Summer With The Rock Star (Blue Bay Beach Reads Book 2) Page 7

  She studied the hands on the watch.

  “Do you know where he or your mother are now?”

  Claudia sniffled. “I’m not sure. My father was in jail for a time, but he may have been sent back to Montreal—he and my aunt are originally from Canada.”

  Carter reached out for Claudia. He wanted nothing more than to relieve her of the burden and protect her from the people she imagined might return to her life and harm her.

  Before long, she squared herself in front of the piano and laid her fingers on the keys and started playing her heart out. He watched her expression flicker through the layers of pain she tried to keep at bay. Her brown eyes were filled with sadness, but beneath that, he recognized a glimmer of hope. It was the same one that he’d all but abandoned but found a sliver of back in the church in town. It fueled him, that gave sound to his feelings and that reminded him that even on the cloudiest of nights, the stars still twinkled in the distant sky.

  In the following weeks, time dispensed itself rather quickly. They were the kinds of days Carter wanted to be slow but sped by unlike the many days he counted in his past that he’d rather have over quickly but tended to creep along.

  But during that time, Carter and Claudia got to know each other. One date turned into two then four.

  He spoke to his team and made it clear he was taking a break. They didn’t respond well. But what choice did they have? He wouldn’t tell them where he was and he was sure that they didn’t expect to find him where he’d escaped when he’d first fled the rehab facility. The small town had become a sanctuary. If anyone recognized him, they kept it to themselves. For that, he was grateful.

  Each night, Claudia and Carter got together to play music.

  After they finished a modern piece by a Japanese pianist, he asked after her aunt because he still hadn’t met her.

  “I brought her for a checkup yesterday, and she’s healthy. They just said she’s tired. Common at this age. I think she hears us playing though. It’s probably the soundtrack to happy dreams.” Claudia’s chin trembled as she tried to smile.

  “How could she not?” he said with a chuckle. “I’m happiest when playing.”

  “Me too. I feel most like myself.”

  “Me too.” He nodded. “And when I’m with you.”

  Seated on the wooden piano bench, they were close. Close enough to kiss. Her lips were two perfect pillows that she’d painted with gloss earlier but had since faded. He inhaled the faint scent of vanilla along with her gardenia perfume.

  “But we’re doing this all backward,” Claudia whispered as though his comment caught up with her. Trepidation laced her voice.

  “Maybe we are doing it backward, but I’ve never done anything forwards or sidewards. I say, onward. Let’s see what happens.” His voice was thick with longing.

  At that, their lips crashed together. He was gone, swept away by her, yet still very much in his body as it hummed and heated up.

  The room was otherwise silent, just the two of them, making their own music. They moved in harmony, each seeking the other with their lips. His hands tangled in her long hair and hers pressed against the firm muscles of his back.

  As they continued to kiss his chest swelled like the crescendo of a masterpiece in the making.

  Chapter 9

  Claudia

  The last days and weeks had been leading to the moment Carter and Claudia shared. It was fitting that they were seated on the piano bench. It was through music she felt like she was most honest and able to translate into sound the pain she couldn’t put into words. With each note, she felt as though she were letting a piece of the past go and with each passing minute with Carter, it was as though she were inviting in her future.

  She’d told him about her past, but the more they played music together, the more she was able to put it behind her, to let the possibility for goodness into her life. Goodness she secretly wanted to share with him.

  The stubble along Carter’s jaw scratched her cheek as he moved from kissing her lips to planting a hundred tiny kisses behind her ear and down the side of her neck before their eyes met. They searched hers as though trying to find the right chord for a nameless tune, one they were writing together.

  His hand skimmed her cheek and she felt a tremulousness in her lips because she wanted more of Carter, but knew something was bound to interfere if she let herself get too happy or feel too free. It always did.

