The Seacroft: a love story (Paines Creek Beach Book 2) (27 page)

The sun glowed bright on the horizon, probably only a half hour from sizzling into the sea and painting the sky with its colorful palette. Faint tendrils of rose and tangerine reflections washed the sky already, just hints of the spectacle that would come later.

A warm breeze caressed Cody’s skin when they reached the dunes and began to descend to the deserted beach. The tide was coming in, and the sea lay still and glassy like a summer pond, occasionally rippling with white froth from the leap of a fish or dive of a gull.

Cody breathed in and out, relishing the tang of salt on his tongue.

Had life finally come to this? Could he really feel so ridiculously happy, after all that had just happened?

He felt Vivian rest her cheek against his back, and in that one fleeting moment, he knew it was true. With this woman at his side, his life felt complete.

“You’re awfully quiet,” she said when they reached the edge of the water.

Cody turned Popeye in the direction of The Seacrest, where soon the rest of his family would take up residence. “Just thinking,” he said.

“About what?”

“You. Us.” He smiled at her over his shoulder, then waved one hand toward the sea. “This.”

“It’s stunning, isn’t it?” She expelled a long sigh. “What a beautiful evening.”

“I think the sunset’s gonna be impressive,” he said.

“I’ll bet. And just so you know, I like riding this way. It feels good. Safe.”

He turned back toward her again. “Wanna try a little canter?”

“Okay.” She tightened her arms around his waist.

He urged Popeye into a slow canter, heading for the cave. The rocking-horse gait felt smooth and powerful, and Vivian’s arms circled snugly around him. She was doing fine.

“You hungry?” he asked.

She nodded against his back. “Famished.”

“Okay, let’s have our picnic here, then we can swim later.”

 When they stopped, he helped her slide down, then joined her on the sand. “How about over there on that flat rock?”

“Perfect.” She shrugged out of the pack and set it on the rock, settling with her feet in the sand. The golden glow from the sun kissed her skin and her dark eyes grew almost luminous. He stared at her for a while, the perfect woman who had been almost invisible to him a month ago. How could he have not seen it? How could he have been so blind? She was a goddess, and he wanted her by his side forever.



Vivian stretched her legs, luxuriating in the feeling of the warm sand and the aura of the setting sun. Cody was acting funny, almost mesmerized. Maybe he was tired, poor guy. He’d been through the wringer, too. “You okay?” she asked, reaching for his hand.

“More than okay,” he said, his voice husky. “This is the perfect moment.”

She leaned back with her eyes closed. “It is. All by itself, with nothing connecting us to the past or future. It just is. We can just be in this moment, you know?”

“I do.” He unzipped and rummaged in the bag. “But I had a more specific idea.”

She opened her eyes and laughed. “You mean like eating? I like that.”

He grinned. “Er. Something a little different.” In his hand, he held a black velvet box.

Her heart skipped a beat and he dropped to one knee before her, flipping open the box. A diamond glinted in the light of the sunset.

“Vivian. Please hear me out.” He cleared his throat. “I’m an idiot. It took me forever to see you, appreciate you, and realize that your heart is made from solid gold. But every day, second by second, I’ve fallen deeper in love with you. I think of you from the moment I wake to until the instant I fall asleep. I dream about you. Incessantly.”

He reached up for her hand. “I can’t imagine my life without you by my side. You are my princess, and you are so beautiful. I need you. And I hope, I pray, you’ll consider making it permanent.”

Tears welled in her eyes and her heart beat faster.

“Will you marry me, Vivian Wood?”

Viv’s heart melted. Cody stared at her with such an earnest expression, looking almost a little nervous. Did he think she’d say no?

Vivian leaned forward and touched her lips to his. “Oh, Cody. That’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.” She hesitated, just a moment, saw his eyes flicker with worry, then her heart stirred with joy. “Yes. I would be honored to be your wife.”

His voice grew hoarse and he slid the ring onto her finger. It fit perfectly. “Oh, thank God. I was so afraid you’d say no.” A huge smile spread across his lips. “But you said yes.”

He enfolded her in his arms, kissing her deeply. They fell back onto the sand and she lay atop him, feeling content and completely happy for the first time in years. “I’m still hungry,” she said when her stomach growled.

