“I’m going to head over to the marina,” Jason said, mirroring my thoughts. “Make sure they know about the forecast upgrade and check on the guys. Maybe Shaw’s back by now.”
“Okay. I’ll take care of the chores here.”
We each took off in separate directions—my brother out into the pelting rain, running for his truck, and me to get my rain gear so I could take care of everything outside that needed to be done.
• • •
Night had fallen on our coastal town and we were under warnings for both the hurricane and flooding. Rain was coming down in sheets, and the wind was howling something fierce outside my bedroom window. And most importantly? Shaw was still out there.
Jason had come back from the marina with a grim expression on his face, and I knew before he even said a word. I’d sunk down into a kitchen chair when he shook his head, and listened with my heart in my throat when he said Shaw’s boat was still gone and no one had heard from him all day.
I didn’t hear much after that, but sat there numb as Jason made us some sandwiches and explained how he helped Shaw’s crew secure the marina and then sent them all home.
Now, two hours later, the power was out and I was sitting in the center of my bed, staring at that uneaten peanut butter sandwich as candles lining my dresser flickered in the room. Jason had urged me to stay downstairs with him in case we needed to take shelter in the safe room in the center of our house. I would go there if the storm got worse, but for now I just needed to be alone.
I had plenty of time for my mind to wander to all the what-ifs. The biggest of all . . . what if Shaw didn’t make it home, and I never told him all he meant to me?
Unshed tears welled in my eyes as I lay back on my bed, repeating a silent prayer over and over. Please just keep him safe.
Suddenly there were headlights outside and the roar of an engine. It had been so black and so desolate all evening, I was startled. I ran to the window.
Stalking up the stairs to my apartment was a soaking-wet Shaw.
Oh, thank God. My fingers trembled on my lips as I watched him approach.
His face was a hard mask and his eyes were squinted from the onslaught of rain. I was frozen in place and when he reached the door, it rattled against its frame.
I hadn’t realized I’d locked the door. I never locked my door, but maybe subconsciously I wanted to keep the storm out. When I flipped the lock and opened it, the wind took hold of the door and pulled it. Shaw tugged hard, closing it with a thud.
I flung myself into his arms. “I was so worried.”
“I know. Shhh.” He stroked my hair and hushed my cries with his kisses. “I’m here now.”
He was being so sweet, so tender, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that everything was about to change.
Chapter Thirteen
Shaw
The ocean was an unforgiving, tumultuous bitch. Spending an evening navigating toward a light in a marina that could no longer be seen through the wind and the rain does things to a man. My mind began to focus, singularly, on the few things I knew to be true.
First, Samantha, while I did miss her, hadn’t been a good wife. I wasn’t even sure we’d still be together if she was here. That didn’t erase the tragedy of her death, but it was a fact. Second, I loved Chloe and I always had. I’d talked myself out of that fact so many times, I started to believe I could move on, told myself I wasn’t good enough until it was true. Now the way I treated her reflected that.
It’s strange what being thrust into a dangerous situation will do to you. I found myself reflecting on my life. It was a true come-to-Jesus moment. I vowed that if my little boat found land again, I would finally have the talk with Chloe I’d been putting off since college.
And now here I was, holding her in my arms, listening to her sob and quieting her with kisses.
“I’m here.” I kissed her forehead. “Don’t cry.”
She looked up at me, her lower lip trembling. “I was so worried, Shaw.”
“I know.” I took a step back and looked down at her T-shirt. “I’m getting you soaked.”
Thunder cracked outside, and it seemed to break the trance Chloe had been in since I stepped through the door. “You must be freezing. Come on.”
She led me into the bathroom, stopping on the way to take one of the candles from the dresser to light our path. Once inside the bathroom, I began stripping off my soaked clothes. Wishing the power wasn’t out so I could take a hot shower, I pulled off my jeans and boxers and tossed them into her tub.
Now completely nude, I let Chloe put a blanket around my shoulders before we headed to her bed. She moved a plate holding a sandwich to the nightstand and pulled back the covers.
She was about to climb into the bed, but my hand around her wrist stopped her. Her eyes met mine, asking what I needed in the flicker of candlelight.
I lifted her shirt off over her head and stripped her down to her panties. I needed her body heat, but more than that, I needed to feel her skin on mine.
She never questioned me, never fought me. She gave me what I needed, always putting her own needs aside. If that wasn’t the definition of love, I didn’t know what was. But I also knew that I’d fucked things up between us and she was dating now, trying to move on.
I drew the blankets back, and Chloe slipped into the bed with me right behind her. We each lay facing the window, which was getting battered by the rain and wind. Water cascaded in a steady stream, and flashes of lightning lit up the sky every few seconds.