For the first time in a week, the constant rain blew out, leaving a watery sky and unusually cool air for the time of year. Flowers, Beth thought, tired even though she’d slept late. Pick a bunch of flowers and bring them in before another storm rips them apart.
No sooner had she started to pick them when the nausea hit again. She stood up, fighting it, ignoring Ryan who came out of the house and immediately demanded if she was ok. No…of course I’m not ok…“I’m fine,” she lied, trying not to puke on the flowers.
"You need to go a doctor,” he insisted, up in her face. “You’ve been like this for almost two months.”
Pretty funny that he’d been counting…“I need to go to the store today, Ryan. Not a doctor. Later this afternoon. Quit worrying about me.”
They started into the house when it hit her again. This time Ryan moved in fast, insisting quietly, his voice low, almost a murmur, “I’m not going to let you fall down out here. Come on, take my arm.”
Minor mercy that she could do that, even though the contact wasn’t entirely comfortable. He grabbed her arm just above the wrist. “Medical issues are not part of your job,” Beth told him weakly, her own voice not much above a whisper.
Still quiet, he said, “You’re my job. Anything that concerns you is my job. Let me get you inside.”
The warmth of the house felt good. She picked up Rainie – a big job now, she was getting so heavy – when the doorbell rang. “Will you get that?” she called out. He would anyway, rarely letting her answer the door unless he was certain who was out there. He opened the door, and then immediately walked outside, shutting it behind him.
That was strange. Setting Rainie back down, she ran a hand through her tangled hair and went out in search of Ryan. A man’s voice outside, loud and familiar. What on earth was going on out there.
Standing right out there in front of her door …Marc. Marc? Stunned, she stood there, speechless, staring at him. Whatever he was doing here, he was now engaged in some kind of standoff with Ryan. Neither of them seemed to even notice she was there.
“You’ve got a long way to go before you can order me out of here!” Marc was standing near the end of the stone walk, imposing, defiant, arrogant. “Master of this place? In your fucking dreams – and you’d better keep your hands off her! I know what’s going on even if Stanfield doesn’t have a clue!”
“Get out,” Ryan told him. Low and even. His back was to the door, full guard stance.
“Yeah? You think you scare me?” Marc laughed. “I’ve got 250 pound linebackers trying to take my head off every week! You don’t scare me.”
They were yelling about her? Was Marc out of his mind?
“And you’re damned good at dancing away from them,” Ryan retorted. “You’re not going to dance away from me.”
All right, this was crazy. She stepped out and demanded, “What are you doing here, Marc? What’s going on?” The insinuation was ugly and she was in no mood to indulge him.
Faced with that, Marc looked almost embarrassed. He blinked, long green eyes still alight, looked down and away from her, but in an abashed voice replied, “I needed to talk to you.”
Ryan stepped up close beside her, and she glanced at him briefly, then turned her attention back to Marc. She didn’t feel well; she didn’t want to talk to him; and the exchange she’d overheard disturbed her. “Then call me and ask if you can stop by,” she said, sharp and colder than she had intended. “This is not a good time.”
Marc gave her a long, assessing look, examining her face. He was so like Tony, yet different of course. A strange male mix of Tony, Rafe and even Gabe.
“If you need me,” he told her quietly, Tony’s deep voice in another man’s body, “call me anytime. From anywhere.”
Behind her, Ryan exhaled hard. Beth ignored him for the moment. Marc’s accusation lay there in her mind. Dark. Heavy. Freighted with imagery she knew she had indulged. Marc though…Marc was acting as if he was guard dog number two. Guarding against dog number one. “Well thank you, Marc, but I’m fine. My husband,” she said, placing deliberate emphasis on the word, “takes extremely good care of me. I’ll talk to you later.”
He hesitated, then shrugged and walked away, not without shooting a final hot stare at Ryan, who met it, impassive.
“That kid,” Ryan muttered under his breath, moving close, shoulder and thigh brushing against her, and this time she didn't move away from that contact, “needs to stay the hell away from you.”
