Page 24 of Down & Dirty (Holden Cove #1)

CHAPTER 24

CORY

T he short line at the rental car counter was a blessed sight after such a long flight. But before we got there, my phone started to vibrate in my pocket. I glanced down at it quickly, pulling up short at the name on the screen.

I turned to Sky, who’d stopped beside. “Hey, can you pick up the keys?” I fished my credit card out of my wallet. “It’s all booked and paid for. I just need to get this.”

“Sure,” she said, taking the card and heading for the desk while I swiped to accept the call.

“Happy Thanksgiving,” I said, shifting my bag to the other shoulder.

Cass’s smooth voice floated through the receiver. “Happy Thanksgiving to you too. You headed to Maine?”

“Just landed.”

“Alone?”

I stole a quick glance at Sky, seeing her smile at the clerk like old friends. “Why do you ask?”

“Because the Cory I know would have ensured that little photo op at the movie premiere was only the first of many.”

My smile fell. I hadn’t arranged any press in Maine. But that wasn’t what stung. “You know I don’t do that shit here. ”

I’d never brought any of Cass’s girls home. Maine was my place. It had never been compromised by photographers and reporters, and that was how I wanted to keep it. The last thing I needed was someone sniffing around the locals. Most would tell an outside reporter to fuck off, but not everyone. And I didn’t want to think about what would get dredged up by the ones who didn’t.

“But you’re in repair mode, Cor. These are extraordinary times, calling for extraordinary measures.”

I turned my back to where Sky was waiting for me beside the counter. “You make it sound like we haven’t already been doing the work. Bruce told me, the reps are happy.”

“By the looks of those pics the reps aren’t the only ones who are happy.” I could hear her smile.

I rolled my eyes. “What’s this about? You don’t normally call to wish me a happy turkey day.”

“Well. I wanted to give you an update.”

“On what?” Out of the two of us, I thought I’d be the one with the update to give. But I hadn’t even told Bruce yet about marrying Sky. Until she was ready, I’d keep it under wraps.

“Nicki.”

My stomach dropped. I hadn’t thought about Nicki in weeks. And now, hearing her name, I felt like shit about that. It hadn’t been my intention to stop all communication with her. But this thing with Skylar had taken off so fast...

“What’s up?” I asked, keeping my tone neutral.

“We know who leaked the tapes.”

“You mean the sex tapes she’d made and kept hidden from you, and me, and everyone else who could have been fucked by their release?”

I wasn’t mad she’d done them, but that was the kind of disclosure we’d legally agreed to before I tied my public image to hers. She’d gambled with both our careers, and now that I was far enough away from it, I wasn’t as forgiving of being left in the dark about that risk .

“I know. She was wrong to lie about it. I don’t disagree with you there.”

“Then why are you still helping her?”

“For the same reason I always do; she’s human and she fucked up. But no one deserves what she got.”

“So who leaked them?”

“Her ex. Before you. The guy had seen one of the residuals checks she’d gotten and when she broke things off, he dug around until he found out it was a distribution company specializing in amateur porn. Put it together, and dropped a dime to a tabloid.”

“Fucking hell,” I exhaled, scraping my hand through my hair. “What a fucking asshole.”

“Yep.”

“Are you helping her get back on her feet?”

Cass laughed, but there was no humor in it. “Trying. But people seem to really want to hold this one against her.”

“Well, let me know if there’s anything I can do,” I said, before rushing to add, “that won’t undo my own recovery efforts.” It wasn’t just me in this now. My moves would impact Sky and I’d never let her be tarnished by this.

“You got it. At this point I think you’re better off steering clear. But I’ll tell her you said something nice. Might make her feel better.”

I glanced over my shoulder. Sky was leaning against the wall, watching people as they filed through the exit. She looked so peaceful, so unbothered. I’d wondered whether or not she was nervous to be here, but if she was, it didn’t show.

“All right, I gotta go. I’ll call you when we’re back and we can grab lunch.”

“The three of us?” She sounded shocked at the idea.

Another introduction felt like a little too much to put on her so soon, but Cass was a quality human, and I’d known her for almost a decade. If we really did pull off this year of marriage thing, they’d meet eventually. “I was thinking just you and me, but I guess we can see if Sky wants to join. ”

“Wow. Okay, so this is going really well.”

“Gotta go, Cass.”

“Wait, wait, does she know about your shoe fetish?”

“Bye!” I hung up, but not before I heard her tinny laughter through the speaker.

