Echoes Of The Past (Fermosa Bay #1) Read online

  Hesitating, he opened his eyes and stared right into hers. Her smile so beautiful, hoping for him to make a decision. The right decision, whichever way right was.

  And then he leaned in for another kiss, yet this one was deep and wanting. The taste of her, the sound of her little moan was the final straw, and he broke the kiss, took her hand, and gently tugged her into the house.

  “Where’s the bedroom?” he heard himself asking.

  When there was no answer, he looked over his shoulder. Emily blushed, pointing down the hall.

  “You want this, right?”

  She nodded.

  “What’s with the red cheeks and the silence?”

  A coy smile spread across her face, and with a shrug of her shoulder, she replied, “I’m nervous, I guess.”

  He cocked a brow.

  “I don’t know. I mean. After all these years, you arrived last week, and now we’re—”

  Connor let go of her hand and cupped her face. “Sunshine, I don’t…this is not…” Letting out a long breath, he leaned his forehead against hers. “I’m not the seven-year-old Connor anymore.”

  She laughed. “I most certainly hope not.”

  Caressing her cheeks with his thumbs, he said, “I’m not having sex with you. I don’t do one-night stands, but I need you to know, there’s no us at the end of this story of yours. My life is in London.”

  As soon as he’d spoken the words, he closed his eyes, wondering whether he’d said them for her sake or his own. Yes, his life was in London, but within only a week, he’d had so many occasions where he’d felt envy for Jack, Ethan, and her life here in Fermosa.

  Had it just been a matter of novelty?

  “I know,” she finally whispered, and his eyes flew open. “I know,” she repeated as she brushed his lips with hers.

  They moved into her bedroom, and the corners of his mouth twitched in the attempt to hold back a smile when he took in the chaos.

  “Ignore it,” she pleaded.

  He laughed. “Doing my best.”

  Resting against his chest, she murmured, “Connor, it’s been a while.”

  It took him a moment to understand and although he was surprised at her honesty, it fit into the picture he had of her.

  Nodding, he pulled her even closer, kissed her lips, her jaw, left a trail of kisses along her neck…and stopped to let out a long sigh.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked, her voice mirroring the tension she probably felt.

  Looking down at his feet, he replied, “I’m good, but even I have to say no when it comes to two females. One at a time, please.”

  Boomer had followed them into the room and was happily purring as she rubbed against his legs.

  Emily burst into laughter, giggled a sorry as he scooped up the cat, took her outside of the bedroom, and quickly closed the door behind them.

  Stepping closer to her, he hooked his finger into the top of her dress and gently pulled her closer. “Let’s work on this happy ending.”

  Chapter Four

  When Emily woke the next morning, she turned and found Connor lying next to her on his stomach, with his hand possessively draped around her waist and their legs entwined. When she met his gaze, a smile appeared on his face, and he pulled her closer towards him as he rolled to his side. She loved it, and even more so, she appreciated he was still in her bed.

  Making love to him had been more than she’d ever expected in her wildest dreams. The moment he’d opened the door for her a few days earlier, all her feelings had come up within her. Despite telling herself that she’d created a fantasy by thinking she’d loved him, and always had, the moment he’d stood in front of her that day, her whole body had reacted. Of course, she’d momentarily been disappointed that he hadn’t remembered her, but the Connor she’d known as a seven-year-old boy had grown into a sexy and handsome man. She’d cursed herself over the next few days for being so naïve, thinking about him non-stop, nursing a childhood crush, but then he’d taken her into his arms at the beach. The simple kiss on her forehead had nearly melted her into a puddle.

  Last night, he’d been so gentle and sweet, so careful, yet demanding, her heart had about exploded. She’d hardly been able to contain all her feelings for him, and had fallen in love with him all over again.

  Or more accurately, fallen in love with the adult Connor.

  She only wished she knew how he felt about her.