Oceanside - Beach Shop - 3:00 p.m.
Leaving Ryan outside with Rainie – he could babysit for a couple of minutes – Beth went into the convenience store and looked around. She didn’t see anyone she knew. If Ryan had seen anyone he knew, she wouldn’t be in here by herself. And the purchase she wanted to make was private.
As if she had any privacy…the woman behind the cash register was giving her a long look. If she recognized her and said anything to anyone, well it would be bad. Really bad. The prospect of Cooper reading in People or US that his wife was buying a pregnancy test when she hadn’t said anything to him about it…again, very bad.
Stuffing the box under eggs and milk and some items she didn’t even want, burying the thing, she started for the register, avoiding eye contact with anyone.
That accomplished, she turned around, anxious to get back home, and looked up and there he was. Tony. Oh my god…hide the bag, no why are you hiding the bag? What is he doing here?? First Marc and now Tony?
“Hi Tony,” she said, dropping the bag at her feet and trying to come up with something else to say.
He smiled, that same long easy smile. “I didn’t expect to run into you in a place like this. I was looking for some coffee…how are you?”
Looking for coffee in Oceanside. That was a long trip to make to buy coffee. “I’m great.” Pausing, feeling foolish, she added, “I’m sort of in a hurry, but it’s good to see you.”
He looked good, but then he always did. Tired but good. Tony drew a long, deep breath, looking down, then back up at her. “This might seem way out of left field, but have you seen Marc?”
She knew it. There was no way he was out here for any other reason than one of his sons. Marc though...she didn't want to get into that whole strange encounter.
“He sort of dropped by this morning,” Beth admitted, deciding to leave it at that. “I don’t know why. I don’t know where he went. I’m sorry.” Through the open door behind him she saw Ryan staring at them; this could turn bad fast – two men from that family in the same day, Ryan wouldn’t like it. Cooper wouldn’t like it.
“What do you mean he dropped by?” Tony’s voice rose. “When did he drop by?”
Ryan left Rainie sitting on the deck behind him and shoved through the door, watching the interaction with narrowed eyes. Extremely uneasy, Beth said, “This morning. Tony, he was there for just a few minutes and didn’t say anything. I have no idea where he went. And I have to go.”
His voice rough, on edge, Tony pressed, “You’re not telling me everything. What’s going on?”
“I don’t know,” she responded flatly. “I have to go.” Ryan had moved all the way into the store, glanced briefly at Tony, waited until she started for the door and placed himself firmly between the two of them. Leaving Tony standing there with a confused and frustrated expression on his face and nothing more than what he came in with. Which was pretty much zero.
Her gaze focused on Rayne, sitting out there chewing on her fingers, Beth thought uneasily, completely distracted, that Ryan should not have left her there. She heard him grumble, quietly, very close behind her as she went through the door, “I’ll get her. We’re leaving. Now.”
Oceanside - Stanfield Residence - 11:00 p.m.
Waiting until after she’d put Rainie to bed, putting it off, forcing herself to wait, anticipating, already knowing, but wanting to be sure, Beth washed her hands after finishing the test and tossing it away. And watched the steam from the hot water rise and fog the mirror.
She knew it. Knew it. Not the greatest timing in the world…pretty lousy timing…but it was good. What to do with this though, that was the bigger issue. He was in Europe and would be gone for months, but it couldn’t wait for months, and a phone call…no, not a phone call.
I’m going there, she decided, striding out of the bathroom and through the glass doors, out of the bedroom, down the hall, I’m going there to tell him in person. It was late, but Ryan was probably up guarding something, and she had to inform him she was leaving tomorrow. Couldn’t go without him. And she really didn't want to go without him, not any more.
Beth saw him as soon as she passed the room with the piano and Coop’s guitars, sort of standing around. “Strange day, wasn’t it?” she began, uncertain why Ryan was hanging out in this room. “Thanks for taking care of Marc for me.”
No problem,” he smiled. “That’s what I do.”