He laughed. “Me, too. But I’m hungrier for you. I have a little blanket in that backpack. Wanna spread it out?”

She grabbed it and spread it on the sand, but before she could take out the sandwiches, he picked her up and laid her down on it, leaning over her.

“I can’t wait, Viv. I need you now.”

She felt the evidence of his need growing against her, and in that second her body responded, growing slack and moistening as if it knew all along what was coming. “Cody. You make my knees weak. I always thought that was just a saying, but—”

He crushed his mouth against hers, stopping all conversation. Hungrily, she kissed him back, this man who was to be her husband. The thought thrilled her, but even more was the electrifying sensation that filled her when he slid the shirt over her arms and lowered her shorts and bathing suit, tossing them aside. Instantly, she was naked, and above her he shed his shorts in seconds, staring into her eyes with such deep passion that she thought she might never be this happy again.

He reached around her waist, pulling her tight against his body and whispering in her ear. “Don’t ever leave me, Viv. You ground me. You make me wanna be a better man.”

She slid her arms around his neck, nuzzling his salty skin. “Good,” she whispered back. “’Cause I never want to catch you with another woman again.”

He gave a low chuckle. “I promise.” He laid her down again gently and began kissing her collarbone, tasting her skin and gently sliding his tongue in circles, going lower and lower. At her breasts, he spent long, luxurious moments teasing and kissing her nipples until they stood straight up in the russet light of sunset. In the background, she saw the sky had blazed with color, scored with lines of violet and orange. She sighed and shifted on the blanket, letting her legs fall apart.

He moved lower, kissing her belly until it quivered, and then lower again, until his face disappeared, and all she could see was the rise and fall of his head as he ministered to her with his tongue. She reached down to run her fingers through his hair, having never felt such intense pleasure in her life. She thought she would burst apart with the sensations, and after ten minutes of the lovely, hedonistic pleasure, she called to him.

With a raspy tone, she begged, “Cody. I want you inside me.”

He raised his face, smiled at her. “I thought you’d never ask.”

She laughed and lifted her body to accept him, felt his delicious plunge inside her. She wrapped her legs around him and raked her nails down his back. “Oh, what you do to me. Don’t stop. Please.”

His voice had deepened to a near growl, and she pictured him suddenly as a wild cave man claiming his woman, or a stallion, unbridled and free, sliding in and out, fast and hard.

It happened quickly, and together they cried out into the salty night air, echoed only by the sounds of the gulls swooping overhead. The tremors of joy infused her with cresting sensations of pleasure that echoed through her, growing in intensity until she flopped back on the blanket, perspiring and weak, her body trembling and her heart pounding.

He collapsed on her, and she felt his heartbeat rocketing against hers. Slowly it subsided, his breathing regulated, and he raised his eyes to hers.

“My God, woman. Were you trying to kill me?” His smile belied his words.

She toyed with his hair, the other hand tracing his spine down to his buttocks, where she cupped him and squeezed. “I can’t kill you yet. I need you to do this to me every single day for the rest of our lives.” She stretched luxuriously and raised one hand in the waning light, admiring the ring. “Oh, how it sparkles.”

“I’m glad you like it. Finn says it was his grandmother’s. My great-grandmother’s.”

Tears filled her eyes. “That makes it even more special.”

“You’re special.” He kissed her.

Her stomach growled.

“Oops,” she said. “Sorry about that. How romantic, huh?”

He snorted a laugh. “Oh my God, I’m so hungry I could eat a dozen sandwiches.”

She eased away from him and slipped into her suit. “Then let’s eat, husband-to-be.”

Popeye nickered from the spot where they’d tethered him.

She covered a laugh with her hand. “Oh my gosh, Cody. Popeye saw the whole thing.”

Cody put on his shorts and sat on the rock, tilting his head in her direction. “And he loved every minute of it,” he said. “Remember, the poor guy is gelded.”

She slid into her bathing suit, blushing. With a giggle, she swatted his arm. “Stop it.”

He unwrapped a sandwich and held it out to her. “Turkey and cheese? Or cheese and turkey?”

“Give me that,” she said, sitting next to him and taking a big bite. “Delicious.”