  Carefully, she placed her finger on his face, traced his lips, his eyebrows, and the little scar he still had from falling all those years ago.

  “Good morning,” he whispered as he pulled her even closer. His breath caressed her skin and she’d never thought the morning after could be so erotic, so sensual.

  “Morning,” she replied with a smile. A smile she believed she wouldn’t be able to take off her face for the next few months.

  He checked the time on his watch. “Need to go to work?”

  Burying her head into his neck, she replied, “One more minute of this.”

  His laugh was music to her ears, but what he did then was even more enjoyable. He kissed her forehead, then around the corner of her eye, before he brushed his lips on her ears.

  “How about I’ll help you get ready?” he asked softly, his breath teasing her sanity.

  Curious, she looked up, seeing a broad grin spreading across his face. He picked her up with a quick move, ignored her shrieks, and carried her to the bathroom. Connor opened the shower stall, started the warm water, and gently backed her into the spray. The water felt like silk on her skin. Biting her lip, she watched him as he took the soap and started tenderly lathering her entire body, kissing her along the way. With the water cascading down their bodies, he then cupped her bum, picked her up, and made love to her again. It was one of the most sensual experiences in Emily’s life.

  Afterwards, he dried her off, and it made her want him even more.

  Hovering just above her lips, he said, “We’d better stop, otherwise you’ll never get to work.”

  She nodded with a sigh.

  They got dressed, and while she headed back to the bathroom to fix up her hair, she heard him in the kitchen. In the distance, she heard him talking to Boomer which made her laugh as she remembered his comment: One female at a time.

  He stuck his head into the bedroom, holding up a can of cat food. “Is that for your kitty cat?”

  She nodded, and he disappeared again.

  A couple of minutes later, she joined him in the kitchen, finding him opening and closing cupboards.

  “Can I help you?”

  He didn’t turn, but simply said, “Coffee?”

  “Sorry, no coffee in this house.”

  Connor turned and gave her a sad look. She bit her lip.

  “No coffee?”

  The way he stood there, shoulders sagged, eyes wide open in disbelieve, she nearly burst into laughter, but held back and simply shook her head.

  Dragging a hand through his hair, he asked, “How do you survive?”

  She blushed.

  “Not one of the talkative ones in the morning, are you?”

  “I love my tea.” Then she whispered, “Who needs coffee after a night like this anyway?”

  He laughed and pulled her in for another kiss. When he put some distance between them, he whispered against her ear, “You really need to go. Lunch, which is yesterday’s leftover, is over there.”

  He leaned back and pointed to the table.

  “Hey, thank you,” she said as she placed a kiss on his cheek. “I’ll have you stay here any time.”

  Giving her a slow nod, he said, “I might just do that.”

  Then he left, leaving her with doubts that she still lived in the past and would end up hurt.

  But all she wanted was to enjoy the little time, however long he’d stay in Fermosa Bay, with him. Finally be with him. Let them call her a dreamer; she couldn’t care less.

  ***

  All the way back to Jack’s house, Connor
couldn’t help but think about Emily and the way her body had made him feel. Although he knew it wasn’t fair, he thought of Harriet and how sex had been so straightforward. Like a duty in a relationship. With Emily he’d had fun, they’d laughed, explored, and pleased.

  He wondered, though, whether she was a fling to him while he was here. Or on the flip side, was he the childhood crush she had to get out of her head?

  Somewhere along the way, he’d started thinking about her as more than only a fling. Within that last week, she’d caught his heart, and he wasn’t able to let go either.

  He parked Jack’s car and went into the house.

  “Good morning, Son.” Jack’s voice echoed from the kitchen. “Just in time for coffee.”

  A smile tugged on Connor’s lips as he headed towards the kitchen. Jack studied him, and a slow smile spread across his face.

  “It seems you’ve inherited your mother’s charm. Just don’t hurt little Emmy.”

