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“Wow.”
“Yeah, Grandma was impressive. I texted her after I arrived in Bandon and told her I was here but was vague. She didn’t want to know specifics in case anyone came looking for me. We always knew how to reach each other, though.
“I love it here, even more than California. It was fine there, but I realized that I need to be by the water. It energizes and soothes me. But none of this is what we really should be talking about.”
“There’s something we should talk about?”
“So many things,” I mutter. “Let’s start with this. I know you said you’re staying, but Archer, that isn’t possible.”
“I don’t have to be in Seattle for a bit,” he says as if he’s being deliberately obtuse. “I guess I should catch you up on what I’ve been up to. I sold the fishing boat about five years ago. Now, I buy and sell real estate. Mostly commercial properties, but sometimes, I buy residential places here and there.”
“You’re a landlord?”
“Sort of. Anastasia works in one of my buildings. She used to live there, too. She makes wedding cakes. She was living above her shop, but since she recently got married, she’s now living with her new husband out on one of the islands.”
“Anastasia got married?” I feel immediate regret that I didn’t know that. That whenever I contact her, I just ask about Archer, never about how she’s doing. “Good for her.”
“She’s happy. She married Kane O’Callaghan.”
“The artist?”
“That’s the one. Anyway, my point is that I am self-employed. And as such, I think I’ll take a look at some property around here. Mostly out of curiosity.”
“I don’t know what there is for you to look at,” I admit with a gusty breath. “You can’t be here. It’s not safe for you. For either of us.”
He stops short and waits for me to face him.
“I’m not trying to make things unsafe, E. I worked so hard to find you. I just want to enjoy you for a while. I’m flying by the seat of my pants here. All I know is that I don’t want to leave here without getting to know you again.”
I shake my head. “It can’t happen, Archer. I wish it could. More than you know.”
God, I missed him so much. It still hurts.
“You can’t stay.”
But he doesn’t respond. He just looks down the beach and then gestures with a shake of his head.
“How far are we going?”
“Not much farther.” I gesture ahead. “See those two rocks there?”
“The ones a half a mile away?”
I laugh and look up at him. “You’re an athletic guy. An extra half-mile won’t hurt you.”
“You were never the sporty type,” he says.
“I decided to start exercising more when all of this started,” I admit. “I’ve always been an introvert. That hasn’t changed, but I didn’t realize that being isolated could be so lonely. And one of the things I found that helps is working out. I do yoga and meditation most mornings, and I like to come out here to walk or run in the afternoon if the weather isn’t too bad.”
“Run, you say?”
“Sure.”
“I’ll race you, then.”
And he takes off jogging. I pause, just to watch his sexy body from behind. Tight ass, broad shoulders, muscular back. I need to soak it all in because in a couple of hours, he’ll be gone, and these few stolen moments on the beach are all I’ll have to hold close.
Holy hell in a handbasket, he’s hot.
I take off, enjoying the push and pull of my muscles as I sprint closer to him and then run past him, reaching the rocks a good twenty yards ahead of him.
We stop and bend at the waist, trying to catch our breath.
“Holy shit,” he says as he works to take in air. “You’re fucking fast.”
“Been doing it a while.” And I wanted to impress you.
Which is kind of dumb, but there you have it. The appreciation in his bright blue eyes was worth every step.
“These are nice,” he says, gesturing to the houses on the bluffs. “Why didn’t you go for one? Looks like several are for sale.”
“I don’t make that kind of money at my job. I couldn’t afford one of these,” I say, shaking my head. “And, yes, my grandmother made sure my bank account has a couple million dollars in it, but it would look crazy if I bought one of these places and then collected my salary. I’d stand out, and the whole point is to blend. Besides, I like my little place.”
“It’s cute,” he agrees. “Small.”
“It didn’t feel small until you were in it.” I laugh and take a deep breath, soaking in the salty air. “It’s always just been me.”
“Always?”
I know what he’s asking. Has there been anyone since him?
“I haven’t been a nun,” I admit, making him scowl. “But I haven’t been in a serious relationship since you, Archer. How could I when the entire relationship would be based on lies? I couldn’t even tell him, whomever he may be, my real name. You can’t build anything on lies. And I have to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice. So, yes, it’s always just been me in my cottage.”
