Sea Star Legacy

by Carolyn Forrest

  “Can we talk?”

  Sandra stared at the sun-bronzed mariner who had been invading her dreams and now her office. The steel blue shadows in his eyes echoed his somber resolve.

  “What’s the subject?” she asked, suspecting she already know as she gulped down the hard lump forming in her throat.

  “Us. I’ve given it some thought, Sandy. And, well, I’m not sure where this relationship will lead; however, we owe it to ourselves to find out.”

  “We don’t have a relationship, yet. I don’t really know you. We’ve been business associates now for about a month. I wouldn’t call that a relationship.”

  Luke grasped her gently by the arms as his emotions irrupted. “And what the hell would you call what we shared in your bed the other night?” he demanded.

  “A moment of weakness on both our parts, nothing more,” Sandra spat out the words with rehearsed indifference. She’d been going over the same arguments in her own mind since their night together.

  He let go of her arms and stepped back. His smoldering gaze assessed her with disdain. “So, I’m a one night stand? I’m an excuse to resolve your sexual needs?”

  Out of a nervous reflex, Sandra chuckled under her breath. She realized from the tight curl of his lip that he didn’t see any humor in the situation. She’d simply put fuel on the fire. Using her fingers as a comb, she ran her hand through her bangs. If she lived to be a hundred, she’d never be able to understand this man.

  “Luke,” she pleaded, “I don’t really know you. And what with all the phone calls and the note and all . . . well, I simply don’t know.”

  “You think I did it, don’t you?” He stepped closer. She felt the turmoil of emotion radiating from him. He pulled her into him. His mouth roughly came down against hers. Sandra put her hands against his chest to push him away, but the warmth of his embrace, combined with the sensual smell of him, dissolved her objections. As she opened her lips to him, his kiss deepened and became softer. She felt herself falling off the conscious plane of her everyday reality and swirling into a chasm of uncontrolled need.

  He released her from his hold. Though she hadn’t opened her eyes, she felt his gaze lingering on her face. Looking up at him through her lashes, his stone cold expression abruptly brought her back to earth. What are you doing, Sandra? she thought with irritation. How would she ever be able to separate herself from this man with him living in the same community? All he had to do was look at her and her fool knees turned to marmalade.

  Luke took a small step back. His gaze pinned her in place. As she stared back into the dark blue pools of his eyes, her stomach tightened in anticipation. He’d confessed that he’d had feelings for her and she’d laughed at him. What would he do now? she wondered. Lines formed around his mouth and eyes revealing his frustration. In a strained silence, Sandra waited for him to speak.

  “How can you call what we’ve shared mere passion? You’ve got a lot of thinking to do, Sandy. If you honestly believe I could harass you, then you’re right. You don’t know me. The other night must have been a mistake.” The words came out sounding harsh and menacing.

  “Luke . . . I’m sorry, I didn’t . . . .”

  “Yes, you did. Listen to me. Up until today, I’ve been unwilling to let myself get involved with anyone.” His tone of voice softened as he ran a finger alongside of her face causing a hot liquid heat throughout her. “I hadn’t planned to feel the way I do about you or anyone else ever again for that matter. Sandy, I can’t even hear your name without getting hard.”

  A furnace of heat rushed to her cheeks. “Luke . . . someone could hear you.”

  “They don’t have to hear about it. My condition is very noticeable.”

  Sandra fought the temptation to lower her gaze by staring blankly past Luke into the shop. His hand grasped hers and placed it on the cotton fabric of his trousers’ fly. Her flush reddened as the heat radiated down her neck.

  “Yes, it is evident,” Sandra replied as she wrapped her finger tips in a caress around his manhood. Then dropping her hand, she tried to will the color to subside in her cheeks. “This is not the time or the place, however.”

  “To hell with that, Sandy. If you don’t want someone knowing what’s going on, you better sashay that sexy behind of yours over there and shut the door. I don’t plan to budge from this spot until we’ve resolved this issue.”