Chasing people away, she thought, amused. What a job…still, it had been good to have him here. “I know it’s your job, but I appreciated it.”
This was short notice, but he had to be used to that kind of thing. “I’m going to Paris,” she told him. “I’m packing some things tonight. I’d like to leave tomorrow. Can you take care of that for me?”
Ryan stopped smiling. “Paris?” he echoed. “You’re going to drop in on the tour? You let somebody know you’re coming, didn’t you?”
What did he mean by that? Don’t drop in because you might get a nasty surprise? Or simply don’t bother them? You’re being paranoid, she told herself. He’s just being careful. He doesn’t know anything you don’t know. “No,” Beth replied firmly, “I didn’t and I’m not going to. I don't think I need to buy a ticket. Someone will get me in.”
Putting a smile on her face, she turned away from him. She had a lot to do tonight and that kind of pointless jealousy or suspicion was stupid. “I’ll see you tomorrow then, Ryan. Goodnight.”
“I’ll take care of it,” he said behind her, his voice quiet, subdued.
Oceanside - Stanfield Residence - 12:30 a.m.
Perhaps this one…Beth turned, studying her reflection in the mirror, running her hands down the curve of her hips and smoothing the dark pink silk of the corset. She smiled. As she’d expected when she’d bought it, the fit and color were flattering. Well they were now…but it was the right choice. Coop would definitely like it.
Music played softly, her husband’s hoarse voice filling the room with his presence, and the song itself brought back such intense and erotic memories.
This room. That bed. His hands and mouth…
Light rain blowing in through open windows while he moved slowly, languorously, over her body, those 4 inch black stilettos still strapped to her feet.
…the powerful combustion of lust and love burning the room right down to the ground…
So much for the distraction, she thought, hot and shaken with arousal. You’re all dressed up and nowhere to go.
It was really late. Past midnight. Indulging in the luxury of the privacy, the sheer luxury…being able to walk out half dressed or completely undressed without Ryan’s constant presence, Beth clicked open the door and walked out onto the dark patio. She lifted her thick hair off her neck, reveling in the dark and the wind off the ocean. I wish, she mused, we could live here all the time. I love this place…
And then looking out toward the breakers, she saw him. Wading out into the water. Ryan. Wearing nothing at all. Long muscular legs and back, the curve of his spine and hips, he briefly surfaced and stood there, gazing at the horizon, before diving back.
The pent up sexual energy broke like the surf, stunning in its strength. Beth drew in a deep hard breath, oh no you are not going to look at Ryan naked; walk away and walk away fast go inside and go now now now…
Wooden, she forced herself, one step at a time, to turn around and go. Walked back to the door.
Went inside. Shut the door. And stood there, shaking with desire, frustration, anger, guilt - a toxic stew of violent emotion.
A small noise, footsteps outside, maybe he was going back to bed. Why wasn’t he in bed? Did the man ever sleep? What was he doing out there swimming naked anyway? She took another step, slipped, her heels skidding on the tiles, and hit the floor, yelling, “Shit! Damn it!”
Ryan’s voice pounded on her from outside the door. “Beth?”
Staggering to her feet, she didn’t respond. Maybe if she didn’t answer, he’d go away.
It didn’t work. Her silence evidently alarmed him. He pushed open the door, wearing a pair of damp jeans he hadn’t even finished doing up, his skin probably warm and wet under the denim, looking into the darkened bedroom, rapidly assessing, searching for a threat. And finding none. Just her, standing there, looking right back at him.
Their eyes met, locked. The music had stopped. It was very quiet, the fire crackling, soft hush of the waves on the sand. Beth walked slowly across the room, approaching him.
“Ryan…”
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NEXT CHAPTER: South Beach Chapter 36
24 comments:
Stunning, breathtaking, and gorgeous. Hard not to start at the end, and what a powerful scene that was! Can I just say that the description as Beth reminisced was lovely, hot, sensual, and purely beautiful.
