was cold and all she wore was a T-shirt, jeans and boat shoes. She didn’t care. Her bottom lip quivered and the emotions crashed through her. She was home.
Home. She studied the antebellum mansion as she considered the word. It didn’t feel like home anymore. Was it because it was time for her to move on or because she knew Sebastian owned it?
She knew she didn’t belong here. Not because she was trespassing, and not because she’d ruined any chance of staying on as caretaker. There was no way Sebastian would allow her back now that she’d broken her promise.
But she didn’t use Inez Key as just a home. It had been her hideaway. She had stayed here after her parents’ murder-suicide because it was a safe place. She could evade prying eyes and evade living life.
Ashley knew she had been a lot like her mother and that scared her. She had an all-or-nothing attitude like Linda Valdez. Passionate about her causes, extremely loyal to her friends, and a hot temper that took years for her to control. Ashley knew how to hold on to a grudge and her friend’s enemies were her enemies. It was only a matter of time before she followed in her mother’s footsteps. To love completely and unwisely. To destroy and self-destruct.
Ashley thought she had escaped from that future when she hid away on Inez Key. It was paradise and yet solitary confinement. Her wild temper disappeared and her passions quieted. She was still fiercely loyal, but she wasn’t consumed by love. She thought she’d broken the cycle and become the woman she wanted to be. But one night with Sebastian and Ashley realized she had only been fooling herself.
Ashley closed her eyes as the bleakness swirled inside her. She didn’t want to think about that. Not now. First, she needed to step onto the beach and let the sand trickle between her toes. Then she needed to lie down and let the quiet wash over her. She would watch the view of the Atlantic Ocean and find the familiar landmarks. It could take hours before she felt whole and strong again. Days. But it would happen and then she would figure out what to do next.
Ashley struggled with exhaustion as she stepped out of the water taxi and paid the captain. It took effort to smile and give her thanks. She walked along the wooden dock, but she didn’t feel like her old self. Everything felt new and different. She was different and she would never recapture the old Ashley Jones again.
She heard the boat speed away, but she didn’t look back. The changes on the island had her attention. She noticed the repairs on the house and the fresh coat of paint. The wild vegetation was tamed. Inez Key was slowly returning to its former glory.
Unlike her. She was breaking down. Breaking apart. Even though she was finally back on Inez Key, she had to keep it together. She sensed that this island could no longer contain her.
Ashley walked to the front door of the main house and tried to open it. To her surprise, it was locked. She frowned and jiggled the doorknob. That was odd. Inez Key was a quiet and safe place with just a few homes and buildings. No one locked their doors. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d used the key or where she had left it.
“Ashley, is that you?” Clea asked as she walked from around the house. She gave a squeal and ran to Ashley, welcoming her with a big hug. “What are you doing back?”
“I was going to get my things and leave,” Ashley said as she gestured to the door. “But the main house is locked.”
“I know, isn’t that strange? Who locks their doors?” Clea asked. She planted her fists on her hips and shook her head. “I haven’t been in there since they started renovating.”
“A lot has changed.” She gave a nod at the tropical flowers and plants near the white columns. At first glance the landscaping looked natural, but she knew it had been meticulously planned. How did Sebastian manage all of the changes when the island had only recently been in possession?
Home. She studied the antebellum mansion as she considered the word. It didn’t feel like home anymore. Was it because it was time for her to move on or because she knew Sebastian owned it?
She knew she didn’t belong here. Not because she was trespassing, and not because she’d ruined any chance of staying on as caretaker. There was no way Sebastian would allow her back now that she’d broken her promise.
But she didn’t use Inez Key as just a home. It had been her hideaway. She had stayed here after her parents’ murder-suicide because it was a safe place. She could evade prying eyes and evade living life.
Ashley knew she had been a lot like her mother and that scared her. She had an all-or-nothing attitude like Linda Valdez. Passionate about her causes, extremely loyal to her friends, and a hot temper that took years for her to control. Ashley knew how to hold on to a grudge and her friend’s enemies were her enemies. It was only a matter of time before she followed in her mother’s footsteps. To love completely and unwisely. To destroy and self-destruct.
Ashley thought she had escaped from that future when she hid away on Inez Key. It was paradise and yet solitary confinement. Her wild temper disappeared and her passions quieted. She was still fiercely loyal, but she wasn’t consumed by love. She thought she’d broken the cycle and become the woman she wanted to be. But one night with Sebastian and Ashley realized she had only been fooling herself.
Ashley closed her eyes as the bleakness swirled inside her. She didn’t want to think about that. Not now. First, she needed to step onto the beach and let the sand trickle between her toes. Then she needed to lie down and let the quiet wash over her. She would watch the view of the Atlantic Ocean and find the familiar landmarks. It could take hours before she felt whole and strong again. Days. But it would happen and then she would figure out what to do next.
Ashley struggled with exhaustion as she stepped out of the water taxi and paid the captain. It took effort to smile and give her thanks. She walked along the wooden dock, but she didn’t feel like her old self. Everything felt new and different. She was different and she would never recapture the old Ashley Jones again.
She heard the boat speed away, but she didn’t look back. The changes on the island had her attention. She noticed the repairs on the house and the fresh coat of paint. The wild vegetation was tamed. Inez Key was slowly returning to its former glory.
Unlike her. She was breaking down. Breaking apart. Even though she was finally back on Inez Key, she had to keep it together. She sensed that this island could no longer contain her.
Ashley walked to the front door of the main house and tried to open it. To her surprise, it was locked. She frowned and jiggled the doorknob. That was odd. Inez Key was a quiet and safe place with just a few homes and buildings. No one locked their doors. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d used the key or where she had left it.
“Ashley, is that you?” Clea asked as she walked from around the house. She gave a squeal and ran to Ashley, welcoming her with a big hug. “What are you doing back?”
“I was going to get my things and leave,” Ashley said as she gestured to the door. “But the main house is locked.”
“I know, isn’t that strange? Who locks their doors?” Clea asked. She planted her fists on her hips and shook her head. “I haven’t been in there since they started renovating.”
“A lot has changed.” She gave a nod at the tropical flowers and plants near the white columns. At first glance the landscaping looked natural, but she knew it had been meticulously planned. How did Sebastian manage all of the changes when the island had only recently been in possession?
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