The slow, lingering kiss beneath the flickering lamp on Main Street proved to be the perfect end to their perfect evening. And Penny couldn’t help but smile as they stalled, unwilling to say good night.
In the course of a single day, their lives had completely transformed—entwined by the bonds of love, like two paths merging in the woods, becoming one road to the same destination. And as they embarked on this new journey together, Penny reveled in the exhilaration. She’d never been more excited about the future.
Colt held both of her hands, his gaze drinking her in. “There’s something I’ve been dying to tell you all night, but the opportunity never came up.”
“Oh?” she murmured, unable to fathom what else was left to say after all they’d shared.
“The other day, an old friend contacted me out of the blue.” His voice rose with nervous energy, causing Penny’s heartbeat to flutter with apprehension. “He runs a luxury scuba diving outfit in the Maldives, and I’ve been pestering him for years to set up a sister operation in the Mediterranean, hiring me as a guide since I know those waters better than anyone.”
As he spoke, Penny’s blood ran cold.
“Well,” Colt continued, running his thumbs in small circles against her palms. “He finally got his investment partners to go for it. And they want me to fly out in two weeks.”
“What?” Penny gave a small shake of her head. Surely, she’d heard him incorrectly. “I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
“This is an unbelievable opportunity and—”
As though she’d been burned, Penny yanked her hands from his grasp, shock and dismay crashing over her. “Please tell me this is one of your pranks. You’re not actually considering the job offer?”
Surprise flickered across his face. “Pen, I—”
“You already took the job, didn’t you?” Her voice escaped in a hollow whisper, sudden tears burning her eyes as the harsh reality sunk in. “How could you do this? Now? After everything that’s happened between us?”
Her rib cage compressed around her lungs, making it difficult to breathe. This isn’t real… this isn’t real…. She recited the silent mantra, praying it was all a bad dream.
But it wasn’t. She could see the truth reflected in his eyes, and she couldn’t bear it any longer. Desperately, she twisted away from him, but he grabbed her hand, whirling her back around.
“Wait. I didn’t finish.” He pinned her with an earnest, pleading gaze. “I want you to come with me.”
His words hung between them, fluttering in the wind like a white flag.
But all she saw was red.
“Come with you?” she cried, wrestling free from his hold. “For how long?”
“I don’t know. Six months. Maybe more. I already told them unless you were a part of the deal, I’d turn down their offer. You’d get your own accommodations, paid travel expenses, you name it. We’ll get to explore the Mediterranean Sea together. Just think of the adventures.”
“Just think?” she blurted, bitter disappointment curling around her heart. “All I can do is think. About leaving my livelihood, Chip, my friends… my whole life is here. How can you ask me to leave it all behind for an indeterminate amount of time? With only two weeks’ notice?”
She bit her bottom lip sharply, the lump in her throat swelling. How had she been so blind? She’d put her trust in this man, believing he’d changed. But all this time, he couldn’t wait to leave, to go on his next big adventure. And the fact that he thought she could simply uproot her entire life to go with him—He hadn’t matured at all.
“I understand it’s a big ask…” He trailed off, running his fingers through his hair, his features strained in the dim light. “But I thought—”
“That’s the problem,” she cut in, her throat closing around her words as her anguish mounted. “You’re the only one not thinking. You never do. You do exactly what you want, when you want. Regardless of the consequences. I’m not like you, Colt. I can’t leave people behind as easily as you do.”
He flinched as though he’d been slapped.
A brief pang of remorse shot through her, but she’d gone too far to turn back. She’d given him her heart, and she felt the sharp, shattered fragments pierce her chest each time she tried to breathe.
“Stay.” The plea escaped in a desperate gasp before the thought had fully formed in her mind. “Please, Colt. Stay here. With me.”
A dark shadow passed over his features, and when his lips finally parted, each syllable seemed to cause him physical pain. “I can’t.”
“Can’t? Or won’t?”
The answer loomed in his tortured gaze.
“I guess there’s nothing else to say.” Tears blurring her vision, she turned away from him, suddenly overcome with blinding anger at her own foolishness.
The image of her father on the balcony sprang from her subconscious, and all at once, she felt as though she’d let him down. He’d spent his entire life teaching her to be safe, protecting her from pain. Despite everything, she’d thrown caution to the wind, hoping she could fly.
And look how far she’d fallen.
When Colt arrived at Frank’s, he sat in the driveway with his motorcycle idling, still in shock.
His perfect state of bliss had devolved into a nightmare in three seconds flat, and he could only blame himself. To make matters worse, he had no idea how to fix it. What he’d thought would be received as a romantic gesture had torn them apart. And before he’d gathered the courage to explain why he couldn’t stay, she’d deserted him on the street corner.
Yanking off his helmet, Colt took a deep breath, but with each inhale, a sharp, throbbing pain tore through his chest. And to his surprise, a tingling, burning sensation pricked the backs of his eyes.
He’d only ever cried twice in his adult life. Once when his father was diagnosed with cancer and again when the cancer took his father’s life.
Fighting with his emotions, he shifted his gaze to the car beside him, blinking a few times as he tried to register the unfamiliar vehicle. The dark-blue sedan didn’t look anything like Beverly’s Volvo. And the young, attractive woman exiting the front door certainly wasn’t Beverly, either.