  But he pinned her with a reassuring gaze, not allowing her thoughts to chatter with dark notes of fear and loss and anxiety. Then his lips softly locked on hers again and it was that second kiss, which was tender that proved Carter wasn’t the British bad boy he’d made himself out to be. It bridged the first which had told her how very much he wanted her with a fierce hunger that had been building between them.

  The lift and fall of their chests fell into synchronicity as they each remembered that breathing, and not kissing, was a requirement. It was almost a melody as the kiss deepened.

  There was a third part to the particular tune of the kiss and it was when they pulled apart—she was left wanting more.

  Feeling as though her lips were swollen and pink, she got them each a glass of water. Her legs trembled and she absentmindedly brought her hand to her mouth, feeling the slight sting like she’d been in the sun all day. She fanned herself, still heated from Carter’s kiss.

  His energy was enough to illuminate an entire planet and she wondered what it would mean if they were to be together. What about his career? Her aunt and future? She still had a few more leads to follow before she put the house up for sale, but she wasn’t ready to give up. At that, the notion of other people, namely Carter, giving up on her threatened to ruin the evening. She’d been abandoned by her parents, what was to stop some guy she’d only known for a few weeks from deciding he was through with her?

  His melodic voice interrupted the jumble in her mind and set her to rights. “What’s the plan?” he asked.

  She swept her hand across her forehead then opened the back door leading to the slate patio and pool below. “Let's live on the wild side. Let's not have a plan. Let's be spontaneous, see what happens.”

  “It’s warm out tonight, but you really heated me up in there,” he practically growled, catching up to her from behind and wrapping his arms around her waist.

  A smile rose to her lips as he kissed her cheek.

  “You said you wanted to be spontaneous. You know what that means.” He glanced over her shoulder before scooping her up and rushing down the steps toward the pool.

  She wore a t-shirt and cutoff jeans, but before she could take off her watch, Carter tossed her in the pool. He dove in as she surfaced, whooping.

  She swam over to him, unsure whether to be annoyed (the old Claudia) or relish in the joy they brought each other (the new Claudia). She didn’t know Wilde as well as she did Carter, but she couldn’t find it in herself to be upset with him for tossing her in the water. It was her idea to be spontaneous after all.

  They faced each other, treading water. A drop dripped from his nose and without thinking she gave it a kiss, which turned into another on his temple then one more on his chin. She explored the very kissable areas on his face before his lips found hers.

  They kissed again in the cool blue light of the pool.

  At last, they pulled apart and then lifted onto the tiled edge. “That was supposed to cool us off?” Carter asked.

  “I feel a bit refreshed.” She smiled.

  His eyes landed on her wrist. “I’m sorry. I forgot to have you remove all valuables.”

  Her gaze followed his and she unclasped the watch. “It’s okay. I think this has been weighing me down anyway.” She tossed it into the darkness toward a nearby chair. Then gripping his shoulders, she dunked them both back in the pool. They splashed around for a few minutes, laughing and kissing each other intermittently. It felt wonderful, playful, free. He wasn’t what she’d expected at all. He was more.

  She tilt
ed her head back in the water, thanking her lucky stars that they’d found each other then laughed to herself because that was a very un-Claudia thing to do. Then again, so was falling in love and swimming in a pool at night.

  Claudia abruptly went still when she suddenly smelled a sharp scent of cheap cologne.

  “Are you okay?” Concern furrowed Carter’s brow at the sudden change.

  “I’m fine. Sorry. I thought—” She shook her head and then picked up her smile and laughter where she’d left off—she wanted to be free of the past.

  “We should dry off anyway,” Carter said, helping her out of the pool.

  She went to an outdoor cabinet to grab some towels and when she passed the chair where she thought she’d thrown the watch. It was gone. It must have fallen into the shrubbery. She’d look in the morning when it was light outside.

  After saying goodnight to Carter, Claudia showered and got into bed. She tried to bask in the memory of them kissing, of how it lit her up inside, and how they’d attuned to each other, especially when playing music on the piano, but she couldn’t help but dwell on the old, familiar smell of cologne and how the watch had gone missing.