Since the beginning there has been a strong pull between Ryan and Beth. This is like a powder keg ready to explode at any minute. And what a place to leave us!
OK, stepping backward a bit, Marc is a man on a mission isn't he? Witnessing an innocuous moment between Ryan and Beth and misinterpreting it. He is seeing what he wants to see because he wants to be right, to know that Cooper is being a fool to have Ryan taking care of his wife. It's interesting to watch his fascination with Beth grow at every turn. And Ryan is right; Marc won't dance past him.
The scene at the store cracked me up. There is no privacy! I bet she managed to sneak out of there unscathed though. Except for Tony...who always does look terrific. And yeah Ryan...leaving Rainie out there was not very smart! Surprised she didn't crawl away LOL!
I am pretty sure that Cooper will love the lingerie although jeans and a t-shirt would be okay with him as long as his lady is with him.
I love that home...it is absolutely wonderful. And your images capture its beauty along with your writing. I can't wait until Beth gets to Paris!
Beautiful, beautiful piece Beth.
Your help with Photoshop was invaluable. Critical. I could not have made this work without it. the shots you made beautiful would have totally blah, so just no way to adequately thank you.
except to keep saying it!
You're welcome...I'm not that much better at it than you are but I do try...
I forgot to mention the exchange between Ryan and Beth regarding Paris. He has seen what it is like on tour with some rock bands and he wouldn't be wrong to caution her, but it seems as though he lumps Coop into the same category as Marc does.
We talked about the slight parallel between this trip and Julia's. I doubt the outcome will be the same though.
Again, just stunning.
OMG!!!
It was a long hard day for dear Beth... and it looks like the nice is going to be even longer!!! WOW what a cliffhanger!!! Why did you stop there!
WOW is all I can say from beginning to end, it was a fantastic read.
Marc, I still don't know what is he up to... did he really believe Beth would let him near her?
and the meeting with Tony was so very well done, you really capture the mood in the air, very well done!!!
And Bryan naked, lol :D wow... poor Beth I could only imagine the frustration she is feeling, Coop so far away and she lost and lonely :D
I'm glad she decided to pay him a visit, I do believe he is behaving himself, he would love to see her I think and Brian is just jealous and paranoid... lol
and your sets were Gorgeous!!! beautiful sets!! I love the house,t he decoration is just magnificent!!!
Wonderful done Beth!!! I loved this update. You really know how to capture all the emotions in your characters, and I'm loving the inner thoughts they have!!! Bravo!!! Beautifully done!
Okay, this I was not expecting. At least, not like this. What a cliffhanger! You are evil, Beth, truly! ;)
The pictures were great, many kudos to Gayl for her work. They definitely got the mood across when Beth was reminiscing. Unfortunately, it looks like memories of her husband may have just led somewhere else.
And she's pregnant! Yikes!
Marc and Tony in one day, too. Wow. Things are just all over the place. Not good when your hormones are crazy.
The purchasing of the test was hilarious and very true-to-life. No one wants to get caught buying that, especially not someone famous!
hehe...not evil exactly Mao but I sure had fun with this one! I've been waiting a long time to do it. Some of the shots were hard to get and some of them easy, but that one "memory" sequence certainly wouldn't come off the way I wanted if Gayl hadn't taken my shots and enhanced them.
that store was a real problem. I removed the CC as soon as I finished with it.
thanks!
thanks, Sandy. Originally I didn't end it this way, but it would have gone on too long, and I like it better just cutting it off LOL!
I love that house, too. I keep working on it. Gayl's beautiful custom paintings make a huge difference. I adore the one in the room with the piano, and on the wall in the bedroom.
Oh My!!!
Tension, tension, tension... The memory of the room and the Cooper was stunning and powerful. lol, bad timing for Ryan to take a swim, and now she's actually approaching him.... OH BOY!
Loved the detail of her morning sickness. lol 'dont puke on the flowers' lol. Ryan truly does care about her... But I dont think Beth would be truly happy with herself if she allowed that to happen. 80) lol! Perfect cliff hanger...
