Ready for Love (9 page)

“Maybe I am a chump,” he said. “How many guys would give a woman a second chance after what she did to me?” Even as he said the words, however, he couldn’t seem to work up the energy to be mad with her or to resent her for something that’d happened when they were little more than kids. Still, the worry nagged at him and took something away from the thrill of knowing he was going to see her again—soon.

Remembering how much Sydney liked seafood, he’d made a reservation at the Lobster House. He dressed in pressed khakis and a button-down shirt he left untucked. After rolling up the sleeves, he put on the shark’s tooth she’d admired and slid his feet into leather flip-flops. This was about as fancy as it ever got for him. He hoped it was good enough for her. He hoped
he
was good enough for her.

As much as he’d loved being close to her last night, the niggling doubts had him wondering if they were moving too fast. After all she’d been through, after all she’d put him through, maybe they were on a road to ruin. A wise man would dial it back a notch. He liked to think of himself as a wise man, but being around Sydney again made him question whether he was as wise as he thought.

Still, taking it back a few steps might be the best idea until he knew more about her plans for the future and whether or not they included him. He vowed to go slower tonight, to keep the physical contact to a minimum. That last part was crucial, because the minute he touched her, any resolve he might have would disappear. He had no doubt about that.

The ride to her house was as familiar to him as anything on the island. While there were only three miles between their homes, a world of difference separated them. His was small and cozy, while hers was large and sprawling.

When he arrived, Buddy came running out to greet him.

Luke squatted to give the dog his full attention. “Hey, boy.”

He was rewarded with an enthusiastic lick to the face that made him laugh.

“Sorry about that,” Syd said from the doorway.

Luke looked up as she stepped outside wearing a yellow dress that showed off her light tan. She’d worn her hair up, leaving her shoulders bare. A memory of trailing kisses over her collarbone the night before stole the breath from his lungs. Maybe he was a chump, but he couldn’t help wanting her with every fiber of his being.

“I think he likes you,” she said of Buddy, drawing Luke out of his thoughts.

“He’s a good boy.”

“Let me put him inside so we can go.” She called for the dog and led him into the house.

Through the screen, Luke could hear her talking to Buddy, giving him orders to behave while she was out. He smiled as he watched her kiss the dog’s face and pat him on the head.

She came outside carrying a small purse and sweater.

Luke leaned back against the clean truck and watched her come toward him.

“What?” she asked, her eyes darting over him in a show of nerves that touched him.

“Just admiring the view.”

She smiled and shook her head as if she thought he was full of it.

Forgetting all his resolve, he reached for her. “I missed you today.”

Looking up at him, she ran her tongue over her lips, and he went hard as stone. “I missed you, too.”

Tugging gently to bring her even closer, he watched her eyes go wide when she encountered proof of his arousal. He bent his head to kiss her softly. Her lips tasted like strawberries, and even though he hadn’t intended to linger—hell, he hadn’t intended to
touch
her—he couldn’t help but run his tongue over her plump bottom lip to get a better taste. “Mmm,” he said.

With her arms encircling his neck, her mouth opened under his, encouraging him to take more, and Luke was lost. Nothing else could compare to the way he felt when he was with her, and as he kissed her, it became clear to him that there was absolutely nothing he wouldn’t do to feel this way every day for the rest of his life.

“Syd,” he said, his lips still resting against hers.

Her fingers combed through his hair, sending desire rippling through him like a live wire. “Hmm?”

“Dinner.” He kissed her again, softly, gently.

“Oh. Right.” She let her arms drop from his shoulders but continued to stare at him with a befuddled expression that made his blood boil.

It took all the fortitude he possessed not to scoop her up, carry her inside and take what he wanted more than anything, what he knew she’d willingly give. Only the thought of what he might see in her expressive eyes afterward stopped him from acting on the urge. He couldn’t bear to see regret or guilt or anything other than the pure joy he would feel, so rather than scoop her up, he opened the passenger door to his truck and ushered her inside.

“It smells so clean in here.”

“It’s always like that,” he said with a grin.

She laughed, and just like that, his mood lightened.

He got in the driver’s side, and before he could buckle in, she reached for his hand. “Thanks for cleaning your truck for me.”

“No problem. It needed it anyway.”

After he put on his seat belt, he took her hand again, linking their fingers as he drove them the long way around the island.

“Where are you taking me?”

“To the Lobster House with a sunset thrown in.”

“Oh, yummy. My favorite.”

“I know.”

Over winding roads, he drove to the northernmost point on the island, where a lighthouse stood watch and the sun flirted with the horizon.

“Best spot on the island to watch the sunset,” Syd said, taking it all in.

“I love it here.”

“I remember that.”

He glanced over to watch a blush spread over her cheeks. Releasing her hand, he ran a finger along her cheekbone. “I know what else you’re remembering.”

She shot him a seductive look. “And what’s that?”

He took off his seat belt and leaned toward her. “You’re thinking about all the times we came here to make out.” His lips brushed against her ear, and he watched the goose bumps form on her arm. He’d always loved getting that reaction from her. She was so sensitive. So much for his vow to take it back a notch, to protect them both from too much too soon. Who was he kidding? He could no more resist her than he could resist breathing. “Syd. . .”

“Yes?”

He had to know. He
needed
to know. “Do you feel it, too?”

Her breath seemed to catch in her throat as she looked at him. “Feel what?”

“
Everything
.” How else to put it?

She ran her fingers over the jaw. “Yes.”

Overcome with relief that he wasn’t in this alone, Luke gazed into her eyes. “I’m worried we’re moving too fast.”

