Page 4 of The Deadly Shallows

Brooke shielded her eyes with her hand. “You clearly want to say something.”

Gabby slid her jacket zipper partly up and then down, then exhaled. “Just remember Noah has a past too.”

“Which he never shares,” Brooke said, then glanced at her Apple watch. She needed to hurry to make breakfast with Dave and get to the graduation in time. They trudged up the steep incline of Main Street, her calves burning with the good warmth of exercise, her mind spinning on Gabby’s cryptic comment. What past? Was she indicating something bad had happened? “That’s just part of the frustration,” she said. “I know nothing of Noah’s background other than professionally.” He never confided in her.

“But you know him, and that’s what matters.” Gabby stuck her hands in her pockets, stretching her arms out and the jacket along with them.

“I know about him. I know he loves his family. I know he loves Jesus. I know he excels as a CGIS special agent in charge. He’s disciplined and always in control.”

“See, you know the important things about him—his love of family, the Lord, his country, and his team.”

“Which is about him. Not him.” Brooke shook her head. “You know what I’m saying. I’m sorry if I’m being short. I’m just . . .” Heartbroken.

Gabby’s shoulders slackened. “I understand and I’m going to share something with you. Something I think will help you understand Noah better, and maybe you won’t give up on him just yet. But it has to stay between us.” She dipped her chin, her brows hiking.

“I promise.” It felt wrong learning something about Noah from his sister rather than from him, but if it gave her insight into the man she’d fallen for—a peek beyond the wall he’d erected so firmly in place—she’d listen.

“Noah has a complicated relationship history.”

Seriously? Brooke tried to smother her sarcastic chuckle. But, seriously, didn’t Gabby know who she was talking to? Her collective dating experience looked like a who’s who of losers. “Who doesn’t?” she said.

Gabby shrugged a shoulder. “Fair enough.”

“I thank you for sharing, but whatever this complicated history is, it’s either affecting him enough that he won’t move forward with me, or he simply doesn’t want to.” The moments when she thought there might be more between them than friendship were amazing, but he always pulled back, keeping her at arm’s length.

“Give him time,” Gabby said, a hint of hope holding tight in her voice.

Brooke exhaled. “It’s been two months. If he cared enough to trust me and share even a little bit of life or his past with me, it would be different. But at some point, I have to let go of the dream and live in reality.”

She glanced at her watch. 0640. “Shoot. I’ve got to go.”

“What time are you meeting Dave?”

“0715 at Belle’s.”

“Oh, yum,” Gabby said. “She makes the best French toast. Well, you best scoot.”

“Thanks.” She waved, then headed right, toward home. It was the first house she’d actually owned, and she loved the feeling of being settled.

Gabby headed left. “Have a nice time,” she called.

“Thanks,” she said before rounding the corner. With the silence of early morning enveloping her, she released an exhale and turned to her Father in prayer.

Help me to be open to giving Dave a real chance, Lord. I’ve fallen for Noah, but he clearly doesn’t feel the same way. It’s time I accept that our relationship will only be that of friendship. Please help me move on, even though it’s the last thing I want to do.

FOUR

He would not ask.

Noah took long, determined strokes toward the breaking ridge of waves.

He couldn’t ask.

His 1mm wet suit kept December’s biting water from penetrating his body, but his toes were numb. He pumped them in and out to regain feeling. Gabby wore boots, but he liked the feel of the board beneath his feet.

The bracing temps would never deter him from riding the winter swells. They were addictive, just like Brooke Kesler’s presence.

The last two months had been exquisite torture. He yearned to spend every chance he got with her—laughing with her, admiring her . . . falling for her, and that’s where the torture came in.