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“Megan, welcome,” Pat said, holding out her arms for a hug.
Pat embraced Megan and led them through the back lounge, which opened onto the patio that faced the sea.
“Would you like some tea?” Nelly asked Megan, who nodded. “Is herbal tea okay?”
Megan nodded before sitting on one of the small sofas across from Nicky as Nelly and Pat disappeared back into the kitchen.
“Do you have children, Nicky?” Megan asked, unaware of the raw nerve she’d hit.
“No.” Was all Nicky could manage to get out with a swift shake of her head and her mind racing to pick another subject to talk about. But for some reason, her tongue got stuck on babies. “You mentioned you were having a girl back on the beach.”
“Yes.” Megan nodded and rubbed her belly.
“Have you thought of names?” Nicky’s mind screamed,Change the subject!But she couldn’t stop the words that tumbled from her mouth.
“No.” Megan shook her head, and her eyes darkened with emotion. Before she said the next words, Nicky knew what Megan was about to say. “I don’t think I should.” She cleared her throat, and her eyes shone with a mixture of pain and guilt. “I’m only nineteen and want to go to college.” She looked at her stomach, cradling it protectively. “Right now, I’m not in any position to give my daughter the life she deserves.” She lifted her teary eyes to Nicky. Her voice was hoarse with emotion. “I’m not sure I’m going to keep her.”
CHAPTER 5
Thesunwasalreadymaking its descent beyond the horizon as Mike laced up his running shoes before hitting the sand. It was his routine, his way of clearing his mind and rejuvenating himself after a long day of sorting through the remnants of his uncle’s life. The sand beneath his feet was soft, and he imagined it would be cool, a stark contrast to the warmth of the day that was fading into the evening.
As he picked up the pace, his breathing fell into rhythm with the crashing waves. It was a familiar melody that he had come to cherish during his time on Marco Island. The beach was relatively empty at this hour, a serene expanse that offered a sense of solitude, allowing him to clear his mind. The stress of the day melted away with each stride until he reached the end of the beach and turned around to retrace his steps.
Mike was adjusting his stopwatch and congratulating himself on making his best time yet as he strode down the small path to his uncle’s cottage. He wasn’t looking where he was going and collided with a figure hurrying out the gate of Riley Cottage that sat beside his uncle’s.
“Watch out!” Mike’s voice was sharp as he lunged forward, his hand extending to prevent a collision.
A jolt of surprise zapped through Mike, and his eyes widened in surprise as they met the startled ones of Nicky Scott. His already rapidly beating heart sprung into overdrive, making his fingers clench a little too tightly and dig into the flesh of the person’s upper arms.
“Ow!” Nicky hissed, flinching and twisting out of his grip. “Watch where you’re going.”
Nicky took a step back and stumbled, her hands flailing out in front of her, which Mike instinctively reached out and caught, once again steadying her. Another zap from touch jolted through him—a sensation he hadn’t anticipated—when her fingers curled into his.
“Whoa!” Mike exclaimed, holding onto her hands as she righted herself, and their eyes met.
For a moment, Mike was frozen. His eyes locked with hers. He had almost knocked her over, yet something about how she looked at him—half startled, half amused—struck a chord within him.
“Sorry about that,” he managed to say, his voice rougher than intended.
She blinked, her gaze moving from his face to his hands still holding hers. “No problem. I should’ve been more careful exiting a gate without turn signals.”
She gave a soft laugh. The sound sent a warm shiver up his spine, and his throat went dry as her smile transformed her and lit up her green eyes, making all thoughts leave his head and his tongue unable to form any words. An awkward silence fell between them as Mike stood gaping as if transfixed by her.
It wasn’t until she pulled her hands from his that he realized he was still holding them and had to resist the urge to clamp down on her hands to not let them go. His palms still tingled with the feeling of hers, and an image of water slipping through his fingers flashed through his mind. Mike gave himself a mental shake, closed his mouth, and cleared his throat.
“Are you okay?” he asked, his tone as composed as he could manage while his addled brain tried to right itself with no help from his hyperactive heart and tongue that was twisted in knots.
She nodded, offering a faint smile. “Yeah, thanks for the save.”
Their eyes met once again, and although he didn’t think it possible at the moment, Mike’s pulse quickened. He wasn’t sure what the heck was going on with him, as he’d always been confident around women. Still, something about her—her eyes, the way she carried herself—left him feeling like a tongue-tied sixteen-year-old with a crush on the hottest girl in school.
“Late evening run?” she asked, her voice breaking another awkward silence.
He nodded, grateful for the conversation starter. “Yeah, I usually run twice a day when I’m here. Early morning and at night.”Did she need to know that?He admonished himself.
Her brows lifted slightly. Her curiosity was evident, mixed with amusement, in her expression. “Twice a day? That’s impressive dedication.”
Mike once again found himself at a loss for words, a rare occurrence for him. He watched as she shifted her weight, a strand of hair catching the fading light.