  Louis was never far from her mind, especially since arriving at her aunt’s house, but he was the last person she wanted to think about.

  The next morning, after having breakfast with her aunt, Claudia went outside to find the watch. She searched on the pool deck and even checked the filters. She distinctly remembered tossing it on a chair, but it was nowhere to be found. She sought out Esmerelda, the housekeeper, but she hadn’t seen it either.

  Afterward, Claudia went to her aunt’s home office to finish going through files, scanning documents, and digging around on the computer accounts to figure out where seven-figures might have vanished to. Her phone beeped with Tutti Frutti, the song she had programmed for her aunt’s number.

  “Hello?” she asked, suddenly worried Aunt Margot had fallen again and was stuck upstairs—it had only been about an hour since she’d checked.

  At the sound of the caller’s greeting in French, she swept from the office and hurried upstairs.

  When she entered the room, the older woman was sleeping sweetly in bed.

  “Who is this?” Claudia hissed as she closed the door behind her and stood in the hallway.

  “Louis. Remember me?” he asked in French.

  “Of course I remember you. Why do you have Aunt Margot’s phone? How’d you take it from her?” She spun around, suddenly worried he was in the house. Had he been? Did he find the watch? She raced to the security system panel to make sure it was armed.

  “I need something from you,” he said.

  “Don’t count on me giving you a thing,” Claudia spat.

  “I know about your little playdate with a certain famous rock star who’s trying to keep his presence in your quaint little town quiet.”

  “Have you been watching me?” Knots tightened in Claudia’s stomach and a cold sweat coated her skin.

  “There are a few passwords that I need you to get, s’il vous plait.”

  “What do you mean?” Claudia made a sudden and startling realization. “You didn’t only take her phone; you took her money.” The cold sweat turned into red hot anger.

  “She hardly knows who she is never mind what she has.” Mockery spiked Louis’s tone.

  “That is wrong. Why would you do such a thing?”

  “Find out her password for the Allied Financial account, fille.”

  “I will do no such thing.”

  “Remember what I said about your rock star boyfriend. The clock is ticking. You took the watch. Well, it was mine, but I’m sure you can still find out the time and trust me, you don’t have much.”

  Claudia had about ten more questions to ask him and at least twice that number of things to say to him. She seethed. There was no way she’d give him anything other than her disdain.

  But she had to figure out a plan.

  When she reached Aunt Margot’s room, the older woman was awake and bright-eyed. Claudia tried to release the tension in her shoulders.

  “Are you okay, darling? I heard you on the phone. You sounded upset.”

  She didn’t want to trouble her aunt, but she wasn’t going to dance around the truth. “Aunt Margot, have you seen Louis lately?” She held the older woman’s eyes, hoping this was a lucid moment.

  “Heavens no. Last I heard he was in jail. Good thing too. I wouldn’t trust him not to rob me blind.”

  “This is hard to say, Aunt Margot, but I think he has been doing just that.”

  Confusion flickered across her features and Claudia feared she was losing her presence of mind.

  “Oh, I doubt that, darling.”

  As quickly and clearly as she could, Claudia explained the phone call and the missing money.

  Margot waved her hand dismissively. “This is nonsense.”

  “Remember how when you went to the hospital, we found out that your insurance premium hadn’t been paid?”

  “Well, he said he was going to take care of it.”

  Claudia jolted. “I thought you said you hadn’t seen him.” The knots in her stomach twisted around each other.

  “He missed me. I only had one brother. I remember taking care of him when he was little. Such an ornery little bugger.” She smiled fondly as though she’d forgotten all the trouble he’d caused over the years.

  “Aunt Margot. Please, tell me, have you seen him? Did you leave him in charge of your finances?”

  “I’d just as soon leave him in charge as I would Bella, Bear, and Lulu.”