  Connor wasn’t sure what to think when he heard Jack using a nickname for Emily. Obviously, Emily was more important to the old man than he let show.

  “I…”

  Jack held up his hand. “Your business, not mine.”

  Connor poured himself some coffee and sat opposite his father. “Jack, why did you ask me to come here?”

  There was a long sigh followed by some coughing. Connor helped himself to some milk and sugar.

  “When you and your mother left, and yes…she took you away from me, apparently life at the coast was too dangerous…”

  Connor instinctively touched his scar. “The fall by the rocks?”

  The old man nodded. “It was the perfect excuse for her.” He stood and walked over to the window, leaning on the bench with both hands, his shoulders hunched. He looked even older than he already had. “We both knew the previous couple of years had been a lie. She had lovers in Melbourne, and I wasn’t able to afford the life she craved. So she left.” Shaking his head, he continued. “Gone the next morning. With you. I never expected that. Not in a million years. The following weeks, I spent most of my time in Melbourne looking for you. Hotels, airport, small bed and breakfast places, even hospitals. You two had vanished like dust.”

  He turned to look at Connor. “I hated her for taking my son. I worried myself sick, and I was hospitalised six months later with a heart attack. But people in Fermosa Bay cared and rallied behind me to help out. I put all my efforts into building six hotels along the coast. Doing even better since Ethan has taken over the business side of things, and Niall—” He sat back down again. “It’s time to organise the will so I can sleep in peace.”

  “Jack—”

  The old man held up his hand. “I know you don’t need my money. Most of the assets and cash will go to Ethan and Niall for the obvious reasons. Some of it will go to my little girl—” He laughed when he met Connor’s stare. “Little Emmy has always looked after me. Bringing me flowers to hospital, playing cards, and even sneaking in the odd chocolate. But I want to leave you something as well. You have brought me some of the happiest years of my life. I’ve always treasured them and will never forget them.” Jack placed his hand on his son’s. “And hopefully I’ll be able to remind you of some of the memories. Connor, part of my current will states for you to have this house and any reasonable amount you would need to settle in Fermosa Bay.”

  Connor stared at Jack, hearing the words but not able to process them. “I can’t—”

  Jack didn’t reply, and Connor stood, heading to the window. Staring out into the distance, he wondered what life would’ve been like if his mother had stayed in Fermosa Bay instead of the big city of London.

  “Have you always lived here?” he asked, without looking at his father.

  “No.” There was the sound of a long sigh. “I had a small house on the other side of town. Near the school. Near the cliffs, just across the road from the main beach.”

  Across the road from the main beach. Connor remembered his grandparents’ small house south of London. He’d had to share a room with his mother until she’d found a job and they’d moved into a small apartment. He’d been alone most days, but never as lonely as he’d felt at boarding school.

  Could he be happy in a small town with a few thousand people? Would he be able to pick up on the friendships here or would the years have pulled them apart?

  Watching a couple of Rosellas in the distances, he recalled his father’s words about his mother leaving on her own will. Had the last twenty-plus years been based on a lie?

  Did Jack lie?

  Shaking his head, he turned to face the old man. “I can’t accept that.”

  Jack nodded. “You said you’re here as long as I need you. I need you to find out the truth and remember your childhood.”

  “I can’t just—”

  Jack stood and stepped next to him, placing his hand on his shoulder. “How about I give you some space to think it over and later on we could head to the waterfalls for a nice lunch. Ethan might have some time to join.”

  Nodding, he actually looked forward to spending more time with his old friend. And the idea to find out more about the area appealed to him as well.

  Two hours later, Connor sat in the car with Jack on the way to Ethan’s. It’d surprised him how quickly the old man had everything organised. One phone call to Ethan to invite him for lunch and another one to Jacqui for some sandwiches and meat for the barbeque. The last fifteen minutes he’d directed Connor from one corner of the house to the other to gather the esky, drinks, chairs, and a portable barbeque. He was quietly amazed at his dad’s organisational talent.