  Sandra smiled as she turned away from Luke to close the door. He did care for her, she thought. How could he be the person who wrote that note? He continued to be there for her any time she was in need. A part of Sandra, reveled in his pertinacity to conquer her. Probably the same rebellious part that caused her to become weak kneed, she thought, wryly.

  “We have a problem. Is that what we’re calling it?” Sandra leaned back against the now shut door and scrutinized Luke’s expression.

  “It isn’t usually a problem, though where you’re concerned, Sandra, I have no will of my own.” A grin graced his mouth as he continued to hold her gaze. “For whatever reason, fate has rendered me helpless. Please don’t turn away from me.”

  “There’s nothing to turn away . . . .” Sandra frowned unable to keep the pretense further. “I do care for you, a lot. But, I’m afraid, okay. A lump formed in Sandra’s throat and her voice cracked. “As you say, I hadn’t planned on a . . . relationship either.”

  “The best things in life are left unplanned, I hear.” A boyish grin graced his lips as he lifted a dark eyebrow in obvious speculation.

  “Okay, where do we go from here?” she heard herself ask before she knew the words had left her mouth.

  We’ll simply take it one step at a time. It’s been a while since I’ve taken the risk of giving my heart away.” His voice sounded grave, but the flecks of light radiating from his eyes held a glint of anticipation that warmed her heart.

  “I was married once,” he told her slowly.

  “You were?” Sandra wasn’t sure why she was surprised. It made perfect sense; an attractive man Luke’s age would have had his share of conquest. But, why hadn’t anyone mentioned his marriage to her? she wondered.

  “It’s not what you’re thinking. She was pregnant with another man’s child when we married.”

  “Did you know? I mean before you got married?”

  “Yes, and I didn’t care because I thought I loved Alex. We’d been high school sweethearts before I moved here. Then one day, she showed up at my place needing somewhere to stay. Before I knew happened, I was walking down the aisle.”

  “What happened?”

  “We set up housekeeping and soon Joey was born. By the time he arrived, I’d figured out I didn’t really love her, however, it didn’t matter. I loved Joey. He was the most beautiful baby I’ve ever seen. I can still remember the wonderful baby smell he had all to himself as I’d hold him and kiss the downy fine hair on the top of his head.”

  “He sounds precious,” she said after a few moments of silence. She tried to imagine Luke’s large hands cradling the newborn infant.

  “He was adorable.” Luke gritted his teeth in obvious pain and continued, “One day, I came home from work and found my wife and son standing on the porch step. They were both packed and ready to go. No note, nothing. They were going to sneak off.”

  “Why were they leaving?”

  “Joey’s biological father found Alex and convinced her that he could make a better life for them. I didn’t give a damn whether Alex left or not. Joey, however, was something different.” Luke rubbed the outline of the pale scar below his ear with his thumb.

  “Joey’s father pulled a knife on me when I told him they weren’t leaving. Alex managed to pull him off of me. Then he threw her and Joey in the car. That was the last time I saw Joey alive.”

  “What happened?” His obvious pain gripped at her heart.

  “It had been about two months since I’d seen Joey. Each evening the small house we’d rented felt so empty without him. I was worried about them. I had no idea where the
y’d gone.”

  Sandra watched as Luke struggled to find the words. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he gulped and cleared his throat.

  “Then one evening,” he continued. “Alex called me. Her voice sounded so thin, like a choking whisper. She finally blurted the words out: ‘Joey’s dead.’ It’s funny how you remember details like that.

  Sandra read the pain in Luke’s graven face. Grasping his hand in hers, she gave them a sturdy prolonged squeeze.

  As if drawing sustenance from her touch, he smiled. “Alex said he’d died in his sleep with no explanation. She told me, the doctors called it SIDS, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. He was six months old though, and a tough little rascal. I can’t help wonder whether or not Joey might still be alive if they hadn’t left.

  “You don’t think his father hurt him, do you?”

  “Alex tried to convince me there was no abuse involved. Whether there was or not, doesn’t really matter. Knowing won’t bring him back.”

  “Luke, I think I know how you feel.”

