Page 94 of Serenity Harbor

“Why not?”

“Because I know it’s not true. It can’t be true.”

Those whitecaps around him seemed to rock harder, and he had to dig deep to steady himself. He had never told a woman he loved her before. He never would have guessed that when he finally did, she wouldn’t believe him.

“I love you, Kat,” he said, more firmly this time. “I want to help you. Please let me. We can fly down there and have this whole thing sorted out in a week. Two tops. We might even be back before the school year starts.”

She slid her trembling hands away from his and scrubbed at her face. “I know what you’re doing. It won’t work.”

“What am I doing?”

“I have a problem and you feel some...some sense of obligation to fix it because I helped you with Milo. You don’t. You have enough on your plate. Milo, a new town, a new job. I can’t ask you to take on this, too.

“You didn’t ask. I’m offering.”

“Because you say you love me.”

“Because Idolove you. I’ve never said that to a woman before and maybe I didn’t say it in some romantic perfect moment, but it’s the truth.”

“You’re attracted to me. It’s not the same thing.”

“You think I don’t know the difference?”

“I think you’re confusing attraction and maybe gratitude with something...something more.”

Why was she so determined not to believe him? Did she have so little faith in him? Or in herself?

“Trust me. I know the difference,” he said softly.

Her hands curled into fists at her sides. “I...I’m flattered,” she finally said, her voice small and her features expressionless. “But I’m sorry, Bowie. I just... I don’t feel the same way.”

Of all the things he expected her to say, that would have been low on the list. “You don’t?”

After the soft tenderness they shared, the quiet peace they found together? She had to be lying. Wasn’t she?

Even the slim possibility that she meant her words made him feel like ice-cold lake water had just sloshed over his head.

“I’m sorry. I kissed you because you’re great-looking and I’m attracted to you, but that’s all. I should never have let things go so far.”

Her words certainly had the ring of truth—but she was avoiding his gaze as she spoke, and he had to assume that was significant. Or maybe not.

“I could pretend I love you and let you help me adopt Gabi,” she went on, “but that wouldn’t be honorable. I won’t use you that way. A different woman might be tempted, but that’s not who I want to be anymore. I can’t rely on the nearest available guy to fix my problems. I appreciate your offer. It was very kind and I’ll never forget it, but...I have to do this myself. Now, if you’ll excuse me. I really do have to go. Thank you for...everything. Goodbye, Bowie.”

With that, she hurried down the steps and out into the storm, and he didn’t know how the hell to stop her.

CHAPTER TWENTY

SHEDESERVEDAfreaking Academy Award, Katrina thought later that night as she sat in the window seat of her childhood home with her cat, Marshmallow, on her lap, gazing out at the storm that had continued unabated all afternoon and evening. The rain continued to click against the window, and she could hear the wind howling through the glass.

I’m sorry, Bowie. I don’t feel the same way.

How had he taken one look at her and not seen her words for the blatant lies they were?

She had wanted so desperately to tell him she loved him, too. When she closed her eyes, she could still feel the echo of the joy that had surged through her at his words, at the hope that he could fix everything for her. It would be so easy to let him help her, and then she could have everything she wanted. Bowie. Milo. Gabriela. Together, all of them.

The picture shimmered in her head, shining and bright and beautiful. It was painfully within her grasp, and she only had to reach for it.

And then what?

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