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“I love pancakes,” I replied.
Now that I’d come down from my high, I started thinking. The past day had been so surreal, I couldn’t believe any of this had really been happening. Things were moving fast. Too fast. It was one of the reasons Owen attracted me so much – the way he got what he wanted, no matter how crazy or ridiculous it sounded. And it was exactly the thing that scared me. Was he honest with me?
Did he really like me, or was I just another peak for him to climb? Another conquest to chat about with his buddies? I had met men like that, who had been with me for the bragging rights.
Owen was totally one of those guys and if I wasn’t careful, I’d just be another notch on his bedpost. But this was business, wasn’t it?
The connection between us felt real.
Too real.
Besides, I had to remind myself that I was here for Declan. I was on a mission! Or had been, before the plane.
The island.
All the sex.
I was falling for Owen, and that made me feel terrible. What right did I have to have all this, when my brother was back home, sick and alone? I didn’t deserve this!
“Are you okay?” Owen asked. “I thought you said you loved pancakes, but I can make something else.”
“No, of course not. You’re wonderful. Too good, in fact.” I looked aside, trying my best not to break down, not to show him my weakness.
He sat the pan aside and walked around the counter and stood next to me, a little too close. I could feel the warmth of his body. Just one tug at that towel and he’d be naked.
I could have him right here in the kitchen if I wanted.
He put a hand on my face and made me look at him. My eyes were wet.
I was being ridiculous.
“What is it?” he asked, concerned.
I couldn’t keep it together any longer. I hugged him and hid my face in his chest, tears streaming down my face. It felt good to finally let go, to finally relax. Crying helped. It’d been so long since I had broken down like that.
I had to be strong.
For Declan.
And before him, for Mom.
“It’ll be fine,” he said, putting my arms around me and stroking my hair. “Don’t worry, Sydney, I’ve got you.”
I cried for a few minutes, until my throat was dry and tears would no longer come. I was embarrassed at first, but he was so good, so caring, that I forgot all about it and just let myself be vulnerable.
When I finally caught my breath and wiped my eyes, I said, “Thank you. I needed that, apparently more than I realized.”
He nodded once. “Tell me, what’s going on? I’ll do whatever I can to make you not want to cry like that again Sydney, just let me help.”
I was silent for a long moment, deciding whether or not I could make this last small leap of faith in him. I had only known him a day.
But I had to tell him the truth. It helped that we were on an island, I realized. Owen had said there was no one around in a mile radius, so nobody was watching. No one would know my secrets.
No one but Owen.
After a few more minutes of doubt, I said, “It’s my brother, Declan.”
“Is he alright?”
