moved through the short hallway and pushed through a door leading to the dirt and gravel lot, the sun bright and warm.

  Cindy lowered the sunglasses over her eyes and adjusted the bag on her shoulder then looked over at him. “Tell me again where we’re going.”

  Ethan laughed then pressed a quick kiss to her mouth. “Nice try. You’ll find out soon enough.”

  She made a small little humming noise then looked around, stepping closer to him as more people filed outside. The crowd was a mix of locals and tourists, lilting voices blending with foreign accents, both harsh and soft. Cindy inhaled then turned to him, a broad smile on her face.

  “It’s still hard to believe we’re actually in a foreign country. It doesn’t feel like it.”

  “Do you like it?”

  She lowered her glasses and stared at him over the rims, humor dancing in her eyes. “It’s a gravel lot and a few buildings, Ethan. And craggy hills. I think I need to see more first.”

  “You will, soon enough.”

  “Mr. Kincaid?”

  Ethan spun around, his gaze falling on a trim man an inch or two shorter, wearing tailored linen trousers and a loose buttoned shirt in a pale green. The man stepped forward, a wide smile splitting his dark face as he stuck out his hand.

  “I’m Bryan. We spoke on the phone.”

  Ethan accepted the other man’s hand then draped his arm around Cindy, pulling her closer. “Nice to finally meet you. This is Cindy Miller.”

  Bryan shook Cindy’s hand then stepped away, motioning over his shoulder with a quick nod. “If you’re both ready, we can start. It’s on the north side of the island. It won’t take that long to get there.”

  He led them to a burgundy passenger van and opened the back door, offering Cindy his hand again as she got in. Ethan climbed in after her, ignoring the man’s bewildered look, probably because he expected Ethan to sit up front. Ethan shook his head, sending him a silent message to go along with it.

  Bryan climbed into the driver’s seat and Ethan frowned when he realized it was on the right side of the vehicle. Why hadn’t he remembered that? Well, it would take some getting used to, but he was sure they’d manage.

  The van pulled out of the lot and turned onto the road, bouncing over each bump. Cindy reached for the strap hanging by her head then shot Ethan another look, this one filled with even more curiosity.

  “I believe you’ll find the area even more impressive than the pictures I sent. And the view is beautiful, of course. Very private. Beachfront land isn’t very easy to find here. There are a few amenities nearby, of course, but the area is quite secluded—”

  “Perfect.” Ethan caught the other man’s eye in the rearview mirror and quickly shook his head. “I think I’m okay on the details right now.”

  “Yes, of course.” Bryan focused on the road, handling the curves and bumps with practice. The van jostled over a hole and Cindy lurched sideways, her shoulder brushing his. She straightened and sent him another curious look then leaned closer, her voice pitched low.

  “Where is he taking us?”

  “You’ll see.”

  They made a sharp turn, the van’s engine humming beneath them as it started the steep climb. Ethan grabbed the strap on his side, trying to act nonchalant about it as he wondered if maybe he hadn’t quite thought things out enough.

  Bryan’s rhythmic voice filled the silence, telling them a little about the history of the island. He added a few modern details as well, like the size of Tortola, its population, its lifestyle. The perfect salesman, all the way.

  Ethan glanced out the side of the window, at the view of lush foliage and deep blue spreading out before them. He heard Cindy’s sharp breath, knew she was looking out at the scenic view as well.

  “It’s beautiful.”

  Ethan looked at her, his heart slamming into his chest at the expression of wonder on her face. She pushed the sunglasses to the top of her head and leaned even closer, her eyes wide with amazement.

  “Yes. Beautiful.”

  There must have been something in his voice, some hint of what he was feeling, because Cindy turned her head, her eyes meeting his.

  Soft, warm. And filled with the same emotion that ran through him. Wonder. Amazement. Love.

  He pressed a quick kiss to her forehead, the doubt and worry he’d been feeling moments ago vanishing with a quick breath. No, this was the right decision. He knew it. Felt it.

  Cindy’s cheeks flushed with color and she sat back, her chest rising and falling with each short breath. Bryan kept talking but the words were empty, meaningless. Nothing more than a rhythmic monologue in the background.

  Ethan still couldn’t believe it. These last few days—they’d been like a dream. Each night, falling asleep with Cindy in his arms. Each morning, waking up next to her, her body warm and soft with sleep.

  It had been like this last time, too, when they had been here for Dillon’s wedding. But this was different. The emotions clearer, sharper. More certain.

  And this time, it wouldn’t end.

  The van started its descent, following a narrow winding road down until it finally came to a stop. He heard Cindy’s small gasp, smiled at the look of wonder on her face as she stared out at the view spread before them.

  Crystal water. White sand. Deep green foliage. Ethan looked around, trying to envision what it would look like later. The house would be up here, with a wall of windows looking out over the clear blue water.

  Maybe. He wasn’t sure, had no idea what the hell kind of codes and regulations they had here. He gave himself a mental shake. It didn’t matter, not when he could figure all of that out later.

