“I’m fine. Head back to the house with Cole.”
Wasting no time, he circled the dunes and made a show of pulling out his keys when he emerged from the grass. The media honed in like a swarm, as expected. Alec made sure Cole’s car got out of the lot before he signed a couple T-shirts, and drove home.
He decided to have a talk with Faith tonight. Set things straight between them before anyone got involved or feelings got hurt. But the lights in the Covington guesthouse were off when he drove past, and damn if disappointment didn’t fill his chest at not getting a chance to see her again. He wondered who he was pacifying with this plan.
He checked his rearview mirror to make sure he wasn’t followed before driving through the security gate and was satisfied no one was there. When he parked at Lacey’s guesthouse, Jake was sitting on the porch stairs waiting, shoulders hunched and head bowed.
A punch of worry hit Alec in the gut as he climbed out of the car. “What’s wrong?”
Jake shrugged, the hapless gesture belying his expression. “Nothing. Just wanted to talk.”
Alec walked up to the base of the steps and leaned a hip on the rail. “About what?”
“This thing with Faith. How serious is it?” Jake swiped the back of his neck.
Crickets and cicadas chirped in the distance as Alec studied his brother’s face, wondering where the interest came from. A hundred different women had been pictured with him in magazines and literary blogs. Jake had never asked about any of them. “I’ve known her a couple weeks. It’s not serious and nothing’s going on.”
“Lacey and I were behind you on that Ferris wheel. I saw you together. There was something. We’ve never lied to each other.”
Alec shoved his hands in his pockets. Guilt tore at his gut. “Fine. Something’s going on, but it’s all on my end. I don’t plan on acting on it. Again. Why, Jake? You trying to warn me off her?”
A rare flash of anger flared in his brother’s eyes before he dialed it back. “She’d be good for you. Maybe you should see where it leads.”
Alec snorted. “But?”
Jake took his time standing. “Does she know about Laura?”
His molars gnashed. “You know she doesn’t.” No one except the immediate family knew. They kept it that way for a reason. Jake understood the rationale behind the decision as well as he did. Nearly ten years and Jake had never brought up Laura’s name. Why the hell was he doing it now? “Is there a point to this, little brother? If not, I’m tired.”
“How long are you going to blame yourself? Don’t you think it’s time to move on? Faith isn’t like the others. She’s not a distraction.”
“Which is exactly why I won’t be getting involved.” Alec climbed the porch steps.
“Alec . . .”
“Good night, Jake.” He kicked the door shut behind him.
chapter
nine
Alec sighed and stared down at his cell. He’d managed to avoid Faith for two days, but Cole’s text would make that difficult to keep up.
About to board the plane to Cozumel. Mia is a mess. Can you keep an eye on Ginny and Faith while Jake is working? Just pop in once in a while. Thanks, man.
Jake’s text followed two minutes later.
Mom asked about you again. Go visit.
He scrubbed his hands over his face and rested the back of his head on the chair. He’d written nothing new for his book, guilt clawed at his stomach for how he’d handled Jake the other night, and he wanted to see Faith more than he wanted his next cup of coffee. He’d rationalized this desire with her ability to get him to write, but yeah . . .
He wanted to finish that kiss. He wanted to follow Jake’s advice and see where things led. He wanted his head back in the book. But none of those things were happening, so he got dressed and headed to his parents’ cozy ranch house in a suburb near the county line.
His memories of the house weren’t unpleasant. Their yard was still the most beautiful, manicured one on the street. Even though Dad was retired, the landscaper in him still sought perfection. Holly berry bushes lined the front walk from the driveway to the front stoop. Lilies and dahlias mingled in a couple flower beds. Geraniums and marigolds in potted baskets hung from the fascia. There wasn’t a dandelion in sight. Even the white aluminum siding was pristine.
His mother never had that kind of precision, except in the kitchen. If it involved baked goodness, she was an expert. But she was too even-tempered to be anything but pleasant. When Dad harped on Alec for staring off into space, making up a poorly fabricated story to get out of trouble, or failing math, it had been Mom who came to his rescue.
He’d come back home at Christmas. Before that, it had been a little more than a year since he’d seen them. Plenty of time for his dad to come up with some new teasing quips about his chosen profession. Millions of fans worldwide, and he couldn’t get his own dad to read one of his books.
The screen door slammed shut with a clap, and he looked up to find his mom’s warm smile. Her blond hair was cut in a shorter bob since he’d seen her last and she’d rounded out some.
“You’re home.” She opened her arms, wiggling her fingers when he didn’t step forward right away.
He closed the distance and accepted her embrace, bending nearly in half to stoop to her height. She still smelled like flour. “I missed you.”
“I missed you, too. Come inside. How long are you staying in Wilmington?”
“Until Jake ties the knot.”
Her grin was something special and drowning in delight. “Can you believe it? I’m so excited.”
“I never would’ve guessed.”
He followed her through the foyer and toward the back of the house, breathing in the familiar scent of lemon dusting spray. He stopped short at the sight of Dad at the kitchen table, reading the newspaper. It was rare growing up to find him anywhere but the yard when he was actually home. The wrinkles on his face had deepened, but his skin was the bronze Alec remembered. Reading glasses were perched at the end of his wide nose. A new addition.
“Well, hey, son.” He rose and clapped him on the back.
“Hi, Dad.” With that pleasantry out of the way, he turned back to his mother, who was busy pouring sun tea.
“You’re not at all concerned Jake’s marrying a Covington?” Alec asked. Sure, the Covington dynamic had changed a great deal over the past year, and Alec was pretty certain Lacey loved his brother to the moon and back, but she was still a Covington and the Winstons were just the help.
The newspaper hit the table with a crack, but there was no anger in the gesture. “Why? He’s not being forced into it. Not everyone weds because they’re stupid enough to knock a girl up. Right, son?” He barked out a laugh at his own joke.
Direct hit. Score one for Dad.
Alec waved his hand, even though the barb hurt. They all did, not that his dad noticed. He might stroke out if his father ever thought about what he said before it spewed from his mouth. No filter, his dad. He’d never had one. Alec didn’t have enough fingers and toes to count the number of times his father had embarrassed him growing up.
Alec sat across from his father and studied the ancient yellow linoleum. The counters and cabinets dated back to the year the house was built. He was pretty sure the appliances did, too.
“Lacey’s a sweetheart,” Mom chirped. “We’re so happy for them. Aren’t we, Gregory?”
Dad nodded. “Jake could do worse for himself.”
Alec tried for neutral ground so he wouldn’t set his dad off on any new tangents. “The yard looks nice.”
Pride filled his father’s smile. “Hard work pays off—not that you’d know about that, with your apartment penthouse in the city. Probably hire maids to clean for you, too.”