Page 21 of Keel

“Yeah. He was a handful. I wanted to yell at him, but I ended up teaching him how to do a bunch of shit. A few other guys and I ended up taking him for a few hours each weekend and teaching him stuff, like how to wash clothes and how to grocery shop. It took him a while, but he got his shit together after some really hard weeks. Like really hard weeks. He was beaten up a few times because he was really stupid with his decisions.”

Frankie’s mouth hung open, and she shook her head. “Dang, that’s awful.”

“It was, but had he been left to his own devices, he would have been a total shit in life. He probably would be homeless and strung out on drugs.”

“Do you still keep up with him?”

“It’s been a few years since I talked to him, but he got out and went to college, then created a technology that is necessary for new satellites. Then he opened a charity for young men who grew up in poverty. He’s a good guy now, but it was rough going for a while.”

“So you’re like some loser whisperer or something.”

He hit her with a hard stare. “You aren’t a loser.”

“I really feel like one. I never should have stayed with Forest. I lost years of my life to that bastard. I could have lost it all.”

The eggs were close enough to done, so he switched off the burner and turned to Frankie. He took her hands and lowered just a little, meeting her gaze.

“Hey, you got out. You saved yourself. You should be proud of that. You can do better.”

“Can I?”

He nodded as he pulled her into a hug. She wrapped her arms around him and held on. He didn’t want to let her go. Whatever it was that connected them had wormed its way into his heart. He felt things holding this woman that he hadn’t experienced before. It wasn’t just lust. What he felt was deeper, sharper. Sharp enough to cut his soul.

If he pulled her closer and got involved with her, he could end up winning. But relationships were dangerous, and they could both end up destroyed.

Chapter 12

The sound of Keel’s heartbeat soothed Frankie. She should step back, but he was so warm, so caring, that she couldn’t rip herself out of his hold. She wanted to climb in closer to his orbit, but knew she shouldn’t.

She had to be strong enough to step back, strong enough to stand on her own. But was she? Could she ever be strong enough to be on her own?

She had to try.

Frankie stepped back, laughing a little as awkwardness swirled around them. “Looks like the eggs are done,” Frankie whispered.

“Yeah.” Keel’s voice was rough like gravel.

Was he as affected by her as she was by him? She tried not to freak out as she took the plate and sat at his table, eating the eggs he’d cooked for her. She didn’t want to stare or make it more awkward, so she searched for something to talk about.

“So the boat thing. When are we headed out?”

“I booked it for ten. We’ll head out at nine thirty and meet the guy at the marina, then go out. I want to stop by the grocery store and pick up more bottled water before we leave.”

“Sure. I have enough money to buy some snacks.”

“No, save your money until we figure out your financial situation.”

She nodded. “Thank you. I’m excited. Do you think we’ll see any dolphins?”

He nodded. “I’m sure we will.”

“Oh, fun. What about whales?”

He shook his head. “We won’t be that far out. The dolphins we see will be near the inlets to the Intracoastal Waterway. We’re not getting a boat big enough to be in the open ocean.”

“I’ve got to say I know nothing about boating. I’ve been on a ferry, and some other boats, but I’ve never paid attention.”

“We have the boat for a few hours. I’ll give you the basics on how to operate it. It will be fun. I’m not saying you should take a boat out on your own, but you’ll at least have the basics down.”