  No, not he—they. Cindy and him. They’d figure it out together.

  “What do you think?”

  “It’s…stunning. So gorgeous. And so peaceful.”

  Ethan smiled then climbed out of the van, holding his hand out to Cindy. She took it without hesitation, her fingers curling around his own as they followed Bryan down a small overgrown path that opened to the beach. He was talking again, sharing details of the property. Ethan wished he would just be quiet for a minute, especially since Cindy was giving him an odd look, like she was close to figuring out what was going on.

  “Bryan, yeah. Excuse me. Could you, uh, could you give us some time?” And privacy. That’s what Ethan really needed. And thank God, the man finally got the message. His dark eyes flashed with understanding and he nodded, taking a step back toward the van.

  “Of cours
e, yes. I’ll just get the cooler from the back and leave you here. I should pick you up in an hour?”

  “Um, why don’t you make it two.”

  Bryan’s smile grew wider and he nodded his understanding. Cindy turned, frowning as the man walked back up the path to the van. Then she looked at Ethan, the frown still in place.

  “Why do I feel like I’m missing something?”

  Ethan shifted then shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  “Ethan, why are we here? What’s going on?”

  “Nothing. It’s just, uh—” He saw Bryan moving toward them, a small cooler held between his hands. Inspiration struck and Ethan turned back to Cindy, smiling. “A picnic. I thought we could have a picnic.”

  Cindy’s eyes narrowed on him but she didn’t say a word. Because she knew he was lying? Or because Bryan was still nearby, setting the cooler up on a flat expanse of sand?

  Probably both. No, definitely both.

  She pursed her lips then walked toward the beach area, kicking off her sandals as she went. Ethan took a deep breath and rubbed his hand across his chest, then followed.

  Bryan finished spreading the small blanket out, placed the cooler on the edge of it, then walked away, telling Ethan he’d be back in two hours. Did Cindy see the man’s broad smile and slow wink? Christ, he hoped not. No, she was sitting on the blanket, her knees drawn up to her chest, staring out over the water.

  Ethan kicked his shoes off and walked toward her, stretching out on the blanket beside her. He reached out with one hand, trailed a finger down her arm and smiled as her flesh pebbled under his touch.

  “So what do you think?”

  She looked down at him, suspicion clear in her eyes. “I think you’re up to something.”

  The smile that teased the corner of her mouth reassured him. She might be suspicious, but she wasn’t upset.

  He sat up and reached for the cooler, pushing the lid up. Relief surged through him when he saw the green glass bottle and plastic glasses, the containers of crackers and cheese and fruit. Picnic food. Perfect.

  He dragged the containers out, noticing that the suspicion in Cindy’s eyes eased when she saw the food. She started opening the containers, adding food to the plates he handed her as he pulled out the bottle. Her eyes narrowed and she started to shake her head.

  “I shouldn’t. Not with the medicine—”

  “It’s sparkling cider. Nonalcoholic.”

  Her shoulders sagged in relief as he popped the cork. He filled a glass and handed it to her, then poured one for himself.

  “To picnics on the beach.”

  “Hm.” She tapped the edge of her plastic glass against his, took a small sip, then pinned him with her deep green gaze. “Now tell me what you’re up to.”

  “Nothing. It’s a picnic. Just like I said.”

  “We had to come to Tortola for a picnic? There are plenty of places on St. Thomas for a picnic on the beach. We had to take the ferry to a foreign country?”

  He leaned forward, eased the strap of her sundress off her shoulder and placed a gentle kiss against her warm skin. “This is more secluded.”

  She looked around, back up the overgrown path. “It is kind of out of the way, isn’t it? For now, anyway. For all you know, a busload of tourists could be coming down the mountainside. Or hiding in all the foliage.”

  “I doubt it. This is private property.”

  She turned to him, worry replacing the suspicion in her eyes. “Private property? So the owner could be on his way down here, ready to kick us off.”

  Ethan chuckled. “I don’t think that’s going to happen.”

  “Hm. And how can you be sure?”

  “Because I am.” He slid closer to her and draped his arm around her shoulders. Heat filled him—heat, and a feeling of comfort, of rightness—when she rested her head against his shoulder with a soft sigh.

  “Do you like it?”

  She nodded, her soft hair teasing the flesh of his neck. “I do. Very peaceful. Very romantic.”

  Ethan shifted, trying to swallow against the knot of wiggling nerves that suddenly exploded in his gut. He took a deep breath, let it out, opened his mouth. Closed it again and took a long swallow of the sparkling cider.

  One more deep breath. He could do this.

  “So. Um, what would you think about—about living here?”

  Cindy moved so fast, he nearly fell over. She twisted on the blanket, her brows lowered over her eyes, and stared at him. “Living here?”

  “Yeah. I mean, it’s peaceful. And beautiful. You said you liked it—”

  “But living here? As in, actually moving here and living here?”

  “Uh, yeah. With me.”

