“Only if you’re sure.” It was odd how such an imposing man could appear vulnerable and unsure. It was a good look on him. “We can always come back another day.”
Another day. I liked the sound of that. Loved that in his mind, this wasn’t one night of putting up with his uncle’s employee. “It’s right there, Dane. I’ll be fine.”
It only took a few tentative steps to realize I most definitely was not fine. Every time I put weight on my right foot, I grunted, hissed, or winced. Dane scooped me into his arms, and I made a good show of pretending to fight him, batting at his chest before allowing my hand to rest on his biceps. And there was plenty there to hold on to. The guy was strong. He ignored my protests, carrying me all the way to the mailbox, climbing the dune, and carefully setting me on the bench. He stripped out of his T-shirt, exposing even more ripples of tanned skin. He was officially trying to kill me.
He carefully folded the fabric before lifting my foot. “It won’t help much as far as elevation, but at least it’s a bit of padding.”
“Thanks.” I swallowed hard, my mouth suddenly dry. Witty, sexy, and kind: a trifecta guaranteed to turn me on. And I couldnotget a stiffie while sitting with one leg propped up on the bench.
“So, what makes this place so special that you wouldn’t turn back even after getting hurt?” He slid me down on the bench as if I weighed nothing. Well, compared to him, I probably did weigh about that much. Still, I loved the way he moved me where he wanted me. He sat next to me, draping his arm over the back of the bench. I leaned into him, sighing as I relaxed against his chest.
“A lot of things,” I told him. “I like that you can’t see any buildings from here. Even when there are other people walking around, it’s quiet. And yeah, during the summer, there’s a steady trickle of people coming out to see the mailbox, but nothing like the rest of the beaches.”
“You mean people actually walk all this way to see an old mailbox?” he scoffed.
I smacked his thigh.
“Sorry, I guess I’m a true city boy. I don’t get the appeal of trudging through the sand for a mailbox that looks like a stiff breeze could blow it over.”
“Then do me a favor,” I said, since my ankle wasn’t throbbing quite as much now that I was sitting down. “Go over there and grab one of the notebooks inside.”
“Okay.” He drew out the word, pressed on my shoulder so I’d sit up, went across the dune to the box, and grabbed the top notebook from inside the box. “Now what?”
“Bring it here.”
He followed my instructions and handed me the book. I’d read most of the letters in this one already, but that didn’t matter. Tonight was about showing Dane why I loved it here. He crossed his arms tightly over his chest. I glanced at the empty seat behind me, cocking my head for him to sit. I couldn’t strain my neck to look at him, and leaning forward like I was wasn’t comfortable.
“Come on, sit.”
He did, and I settled back against him, soaking in the warmth of his body despite the fact he was shirtless.
“Thisis what makes the mailbox my favorite place, not just in Sunset Beach, but anywhere. For longer than either of us have been alive, this mailbox has been in that exact spot. The box itself has been replaced a few times, but the post has weathered every storm.
“The people who walk down here all want one thing: they want to feel a connection to the world around them. Every type of note you could imagine has been left in here over the years.” I flipped through the book, looking for a note that wasn’t too somber. I wanted Dane to feel the magic I felt when I came here, and I doubted a bittersweet love note to someone who’d passed away would do the trick. There was a page with precise handwriting and doodles along the margins. I remembered this note, and it was a good one to read aloud, even though there was still a hint of sadness.
I’m not sure what I did in my life to deserve you, but I wish you were here so I could thank you for everything you’ve given me. Some days, I wish I could hate you for leaving me, but then I remember the smile on your face when you got the call that your dreams were coming true. As I write this, you’re over a thousand miles away, getting ready to take the stage. When you’re done, you’ll call me and tell me how much you miss me.
Some couples wouldn’t be able to make it through so much time apart, but I know we’ll defy the odds. You’ll come back to me, and when you do, I’ll drop to my knees and beg you to marry me. I have to, because I know you’ll wait forever otherwise. You’ve always looked out for me, but I hope you know I’m okay. Lonely, but content, because you’re out there missing me as much as I’m missing you.
After I finished the first letter, I glanced over my shoulder. Dane’s eyes were closed, a soft smile peeking out from behind his stubble. He hummed, nudging me to continue. Eventually the last light of day faded. I closed the notebook and asked him to put it back in the stack.
Until I stood, I’d forgotten all about my jacked-up ankle. Dane turned around, urging me to wrap my arms around his neck. We probably looked ridiculous with him carrying me down the beach, but I didn’t care. I rested my cheek against his shoulder, chatting with him the entire way. When I offered to try walking again, he told me to shut up, but there was no heat behind his words.
The inn came into view, and a pit formed in my stomach. This was it, the end of our night together. Sure, Dane had mentioned some arbitrary time in the future when we’d get together again, but that was probably an empty promise. He’d been adamant that hehadto get home by a specific date.
He set me down when we reached the base of the steps leading to the back deck. “Can you manage from here?”
“Yeah, I’ll be fine.” My words were tinged with bitterness as I realized I’d been so close to having what I wanted, but the subject of my dreams would soon go back to his real world.
Dane brushed his fingers along my cheek. When he leaned in as if to kiss me, I ducked away. He might be able to hop from bed to bed, but that wasn’t the way I was wired. I was much better off not knowing what I was missing.
Before either of us could make life any more awkward, the doors opened, and James sauntered outside. “There you two are. Did you have a good night?”
“It was great,” Dane responded, looking back at me.
I held my tongue, suddenly feeling as though we’d been set up.
Dane squeezed my hand, quickly dropping it. “Well, I guess I’ll see you around.”
I hadn’t even made it home before regretting the way I’d behaved once we were back at the inn.
