Page 66 of Wild Tides
Drew rolled his eyes, mouth twitching at one corner. “Depends on which day of the week you talk to Gran. I’m convinced she has them on a rotating schedule.”
“It’s definitely a flexible family motto.”
It took a while to sort things out with the Coast Guard. By the time they’d agreed that Lee could pilot his boat back to the marina, broken glass and all, the sheriff and his deputies had arrived. Sheriff Walker seemed a tad annoyed to be left out of the fun, but he didn’t give Lee or me too much grief about our role in the evening’s drama. He simply bit out, “I’ll see you both at the office in the morning to give me statements. For now, go home. Get dry. Be thankful this ended as well as it did.”
“Amen,” Anya whispered, shivering. After a brief discussion, Drew led her up the trail, and Lee and I returned to theLast Chapter.
Lee brushed the glass from the seat and made me sit. Without decent shoes, taking the land route was unappealing. Short of having Drew carry me piggyback, that wasn’t happening. And he needed his hands free to help Anya.
By the time we docked his boat and drove back to his place, we were both bone-tired. Exhaustion made me feel heavy, as ifevery step meant wading through the shallow cove again, the water dragging at my legs.
The evening’s search and boat chase seemed almost surreal, the true danger only now sinking in. We’d been rash, but it’d worked out. Gran would probably say I’d done my inner dragon proud. I decided not to second-guess our choices. Lee and I had triumphed over some really shitty odds with no injuries and gotten Anya back. We’d take the win.
My feet were leaden as I trudged up the stairs, Lee behind me. My dress dragged along the carpet, and I winced, imagining the trail of saltwater and sand I left in my wake.
We stripped down in Lee’s bathroom, and he wrenched on the shower, urging me under the hot spray after testing the temperature. Steam filled the space. He stepped in with me, a protective shadow at my back. I let the hot water soothe my aching muscles, sluicing over my neck and shoulders. Rinsing away the grit and saltwater residue, I wished the lingering fear would wash down the drain just as easily. But while the sand vanished without a trace, a sense of unease clung stubbornly, refusing to be swept away.
Lee dropped a kiss on my collarbone, and I melted against him, sagging into his protective bulk.
“I could have lost you tonight.” His voice was serrated and raw, like the admission was forced from his unwilling vocal cords. His hands clenched at his sides, twitching like he might pop his knuckles. He thought I didn’t see it, but I’d learned the habit was his tell – the way his body betrayed everything he tried to keep inside.
“We got lucky.” His skin was slick at my back. I rubbed against him like a cat. As if I kept touching him twenty-four-seven and never let go, I wouldn’t have to admit how scary tonight had really been.
The chase across the water. Waves splashing. Wind howling. Witnessing Anya get dragged like a rag doll between the Underwoods and her ex. It had all the makings of a Class-A nightmare. Only the happy ending would help me avoid replaying the night over and over again.
There’d be time to wade through the details and the motives later. For tonight, I just wanted to savor warmth and safety. Pull them around me like a fuzzy robe and burrow deeper.
I arched back against Lee, reaching my palms around the back of his neck. The position pushed my hips and chest forward in invitation. Lee dragged his fingertips across my breasts, tracing my rib cage and landing on my hips, his grip possessive.
“Marry me, Vi,” he bit out.
My heart stopped—just for a beat—before thundering ahead. The staccato thump drowned out the water and Lee’s harsh breathing behind me. His voice was rough, almost desperate, and that edge of desolation tangled with my urge to say yes, knotting up my easy answer in chains. Drowning it in hesitation, cold and unwelcome.
I wanted to accept.God, I wanted to. It was Lee. The man who’s been by my side, who I wanted at my side forever. The urge to take what he offered and not look back nearly overwhelmed me. But if I accepted now, I’d always have questions. I’d always wonder. We deserved more than that. A future free from doubt that adrenaline made our decisions.
“Ask me again when we’ve had time to come down from tonight.” I took a shaky breath and turned in his arms, locking my hands around his neck, my fingers tightening like every muscle in my body fought my answer. A flicker of something unreadable crossed his face, but he didn’t pull away.
“I want to say yes. But when we both have clear heads. Tonight, I’m grateful we’re alive. Let’s celebrate the win. WhenI say yes, I want it to be because we’re ready. I don’t want the memory of our beginning wrapped up in tonight’s drama.”
He dropped his forehead to mine, his eyes drifting closed as he exhaled, long and low. “Violet Fenwick, I love you. I’ll ask you a hundred times if that’s what it takes.”
His lips brushed mine in a whisper-light kiss, and I melted into him. Telling him “not now” felt like a risk. But when it came to Lee Murphy, I was learning that there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for me. Including proposing again.
“C’mon, Cupcake. Let’s get you to bed. You’re practically asleep on your feet.”
Too tired to protest, I let him towel me off before dropping one of his tees over my head. We fell into bed together, Lee wrapped around me. My palm rested against his chest, counting the steady beats. His hands fell to my hips, slowly stroking across my ass. Gently, he squeezed. My chuckle was long and low, barely a rumble as we drifted off to sleep.
Chapter 31 – Lee
Giving our statements to the authorities took the better part of the next morning. Drew and Anya were there as well, and we took turns being interviewed.
Zach, Rae, Clay, and Lucy had been busy searching their assigned ends of the island while we were playing chicken with seaplanes. When Anya was safe and her assailants captured, Drew texted them the news. Lucy suggested meeting up at the brewery later to hear the whole story, rightfully figuring that everyone would be exhausted after the wild night and day at the sheriff’s office. Vi and I caught naps in the afternoon, and I felt almost human as we walked down the hill to the brewery for dinner.
A few observant citizens had posted on the WNFH page about the police activity at the cove, but for the most part, news of Owen and the Underwoods’ arrests was still under wraps. It was only a matter of time before the entire story leaked. Our friends deserved to hear it from us first.
Lucy waved from a table at the back of the restaurant, jumping to her feet. She wrapped Violet in a tight hug before banding her arms around me. I stared at her boyfriend Clay, eyes wide. Lucy wasn’t exactly demonstrative.
“I was so worried about you all,” she said as she pulled away, eyes bright. Clay tucked her under his arm, hugging her to his side.
