He strode into the hall and nearly tripped over her flip-flop. “Faith?”

The house was eerily quiet. When there was no sign of her in the living room or kitchen, he figured she was out on the beach. He opened the fridge to grab a beer and found a ready-made sandwich for him. In the same instant, he realized if her dress was on the bed, she would be naked on the beach.

Kicking the fridge closed, he turned and stumbled over her other flip-flop. And that’s when he found her black underwear, right by the back door.

He laughed and pocketed the panties. She was turning into a little minx.

Except she wasn’t the kind of woman to go gallivanting around without clothes, and after stepping out onto the back deck, he didn’t see her anywhere. She had to have gone home, judging by the clues she’d left behind.

The image of her naked form filled his head, of her lying under him, her pale skin flushed with desire and her pretty mouth parted. Her amber eyes turning golden and her small, perfect breasts rising and falling with her gasps. The way she responded so openly to every touch, the sounds she made when she came . . .

Fuck. He was hard. And halfway down the beach before he even knew what hit him.

He found her on an Adirondack chair on her back deck, wearing a plain yellow bikini and the start of a sunburn. She was completely zonked out. A book was facedown on her stomach, her sunglasses shoved up on her head and tangled in her brown waves. The humidity had dampened her hairline so that the dewy tendrils curled madly. Dark lashes fanned her cheeks, her breasts rising and falling in an even rhythm.

His gaze traveled down to the waistline of her suit and encountered the scar he assumed was surgical. The kidney she gave her sister. He’d noticed it while making love, but in the light of day it was more pronounced. A constant reminder of her loss.

He sighed, wondering how she’d made it through the pain of her sister’s death when she’d had no other outlet or support. That took guts and strength, more than any one person should have. But she did. In spades. Had it been him losing Jake, Alec didn’t think he’d have survived.

She was so damn lovely it hurt. A physical, bone-deep ache that he’d never experienced and was positive he didn’t want. The urge to protect her, to slay her demons, and hold her tight was so powerful that all he could do was shake his head. Because he’d never been able to protect or hold on to anything. But Faith made him want to try.

Smiling, because she could easily bring one to his face, he gently took the book and set it aside. Then he opened the patio umbrella to protect her from the late-day sun. With her fair skin, she’d probably turn lobster in another hour. He decided to let her sleep and went into the house to see if he could scrounge up something to throw on the grill for dinner. If not, he’d order in, because he was keeping Faith all to himself tonight.

He was surprised to find a couple of steaks in the freezer, as he’d only seen her eat chicken, so he turned to put them in the sink to thaw. And stopped.

On her counter was a cupcake. With a birthday candle in it.

Faith didn’t eat sweets, so he couldn’t figure out if it was her birthday and she set it there for show or if it was her sister’s birthday and it was a sentimental thing.

Either way, he was the biggest shithead on earth. She’d been upset earlier, even through her attempt at bravery, and what did he do? He goddamn glued himself to the laptop. Ignored her like she was nothing, like her parents had done . . .

Christ. He hoped they’d called.

He pulled out his phone and found Mia in his contacts. “Do you have an employee record on Faith? A tax document? Anything with her date of birth?”

“Uh . . . She worked with Ginny at St. Ambrose, so I didn’t do an application. I do have a . . . hold on.” Papers shuffled in the background. “Wait. Why?”

“I think it might be her birthday. She didn’t say anything to me, but . . .” He looked at the cupcake. An inadequate celebration to say the least. One that made his chest grow heavy and clench like a vise.

“Here. Social security number, blah, blah, blah. Yes! It is today. She’s twenty-eight.” More papers shuffled. “Why wouldn’t she tell us? We could’ve had a cake while everyone was here for the fireworks last night and celebrated.” She sighed. “Now I feel bad.”

Mia couldn’t feel half as bad as he did. Or Faith. To go the whole day without any well wishes, not a one . . .

“I’m calling Lacey,” Mia insisted. “She can go to that bakery that’s doing the wedding cake and pick up a dessert or something. I’ll head into town with Ginny and get some chicken and corn for Cole to grill. Can you keep Faith busy for a couple hours? It’ll be late for a barbeque, but it’s better than nothing.”

Yes, it was better than nothing. And he knew just the thing to keep her occupied. He disconnected with Mia and tossed the cupcake in the garbage.

chapter

twenty-three

A featherlight touch tickled Faith’s arm, pulling her from sleep. Her skin was heated and she realized it was from the sun when she breathed in the scent of salt water. The steady thrum of the ocean roared in the background. Opening her eyes, she squinted to look up at Alec’s face as he sat on the edge of her chair, hip to hip.

“Hi.” She glanced around. Stretched. “I fell asleep.”

“Sounds like a nice way to spend the day, sleeping in the sun after a good book.”

She struggled to sit, bringing them closer. “How’s your manuscript? You were really going to town.”

He brushed a kiss over her lips, stirring her pulse. “It’s nearly done, thanks to you. And an even better story because of your insight.”

Warmth flooded her chest. “I’m glad.”

His smile fell a fraction. “I’m sorry I got so wrapped up.” He lifted her black panties, dangling from one finger. “I got your note. I’m about to make up for lost time.”

Before she could retort, he swooped her up in his arms and brought her inside. A rush of cool air hit her sun-kissed skin and she shivered.

As he carried her down the hall, his gaze raked over her body. “You’ve got the start of a sunburn, but I think I woke you in time.”

“I’m glad you did. Where are you taking me?”

Instead of going to the bedroom like she expected, he walked into the bathroom and set her on her feet. He turned on the water in the tub and grabbed a bottle of her body wash. Inhaling, he groaned and then checked the water temperature.

“Take a bath to wash the sunscreen off, and then I’ll rub some lotion . . . right here.” He kissed her shoulder and slid the strap of her bathing suit down her arm. “And here.” He kissed the other shoulder and removed her top with one slick flip of his wrist. He strode around to her back, trailing a finger down her spine. “And here.” He kissed the small of her back and crouched to slide her bikini bottoms down her legs. “Here, too,” he whispered, kissing her calves.

Air seeped from her lungs. Her heart pounded in anticipation. A sharp tremble tore through her core as the apex between her thighs throbbed. Yet she couldn’t move, no matter how much she wanted him. His touch was gentle, kind, where before it had always been needy and urgent. She didn’t know what to do with this side of him.

He rose and faced her. With slow, seductive movements, he tugged his shirt off and his shorts down, all the while maintaining her gaze. Heat and desire shone in his eyes, but there was something else there. Something tender she hadn’t seen before.

Her breath caught. “Alec?”

Naked, he stepped to her and held her hips. “Faith.” His voice was raw, a coarse groan of restraint. He nuzzled her neck, kissed her ear. “I want you.”