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“The airline told him to show up a couple of hours early. He had a long talk with TSA, then the local police department cleared him for travel. But he did have a Costco card with his photo on it, the boarding pass for his flight here, some credit cards, and other things in his billfold with his name on them. And I think he had to go through an extra screening.”
“Then maybe I’ll be okay. I do have a Costco card with my photo on it. And surely I can get a police report about my purse being stolen.”
Sniper started barking at the back door and Nick went to let him in.
After putting a bowl of water on the floor for him, he returned to the hallway and pulled a set of sheets, a blanket, and fresh towels from the linen closet. “It’ll take me just a minute to get your room ready.”
She held out her arms for the stack of linens. “Let me. You’ve already been so kind.”
He handed her the linens, then went into his own bedroom and came out with a new gray XL T-shirt still in its plastic packaging. “I don’t have anything else here to offer, but maybe this will work for you tonight.”
She stilled when her fingertips brushed his hand, sending a little tingle of warmth up her arm. “Um...thanks.”
“There are some new toothbrushes in the bathroom vanity drawers if you want one. Help yourself to anything you need.”
Flustered now, she felt her cheeks warm. “I just don’t know what to say.”
“Then just say goodnight and rest well.” He gave her an easy, reassuring smile. “I’m going to spend an hour or two on my computer, so feel free to freshen up if you want. We can decide on snorkeling tomorrow, depending on how you feel.”
His office door clicked shut behind him.
The guest room was painted in soft yellow, with several prints of Hawaiian landscapes on the wall.
It was clean and inviting, but when she walked in, she set the linens aside and dropped onto the side of the bed to take a deep, shaky breath.
With everything she learned about this man, she came to care for him more. Wished there was more time to see where this relationship might go.
What would it be like to dance in his arms? To wake up every morning and know even more adventures were ahead?
But she would soon be leaving and he would stay. And these wonderful, magical days would be in the past.
* * * *
NICK STARED AT HIScomputer, his fingers motionless on the keyboard.
He’d heard the bathroom door open twenty minutes ago and the guest bedroom door quietly shut. She was probably fast asleep, but still, he couldn’t dredge up a single coherent thought to add to his manuscript.
Instead, images from this week kept drifting through his consciousness.
Her big heart, taking in a little stray and insisting on making sure Sniper was safe, and footing whatever vet bills he incurred.
During Nick’s years as a practicing vet, he’d seen the worst in people—those who demanded euthanasia for a healthy pet who had become inconvenient rather than bothering to make any effort at rehoming it or even finding a good shelter.
Those who could afford it but still refused to bother with the cost of basic veterinary care.
He found himself smiling at his blank computer screen as he recalled Lucy’s initial fear, then absolute determination to stand on that surfboard for the first time. Her radiant joy when she was still standing when it coasted to shore.
And her brave resilience despite being the target of not one buttwomen who had accosted her. His two younger sisters would have cut and run for the airport that first day.
But Lucy was still here, pursuing her dream of being in Hawaii.
He could only imagine how much she thought about the dangers she’d encountered. Would she even be able to sleep, or would nightmares keep her awake?
With a sigh, he shut down his laptop and grabbed a Robert Ludlum from the shelf. Maybe losing himself in a novel would help pass the time.
Because he knew he wouldn’t be falling asleep.