  “With you?” Her voice rose an octave, breaking on the last word. The bundle of nerves in his gut grew, spreading throughout his body like giant worms. And fuck, he so didn’t need that image, not when he could actually see them in his mind’s eye. He shifted and rolled his shoulders against the squirming sensation.

  The sensation didn’t last long, not when Cindy leaned forward, the fire in her eyes burning him. “Ethan, what did you do? Did you quit hockey? Tell me you didn’t do that, that you’re not even thinking of—”

  “What? No. Of course not. Why would you think that?”

  “Because you said ‘live here with you’. You can’t live here if you’re playing hockey.”

  “Oh. Well, no. I meant in the off-season.”

  “You go home in the off-season.”

  “No, I go back to see my family. That’s totally different.”

  “What about your condo?”

  “What about it? I’m not there for a few months out of the year anyway. It doesn’t matter where I go—”

  “But what about…” Her voice trailed off, her eyes narrowing even more. She took a deep breath, her gaze boring into his. “Ethan, what did you do?”

  “Nothing. At least, not yet. Mostly.”

  “‘Mostly’? What does that mean?”

  Ethan looked away and drained his glass, suddenly wishing for something stronger than sparkling cider. “Just what I said. I mean, it’s not official or anything. The paperwork isn’t finalized—”

  “What paperwork?”

  Ethan took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Fuck. This so wasn’t going the way he had planned. He didn’t know whether to laugh at the absurdity, or…or throw the stupid bottle of sparkling cider away in a fit of exasperation.

  Neither. He could do neither. So he took a deep breath to push away all the nerves and doubt then opened his eyes and stared out over the water. “I bought this place. What you see here. It’s not finalized yet, I still have to sign the contract and everything but, yeah, I’m buying it. Or, uh, thinking about it.”

  Silence greeted his hesitant words, a silence that went on for so long that Ethan was almost afraid to look at Cindy. But he had to, he needed to see her face, to see what was in her eyes.

  His lungs seized at what he saw: Cindy, sitting next to him, her eyes wide, her hand over her mouth. She blinked and looked away, her throat moving as she swallowed. Then she looked at him again, surprise and doubt and a hundred different emotions swirling in the depths of her eyes.

  “But…why? I don’t understand—”

  “For you. So you can have someplace to come to if…if things happen again. You said you liked it here, that you thought about this place when you were in the darkness. And I thought—” He swallowed, cleared his throat and tried to smile. “I thought you should have a place to come to. That knowing you had a place like this might help.”

  Cindy stared at him, her mouth still open in shock, her eyes wide with surprise. She didn’t say anything as the minutes stretched around them, agonizingly slow. Too quiet.

  Then she blinked and her eyes filled with tears that fell over her lashes and trailed down her cheeks. Slow fat tears that filled him with fear and uncertainty. He reached out for her, dropped his hand midair and curled it into a fist. His heart hammered
in his chest and he sat there, frozen, not sure what to do.

  Cindy took in a huge gulp of air and wiped her face, her lips trembling. “Oh Ethan. I—I don’t know what to say.”

  “Is that a good thing?”

  The words barely left him before she threw herself into his arms, holding him tight as she sobbed into his shoulder. He tightened his hold around her, his hand gently caressing her back.

  “Oh, Ethan. I can’t believe—I don’t—you have no idea…” She mumbled the words against his neck, her breath warm, her body trembling in his hold. She took a shaky breath and moved away, ran her hands across her face, and smiled.

  “I can’t believe you would do something like this! I…thank you. To think you would…I don’t know what to say.”

  “Does that mean you like the idea? That I should sign the papers?”

  “No! God, no. Are you insane?”

  “But I thought—don’t you like it here?”

  She wiped a hand across her face again and smiled. “Yes, I do. I love it here.”

  “I don’t understand. If you love it here, why not?”

  “Why not? Ethan, are you crazy? It’s…it’s too much. God, I can’t even imagine how much—no. It’s crazy. Why would you even think of doing something like this?”

  “I told you why. And because that’s what—”

  “Oh God, don’t you even dare say ‘friends’.” She laughed, the sound breathless, as light and fresh as the clear air around them. “Please don’t.”

  He reached out and ran his hand through her hair then cupped her cheek, his eyes serious, filled with everything he was feeling—with everything he’s always felt.

  “But we are friends. Best friends. You’re my other half, Cindy. My soulmate.” He grinned, knowing it sounded silly, knowing his face was turning a dozen shades of red. “Cheesy, huh?”

  “No. Not cheesy at all. I love you, Ethan.”

  “Good.” He pressed a quick kiss to her mouth. “So I’ll call Bryan and tell him it’s a deal.”

  She caught his face in her hands, leaned forward and kissed him, long and sweet and over too soon. “Oh Ethan. You have no idea what this means to me. But I don’t need a home in the islands, as beautiful as they are. I don’t need the blue water or the green mountains. I need you. I need to see the way your smoky blue eyes change and go all soft when they look at me. I need to feel your arms around me. I need to hear your voice as you whisper into my ear.”