At the aft of the boat, Kurt helped Oliver secure the dinghy, and then they huddled with Tessa, speaking in low tones. Kurt’s arm dripped blood. Why wasn’t he doinganything about his injury?
The group broke up and the young woman passed Rose and Caitlyn on her way to the cabin, as Oliver started the sailboat’s backup engines. “I’ll be right back,” she said, disappearing into the belowdecks.
Kurt slowly made his way over and stood in front of Rose, putting his hands on his thighs to look her in the eye. “So, I’m Kurt Steele, by the way. I’m a paramedicand a friend of Caitlyn’s. How are you feeling?”
Rose reached up and hugged him so hard she almost knocked him off balance. “Thank you,” she croaked.
When she released him, Kurt straightened and looked up briefly, blinking. Then he gave her the easy smile that made Caitlyn’s heart tilt. “Of course.” He cleared his throat. “Uh, hey, we need to get you to a hospital for observation, okay? Probablytwenty-four hours just to make sure you don’t have any complications. Let me or Caitlyn know if you have increased trouble breathing or any other symptoms that worry you.” He glanced at her belly, but didn’t say anything about the baby.
“Okay.”
“Kurt,” Caitlyn said, gesturing to his arm, “you’re hurt. Were you shot?”
He glanced down and stared for a second. Then he grimaced. “It’s fine. Justa graze from a bullet and some sharp rocks. Tessa went below for the first aid kit.” His gaze returned to her. “You doing okay?”
Without thinking, she stood and wrapped her arms around him. “Thank you for saving her.”
He gripped her tight. “You’rethe one who dragged her out of the water. Honey, you were goddamned amazing.”
She ran her fingers through his wet hair and pressed kisses to hisface. “I thought… God, Kurt, I thought you were…” She sobbed and pushed back so he only held her shoulders. “Youjumped!”
“Hey,” he said, his voice hoarse. “So did you.” He tucked a piece of damp hair behind her ear and shivered. “I was scared out of my mind—”
She kissed him hard.
Before he could even respond, she pulled out of his embrace and dropped onto the bench, her heart staging an escapeattempt.
It was too much. Her body was on emotional overload. She could hardly breathe.
Kurt caressed her hair and then let his hand drop as he turned away, striding to the helm to speak to Oliver. She almost chased after him.
Tessa emerged from the cabin bearing blankets, bottled water, and a red first aid kit. She gave the first two to the women. “We should be ashore soon, but if you needanything else, let me know.”
“Thank you,” Caitlyn said. “For everything.”
Tessa smiled. “Absolutely. I’m just glad we could help.”
When the woman left them alone, Rose gripped Caitlyn’s hand. “You saved me,” Rose said, her voice sounding like it had been sandpapered.
“You doubted?” Caitlyn squeezed her hand and took a deep breath. “I know I suck at this, but…I love you, Shortcake.”
Her sistersmiled and then coughed, her tight curls dripping water. “I love you too.” They watched the turquoise water in silence as the boat sliced through the waves like a jet through the sky.
“I guess I should finally learn to swim,” Rose said.
They both laughed, a bit hysterical after everything that had happened.
“God, I missed you,” Caitlyn said. “I’m sorry for abandoning you and the family.”
“You’re here now. You came for me.”
That would have to count. Maybe one of these days Rose and Mike and their mom would forgive her.
Rose’s free hand slid low on her abdomen. After a full minute, she said, “I’m going to keep it.” Her voice was coming easier now.
What to say to that? The little one was innocent, but could Rose bear to love or keep a child conceived under such circumstances? Andwhile she knew that Shaylee loved her sister, relationships had fallen apart under far less strain.
Rose met her gaze. “I deserve to have something beautiful come out of this.”