  “No. You don’t. No one can unless they have lost a child.”

  “I haven’t lost a child, however, I did lose someone I loved very much through no fault of my own. Then, I found him after he was dead.”

  “You mean Ben?”

  “Yes.” Sandra’s chest felt heavy as though it were encased in armor. Her breaths were short and shallow. Good heavens, had she been avoiding a serious relationship with a man because she was afraid she’d only lose him in the end? She wondered as she released her hand from Luke’s grasp to wrap her arms around herself in reassurance.

  Luke enveloped her in a warm embrace. Spontaneously, she reached out and curled her arms about him. The rock in her chest melted like molten lava as she clung to his solid frame, drawing in the spicy essence of the man. Heaven help her, she did love Luke. As she relaxed, Luke pulled back and studied her face.

  “You won’t walk out on me will you?” He smiled down at her. His eyes twinkled though the lines of his face bore his true concern.

  “Luke, I can’t promise you anything.” Sandra saw the hurt reflected in his eyes. She felt the sting of tears begin to swell in her own. She didn’t want to cause him pain, however she wasn’t going to lie either. Swallowing hard, she pushed back her tears.

  “I can’t promise you anything,” she uttered absently and turned away.

  “Don’t run from what we have. Don’t shut me out like you shut your father out. Talk to me, that is all I ask.”

  Sandra faced Luke and glared at him unable to believe what he’d said about her father. She turned her head away from him.

  “Isn’t that what this is about? Your father abandoned you so you assume all men will do the same thing.” Sandra felt his hands grasp her shoulders and turn her around to face him. “Sandy, your father didn’t abandon you. I won’t abandon you either. In fact, at this point, I’m afraid you couldn’t chase me away.”

  “Oh Luke, I don’t know what to think. Everything is changing.” She knew there was truth in what he said. Her defenses, however, were forged by many years as a vulnerable child, and they had shielded her against many a harsh blow.

  “It’ll work out,” he said and let his fingers wander up her arm to her tight neck muscles. She leaned her head into his touch and gave herself away to the sensation.

  “As far as you leaving me goes,” he said and shot her a grin before continuing, “I’ll take my chances. If I’m willing to bet on us, surely you can, too.”

  “You don’t think I can resist you?” she asked, half teasing.

  “Not if you’re half as smitten as me, Sandy Babe.”

  Sandra smiled at his renewed sense of humor. “Yes, you do look pretty pathetic,” she said, shyly gazing up at him with a warm smile.

  “You’re looking in the wrong place, dear. My affliction is located lower on my anatomy.”

  She forced her gaze down to the toes of his deck shoes as color stole her face. Luke lifted her chin with his hand and looked into the depths of her eyes. The corner of his mouth turned up in a youthful grin of awareness.

  Then, his expression sobered. “Have you had any more threatening calls?” he asked.

  “Yes, quite a few,” she replied and held his gaze to catch his reaction. The small lines which had formed around his mouth earlier reappeared and the blue of his eyes darkened.

  “Have you heard from Mac? Has he put a trace on the phone numbers?”

  “I called today, but Rachel said everything was being taken care of.” She shrugged her shoulders and frowned. “He’s supposed to get back with me sometime tomorrow or the next day.”

  “Like hell, he will. Let me use your phone.”

  “No, Luke. I’ll be fine. I’m sure if something was going on, he’d have called or been by.”

  “Very well,” he replied thoughtfully. “Listen, I just remembered some errands I need to see to in town. I’ll call you later.”

  “Errands like visiting the sheriff, perhaps?”

  “Perhaps,” he said and smiled mischievously. “You can’t blame a man for trying to protect his woman, can you?”

  “Do I need protecting?” she asked while batting her eyelashes flirtatiously at him.

  “You bet you do. Every millimeter of you needs my constant attention.”

  “Constant attention? Do you think you’re up to that?” she asked teasing him.

  “What do you think?” he replied lifting an eyebrow into a question and grasping her hand to pull her towards him.

