“You’ve been avoiding me all night.”
She looked down, but before she could pull away, he tightened his grasp at her waist, not ready to release her just yet. “Have I kissed you speechless?”
“I believe so,” she said in a thready whisper.
Wedding guests flooded the beach, intruding upon their space.
Reluctantly, he pulled away and took her hand. “Let’s find a quiet spot.”
He grabbed a blanket from the nearby stack and spread it out a distance from the others. They kicked off their shoes and he welcomed Sadie when she settled between his knees and leaned back against him.
The fireworks shot from a barge out on the water into the sky, blooming above them. But his mind spun with questions. What had compelled her to kiss him like that after avoiding him all evening?
She turned and gazed up at him. Aboomresounded and the blooming firework cast a golden glow over her features. “Why didn’t you tell me Amanda was the woman who hurt you?”
Vulnerability rose inside him. His walls went up. Of course he’d known it was possible she might learn about Amanda tonight. But he’d hoped the elephant in the room would remain invisible. However, it wasn’t humiliation from the betrayal that made his heart shrink two sizes.
He forced himself to voice his fear, but he stared at the sky as he did it, not wanting to see the answer in her expression. “Please tell me that wasn’t a pity kiss.”
“What?”Sadie turned his face toward hers. Their gazes clung for long seconds. “No.”
Her affection for him was written all over her. In the way her eyes softened. In the release of a breathy sigh. In the gentle touch of her fingers.
His heart answered her silent declaration with a convincing tug. Relief flowed through his veins like wine.
“You’re a wonderful man, Sam. I knew it before today. I admired and respected you, and... I cared about you. But what you did for your cousin after what he did to you?” She shook her head. “You’re not just wonderful. You’re remarkable. And I needed to show you how much I believe that.”
He was glad it was dark so she couldn’t see the heat that no doubt flushed his neck. He looked away.
She turned his face toward her again, leaned close, and swept her lips across his in the most tender caress. “Don’t be embarrassed. It’s true.” She settled back in his arms, still gazing up at him. “Now, why didn’t you tell me about you and Amanda?”
He tried to put words to his feelings. “I just... I guess I wasn’t ready to talk about it yet. The whole thing was... painful and humiliating. I didn’t talk much about it at all. My trust in people took a dive for a while.”
“No wonder. I can’t even imagine the betrayal you must’ve felt. I’m so sorry you went through that.”
He understood why she might want answers, but he didn’t want Amanda and Tag inside their private bubble tonight. “Canwe table this conversation for a while? A lot has happened this weekend—all of it good—but... I just want you all to myself right now.”
When she stroked his face, every cell came to life. “Of course. Let’s just enjoy the evening.”
Thirty-One
Write your couple into a corner—then find a way to get them out.
—Romance Writing 101
It wasn’t until the next day that fear struck Sadie. But the bustle of packing and saying goodbyes at the hotel usurped her time and focus. Now she and Sam were alone for the first time this morning.
He reached across the truck’s cab and took her hand.
She laced her fingers with his. The merest touch from him made her heart fight its confinement. She cut a glance his way as he turned onto the interstate, heading home.
In the back seat Rio settled into her new reality with a heavy sigh.
Sadie’s thoughts turned to the previous evening. They’d sat on the beach, talking and kissing, until long after the smell of fireworks faded from the air. Despite his intentions, he told her about the day he’d found Amanda with his cousin. She ached forhim as he shared and marveled at his ability to put the betrayal in the past.
Later he walked her to her door and sent her to bed with a kiss that kept her tossing and turning all night. She reveled in his kisses. In the intensity of these new feelings.
But now, reality was setting in. She and Sam could never work out. Their lives were simply too far apart. She could never give up New York, and she could never ask him to leave his family’s business.
