Page 132 of Her Reluctant Hero
Movement outside the tent a few moments later had her sitting up and wiping at her eyes. She didn’t want Linda to see how upset she was. After all, Linda was on his side, right? Or worse, what if it was Adrian? After Toney said all those things to her—all those true things—how could she look him in the eye?
Dr. Vigil poked his head through the tent opening. Mallory tugged the T-shirt down her thighs, offered a tight smile she didn’t feel. Dr. Vigil’s smile was more benevolent as he sat on Linda’s cot, movements slow and stiff. He’d gotten so old in the past few years. Her heart constricted over the time she’d lost with him because she’d bolted.
“Did you hear all that?” she asked, her voice tear-roughened.
“Enough.”
“He’s right, isn’t he? It’s my fault. I walked away. All this time I blamed Adrian.”
Dr. Vigil folded his hands over his knees. “I’ve known the two of you since the beginning. I watched you fall in love, and I watched you fall apart.” His smile was tinged with sadness, and his eyes glazed over as if he was seeing into past, happier times. “One thing you’ve always been is equals, even in blame. He trusts you, Mallory, despite everything. Don’t betray his trust. It’s all he has left.”
“You’re wrong. He doesn’t trust me. How could he? He doesn’t know me anymore.”
Dr. Vigil inclined his head indulgently. “You haven’t changed as much as you might think. If you’re looking for it to work this time, you’re going to have to think about that. You’re both going to have to learn from your mistakes.”
“I didn’t come here to get back with Adrian.” But the words she’d said so often sounded hollow to her own ears.
Dr. Vigil stood and gave her braid a playful tug. “You and I both know better. Think about it, Mallory. Adrian will need you.”
The old man left the tent. Mallory stared at the flap as it fluttered closed, wondering how she’d fooled herself with her reason for returning. She wanted to belong, more than anything, to step right back into the role she’d walked away from. That wouldn’t be as easy as she’d hoped.
Mallory approached theMiss Mcautiously the next morning. She’d barely slept, unsure of how to face Adrian and Toney after last night. She should have gone to talk to Adrian after Dr. Vigil left, but she was wary of being alone with him, especially with her emotions so close to the surface. If she had, they both might have slept better. Her nerves were scraped raw by the words Toney had spoken, which had played over and over in her head all night.
On deck, Adrian snarled at Jacob. Mallory could see by the surprised look on the boy’s face that his temper wasn’t a common occurrence. This was going to be fun.
“Adrian, can we talk?” she asked from the dock.
He didn’t turn but continued securing the computers under the bench. “I want to get out there, Mal. Can it wait?”
“I really need to talk to you.”
He straightened with a huff of breath. “What?”
“Adrian, can we just talk?” She shoved her hair back with one hand. “The ship will still be there in ten minutes.”
With a scowl, he hopped onto the dock, his long legs carrying him too close to her. She didn’t ease away though her heart gave a kick of alarm. She wanted to retreat for her own sanity, didn’t want to breathe in the scent of him—sweat, salt, sea—not when she needed to keep her wits about her to talk.
To apologize.
He folded his arms over his chest. “Look, if this is about Toney, I tore him a new one. He never should have talked to you like that, and he’ll apologize.”
“This isn’t about Toney. It’s about me and you. I’m sorry. About last night, about three years ago. I’m sorry.”
He stared, head angled to one side. Wow, she’d made him speechless. She hadn’t been able to do that in years.
“Toney was right. I was wrong not to be there for you the way you needed. I put my own needs above yours because I thought I was right and you had lost your mind.”
A corner of his mouth kicked up. “Are you saying I was right?”
She stiffened, hesitating before giving him that victory. “I’m saying I was wrong, and I should have trusted you. I should have listened. I wasn’t who you needed me to be, and I’m sorry.”
“So what does this mean?” He sobered and shifted his hands to his hips.
Did he realize how intimidating that stance could be? He was already a big man, but with his elbows out… Though she knew him better than anyone, she wanted to take a step back. She swallowed. “It means I want to put the past behind us. I know it’s not easy to do, but if we’re going to work together, we need to forgive each other. It’s a lot to ask, but I hope we can.”
“All right then.” He swiveled, then looked over his shoulder at her. “Are you ready to go?”
“All right then? That’s all you have to say?”
