Riptide (Limitless Book 1) (7 page)

His brother’s words stung. He’d done the same thing to Phoenix but for a lot longer than a few weeks. She forgave him, so would his brother...eventually. “Aiden, take a pill. I had my phone off. The owner of Limitless is calling the shots right now.”

“Yeah? And his daughter? She has nothing to do with it?” Aiden’s audible sigh indicated the depth of his concern. “When it comes to women, you aren’t the stick with it type. Consider cutting her lose before you ruin your entire career.”

“This coming from the man who’s enjoyed more one-night stands than chart-topping hits. It’s been a long time since I’ve wanted to punch you. Be thankful there’s an ocean between us right now.” He hung up the phone, irritated his brother would buy into all the lies and media hype. Either his brother didn’t really know him, or his agent was just that good at creating convincing bullshit to feed to the hungry sports journalists. Either way, it was one more thing he could thank his agent for.

***

P
hoenix looked at the man who stood, holding a helmet out towards her. Hunter created a lot of images in her head, but the one she hadn’t managed to conjure up yet was him on the back of a bike. Yet here he sat, straddling a motorcycle, ready to take her for a ride.

When she hesitated to take the offered helmet, he cocked an eyebrow at her. “It’s just a bike. It won’t bite.”

She laughed. “Maybe it’s not the bike I’m worried about.”

“I won’t bite...unless you want me to.” He leaned in and pressed his lips to hers. “I have to admit...might be hard to resist the temptation of giving in to a little nibble now and then.”

“As long as it doesn’t distract you while you are driving this contraption, then I’m not opposed to it.”

“Contraption? Is the fearless Phoenix Nash having some reservations about going for a ride?”

“No, just never been on a bike before, and honestly, giving up control of my life for any length of time on this thing with you at the wheel doing daredevil stunts...”

She’d already given up trying to control who her heart chose and no longer wished to follow the rules she’d lived by her entire life. One more nail in the coffin wouldn’t kill her.

“Ah, so we get to the root of the problem.” He winked at her. “I promise to keep the bike on two wheels at all times and will do everything in my power to keep you out of danger.”

Crossing one more line she’d drawn in the sand would hardly keep her safe at this point. She pulled her hair back and quickly braided it before pulling the helmet on and fastening it in place, sliding into the space behind Hunter before she could change her mind. She set her hands against his hips. “Where are we going?”

“You wanted to go to town, and I want to take you out.”

“On a date? Like a real date in public where people will see and word will get back to my dad?”

“Something like that. Thought it would be nice to do something outside of your house for once. And as far as your dad is concerned, people have to eat. I’ve heard they even do it in restaurants from time to time.”

“I thought you had plans?”

“I do.” He smiled and turned the key in the ignition, letting the engine roar to life, drowning out the rest of her questions.

Her heart raced and she quickly locked her arms around his waist and buried her face against his back as closely as the helmet allowed. She felt his laughter reverberate through his chest.

“I’d tell you to hold on, but you are doing a fine job.” Then he revved the engine and they were off.

***

H
unter pulled the bike into the gravel lot by the small roadside seafood place. Phoenix relaxed into the ride and he almost hated to stop. The feel of her nestled up against his back as they hit the curves in the road around Maui was almost as good as being in bed with her. He shook his head and pulled the helmet off his head.

“Oh my god, that was amazing!” Phoenix hopped off the bike, helmet tucked under her arm. “Still prefer my Jeep, but this is definitely a worthy alternative.”

The smile that blossomed across her face made her eyes sparkle. Hunter pulled her close and gave her a quick kiss. “I’m glad you enjoyed the ride. You hungry?”

“Yes.” She looked at the small food truck. “How did you know this was here?”

“I did some research.” He swung his leg over the bike as he stood, took the helmet from Phoenix, and set it with his on the handlebars. “It would seem that you are quite a fan of Hana Howie’s.”

“Perhaps.” She winked at him and walked toward the line outside the order window.

