Island Affair (Keys to Love #1)(50)
Outside, the clouds shifted and a sunbeam streamed through the skylight, cutting a swath across the bed. It reminded her that there was light at the end of that dark tunnel of self-doubt and recrimination. She had found it. Stumbled, trudged, crawled, and reached it. Yes, she would always have to take precautions. Stay mindful of healthy habits and dangers. But she was succeeding.
Luis’s fingers curled around her nape, their slight pressure drawing her gaze to his. Certainty shone in his dark eyes. “When I look at you, the woman I see is strong, resilient, sometimes scared because we all are, but equally determined. Full of love for her family and passion for her career. Beautiful, inside and out.”
A heated blush crept up Sara’s neck at his moving description of her.
“Thank you,” she murmured, relief and awe over his uncanny ability to know exactly what she needed to hear clogging her throat. With Luis she felt whole and worthy. Seen in a way no one else ever had before.
“It’s the truth.” He dipped his head as if to emphasize his point.
The warmth of his palm along her neck seeped into her, spreading into her chest. His thumb brushed her jawline, pleasure humming through her at his tender touch.
“I appreciate you sharing this with me. Trusting me enough to tell me,” he said, his voice a deep rasp that at once both soothed and excited her.
“I do,” she answered, moved by his sincerity. Grateful it was him by her side here. “You’re a good man, Luis Navarro.”
Overcome by a rush of emotions, Sara leaned forward to press a kiss on his cheek. His fingers flexed along her nape and she found herself nuzzling his cheek with hers. Unwilling to break their contact.
“I have my moments,” he teased, a puff of his breath tickling her ear. “But if there’s anything I ever do that exacerbates a trigger.” Luis leaned back, his dark eyes intently on hers. “If something or someone else does, don’t hesitate to tell me. Don’t hold back. I want to help any way I can while you’re here.”
His words were like a splash of cold water, startling her awake from a dream-filled slumber on the back patio.
What was she doing?
They were alone upstairs. There was no need to pretend she and Luis were a couple behind closed doors. It was foolish to let herself get caught up in thinking they could be a real one. Her life was centered in New York, making calculated moves to expand her business interests and proving to her family that she could be successful in her own right.
Luis’s caring, empathetic concern was an innate part of what made him such an amazing person. He’d treat anyone else the same. She’d do well to remember that they could not allow the forced proximity of their situation to cloud their better judgement.
He was here as a favor. She, despite needing his help, was here to prove that she didn’t need saving. Not by her family. Not by a long-distance boyfriend she had dated for the wrong reasons. And not by the nice guy she had sweet-talked into being her partner in crime, for a brief period of time.
“Th-thank you,” she mumbled. Untangling their fingers, she slid backward until she reached the corner of the mattress. Purposefully distancing herself from unrealistic expectations she couldn’t, wouldn’t, allow herself to entertain.
“I’ve got it under control,” she assured Luis. “Though I’m sorry if you felt ambushed by my mother this morning.”
Confusion clouded his dark eyes and wedged between his brows. “Not ambushed. Just a little out of my depth. But it’s all good. I’m serious, if you need—”
“Right now, what I need is to get ready for the day and figure out how to deal with my parents.”
Pushing herself off the bed, she crossed to the left side drawers, intent on retrieving a bra and panties so she could escape to the bathroom. Sure, this was classic avoidance of a problem, but maybe a cold shower would clear her head.
“This Brady Bunch style of parenting can’t last long,” she complained. “I’m sure they’ll go back to their old ways soon and won’t be hovering like they are right now.”
“I thought you wanted them actively involved in your life?”
“Not like this!” Anger surged through her, and she slammed the drawer shut. “I don’t want them checking up on me out of guilt. Or responsibility. Because I was so emotionally screwed up that I turned to bingeing and purging. I’m not a patient or a charity case. That’s not what I want from them. Or you.”
“Wait a minute!” Luis shot off the bed, his broad shoulders and full height dwarfing the room. His affronted scowl menacing. “I doubt they see you that way. I certainly don’t.”
Sara huffed out an exasperated breath. Aware she was behaving irrationally, yet too overcome with doubts and desires and the inevitability of their situation that she couldn’t contain herself. She cupped her forehead in one hand, as if doing would calm the scattered, scared thoughts running a hamster race through her mind. In reality she wasn’t sure whom she was frustrated with the most.
Her parents, for realizing too late her need to be accepted by them?
Luis, for making her feel and want in ways that would only hurt when the time came for her to leave?
Herself, for craving the sense of belonging she found with him, despite the inevitable heartbreak if he came to view her as someone who simply needed saving? Forget his beautiful words moments ago, he’d simply meant to boost her. Not woo her.