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Could he accept that? Would he have done the same for his own mother?
* * *
CAROLINA PLUGGED IN her phone next to Mamá’s and Sage’s. At least they still had power. She and Mamá stared at the storm coverage on the TV.
The shower went on. She inhaled. Sage was in there—naked.
Wind rattled the carriage house. Mamá jumped.
“Can I get you anything?” Carolina asked. She needed to do something to take her mind off Sage. “One of your protein drinks? Something to eat?”
“No.” Her mother shivered. “The storm’s so loud. It kept me awake last night.”
“Then maybe a nap?”
Her mother sighed. “What else is there to do?”
And…the power flickered.
Her mother clutched the chair arms. “No.”
“It’s not so dark. And the power’s still on.” But she expected that would change. “Why don’t you lie on the sofa? You can nap or just watch TV. Do you want a movie?”
“The weather channel is fine.” But Mamá moved over to the sofa.
Carolina got her settled and covered her. She could smell Sage on the soft throw. The combination of chocolate, citrus and him made her mouth water. Her mother’s eyes closed and her chest moved up and down in steady breaths.
Wouldn’t she like to be able to drop to sleep that fast. Last night she’d lain in bed for hours, listening to the storm trying to take apart the carriage house, and obsessing that Sage was just down the hall.
He’d forgiven her. Wanted to get back together. Part of her yearned to have him back in her life.
But she couldn’t be with someone who didn’t respect her. She had to be strong. She didn’t have the energy to deal with her issues and his.
The power flickered again and the room went dark.
She opened the curtains and the sheers, trying to let in as much light as the gray sky allowed. A wind gust rattled the window enough to make the glass undulate. She skittered away, worried the window would implode.
But the wind calmed and the window stopped shaking.
She stared at Fitzgerald House. It was dark except for the lights she could see bobbing throughout the house.
She didn’t pull out candles or flashlights. Who knew how long they would be without power. After unplugging the phones, she watched the wind twist the trees and shrubs in the courtyard.
Her phone rang.
“Everything okay over there?” Abby asked.
“We’re good.”
“If you need anything, call. I’m doing full meals for all the guests. Gray’s getting the generator going, so we’ll have some light.”
“Thanks, Abby. I will.”
“Any chance you want to entertain the guests tonight? I don’t expect the power back on until the storm passes, so it would be a help.”
“Sure.” It would give her something to do. “I warn you, I’m not a great pianist.”
“I’ll keep the wine flowing so they don’t notice.”
Carolina actually laughed as she shut off her phone. A sound she hadn’t made in a while.
“What’s up?” Sage toweled his hair as he walked down the hall. His shorts hung low on his hips. He didn’t wear a shirt.
She laced her fingers behind her back so she wouldn’t reach out and stroke his bare skin.
If this had been before his accusations, she would have pushed him right back down to the bedroom and stripped off those shorts.
But it wasn’t. She turned back to the window. In a low voice she said, “Abby said if we want to eat over there, we can. And she’d like me to entertain the guests since there isn’t any power.”
He moved behind her, his heat tugging at her. She had to stiffen her spine so she didn’t relax into the comfort of his body.
“That’s a good idea.” Sage’s whisper and the dark room made the moment too intimate. He set his hand on her shoulder. “I guess we had power longer than I expected.”
She slipped away from him. “I’ll put together sandwiches for lunch.” Anything to escape his magnetic pull.
She could do this. She could stay strong.
* * *
“THE WINDS ARE DYING.” Sage stopped by the window as he paced the room. “A little at least.”
The worst of the storm had passed a couple of hours ago. Without the TV giving a play-by-play, they were guessing based on the intensity of the rain and wind.
“Do you want to head over to Fitzgerald House?” she asked.
“Yes.” Sage needed to get out of there and do something.
He’d tried to read, but it made his head pound. He and Carolina had found games in one of the cupboards, but the idea of playing Monopoly in the dark didn’t appeal.