Sky looked up as I approached, her expression open and curious.

“You ready?”

“Are you ?” she asked, eyebrows up to her hairline.

It wouldn’t have taken much for Sky to have picked up on my uneasy energy on the plane. I’d tried to hide it, but judging by the knowing look on her face, I’d failed.

I wrapped my arm around her and pulled her by the neck into my chest. “Not even close. But let’s go anyway.”

Sky’s shoulders bounced under me with a laugh. “It’s fun to see you nervous.”

“This isn’t nervous, gorgeous. It’s downright terrified.”

“Sorry I came?”

Tugging her into my chest again, my lips landed in her hair as I sucked in a deep breath of her scent. Lavender and mint. I dropped a kiss on her head before I let her go.

“Not a chance.”

No amount of nerves could come close to making me regret bringing her with me. Because as much as Maine was completely removed from my life on the road, and it held every shadow from my past, it was also my best chance to show Skylar once and for all that I wasn’t who she thought I was.

The ride up from Boston was mostly passed in silence, with just the radio to fill the void. But it wasn’t strained or cold. It was pleasant, if not for the nagging urge to take her hand in mine, to hold it in my lap or hers. I didn’t give in to it, though. We’d been more comfortable in our physical affections, but I didn’t want t o cross any lines and make her uncomfortable so soon in the trip.

I’d wait and make her uncomfortable later.

When I laughed at that thought, Sky looked my way.

“What’s so funny?”

“I was just thinking about the time Beau got stuck in a rip tide and a group of old ladies out in their day cruiser had to rescue him.” Not the truth, and not a lie. That had been hysterical.

“I thought he was the one in the army?”

“He is. This was when he was like fourteen, and he was a late bloomer. He grew into his body after that.”

“Was he embarrassed?”

I shook my head, laughing harder. “No, not Beau. He rode in with them like a king, sprawled out on the back bench seat, a wine spritzer in one hand and a ham sandwich in the other.”

“Ah. So, he’s the charmer.”

I jerked my head back, offended. “I thought I was the charming one?”

“No way. You’re the troublemaker.”

I huffed, trying to decide whether I wanted to argue with her on that. Coming up with evidence to prove her wrong might have been a challenge.

“What about Mack? If you were the middle child, raising hell. And Beau was the sweet one, breaking hearts. Where did that leave him?”

“You shrinking the Ellis boys, Skylar?”

“No. I’m just curious. I’ll go first. As the oldest, I was way too serious as a kid and Ronnie rebelled because he thought my parents expected the same from him.”

“Mack was more like you. He took on the weight of the world.”

“Your parents must have been relieved to have at least one of you acting responsibly.”

My breath caught as a weight landed hard and mean on my chest. I knew this conversation was coming. But I’d been avoiding it. Go ing to great lengths to avoid it, in fact. But I guessed I was out of runway.

“It was just my dad, really. My mom passed when I was a kid.”

Without looking over I felt Sky stiffen. I braced myself for her questions. It was better to get them out now before we got to the house.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

“I know, it’s okay. It was a long time ago.”

I was pretty sure no one would think my mother’s death was okay, least of all someone as caring as Skylar. But I bolstered myself to tell her about it. In the twenty-six years since she’d died, I’d spoken to less than five people about what happened that day. But adding Sky to that list felt different. Like somewhere between my explanation and her hearing it, something might happen. Maybe even something good.

Her hand landed on my shoulder, and I hated that there was no way I could hide the tension there. I exhaled, trying to relax, but it didn’t work. I waited for her to say something, but instead, she squeezed the tight ridge, moving her hand up along the side of my neck, kneading and rubbing until her fingers met my hair. In light lines, slow and soothing, she dragged her nails along my scalp. I had to clench my teeth to keep from moaning out loud. It felt so damn good.

She did that for a long time. No questions, no curiosity, no prodding. Just a kind and gentle touch that started to unwind some of the stiffness, despite the emotion hanging between us.

When her ministrations slowed, I reached over my shoulder for her hand. I brought it to my lips and kissed the back of it, letting my lips linger on her soft skin.

“Thank you.”

I didn’t let her hand go, but settled it into mine on my lap, and she didn’t pull away.

“You don’t have to thank me.”

A flicker in my chest, like a twitch or spasm, stole my breath again. What was this thing between us? Why did she make me feel like this? Did I make her feel the same?

