Nantucket Romance 3-in-1 Bundle (101 page)

“I’ll see you to the door.” He exited the car before she could argue. They weren’t done yet; she just didn’t know it.

He followed her up the steps, admiring her form from behind, wishing he could set his hand at the small of her back.
You have no
right to be looking, much less touching. What would she think if she knew
the direction of your thoughts?

Sabrina fished her key from her bag and aimed it at the knob.

Tucker took her fist in his. “Wait. I wondered if we could talk a minute.” They’d had all day. Why didn’t he do this earlier?

Because you were hoping she’d do it herself.

“I—I should probably check on Arielle.”

“You called an hour ago, and she was in bed.”

She looked at the door as if hoping it might open up and swallow her. “I haven’t thanked you for today. I enjoyed seeing the mansion and—and everything.” She was looking everywhere but at him as she pulled her hand from his grasp.

He leaned against the door frame, conveniently blocking the knob. He saw right through her parting words, an attempt to end the evening quickly. “I’m glad you could go.” If she only knew how glad. If she only knew how badly he wanted to prolong the night.

But it was late, and they both had work tomorrow. Still, there was the matter of that one last piece of business. He took a breath, digging deep for courage.

“Sabrina, I feel like we’ve gotten to know each other pretty well recently.” He waited for a response, but got none, save a long swallow.

“I want you to know, if there’s anything you need, anything you ever want to talk about, I consider you a close friend.”

She tucked in the corners of her lips, a cross between a smile and a grimace. “Thank you.”

Her eyes darted over his shoulder, then to the ground between them, then to her hand that held the key. He was pretty sure the words
I’ve got to get out of here
were tumbling around that pretty little head.

He wanted her to be still long enough to hear him. He wanted her full attention. He nudged her chin up with his finger until she met his gaze.

She was a frightened doe. Those big brown eyes overflowed with panic. Worry lines creased her forehead, and her shoulders were plywood stiff. He regretted his words if only because they’d changed Sabrina back into the Ice Princess.

His hope withered slowly under a scorching light of realization. He didn’t know why—why she wouldn’t tell him, why she hid behind email, why she’d gone to such great lengths to protect herself.

But if she needed to hide, for whatever secret reasons, didn’t he love her enough to wait? In the space where hope had resided, a seed of mercy sprouted.
Ah, honey. I’m sorry I pushed you. You’re worth
the wait.

He tried for a smile he didn’t feel.“You’re tired. Get to bed.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead and felt the softness of her hair under his lips, smelled the sweet scent of ocean and lilac in her hair.

He’d scarcely pulled away before her key found the lock, and then she was gone.

Sweetpea: Everyone yearns to be loved for who they are. Not for what they look like or what they do or what they’ve accomplished. I wonder how many people actually find that.

Chapter Thirty-three

A cab waited in front of the house when Sabrina returned from work. Maybe Arielle was going somewhere.

For three days Sabrina had been lost in thought, remembering every moment of her date with Tucker. The morning after, Arielle had quizzed her about the day, and she’d told her cousin everything. Except the kiss. But it wasn’t a real kiss, just a brotherly kiss on the forehead.

Only it hadn’t felt brotherly at all.

She entered the loft and kicked off her work shoes. Arielle was hunched over her floral suitcase, pushing on the swollen bag, struggling with the zipper.

A glance around revealed a lack of all things Arielle. The sandy spot by the door where she usually kicked off her sandals was bare, the end table where she piled her clothes was empty. Dread welled inside Sabrina. “Where are you going?”

Arielle gave the zipper one last tug. “Home.”

She watched her cousin haul the suitcase off the sofa and set it at her feet. “What do you mean?”

“I’ve had enough of this charade, cuz. It’s time for me to go. I’m catching the ferry, and I booked a flight from Cape Cod.”

Had something happened between her and Tucker? This was totally out of the blue and utterly unfair. “What happened?”

“Nothing happened. I have to get back. I just—I can’t do this anymore.” A flicker of something—fear?—flared in her eyes before her eyelids shuttered them.

Now that Sabrina looked closer, Arielle’s face looked strained, her lips tipped uncharacteristically down at the corners, her brows pulled together. What was going on?

“It’s only a few more days, Arielle. We had a deal.”

“Deal’s off. I don’t expect you to come to the wedding, so you’re off the hook.”

What in the world? Arielle had begged her to attend Jaylee’s wedding. It was the only reason she’d come. “What reason did you give Tucker?”

A nonchalant shrug. “I didn’t tell him. I’m sure you’ll come up with something.”

“You didn’t tell him?” What explanation could Sabrina give?
Sorry,Tucker. The love of your life disappeared as quickly as she’d appeared.
Why was Arielle doing this?

Her cousin was wheeling her suitcase past her, toward the door. Sabrina grabbed her arm, panic building. “Why are you doing this? What are you so afraid of?”

Arielle whirled on her heels. “Don’t question
me
about fear. You’re hiding behind some email name because you’re afraid to have a real relationship. You’re worse than Renny, hiding her manuscripts in a drawer.”

Arielle’s anger, her words, stopped Sabrina cold. Her hand fell from her cousin’s arm.

“Go back to your safe little emails, Sabrina. Never mind that you’re missing out on a real relationship with a wonderful man . . .” Arielle’s words wobbled as the sentence trailed off.

When the door closed behind her cousin five seconds later, Sabrina knew with sudden clarity why Arielle was leaving the island, why fear laced her eyes, why angry words were spilling from her tongue.

