by Marie Force
With her arms encircling his neck, her mouth opened under his, encouraging him to take more, and Luke was lost. Nothing else could compare to the way he felt when he was with her, and as he kissed her, it became clear to him that there was absolutely nothing he wouldn’t do to feel this way every day for the rest of his life.
“Syd,” he said, his lips still resting against hers.
Her fingers combed through his hair, sending desire rippling through him like a live wire. “Hmm?”
“Dinner.” He kissed her again, softly, gently.
“Oh. Right.” She let her arms drop from his shoulders but continued to stare at him with a befuddled expression that made his blood boil.
It took all the fortitude he possessed not to scoop her up, carry her inside and take what he wanted more than anything, what he knew she’d willingly give. Only the thought of what he might see in her expressive eyes afterward stopped him from acting on the urge. He couldn’t bear to see regret or guilt or anything other than the pure joy he would feel, so rather than scoop her up, he opened the passenger door to his truck and ushered her inside.
“It smells so clean in here.”
“It’s always like that,” he said with a grin.
She laughed, and just like that, his mood lightened.
He got in the driver’s side, and before he could buckle in, she reached for his hand. “Thanks for cleaning your truck for me.”
“No problem. It needed it anyway.”
After he put on his seat belt, he took her hand again, linking their fingers as he drove them the long way around the island.
“Where are you taking me?”
“To the Lobster House with a sunset thrown in.”
“Oh, yummy. My favorite.”
“I know.”
Over winding roads, he drove to the northernmost point on the island, where a lighthouse stood watch and the sun flirted with the horizon.
“Best spot on the island to watch the sunset,” Syd said, taking it all in.
“I love it here.”
“I remember that.”
He glanced over to watch a blush spread over her cheeks. Releasing her hand, he ran a finger along her cheekbone. “I know what else you’re remembering.”
She shot him a seductive look. “And what’s that?”
He took off his seat belt and leaned toward her. “You’re thinking about all the times we came here to make out.” His lips brushed against her ear, and he watched the goose bumps form on her arm. He’d always loved getting that reaction from her. She was so sensitive. So much for his vow to take it back a notch, to protect them both from too much too soon. Who was he kidding? He could no more resist her than he could resist breathing. “Syd. . .”
“Yes?”
He had to know. He needed to know. “Do you feel it, too?”
Her breath seemed to catch in her throat as she looked at him. “Feel what?”
“Everything.” How else to put it?
She ran her fingers over the jaw. “Yes.”
Overcome with relief that he wasn’t in this alone, Luke gazed into her eyes. “I’m worried we’re moving too fast.”
“We probably are.”
“So we should—”
“Enjoy it.” She framed his face with her hands and kissed him. “We should enjoy it.”
“For how long?” He hated that he needed to ask.
“I don’t know the answer to that. I wish I did, but all I can give you is right now. I’d understand if that wasn’t enough—”
Luke kissed the words off her lips. “Do you promise you’ll talk to me about your plans? That you won’t leave me out of it?”
“The way I did before.”
“I’d rather not go through that again.”
“I promise I’ll talk to you.”
He twirled a lock of strawberry blonde hair that had escaped from her clip around his finger. “Then it’s enough. For now.”
“Most guys never would’ve given me a second chance.”
“I’m not most guys.”
“Believe me, I know that. Why did you give me another chance?”
Continuing to play with the strand of hair, he shrugged. “I’ve never felt everything with anyone else.”
“Luke,” she whispered, reaching for him. She drove him wild with her teasing tongue and soft lips.
They’d be late for their reservation, but Luke didn’t care about that. Not when he had the woman who’d haunted his dreams back in his arms. He ran his hand up from her ribs to cup a breast that was fuller than he remembered and felt her nipple harden against his palm.
“Maybe we should skip dinner,” she said, her voice husky and sexy.
Luke forced himself to think with his brain and not the part of his anatomy that burned for her. “Dinner first.”
“I won’t tell anyone you didn’t buy me dinner first.”
“I’ll know,” he said, disentangling himself and starting the truck. He was surprised to notice it had gotten dark while they lost themselves in each other.
“Thank you,” she said so softly he almost didn’t hear her.
“For what?”
She reached for his hand and brought it to her lips. “For not rushing me, and for knowing what I need even when I’m not quite sure.”
Luke squeezed her hand and brought it to rest on his leg as he navigated the twists and turns on the way into town. Approaching Sweet Meadow Farm Road where Mac and Maddie lived, Luke was blinded by the headlights of another car that had crept over the center line.
“Holy shit,” Luke said, swerving to avoid a collision. “What the hell?”
Sydney screamed and pulled her hand free of his.
For a brief moment, Luke feared he would lose control of the truck but managed to keep it on the road as the other car passed in a flash of light and throbbing bass.
Breathing hard, Luke pulled the truck to the side of the road and looked over to find Sydney curled into a ball in the passenger seat. When he rested a hand on her shoulder, she flinched. “It’s okay. We’re okay.”
Her moan was barely human. Oh God.
Luke released his seat belt and moved closer to her. He was almost afraid to touch her but more afraid not to. “Everything’s okay, Syd. Come here, baby. Come to me.”
