Page 51 of The Cottage on Pelican Bay

A smile spread across his face when he saw her, and at that moment something pulled deep within her. Something she hadn’t felt in a while. Emotions. By now, she should be accustomed to the strong sensations where Saint was concerned, but not emotions. Hadn’t they agreed to keep emotions out of their affair? Keep them on their “can’t do” list?

The one good thing about the situation was that when she returned to Boston, he would be out of sight and out of mind. Or would he? The last two times she’d left the cove to return to Boston, he hadn’t been out of mind. In fact, he’d been lodged deep in her thoughts. However, she was determined that this time would be different. That phone call she’d received earlier in the day would be the kicker.

Maurice had called. It was the first time she’d heard from him in almost a year. He had finally given up trying to convince her that he loved her and only her. He wanted her to hear it from him that he would be getting married at the end of the year. She didn’t ask who he was marrying. She’d known before he’d said the name. She wished him well and ended the call, and then proceeded to block his number.

Her ex-boyfriend had moved on and so had she. He was giving that other woman—the one from his past—something he’d never offered to her. Marriage. In a sense it proved he had never moved on, although he might have thought he had.

Now she was glad she hadn’t let him wear down her defenses to give him another chance. More than anything, she owed it to Saint for motivating her to forge a pathway forward. Maurice’s call today had proved it.

She then thought of the man walking toward her, who was smiling as if he was glad to see her. He’d offered the same woman his hand twice and she’d turned him down both times. What was wrong with some people? It was so understandable why neither she nor Saint wanted anything to do with love. They’d found out the hard way it wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. And like they would remind themselves—nothing was forever.

“Hello, Zara.”

Just hearing his voice comforted her. As if he detected something was wrong, he opened his arms to her. Setting the wrapped portrait aside, she moved into those strong arms, and he held her as she buried her face in his chest. To be held by him and to inhale his scent gave her strength.

“What’s wrong, sweetheart?”

Zara pulled back and looked up at him. She was getting used to his terms of endearment that he used frequently and effortlessly. “Nothing is wrong. Now everything is final.”

He lifted a brow. “Final?”

“Yes. Maurice called this morning to let me know he’s getting married at the end of the year.”

She could feel the intensity of Saint’s gaze searching her face. “And how do you feel about that?”

Zara smiled at him, and it was a genuine smile. “That’s just it, Saint. I don’t feel anything. I always knew I was over him, but this showed me just how much I am. I wished him well and I meant it. Evidently, it wasn’t meant for us to be together.”

She paused a moment and then said, “He’s marrying the woman he cheated on me with. A part of me regrets the two years we were together. The love and trust that I gave him that he didn’t deserve. But then another part doesn’t have any regrets because that period taught me a lesson. My heart won’t get trampled again. I won’t allow it. Do you understand that?”

Zara didn’t have to ask him because deep down she knew he understood. Falling in love had rendered him a similar blow. Heartbreak. She admired people who could recover from it, meet someone and fall in love again. Vaughn had done it. So had Sierra. They had taken a chance on love again and she appreciated them for doing so. For her, it wouldn’t be that way. The risk would be too much to bear.

“Yes, sweetheart, I understand.” He lowered his mouth to hers and gave her the kiss she’d desperately needed.

“Your home is beautiful, Saint.”

“Thanks. There are still things I need to do to it, but I’m satisfied for now. It had been vacant for years, and I got it at a good deal.”

“Who used to own it?” She was standing in the middle of his living room, glancing around.

“The Conyers. They never had any kids and when they died it became what is considered abandoned. Out of habit, Reid Lacroix buys all abandoned property in Catalina Cove.”

Zara raised a brow. “Why?”

“To prevent someone not living in the cove from moving in and doing whatever the hell they want. He will only resell the property to anyone living in the cove or who was born here.”

Zara shook her head. “He really takes his self-appointed role as Catalina Cove’s gatekeeper seriously, doesn’t he?”

“Yes, and the townspeople love and appreciate him for doing so. Especially for this area of Catalina Cove.”

“Why this area?”

“This is bayou country,” he said. “Most people living in this part were born and raised here. Like them, Reid understands and appreciates the importance of preserving it.”

“Can you see the bayou from here?” she asked.

“Only from my back porch through the trees.” He crossed the room to stand in front of her. “Do you want to see it?”

“I’d love to.”

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