He uncorked a small bottle of champagne and poured it into two plastic glasses.

“No wonder that pack was so heavy,” she laughed, “Were Libby and Finn in on this?”

He nodded. “Yup. The champagne was Libby’s idea.”

“I love your family.”

“They’re your family now, baby.”

She smiled and twined her arm through his for a toast. “To us,” she said.

“Together forever,” he whispered. He clicked her glass again. “And to the many little ones I hope we have to help us work on our farm.”

“Our farm. I love the sound of that.” She grinned, kissed his champagne-tasting lips. “And I do want a passel of kids.”

He raised one eyebrow. “What the hell’s a passel?”

She laughed and leaned into him. “Oh, my dear. I have a lot to teach you, don’t I?”

“Apparently so,” he chuckled. “Good thing I’m ready to learn.”

They finished their sandwiches and champagne, then walked arm in arm to the edge of the water. Together they faced the scarlet sky now tinged with deep purple.

Water lapped at their ankles and they stepped deeper into the cool ocean. Vivian scrunched her toes in the sand below and leaned her head on his chest.

A frisson of pleasure traced her spine and she sighed contentedly. “Is this really happening, Cody?”

 “Yeah, it’s real all right, he said. “Now, how about that swim?”

Together, they rushed forward, diving side by side into the welcoming green sea.

Epilogue

Three years later

Vivian rolled the stroller up the handicapped ramp onto the porch of Shady Pines II, noting the beautiful sea green shutters and trim enhancing the new white clapboard building. Eileen had been a key member of the design team and her touches were evident everywhere, from the expansive windows in the sun-drenched rooms to the classical piano music playing in the background. The pastel colors, comfortable furniture, and soft ambiance filling the facility made it feel homey and pleasant, and Vivian was thrilled when her mother was admitted a few months ago with only a modest increase in monthly charges.

She was relieved to have her mother back in Brewster in her room by the sea. The temporary facility in neighboring East Dennis had been satisfactory. It was clean. The food was nutritious, if boring. But it hadn’t been as close to Blueberry Hill, and her mother’s room had only one window facing another building.

In light of the damage done by Hurricane Delilah, weathermen said it had been the worst storm in the past hundred years, and the likelihood of another of its monstrous proportions was very low. So, in spite of the risk that it could happen again, the owners had rebuilt Shady Pines in the same valley, and the place quickly filled up with clients.

Carefully maneuvering up to the door so she wouldn’t wake the child, she pressed the blue square with the wheelchair emblem on it that automatically opened the doors. The doors whooshed open and she pushed the stroller inside.

Eileen flagged her down in the hallway, walking briskly along with an iPad in her hands and a smile on her face. She’d been head nurse before the flood. Now she ran the place.

“Vivian!” She hurried to her side. “It’s good to see you.”

They embraced and stepped back. “Your mother’s all ready for you. She’s in her chair by the window. I just left her. She’s having a good day today.”

“Thank you, Eileen. It’s so good to have her here. Especially with you in charge.”

The nurse bent down to peek into the stroller. “Oh, the sweet little fella’s asleep. I hope I didn’t wake him.”

“Don’t worry if you did. He’s been sleeping for three hours. It’s time for him to wake up.”

“He’s beautiful, Vivian.” Eileen straightened. “Well, have a nice visit with your mom. And come back soon.”

“We will.”

Down the hall and to the right, Vivian found Room 212 and tapped on the door. She didn’t hear a response, but gently pushed the stroller inside anyway.

“Good morning,” she said. “We’ve come for another visit.”

She’d learned not to use her own name at first, or call her mother “Mom” right off the bat. She’d just wait to see what frame of mind she was in each time, and play it by ear.

Her mother had aged well. Still pretty at sixty, her dark hair laced with gray framed her face and her Irish blue eyes twinkled with a bright light. Vivian hadn’t inherited blue eyes from her mother, but dark brown eyes from her father.

The new medication that she’d started a year and a half ago had begun to help in some ways. Her mother was calmer now, more accepting of the fact that she didn’t remember people. She didn’t get as frantic or upset when someone “new” came into the room, and it had been actually pleasant to visit her over the past year.