As they approached the window, the man taking orders smiled when he saw Phoenix. “Get out! When did you get into town? Forget it! Just get over here and give this old man a hug! Joe, take over for a minute.”

The man rushed toward the door in the side of the food truck, and as soon as he was out, he wrapped Phoenix in a great big bear hug.

“It’s good to see you, Howie.”

“What is this Howie, crap? When did I stop being your uncle?” He released her and looked toward Hunter, a scrutinizing gaze taking over his expression. “What are you doing with this guy?”

“This is Hunter Sullivan.” Phoenix reached over and grabbed his hand, pulling him to her side.

“Give me some credit, Phoe, I know who he is. I asked what you were doing with him.” Howie ran a hand through his hair. “Ever since your dad first started bringing you around, you never brought a guy with you.”

“Things change.”

Howie stuck his hand out toward Hunter. “As long as you take good care of her, you and I will have no problems.”

The nerves winding tightly in the pit of Hunter’s stomach slowly started to uncoil and he took the man’s hand and shook it. “That sounds like a plan I can get behind.”

“Well, you two take a seat. I will have some food out to you shortly.”

“Thanks, Uncle.”

He smiled and disappeared into the truck.

“He doesn’t look like your dad.”

Phoenix smiled. “He’s a good friend of the family. Not blood related.”

They walked toward the nearest picnic table. “This good?”

“Yeah. We won’t be eating here.”  She sat on the bench. “We’ll take it down the path a bit. There’s a great spot over there.”

“I thought I was running this excursion.” He nudged her playfully. “I will defer to your native knowledge, but just this once.” “Good choice. Hope you like fish tacos. Howie makes a lot of amazing dishes, but his tacos are worth seeking him out.” She stood as Howie headed their way with a bag. “Thanks, Uncle.”

“Welcome. Enjoy.” He winked at her and handed the bag to Hunter. “I put a little something extra in there to wet your whistle.”

“You’re the best.” She kissed his cheek. “Tell Malina hi.”

They watched Howie scurry back to the truck. The smell of grilled fish and cilantro reached Hunter’s nose and made his mouth water. “So where are we headed now?”

“Follow me.” Phoenix headed toward the line of palm trees with a small path worn between the trunks. “It’s just a little walk.”

He took in the scenery and the view of the woman walking in front of him. How had it taken him so long to realize that this was what he was missing? Little moments in between the chaos that was his life. Memories made with someone that filled in the gaps and made life better.

“Here we are.” Phoenix pushed through some of the underbrush and stepped out onto a cliff made of volcanic rock that over looked the ocean and a black sand beach. She stepped toward the edge of the rock and looked out over the ocean, the breeze causing strands of her hair to flutter around her head.

His breath caught as he took in the scene. Yes. This was how life was supposed to be spent—with people you cared about. And he cared about the woman in front of him more than he’d thought he was capable of. She was his game changer. The one thing he needed in his life and had, until this moment, swore he would keep at a distance.

T
he sound of the surf crashing against the beach soothed his soul. He could understand the appeal of living so close to the ocean. He’d always been stuck on the road going ninety miles an hour with no slowing down in sight. Once his mother died, there’d been no other life for him. Just travelling with his father and brother while the infamous Blake Sullivan geared up for the next show. Sitting on the bus with the nanny, going through their school lessons, waiting for the chaos of life on the road to slow down enough so he and Aiden could get a few moments of their father’s time. But music was the only thing his father ever shared with them. The only life his dad knew. And it was the life his father groomed them for. He’d known nothing else. Aiden bought into it hook, line, and sinker. Hunter didn’t. He wanted something more and he’d been searching for it ever since. But the nomadic lifestyle he’d grown up with was embedded into his very psyche and he’d never felt like he had roots anywhere. Maybe that is what he was missing.

In this moment, with Phoenix in his life and the surf stretched out before him, and he realized his career no longer held the same priority it once had. This was as close as he’d ever been to finding inner peace and his own little slice of heaven.

Phoenix sat up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist as she rested her chin on his shoulder. “What are you thinking about?”

“Life. Happiness. The future.”

