AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Philip’s words did little to soothe her. “Didn’t you see the look in Nancy’s eyes? She’ll never forgive me, and I don’t blame her.” Carla felt like weeping. “I’ve betrayed my best friend.”
“Carla,” Philip said, and placed an arm around her. “You can’t blame yourself. Nancy should have said something to Eduardo before this.”
“The bad part is that Eduardo honestly likes her, and I’ve ruined that.” She kicked at a loose pebble. “I always did get a loose tongue when I drink too much wine.”
Philip cleared his throat. “I hadn’t noticed.”
“And you’re not helping things.”
“Sorry.” But his smile told her he wasn’t. “You shouldn’t worry. If Eduardo cares for Nancy, he’ll give her the opportunity to explain.”
“But I feel rotten.”
“I know you do. Come on. Let’s walk off some of that fantastic dinner.” His arm tightened around her waist, and she propped her head against his shoulder.
The beach was possibly even more beautiful than it had been any night that week.
“Do you remember the first time we were here?” Philip asked, his voice low, as he rubbed his chin along the top of her head.
Carla answered with a short shake of her head. “I remember thinking that you wanted to kiss me.”
“I did.”
“And at the time I was afraid you were the type of guy who would wait until the third date.”
“Me?” He paused and pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “And I was wondering what you’d do if I did make a pass.”
A gentle breeze off the ocean carried Carla’s soft laugh into the night. “No wonder you had a shocked look when we went swimming and I asked you to kiss me underwater.”
“I thought I’d died and gone to heaven.”
The laughter faded and was replaced by a sadness born of the knowledge that within a matter of hours they would be separating. “This has been a wonderful week.”
“The best.”
Absently, Carla fingered the turquoise necklace. “I don’t ever want this to end. This is heaven being here with you. Reality is only a few hours away.”
“It doesn’t have to end, you know.” Philip stopped walking and turned her in his arms. His smoky-gray eyes burned into hers. “I love you, Carla.”
“Philip, please,” she pleaded. “Don’t.”
“No, I’m going to say it. Believe me, I know all the arguments. One week is all we’ve had, and there are a thousand questions that still need to be answered. I want to get to know you, really know you. I want to meet your family and introduce you to mine.”
A bubble of pain and hysteria threatened to burst inside her. “You and my dad have a lot in common.”
Philip ignored the sarcasm. “You’re a beautiful, warm, intelligent woman.”
“Don’t forget conservative.”
“And conservative,” he added. “Have you ever thought how beautiful our children could be?”
“Philip, don’t do this to me.” She had thought about it. Blending her life with Philip’s had been on her mind all afternoon. But no matter how appealing the imagery, Carla couldn’t see past the police uniform and badge. “I…I think I should go back and check on Nancy. And I still have my packing to do.”
Philip pinched his mouth tightly closed when he delivered her to the hotel room. “I’ll see you in the morning,” she promised, not meeting his gaze.
“In the morning,” he repeated, but he didn’t try to kiss her. Carla couldn’t decide if she was grateful or not.
A muffled sound could be heard on the other side of the door. “Good night,” she murmured miserably, and slipped inside her room.