The scene between Ryan and Marc was truly filled with tension and anger. I loved it, and then the run in with Tony. Although I wanted her to light into Ryan for his leaving her daughter on the porch.
Yay she is going to Paris, to be with Cooper, ok lady think of Paris think of Cooper when your faced with the Ryan...80)
Wonderful and stunning screens, beautiful decorations. In conjunction with your stunning writing. BRAVO!!!
thank you so much Cherie.
Originally I did include another shot and text about Ryan leaving a toddler out on the deck alone, but figured it was extra detail that didn't accomplish anything so I left it out.
as for the ending...well it's ambiguous. maybe nothing happens. you are absolutely right, going to bed with Ryan would be a horrendous mistake.
I'm getting more clarity in my shots since I changed the graphics card. But they wouldn't be the same without Gayl's help.
Intoxicating is the perfect word to describe this chapter. So much sexual tension dripping from this entry.
I suspected Beth was pregnant at the beginning with the naseua. I am curious why Marc is so obsessed with her. He's like a stalker.
And that last ending scene. Man, you really know how to write a cliffhanger. My final thoughts as I read those last words were, "Oh shit, no Beth, don't do it!"
I am biting my nails to see what happens!
Fantastic - just fantastic!
Oh thank you! I'm blushing! And I've been thinking and planning this bit for so long, I was worried it wasn't going to work.
My characters sometimes change under me. Marc isn't turning out to be the person I expected. Not sure where that's going but there's something not quite right there. I was listening to "Possession" by Sarah McLachlan and "If I Never See Your Face Again" by Maroon 5 and Rihanna when I wrote this.
Let me just start and comment about those shots of Beth & Coop, saved a couple for my desktop they were so gorgeous! :D You two make such an excellent team, with the photos and writing you help each other out with you get such beautiful end results.
This was such a wonderful chapter, so much going on. Marc sticking his nose in and I loved seeing Tony again, forgot how handsome he is! Ryan annoys me, it seems like he's taking his job a little too seriously, breathing down her neck every second! If I was Beth I would not be so nice to him :D
I would love to see Cooper get in his face in Paris and let him know who's the boss! LOL.
And Oh dear Lord, no BETH! Run, run away as fast as you can! He's not worth it! Those shots leading up to the last scene were gorgeous as well!
(I did find the thing about him leaving Rainie on the deck so funny, Beth shouldn't be his only priority!)
Really great update, I enjoyed it!
thank you Emily! Wow - I am so flattered and I know Gayl will be too! I had a very long series of shots I took for that scene and had a hard time narrowing down the ones I wanted to use. Gayl understood exactly the effect I was going for (like highlight the high heels hehe) and did a fantastic job!
Ryan is definitely taking his job seriously...
Thank you so much from both of us!
I meant to add that Ryan leaving Rainie was really really irresponsible of him, being that he is supposed to be guarding Cooper's family, which would include his kid.
Be sure to post when you update next so I can be sure not to miss it!
Yes, it was very irresponsible. And may come back at him.
Thank you so much. Your comments mean a lot to me.
and I made a MAJOR typo in the comment I just deleted LOL! Wish Blogger would allow you to edit comments...
This is SUCH a cliffhanger! Urgh, as much as i love your work beth, i still think evil isn't beyond you!
i don't know where to begin. The whole chapter was so well crafted. There's an incredible amount of tension going on here. Beth is such a babe!
What, just WHAT is Marc doing? Is he jealous of Ryan being a surrogate Alpha-male figure or does he have quarrels with cooper (apart from that one moment with errica)??? It's so creepy! This is the lady that babysat him!!!
Ryan... There's an obvious attraction of sorts, whether he wants to admit it. Perhaps even for Beth, do I sense a primal, instinctive attraction? Clearly, Ryan is off limits, especially as a mother, that would be improper. And now that she's pregnant (YAY! another stanfield!)... that might be a bit of a problem.
