Page 111 of Turn the Tide
Chapter 9
Sarah didn’t think she’d ever been so soggy and miserable in her life. Marco helped her down onto the floor just inside the cabin, her back to the wall. She pulled off the helmet, wringing out her waterlogged hair. She’d removed the enormous orange poncho, but now that they were out of the rain, a chill from her wet clothes was working its way down to her bones. She looked up, and her gaze collided with Marco’s. She didn’t want him to leave her alone but… “You need to go. Donny needs you.”
The wind had picked up again, and the rain pounded so hard, it was difficult to talk over the roar of it. Lightning flashed and thunder boomed. Even if he left now, he wouldn’t get far, not until this rain band passed over. “Let’s get you squared away first.” Marco crouched in front of her, brushing a hand over her cheek. “Are you going to be okay?” He tucked her hair behind her ears, hands gentle, dark eyes unreadable.
She nodded, unable to find words for all the emotions sloshing through her. How had she gotten here, exactly? Stranded in a little cabin in the midst of a tropical storm with none other than Marco Sanchez, the guy she’d loved with all the passion in her seventeen-year-old heart. The one she’d never been able to forget, even though he’d broken her heart. She’d never been able to completely shove him out of her mind either, as proven by her key ring, and no other man had ever come close to making her feel the way he did. The quiet protector with the chip on his shoulder who looked out for her and his younger siblings had stolen her heart and never given it back. She shivered, though she wasn’t sure it had anything to do with her wet clothes.
He sat down beside her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. She sighed as the heat from his body warmed her cold skin. He glanced around the snug little cabin, and one side of his mouth kicked up in a crooked smile. “This place isn’t much bigger than that photo booth at the carnival.”
Sarah searched for a response as a familiar flush raced over her cheeks. How could he make light of it? Whenever she thought about that long-ago kiss, she swore she could still feel the touch of his lips on hers.
“I can’t believe you kept that photo,” he said quietly. He put his finger under her chin and tilted her face to his. “Why?”
Because she’d always felt safe and protected within the circle of his hard arms. Because she’d loved him. She’d thought he loved her, too.
She’d been wrong.
She shrugged as though the kiss had meant nothing. No way would she let him see how his easy dismissal had hurt her. “It was a fun night. I guess I’m sentimental.”
She looked over with a little smile, unsettled by his emphatic expression. When he spoke, his tone was fierce. “It was more than just fun, Princess, and we both know it.”
Sarah looked away, unsure. What was he trying to say?
The silence lengthened, and finally, he drew his knees up and draped his wrists over them, the muscles in his arms tempting her to touch. “So, what have you been doing with yourself?” he asked. “I saw graduation pictures of you and Tristan. But instead of seeing wedding pictures after that, I heard you went off to college and he married someone else. Bet your daddy wasn’t happy about all that.”
Not happywas a huge understatement, but she wouldn’t open more old wounds. Not now. “Daddy always wanted me to be happy.” But honesty forced her to add, “As long as what I wanted and what he wanted for me were the same thing. He wanted me to marry Tristan, wanted to merge our neighboring farms. When I said I was going to college to be a nurse instead, he said he wouldn’t pay a dime of my education. Between Gran and scholarships, I made it work. Mama passed while I was in college, and after I got my nursing degree, I became a travel nurse. I’ve been in San Francisco the last couple years, until Daddy had a heart attack a few weeks back. I’ve been staying in one of the cottages on the farm, keeping an eye on him.” She shrugged. “As much as he’ll let me.”
“I’m very sorry about your mama. Are you planning to stay in Ocala?” Was that hope she saw in his face?
“I’m not sure yet. My job is temporary right now. What about you? Where did your family go after they left Ocala?” She wanted to add:After you stood me up for the Sadie Hawkins dance and left me heartbroken, waiting for you.
“We went back to Miami, worked another farm. Pop died of alcoholism not long after, and I stayed and took care of Mama, made sure everyone finished high school. Then I got my GED and went to college.” He shrugged as though it was no big deal, but Sarah heard the sacrifices he’d made for his family, the years he’d given up.
“I’ve been up here with FWC for about two years now.” He met her gaze. “It’s home.”
Her voice was quiet. “I always wondered what happened to you, why your whole family disappeared without anyone knowing.”
He stood suddenly and started pacing the small room, the muscles in his chest and back rippling under his soggy FWC T-shirt. “I’m sorry about the dance, Sarah. I’ve always been sorry. I never meant to stand you up.”
“Meant to or not, you did.”
He blew out a breath. “I know. I figured when I didn’t show, you’d head over to the dance by yourself and hang out with all your country club friends. You wouldn’t even miss me.”
She snorted. Showed what he knew. “Did I mean so little that you could blow me off so easily?”
“What? No. Of course not. Look, Sarah—”
She shoved to her feet, wincing when she tried to put weight on her right leg. But she wanted answers, and she wanted to see his eyes when he gave them to her.
He hurried toward her. “What are you doing? You need to rest that leg. Do you still have an ice pack from the insulin?” He placed his hands on her shoulders to steady her, his dark eyes worried.
She shrugged his hands away and almost lost her balance, which only frustrated her more. She wouldn’t let him hide behind protector mode. Not this time. “I’m fine. I don’t need to be coddled. I want to know why you stood me up.”
***
The silence lengthened, but Marco didn’t step away, even though he wanted to. She deserved honesty, and he should have given her that years ago. “I’m so sorry I didn’t show—”
Sarah interrupted before he could finish. “Never mind, Sanchez. It doesn’t matter anymore.”