  Connor drove along the main road and into a small side road towards the mountain range behind Fermosa Bay. Within minutes he parked in front of an impressive house with a view over the ocean. The front looked neat with only two bikes leaning against the garage. It seemed the house had been built recently, looking even more impressive with the exterior lattice wooden walls.

  He turned off the engine and opened the door.

  “I’ll wait here,” Jack said.

  Connor nodded and walked towards the house. Pausing on the step of the front door, he turned to take in the scenery around the house and spectacular view across the town and sea. He startled when the front door opened. Before him stood a man about his age, about the same height. His hair was blond with dark roots, and the freckles on his face gave him a mischievous look. The blue eyes studied him, carefully and hesitant.

  “You must be Niall,” he said as he stepped closer to the house, not able to hold back a smile.

  There was an uncertain nod and all of a sudden Connor wasn’t so sure anymore. He’d heard about Niall’s guilt all these years, because he thought he’d been responsible for the fall. They’d been kids and in reverse Connor felt the guilt inside for this man, because he’d done nothing wrong.

  “Good to see you, mate,” Niall finally said as he held out his hand.

  Connor took his hand and relief washed through him. “Good to see you, too. Will you join us?”

  “That was the idea, but only—”

  Connor shook his head. “No. Great idea.”

  Ethan came down the hallway, packed with a few things under his arm.

  “Got some space left in the car?”

  Connor laughed. “Most certainly.”

  As they packed another chair and a few more other extras, Connor felt a rush of excitement and warmth, and again the regret that he’d probably missed out on many barbeques with these guys.

  Ethan and Niall said their hellos to Jack, made some comments about the weather before they drove up the road and into the forest to a little waterfall, hidden away from the tourist route.

  Connor looked around, stepped into the shade of the forest, and subconsciously took in a deep breath of the clean, crisp air. He loved the spot already and allowed for his senses to take everything in. To his side, he heard the sudden sound of birds chirping, and a soft breeze gently rustled the leaves of trees.
With the roar of the waterfalls in the distance, they descended through the ancient rainforest to a small spot near the basin. Small droplets of water touched his skin as Connor explored the area.

  He stopped, listened, and asked the others. “What’s that sound?”

  “A koala.”

  Turning, he met his father’s gaze, checking whether he was serious, before he looked up the trees in search for the animal.

  Jack came closer and placed his hand on Connor’s shoulder. “Don’t despair. You’ll see heaps of them around the house. Noisy buggers they are.”

  Connor chuckled at his father’s expression.

  It was such a contrast to his life in England. So different, and yet, he was so much more at ease here than he’d ever been on the other side of the world. Pinching the bridge of his nose with his thumb and finger, he let out a long breath.

  At that moment, he knew Australia was a big part of him.

  Jack coughed.

  “Jack?”

  The old man held up his hand. “Don’t. I am okay.” He ran his finger under his nose, wiping it across his upper lip. “I’ve got my boys with me. I’ve been waiting for this for over twenty years. I’m not letting some silly cough take it away from me.”

  They sat and started eating their sandwiches.

  “Yum,” Connor commented.

  “Jacqui does the best sandwiches,” Niall said.

  “Jacqui is Emily’s mother,” Jack explained.

  “Is there a father?” Connor asked.

  Jack nodded. “Miles. Works on one of the fishing boats.”

  For a long moment, they ate in silence before Connor asked, “So, Niall, Ethan runs the hotels, what’s your part in the business?”

  Niall looked at Ethan, then Jack, who gave him a slight nod. There were a couple of things Connor wasn’t sure how to take. Jack’s slow nod or the simple conversing without words which made him feel like the odd one out.

  But why did he need Jack’s approval?

  “I’m not asking for secrets,” he said with some disappointment in his voice. “Just trying to start a conversation. Ethan told me you’re managing the bars in the hotels.”