Poor Beth, this whole chapter has been so bizarre for her. Ryan has always been somewhat esoteric (or at least she doesn't want to discuss what exactly it is about him that bothers her), Marc was just plain weird and TOny... phew, that's too many strange men in a day.
OH AND THAT AWFUL CLIFFHANGER! What a situation to be caught in, especially when she sort of knows how Ryan could most possibly be thinking of her.
I say get Beth to Paris quickly- quick!!!
This was such a great update and I love south beach tons, way more exciting than the mountains and trees. i love your work so so much and your writing is golden as always. love it!
Hi Chloe! I hope your studies are going well despite the mountains and trees LOL!
Ryan and B -- there's a mutual physical attraction that's pretty powerful. He bothers her because she's attracted to him...and vice versa...and both of them know it. Obviously both of them know it would be stupid and wrong to act on it. But people do things that are stupid and wrong, even pregnant women.
Marc...now there's someone with issues. He's an adult man. He can be physically attracted to his father's former lover. Probably is. Wants to 'protect and defend'. And sees Cooper as someone who holds him and his family in very low regard in general; Ericca was just another manifestation of the whole problem. He doesn't like it. He's determined to prove everyone wrong. He's way out of line and may go further out of line or fall out of the page altogether. Not sure yet. He hasn't turned out quite the way I expected.
This is an awfully long response LOL! Thank you so much for taking the time to read and leave me a comment. I really appreciate it.
Fantastic update! Marc is really turning into possessive creepy stalker guy and that does very much worry me. He reeks of someone just on the edge of doing something way out of control. Beth and crazy hormones is not a good thing either, she and Ryan have danced around each other for so long, but its obvious she is very much madly in love with Coop, so I want to tell her to snap out of it, Ryan is a blip on the radar in comparison. And hell, Tony prowling around the neighbourhood too? I think I would be jumping on a plane ASAP too…
thank you so much, GS.
I haven't had so much fun with one in a long time! Maybe my enthusiasm shows LOL! But I've known for a while where I was going.
Marc is going somewhere strange one step at a time.
I doubt Ryan is going to really get in Cooper's way. That relationship is very strong. Hormones and constantly being thrown together and left alone with someone like Ryan is risky though.
Again, thank you so much!
That was amazing! And wonderfully told! The pictures were gorgeous! Well done!
Beth is having quite a time, poor girl... between health problems, Ryan and Marc acting strange, and then unexpectedly running into Tony again. Sounds like Cooper needs to check in on his girl... and soon. She really does need him.
Ryan skinny-dipping in the moonlight? And right outside her bedroom window? Sounds highly suspicious to me. He definitely seems to have something going for her. And I can't believe he abandoned Coop's baby girl outside like that on the boardwalk. Anything could have happened to her! How terrible that might have been!
The sooner Beth leaves for Paris, the better! Ryan had better just watch himself.
Great update! Things are certainly getting exciting! :D
Hi Tammy and thank you! I think things are going to heat up even more LOL! Well I know they are since the next one is already out there.
I deal with leaving the baby outside in the next one too.
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave me a comment -- I really appreciate it!
Wonderful, evocative and hot to boot!
Love the focus on Beth, her worries, her desires, her concerns.
Showed a real deep look into her character, and why would she not be tempted by Ryan, that red-headed Volcano of sex? The open jeans were an inspired touch *fanning self*
Marc, how great you describe him, a mixture of Tony, Rafe and even Gabe. Look forward to more about Marc, he is turning into a fascinating character! He is deeply smitten with Beth, heartache ahead!
The shots...well...what can I say? Stunning as always. I really must spend more time on my shots, you and gayl are proof of what can be accomplish when one takes the care.
A great update, and the writing was particularly crisp.
thanks so much Karen, and again WELCOME BACK!!! You were much missed!
I've had this one written in my head for a long long time, waiting, LOL!
My shots aren't all that great, but again, thanks. They wouldn't be anywhere near as effective if Gayl hadn't done Photoshop magic with the lighting.
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