She turned into his embrace, and sobs shook her entire body.
“I’m so sorry,” he said. His lips brushed over her hair. He wished now he’d been less of a gentleman earlier. If he’d taken her home rather than heading for town, the wound on her soul wouldn’t have been ripped open again.
Her gasping sobs broke his heart, and her tears wet his shirt. “It’s okay, honey.” He wondered if he said it often enough she might actually hear him. They sat there for a long time, Luke’s mind racing with thoughts about what he should do. He was afraid to let her go long enough to drive them home.
Fishing the phone out of his pocket, he continued to speak softly to Sydney while he used one hand to send a text to Mac, asking him to come. While he waited and hoped Mac hadn’t shut off his phone, Luke rubbed Sydney’s back and told her over and over again that they were okay, that everything was okay.
Mac appeared out of the darkness ten minutes later.
Moving closer to Sydney, Luke signaled for Mac to stay quiet and drive the truck. Luke could see the questions in his friend’s eyes, but thankfully Mac didn’t ask as he slid into the driver’s seat.
“My place,” Luke whispered to Mac because it was closest. Returning his focus to Sydney, Luke held her against him on the short ride home. When they got there, Luke freed her from the seat belt and scooped her up to walk inside. He sat on the sofa with her on his lap and kept his arms tight around her.
She clung to him, crying softly and shaking with sobs.
Looking helpless and uncertain, Mac watched over them.
Luke closed his eyes and tightened his hold on Sydney, rocking her the way he would a small child who’d had a bad dream. His poor Syd had been
through a nightmare, and their close call had clearly triggered horrifying memories.
After a long while, he felt her sag against him when sleep claimed her. He stood and carried her into his bedroom, settling her into bed and waiting to be sure she would stay asleep before he pressed a kiss to her forehead and went to talk to Mac.
“What the hell happened, man?” Mac asked when Luke joined him in the kitchen.
“A near collision with an asshole who was driving too fast on the curves. Brought it all back for her.”
“Shit,” Mac muttered.
“Thanks for coming. I was afraid to let go of her for even the few minutes it would’ve taken to get here.”
“No problem at all. Do you think it would help to have Maddie talk to her? They go way back.”
“Maybe. She needs to sleep for a while.”
“What about you? You have to be freaked out. What can I do for you?”
“Can you go to her place and get her dog? He’s a golden named Buddy. She wouldn’t want him to be alone all night.”
“Will he come with me?”
“I hope so. If you call him by name, he’ll know you’re a friend.”
“Do you have her keys?”
Luke walked with Mac to the truck to get Sydney’s keys from her purse. “I’m not sure which one it is.”
“I’ll figure it out.”
“Thanks, Mac.”
Luke stood in the driveway and watched his truck disappear from view. Turning back to the house, he headed straight for the kitchen to unearth a bottle of whisky he kept for an occasional indulgence. The burn of the liquor coursing through him settled his nerves. Now if he could just do something about the trembling in his hands.
He put down the glass and walked down the hallway to the bedroom, turning the hall light on so he could check on her. She was curled up on her side in the middle of the bed, still asleep. The poor thing had worn herself out.
A flurry of doors closing in the driveway drew Luke back to the living room fifteen minutes later. He wasn’t surprised to see Mac and Maddie returning in two vehicles. When Luke opened the door, Buddy seemed to know where he was needed and disappeared into the bedroom.
Mac handed Luke a bag of dog food and a leash.
“Thanks,” Luke said.
“Is she okay?” Maddie asked. “What happened?”
“She’s asleep,” Luke said. Once again, he related the story of the near miss on the road. His hands grew damp as he remembered the heart-stopping moment when he’d been certain they were going to crash or roll over or worse.
“Oh God,” Maddie said. “Poor Syd—and you. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Just a little rattled by the whole thing. She was doing so well.”
“Until something brought it all back again,” Maddie said. “Do you want me to stay? In case she wakes up?”
Luke shook his head. “You need to get home to Thomas.”
“Janey and Joe are with him. They were at our house when Mac got your text.” Maddie rested her hand on Luke’s arm. “I can stay if you think you might need some help tonight.”
As much as Luke feared Sydney waking up and remembering what’d nearly happened, he had a feeling she might not want extra people around for that, even her close friend. He wondered if she’d want him around for that. Well, she was stuck with him, and somehow he’d get her through it. “I’ll have her call you in the morning, okay?”
Maddie nodded. “If you’re sure.”
He was sure of nothing. “Thanks for the offer.”
“Call me in the middle of the night if need be. I’ll come.” She gave Luke a quick hug that caught him off guard for a moment before he returned the embrace.
Mac reached out to squeeze his shoulder. “We’re a phone call away if you need us.”
Overcome by their support and friendship, Luke nodded. “I might not be in tomorrow. If that’s okay.”
“You certainly don’t have to ask. Remember that whole ‘make you a partner in the business’ thing last year?”
“I still forget sometimes,” Luke said with a small smile. “Old habits die hard.”
“Business owners come and go as they please. Don’t worry about tomorrow. I’ll be there all day.”
