Page 59 of Escape to the Sun

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Ash had spentway longer in the treehouse with Sherri than he’d intended, but it was okay. They’d come to an understanding and at least he could feel good about her being up the hill all alone. Well, maybe not good. But he felt better knowing that she would let him help her. And dammit, that’s exactly what he was going to do. He didn’t know exactly how yet, but he had the resources to find the best natural medicine doctors money could buy. Naturopaths, dieticians, chefs, massage therapists: whatever it took to help Sherri, that’s what he’d do.

He’d spent some time fixing a few easy meals for Sherri to grab if she didn’t feel like preparing anything and while he worked, she sat, bundled in the corner, watching him and peppering him with questions about the B&B.

“Everything is fine down there,” Ash said for the dozenth time. “Heather’s doing a great job.”

“I’m sure she is.”

“Then why do you keep asking?” He scraped the rice out of the pot and into a glass container.

Sherri chuckled. “That’s not what I’m asking, Ash.”

She was silent for a moment, so finally he took her bait. “Then what are you really asking?” As if he didn’t know.

“How are things between the two of you?”

And there it was. Ash knew she’d been dying to ask for details about the two of them. Frankly, he was surprised it had taken her so long to get around to it. “What makes you think there’s anything between us at all?”

Sherri’s smile was a weaker version of the one Ash was so familiar with, but it was still hers and something about seeing it made him both happy and a little sad. “When you get to be my age, Ash, you learn a few things. And when you’ve spent enough time around people as I have, witnessing all aspects of love, from the blossoming, to sometimes the unfortunate breakdown or destruction of it, to the comfortable peace of a secure love, well…you get to see a few things. And I’ve seen it all.”

“Is that right?” He put the pot in the sink and ran a bit of water into it. “And what do you see?”

“I see two people fighting what could be their greatest love.”

Greatest love?No way. He shook his head. He had his greatest love already. There could only be one. And he’d destroyed it. He liked Heather. Hell, he really liked Heather. More than any other woman he’d met in the last four years. But love?

No way.

Although he had told her the story about Carlie. Why? So she’d keep her distance? To scare her? Because what if he was falling for her?

“Don’t shake your head—it’s true.”

“It’s not, Sher. Sorry. You’re not right on this one.”

She took a moment to think before she shook her head. “No,” she said. “I’m right. You like her.”

“Of course I do. But that’s not love.”

Ash couldn’t look at her when he said that because he was afraid she’d see something on his face. Even when he spoke the words, they didn’t sound quite right. But he refused to let himself think of the alternative.

As if she read his mind, Sherri spoke up. “It’s okay to let yourself love again, Ash.”

But it wasn’t. And Sherri should agree with him too. After everything he’d told her, how could she possibly think it’d be okay to love again?

He turned his focus to the dishes in the sink. He’d been there too long; he should get back down before it got dark and see whether there was anything else that needed to be fixed thanks to the storm.

Ash cleaned in silence for a few minutes and he thought maybe Sherri had fallen asleep again, but then he heard the soft padding of her feet approach. “Sher, you should be in bed. I’ve got these dishes and you—”

“I’m fine.” She put her hand on his arm. “What do you think I do when you’re not here?” She shook her head, because neither of them really wanted him to answer that question. “You should go, Ash.”

“I’m going to,” he said. “Just as soon as I finish these dishes for you.”

“No. That’s not what I mean.” Something in her voice made him turn around again.

“And what do you mean, Sherri? Where should I go?” He wasn’t sure he wanted the answer to that question but he needed to ask. “You want me to leave?”

She squeezed his arm. “I love you, Ash. You’re like a son to me. You know that. And I’d be happy to have you around for the rest of my days, no matter how many of those there may be.” He shot her a look and she smiled. “But I also want you to go live your life.”

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