Sea of Love (Love in Bloom: The Bradens, Book 4) Contemporary Romance (26 page)

LACY SAT ON the edge of the hospital bed, a bandage on her left arm and her head thundering. Every part of her body felt as though it had been slammed against a brick wall, and all she could think about was how fast the accident had happened.
Just like Rob
. Lacy held the hospital phone against her ear.

“I called your insurance company and they’re arranging for a rental car for you. The police report is being faxed and, Lacy, I wish I could be there with you. Are you sure you don’t want me to fly there for a day or two?” Danica asked.

 “Thanks for calling them, but there’s no need for you to come here. I’m fine, just sore. That car came out of nowhere. I never saw it coming.”
Just like the shark
.

“The cop said the driver ran a red light and that you were lucky your car spun out instead of rolling.”

Lacy tried to concentrate on what Danica was saying, but her thoughts were trapped in a tunnel.
It happened so fast. I never saw it coming. Just like the shark
. Danica’s words came back to her.
You’ll see some kind of sign, and it will push you both in the right direction.
Dane’s smile flashed before her.
Less risky than driving down the street.

“I could have died,” Lacy said.

“Yeah, I guess you could have,” Danica said.

“Just like that, and then what?” Lacy scanned the empty room. “Then what?” She hopped off of the bed and grabbed her purse with her free hand. “If I had died, then what, Danica?”

“Lace, you’re scaring me.”

“I’ll tell you what. I would have died feeling sad and lonely and without the one person I want to be with. Without the man I love,” Lacy said.
Without Dane.

The curtained enclosure opened, and a young nurse walked in. “I’m sorry, but can you please keep it down?”

“Do I need to sign out somewhere in order to leave?” Lacy asked.

The nurse checked her chart. “Yes, I think that’s where your doctor went, to authorize your release.”

“Great. Thank you.”

“Lacy, do you want me to call you a cab?” Danica asked. “Why are you so mad? And why do you sound like you’re rushing?”

“I need a cab but, Danica, I don’t have my cell. Are you calling me from work?” she asked.

“Yeah.”

“Good. Can you text Dane for me and ask him where he is?”
It could happen to anyone. Anytime. In any profession
.

“Sure, but I need his number. Why?” Danica asked.

Lacy gave her his cell number from memory, and Lacy realized that she’d memorized just about everything about Dane without even trying. She closed her eyes and recalled the scent of him. “You said the universe would give me a sign. I don’t think a sign could be any clearer than this.”

“Hold on. I just got his text.”

Lacy’s heartbeat sped up as she waited.

“He said he’s still at the Cape. He’s staying at Treat’s cottage in Wellfleet,” Danica said. “He wants to know why I asked. Should I tell him about your accident?”

“God no. Don’t tell him about the accident. Just make something up. Tell him that Blake’s going to Florida, and you wondered if he was there so the two of them could get together for dinner.” Lacy’s eyes darted across the floor. “Everything in life has risks. I get that now, and I’m not going to change who I love because of them. I can’t. I just can’t.” Lacy was talking to herself more than Danica. “I’m not sitting around feeling sorry for myself because Dane has a risky career. My accident proved his point ten times over. God, I have to get a phone. And make a plan.”

“Lacy, what are you gonna do?”

“What I should have done a week ago.” Lacy blinked away tears.

AN HOUR AFTER talking to his father, Dane packed his bags and headed off the Cape. He’d been there long enough. He couldn’t hide from his feelings forever. He’d put his career first for his entire adult life, and now it was time to put something else first. Or rather, someone else first.

He picked up his cell to call Lacy and then set it back down in the center console. He hadn’t contacted her since the day he’d asked her to leave.
She probably won’t take my call.
He considered asking Danica to step in, but he’d already pulled that favor once with the therapeutic advice, and he felt bad that he wasn’t in Florida to meet Blake.

Once he was off the Cape and on the highway, he stopped at the first exit, grabbed a Diet Coke, and texted Lacy,
I’m an ass. Can we talk? I miss u
.