I wanted to ask her. I was starting to think I needed that answer. But now was not the time. I turned down the main drag and Skylar’s attention shifted to the idyllic town I’d once called my home. Her eyes sparkled as a smile lit up her face.

“Welcome to Holden Cove,” I said, my gaze darting between her and the road. We passed Manny’s Hardware Store and the florist, wreaths and pine boughs already on display. Then the tiny pottery studio with a back door that led into the Muddy Grounds coffee shop, if you knew it was there. The magazine cart was on the corner in front of the barber shop, a bucket of orange and yellow bouquets on one side.

Just past a small playground, lined with soft mulch and bordered by swing sets, I slowed. “I need to make a quick stop for some wine,” I said, pulling headfirst into a spot in front of Ernie’s Diner. “Liquor shop is just up the block.”

Ernie’s 1950s style décor was a little less polished thanks to the first few slushy days, but Skylar’s gaze was so bright I knew she didn’t see any of the dinginess I did.

“This town is so cute.”

“It’s got its perks, I guess.”

I watched her, swiveling to take in the length of the street in both directions. I followed her eyeline, trying to imagine what it all looked like from her perspective. New and fresh and maybe even welcoming. It must have been that way once for me too. But that was before my mom’s death, and after that, all I ever saw was that she was gone.

“Can we get a milkshake?” Sky asked, pointing to the window where the flavors were painted in bright red.

I hesitated at first, but her enthusiasm was hard to resist. “Sure, why not?”

She bounced out of her side of the car with a grin so wide she looked like a kid about to get hopped up on sugar. “I’ve never had on e at a retro diner. Do they have beehive hairdos and call everyone ‘hun?’”

I took her hand as we walked in, letting her excitement at something so small and silly help wash away the emotions this place dragged up. Not just this diner, but the whole town. It was hard to let go of my memories here, but with Skylar tucked into my side, I thought I might have a chance.

“Well, well, well. Connie, will you look at this,” Margie Finkle said from her perch behind the register. Her hair had gone gray, but was pulled back into the same French twist she’d always worn. The long chrome-edged counter stretched out beside her, and a few familiar faces turned our way. The waitress that was pouring a fresh cup of coffee stopped mid-pour to glance at me, her mouth popping open before she snapped it shut and offered a warm smile.

“Cory Ellis, is that really you?”

I leaned down to whisper in Sky’s ear, “Now you know why I don’t come into town much.” With a sigh, I smiled back at the women, now both behind the register, gawking freely. “Hello, ladies.”

“He’s such a gentleman now. All grown up,” Margie said to Connie, as if I couldn’t hear them.

Connie bobbed her head, her tight black curls trimmed up to her shoulders bouncing dramatically. “And look at how strong. My goodness. What did Jake put in their cereal growing up?”

“Can we sit anywhere?” I asked, my face getting hot. Sky was laughing beside me, and I realized that was only encouraging them.

“Oh honey, you can do whatever you like. With a face like that, who could ever tell you no?” Margie fanned herself theatrically.

“Let’s go,” I said, nudging Sky ahead of me toward an open booth. The two women stood watching us, whispering between themselves as we took our seats, and I felt the rest of the eyes on us gradually return to their meals .

“Hometown hero,” Sky sighed, shaking her head at me with a rueful grin. “Must be so hard to come home to all this fanfare and applause.”

Glancing away from her, I looked around the room, wondering what that would feel like. Because that wasn’t how it was for me. I knew that right after all these people got done talking about how I looked, or how I’d been racing, they’d bring up the only other thing they remembered about me. My mother. And why she was gone. That’s what was said in the whispers no one meant for me to hear.

“I guess if you like that sort of thing,” I said, trying to hold onto the humor of the moment. But Sky saw me slip. Her expression fell, scrutinizing eyes scanning my face before she picked up her menu, dropping her gaze to it. “Are you going to get one too?”

“I was planning on it.”

“Good. I’ll get the cookies and cream. If you get the red velvet one, I can try both.”

She eyed me mischievously over the edge of her menu and I held her gaze. I’d never cared for milkshakes before now, but the flare of amusement on her face had my chest tightening.

“You got it, boss.” I got a shy smile from her in place of the eye roll I was used to with that particular nickname, and I liked the change up.

There was a bite to the air when we left, so Sky was all too happy to ditch her thin jacket for her new winter coat before we walked the rest of the way to the liquor store. She nestled her gloved hand in mine, and snuggled into my side like even bundled up she still needed extra warmth. I was happy to give it.

