Saved by Love (Willow Valley Book 3)(28)

Ethan looked around at the friends that had come on the trip. Braden, his brother Bryce, and their friend Dillon and his girlfriend. The four guys had taken this trip together every year for several years.

“Bryce knows the owner of Sunset Bay from his college days and he hooks us up every year.”

Abby raised her eyebrows. “Jet included?”

“Yeah, pretty sweet, right? I’d almost feel bad, but wait until you see the place. It’s gorgeous.”

It was late when they arrived and not all the amenities of the resort were easy to see, but Ethan could tell by Abby’s expression when they walked the moonlit paths to their villa that she was impressed. And it looked like she was finally starting to relax.

She leaned closer against him as they neared the villa and looked up at him with excitement in her eyes. “I can’t wait to explore this place tomorrow.”

“Why wait? Let’s drop our stuff off and go for a walk. The moon’s pretty bright tonight.” He dropped a kiss on the top of her head.

“Sounds good.”

“Hey, Braden,” he called out, “put these bags in our rooms, will you? We’re headed to the beach.” He gave her a grin. “Done. Let’s go.”

Tucking her under his arm and close to his side, they made their way down the garden paths that all led to the sand and kicked their shoes off. The early September weather was perfect for the beach, but there was still a chill to the late night air and Abby snuggled in closer.

When they got closer to the water on a strip of beach that was all but deserted, Ethan sat down in the sand and pulled Abby down next to him. “I’m so glad you agreed to come,” he murmured against her hair.

“Me too,” she said, but there was something in her voice that didn’t sound sure.

“Are you?”

She turned her head so she could see him and nodded. “I am. I’m glad we get to spend the time together. And this place is beautiful. I’m just nervous.”

“About…?”

She blushed and he thought he might have an idea. “Abby,” he said, running a hand up and down her arms, “I already told you that you can have your own room. I don’t want you to think I have any expectations for this trip.” He looked her straight in the eyes. “I mean it.”

“I know. I was actually thinking about the surfing lessons. Ethan, I’m not sure I can do it.”

He tilted his head and studied her. She was definitely athletic enough. “Sure you can. You’ll be amazing.”

Shaking her head, she turned to look out over the crashing waves again. “No, physically I can do it. I just don’t know that I can get out of my own head long enough to give it a go.”

Ah. Her inner health and safety inspector was coming out to play again. “Abby, you’ll love it. I’ve seen enough of you by now to know that deep down you crave excitement and adventure.”

“Maybe that used to be me,” she said softly, “but not anymore.”

Placing a hand on her chin, he tilted her head to face him again. “Abby, what happened to you?”

She looked startled, her eyes widening, and he could see her chest heaving as her breath came more rapidly. “What do you mean. Nothing happened to me.”

He arched an eyebrow. “Really? Then why do you get nervous any time I bring something like this up. Tell me. What stole your passion for life? I can see it there all the time, just beneath the surface, waiting to come out.”

She sat in silence for a minute, the debate going on in her head showing plainly on her face. Then a look of resolve took over.

“I lost someone. Someone close to me. It changed me.” She paused and swallowed. “You’re right when you say that I wasn’t always like this. That first night at the Old Gin—you saw a side of me that I thought I had lost. Honestly, I didn’t believe it still existed until I met you. You’ve made me realize that I want to get that back. I don’t want to live my life in fear. That’s not the girl I used to be. But it’s been so long that I don’t know if I can find myself again.”

The look she gave him, full of desolation, tugged at his heart and he wanted more than anything for her to see herself the way he saw her.

“Abby, you’re so much braver than you give yourself credit for. Look what you’ve done. You’ve come to a new city, started a whole new life. That takes guts to step away from what’s familiar.”

“It’s not like I had anything left back in California.”

He shook his head. “No. You could have stayed where you were. But you took a risk and came to find your family. And despite what fears you think you have, you took a risk with me too.”

“And how’s that paying off?” She smiled faintly.

“You tell me.” He leaned in closer to her, brushing her lips with his, then pulled back slightly and studied her face.

“Pretty good last time I checked.” She reached for him, kissing him this time, and all other thoughts that weren’t about how good it felt to kiss her flew out of his head. He was at one of the most gorgeous tropical resorts in the country, sitting by the ocean with the waves crashing at his feet, and a woman who had gotten to him like no other before her was in his arms.

“Let’s go back to the villa,” she whispered against his lips.