AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Sawyer, you left her on her wedding day. I don’t want her hurt again.”
He wouldn’t mention that her parents’ dislike of him had been a huge motivation in that—that their fears for her future had sealed the decision. Because, honestly, he couldn’t blame them there. The bitterness that used to eat at him was slowly dissolving. He bitterly regretted ever hurting her but he didn’t regret that they’d had time to find themselves and the he had been able to work on being a better person.
“I have no intention of hurting her again.”
Her eyes grew hard. “Really? So you turned up out of the blue because you want to make amends? And the money was no enticement whatsoever?”
“Money? What money?”
“We’re adults here, Sawyer. You’re not a boy anymore. Just admit to the truth and leave my daughter alone.”
He drew in a long breath and released it slowly. He let his gaze run over her and saw the genuine concern in her eyes. Regardless of how he’d once hated her, he realised now she believed she was protecting her daughter.
“Lynda, I don’t know anything about any money.”
She narrowed her gaze and assessed him. “So you haven’t heard she won the lottery? Because let me assure you, I shall make sure you don’t see a penny of it, even if you do manage to persuade her to marry you.”
“Lottery?” He held up a hand. “Wait, how did you know I was going to propose?”
“Nothing stays secret in this town for long.”
He groaned inwardly. So Maddie thought he was after her for some money and the surprise had been ruined. Damn. Now she probably believed he’d only pursued her for the money. He should have been more upfront about his books’ successes but that would mean revealing far too much about what he wrote. He hadn’t been quite able to open himself up to that yet. He’d needed to win her over without written words—he couldn’t let his fiction play a role.
And apparently she’d been keeping secrets too. Didn’t she trust him to know?
“Where did she go?”
Lynda lifted a shoulder. “How should I know? She said she needed to think. I’d give her that time if I were you. Give her a chance to make up her own mind about you for a change.” She shook her head. “You always were bad news.”
He kept back any response. If he was still going to win over Maddie, he couldn’t be on bad terms with her mother.
“I swear I had no idea about the money. Believe it or not, I don’t need money. I love your daughter and I’d do anything for her.” He let his gaze connect to hers. “Anything.”
Her expression softened a little. “If you hurt her again...”
He waved a hand. “I know. I won’t.”
Sawyer didn’t think he’d won her over yet but there was time. After all, he’d almost won back the woman he loved. Hopefully. Now he’d have to somehow persuade her he wasn’t after her money. Christ, why hadn’t she just told him? Was she really a millionaire? Why the hell was she still working in her bookshop and not travelling the world or something?
Sawyer swivelled. He had to find her. Had to explain. He’d made the mistake of being too closed off from her before. If he’d told her about his fears as a teenager, maybe things wouldn’t have turned out like this. And now, if he’d been open about his books, maybe she would have been more open too.
He headed to the bookshop first but it was still locked up. Sawyer rang the doorbell. No answer. He stepped back and peered at the windows but the empty sensation in his gut told him she wasn’t there. He’d know if she was. He always knew when she was nearby.
Lynda said she needed to think. If she wasn’t at home, he was willing to bet she’d be at the cave—the place they’d always gone to escape everything and everyone.
Sawyer headed toward the beach, making his way down the alleyway to the dockside. Most of the tourists were at the fair instead of hanging off the docks to fish for crabs so it didn’t take him long to reach the beach. Heart beginning to pound, he took the small path past the main beach onto the rocks on the other side.
His breaths came hard and heavy as he strode across the rocks, avoiding the rock pools. Waves rolled against the grey stones and the wind pushed a light spray toward him. He peered at the cave but couldn’t see her yet. He only hoped he wasn’t too late. What if she’d already made up her mind? What if she didn’t believe him?
What if he’d been an idiot in thinking she’d ever see him as anything more than the bad boy who’d jilted her?
The cave ate deep into the rocks and a natural ledge of rock met the rolling waves. They crashed about them and he knew from experience the water was deep and dangerous here. He’d only gone in once and nearly killed himself in the process. He’d learned his lesson there.
And he’d learned his lesson with Maddie. He wouldn’t let her go again. He might not have deserved her then but he did deserve her now, and he’d fight to make her see that.
“Sawyer?”
She stepped out of the gloom as he clambered up the shelf of rocks to the mouth of the cave. The spray had made her hair wild and curly and made her skin sheen. His heart gave a little jolt.