“We probably are.”

“So we should—”

“Enjoy it.” She framed his face with her hands and kissed him. “We should enjoy it.”

“For how long?” He hated that he needed to ask.

“I don’t know the answer to that. I wish I did, but all I can give you is right now. I’d understand if that wasn’t enough—”

Luke kissed the words off her lips. “Do you promise you’ll talk to me about your plans? That you won’t leave me out of it?”

“The way I did before.”

“I’d rather not go through that again.”

“I promise I’ll talk to you.”

He twirled a lock of strawberry blonde hair that had escaped from her clip around his finger. “Then it’s enough. For now.”

“Most guys never would’ve given me a second chance.”

“I’m not most guys.”

“Believe me, I know that. Why did you give me another chance?”

Continuing to play with the strand of hair, he shrugged. “I’ve never felt everything with anyone else.”

“Luke,” she whispered, reaching for him. She drove him wild with her teasing tongue and soft lips.

They’d be late for their reservation, but Luke didn’t care about that. Not when he had the woman who’d haunted his dreams back in his arms. He ran his hand up from her ribs to cup a breast that was fuller than he remembered and felt her nipple harden against his palm.

“Maybe we should skip dinner,” she said, her voice husky and sexy.

Luke forced himself to think with his brain and not the part of his anatomy that burned for her. “Dinner first.”

“I won’t tell anyone you didn’t buy me dinner first.”

“I’ll know,” he said, disentangling himself and starting the truck. He was surprised to notice it had gotten dark while they lost themselves in each other.

“Thank you,” she said so softly he almost didn’t hear her.

“For what?”

She reached for his hand and brought it to her lips. “For not rushing me, and for knowing what I need even when I’m not quite sure.”

Luke squeezed her hand and brought it to rest on his leg as he navigated the twists and turns on the way into town. Approaching Sweet Meadow Farm Road where Mac and Maddie lived, Luke was blinded by the headlights of another car that had crept over the center line.

“Holy shit,” Luke said, swerving to avoid a collision. “
What the hell?
”

Sydney screamed and pulled her hand free of his.

For a brief moment, Luke feared he would lose control of the truck but managed to keep it on the road as the other car passed in a flash of light and throbbing bass.

Breathing hard, Luke pulled the truck to the side of the road and looked over to find Sydney curled into a ball in the passenger seat. When he rested a hand on her shoulder, she flinched. “It’s okay. We’re okay.”

Her moan was barely human.
Oh God
.

Luke released his seat belt and moved closer to her. He was almost afraid to touch her but more afraid not to. “Everything’s okay, Syd. Come here, baby. Come to me.”

She turned into his embrace, and sobs shook her entire body.

“I’m so sorry,” he said. His lips brushed over her hair. He wished now he’d been less of a gentleman earlier. If he’d taken her home rather than heading for town, the wound on her soul wouldn’t have been ripped open again.

Her gasping sobs broke his heart, and her tears wet his shirt. “It’s okay, honey.” He wondered if he said it often enough she might actually hear him. They sat there for a long time, Luke’s mind racing with thoughts about what he should do. He was afraid to let her go long enough to drive them home.

Fishing the phone out of his pocket, he continued to speak softly to Sydney while he used one hand to send a text to Mac, asking him to come. While he waited and hoped Mac hadn’t shut off his phone, Luke rubbed Sydney’s back and told her over and over again that they were okay, that everything was okay.

Mac appeared out of the darkness ten minutes later.

Moving closer to Sydney, Luke signaled for Mac to stay quiet and drive the truck. Luke could see the questions in his friend’s eyes, but thankfully Mac didn’t ask as he slid into the driver’s seat.

“My place,” Luke whispered to Mac because it was closest. Returning his focus to Sydney, Luke held her against him on the short ride home. When they got there, Luke freed her from the seat belt and scooped her up to walk inside. He sat on the sofa with her on his lap and kept his arms tight around her.

She clung to him, crying softly and shaking with sobs.

Looking helpless and uncertain, Mac watched over them.

Luke closed his eyes and tightened his hold on Sydney, rocking her the way he would a small child who’d had a bad dream. His poor Syd had been through a nightmare, and their close call had clearly triggered horrifying memories.

After a long while, he felt her sag against him when sleep claimed her. He stood and carried her into his bedroom, settling her into bed and waiting to be sure she would stay asleep before he pressed a kiss to her forehead and went to talk to Mac.

“What the hell happened, man?” Mac asked when Luke joined him in the kitchen.

“A near collision with an asshole who was driving too fast on the curves. Brought it all back for her.”

“Shit,” Mac muttered.

“Thanks for coming. I was afraid to let go of her for even the few minutes it would’ve taken to get here.”

“No problem at all. Do you think it would help to have Maddie talk to her? They go way back.”

“Maybe. She needs to sleep for a while.”

“What about you? You have to be freaked out. What can I do for you?”

“Can you go to her place and get her dog? He’s a golden named Buddy. She wouldn’t want him to be alone all night.”

“Will he come with me?”

“I hope so. If you call him by name, he’ll know you’re a friend.”

“Do you have her keys?”

Luke walked with Mac to the truck to get Sydney’s keys from her purse. “I’m not sure which one it is.”

“I’ll figure it out.”

“Thanks, Mac.”

Luke stood in the driveway and watched his truck disappear from view. Turning back to the house, he headed straight for the kitchen to unearth a bottle of whisky he kept for an occasional indulgence. The burn of the liquor coursing through him settled his nerves. Now if he could just do something about the trembling in his hands.