“Deep topics considering the beautiful view and the company you have.” She nibbled on his ear.

“Sorry.” He tugged lightly on her arm, wanting to see her face.

She moved around and straddled his legs, her hands resting on his chest. “Talk to me.”

“I’m giving it all up.”

“What?”

It came down to this moment. The big decision that would change the course of his life. And as he stared into her eyes, he knew what he said in the next few moments would matter to both of them. “I’m not surfing in the classic.”

“Hunter, you dream of being ranked among the likes of the surfing greats. The legends others look up to and admire. You can’t do that by sitting on the sidelines.”

“No doubt, that would be amazing.” He smiled. “But none of that matters. All my life I’ve been searching for some little bit of happiness. Something that made sense in my life and made everything I did mean something. Something I could call my own. In the beginning, it was all about the titles. Becoming the next name to be counted among the surfing gods of our past. My goals changed, though.”

“I don’t understand.”

This was it. The moment to lay it all on the line, bare his heart to her and hope she didn’t run the other way.

“You know what drove me? When I first started, it had been the promise of getting on the next wave, capturing the perfect ride, not being trapped on a bus with my dad and his mates. Being something more than what my dad thought I could be. That hasn’t been at the forefront for a long time.” Hunter took a deep breath. “You know when you paddle out, and you’re sitting in the lineup, waiting for a wave? There’s this moment when everything stills for me. My mind quiets as I study the waves, and in that moment, the very last thing I think about is that this ride gets me one wave closer to seeing you again.”

She looked at him, a tear trailed down her cheek, but she said nothing. Hunter began to panic. Maybe he was wrong to open himself up like that. He reached up and wiped the dampness from her face.

“Angel, don’t cry. I didn’t mean to upset you. I just needed you to know that I love—”

Phoenix placed her hands on either side of his face and kissed him with such fierce passion he thought he’d never recover. When she pulled away from him, she smiled. “You are the only man I’ve ever broken rules for, but never in a million years did I expect you to say those words to me.”

“You didn’t let me finish. I could’ve been saying I love surfing.”

“Is that really what you were going to say?” She playfully shoved him back to the blanket and began kissing along his jawline, her hand moving along his body and down over the erection that pressed against his swim trunks.

He nodded his head yes, but said, “No.” Then he wrapped his arm around her waist and rolled them, so he was on top of her. “Nothing in this world comes close to how I feel about you, Phoenix. I love you.”

***

“G
et the hell out of here!”

The sound of her father’s voice sent Phoenix into a run. She rounded the wall separating the dining room from the rest of the house and saw her dad in the kitchen, untouched coffee in front of him. Her mouth dropped open.

“Dad, what’s going on?”

Neither of the two men in her life seemed to realize she’d made an appearance on the tension heavy scene.

“You want me to leave, I’m gone, but I think you at least owe me an explanation.” Hunter stood, arms crossed, staring down her father. This was not good.

He tossed an envelope onto the counter separating the two men and pictures slid out across the smooth surface. Images of her and Hunter. There was no mistaking what they were doing. Her cheeks flushed.

“Where in the hell did those come from?” In her head, her words sounded angry, but they’d come out timid. Her hand shook slightly as she reached for them. There were pictures of them from various spots including when they had sex on the beach and in the boat, their trip into town on the motorcycle, and images of them from around the property. “Did Aaron take these?”

She suddenly felt sick. This could not be happening. Her entire life was crumbling down around her and she felt powerless to stop it.

“Does it matter? Did you give any thought to what you were doing to my company? Or to me?”

“Sir, with all due respect, I love your daughter, and nothing was done with intent to harm your company.” Hunter tried to keep his voice even, but Phoenix could see the tightness in his jaw and recognized the restraint he showed.

Her father slammed his hand down and Phoenix jumped. Hunter placed his palm against the small of her back, trying to give her some support. She glanced up at him. He was worried, not for his career, but for them.

“You want to screw around with someone’s daughter, do it somewhere else and leave mine alone! I want you out. Consider your contract voided.”