She was enamored with Holden Cove, pointing out the things she wished her town had had growing up. The water bowls for the dogs on the sidewalk. The flower pots hanging from the light posts, now filled with pine limbs, giant ornaments, and twinkly lights. The banner hanging over main street advertising the Winter Carnival and 5k run for charity .

“How did you not love this stuff growing up?” she asked me, her cheeks rosy from the chill.

“I don’t know. I’m not sure any kid really cares about the cute factor of their town. I just lived here.”

She shook her head at me, giving me a smiley scowl. “Unbelievable. I’d never have left if this was my home.”

Thankfully, we were at the store, so I avoided having to respond to that. I hadn’t just left Holden Cove, I’d run from it. It wasn’t the town’s fault though. Just like I didn’t blame people for their morbid curiosity about my family. I probably would have been just like them, if it hadn’t been my life torn apart.

After we grabbed a few bottles of wine, we got back on the road. The milkshake in my stomach churning the closer we got. We wound through sleepy side streets until the houses thinned and woods closed in on all sides. And then we were there.

I blew out a breath, trying to calm my racing heart. “Welcome to the Ellis family compound,” I said in my best announcer voice.

Sky’s face lit up, her eyes going wide as she craned to look out the windows.

“That’s the office and supply shed for the construction business.”

“Ellis and Son,” she whispered, her lips curled into a grin that I wanted to kiss clean off. She found all this interesting. It was the reaction I expected, but it still did something to me to see it on her face.

“Yeah. Jacob had to take the ‘s’ off when he realized Mack was the only one willing to go into the family business with him.”

She jostled my hand, clasped to hers in my lap. “You said you know how to work a backhoe.”

“Know how to and want to are very different.” We carried on past the bigger equipment garage, the gravel lot beside it filled by a trio of excavators. “Inside there are the dump trucks and topkick.”

“What’s a topkick? ”

“The mechanic’s truck. It’s got a crane on it and everything he needs to service the machines out in the field.”

“Wow. This sounds like quite the operation.”

“It could be bigger,” I sighed, “but neither of them is very good at business.”

“Not like you,” she said, winking at me.

“Not like me. I keep telling them to let me have a look at the books, but they’re too proud or something.”

“Ah, an Ellis family trait.”

“Hey, I’m not too proud.”

She laughed too hard at that for my comfort. But I kept driving past all the construction stuff and we came to the log cabin that had been my childhood home. A wide covered porch ran the width of it, and there was smoke coming out of the lofty stone chimney. It was going to be a cold week, so Jacob probably had a stack of wood in the basement as tall as I was.

“Mack’s house is further down the road,” I said, pointing to the bend up ahead. “He built himself a nice little cottage back there years ago.”

“He likes the woods, I guess, huh?” She scanned the pines and maples that rose up in thick patches in every direction. There wasn’t another house in sight. A gift of having this much acreage. But I could see in Sky’s expression an apprehension that I understood well.

“It’s not for me, either, being this far out of town.” I used our clasped hands to shift the car into park, turning toward her. “I love being up here. It’s beautiful and quiet. But I don’t think I could stand the isolation. I need at least a little more stimulation. And,” I huffed out a laugh. “Thai food.”

“I really think you should learn to make that yourself,” she said, cocking her head to the side to smile at me. “You’re clearly addicted and there has to be some trick you can learn with the noodles.”

“I’ll try again if you help. ”

Her eyebrows shot up and her icy blue eyes crinkled despite the shake of her head. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Maybe,” I let out, leaning over the console toward her. “But then I could make it for you whenever you want...” I almost called her ‘wife,’ but held back at the last minute. The slick grin on her face was messing with my insides, and I didn’t want to startle her by using that word. Not yet.

“In that case, I might be willing to assist.”

“Good,” I said before dropping a kiss on her nose. “Now, let’s get inside before Jacob comes out here looking for me.”

“You mean us, right? He knows I’m here.”

I chuckled as I turned to hop out of the car. “Why would I ruin that surprise?”

“ Cory ,” she grumbled, her nerves showing for the first time.

“Come on, gorgeous.”

I came back to Maine several times a year, but for some reason I always expected things to look different when I walked through the door. They weren’t, though. The rugs, the lamps, the pictures on the wall. Everything was always the same. And it hit me as I walked in with Sky behind me, that some of my unease about coming back, about staying too long, might have to do with that.