He killed the ignition before sliding off the bike.
“You must be Colt,” she said, more a statement than a question.
“I am.” His gaze fell to the black leather bag in her hand, and his stomach clenched. “And you are?”
“Doctor Rose Delaney.”
He’d never heard of her before. She must be new in town, but Colt wasn’t in the right frame of mind for pleasantries. “Is Frank okay?”
She frowned, as though trying to formulate an appropriate response. “He fell and dislocated his right shoulder. He’s in considerable pain, but there’s no permanent damage.”
His blood pumping in alarm, Colt strode toward the porch steps, but as he maneuvered past her, she placed a gentle hand on his arm. “He’ll be fine, but he needs rest. I’ll come by and check on him tomorrow afternoon.”
Colt nodded, gritting his teeth against the weight of helplessness pressing down on him. He was supposed to protect Frank, to keep something like this from happening. “Is Beverly here?” He scanned the driveway for her car. She’d planned to be with Frank most of the evening while he was out with Penny.
“Frank was the only one home when I arrived. I asked if I should notify a family member on his behalf, but he declined, explaining that you would be home soon. I left my cell number in case you need anything and I’m not in the office.”
“Thank you. Is it okay if I see him?”
“Of course. Just know that he’s… um, not in the best mood,” she said ruefully.
“That doesn’t surprise me. But you get used to it.” He offered what he hoped was a friendly smile. Or, at least, the best he could muster under the circumstances.
After bidding her good night, he stole quietly down the hallway toward Frank’s room. Frank lay in bed, his head propped up with several pillows, his arm in a sling. A small rabbit-eared TV blared on the nightstand, but he didn’t appear to be watching.
“Knock, knock.” Colt entered the room cautiously.
Frank grunted, staring up at the ceiling.
“I’m so sorry, Frank. I caught Dr. Delaney on her way out and she explained what happened. Can I get you anything?”
“A new body. I wouldn’t mind having one like Sean Connery’s in the Bond films.”
Colt cracked a slight grin. At least Frank’s sense of humor was still intact. “Want me to call Beverly?” Although late in the evening, he knew she would want to know what happened.
Frank’s features darkened. “No. Don’t bother her.”
“I’m sure it’s not a bother.” Colt pondered how he’d feel if something happened to Penny and no one told him. Fueled by the distressing thought, he pressed on, despite Frank’s insistence. “She cares about you. I really think one of us should call her.”
“I didn’t ask for your opinion,” Frank barked.
In the back of his mind, Colt could hear his mother’s voice kindly pointing out that Frank had a rough night and was in a lot of pain. Even Dr. Delaney had told him Frank needed rest. And yet, deep in his core, Colt couldn’t let the topic drop. Not like this.
He kept thinking about what Beverly told him the night they crossed paths on the front porch. Love is a gift in this life, not a guarantee. And if you’re blessed to find it, you do whatever it takes to keep it. Even when it’s hard.
He’d messed things up with Penny. The damage might even be irreparable. But Frank? He still had a chance to make things work.
Squaring his shoulders, he said evenly, “Maybe not. But I’m going to give it to you, anyway. It’s time to man up and quit being such a blonde roast.”
Frank’s eyebrows lowered. “What did you say?”
“You heard me.” Colt took a deep breath, pushing forward. “You’re either all in or you’re out.”
Frank looked away. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Sure I do. Pursuing a woman is the same as roasting coffee. You shouldn’t do it at all if you’re not going to do it right. You have a good woman, Frank. It’s time you stop pushing her away.”
“It’s for her own good.” Frank’s words escaped in a low, guttural growl, and Colt was surprised by the flicker of despair in his steel-gray eyes.
“What do you mean?”
“I’m protecting her from this.” Frank waved a hand over his afflicted body. “I’m a ticking time bomb, slowly counting down the seconds. Although, not as slowly as I’d like.”
“It’s not as bad as all that,” Colt assured him quickly.
Frank met his gaze with a stone-cold stare. “Isn’t it? You think I don’t know why you’re really here?”
Taken aback, Colt stammered, “Cassie said—”
“I know what she said. That girl is too meddlesome for her own good,” he grumbled, although his tone softened with uncharacteristic affection.
“So…” Colt trailed off, putting the pieces together. “All this time, you’ve resented me being here?”
“I—” Frank paused, as if refraining from his usual bluntness. Finally, he murmured, “I resented needing you here. Which proves my point. What do I have to offer Beverly? I can’t even live in my own house without a babysitter.” A bitter resignation stole across his features. “I’d thought I’d been given another chance. But the heart attack made me realize I might not have much time left. She’s already lost someone she loved. I won’t let her go through that again.”
Flooded with compassion, Colt studied the older man, noticing the angst etched into each weathered wrinkle and crease. “But what if you’re wrong?” he asked gently. “Shouldn’t she be the one who gets to decide that?”
Frank glowered, but Colt persisted.
“What if the roles were reversed? Would you walk away? Or would you cherish whatever time you were given regardless of what came next?”
Frank’s eyes widened a fraction of a centimeter, as though Colt’s words resonated on some level deep within him.
And for a moment, Colt saw a glimmer of hope….
For both of them.