Beach House Reunion (Beach House #5)(86)

“I care for you, Linnea,” he said. “A lot. You know that.”

She didn’t respond.

“But marriage is a big step,” he continued. “I don’t think either of us is ready for that.”

“I’m not.” She said it defiantly. Though in the most secret spot of her heart, her feminine pride was hurt that he didn’t at least offer to marry her.

“Come to California,” John told her. “See how you feel. Check out the job. You might not want it. So much is up in the air. No pun intended.”

She smirked.

“Let’s take it one day at a time.”

She looked at their hands, thinking of all he’d said, but couldn’t think of a thing to say. So she remained quiet.

“Lin,” he said, emotion sliding into his voice. “Look at me?”

She lifted her gaze. His eyes were pulsing with sincerity.

“I think we have something very special between us. Let’s give it a chance. See where it takes us. And who knows? We might end up coming back here.” He laughed shortly. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

“Maybe,” she conceded, looking at their joined hands and trying not to smile.

John reached out to lift her chin. Reluctantly, she looked into his eyes. His green eyes . . . She’d fallen in love with his eyes first. She didn’t want to fall in love. Not yet. Why did he have to come along when she was least ready for him? He clearly wasn’t ready for her. Just go, she cried in her breaking heart.

“You’re my best friend. My surfing buddy. The first person I think of when I wake up and the last person before I sleep. I love you,” he said.

Linnea crumbled. Her defenses were destroyed. She knew what it took for him to utter those words. Her heart rallied and joyfully surrendered. She wasn’t ashamed of the tears that flooded her eyes.

He saw the tears and grinned. “Does that help?”

She stared back at him for a moment, making him wait. Then she lunged forward to wrap her arms around him. “Yes,” she said, kissing his neck, her tears mingling with the ocean’s salt water. She laughed out loud and looked into his face. “Took you long enough.”

“What?” he asked, incredulous. “You’re the first girl I’ve ever said that to. Other than my mother.”

Linnea softened and leaned back against the door, facing him. “Really?” she asked dubiously.

He looked sheepish, having said too much. “You know it’s true,” he said. “You’re driving me crazy, Linnea Rutledge. And I love you!” he said louder. “There. I said it again. So now, what do you say? Will you come to California?”

Linnea nodded and whispered, “Yes.” Then with a hearty groan she put her face in her hands. “Oh, God, now I have to tell my father.”



Chapter Twenty



All six sea turtle species found in U.S. waters or using U.S. beaches are designated as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Endangered status means a species is considered in danger of extinction. Threatened means that a species is likely to become endangered. The ESA provides penalties for taking, harassing, or harming sea turtles and affords some protection for their habitat.

CARA LOOKED UP in the sky and saw the telltale thin, watery clouds stretching from the ocean toward the mainland. These were hurricane bands, and they looked like no other. To her, they resembled fingers reaching out in a menacing grasp, as though the storm were clawing its way inland. She felt an involuntary shudder and clasped her arms around herself.

David came up behind her and wrapped his long arms around her. Perspicacious as usual, she thought, and leaned back into his strength. She closed her eyes, relishing the safety she felt there, something she never thought she’d feel again.

“Don’t be nervous,” he told her. He leaned down and put his mouth by her face. She felt the faint scratch of stubble against her tender cheek. “The last shutter is in place. You’re all safe and secure.”

“Thank you,” she said with a weary exhale.

“Did I tell you how much I hate those aluminum shutters?”

“Twenty-two times,” she replied. “Once for every window.”

“You need to get roll-downs. Or replace your windows with hurricane glass. That’s what my house has. Makes hurricane season a breeze. Pun intended.”

“Oh, sure,” she replied, turning in his arms. “As soon as I win the lottery.” She looked over at her little house, all boarded up with the aluminum shutters at every window. It looked cold and dreary, not at all the welcoming beach house.

“I shouldn’t be so jittery,” she said, a bit embarrassed. “I’ve been through hurricanes all of my life. It’s part and parcel of living along the coast. Back in the day, we put plywood up on the windows.” She laughed. “If you think aluminum shutters are tough, try those. I still have slivers. I don’t remember my parents doing much for the house in Charleston. We may have moved furniture to the upper floors and taken mirrors off the wall, that kind of thing. Mostly we just hopped in the car and headed for the country. My daddy liked to say that’s what he had insurance for. For better or worse, Charleston’s endured a long history of hurricanes.”

“Maybe. But not a whole lot of Cat Fives.”