  “Oh, no you don’t, Luke Caldwell. Chris is probably hiding behind the counter over there trying to be inconspicuous and pretend he has no idea what’s going on here. Now get.”

  As he exited the office and strode to the front door, Sandra rummaged over his words in her mind. He’d called her, his woman. A feminine part of her liked the thought of being possessed by this pirate with a rakish gleam in his eyes. Her stomach twisted. Another part of her feared his dominance.

  Watching him stride toward the outer door of the shop, she marveled at the purpose held in each footstep. Say something Sandra, she prodded herself mentally. Don’t let him walk out the door. He’s right. He couldn’t have betrayed you and still kissed you with so much tenderness and passion.

  As though reading her thoughts, Luke stopped before reaching for the door handle. Sandra struggled to find the words. Everything seemed to lodge itself in her throat, her fear, anger, determination and love. It was all there at once in a large ball which threatened to choke her. Lifting her hand in a signal for him to stop, she waited for her voice to replenish itself.

  “Wait.” She picked up a pen and piece of paper and wrote down her new unlisted number. “You’ll need this,” she said as she approached him and handed him the paper. “I had an unlisted personal line put in.”

  “Are you sure you want me to have this?”

  “Yes, I am.”

  Luke looked down at the small piece of scratch paper. Obviously pleased at her show of trust in him, no matter how small, he smiled.

  “I’ll call you tonight to make sure you’re alright.” With what appeared new resolve, he bent down and dropped a brief kiss upon her lips. Then turning his back to her, he left.

  As the door slammed shut, the cowbell flew about wildly making a noise closely akin to the jagged feeling in her ribs. Sandra looked over her shoulder for Chris. He was feigning interest in his task of restocking parts.

  * * *

  Luke parked in front of the sheriff’s office and went straight in. Rachel greeted him silently with wide brown eyes and a lopsided grin. Lifting up a single index finger, she signaled to Luke that she would be with him in a moment. Luke watched her scribble something down on a form while she continued to listen to the incoming call. From what he could discern from the one side of the conversation, Mac’s deputy was calling in before he went off duty.

  “See you tomorrow, Rog. Have a good one,” she sang out over the radio. Her cheerful voice held more youth than her
face revealed. “How’re you doing?” she asked not waiting for Luke’s reply before she continued. “Are you needing to see Mac?”

  “Sure do. Is he in?” Luke smiled to himself, amused with listening to Rachel talk. Everyone in Fort Walton teased her about being a motor mouth, not that she seemed to mind. Being a motor mouth, he suspected came in very handy as a radio dispatcher. It wasn’t like a dispatcher had all day. You’d have to love to talk fast. He knew, he had sure felt better when he’d called in the other night and heard Rachel’s familiar voice.

  “Mac just returned from a late lunch a minute ago. You can go on back if you’d like,” she said, motioning with her hand.

  “Thanks, I’ll do that.” He heard the electronic lock release the heavy door that secured the hallway to the jail lockup area. Pushing it open, he walked down the long thin corridor which led to his friend’s office. He was startled to find the door reading “Sheriff” in black bold letters was shut. Luke tapped on the frosted glass pane. There was no answer. As he tapped again, he heard the sound of feet falling to the floor and scrambling towards the door.

  “Luke. I was just thinking about you this morning. How’s it going with the Harris girl?”

  “I was about to ask you the same question, Mac.”

  “Come sit down. I’ll tell you what I know,” he said as he crossed the room and sat down behind his desk. The chair squeaked its disapproval under his weight and the older man sighed. “Want some coffee? I can get Rachel in here to make us a fresh pot. There’s generally not too much going on this time of day.”

  “No, thanks, Mac. I dropped by to find out if you had any leads from the telephone tap you put on. Sandra said she hadn’t heard from you.”

  Yes and no. We managed to narrow it down to two separate lines that the calls were placed from.” The sheriff picked up a file from his desk and pulled out a legal size sheet of paper. “Here, you can see for yourself.”

  Luke read over the paper until he came down to the identity of the prank callers. “That’s The Boat’s number.”