Rip Current (20 page)
Authors: Jill Sanders
A few minutes later when Cole came back in, he was quiet for a while.
“
Is everything okay?” she asked, holding out her hand for him. He walked across the floor and took it and she could feel the tension in his hand.
“
It’s my brother.”
“
Roman?”
“
Yes.”
“
What about him?”
“
He’s missing.”
“
What?” She sat up a little. “How do you know?”
“
My sister called Marcus.”
“
Cassey?” She frowned, not really understanding.
“
No.” She felt him shaking. “Marissa.”
She blinked a few times. “Where?” She knew he would understand her question.
“
He went out looking for… Marissa’s son.”
“
What?”
Cole sat next to her in the bed and sighed as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “The kid took off, I guess, and Roman went to find him. Marissa doesn’t know where they are now. Marcus and Luke are going to help look for them.”
She reached for his hand and brought it up to her lips like he’d often done to her. “Go, go help them. It’s your nephew and brother.” She smiled. “I’ll be fine here.”
He hugged her closer. “I love you,” he whispered as she felt a tear slide down her cheek. “I shouldn’t have gone.” He took a deep breath.
“
Cole.” She reached up and took his face in her hands, wishing more than anything that she could see his silver eyes. “I love you too. Now go. Find your family.” She smiled and leaned forward until his lips found hers.
After he’d gone, Willow sat with her and held her hand.
“
I’m sorry about everything,” her sister said,
squeezing her hand.
“
Everything?” she joked. “Like… the time you threw my hairbrush into the spaghetti bowl? Or the time you replaced my eyeliner with a permanent marker?”
Willow laughed. “Okay, not everything. You totally deserved those.”
“
Right.” Wendy smiled. “And you deserved it when I picked you up from school wearing a Darth Vader mask and singing ‘Turning Japanese’ loudly.”
Willow laughed even harder. “Okay, I totally deserved that.”
She leaned down and hugged her, and Wendy knew that no matter what happened, everything would be all right as long as she had her family.
***
Cole was wet and tired, not to mention worried beyond anything he’d ever felt. They had searched all night just outside of Carrabelle, which had been hit a lot harder than Surf Breeze had. The small town he’d driven through was pretty much just a pile of rubble.
He’d cried when he’d seen Marissa, and so had Marcus and Cassey, who had stayed behind with Marissa while Cole went out to help with the search. There were over two dozen people looking for their brother, along with Marissa’s seven-year-old son Reagan.
When Cole was too tired to take another step, Marcus had told him to take a break while he kept searching. Cole had gotten a ride back to the hospital in Panama City. When he got to Wendy’s room, he found Willow sitting in a chair, leaning to one side with her head falling forward. He helped her move to the empty bed next to the window so she could get some real rest.
Instead of sitting up in the chair that Willow had just vacated, he walked over and gently moved Wendy’s sleeping body over a little, then lay next to her in her bed and quickly fell asleep with her in his arms.
He didn’t move until he felt her shift above him. When he opened his eyes, he saw her smiling down at him and he smiled back.
“
Hi,” he said, closing his eyes and resting his forehead next to hers, pulling her closer.
“
Morning.” She chuckled.
Then it dawned on him as he remembered the horrors of the day before. His eyes flew open again as he took in her entire face. Her eyes ran over his face and locked in on his eyes.
He saw her smile and nod slowly. “I can see,” she said, causing him to kiss her firmly and pull her closer.
“
Ouch.” She giggled. “Okay, easy on the old noodle here.” Her hand went to her head as he apologized and kissed her more gently.
“
Sorry.” He chuckled as he watched Willow sit up in the bed next to them.
Wendy followed his gaze and cried as her sister rushed to her and hugged her.
An hour later, after he’d grabbed a quick hospital shower, he was ready to catch a ride back to Carrabelle to join the search party again. He hated leaving Wendy, but she was being released from the hospital later that day. Willow had agreed to drive her home and stay with her until he could return.
“
I’ll be home when you get done.” She kissed him, her hands going into his hair.
“
I like the sound of that.” He smiled and held onto her.
“
What?” She glanced up at him.
“
Home.” He kissed her again.
“
Good, because I don’t plan on living in a one-room condo for long.” She sighed.
He sighed right after her. “Maybe we should have that talk.” He frowned down at her, his eyes going narrow.
“
What talk?” She frowned, matching his mood.
“
The ‘how many kids do you want’ talk.” He smiled, loving the sound of her chuckle.
She smiled. “How about the ‘I’m finished risking my life’ talk?”
He nodded, and his smile fell away. “There is no need to talk about it.”
Her heart spiraled down to her stomach. Then he took her hands and pulled her close.
“
I’m retiring. I’ve found my purpose.” He kissed her. “It’s you.”
She felt a tear slide down her cheek. He reached up and wiped it away with his finger.
“
Come back soon.” She smiled.
He nodded. “I’ll be home as quickly as I can.” He kissed her again, and she nodded and then let him go.
Stay tuned for In Too Deep, Roman and Marissa’s story… Coming September 22, 2015.
In Too Deep
Roman has been searching for his long lost adopted sister, Marissa. When she disappeared shortly after her seventeenth birthday, he was the only one who had a clue why.
Now that he’s finally found out where she’s been hiding all these years, he would do anything to get the only woman he’s ever loved back.
The Pride Series
The Secret Series
The West Series
The Grayton Series
NEW Series – Coming Soon
Unlucky In Love
Sweet Resolve
For a complete list of books, visit
http://JillSanders.com
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
ISBN:
978-1-942896-04-3
Copyright © 2015 Jill Sanders
Copyeditor: Erica Ellis – inkdeepediting.com
No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.
About the Author
Born as an identical twin in a large family, she was raised in the Pacific Northwest. She later relocated to Colorado for college and a successful IT career before discovering her talent as a writer. She now makes her home in charming rural Florida where she enjoys the beach, swimming, hiking, wine tasting, and, of course, writing.
