Driftwood Lane (Nantucket #4)(53)

He pictured Meri up against one of those boys, drunk and belligerent. Alone and vulnerable on the beach. Jake felt the blood fire in his veins. Then he told himself he was crazy, jumping to conclusions. If they were outside, they were just having a little chat, a casual conversation about Nantucket or ocean tides or college life.

But even as he reassured himself, his feet carried him quickly. The edge of a flagstone cut into the arch of his foot, but he barely felt it. He scanned the beach, his eyes adjusting to the dim moonlight.

There. A shadow moving. Two of them. Embracing?

They stepped from the moonlight’s reflection on the water, disappeared in front of the water’s inky blackness.

He took the beach steps slowly, questioning his gut instinct.

Their shadows barely visible, he strained to hear them over the wind. Maybe it wasn’t Meridith at all. Maybe it was one of the boys with some woman he’d met in town.

“Let go, Sean.” Meridith’s voice.

Something welled inside at her fearful tone. Jake darted forward, his feet digging into the sand.

The shadows clarified. Meridith went down hard; the guy came down on her.

Jake honed in on him. As he neared, he heard Meridith struggling.

He grabbed the guy’s shirt, hauled him up. He heard a ripping sound, and then his fist found its mark. The loud pop was gratifying.

Sean hit the sand, moaning.

Jake braced his feet, ready—eager—to have another go at him. The kid only rolled to his other side.

A sound at his feet drew his attention. “Meridith.” He dove to his knees beside her.

“I’m okay.”

He helped her sit up. She looked impossibly small.

Behind him, Sean was standing, staggering.

Jake stood, placing his body between them.

Sean held up his hands, surrendering. “Hey, man, didn’t mean nothin’ . . . just flirting with the girl.”

Jake took a step, ready to plant his fist in the guy’s face.

A hand, surprisingly firm, on his leg stopped him. “Don’t, Jake.”

He took a breath. Tried to calm himself. He wanted to plow the guy down and show him what it felt like to be powerless. Make him feel as powerless as Meridith had. Jake had no doubt he could do it.

Apparently, neither did Sean. He was backing away toward the house. “Sorry, Meridith. Swear I didn’t mean nothin’.”

The words meant squat to Jake. He clenched his fists at his side. Dirtbag.

“Let him go.”

Meridith’s voice, all tired and shaky, was the only thing that stopped him.

He should call the cops and have the guy hauled off. Then he thought of the squad car pulling up to Summer Place, lights spinning. Summer Place didn’t need the bad publicity. The kids didn’t need the distress. He looked down at Meridith, huddled in the sand. She didn’t either.

Jake glared at Sean. “Pack your things and get out of here. Now.”

Sean stopped and turned. “What am I s’posed to tell my friends?”

“Couldn’t care less.”

Sean shifted in the sand, grabbed the railing. Finally he turned and stumbled up the beach steps and across the yard.

Jake turned to Meridith. She’d pulled her knees to her chest, wrapped her arms around them.

He extended his hands and she took them. They were icy cold. He pulled her to her feet, then took her chin and turned her face into the moonlight. He scanned her face for damage and found none. Just dazed eyes and chattering teeth. “You okay? He hurt you?”

She shook her head.

He could feel her trembling. He remembered feeling something on the sand and stooped to collect a bulky robe.

Downwind, he shook out the sand, then draped the robe over her shoulders. The weight of it buckled her knees. He caught her around the waist.

She came into his arms willingly.

Jake tucked the robe around her, freed her hair, and the wind stole it from his fingers.

She shivered.

He could feel her cold fists through his shirt, tucked into his stomach. “You’re cold.” He wrapped his arms around her, turned his back to the wind.

Shallow puffs of breath hit his chest, warm and quick. He cradled her head in his palm. She was so small. Helpless. What would’ve happened if he hadn’t come?

And where was Lover Boy when Meri needed him? Halfway across the country. He ground his teeth together, fighting the anger that had barely begun to simmer.

“The children.” Meridith pulled away. “I left the door unlocked.”

He nodded, taking her hand, and led her toward the house. Sean’s friends would probably go with him, which meant they’d all be up and packing. And still drunk. They might even go on a rampage and decide to damage a few things in the process.

When they stepped inside, Jake locked the door behind him, then caught Meridith as she turned to go. “Check on the kids, then go to bed.”

“I have to make sure—”

“I’ll see to that, and I’ll lock up behind them.”

“Jake, I’m—”

“Not taking no for an answer. Go on, now,” he said gently.

She opened her mouth one more time, an argument poised on her lips, as visible as the fire returning to her eyes.

He heard movement overhead, the guys, and played on her weak spot. “The kids . . .”