Nathan, I’m so sorry.
I stand up from the swing and wrap my arms around him. He holds me, his embrace firm and desperate. I can feel his heart racing beneath my cheek.
But then he pulls away. It’s jarring. Like he’s just realized I’m a stranger.
I need to be careful with him.
“We’ll get through this.” I clear my throat. “You don’t have to say this yet, but I want to… I love you.”
He looks at me with uncertain eyes. “I love you, too.” His voice is weak and a little pained, like he’s upset that he can’t really feel it. “I do, believe me, I just need… time to…”
Remember? But he can’t say it because he thinks that may never happen. It’s already been so long.
“You’re sleeping here?” I ask.
He nods. “I’m the housekeeper—for now.”
The housekeeper?I hold in my laughter. It’s his inn!
“Where do you and Natalie live?” he asks, leaning forward.Getting nearer. Wanting to hold me again. It’s in this moment that I know this isn’t a dream and that I really have him back. Iknow him. He doesn’t want to wait weeks to get his life back. He wants it now. He may not know who he is, but I do, and I see him.
“Just a few blocks from the inn. It’s a nice, quiet neighborhood.”
He shifts on his feet. “After tonight, when can I see you again?” He’s acting like he’s asking a pretty girl on a date for the first time.
“I have to work tomorrow, but I’ll be back Tuesday morning. Scott usually holds the dive meetings here at the inn on Mondays, but he’s moved it a day since Maddie and Christopher go home tomorrow morning.”
His eyes light up.
“Do you remember anything about diving?” I ask.
“Oh, yeah.” He perks up. “I learned to dive—again, I guess—in Miami. I’m trying to get on Sid’s crew and film the Drop.”
What?
“Okay,” I say carefully. On one hand, wow. He’s jumping right back into his life. On the other… cave diving? No way will Scott say okay to that. But I don’t want to shatter his confidence.
“It sounds like you’ve been busy,” I say softly. “And we have a lot to catch up on.” I glance at my watch. I really need to get back to Natalie. I press a gentle kiss to his cheek. “I’ve got to get back home. Tuesday morning? We’ll figure out the best way to introduce you to Natalie then.”
His face softens.
“Crystal.” Still holding my hand, he draws me closer, his other hand settling on my waist. He hesitates. “I… can I kiss you?”
I nod. “Please.”
He cups my face and leans down, brushing his lips over mine, the softest, shy wisp of his tongue against my lips. Like he needs to taste me to be certain I’m real.
He lets out a soft sigh. “Thank you.”
CHAPTER 13
The Stranger
We’re kissing in the ocean.
She tastes the same as she did last night when I brushed my lips over hers. Sun and honey. But this time she doesn’t leave. She holds me and pulls me into her arms.
My heart races.
