My eyes opened and I found myself covered with a blanket. I was still on the lounge chair. I slowly sat up as Ian came walking out onto the patio with a cup in his hand.
“I hope you drink coffee because I brought you some.”
“Thank you,” I said as I took the cup from him.
“Cream?” he asked as he held up the carton.
“Just a little.” I smiled.
The morning air was just as breathtaking as the night air. I looked out at the calmness of the ocean as the sun was up, displaying its beauty in the clear blue sky. Ian took a seat in the lounge chair next to me as he sipped his coffee.
“When I came in last night and saw you sleeping here, you looked so peaceful, and I didn’t want to disturb you. There’s nothing like waking up with the warm morning air surrounding you.”
“It’s beautiful here.” I smiled.
“How are you feeling, Aurora?”
I looked at him sternly because I’d asked him not to call me that. “My apologies. It’s just Aurora is the name of a princess and, when you sleep, you look like Sleeping Beauty.”
The pit of my stomach started to ache and my heart started to pick up its pace. Why was he saying these things to me? Why does he keep saying I’m beautiful? I’m not. I’m nothing but an ordinary girl with a messed up life.
“Thanks, but I’m far from it.” I laughed softly.
Ian smiled and turned his head towards the ocean as I asked him a question that I wanted to know the answer to.
“How was your date last night?”
“It was fine. Why do you ask?”
“I’m just trying to make conversation, that’s all.”
“Why would you make my date the topic of conversation, Rory? Why not start the conversation by telling me who you are and where you’re from and, most importantly, why were you hurt and who did it? Was it your boyfriend?”
I wouldn’t look at him as I sipped my coffee and stared out into the depths of the ocean. “What makes you think I have a boyfriend?” I asked.
“Damn it, Rory. Why do you evade my questions?” he asked as he got up from his chair. He knelt down next to me and cupped my chin in his hand. “If you won’t tell me, then I’ll just find out for myself,” he said as he got up and walked away.
The fact of the matter was that, growing up, I was never allowed to tell anybody anything. Everything about my life was a secret. As I was in deep thought, Ian yelled from the door.
“It’s time for breakfast and you’re joining us. So, come inside, now.”
I turned and looked at him as he walked away. I got up from my chair and walked back inside the house. Mandy, one of the maids, showed me to the dining room where Ian and another woman sat. He stared at me as I entered the room and told me to have a seat.
“Rory, I would like you to meet Adalynn.”
“Hi, Rory. It’s nice to meet you.” She smiled as she reached her hand across the table.
“Hi.”
This wasn’t the same woman I saw Ian with last night. Adalynn was beautiful. Her dark hair was long and her light blue eyes had a hint of gray in them, making them a stunning color. Her high cheekbones, almond-shaped eyes, and full lips gave her an exotic look. Mandy set down a bowl of fruit in front of me and poured some more coffee in my cup.
“I hope you like fruit. I wouldn’t know, since you won’t tell me a damn thing about you,” Ian spoke.
“Leave the girl alone, Ian. She’s been through hell and she doesn’t need you to make her feel worse,” Adalynn said as she winked at me.
“I do like fruit, Ian.” I smiled.
“Well, there’s a start. I finally know something she likes,” he said with a cocky attitude.
I had had just about enough of his cockiness. I looked at him and tilted my head. “Why is it so important to you that you know about me? You’re a millionaire. That much I’ve gathered just from being in this house and seeing the way you dress. I get the impression that you like to control things and people. You come off as arrogant and demeaning, and I’m not comfortable telling you about my lousy life and the shithole that I came from.”
“Damn it!” he said as he slammed his fists on the table. “I saved your life!”
I threw my napkin on the table as I spoke sternly. “Maybe you shouldn’t have.”
I slowly got up from my seat and held my side as I walked outside and down to the beach. The sand felt like I’d always imagined it would. It was so soft and warm as I sat down and ran my hands through it. Did I really mean what I said to Ian about he shouldn’t have saved me? I didn’t know. Maybe I should’ve just told him so he’d leave me alone.
Chapter 3
Ian walked over to where I was sitting and sat down next to me. He brought his knees up to his chest and sighed. “You sure know how to make an exit.”
“My name is Aurora Jean Sinclair. I’m twenty-three years old, and I come from a small town in Indiana. I want to thank you, Mr. Ian Braxton, for saving my life.”
Ian looked over at me and smiled. “It’s nice to meet you, Rory, and you’re very welcome.”
My hands were deep in the sand as I picked some up and held it in between my fingers. Ian stared at me for a moment before speaking.
“The way you’re playing with that sand, I’d assume that you’ve never touched sand before.”
“Only once.”
He chuckled lightly. “Yeah, right.”
I looked at him with all seriousness. “It’s true. This is the first time that I’ve seen the ocean and the second time that I’ve felt the sand.”
His eyes gazed into mine as he slowly shook his head. “You’re dead serious,” he whispered.
“All of this. The beautiful ocean air, the warm, soft sand, the peaceful sounds of the waves, you take for granted. To me, this is something I’ll cherish forever because I thought I’d never be able to experience it.”
I looked down for a moment as I could see the pity in his eyes. I didn’t want pity. My life was what it was, but I refused to let it define me as a person. “That’s only a small fraction of my life, Ian. I’m not sure you want to hear the rest.”
He reached over and took a hold of my hand. I looked at him. “I’ve pressed my hand against your bloody wound. I’ve shampooed your hair in the shower. I brushed your hair for you. I’ve given you a safe place to stay. I don’t think there’s any harm in holding your hand.” He smiled.