“Thanks again for coming earlier and for getting Buddy for me.”
“Anytime.”
While he and Mac had known each other all their lives and had always been friendly, they’d never been friends until they started working together every day.
With a new wife and young family, Mac had been hesitant to take on the responsibility of running the marina on his own. So Big Mac offered to make Luke a partner. After Luke had been assured that none of the other four McCarthy siblings had any interest in the business, he’d accepted Big Mac’s offer of forty percent. Luke and Mac each had forty, and Big Mac retained twenty in case one of his other kids changed their minds and wanted in.
Luke still had to remind himself every now and then that he actually owned a big chunk of the profitable marina where he’d worked since he was fourteen. Flipping off the porch light, he closed and locked the door, leaning against it for a moment to collect himself.
Sydney Donovan was in his bed. Too bad it had to happen this way.
Chapter 9
Sydney woke with a start, unsure of where she was. As usual, Buddy was snuggled up to her but so was someone else. The pillow smelled like Luke, clean and fresh and citrusy. She was in Luke’s bed. With Luke and Buddy. The whole thing rushed back to her like a horror movie—the bright lights, the truck swerving, Luke’s cry of distress. After that, it all went murky.
“You’re okay,” Luke said softly. “I’m right here.”
Comforted by the sound of his voice as much as his words, she turned to him, groaning when the hips and pelvis she’d injured in the accident fifteen months ago protested. “What time is it?”
He checked the illuminated face of his watch. “Two thirty.”
“How’d we get here?”
“You don’t remember?”
“Not much after. . .”
He smoothed a hand over her hair and kissed her forehead. “You were upset, so Mac came and drove us here.”
She winced at the thought of her friend’s husband seeing her unglued. “Where did Buddy come from?”
“I sent Mac to get him. I knew you wouldn’t want him home alone all night, and I figured he might bring you comfort when you woke up.”
“Thank you for thinking of that.” She brushed a hand over his face. “You had a special night planned. I’m sorry—”
Leaning a finger on her lips, he stopped her. “Please don’t apologize.” He hugged her tight, and she rested her face against his chest. His skin was warm, and the light dusting of chest hair was soft against her face.
Steeped in his familiar scent, Sydney closed her eyes and absorbed the comfort of his embrace as his heart beat fast under her ear.
“Want to talk about it?” he asked after a long period of silence.
She closed her eyes even tighter, as if she was trying to stem the flood of new tears.
“You don’t have to,” he said, sounding alarmed.
“I don’t remember much about it,” she said. “We’d been to Portsmouth, New Hampshire to see Seth’s parents. I’d had a bad cold for a week and was sleeping on the way home. Someone told me later I survived because of the position I was in. I only remember Seth screaming, which woke me up. He said. . .” Her voice hitched, and for a moment she couldn’t speak.
Luke held her tight against him. “You don’t have to tell me, Syd. Not now. Not ever if you don’t want to.”
“He said the same thing you did tonight. The exact same thing. That’s the last thing I ever heard him say.”
All the air left Luke’s body in one big exhale. “Oh God. I’m so sorry. I didn’t know—”
She tipped her face up to kiss the words off his lips. “How could you? What else does one say in that situation?”
&n
bsp; “I wish I’d said something else.”
“The car hit us from behind. We were stopped in traffic, and Seth must’ve seen him coming in the mirror. There was nothing he could do, nowhere to go. The kids were killed instantly. Seth died later, in surgery. I don’t remember anything after he screamed until I woke up in the hospital five days later.”
“I’d give everything I have to keep you from having to relive it, to go back to when we were at the point watching the sunset.”
“Please don’t beat yourself up, Luke. It’s not your fault. I live with it every day of my life.”
“Tell me about them,” he said. “About Seth and the kids. If you feel up to talking about them.”
Sydney took a deep breath and gave herself permission to remember. Thinking of them brought a small smile to her face. “Seth was the eternal optimist. Nothing ever got him down. He was full of plans and ideas and grand schemes that usually involved making money. That was his gift—investing and growing money. Everyone we knew sought his advice. I used to say the stock market was his mistress.” She laughed at the memory.
“He loved to cook—and not just regular food, but gourmet dishes that would make your mouth water just thinking about them. He played the piano and loved rugby, although he didn’t play anymore after the kids were born because he was afraid of getting hurt and not being able to care for them.”
“How’d you meet him?”
“Through my college roommate. They were cousins. Since they were both in school in Boston, he came to visit her a lot. At first I didn’t like him all that much. His eternally upbeat and happy disposition grated on my nerves. I figured he had to be fake or medicated or something, because no one is ever that happy all the time.”
“But he was?”
She nodded, smiling as she thought of her late husband. “Over time, I came to realize that was how he was wired. Nothing bothered him, and everyone liked him. He asked me out a hundred times before I finally said yes.”
Sydney looked up in time to see a flash of naked pain cross Luke’s face. “What’re you thinking?”
“That when you said yes to him you were saying good-bye to me, and I didn’t even know it.”
The pain she heard in his voice made her sad. “Maybe,” she said, dropping soft kisses on his chest, “I was saying ‘good-bye for now’ to you.”