Page 42 of Twister

“What is it?” Twister asked immediately.

“I think I saw David again.” She swallowed hard, turning to look at him, and Twister wanted to wring David’s neck for spooking Sadie. She needed a break.

“Where?” he asked.

“Over there in that crowd on the beach. He’s still wearing that goofy T-shirt I told you about. He’s easy to spot.” Twister rose and she gave him an anxious look. “Be careful,” she whispered.

He jogged over there, searched amongst the people lounging around, but didn’t see Burton. He was ready to rend the man in two if he posed a threat to Sadie. She didn’t deserve this kind of animosity from anyone. As far as Twister was concerned, it was Burton’s problem. He turned and went back to the table. Reaching out, he clasped her hand. “He’s no longer there. I’m sorry he’s upsetting you.”

She nodded. “The thought that he might have been responsible for murdering Dylan because of me is disturbing to say the least.” She toyed with the hot pink umbrella in her fruity drink.

He nodded. He wanted her to relax, and he spent the time during lunch humoring her out of her unsettled mood into one that was more carefree. After spending all this time with Sadie and discovering how they meshed and all that they had in common—she was a complement to him in so many ways—he was discovering not only her deep, emotional layers hidden away, but she was instrumental in him coming to terms with dying, and these panic attacks that had seemed to recede in the last few days. His dreams were less disturbed, but he wasn’t sure if that was because he was lying next to her.

He was in over his head with her. Way deeper than he’d ever intended to fall for the sexy Navy diver who he had been assigned to protect. It made him think, yearning for some kind of future together with her.

That thought made his palms sweat and his heart race. It might have started off hot and heavy in the sex department, but along the way they had found an intimacy and openness he’d never known he wanted or thought he could achieve.

And now, he didn’t want to lose any part of that or her. He would just have to wait for the right moment to bring up a discussion of what kind of future they could have…whether she even wanted it.

And that scared him most of all.

14

He mulledthat thought over as they headed back to the hotel after a full afternoon of shopping. She’d bought some colorful beach towels, a little black bikini he was eager to see on her, and some pretty sundresses. He got a new pair of Oakleys and a pair of swim trunks with palm trees on them.

He exhaled softly. Not much scared him, but the thought of being away from Sadie made his gut clench hard and his heart squeeze even harder. He had a taste of that when he’d snapped at her, irritated by the way she was acting, not that helping out was demeaning in any way, but the reason for her feeling the need to do it. He’d spent several nights without her body close to him in miserable remorse for not finding a softer way to communicate with her. Especially after she’d been so gentle and careful with him. He had to admit that sometimes he was a bull in a china shop, and he wasn’t aware of what he was doing until he saw all that broken porcelain.

She made him think about these things and adjust to them. It was just part of how he was opening his heart. It all paid off…the air was cleaner, the colors brighter, the smells sweeter. Hesuddenly realized there was more to life than war, and he needed her in his life.

When he looked over at her, her face was pinched and her eyes clouded with fear, confusion, and apprehension. He hated that.

But as he was preoccupied with his own thoughts, feelings, and issues, he never let down his guard. He was vigilant, and it pissed him off to no end that this couldn’t be a carefree outing for them to completely relax into what he was beginning to understand was something so goddamn special with Sadie. It’s no wonder she had men vying for her affections.

Sadie was someone who saw him as he was, understood him with immense compassion, helped and encouraged him with infinite patience, and always willing to support him and know when to let him be and make his own connections. He had to admit, she’d opened his heart because her heart was so open, showing him how to be more deeply and richly human.

Which meant that sorting out his feelings and experiences during his near-death experience through brute force wasn’t working, so it was time to tap into his softer side, his more vulnerable side, a part of him he’d closed off to get through all the hard times during his childhood, and to do the job he did effectively. But that left nothing for when he was home, left nothing for a significant other, or anything to relieve the terrible pressure that had been building. It was no wonder his emotions were getting expressed in panic attacks.

But now he had a pressure relief valve, and she was beautiful, complex, smart, strong, and courageous.

His Sadie.

They passed a tucked-in little cove that was obscured from view. He rolled his shoulders and noted the sun was setting over the ocean, the hazy orange, purple, and red smudges underscoring the distant horizon. The only reason he knew itwas there was because he’d been to Bali before and discovered it. Not only did it have a breathtaking view, but it was a great place to do things without prying eyes. They were completely alone, and he was sure of it. He grasped her hand and changed direction.

She stumbled a bit, but it wiped that look off her face. He caught her as she chuckled. “Okay, we’re changing direction. Thanks for the heads up,” she said sarcastically.

“I’m an unpredictable guy,” he murmured, loving her tone.

“You are a battering ram.” Her tone was nothing but affectionate. “Where are you taking me?” she asked as they slipped down a small hill, then turned toward another steeper path.

“To paradise,” he said, and she laughed softly.

“Well, that’s vague. You’ve taken me to paradise so many times in the last couple of weeks.” She wiggled her brows, and he laughed.

“Fair enough. But this really is paradise.” No doubt Bali was a beautiful island with lush countryside, a central ridge of active and dormant volcanoes, black and white sandy beaches, and wild, rolling hills, but this spot was exceptional. They got to the bottom of the hill and rounded a tall outcropping, and there it was.

Sadie gasped, her breath slowly releasing as she took in the gorgeous view. Crystal clear water, powdery white sand dotted with palm trees swaying in the warm, gentle breeze, hills of greenery both to the left of them and behind them hemmed in the horseshoe cove, giving it an intimate feel. The fading sun cast a shadowed hue over the sand, turning it a purplish-pink color.

With his hand on the small of her back, he urged her onto the sand.

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