Arielle had fallen head over heels for Tucker.

Sweetpea: I haven’t been to church since the Jared/ Jaylee episode. I just haven’t been able to bring myself to go.

Chapter Thirty-four

Sabrina paced the length of the loft as the taxi pulled away. So,Arielle had fallen for Tucker. Was it any surprise? He was a wonderful man, just as she’d said. It was a miracle some woman hadn’t snatched him up already. But did it have to be her cousin? Was Sabrina destined to lose every man she loved to one of her beautiful cousins?

Sabrina kicked the chair Arielle had placed against the wall, and it toppled over, hitting the floor with a
thwack
. It was so unfair. What right did Arielle have stealing the only man she cared about? It had been stupid to encourage those dates. Stupid! Sabrina couldn’t have done a better job sabotaging herself if she’d tried.

She reached the windows and turned. Arielle’s feelings aside, the relevant question was, where did Tucker stand? He was caught in a triangle and didn’t know it. Was he in love with Sabrina or Arielle or some bizarre combination of them both? Sabrina ran her hands over her face. What had she done?

And how was she going to tell him Arielle was gone? What reason could she give? A family emergency? But what excuse could she give for keeping the relationship online now?

Was it time to admit defeat? To send him a final letter ending the relationship?

She imagined coming home to an empty inbox, facing Tucker at the café every morning with no hope of having that intimate communication again . . .

How her heart ached at the thought!

She couldn’t do it, she just couldn’t. It was all she had of him. All she could ever have, and it would have to be enough.

And yet, was it fair to tie him down to a relationship that could never go deeper than email?
But he loves you.

Why, God? Why, of all people, did it have to be Tucker? Why, of all
men that night, did it have to be his brother-in-law?

But it was what it was. Begging and praying would change nothing. She had to focus on the problem. She had to decide what to tell Tucker and how to say it. Arielle had left a fine mess, leaving in a snit as she had.

Sabrina stopped pacing, her feet stopping on the braided rug Arielle had bought. Arielle had left Sabrina in a bind, but the fact that she’d left, despite her growing feelings for Tucker . . .

It was so obvious she’d almost missed it. Arielle was leaving for Sabrina. Despite her cousin’s testy words, she was removing herself from the picture out of love for her. Leaving so that Sabrina wouldn’t get hurt again.

And Sabrina hadn’t been nice about it
.

She cringed. She’d let her confusion and anger blind her, but everything was clearer now.

A knot of anxiety tightened inside. She couldn’t stand that they’d parted on bad terms. Especially now that she realized Arielle was willing to sacrifice a possible relationship with Tucker for Sabrina’s sake. She snatched her bag, slipped into sandals, and ran down the steps.

Traffic in town was heavy, and pedestrians littered the sidewalks, waiting to cross the street. Sabrina had to stop pedaling at every crossing, further delaying her mission. As she neared the wharf, the congestion thickened with passengers arriving from Hyannis, exiting the ferry with their fat suitcases and dog-weary grins. Taxis lined the street, waiting to drive tourists to their hotels and rentals.

After parking, she hurried up the concrete dock, dodging pedestrians, feeling like a trout swimming upstream. She hoped Arielle hadn’t boarded. She scanned the ferry’s rails for a glimpse of her cousin. Someone on the middle deck had long, blonde hair and looked—

Thwack!
She slammed into another body and staggered backward. “I’m so sorry.” She reached out to steady the woman, eager to move on.

But her eyes caught on the woman’s face. On those icy blue eyes she could never forget. They’d haunted her ever since that day. That morning in the house in Madaket.

Maybe the woman wouldn’t recognize her. Sabrina averted her eyes quickly, turning her head. She had to get away quickly. “I’m sorry.” Giving up her mission to fight the crowd, she turned toward town for a quick escape.

“It’s you.” The woman’s voice rose over the din of voices and footsteps.

Sabrina broke into a run, trying to disappear in the throng. She prayed Tracey wouldn’t follow. If she could just make it to her bike . . .

Tucker hadn’t said his sister was coming. But why would he mention it to Sabrina? He’d probably told Arielle, and her cousin had no knowledge of that fateful night. Tracey had probably come to meet Arielle. And now Arielle was gone and—

Tucker.

He was probably here to pick up Tracey. Here somewhere in this mass of humanity. He would be parked in the same area as her bike.

Changing direction, she turned up Water Street. She’d go back for her bike later, long after Tucker and his sister left. She hustled up the sidewalk, making a left when she reached India Street. The crowd had dispersed, making her more visible. It was irrational to think Tracey had followed her, especially when she’d been encumbered with luggage. But what if Tracey told Tucker she’d seen her? What if they were both looking for her?

Where could she hide? In the distance, the steeple of First Congregational Church, Renny’s church, poked into the sky like a pointy finger. Quickening her pace, she headed toward the building. She would hide there until the sun sank. Then she’d sneak to her bike under the cloak of darkness.

When she reached the church, she darted up the steps, out of breath. An elderly man stood just inside the door. “I’m sorry, the tower is closed for the day.”

“Oh.” Did this mean she couldn’t enter? “I wasn’t coming to climb the tower. I was—” She looked over his frail shoulder into the sanctuary.

Sanctuary.
The word had a nice ring. “I wanted to—to pray.” It might have been a lie, but Sabrina suddenly realized it was true.