This house held a lot of memories. Not all good. And if nothing ever changed, there was no way for those memories to fade. But when I turned around to catch Sky’s reaction, she was the difference. Her being there transformed the whole place, and it felt like things moved forward for the first time since I’d left for the tour over fifteen years ago.

“Jake?” I called, leaning to see if I could spot him in the kitchen.

“Be right down,” he yelled back, drawing our attention up the stairs.

“We’ll come up,” I replied, just as loud, leading Skylar up the steps with our bags. “Might as well put these away.”

But when we got to the top of the landing, I slammed to a stop. My father was walking out of the spare room in a pair of tight-as-hell b ike shorts and a tank top. He was covered in sweat, red faced and out of breath.

“Holy shit,” I muttered at the sight of him.

He froze, his eyes locking on mine before they drifted over to Skylar, who I could see in my periphery was peeking around me to get a view.

“Woah,” he said, his mouth falling open.

“Hi,” Skylar squeaked, her voice higher than I’d ever heard it.

My father’s shorts were so tight, there was nothing left to be imagined, and I drew my eyes up to the ceiling regretful that I knew that. “Wanna change, Dad?”

As if he’d forgotten what he was wearing, his hands flew in front of his crotch and the redness already on his face got worse.

“Yeah, I’ll be right back. Shit. Give me one sec.”

“Take your time,” I said, averting my eyes, as Sky started to laugh behind me. He darted into his room and I turned to her with a scowl. “This is not funny.”

“Like hell it’s not. You should see your face.”

I shook my head, trying to dislodge the image of my father’s package from my brain and stifle a laugh at the same time. She didn’t need the encouragement; her giggles were already bringing tears to her eyes.

“Let’s put these in my room,” I said, reaching for the handle of her luggage.

As I dropped the bags on the bed, Sky ducked into the bathroom next door. While I waited for my turn, I walked down the hall, finding Beau’s room stacked floor to ceiling with boxes. His bed was covered so completely you could hardly tell it was there. It didn’t look like he’d been home in a while.

Slipping into Mack’s old room—that had been turned into a guest room years ago—I sorted out what my father had been up to. The bed was gone, and in its place was a treadmill, stationary bike, and a weight rack. There was even a full-length mirror propped against one wall, and I covered my mouth with my hand as another bout of laughter started to rise up .

“What’s so funny?” Sky asked, startling me.

“This. A home gym in this house? My father has never worked out a day in his life.”

She stepped in beside me, giving the place an assessing once over. “This is good, then.”

It was good. It was just surprising. And now, also inconvenient. “It’s good for him. But for you, not so much.”

Her eyes whipped up to meet mine, suddenly wary. “What does that mean?”

I leaned low, unfurling my lips into my most devilish grin before I whispered in her ear, “Means we’re sharing a bed, sugar.”

Her mouth popped open, but no words came out. I chuckled as I straightened, and heard my father’s door open.

“Okay, I’m decent. You can turn around now.”

“Is he telling the truth?” I asked Sky, snapping her out of her confusion.

She pressed her lips together, but looked around me. “Yeah.”

When I finally turned around, my father was standing in the hall, his typical flannel back in place. His arms were crossed and his trademark scowl had returned. Suddenly things felt a lot more familiar, and my shoulders dropped away from my ears.

“Dad, this is Skylar Stone, my...” I hesitated, turning back to find her wide eyes on me. “My girlfriend.”

That seemed to please her. Or at least douse her fear that I was about to call her something else. Partner. Betrothed. Wife... I guessed we had options. Relief was written all over her face as she moved around me to hold out her hand.

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Ellis,” she said, her cute pink cheeks pushed up into a smile.

“Jacob or Jake, please,” my dad replied, taking her hand and giving it a gentle shake.

He had the same big hands as Mack. Bear paws, I used to call them. They dwarfed Sky’s delicate fingers, but his grip was careful and he grinned at her like she was Christmas morning. It was a look I’d seen so rarely on his face, it almost made me uncomfortable.

“Is this your first time in Maine?” he asked, turning to lead us back down the stairs.

“It is.”

“Well, welcome. It’s not as cold as Cory probably made it sound.”

“Bullshit,” I coughed into my fist.

Sky gave me a dry look as we landed back in the living room. When she turned her sweet smile back to my father, his eyes sparkled under the attention. “It seems plenty warm to me.”

This whole scene was utterly surreal. But the pleasure of it was rushing through me so hard, not even I could talk myself out of just enjoying it.

And in that house, with all the memories it brought up, that was saying something.