He got back on the highway, set his GPS, and continued driving.

 NOTHING WAS GOING as Lacy had hoped. The cab took forever to arrive at the hospital, the employee at Sprint moved slower than molasses, and it had cost her a fortune for the cab to wait, although she was glad to have a replacement phone. Once she charged it, she’d put her plan into action. Thankfully, the employee at the car rental company moved quicker than the Sprint employee. By six o’clock, she was back at home and charging her new phone.

She picked out three outfits and tossed them into a backpack, then headed into the bathroom to take a quick shower. She didn’t want to waste time, but she couldn’t make her big entrance with dried blood smeared on her arm. She stripped off her dirty clothes and glanced in the mirror. Her breath caught in her throat. Her hair looked like she’d been caught in a wind tunnel, all frizz and no curl. Her forehead was streaked with dirt and blood, and her chest and upper arms were already showing black-and-blue marks. Combine that with the bags under her eyes from a week of no sleep, and she would surely frighten small children. She’d been so frenzied to get her errands done and get to Dane that showering hadn’t even crossed her mind.

Her cell phone buzzed like it was on steroids.
It’s finally charged
. Lacy hurried to the bedside table and watched as messages came in one after another. She scrolled through the messages, grateful that the mediocre Sprint employee had been able to transfer her contacts from her broken phone. Danica, Fred, Danica, Kaylie, Danica, Danica, Kaylie, Kaylie, Fred, Dane, Danica, Danica, Dane, Dane.
Dane?
She scrolled back up and stared at his number. Her pulse raced as she read the messages.

 
I’m an ass. Can we talk? I miss u
. Lacy lowered herself to the bed.
He misses me
.
He misses me!

Half an hour later,
Lace, I’m sorry. I haven’t slept in a wk. Have you?

Her lower lip trembled as she shook her head. She checked the time the next text had arrived. Forty minutes after the last.
I’m not giving up on us. I know ur mad and hurt, but I love u more than sharks.

Lacy laughed. She began texting back,
Sorry my phone broke. I miss u 2. I’m not ma—

A knock at the door interrupted her text. She peered out the window and saw Dane’s car parked on the street. Lacy reached up and touched her hair. She rushed to the mirror and tried to pull her hair back.
Shitshitshit
. Goose bumps rose on her arms. Fluttering started in her stomach and found its way to her chest. She carried the phone out of the bedroom, her hair, her pain, the accident forgotten, and she reached a trembling hand toward the doorknob. As she pulled it open, Dane’s voice filtered in.

Dane stood before her with sorrow in his eyes, and behind that sorrow she saw hope and an immeasurable amount of love. “I’m here, Lace.”

Hearing his voice after being without him for so long weakened her knees, and she fumbled for the doorknob for support.

“Me too. I’m right here, and I’m not going anywhere,” she said. She couldn’t believe he was there. The last week felt like a year, and just like that, she was thrown back to when they’d spoken every night, and the rush of excitement hadn’t faded. If anything, it had grown stronger, as evident by her inability to stop her hands from shaking.

“I miss you.” Dane took a step forward. “I’m so sorry, Lace, and I know you don’t have to forgive me for sending you away, but I wasn’t myself, babe. I was so lost with everything that happened to Rob and what Sheila was going through, and I couldn’t imagine you in her place.”

She wanted to fall into his arms, but she couldn’t move. It was all she could do to speak. “I know. I shouldn’t have left. I should have stood up for us, but I was in shock or something. I don’t know.” She took a deep breath. “Dane, I lied, too.”

Dane’s eyes filled with pain. He drew his eyebrows together and shook his head.

“I fell in love with you, too,” she said.

He closed his eyes and smiled, and when he opened them, his eyes were damp. Dane opened his arms. His eyes never left hers as she walked forward and met his embrace. She breathed in the scent of him, and it felt like she’d come home. Her chest hurt as he held her, but she didn’t dare move. She’d never move away from him again.