  Claudia’s eyebrows pinched together. “Remember I told you he took your phone and called me, asking to find out the password for your Allied Financial account. That means he’s been here.”

  “The dogs would do a better job of protecting my wealth than that old trout.” Margot leaned back on her pillow as the effort and confusion took her under. She soon went back to sleep.

  Claudia felt frustration welling inside, but her aunt couldn’t help it. She kissed her on the forehead and swept from the room. She gathered up everything she’d discovered about her aunt’s finances, which wasn’t much, and called the police.

  After reporting Louis and the suspected case of elder abuse in the form of financial exploitation, Claudia was left feeling helpless, frustrated, and unable to sleep.

  Chapter 10

  Carter

  The next day, Carter went to the Coconut Cove Café for what was quickly becoming his daily dose of the Pina Colado smoothie—and Claudia. He’d never before paid much attention to what he’d eaten or drank, but being in the small town with all of its outdoor activities, the fresh sea air, and the sunshine, he felt like a new man. One who cared about himself, his health and mindset when before he’d lived the rock and roll lifestyle. He also cared about Claudia.

  He entered the dining room with its thatched roof, the consistent scent of coconut mixed with the breeze coming off the ocean, and oldies music soundtrack. The Four Tops, Bobby Darin, and of course, Elvis were quickly becoming favorites, which could have been because they so often sang about love. His eyes landed on a tall woman with dark brown hair, pulled up into a ponytail, long legs, and the most tempting smile he’d ever seen.

  The song Why do Fools Fall in Love bopped from the stereo system. Carter would be a fool not to love her. He did love her. With a delighted sigh, he sat in his usual spot at the end of the counter. He hadn’t seen that coming. Sure, he was a flirt, but never before had he felt such a solid, sure feeling. It surged in his chest and pressed against his ribs as though it might burst from him in a loud proclamation.

  A tune that wasn’t the same as the one playing over the speakers entered his mind, followed by a few lyrics. He grabbed a napkin and started penning them down, overcome with affection, inspiration, and certainty that Claudia was the woman for him.

  The other waitresses greeted him, but they left his order for Claudia to take. She was busy, hustling
from table to table. She had to take care of her aunt, and although she seemed to like her job at the café, he wanted to take care of her. With the tour coming up in the fall, he wasn’t sure how to go about canceling or how to handle everything, but he’d figure out a way.

  It took Claudia a while to finally break free and greet him. When she did, her eyes were clouded over and dark rings colored the space beneath them as though she hadn’t slept much the night before.

  He hadn’t either, but it was because he couldn’t stop thinking about her. however, she looked worried, concerned whereas he’d felt jubilant.

  “Good morning.” Had she not been on the other side of the counter, he would’ve given her a good morning kiss.

  “Hey,” she said slowly.

  Something thick and slippery worked its way between them as she stood there.

  “Is everything okay?” he asked.

  “Yeah.” She pasted on a smile. It was different than the one that usually tripped his pulse. “What can I get you?” she asked.

  It was as if the music went off. Had it been a record, it would’ve scratched and all he would’ve heard was static.

  “Oh, uh, I guess I’ll have the Pina Colado smoothie.”

  She stood there a minute longer, jotting his usual order down. Her eyes darted over him then just as quickly she rushed off to the cook’s window.

  The awkwardness he sensed slithered into his belly, making his insides feel all wrong. He suddenly wasn’t hungry for breakfast.

  He watched her carefully without being obvious about it. What had changed overnight? Carter, well, Wilde, wasn’t used to women denying interest in him, but a sudden and upsetting thought flooded his mind. Maybe she had a boyfriend back in San Francisco? He’d never bothered to ask because that wasn’t something Wilde ever cared about.

  He sunk further onto the stool.

  Eventually, she brought his smoothie over. It brimmed with a striped straw, umbrella, and tiki decorations. “Is there anything else you need?” she asked.