Page 44 of Coming Undone

“The sea is great for that.” Was it her imagination, or had his tone lost some of its defensiveness?

“I can be there in five,” she assured him, her fears turning to hope. Or at very least, determination.

She wasn’t going to give up on her Murphy man easily. Clicking off the phone, she picked up her speed and jogged toward the beach.

Chapter Fourteen

Setting aside his cell phone on the wooden deck lounger at the end of the pier, Danny breathed in the sea air. It helped him calm down more than the Russian vodka or the support of his brothers. Maybe that was one reason he couldn’t give up the Navy. He felt a balance out on the water that he never experienced on dry land.

Although, he had to admit, he’d glimpsed moments of possibility with Stephanie over the past few days. When things were going smoothly between them, he felt more grounded with her than he ever had anywhere else. She charmed him. Amused him. Humbled him with her giving spirit when he saw the pictures of the shelter animals she photographed.

He’d accused her of running scared this morning, and while he still believed that was true, he also remembered she was entitled to a few hang-ups. Hell, he’d been so quick to join the Navy to help the war effort and keep people like her safe abroad. Over the years, he’d told himself he’d do anything to be with her again. Yet, the first time she’d pulled away, he’d gotten mad instead of trying to understand where she was coming from.

Some hero.

Footsteps on the dock surprised him. Turning, he saw her jog down the dance floor, then slow her pace as she hit the narrow pier closer to the chairs where he sat. He rose to his feet, needing to confront the mess he’d made head on.

Her turquoise-colored dress swirled around her knees as she stopped a few feet away. She was so beautiful she stole his breath with her vivid blue eyes and hair so dark it was blue-black. Her ponytail drooped to one side after her jog, the hair-tie hanging limply near her shoulder. He could have just stared at her forever, taking in the details that he’s missed or forgotten in the years apart.

“You want to have a seat?” He gestured to the chairs at the end of the pier.

Her lips twisted in indecision and she pointed toward the planked wood beneath their shoes. “Can we just sit here? With our feet in the water?”

“Sure.” He toed off a pair of tennis shoes that he’d worn without socks while she got rid of her flip flops. “Thanks for coming.”

“I was anxious to see you.” Tugging the elastic band from her hair, she let the silky strands fall before she took a seat. Then, edging her skirt to her knees, she tucked the cotton knit under one thigh so her dress didn’t get wet.

“That surprises me after the way I walked out.” He’d let his emotions get the best of him. “I’m sorry about that.”

“I probably needed time to let what you said sink in anyway.” She flexed her legs, bringing her pink-painted toenails to the surface for a minute before sinking them back under water. “When I didn’t deny the accusation about using my independence as a smokescreen, it wasn’t that I couldn’t deny it. I was just sort of… shocked.”

“It wasn’t my place to back you in a corner like that.” He’d waited quietly for her for years, always half-hoping she’d seek him out one day. But when she had, he’d been quick to let things derail too.

For all he knew, he was the one too scared to commit.

“Actually, I keep wondering if there’s something to what you said.”

“You’re kidding.” Now he was the one who was shocked. “Steph, I’m no psychologist. I was just spouting off because I hated to think we’d been back together for all of a few days and I’d hurt you already.”

She swished her legs in the water, first sending each in the same direction, then twirling them in opposite ways. He watched her, curious where this conversation was going but unwilling to push for answers she might not have yet.

“We always hate the chick in the horror flick that refuses help, don’t we?” she observed lightly, reminding him of yet another accusation.

Yeah, he’d really been on his A-game this morning.

“We don’t hate her. Think how many movies wouldn’t get made without her. But yeah, I guess we wonder why she doesn’t call the cops or…”

“… take better care of herself,” she finished for him. “It makes sense for you to help and I can understand why you would, so thank you. I’m sensitive about that stuff because my mother is super pushy about knowing what’s best for me.”

“I just couldn’t see myself backing off an issue like that.” He nudged her foot with his under the water. Gently. Briefly. But damn, it felt good to touch her anyway he could. “You’re too important to me.”

She nudged his foot back. Gently. Briefly.

But just the same, the contact was there and it soothed the raw edges on his mood far more than looking out over the water.

“That’s what Alicia said I needed to remember.”

“Alicia?”

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