“I love you, Lace. I’ve made all kinds of mistakes, but that’s all done.” He leaned back and looked at her; then he cupped her cheeks in his palms. His eyes searched her face, as if he had only just seen her bruises. “Baby, what happened?” He kissed her forehead.

Her heart soared. “You love me?”

“More than I can express. Yes. I love you, every spec of you, from your kinky hair to the birthmark on the heel of your left foot,” he said.

“You noticed?” she asked.
God, I love you
.

“The first time you wore flip-flops. It’s adorable.”

 “You love me.”
He does; he really does
. “It was one thing to hear it when you were asking me to leave, but it’s a whole other thing to hear it now,” she said. “Tell me again.”

He looked into her eyes, and before the words came out, she could feel his love surrounding her like a cloak. “Lacy Snow, I love you, now and always. I adore you.”

“Oh, Dane. I love you, too,” she said. She kissed him then, wincing when he held her too tightly.

“Tell me what happened,” he said.

“A car ran into mine when I was leaving work this afternoon.”

“Oh, baby. Why didn’t you call me? Are you okay? Look at you. Let’s get you inside.” He guided her inside, his hand never leaving the small of her back. “I wish you would have called me. I hate thinking of you being scared and hurt without me there.”

“I’m okay. Besides, it was at the hospital that I realized how much I wanted to be with you. I still can’t believe you’re here,” she said. “I was going to shower and come to you. Oh no, the shower. I left it on.” She hurried into her bedroom.

“I spent a year and a half wondering what it would feel like to be in your apartment. It feels right, Lace. It feels good,” he said as he followed her into the bedroom.

“You really were coming to see me?” He held up the backpack.

Lacy came out of the bathroom wearing a robe. “Yes, I was really coming to see you.” She draped her arms around his neck. “And I spent all those months wondering what it would feel like to have you in my bedroom, and you know what? It does feel right.” She kissed him lightly. “I realized when that car hit me that you were right. I was just driving down the street and
wham
. It happened so fast. I didn’t even have time to think, and then I saw it all so clearly.”

Dane sat on the bed and pulled Lacy onto his lap. She ran her finger along the dark, sexy stubble that speckled his cheeks.

“It doesn’t matter if we have a day, a week, or a year together, Dane. Whatever’s possible, I want it. All of it. Every scary, risky second of it.”

“Oh, Lace, so do I.” He brought his lips to hers and kissed her gently. “I’m afraid I’ll hurt you,” he said.

“I’m okay, just sore. I still can’t believe you’re here. This last week has been like a nightmare.”

“No more nightmares, Lace. Not ever.”

“My eyes are open. I know the risks of being with you, and I know the way it feels not to be with you. I’ll take the risks any day of the week,” she said.

“I had two hours to think on the way over here, and I want you to know that I don’t expect you to give up your job. I’ll work my schedule around yours, and if you want us to be together every other week, then we’ll make it happen. My job matters, Lace, but without you, nothing has much meaning.”

“I’ve had a lot of time to think, too. I don’t want visits every other week. After spending every day with you and then being yanked apart, I know how it would feel to be separated, and it’s not a feeling I want to experience again,” she said. “I want…”

“What are you asking?”

“I’m not asking, Dane. I’m offering. If the friendship proposal still stands, I would like to accept it,” she said with a smile.

He searched her eyes, and she knew he was searching for surety.

“I’m certain, Dane. I want to be your friend-with-benefits.”
I want to be so much more
.

He pulled her to him.

“Ouch, ouch, ouch.”

“I’m sorry. Oh, Lace, you’ve just made me the happiest guy on earth. But I want more than friends-with-benefits. Can’t you at least be my girlfriend?”

The sparkle in his eyes told her he was teasing. She kissed his lips. “I suppose I can do that.”

“I almost forgot.” He lifted Lacy up and set her on the bed beside him. “I’ll be right back.” Lacy listened as he crossed the floor and went out the front door, then returned a minute later and sat beside her.

