Page 71 of Guarding Truth

Noelle’s words lingered in Juliette’s mind, and she chose to have faith that they were true. These men were cowards and most likely ran at the first sign of trouble.

Which meant they still had a fighting chance to save Ivy.

Noelle called the Coast Guard to report Caleb’s position and to have them put out a BOLO for Ivy. With revived energy, Juliette now had a mission.

Ivy hadn’t been on the boat. This had to be a ruse. They could still save her.

A few minutes later, a US Coast Guard cutter dashed across the horizon, zeroing in on the red beacon. Juliette refused to put down the binoculars until Caleb was safe on board the vessel.

Once Caleb stepped onto the Coast Guard ship, the three headed back to the parking lot to wait. Matt and Decia raced up to Juliette, extreme displeasure carved all over Matt’s red face. Agent McGregor was ten seconds behind the officers, and Juliette could almost see steam rising from the man.

“What were you two thinking?” Matt asked, jumping in before McGregor had a chance to yell at her. “Why would you come here without backup? Both of you have military training, and you didn’t wait for us? They could have killed you both.”

“I know.” Juliette closed her eyes and took a deep breath to ground herself. She should have stood up to Caleb, but she’d never seen him so determined. Part of her knew that if she hadn’t tried to find Ivy at the marina and something bad had happened, Caleb would have blamed her.

But now her worst nightmare had become a reality. She heaped more blame on herself. Because what if Ivyhadbeen on the boat?

She refused to let her mind go there. She had to be somewhere else.

How was Caleb going to forgive her? He’d told her repeatedly that Ivy came first, and she’d let him down. Let herself down. She always protected those she loved, and she now might lose both Ivy and Caleb.

Because if Ivy were truly dead, Caleb wouldn’t open up his heart to anyone ever again.

The Coast Guard vessel docked, and Caleb was met by paramedics. She watched them cater to a listless and soaking-wet Caleb. The man shook from the cold and the sorrow. She wanted to rush to his side, but what was the use?

She’d failed to protect the one person that mattered most to Caleb.

A drop of rain ran down the side of her cheek, mimicking a tear. Storm clouds rumbled over the ocean and matched the war of emotions brewing inside Juliette. She superglued her heart shut and headed toward Caleb.

He sat on the back of the ambulance bay, a tangible heaviness seeping from every inch of his body. His T-shirt clung to his frame, his hair dark and spiky from the water. But his eyes told Juliette that he’d checked out mentally and withdrawn into himself, a place she wasn’t welcome.

He caught her staring at him. She walked over and sat next to him. She covered his icy hand with hers and he didn’t move.

“I’m so sorry, Caleb.”

“Don’t” was all he said, and he moved his hand away from hers. He sucked in a breath. “I can’t. You were supposed to protect Ivy. And now she’s gone.”

“We don’t know that she was on that boat, Caleb.”

He turned and stared at her with glassy eyes. “I know. And I’m holding out hope that she wasn’t. Maybe it’s all some elaborate trick. But it sounded real. This is why it won’t work between us, Jules. Love hurts. What if I lose you too? I can’t lose everyone I love.”

He loved her.

And she’d let him down. Just like she had the last time she’d walked away.

Yet here she was, standing and walking away again when he needed her most. Because this time, it wasn’t rain streaking her cheeks.

The tears were real.

* * *

FRIDAY, 10:15 P.M.

Oh, Jules.

He watched her walk away. Why had he said those hateful words? Logic dictated that it wasn’t her fault, but the pain scorching his heart scrambled his mind, and he was finding it hard to pull his thoughts together.

His brain had created multiple rational reasons why he and Juliette weren’t meant to be together, but he never should have lashed out like that. She’d come to her senses and realize that they were destined to be friends. Nothing else.

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