“It occurred to me when we were in Wellfleet that you really are my shining light, Lacy. I love you and I wanted to give you something so you would always remember our first night together.”

“Do you really think I’d ever forget our first night together?”

He handed her an eight-by-ten envelope. She withdrew a certificate from the International Star Registry, and as she read it, she ran her finger over the embossed gold star at the top.

Her eyes filled with tears. “You named a star after me?”

“The Lacy Star.”

“This is the most romantic, thoughtful thing anyone has ever done for me. Oh, Dane, I love it.” Lacy leaned over too quickly to kiss him again and winced.

Dane took her face in his hands and met her lips with his in a soft, tender kiss. “You need a warm bath and someone to love you until you feel better. I’ll run the tub; you relax for a minute.”

She watched him walk into the bathroom.
Into my bathroom
. She’d dreamed of him being in her apartment for so many months, and now that he was there, she realized she never could have dreamed how right it felt.

LACY RESTED HER head against Dane’s chest. Bubbles surrounded them like clouds that had fallen to the bathtub from heaven. Dane closed his eyes, relishing in the weight of her against him, the feel of the silky skin of her legs against his.

“I could lie here all night,” Lacy whispered.

“Mmm.” Dane nuzzled against her neck. “I don’t care where we lie as long as we’re together.”

“Thank you for coming here,” Lacy said.

Dane lifted his head, gathered her hair, and laid it on her other shoulder. He kissed her glistening skin. “Lace, I tried to do the right thing. I wanted to protect you, but I never wanted to be without you. This whole being-in-love thing is new to me, and I’ll probably make mistakes, but there are two I’ll never make. I’ll never be unfaithful, and I’ll never ask you to leave again.” He cupped water in his hands and released it on her shoulders, watching it ride the curve of her breasts, then disappear into the bubbles.

“I know.” She traced circles on his thigh. “I’m learning, too, about you and me and about us. I knew how close we had become after Nassau, but it was all one-step removed—always through electronics. This.” She wrapped her arms around his thighs. “Being here with you, spending those days together on the Cape, it’s like you crept into my chest and sank into my heart. And when we were apart, I felt like you’d left this big, painful hole inside me. I can’t imagine life without you.”

Dane wrapped his arms around her waist and laid his head on her shoulder blade. “You’ll never have to.” He was careful not to hold her too tightly or move too suddenly. He worried about her pain from the accident, but every ounce of him wanted to love her. His hands moved up her belly until they skimmed the underside of her breasts. She rested her head against him and closed her eyes. Dane cupped her breasts gently, finding her taut peaks with the pads of his thumbs. Lacy sucked in a breath, and that little sound, that acceptance of his touch, brought a rise between his legs. He ran one hand down her belly to the crease between her thigh and followed it to her center. Lacy arched into his hand, and Dane stroked her, finding the swollen, sensitive area that he knew would send her over the edge and lovingly touched her, softly at first. She moaned and turned her head to the side, leaving the milky skin of her neck exposed, perfectly poised for Dane to lower his mouth and kiss, then lick. Lacy grabbed his hand beneath the water, nudging his fingers inside her, and at the same time, Dane opened his mouth and took her neck in a passionate hold between his teeth. He ran his tongue along her skin, nipping as he went. Her body trembled against him.

“Dane,” she whispered. Her legs tightened, her hand grasped his wrist, and when she tried to say his name again, it came out as a demand. “Dane!”

He drew her face toward him and took her in a deep, insatiable kiss. He breathed air into her lungs as an orgasm seized her, swallowing her moans, feeling the needy thrust of her hips against his hand and feeling the
thump, thump, thump
of her heart against his chest. He stoked her until the tightening in her thighs eased and she released a gratified breath. He moved his hand from her breast. A little cry filled with disappointment escaped her lips, and when he pulled his fingers from her, she sucked in another breath. His own need for her heightened by the second, but he held back.

“I’m trying to be gentle. I don’t want to hurt you.”

She kissed the inside of his biceps. “You don’t have to be.”